COMMENTARY: Finding the Light to Drive Out Hate

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COMMENTARY: Finding the Light to Drive Out Hate

By Dr. Gail C. Christopher

Washington, D.C. – “Hate always terrorizes. That’s the intention. As an African American woman who came of age during the Civil Rights era, I know at heart how hate works to harm some and paralyze or, at least, to immobilize others. But movement is life. It’s certainly the way forward if Democracy is to survive and its aspirational tenets of equality are to be actualized. This is why we must see hateful acts, and their progenitors, hate speech on all forms of media, as threats to our collective health, well-being and future existence.

We must mobilize as a nation, come together to deny the expression of hate permission to continue expanding, unchecked on multiple airways across this nation. Sociologists probe whether the rises in hate speech can be directly linked to racial violence. This is not about free speech, it’s about freedom to live healthily and permission for democracy to thrive. Communities in Buffalo, El Paso, Atlanta, Charleston and Charlottesville know this in their bones. Their minds and hearts are forever imprinted with the devastating and horrific memories of violence and lives lost loss simply because of their racial or other identities.

Racial hatred denies our right to exist, to live in loving relationship with ourselves and with one another. No entity, human or corporate, can be allowed to have or to proliferate that misguided right. Ending racism, in all its forms, is a public health and a national imperative. Governmental action to regulate social media through new mechanisms and to enforce existing laws is urgently needed, now.

But more is required.

The 21st century has ushered in new understanding about how molecular and cellular biology works to sustain life. Chemicals find receptors on our cell membranes before they can enter and catalyze action. No receptor, no effect. We need a parallel in our body politic. For example, the life-saving drug Narcan, prevents and reverses opioid overdoses by competing at the nine opioid cellular receptor sites. What are the interventions that can knock out receptors for hate? Available research tells us that authentic human engagements and positive meaningful interactions with perceived “others” can reduce fears and biases and, help counter receptivity to hateful narratives and rhetoric. We must mobilize, with clear intention, so hate can no longer find receptors in our hearts and body politic. This work will also help generate political will needed to expedite essential regulatory and enforcement actions that are urgently required. As Dr. King prophetically told us decades ago, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Jerry Maynard Announces Campaign Kickoff for State Senate

Jason Luntz
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Jerry Maynard Announces Campaign Kickoff for State Senate

Former Councilmember At-Large and Pastor Jerry Maynard* has a proven record of getting things done as a community advocate in our city. He played a major role in saving Nashville General Hospital, securing contracts for women and black-owned businesses, and appropriating $10 million for the National Museum of African American Music. As a senator, he will continue to be a champion for social and racial justice and empower those who no longer feel they have a voice.

Maynard has been endorsed by a number of local leaders and elected officials.

 “I believe he is best suited for this position. His experience would be a valuable asset to our party at the state level,” said Rep Vincent Dixie.

“I’ve known and worked with Jerry for a few decades now. He has consistently been a fierce advocate for our community and brings a wealth of institutional knowledge of the law and governance to this position. Jerry would be ready on day one to represent the interests of Senate District 19 and the city of Nashville,” said Rep. Harold Love.

“His approach is fearless and effective. You don’t get things done by going along to get along. You must have the courage to stand up to the mayor, the governor, or a CEO. You also need to be able to work with anyone to make something happen for the community. Nashville General and The National Museum for African American Music are great examples of where Jerry’s fearless effectiveness got big wins for our community,” said Councilmember At-Large Sharon Hurt.

Jerry Maynard’s official campaign kick-off will take place at Swett’s Restaurant located at 2725 Clifton Ave, Nashville, TN 37209 at 5:30 PM May 19th, 2022. To learn more please visit www.maynardforsenate.com.

* Jerry Maynard is the founder and part-owner of the Nashville Voice.

Beat Burnout With These Playful Tips

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Beat Burnout With These Playful Tips

For many, the additional isolation and never-ending uncertainty of the past couple of years have led to mental fatigue and burnout. Experts say that no matter your age, turning to play instead of social media can help you feel more like yourself again.

“While it’s tempting to constantly reach for our devices to check social media during times of stress and loneliness, or even just when there’s downtime, it’s a habit that a number of studies, unfortunately, link to anxiety and depression,” says Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives at The Toy Association, which spearheads The Genius of Play. “Research shows that play, on the other hand, reduces stress, boosts life satisfaction, and empowers adults and kids alike to be creative thinkers.”

