YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee has completed an $8.4 million renovation of the Weaver Domestic Violence Center, marking a major investment in the safety, dignity and well-being of domestic violence survivors and their children.
The 28-month project represents the largest renovation of the Weaver Center since it opened in 2000.
YWCA officials, community leaders, elected officials, donors, survivors and supporters gathered Sept. 1 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the center’s playground.
The celebration included remarks from Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, YWCA President/CEO Sharon K. Roberson; YWCA Chief Projects Officer Orin Crouch; Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake; and Rusty Burdge, a survivor and former YWCA client.
State Rep. Harold Love, Jr. offered an invocation, while a letter from U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn was read by Field Representative Jay Strobino. Representatives from Congressman Matt Van Epps’ office and Metro Council members Joy Styles, Brenda Gadd, Jennifer Gamble and Terry Vo also attended.
“The support and care people find at the Weaver Center for Domestic Violence is life-changing,” O’Connell said. “Inside these walls, survivors find relief from violence and support for the road ahead. So when we invest in these walls, we invest in them—their safety, dignity, and future.”
Construction began in March 2024 and included a complete renovation of client rooms and common areas, along with new HVAC and building systems. Kitchens and bathrooms were renovated, safety and security systems were upgraded, and new intake and staff spaces were added.
The project also included a new backup generator capable of powering the entire campus.
Despite the extensive construction, the Weaver Center remained open throughout the renovation. Work was completed in phases, with living areas closed one at a time so the center could continue providing emergency shelter and advocacy services.
“This project took an incredible amount of patience, flexibility and commitment from our staff, our partners and our community,” Roberson said. “We kept Weaver open because survivors needed us, even while walls were being opened, systems were being replaced and the work continued around them.”
Roberson said the renovated center now provides survivors and their children with a space better suited to supporting both their immediate safety and their efforts to rebuild their lives.
The project was funded through a combination of public and private support, including contributions from The Frist Foundation, Dettwiller Foundation, William and Eugenia Cammack Fund, Joe C. Davis Foundation and Allen Family Foundation.
Metro Nashville also provided $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding. Joey Hatch, a former YWCA board member and retired construction executive, helped guide the project from beginning to completion.
The Weaver Center continues to play a significant role in providing emergency services to domestic violence survivors in the Nashville area. Last year, the center provided 18,000 nights of safety to 414 women and children, while its advocates answered nearly 6,000 crisis calls.
Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests toured the renovated center to see the improvements made during the nearly two-and-a-half-year project.
To see more photos from this event, click HERE.
