Jelly Roll has inspired thousands with his story of rising from an introverted teenager to one of music's newest creators and most beloved artists.
On Tuesday (August 8), the Antioch, Tennessee native participated in the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Nashville Youth Empowerment Campus, which will be located on Brick Church Pike in Nashville. A 14-acre site will include the new home of the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center and a pretrial housing facility for justice-involved youth. The new campus will also include resources and agencies to help families, as well as a 24-hour assessment center to support youth in crisis. The space will include conference rooms and courtrooms that will allow court staff, community partners, litigants and attorneys to hold private meetings and mediation to resolve family conflicts. A secure exchange facility will also provide a place for families and children to visit.
The current Juvenile Justice Center, located at 100 Woodland Street, opened its doors in 1994. Construction of the Youth Empowerment Campus is scheduled for completion by 2027.
During the ceremony, four-time Billboard Country Airplay topper and ex Bulletin board The Jelly Roll cover star spoke about the importance of being at the event, noting that he spent his 14th, 15th and 16th birthdays at the Davidson County Juvenile Justice Center.
“This thing hasn't changed anything but the color in 30 years, I know that personally, because I was there,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
“A lot of these kids are victims of their circumstances and their backgrounds, so this is a really cool opportunity to turn things around,” he told NewsChannel5.
Judge Sheila Calloway spearheaded the vision for the new facility. Davidson County leaders, including Mayor Freddie O'Connell and Davidson County Attorney General Glenn Funk, attended the groundbreaking ceremony.
Earlier this year, Jelly Roll opened a music studio inside the juvenile detention center where he was once incarcerated, and last month, he opened the Jelly Roll Music Studio at the Genesee County Jail in Flint, Michigan.
