Cut the Stress out of Holiday Travel Planning

StatePoint
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Cut the Stress out of Holiday Travel Planning

The holiday travel season is just around the corner, and experts are expecting it to be a busy and expensive one, with airline ticket prices for the winter holidays increasing nearly 30% since last year. While travel experts recommend you start organizing trips at least three months in advance, do not fret if you’re a last-minute planner. There are still a few ways to maximize your travel plans and save a few dollars while you’re at it.

Hit the Highway: For those planning on taking a road trip this season, make sure your vehicle is up to date on all registrations and maintenance so you don’t experience any road bumps. If you’re planning a road trip and you’re a T-Mobile customer, you get a year of AAA membership for free with all Magenta plans. This means you can get from point A to point B with the confidence and safety of 24/7 roadside assistance if you need it. Plus, T-Mobile customers also save $0.10 per gallon of gas from Shell via the T-Mobile Tuesdays App.

Opt for Low Traffic Travel Days: When booking airline travel, CheapAir.com recommends avoiding Thursdays-Sundays. Instead, book airline travel on Tuesdays or Wednesdays if possible, as those are the slowest travel days of the week. According to ChearAir.com, traveling on actual holidays like Thanksgiving Day or Black Friday can save you $75-$90 in flight ticket prices. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are also expecting lower airfare prices this year.

Check the Cancellation Rules: Make sure you can cancel your hotel, airline, or car rental reservations if you need to, and understand what additional fees you may be subject to if you do need to adjust your trip. Plans can change at the drop of a hat, especially in the post-COVID world.

Use Those Travel Perks: Many credit card companies offer benefits like points and frequent flier miles, which you can redeem on flights, hotels, and more. If you’re a T-Mobile customer, you can save up to 40% on select hotels and car rentals by booking through T-MobileTravel.com. Most come with free, flexible cancellations. You can also save your travel perks to use for your holiday travel plans and save even more.

Stay Connected: The internet can be hit or miss when traveling abroad, so make sure you’re well-versed in the details of your data plan before logging on. Luckily, T-Mobile customers with Magenta MAX plans can get 5GB of free high-speed data worldwide in more than 215 countries and destinations, plus free in-flight Wi-Fi and streaming all flight long on four of the biggest U.S. airlines. Visit https://www.t-mobile.com/travel to learn more about T-Mobile’s travel benefits.

Pack Smarter: Make sure all your tech items are within arm’s reach during your trip. Pack charging cables, headphones, and tablets to keep children entertained on trips. Packing a portable charger in your carry-on is a game-changer when all the outlets at the airport are in use.

Holiday travel can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Do your research, take advantage of deals and you’ll cut out the hassle of planning your upcoming travels.

Cooper Announces Dates of Office Closures

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Cooper Announces Dates of Office Closures

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) has announced that his office in Washington, D.C., will close on Monday, November 21, and his office in Nashville, Tennessee, will close on Wednesday, November 30. The remaining office staff will work remotely until the members of the 118th Congress are sworn in on January 3, 2023.

Earlier this year, Cooper announced he would not seek re-election due to Republican gerrymandering. Tennesseans who do not know which new congressional district they live in may find out by clicking here. Tennesseans who live in the following congressional districts seeking federal assistance may contact:

7th Congressional District:
Rep. Mark Green
Click here for more information and how to contact his office.

6th Congressional District:
Rep. John Rose
Click here for more information and how to contact his office.

5th Congressional District:
Rep.-elect Andy Ogles
More information will come from his office.

Additionally, Tennessee has two U.S. Senators who may be contacted for federal assistance:

U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn
Click here for more information and how to contact to her office.

U.S. Senator Bill Hagerty
Click here for more information and how to contact his office.

Impact100 Nashville Announces Finalists for $250K Grants to Local Nonprofits

Jason Luntz
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Impact100 Nashville Announces Finalists for $250K Grants to Local Nonprofits

NASHVILLE, Tenn., – Impact100 Nashville, an organization that empowers women to make transformative changes in their community through collaborative philanthropy, announces today it has selected eight nonprofit finalists to compete for $250,000 that will be awarded as two $100,000 grants and two $25,000 grants. The finalists were selected in two different categories, Ending the Cycle and Small and New. The finalists are the following organizations and categories Ending the Cycle: Community Resource Center, Crossroads Campus, Dismas House and Our Place Nashville. Small and New: Backlight Productions, BeWell in School, Homeland Heart Birth & Wellness Collective and Wilson Rides. The grants committee reviewed 29 completed applications to select 13 semifinalists who were invited to participate in an informational session and virtual visit to determine the eight finalists.

