by karen wieckert | May 1, 2022 | Hot Topics
Speakers: Howard Gentry, Criminal Court Clerk for Davidson County, and Jim Shulman, Vice-mayor for Nashville.
Gentry and Shulman addressed restoration of voting rights in Tennessee. Tennessee ranks near the bottom in voter turnout and registration. Nearly 10% of Tennessee’s eligible voting population are disenfranchised due to a past criminal conviction, and many of those have served their sentences and parole.
The speakers offered an informative colloquy regarding the complicated process of restoring voting rights in Tennessee. Locally, Gentry has worked to make the process easier, resulting in a steady increase in the number of restored voting rights in Davidson County. Unfortunately, this process is not as well honed in other Tennessee counties. In the audience for this Hot Topic was Kathy Greenberg from the Tennessee League’s Voter Restoration Project. She commended the work done in Davidson County, and urged our members to follow her project.
Information is available at VOTER RESTORATION
by karen wieckert | Apr 1, 2022 | Hot Topics
Speaker> Grace Stranch, COO of the Harpeth Conservancy.
Ms. Stranch provided a background on The Harpeth Conservancy, as well the importance of clean water in Tennessee. Using the acronym RIVERS, she focused on Restoring our rivers; the Issues that we face in maintaining clean rivers; the need for a unified Voice from environmental groups; Education throughout the state; our rivers as a source of Recreation; and the Science behind keeping our rivers clean and safe.
Since 60% of our drinking water comes from rivers, it behooves us to work diligently to protect these waterways. And, yet, there is constantly a barrage of damaging legislation presented in our state legislature every year to benefit specific industries. Ms. Stranch’s message was a reminder that we cannot afford to let our guard down. Just remember, we have one of the most bio-diverse rivers in the world, the Duck River. Let’s work to keep it that way.
For more information: Harpeth Conservancy
by karen wieckert | Mar 1, 2022 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Vanessa Beasley, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt. Primary research interests include presidential rhetoric, U.S. political communication,
rhetorical criticism and theory.
Does what US presidents say really matter?
Throughout US history, there has been some debate about this question, with some feeling that presidents should not speak directly to US citizens at all. Offering a broad historic overview of this discourse and its presumed functions at various stages in our political past, Vanessa Beasley, Associate Professor of Communication Studies and Vice
Provost for Academic Affairs at Vanderbilt, shared her perspective on that question.
by karen wieckert | Feb 4, 2022 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Robin Nobling, Executive Director of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Davidson County and Michael Randolph, a mental health care professional working with Partners in Care.
The two gave an excellent presentation on the Partners in Care pilot program launched in June 2021 in Nashville’s North and Hermitage precincts, two precincts with a higher volume of mental health-related calls for service.
by karen wieckert | Jan 4, 2022 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Stewart Clifton, LWV-TN Lobbyist.
by karen wieckert | Dec 3, 2021 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Terrie Moore, from the Thistle Farms/Magdalene program.
Terrie presented her moving story of adversity and resilience, as well as the support she received from Thistle Farms.
Thistle Farms is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors recover and heal from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction.
Please consider helping out by considering purchasing one of their lovingly crafted products, found at their store on Charlotte Avenue in Nashville or online at Thistle Farms
by karen wieckert | Nov 5, 2021 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Jenn Harrman, Zero Waste Program Manager, Metro Water Services Division of Waste Services
Ms. Harrman explained what Zero Waste means, minimizing the waste we generate and maximizing the diversion of materials from landfills through sustainable solid waste management practices. This is a most important issue for us as we are running out of places to “ditch” our trash. With a Zero Waste mindset, we can transition from a linear economy that focuses on the start and end of a product’s life, to a circular economy that captures and reincorporates materials.
The Zero Waste Plan for Nashville has the following goals:
Reach zero waste, defined as diverting 90% of Nashville waste away from
landfills.
Increase recycling, food waste reduction and recovery, and composting
throughout Davidson County.
Adopt recycling and recovery programs targeted towards the construction
and demolition waste stream.
Strengthen public education programs to help Nashvillians refuse, reduce,
reuse, recycle and compost.
For more information: Metro Waste Services
by karen wieckert | Oct 1, 2021 | Hot Topics
Speakers: Learotha Williams , PhD., and Amie Thurber, Ph.D.
They engaged us with wonderful stories that form the basis of their book, “I’ll Take You There, Exploring Nashville’s Social Justice Sites” (available here). They, and some of their students, interviewed folks who lived where much of the Civil Rights Era work took place. Engaging ordinary folks, inquiring about what they had seen during that period, the writers discovered a plethora of information from oral history perspectives that added dimension and salience to the sites listed in their book.
The book offers a social justice tour guide covering sites from the Civil War onward, reflecting Nashville as a place where we, the citizens, can and do move forward re-imagining what and who Nashville is.
by karen wieckert | Sep 3, 2021 | Hot Topics
Speaker: Dr. Garrett Harper, Nashville Metropolitan Social Services
Dr. Harper presented the challenges from 2020, a difficult year for Nashvillians, the pressing issues Nashville faces currently, and the city’s focus for the future. Much of the talk presented data from pre and post pandemic Nashville. Prior to the pandemic, the poverty rate was falling, inequality was declining, and unemployment was low. Unfortunately, the pandemic reversed many of those trends. For example, almost 40,000 full time workers earn less than $12/hour and one in ten Nashvillians lack health insurance. Depending upon the geographic neighborhood and/or demographic category, the needs of our fellow Nashvillians can be considerable.
The presentation included detailed data on persistent, structural poverty in Nashville and Davidson County. To address poverty and well being, Dr. Harper suggested the importance of a unified effort based on an understanding of the issues. He also stressed the importance of
community wide efforts that are sustained over time and designed to align the priorities of community and economic well being. The Metropolitan Social Services office expects to continue its focus on local action based on proven results, including possibly instituting a Wellbeing Cabinet.
For more information: Metropolitan Social Services
