Check out the first installment of my new monthly column for Her Nashville – a profile of Christie Andrews, who started a Nashville nonprofit dedicated to advocating for kids with learning disabilities, regardless of their families’ income. Learning Matters, Inc. helps kids who are falling behind in school (and their families) navigate the educational system and offers tutoring and assessment for struggling students.

The Her Heart column features profiles of women who are leveraging their big ideas and talents to change our community for the better. Andrews’ big idea is that education gives people a fighting chance to find their way in an increasingly complex world. While literacy alone is no silver bullet, few would contest the fact that life without the written word is a mighty struggle. A quick look at the prison population tells the story: for more, check out this BBC story about a study linking dyslexia with crime in the U.K.