Impact100 Nashville members will select the final four grant winners during their Annual Voting Event and Celebration on Thursday, November 3, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. – 8:15 p.m., hosted by corporate partner Studio Bank at their new Franklin headquarters at 1550 W. McEwen Drive. Members and guests may register to attend here.

“We’re thrilled to expand our giving this year to also award newer nonprofits who serve the Middle Tennessee community and whose mission reaches unmet needs in the community with high-impact programs to benefit underserved populations,” says Ginger Duncan, board president, Impact100 Nashville. “We appreciate our members and corporate partner Studio Bank for hosting our in-person Annual Voting Event and Celebration in November to award these funds.”

Burrell Communications Group Appoints Tuwisha Rogers-Simpson Vice President Of Brand Development

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Burrell Communications Group Appoints Tuwisha Rogers-Simpson Vice President Of Brand Development

Burrell Communications Group, a pioneering multicultural marketing communications agency, announced today that Tuwisha ‘Wish’ Rogers-Simpson joins the agency as Vice President of Brand Development.  In this role, Rogers-Simpson will guide the overall alignment of Burrell’s business objectives and brand communications, while strengthening Burrell’s stance as a worldwide brand.

A mission-driven thought leader and strategist, Rogers-Simpson is well-versed in devising a vision, setting objectives and producing memorable campaigns that connect with audiences. She is the founder of Wish Factor, a strategic relationship and purpose-driven marketing consulting enterprise that leverages innovative strategy and integrated techniques, including unique content, partnership building and planning.

“As the agency looks toward the future, we are excited about the addition of Wish to our talented team of marketers and communicators,” said Fay Fergusson, Co-CEO of Burrell. “Without a doubt, her experience and expertise will contribute to our agency continuing to trailblaze in authentically connecting with Black audiences.”

Previously, Rogers-Simpson held the position of Vice President of Brand and Partnerships at the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM), where she led the marketing and branding initiatives for the museum, which included overseeing the fostering and development of the NMAAM community, and corporate and entertainment relationships domestically and globally. She partnered with Fortune 500 brands such as Apple, Amazon, Nissan, Hallmark Mahogany, TMobile, AARP and RIAA, to name a few. In addition, she successfully opened and launched the museum and curated nearly $3 million in strategic partnerships, while garnering over 2.8 billion media impressions within the first year-and-a-half.

Prior to her tenure at the museum, Rogers-Simpson created and directed Strategic Partnerships at Urban One, where she oversaw breakthrough campaigns that won several industry awards. She has additional experience working with leaders such as Martin Luther King III and Dr. Randal Pinkett, the season four winner of TV’s “The Apprentice,” as well as collaborating with industry giants and notables including Steve Stoute, ESSENCE Communications, BET networks, Eric Roberson, Quincy Jones Productions, NOBEL Women, Cedric the Entertainer and many more.

“I am both delighted and honored to have the opportunity to join Burrell at such an exciting time,” said Rogers-Simpson. “I look forward to assisting Burrell in standing out in the worldwide business arena and launching campaigns relevant to the present social landscape that align with the brand’s voice, goals, and objectives.”

Rogers-Simpson has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from William Paterson University and a master’s degree in urban studies from Kean University. As a resident of Nashville, she is a prominent and dedicated member of her community who was recently named a 2022 Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal. Rogers-Simpson volunteers with the City of Plainfield, the Rotary Club of Nashville, Leadership Music, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Memphis Music Initiative, Second Harvest Food Bank and ACM Diversity Task Force.