To combat burnout and mental fatigue, The Genius of Play is offering the following tips for reducing screen time and embracing playful hobbies instead:

• Make time for play: The habit-forming properties of social media are well-documented. However, you can commit to less screen time and more playtime. In the case of families, parents can lead the way by example. Consider instituting policies that help strike a healthy balance. For example, make the dinner table a device-free zone, schedule device-free game nights, and set time limits. Still, struggling to set healthy limits for yourself or your children? Apps, such as Moment and Social Fever, are designed to help.

• Bundle up: Don’t let cold weather discourage you from going outdoors. Fresh air is good for the mind, body, and soul, and once you get moving, you’ll warm up in no time. From nature hikes, skiing, and other outdoor adventures to backyard activities and obstacle courses, there are many ways for people of all ages to be playful outside. For kids, you can also try classic games like Kick the Can, and Capture the Flag. Social distancing? Try Shadow Tag. Played the same way as a traditional game of tag, players tag each other with their shadows instead of their hands.

• Play indoors: Feeling cooped up? Promote screen-free playtime at home with classic board games and card games, STEAM projects, and with toys that build real-world skills and challenge participants to solve problems imaginatively. For example, construction toys offer something for everyone, whether they prefer following directions or building freely. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

• Make art: From painting a still life to completing a project that’s a bit sillier, making art builds fine motor skills and problem-solving skills, enhances communication and self-expression, and promotes self-esteem and the motivation to succeed. Need some inspiration? Marshmallow Sculptures is a perfect project for kids ages 5 and up. Let your little Michelangelo connect toothpicks and marshmallows, revealing a one-of-a-kind work of art. Best of all, you can keep each sculpture, disassemble and start again, or even eat it!

• Take time to relax: Quiet time is vital for recharging one’s batteries. Build in time for your family to read, color, assemble puzzles, practice yoga or participate in other stress-relieving activities.

For more tips, advice, and the latest research from leaders in child development, education, and play, visit thegeniusofplay.org.

Through play, you can not only beat the blahs and develop important skills, you can also help your family form healthy digital habits — a win-win for everyone.

Mayor Cooper to Join Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville Build Sunday, May 15

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Mayor Cooper to Join Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville Build Sunday, May 15

NASHVILLE, Tenn – Mayor John Cooper will join Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville volunteers at the newly planned Sherwood Commons community in North Nashville this Sunday, May 15. Along with six future homeowners, the mayor will assist volunteers who are painting, landscaping, and providing other finishing touches on new homes.

Part of Mayor Cooper’s Agenda for Nashville’s Neighborhoods and Families focuses on doing more to create and preserve affordable housing which includes additional funding, a portion of which comes from the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress. Last year, Habitat For Humanity of Greater Nashville received $3 million from the Barnes Fund, one of Nashville’s tools to fund affordable housing projects

The six future homeowners include Sallie Woodward, a Nashville native and the first member of her family to become a homeowner; Ndemeye Esaie, a Burundian refugee who last lived in Tanzania and arrived in the U.S. in 2007, and who currently works for GEODIS; and Shatika White, a Nashville native and mother to her 7-year-old daughter.

The Sherwood Commons will offer 23 two-bedroom and three, three-bedroom townhomes to future homeowners.

Planned Parenthood CEO Statement on Draft Scotus Decision

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Planned Parenthood CEO Statement on Draft Scotus Decision

MEMPHIS — Planned Parenthood of Tennessee and North Mississippi CEO Ashley Coffield released the following statement on the leaked draft opinion by the Supreme Court that would overturn Roe v. Wade:

“First and foremost, abortion is legal today in Tennessee, and our doors remain open,” Coffield said. “We will continue to provide abortion care up to the very minute when we can no longer do so legally.

“We know the harm that will come from this decision, and we know that it will most impact Black, Latino, and other people of color who already disproportionately feel the effects of abortion bans and restrictions, a product of this country’s legacy of racism and discrimination.

“Eliminating the right to an abortion will have serious, life and death consequences for our patients, and we will fight like hell to defend their lives.

“We at Planned Parenthood have been preparing for this outcome since well before 2019, when Tennessee’s General Assembly passed a trigger ban to take effect 30 days after Roe is overturned. Plans have been underway to hire and train patient navigators who will help people access safe and legal abortion outside Tennessee and Mississippi.”

