New Creative Space Aims to Bridge Generations in Nashville

FiftyForward and Creative Girls Rock open Forward Creative Commons in Bordeaux community

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:31am

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Two Nashville nonprofit organizations, FiftyForward and Creative Girls Rock, are teaming up to open Forward Creative Commons, a shared space supporting both older adults and young people in the Bordeaux community. The new hub will provide a permanent home for Creative Girls Rock's programming and offer intergenerational experiences between seniors and youth.

Why it matters

The Bordeaux community in North Nashville has a significant population of both seniors and youth, with about a quarter of residents over 60 and nearly one in five under 15. This new partnership aims to address the community's needs for creative outlets, social connection, and access to services for both age groups.

The details

Forward Creative Commons will offer programming and resources for both older adults and young people, including art, music, and educational opportunities. Creative Girls Rock will have a permanent home for its initiatives, and the space will also host college student interns from local universities. FiftyForward, which operates seven community centers for seniors, sees the new hub as a way to prevent isolation and support mental and physical health for older adults through creative engagement.

  • Forward Creative Commons is opening on March 20, 2026.

The players

FiftyForward

A Nashville nonprofit organization that operates seven community centers for older adults, providing programs and resources to support active aging and prevent isolation.

Creative Girls Rock

A Nashville nonprofit organization that uses art and music to help young people find their voice and express themselves.

Charmin Bates

The founder and CEO of Creative Girls Rock.

Sallie Hussey

The CEO of FiftyForward.

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What they’re saying

“What the Forward Creative Commons at Bordeaux will offer Creative Girls Rock and our participants is a safe space for us to have consistent programming in deepening our programming and our new initiatives and have an intergenerational experience with the seniors.”

— Charmin Bates, Founder and CEO, Creative Girls Rock

“One of the things I'm so excited about in this new partnership is the fact that more and more studies around older adults and aging are telling us that if you can remain engaged creatively as you age, it will help your mental health outcomes, even some physical outcomes.”

— Sallie Hussey, CEO, FiftyForward

What’s next

Forward Creative Commons is set to open on March 20, 2026, providing a new hub for intergenerational programming and community engagement in the Bordeaux neighborhood of Nashville.

The takeaway

This partnership between FiftyForward and Creative Girls Rock demonstrates the power of cross-generational collaboration to address the unique needs of both older adults and youth in underserved communities. By creating a shared creative space, the organizations aim to foster social connection, mental and physical well-being, and educational opportunities for residents of all ages.