Crayons & Marketers Launches New Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment Tool For Brands

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Crayons & Marketers Launches New Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment Tool For Brands

Nashville, TENN – Culturally sensitive content marketing firm, Crayons & Marketers, announces today the launch of its enterprise-level Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment to help brands identify opportunities for increasing inclusion of and engagement with diverse audiences. The online self-assessment tool measures four key areas to reveal barriers in consumer and business-to-business marketing: Talent, Branding and Marketing Strategies, Marketing Collateral and Supplier Diversity. This survey is ideal for organizations that want to build cultural awareness, improve representation in marketing, and avoid creating content that unintentionally perpetuates exclusionary and prejudicial practices.

The insights gathered from the assessment help marketers evaluate the readiness of culturally responsible marketing and gain perspective for strategic planning. The survey provides a benchmark report for marketers to see where they are making progress and identifies “opportunity zones” or where they need to further develop inclusive marketing practices. The Crayons & Marketers team conducts a follow-up consultation to discuss recommendations including investing in staff training, rebranding, re-messaging and reimagining their marketing strategy to engage broader audiences. The self-assessment serves as a launching pad for organizations to build cultural competence to inform more effective marketing.

Crayons & Marketers has been working in the multicultural marketing space for a decade leading client strategy on content marketing. Studies confirm that consumers want to do business with brands that prioritize diversity and inclusion. “We have seen good intentions fall flat because marketers don’t know what they don’t know,” says Jacqueline Hayes, founder and chief marketing strategist, Crayons & Marketers. “We developed this tool to help organizations, particularly higher education, small businesses and marketing agencies, assess their current

marketing environment, from the diversity of the people they hire to the context of messaging they create and the imagery chosen to visualize it. Our goal is to uncover blind spots, not to assign blame. Marketers have the power to do good or to do harm through their efforts. As we all learn, we hope to do a lot of good and uplift diverse communities.”

The Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment was developed during Crayons & Marketers’ participation in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, where leveraging the company’s multicultural competencies was encouraged. It was created with the premise “when you know better, you do better” and joins a suite of two inclusive products offered by the firm. Crayons & Marketers recently partnered with AI-powered market leader accessiBe to make websites accessible and ADA compliant for people with various disabilities.

The Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment was developed with guidance from women-owned firms including product development and survey design by Dr. Heather Walker, CEO, Lead with Levity and diversity and inclusion training, research and consulting firm people3, founded by Dr. Candace Warner. “People3 works with organizations beginning their D&I and inclusive culture journeys, and marketing is a part of the overall D&I strategy. Using Crayons & Marketers’ Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment, companies can identify trouble spots so they can market more inclusively,” says Dr. Warner.

The Crayons & Marketers Diversity & Inclusion Marketing Assessment is available now. Take the assessment here.

6 Best Nashville Neighborhoods for Young Families

Guest Writer
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6 Best Nashville Neighborhoods for Young Families

By Jethro Hebert

Welcome to Nashville, the city of everything. There are very few places in the U.S. where one can experience old glory blending so seamlessly with modern times. Its premised core surpasses the expected; it’s more than Grand Ole Opry and hot chicken. We’re past the clichés now (although we love and appreciate every bit of them). Since the pandemic, Tennessee, Nashville in particular, has seen a tremendous increase in new arrivals, especially young families who are empirically future-oriented. And that’s how it should be. The unstable job market and ferociously persistent economic crisis sticking to our existentialism like glue have ignited a need for long-term planning and stability, leaving us no choice but to flee big cities and find happiness elsewhere. Nashville proved to be that happy place for many. So, again, welcome to Music City. Let’s look at the six best Nashville neighborhoods for young families.

Nashville profile

Yes, if you’re an aspiring country singer, this is still The Spot. So, why are young families flocking to Tennessee if the “absolute pitch” gene doesn’t run in the family? There’s serious money to be made. Over the years, Nashville has become one of the best locations for growing a career, thriving on technology and health care niches. If you’re a techie, the start-up Mecca is waiting with its door wide open. Education? It’s not only home to Vanderbilt University, but the city’s public and private schools are also exceptionally well-ranked. Tennesseans take their education game quite seriously. Although moving to Tennessee may sound like a handful, we promise you it’s worth it. Hiring an experienced long-distance moving company is your safest bet if you want to reach the city stress-free. One obstacle already crossed!