“While our politicians are divided on this issue, a clear majority of Americans believe the government should stay out of private medical decisions, and many in our region will be shocked and outraged by this decision if it stands.

“I encourage everyone to join our advocates for rallies today in major cities across the region, and sign up for updates through plannedparenthoodadvocates.org. We are most likely facing the end of safe and legal abortion in the United States, and the time to make your voice heard is now.”

A New Dream Team of Federal Judges

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A New Dream Team of Federal Judges

Something amazing just happened in the U.S. Capitol.  

On one day, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for five extraordinary women of color who have been nominated to federal judgeships by President Joe Biden. 

This judicial Dream Team will make our courts more representative of the American people. As judges, they will make our system more just. And they are building on an already exceptional record by the Biden White House and the Senate’s Democratic leadership to nominate and confirm what is by far the most diverse set of federal judges ever.  

What a difference an election makes. Two-thirds of Trump’s judges were White men. In contrast, two-thirds of Biden’s judicial nominees, and more than three-quarters of his nominees to the important circuit courts of appeal—the level just below the Supreme Court—have been people of color. And that’s in addition to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will soon be sworn in as the first Black woman ever to serve as a U.S. Supreme Court justice. 

The Far Right did everything they could to try to smear Judge Jackson and derail her confirmation. Her qualifications and character were unquestionable, so they resorted to utterly shameful distortions about her record.  

They failed to block Judge Jackson’s confirmation, but that hasn’t stopped them from running the same unprincipled playbook against civil rights lawyer Nancy Abudu, who has been nominated to serve on the 11th Circuit Court. The same groups that attacked Judge Jackson tried to smear Abudu. But I am convinced they will fail for the same reasons.  

Here, very briefly, are the latest members of the judicial Dream Team made possible by voters who elected President Joe Biden and took control of the Senate away from obstructionist-in-chief Mitch McConnell: 

Nancy Abudu is a civil rights advocate who spent years defending voting rights, freedom of speech, religious liberty, equality under law, and other core constitutional principles. She helped defend a six-year-old Black student turned away from school on the first day of first grade because of his hairstyle. She will be the first Black woman to serve on the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.  

Judge Michelle Childs is a federal district judge nominated by President Barack Obama in 2010; President Biden has nominated her to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals; he strongly considered her for the Supreme Court this year. In her years on the bench, Judge Childs has earned bipartisan respect for fairness while protecting voting rights and equal treatment in the courtroom. 

Natasha Merle has been nominated as a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York. In her public-interest legal career she has served as a public defender in death penalty cases and as a civil rights attorney at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where she is deputy director of litigation, working to make real the promises of justice and equality. 

Nusrat Jahan Choudhury has also been nominated as a federal judge in the Eastern District of New York. Her legal work at the American Civil Liberties Union has addressed racial disparities in law enforcement and unfair treatment of low-income people in the legal system. She will be the first Muslim woman to serve as a lifetime federal judge.   

Ana Isabel de Alba has been nominated as a federal judge in the Eastern District of California, where she will be the first Latina judge. As a lawyer, she fought against barriers to justice facing mistreated farmworkers like her mother and advocated for immigrants’ rights. Since 2018 she has been a California Superior Court Judge in Fresno County.  

If you ever notice yourself feeling too cynical to vote, or so fed up with slow progress or broken promises that you’re tempted to stay away from the ballot box, think about these women and remember this: President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans filled our federal courts with young and often unqualified judges committed to the same ideology as the Supreme Court justices who are stomping on voting rights, civil rights, workers’ rights, and more.  

We need more judges who will be a voice for justice. Having five such women appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the same day was a remarkable sign of the progress that can be made when we elect leaders who are committed to making progress and serving justice.

Mayor John Cooper Unveils New Agenda for Nashville Neighborhoods and Families

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Mayor John Cooper Unveils New Agenda for Nashville Neighborhoods and Families

NASHVILLE – Today, Mayor John Cooper spoke about his vision for the future of Nashville and unveiled his Agenda for Nashville Neighborhoods and Families to address the most critical issues facing city residents. The Mayor outlined his plan as part of the 59th State of Metro Address held at the Southeast Community Center in Antioch.

