Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment

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The Bedford Chapter was formed in November 1999.

For its first campaign, the chapter joined forces with the Kiwanis Club to expand the Bedford County Head Start program. The campaign was a success, winning a new building for the Shelbyville Head Start, an early childhood education center, and additional funding for children, including more Latino children from families who had recently moved into the area.  The chapter succeeded in getting the South Central Human Resource Agency (SCHRA) to employ a bilingual resource person to work with Head Start’s Spanish speaking children and parents.

Since its inception, the Bedford County Chapter has worked to unite the community regardless of people’s age, color, or culture. The chapter staged Community Unity Night, an event co-sponsored by The Welcoming Tennessee Initiative of Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and El Centro Latino, on November 6, 2008. A great mix of people of different races and religions participated in this event. A panel of community leaders spoke about finding common ground around the Golden Rule, and a community discussion was facilitated regarding ways to promote unity efforts in Bedford County. Community Unity Night has become the chapter's signature annual event.