Graffiti wall in Nashville saying "Looking pretty, Music City" depicts the best Nashville neighborhoods for young families
You sure do Nashville! (Photo by: Jon Tyson)

1. Green Hills

Starting big. Located 7 miles south of downtown Nashville, this affluent neighborhood is one of the most notable and desirable locations in all of Nashville. Young families seeking a suburban feel and enjoying a quieter lifestyle will fall in love with this upscale enclave famous for its tree-lined streets, trendy boutiques, and unique eateries. What about schools? Lipscomb University, JT Moore Middle School, Julia Green Elementary – fantastic options for intellectual and academic achievement. Oh, and before we move on, there’s Bluebird Cafe, the legendary, the one and only. Green Hills is right up your alley if you love living in a vibrant micro-city but also enjoy the quiet.

2. Belmont-Hillsboro Village

This hip and yet historic neighborhood has it all: the finest selection of shops, restaurants, boutiques, two universities (Vanderbilt and Belmont), and affordable housing options (from Tudor-style homes to brick cottages). Museums, galleries, theaters? Yes. The Belmont-Hillsboro neighborhood is cozy, relaxed, and above all – wholeheartedly welcoming. As for schools, there are two great options available: Linden Waldorf (private school) and Waverly-Belmont Elementary School (public). Stop by 12 South Farmers Market once – and we guarantee it’ll become your forever must-route.

A couple holding hands while walking in Nashville
Nashville is a great city for young couples. (Photo by: Travis Saylor)

3. Mt. Juliet

This family heaven deserves to be proclaimed one of the best Nashville neighborhoods for young families. Located 17 miles east of downtown Nashville, Mt. Juliet offers an unparalleled quality of life. 6.000 acres of green? Yes, please. This slightly remote neighborhood is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Middle Tennessee region (ranking #14 out of 101 for best suburbs in Tennessee). How do we explain the growing popularity? Easy. It is considered to be one of the safest places in the state. It offers stability and affordable living with a low tax rate and a median income of $91,000. Plus, it’s gorgeous. Camping, hiking, picnicking, golfing – Mt. Juliet’s community takes pride in being nature-oriented. And we love it for it. It is also home to some of the top schools in the state.

4. Brentwood

Bustling scenery? Not in Brentwood. Despite its toned-down atmosphere, the area has been growing with young families and professionals. There must be something to it. Although it’s considered one of the country’s wealthiest neighborhoods (with median home prices reaching up to $500,000 and income up to $135,000), it’s one of the safest and most desirable places for Nashville transplants. Locals have easy access to various outdoor activities – from swimming to hiking – making it a fantastic place to raise a family. High-quality schools (Brentwood Academy), museums, and great restaurants paired with friendly neighbor faces are the reason why Brentwood is on our list.

5. East Nashville

The perfect neighborhood for artsy genes. Its vibrant, quirky, buzzing streets will introduce a sense of a safe yet eclectic community the moment you step foot. East Nashville comprises several beautiful neighborhoods, offering some of the best offbeat shops and street art, and don’t get us started on the food scene. It’s unbearable. Nightlife, fine-dining restaurants, premium bars. Hey, even young families need a night out. The neighborhood started gaining recognition about a decade ago as Nashville’s “progressive potential” favorite. The laid-back community draws in musicians, artists, and the quirky bunch (kids included). Lockeland Elementary School, Nashville Classical Charter School, and Meigs Middle Magnet School are some of the options you’ll be considering.

A Nashville street at night
Join the ever-growing Nashville community. (Photo by: mana5280 | unsplash.com)

6. Hendersonville

Every list needs some contrast, so we’re off to Hendersonville. Ranked #16 best place to live in the U.S., not putting this spectacular spot on our list would be considered a sin. A 23-minute drive via I-65 S will get you to or from Nashville downtown. Mountain scenery? Check. Riverside/lake? Yes. Some of the best schools in the state? Indeed. Affordable housing? You know it. Johnny Cash, June Carter, Taylor Swift? Neighbors (past/present tense). Many young professionals and families are willing to trade the short commute for a tranquil base where they can raise their families. Hendersonville is also home to art museums, galleries, trendy eateries, and local spots for a perfect night out. Sounds good?