“We’re here today at the Southeast Nashville Community Center because the Nashville we know and love, the Nashville we want to serve – and preserve – is a city rooted in our neighborhoods, and in our families,” said Mayor Cooper. He called it “the perfect backdrop to tell you about my agenda for Nashville Neighborhoods and Families, which is the heart of our work in the year ahead.”

The Mayor’s agenda has six core components, each of which include strategic investments made alongside the city’s growth to meet the new challenges facing a dynamic and rapidly growing Nashville. The six focus areas for the Mayor’s agenda are:

“Good schools, clean streets, safe neighborhoods, reliable city services, affordable housing, world-class parks, live-work-play communities to raise a family in. That is Nashville,” said Mayor Cooper.“As we grow, we must do so in a way that works for every neighborhood, and make sure no one gets left behind. That requires investing alongside our growth and innovating to keep pace with the challenges presented by the growth. That is our vision.”

In each core focus area, the Mayor made several new commitments and announced new investments and programs meant to drive real progress toward meaningfully addressing the biggest challenges facing the city. In keeping with tradition, the mayor also revealed his comprehensive budget proposal that contains hundreds of line items necessary to fund the Metro government for the next fiscal year. Below is a summary of some of the most significant new initiatives included in the Mayor’s agenda:

  • For the second consecutive year, the Mayor will propose a record investment in education, allocating $91.2 million in total new dollars for Metro Nashville Public Schools. As part of that funding, the Mayor’s agenda will increase wages for Metro bus drivers, and for the first time ever, provide paid family leave to ALL Metro Nashville Education employees.
  • The Mayor’s agenda will significantly increase the number of first responders and police officers to bolster community safety on Nashville’s streets by adding 157 new emergency response personnel, including 46 more police officers, in addition to the 40 added last year, many of whom will staff the new 9th police precinct in Southeast Nashville slated to break ground early next year.
  • Mayor Cooper has quintupled Metro’s rate of investment in building and preserving affordable housing since taking office, and created the city’s first Division of Housing within the Planning Department. The Mayor’s agenda will also increase the total spend on affordable housing – a portion of which comes from the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress last year – which means in three years, his administration has allocated over $150 million for affordable housing – five times the rate of investment before he took office.
  • Mayor Cooper is determined to drastically reduce homelessness over the course of the next 3 years and set Metro Nashville firmly on the path to making homelessness rare and brief. Today, he announced funding for 9 additional staffers for the Metro Homeless Impact Division, which Mayor Cooper has grown 92% over his past two budgets. Mayor Cooper announced a bold $50 million plan for homelessness using funds from the American Rescue Plan to confront the crisis. The plan represents an unprecedented effort by the Metro government to address homelessness in Nashville.
  • The Agenda for Nashville Neighborhoods and Families includes a number of initiatives aimed at recommitting to the fundamentals of city government, including investing an additional $10 million in this year’s budget to increase the reliability of trash collection, add crews to repair our roads, and increase maintenance along roads, bikeways, and in alleyways – to sweep streets, clear brush, and keep trash out of storm drains and groundwater.
  • Creating a more sustainable, resilient city is a key piece of the Mayor’s agenda, which includes his promise this past February to formally adopt an ambitious community greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 80 percent from 2014 levels by 2050. He is also creating the Office of Music, Film and Entertainment as a new division in the Mayor’s office to better support our creative class and protect the future of Music City.

ARDN President, Dr. Djibril Diallo to Headline UN Red Card Campaign in Costa Rica

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ARDN President, Dr. Djibril Diallo to Headline UN Red Card Campaign in Costa Rica

SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA. – The founder and President of African Renaissance and Diaspora Network, (ARDN),Dr Djibril Diallo has been invited to the state house by the First Vice President of Costa Rica to harness the integration, development and protection of human rights of people of African descent.

The invitation letter sent through the office of the First Vice-President partly read:

“The Alvarado Quesada Administration established as one of its priority axes of domestic and foreign policy, the promotion, protection and defense of the human rights of people of African descent.”

“Aware of this commitment, the Government of the Republic, through the First Vice Presidency, has promoted multiple actions aimed at disseminating, preserving and promoting the culture and rights of this population.”

“Given your long history of defending the human rights of Africans and people of African descent, as well as within the framework of the establishment of the United Nations Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, I would like to extend a cordial invitation to you to hold a working meeting on next Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. at the Presidential House facilities in San José, Costa Rica.”

