"The Oasis Center helped teach me responsibility and character and how to communicate with my family.''

I have tremendous respect for Ben and Jen over at Oasis Center. They are both great friends and superb outreach workers for the younger Homeless folks who, incidentally, seem to be growing in number by the minute. Their work is absolutely critical because it heads off potentially long-term homeless experiences by intervening before these kids end up destroying their chances at productive lives without having to hassle through the miseries of repairing their bad choices and poor decision-making processes. Thanks to all the folks at Oasis Center for the work they do; you're helping kids when they need it the most and in the process making my job easier in the long run. I cannot thank you enough for that.

Friday, 12/14/07

Oasis Center helps teens develop recipe for success

By ANDY HUMBLES Staff Writer Alexis Holmes, the 16-year-old owner of Alexis' Famous Pies, has raised more than $25,000 for Oasis Center. (JAE LEE / TENNESSEAN)

SEASON TO GIVE: Oasis Center

Alexis Holmes of Hermitage would rather not discuss why she ran away from home in 2005 at age 13.

But Alexis will talk about what the Oasis Center in Nashville has done for her and her family since.

And even better, Alexis walks the walk for the non-profit agency that works with youths on several fronts, including crisis intervention.

Alexis has become a successful entrepreneur, starting her own business called Alexis' Famous Pies. Her skills and love for baking came after she took a class several years ago from her godfather.

And for the past three years Alexis has led an effort to bake pies to raise money for the Oasis Center in November and December.

"They've been great for me and my family; this is something I want to do,'' said Alexis, now 16. "The Oasis Center helped teach me responsibility and character and how to communicate with my family.''

Alexis has also taught other youths in the Oasis program to bake, and she gets help for the pies that way. Last year Alexis sold about 2,500 pies and made more than $25,000 for Oasis. Hopes are for even more this year.

It was about two weeks later after Alexis ran away that she was discovered in another part of Nashville, trying to make money by babysitting.

She spent several weeks at the Oasis Center in the agency's respite program before going home.

Genma Stringer Holmes, Alexis' mother, has become one of the center's leading advocates as a board member.

Genma Stringer Holmes has been active in fundraising. She often speaks about Oasis and what it can offer to youths in both crisis situations and for leadership opportunities.

"I felt like a failure, and what I thought I was doing right, I was wrong,'' Genma Stringer Holmes said. "It was hard to talk about at first, but facing it head on helped the healing process. And it helps other families going through (something similar) who may ask questions.''

Oasis has a program where teens in crisis can go to establishments with a Safe Place sign displayed and get transportation to the center. The agency also works with homeless youths.