Conclusion

It all comes down to your family’s wants and needs. You’re the one moving; you get to choose. Getting acquainted with some of the best Nashville neighborhoods for young families (and we mean – physically acquainted – stroll down, spend time, and visit as much as you can) before signing the papers is necessary to reach that final decision.

Jethro Hebert is a freelancer blogger and a columnist, but most of all – he is an avid folk music admirer. His vinyl collection is beyond reason. He feels no regret.

Golden Age of Fashion to Spotlight Couture Designer Zintrise Altovise and Other Local Designers

Jason Luntz
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Golden Age of Fashion to Spotlight Couture Designer Zintrise Altovise and Other Local Designers

The Event to Feature Fashion Show, Panel Discussion, and a Sip-N-Shop

Nashville, TENN – On September 24, 2022, Love, Peace, and Zin presents The Golden Age of Fashion, an exclusive fashion event to launch the new Couture collection of international fashion designer Zintrise Altovise. The event will feature a blending of art and fashion, including live poetry and music performances as well as a designer showcase that highlights vendors, a panel discussion that includes Altovise and other fashion influencers in Nashville, and a fashion showcase that spotlights ready-to-wear and couture designs highlighting some of Nashville’s best designers. Held at The PSV Store at 100 Taylor Street, Suite A22B, Nashville, TN 37208 from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM, the event is free to the public.

The Golden Age of Fashion is an homage to an era that began in 1947 after World War II, when world-famous designer Christian Dior’s new designs marked the beginning of a momentous decade in fashion history. During this time fashion began to celebrate the end of the war and set a standard for dressmaking and high fashion.

It is Altovise’s belief that fashion can now be used to celebrate the end of the pandemic in a similar way. “During the last two years many high-end brands had to either pivot to collections that leaned heavily into loungewear, or they ceased operations,” she explained. “Now like in the 40s, we are at a time where designers can begin to take advantage of expressing themselves through glamour and elegance. We decided to use the term Golden Age because in the past this has been described as an era that revolutionized the idea of fashion.”

Fashion and show designer Zintrise Altovise has been featured in over 15 online publications including Vogue Italia and other international and local magazines. She has been chosen as a featured designer for the International Fashion Showcase in Birmingham, England, and has been globally recognized for fashion shows and events in nations including Denmark, Italy, Canada, The Netherlands, and others. Altovise was recently nominated for the ACHI Magazine Georgia Woman of Influence and Georgia Woman on the Rise.

Another focus of the event is to help the growth of the fashion scene in Nashville. For instance, the panel discussion will be centered around changing the idea of what fashion means in Music City by those who have real influence in the clothing they wear and sell. The fashion show segment not only features Altovise’s collection but also streetwear by popular Nashville designers Ayjah and Ashley Rashell. “The evolution of fashion is changing in many places, and I would love for Nashville to see the same growth in that industry as it has seen in so many other areas of art, music, and even business,” Altovise said. “In many places fashion, art, and music go hand to hand, so my goal is to bring concepts that are used in other cities to Nashville. I would like to see fashion being a part of the culture and hope to elevate Nashville to that level.”

During the sip-n-shop Love, Peace, and Zin will have items for sale that includes room sprays, hand-painted jackets, vintage luxury designer bags, and clothing made from sustainable items like bamboo and silk, with wine and champagne available to enjoy. Other vendor items will be available for purchase as well.

Please join Zintrise Altovise for The Golden Age of Fashion and enjoy an experience that celebrates the power, influence, and potential of the Nashville fashion scene. Light foods and beverages will be provided. Please feel free to invite all your friends from around Nashville for this entertaining evening of fashion and art. For further information on the event please visit instagram.com/lovepeaceandzin.

She Got Game Brings Women’s Basketball to Nashville

Erika Davis
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She Got Game Brings Women’s Basketball to Nashville

A semi-pro women’s basketball league is now playing in Nashville, Tennessee. The She Got Game League is not your typical Semi-Pro basketball league. This is an organization dedicated to empowering young and adult women and helping them to gain self-confidence and some well-deserved exposure.

“It’s basically a league that I created for women to get more exposure and to give them the opportunity to present themselves to other coaches and agents because women don’t really get the exposure that they deserve,” says Celia Newman who founded the She Got Game League in 2019 in Memphis.