The presidency also requested for his engagement in the launch ceremony of the Central American campaign “Reconoce lo Afro”, which is led by Costa Rica and aims to make visible the contributions of the African diaspora throughout the world.

Reacting to the invitation, Dr Diallo Djibril said: ” First, I would like to thank the First Vice-President and everyone involved in organizing this event. It’s a great honour to join the First Vice President other personalities in reviewing the promotion and inclusion of African and Afro- descendant people in Costa Rica and the world.”

“As parts of our goals and set up at ARDN, we are committed to popularizing the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations as they relate to Africa and the African Diaspora, with emphasis on bringing about Zero tolerance towards gender-based violence and harmful practices.”

“I also look forward to connecting in San Jose with leaders from the Diaspora, University Presidents, Mayors, the youth, civil society organizations and the United Nations system with a view to launching in central America the campaign by ARDN to give a Red Card to all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls, in partnership with the Government of Costa Rica, UNWOMEN, UNFPA, UNDP/Africa and UNHABITAT.”

African-American Husband and Wife Team to Run New i9 Sports Franchise in Nashville North

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African-American Husband and Wife Team to Run New i9 Sports Franchise in Nashville North

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – i9 Sports, the nation’s first and largest youth sports league franchise with over 3 million participants in over 975 communities, will officially kick off its i9 Sports Nashville North League and welcome youth for opening day at Elmington Park on April 23 at 8 a.m. i9 Sports offers recreational sports leagues, camps, and clinics for boys and girls ages 3-14 and will focus on flag football, soccer, and baseball.

i9 Sports Nashville North is operated by Christopher and Joslyn McGaughy, a husband and wife team who moved with their children to the city during the height of the pandemic in 2020. It’s a family business focused on families, and the McGaughy’s are committed to fulfilling the i9 mission of Helping Kids Succeed in Life Through Sports.

“When we first moved to the Nashville area, it was challenging for us to explore our new environment and have any real community engagement due to COVID restrictions,” explained Joslyn McGaughy. “We started to explore opportunities to bring i9 Sports to the city of Nashville to become an active member of the community, learn more about our new home, and support youth, which has always been important to us. We are excited to introduce and share the i9 program that positively impacted our children, with the goal to have the same effect on the lives of Nashville youth.”

The McGaughys saw a need in the greater Nashville area to provide families with a convenient, customer-driven, recreational sports option. But more importantly, a league that doesn’t focus on winning or losing but is centered around character building, promoting active lifestyles, lifelong learning, team building, and having fun.

“We hope i9 Sports Nashville North provides all children and their families (and those in underserved communities) with year-round youth sports opportunities that positively keep them engaged and build a love of sports,” said Christopher McGaughy. “More importantly, we hope that we can contribute to the development of healthy and happy children by providing an enriching sports experience throughout their childhood.”

Dismas House To Host Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers Fundraiser

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Dismas House To Host Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers Fundraiser

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Dismas House, one of the largest reentry programs in the state of Tennessee, will host a Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers fundraiser on June 11th from 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. 

An irresistibly unique combination of hosting our guests’ whiskered friends and enjoying samples from local distilleries and wineries will help Dismas House keep the “fun” in fundraiser. This inaugural event will offer attendees the opportunity to learn more about the mission of Dismas House and the impact it has on the lives of returning citizens.

Attendees of the event will enjoy whiskey and wine samples and have an opportunity to patronize a variety of local food trucks.

In addition to the refreshing sips and delicious food, Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers attendees will enjoy music from one of the hottest local DJs while enjoying the laid-back setting of The Wedge Building (2020 Lindell Avenue).

“We are excited to invite Middle Tennesseans to join us for what will be a fun afternoon featuring samples from local distilleries and wineries, bites from local food trucks and a chance to frolic with our whiskered friends,” said Vice President of Development LoLita Toney. “This is a great opportunity to kick off the summer season and learn more about Dismas House.”

General admission tickets are $55 and tickets for Designated Drivers are $25.

The event will raise funds to support Dismas House’s Four Pillars of Programming: Basic Needs, Health & Well-Being, Life Skills, and Legal Support.

To learn more about Whiskey, Wine & Whiskers or to become a vendor or sponsor, visit https://www.dismas.org/events/whiskeywinewhiskers or contact Jessica Guzman at jguzman@dismas.org .

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