The Healing Trust: Where Compassion Meets Community in Nashville

This isn't just another venue—it's a purposeful space rooted in compassion, healing, and community-building that makes every gathering feel significant. Whether you're bringing together a small circle of colleagues who need rejuvenation, a group of friends seeking deeper connection, or professionals interested in expanding their networks around shared values, The Healing Trust provides an environment designed specifically for meaningful human interaction and mutual support. The organization's retreat center is intentionally crafted to foster genuine relationships and provide respite from the daily grind, making it an ideal backdrop for group experiences. With its commitment to wellness, inclusivity, and creating spaces where people feel valued and heard, The Healing Trust transforms ordinary meetups into opportunities for personal growth and strengthened bonds. The venue's focus on rest, compassion, and community care means that when you gather here, you're not just spending time together—you're participating in something purposeful that aligns with deeper human needs for connection and healing.

The Healing Trust stands as a remarkable institution in Nashville that bridges the gap between philanthropy, community support, and wellness retreats. Originally established through the sale of Baptist Hospital in 2002, this private, independent foundation has evolved into a dedicated partner for nonprofits and community members throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond. The organization has distributed over $100 million to the community, demonstrating a serious commitment to making tangible differences in people's lives. What makes The Healing Trust particularly unique as a gathering destination is its dual nature—it functions both as a grant-making organization supporting nonprofits and as a retreat center explicitly designed to provide spaces for rest, reflection, and renewal. The facility itself operates with the philosophy that meaningful care and connection require intentional spaces where people can step away from the pressures of everyday life. Located at 2928 Sidco Drive in Nashville, the retreat center has been hosting gatherings since 2008, giving it over fifteen years of experience in creating environments where professionals and community members can reconnect with themselves and each other. This history of facilitating meaningful retreats means the infrastructure, experienced staff, and thoughtful design are all in place to ensure your group experience is genuinely restorative and impactful.

The Healing Trust's retreat center represents a carefully curated environment that prioritizes comfort, connection, and wellness in ways that commercial venues simply cannot replicate. The physical space has been intentionally designed to support the organization's core values of compassion, relationships, and community voice, which translates into a venue that feels fundamentally different from standard meeting spaces or restaurants. Rather than fluorescent lights and generic furniture, the retreat center creates an atmosphere conducive to meaningful conversation and genuine human connection. The organization's values framework—which emphasizes anti-racism, equity, and intergenerational responsibility—permeates the space itself, creating an inclusive environment where all guests feel welcome and respected. Monthly circle meetings held at the retreat center run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., demonstrating that the space accommodates various group sizes and scheduling needs throughout the year. The retreat center has hosted multiple specialized retreats simultaneously, indicating sufficient space and resources for different types of group gatherings with distinct purposes. Whether you're bringing a team seeking professional development, a friend group wanting to deepen connections, or family members interested in a meaningful shared experience, the physical environment at The Healing Trust actively supports these goals rather than merely hosting them passively.

The Healing Trust offers several distinct retreat experiences specifically designed to provide rest, healing, and professional development for groups and individuals alike. The flagship offering is the "Healing for the Healer Retreat," which represents a full-day immersive experience facilitated by experienced professionals who understand the nuances of creating safe, restorative spaces. These retreats typically run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., providing an entire day dedicated to rest and renewal that's increasingly rare in our fast-paced culture. The organization recognizes that different communities have unique needs and perspectives, offering specialized retreats including "Healing for the Healer Retreat for Black Nonprofit Staff" and "Healing for the Healer Retreat for Nonprofit Staff of Color," demonstrating a sophisticated understanding of how to create welcoming spaces for diverse participants. Beyond single-day retreats, The Healing Trust also coordinates comprehensive leadership programs that span multiple months, including opening retreats, monthly circle meetings lasting three hours each, mid-year conflict retreats, and closing retreats. These extended programs provide opportunities for deeper relationships to develop within your group, as participants return monthly to the same space with familiar faces, gradually building trust and authentic connection. Each program component—from the opening retreat to the closing gathering—is thoughtfully designed to build upon previous sessions, creating a transformative arc that leaves lasting impacts on participants and their relationships with one another.

The organization's entire approach to programming centers on fostering authentic relationships and meaningful human connection, which directly translates into an exceptional group gathering experience. The retreat facilitators, such as Abby Hyman and Ashiya Swan, bring professional expertise in creating psychologically safe spaces where people feel comfortable being their authentic selves. This professional facilitation transforms ordinary meetups into guided experiences where deeper understanding and connection naturally emerge. The design of the program sessions—whether it's a single retreat day or the multi-month leadership circles—intentionally incorporates time for genuine conversation, reflection, and relationship building rather than superficial networking or rushed interactions. The organization's emphasis on combating vicarious trauma, burnout, and "mission creep" means that facilitators understand the real challenges that groups face and design experiences specifically to address these legitimate concerns. When you bring your group to The Healing Trust, you're not just renting a space; you're accessing decades of expertise in what actually makes people feel valued, heard, and genuinely cared for. The retreat center's philosophy that "the best care is delivered with compassion and empathy" becomes tangible in every aspect of how your group is treated, creating an environment where authentic connections flourish naturally.