“I give the proceeds back in a scholarship at the end of each season to either a program or to a high school athlete,” said Newman. “The mission is that I want to give back to not only women but girls in particular.”

The organization is not a recreational league, each lady will have to have experience in playing basketball and you have to be at least 18 years or older and will need to have played high school basketball and or college basketball. “It’s very competitive, it’s like Semi-pro,” Newman said. “It’s not rec or beginners at all.”

The semi-pro women’s basketball organization consists of four leagues in the various cities of Memphis, Nashville, Houston, and Chicago. The organization will expand to Little Rock, AR this month. The season spans the course of eight weeks.

Former Hillsboro High School basketball player Jessica Pace is the league commissioner of the Nashville League. There were six teams that made up the Nashville League for the spring season (March-May): Team Trouble, Team Vibe, Primetime, Free Agents, Super Gremlins, and Team 615. There were 8-11 players for each team.

The She Got Game Nashville League was formed in 2021, already having two seasons under its belt. The third season for Nashville will start back up in August. This past season, and with the playoffs being single-elimination games, the ladies of Team Trouble beat Team Vibe to win the league championship. Both of the top two teams went on to play the top two teams out of the Memphis League. Team Vibe (second place) played the Lady Tigers (She Got Game Memphis League second place team), and Team Trouble played the Arkansas Elite (She Got Game Memphis League first place team).

“This year was just a match-up,” said Pace. “We do have a goal for next season of creating a big championship for all of the cities that we have, so it will be more of a tournament style then.”

After Hillsboro High School, Pace played one year at UT-Martin, then she transferred to Cumberland University and went on to play for three years. After graduating from college she went on to coach for one season at Columbia State Community College for one season. After Columbia State Community College she came back to Cumberland University to coach for four years. She has also coached AAU as well and has done individual training. “Basketball has been a part of my life forever,” said Pace. “I started playing when I was eight years old.”

There were two former WNBA players that played in the spring season. Jasmine Hassell and Dawn Evans both played on Primetime for the Nashville league. Both Evans and Hassell played one season in the WNBA.

The She Got Game League as a whole typically plays twice a year. Once in the spring (March-May) and in the fall (August-October). “Our open runs will be in July,” said Pace. “The season will start mid to late August.”

The league does not have to worry about if there are players who won’t be returning as the returning percentage has so far been a success.

“We typically have about 85% returners, most people come back, again this is our second season, so pretty much everybody who played last season come back, “ Says Pace. “I anticipate we will have more new faces this year because a lot of people in the city are still learning about it.”

No player is turned down by a team. Although there are no tryouts to join a team, anyone can make it and will be able to play.

“There aren’t any tryouts, it’s pretty much a lot of people use open gyms to come and play, they meet people and see who they want to be on their team with,” Says Pace. “Some people can register as a whole team, a collective team already. Some people can register as free agents and we can find a team for them. No tryouts, literally anybody can make it, anybody who registers can play.”

For She Got Game Nashville, social media is crucial in staying up to date on when to come to an open gym.

“Follow our social media page, that’s where we post all of our updates for open gyms and when registration links are available,” said Pace.

Currently, there are twelve teams that make up the WNBA. In years to come, will Nashville get its own WNBA team? Only time will tell as Pace is excited about the possibility.

“The WNBA is looking to expand and Nashville has made the shortlist, we are trying to do what we can to let them see that Nashville does have a desire for women’s basketball,” says Pace. “The more faces and the more eyes that we can get on She Got Game will be great.”

For more information and also links to their social media handles, visit their website shegotgameleague.com.

Chig Okonkwo: Continuing to Grow

Mike Patton
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Chig Okonkwo: Continuing to Grow

Coming into the 2022 NFL Draft, the Titans definitely had some needs. Among them was at tight end. For a team that usually has a steady tight end group, the 2021 group didn’t really stand out as much as usual. The result was an offense that was a little easier to defend outside of AJ Brown and Julio Jones when he was out there.

With that opening there, there was a litany of tight ends Titan fans were looking at. Jelani Woods was one tight end that could have ended up in Tennessee, but he ended up going to the Indianapolis Colts in the third round. With Woods and other tight-end selections gone, the Titans finally made their selection on a guy they felt fit them well.

