The GiGi’s Playhouse Community: YPB Member Jordan Jamieson

When I first moved to Nashville in the Spring of 2017, I arrived with a car full of my belongings, an eager heart, and a strong desire to help others around me. The only people I knew were distant family members whom I had just re-connected with after fifteen years and my new boss. Other than that, I didn’t know a single soul here, and I had absolutely no idea how I was going to navigate this new life that I had suddenly made for myself. I was terrified, excited, and incredibly homesick all at the same time. However, I knew that my life journey led me here for a reason and it would only be a matter of time until I started to figure it out.

Throughout my first few months, I leaned on my family members a lot for support as I made my transition from being a native Louisianian to a newfound Tennessean. I’d never heard of chicken and dumplings until I moved here, and I was very unaware that “bless your heart” could hold a different meaning than what I was used to. With my family’s loving encouragement and patience, they taught me a thing or two about what it means to live in the Volunteer State, and I taught them a thing or two about what it means to miss New Orleans. Together, we shared lots of love and laughter that continues on today.

Although I had my family and some new friends I had made through work, I still felt like something was missing. I knew I wanted a way to get involved with the local community, but I wasn’t sure where to even start. Then, I had a talk with one of my cousins back home, who happens to be the mother of my 7-year-old cousin, Colin, and it clicked. You see, Colin was born with Down Syndrome in 2013, and it honestly came as a shock to my family. I remember the day that he was born, along with all the fear and uncertainty that filled our hearts and our minds. Witnessing firsthand the lack of resources that my cousins had access to for their newborn son was eye-opening for all of us. I started wondering then: “what more could be done to help Colin and others like him?”

This is where my research into local Down Syndrome organizations began. Back in Louisiana, our family had participated in the Buddy Walk for DSAGNO, but that was the extent of what I knew. I had never heard of GiGi’s Playhouse, as one didn’t exist in the New Orleans area at the time. When I found out that there was a Playhouse in Nashville, I knew I wanted to get involved in some way. So, in the Summer of 2017, I reached out to the Site Coordinator, attended a Volunteer Orientation, and signed up to help with the Leaps and Bounds Program for the Fall Semester. I spent every other Saturday morning at the Playhouse with the three to five-year old’s as they worked on strengthening their bodies through physical movement. I later volunteered with the Yoga program for some of the older participants, as well. Getting to know these children, their strengths, their resilience, and their personalities made me realize that I was right where I belonged.

As the demands for my day job increased, my availability to volunteer with specific programs dwindled. I was disheartened because I knew I wanted to stay involved with GiGi’s, but my schedule made it difficult for me to continue as a program volunteer. That is when the Site Coordinator informed me of the Young Professionals Board and asked if I would like to be a part of it. Without hesitation, I said yes, filled out the application, and began serving on the Board in January of 2019. Throughout my time on the Board, I have been able to meet like-minded individuals who share the same passion towards GiGi’s as I have. We have been able to work on various fundraisers, including the Annual “I Have A Voice” Gala, and discuss new ways to better serve our local Playhouse. To say that I have found a home and a sense of purpose with GiGi’s Playhouse – Nashville would be an understatement. It has become an amazing community to be a part of. Everyone here works diligently to help our Playhouse families and give them a learning space full of infinite possibilities and endless dreams. I’ve been able to meet new people, learn more about myself, and bring awareness to GiGi’s and the amazing work that is done here to so many of my friends and family. I can only hope that our reach will expand even further than it has now, so that everyone can know what it feels like to be a part of the Gigi’s Playhouse Nashville family.