The Healing Trust demonstrates remarkable flexibility in accommodating various group compositions, sizes, and objectives, making it suitable for everyone from small friend gatherings to larger organizational teams. The organization's retreat programs indicate that groups of up to three people per organization typically participate, though the physical space and scheduling flexibility suggest capacity for larger gatherings when needed. Multiple retreat options run throughout the year—with specialized retreats on various dates including September 18, October 9, November 13, December 11, and additional dates for specific communities—providing scheduling flexibility that accommodates different group calendars and preferences. Beyond the structured retreat programs, the monthly circle meetings held at the retreat center from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. demonstrate that the space regularly accommodates working groups and professional cohorts with substantial commitment levels. The organization's willingness to offer both general retreats and specialized sessions for specific communities shows a commitment to inclusive programming that respects diverse experiences and perspectives. Groups interested in extended engagement can participate in the comprehensive leadership program, which includes an opening retreat in January, monthly meetings throughout the year, a mid-year conflict retreat in June, and a closing retreat, indicating that The Healing Trust supports both short-term meetups and long-term group development. This flexibility means whether you want a single meaningful day with friends, a quarterly gathering with a professional network, or an ongoing monthly meetup, The Healing Trust can accommodate your group's unique needs and preferences.

The Healing Trust's explicit mission—to support communities in advancing racial equity and eliminating health disparities through advocacy and strategic investments—creates a venue imbued with genuine purpose and values-alignment. When your group gathers at The Healing Trust, you're meeting within an organization that has demonstrated fifteen years of consistent commitment to making tangible differences in people's lives through concrete actions like distributing $4.8 million in grants annually. The organization's core values of compassion, relationships, health as a human right, anti-racism, community voice, and intergenerational equity aren't merely decorative mission statements but actively guide how the organization operates, which profoundly affects the atmosphere and culture of the retreat space. Groups gathering here benefit from being surrounded by staff and volunteers who genuinely believe in the importance of human connection, wellness, and equity—values that subtly but powerfully influence how your group is treated and the experience you collectively create. The organization's statement of inclusiveness, which emphasizes promoting access and discouraging discrimination based on race, creed, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other factors, means your group is gathering in a space explicitly designed to welcome everyone. This values-aligned environment means that groups seeking to deepen connections around shared principles of justice, equity, and community care find particular resonance and authenticity. Whether your group is explicitly purpose-driven or simply wants to gather in a space where these values are genuinely honored, The Healing Trust provides an environment that feels fundamentally more meaningful than generic venues.

Beyond the restorative and connective benefits, The Healing Trust offers legitimate professional development through its structured leadership programs and specialized retreats designed to strengthen organizational and personal skills. The multi-month leadership program specifically addresses real challenges that professionals face, including personal and organizational mission creep, vicarious trauma, and the burnout that affects even the most dedicated leaders. Monthly circle meetings lasting three hours each provide substantial time for deep learning, peer consultation, and skill-building in an environment where participants feel supported rather than competitive. The program structure—beginning with an opening retreat, progressing through monthly gatherings, incorporating a specialized mid-year conflict retreat, and concluding with a closing experience—follows best practices for transformative professional development that leads to lasting behavior and perspective change. Groups bringing teams to The Healing Trust benefit from professional facilitation that helps participants move beyond surface-level discussions into meaningful work on real challenges they face professionally. The organization's track record of supporting nonprofits in building advocacy capacity, advancing racial equity, and creating sustainable systems change demonstrates that the principles and approaches taught in retreats actually produce results in the real world. Whether your group is seeking to develop conflict resolution skills, strengthen leadership capacity, address burnout collectively, or simply spend meaningful time together in a professional context, The Healing Trust provides the expertise, facilitation, and environment to make these outcomes likely.

The Healing Trust's location in Nashville, Tennessee, at 2928 Sidco Drive, places it within a vibrant community context that adds richness to your group gathering experience. Nashville has emerged as a major cultural center with diverse communities, excellent restaurants, museums, and entertainment options, meaning your group can combine a meaningful retreat experience at The Healing Trust with exploration of Nashville's broader offerings. The organization serves Bedford, Davidson, Maury, Montgomery, and Rutherford counties, indicating it's positioned centrally to the broader Middle Tennessee region, making it accessible for groups coming from various geographic areas. The fact that The Healing Trust has maintained its retreat center operations for over fifteen years in this location suggests strong community roots, established relationships, and proven operational stability. Being located in Nashville, a city increasingly recognized for its commitment to diversity, arts, and community development, means your group benefits from gathering in a venue that reflects broader community values of inclusion and authentic connection. The retreat center's retreat dates throughout the year—from January through August and beyond—indicate it operates as a stable, year-round resource rather than a seasonal venue, meaning your group can gather at virtually any time that works for your schedule. The organization's decision to establish its headquarters and retreat center in Nashville reflects a commitment to being embedded in the community it serves, which translates into genuine local relationships and understanding.

The Healing Trust maintains an impressive 5.0-star rating, reflecting consistent positive experiences from groups and individuals who have gathered at the retreat center. The organization's fifteen-year history of hosting retreats since 2008 demonstrates not just longevity but proven ability to create experiences that leave participants satisfied and transformed. The fact that retreat dates regularly fill to capacity—with notifications indicating sessions are "FULL"—provides concrete evidence that groups actively seek out The Healing Trust as their preferred gathering destination. The organization's distribution of over $100 million to the Middle Tennessee community over two decades demonstrates operational competence, financial stability, and genuine commitment to creating positive impact. The documented success stories, such as the advocacy work that led to bipartisan agreement on increasing access to treatment for pregnant women struggling with addiction, showcase the organization's capacity to facilitate meaningful change. The 2024 annual report documenting $4.8 million in grants awarded, with 53% directed to nonprofits led by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, demonstrates ongoing commitment to equity and impact. When you gather your group at The Healing Trust, you're choosing a venue with deep credibility, proven results, and genuine testimonial support from thousands of satisfied participants.

Whether your group consists of close friends seeking rejuvenation, professional colleagues desiring deeper connection, family members wanting meaningful shared experiences, or a team pursuing organizational development, The Healing Trust offers tail