Who We Are

Ella’s House is a comprehensive residential respite designed to be a place of refuge during one of the most challenging times in a woman’s life. We believe the first step to helping someone is to surround them with love and dignity. We strive each day to walk with women as they create a beautiful future for themselves and their child.

At Ella’s House, we uphold our core values of providing holistic help to balance education, health, and family.

Elise Jenkins, Executive Director

I never thought I would be 21 and pregnant. The fear of judgment and uncertainty for my future engulfed me as I clutched my positive pregnancy test in my family’s powder bathroom. This is where Ella’s House started—with me crying on the bathroom floor, terrified that it couldn’t be done. That college degrees and motherhood were not synonymous and absolutely could not happen at the same time. One of my deepest beliefs is that things happen for a reason and that all experiences, even the scariest, most isolating ones can be used for good. It’s with this belief that Ella’s House came about. Sweet Ella Rae was born eighteen days after I completed my Bachelor’s degree at Auburn University and is the inspiration for Ella’s House. A sanctuary for pregnant collegiate mothers, a community of women achieving similar goals, and a place where choosing education AND a baby is possible. My hope is that women feel empowered and supported in their choice and that perhaps, even amidst fear and uncertainty—they don’t feel quite so alone.

Susan Reinfeldt, Director of Operations

Nelson Mandela once said, “May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Throughout my life I have encountered many young women who have courageously faced a crossroad in their lives: Pursue an education or become a mother? My prayer has always been that with the right resources in place they could choose out of hope, not fear.

This is why I am passionate about the gift Ella’s House provides—a place for women who desire an academic degree and the opportunity to raise a child. I watched my own daughter navigate this difficult path, and with community support she earned her degree and gave birth to a spunky, healthy baby girl.

Ella’s House offers women hope and a future, and I’m honored to play a small part in their journey.

Madison Naim, Community Engagement Coordinator

Driven by a deep love for service and community, I am working alongside our amazing team to bring the greatest resources, opportunities, and support to the mom’s that call Ella’s House their home! Soon after completing my Bachelors at the University of Kentucky, I relocated to Nashville where I began creating innovative programs for teens in Metro Nashville in the after school space. While working in local schools, I met teen mom after teen mom that needed housing, supplies, and support! This is why the work at EH is SO important, this is what true community looks like.

I have a heart for GenZ and championing them into their full, God-given potential. When I’m not at EH, I am usually serving with Youth for Christ, trying out a new coffee shop, or hosting friends at home with my husband! I would love to connect with you and find ways for you to be a part of our community.

Jessie Cannon, Resident Assistant 

The majority of my adult life I’ve been drawn to the underserved and people at risk and have found myself behind some of our world’s thickest walls and deepest jungles in pursuit of love, service and greater understanding. Upon returning to Nashville permanently in 2022 for the first time since high school, I realized the needs of the greater Nashville area to be great and far reaching.  In 2023, I began working for a non-profit organization engaging youth in metro Nashville through a walk-up afterschool facility, and I became increasingly immersed in the personal lives of many teenagers with incredible potential.  I saw both world outlooks and lives transformed in my time there and I realized the power of personal connection on life trajectory and outcome.  The mission of Ella’s House is both insightful and relevant to the realities of many women across university campuses, who often sacrifice their pursuit of a college education when faced with pregnancy.  There is no place I would rather be than creating a home with these women and their children and coming alongside them in their journey of doing both a college degree and motherhood well!

Maya Sanders, Intern (TSU)

I am currently an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in social work and consider myself to be compassionate, empathetic, and selfless. I am deeply passionate about providing a safe space for those going through difficult times, serving as a reminder that kindness and genuine care still exist without any expectation of something in return. To me, Ella’s House embodies these values and the essence of the Lord’s work, reflecting everything I stand for. It is truly a blessing to witness young women continue their journey toward earning a University degree while receiving the genuine support they need in motherhood. I am incredibly honored to serve as an intern at Ella’s House.