With their fourth-round pick, the Titans would select Chig Okonkwo out of the University of Maryland. If people didn’t know who he was, they certainly got to see what stood out about him with his tape. His speed and ability to line up different places as a tight-end, drew comparisons to former Titans tight-end Jonnu Smith. With veteran tight end Austin Hooper signed with the Titans, there isn’t a ton of pressure for Chig to be the man at tight end. There are, however, those flashes that he has already shown that bring people into the potential he has.

As for Chig, he feels he is taking it all in and continuing to progress.

“I think I have progressed a ton especially when it comes to the non-physical part of the game. Where you gotta learn, you gotta think, you gotta see fronts and you gotta be able to know the play and the different conversions on different plays or certain coverages.”

It’s definitely evident Okonkwo is starting to feel more and more comfortable in the Titans system with each passing day. For a team like the Titans, they use multiple tight ends, and the more he learns and grows could mean him eventually gaining meaningful time.

However, we also have to remember that things are still getting added to his plate. Eventually, things will slow down, but for him right now, he isn’t to that point yet.

“Yes (things are slowing down), but every day we are adding new stuff, so it’s not really slowing down. Every day is fast. You have to go home and study your stuff.”

Chig is a versatile weapon and could really help the Titans when he is ready and able to. The question is only “when” because there is no “if” when it comes to the undeniable talent he has at tight-end. It’s going to be interesting to see how and when he begins to take off.

Getting Out of the Rent Trap

Dennifer Reliford
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Getting Out of the Rent Trap

By Dennifer Reliford

Does renting here in the Nashville area have you nervous? Stressed? Or Pressed? Don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. Although renting provides you with the easiest access to amenities without the stress of maintenance costs or untimely repairs, it can wreak havoc on your budget with the cost increase on a near yearly basis. According to Redfin, Nashville’s current market rent sits at a whopping $2,141/ month, with both New York and Boston topping the list at $4000/month respectively. How can you pay down other bills, take a trip, or be social in this inflated rent market?

Kissing your landlord goodbye and considering purchasing a home may sound a bit far-fetched, but with a great strategy and a knowledgeable Realtor, it could be the trick to help get both your current and future finances under wraps. I’ll let you in on a well-kept secret… A monthly home mortgage would be cheaper than most people pay each month for housing and the equity earned in the long-term surely pays for itself.

Most people are not aware of the tax incentives and loans that are available to First Time Homebuyers and also for buyers who may have great credit worthiness but maybe need a little downpayment assistance. Do you currently have a lower credit score and might be interested in enrolling in a credit repair program? Most mortgage lenders have great connections with programs that help buyers get on the road to a loan approval. Reaching out to a friendly Realtor is always a great way to get the ball rolling and get you well connected and on the path to homeownership, and out of the rent trap.

Think about it, if you’re currently paying the market rent of $2,141/month that’s a whopping $25,692/ year of your hard-earned money going out without any tax benefits or any of that hard-earned money coming back your way. Buying a home gives you the luxury of capitalizing on the current real estate market and earning equity (money) from the current market price of your home. Remember, real estate is an appreciating asset which means that the sales price of your property will go up in value as time goes on. Close your eyes and just imagine all that you could do with $25,692 even if we could get those costs cut in half.

Buying a home also allows you the privilege of making changes in your living space, such as painting and remodeling, without having to get permission from your landlord. You can get a pet, plant a garden, have a barbecue, or sit on a porch swing and mind your own business as a new homeowner. Think about all of the constant limitations that your current rented space brings about.

Mortgage loans are readily available for buyers with a credit score of 580 or above, but you’ll need to contact a local Realtor or loan advisor for more information. Buying a home will probably be one of the most expensive purchases that you will make in your lifetime, so choose your Realtor wisely and really be honest when chatting with them about your potential wants and needs. If I can be of any service, feel free to reach out, and last but not least stop renting sooner better than later. You owe it to yourself and also to your wallet.  If you are looking to buy or sell a home in the Middle Tennessee area, please reach out and contact me personally at 615-425-3600 (office) and/or 812-841-7037 (cell). Or feel free to email me at dreliford@kw.com and let’s set up a good time to chat about your future Real Estate goals.

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