Nashville Zoo announces new members to board of directors

Marshall Latimore
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Nashville Zoo announces new members to board of directors

Nashville Zoo and Zoo Board Chairwoman Julie W. Walker have announced the addition of six new members to the Board of Directors. The Zoo’s new additions to the board of directors include: 

Clara L. Belden serves as the co-founder of The Happy Hour, a service that makes it approachable and convenient for people to seek mental wellness services, including talk-therapy and holistic coaching. She has held leadership roles in Marketing and PR for companies ranging from Equestrian Sport Productions, a mid-size sporting event production company, to multi-billion-dollar corporation Mars Inc. Belden represents Tennessee on the National Committee for Performing Arts for The Kennedy Center, is the volunteer chair of the Associate Board for Gilda’s Club of Middle Tennessee (an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community), and is a member of the Top Tails Society at the Nashville Humane Association.

Mike Bracken practices law in Nashville. He received a BA in Economics & Philosophy from Vanderbilt University and obtained a JD at Tulane University Law School. Bracken worked as an analyst at Merrill Lynch for two years and then moved on to work as an attorney with Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, one of the oldest law firms in Tennessee.

Beth Courtney serves as the managing partner for DVL Seigenthaler, Finn Partners Nashville, TN. Her career began at Hill, Holliday, Connors and Cosmopulos Advertising and Public Relations (Boston), followed by a stint at Projection Public Relations in London. She joined Seigenthaler Public Relations, Inc. in 1987, which is today DVL Seigenthaler. Courtney holds membership with the Academy of Women of Achievement by the Nashville YWCA; she was also awarded the Hercules Award by the Nashville Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and has been named Most Admired CEO and Woman of Influence by the Nashville Business Journal.

Jimmy Granbery is a fourth-generation family member of the 123-year-old H.G. Hill Company and serves as the company’s fourth chief executive officer. He was named CEO in 2002 following nine years as vice president of development for H.G. Hill Realty, taking the helm three years after the company exited the grocery business in 1999. He oversees the company’s privately held real estate portfolio that includes more than two million square feet. Granbery’s community involvement includes serving on the board of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee (chair, 2015-2017) and serving on the Martin Methodist College Board as vice chair. He is also the founding director of the ACE mentoring program.

Allie Hall serves as the leasing associate at Hall Emery in Nashville and is responsible for leasing and marketing of Hall Emery’s Nashville office, which includes properties in Cool Springs and Midtown Nashville. Formerly, she was the associate director of investor relations at Hall Capital in Oklahoma City, OK, where she assisted in marketing and fundraising efforts for the firm’s private equity and real estate funds. She is a developing leader of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association and a director at Fred Jones Family Foundation.

Karen Moore serves as the president of Project Redesign, a Nashville-based nonprofit that furnishes low-income housing. She founded this company in 2008. Formerly, Moore was the marketing assistant at Martha White Division of Beatrice Food Company and a sales representative for the Robert J. Young Company. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with her Bachelor’s degree, Moore has founded the Global Leadership Circle, which funds study abroad stipends for Ole Miss students and assisted with many fundraisers through the Ole Miss Alumni Group of Middle Tennessee.

Sandra Morgan serves as the senior vice president of Provider Relations at HCA. Her responsibilities include providing leadership and oversight for HCA’s national Physician & Provider Relations and Transfer Centers programs. Morgan has 19 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. She began her career as a sales specialist with Bayer Corporation. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Morgan has served as chair of the St. Louis Diabetes Coalition Consumer Group and has been a member of the American Heart Association Heart Walk Executive Committee. Morgan has also served on the boards of The Hope Fund and You Have The Power organizations.

Dr. Tim Schoettle is certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He has continuously practiced neurosurgery with the Howell Allen Clinic since 1985. Over that time, he has been recognized with many awards from his peers and from his patients. Schoettle has been listed as one of Nashville’s Top 100 Doctors in Nashville Magazine, every year since 2006. Since 2004, he has been selected as one of America’s Top Surgeons by Consumer’s Research Council of America every year. He has also earned the peer-selected recognition of America’s Top Surgeons through Castle Connolly, every year since 2006. Schoettle received the Vitals’ Patient’s Choice Doctor Award, as well as the Most Compassionate Doctor Award, from 2012 to 2018. He has also served as a past president of the Tennessee Neurosurgical Society and a past president of the Vanderbilt Meacham NIS Society.

Alexandra Sollberger serves as principal at Stones River Group where she specializes in media training and engagement, crisis communications, message and content development as well as grassroots coalition building. Most recently, Sollberger was a vice president at a top-ranked, bipartisan public relations and lobbying firm in Washington, D.C., where she provided strategic counsel to a variety of clients. Previously, Sollberger served as a communications director for the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she worked as the senior adviser to Chairman John Kline. She also worked closely with Republican leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, helping to revitalize digital media efforts, design award-winning congressional websites and direct the creative use of social media and infographics.

Monique Odom, director of Metro Parks and Recreation, and Alex Sadler, Roar Corps young professionals group representative, both serve on the Board as ex-officio members.  Young Leaders Council interns for 2019 are David Banks and Jane Cousins.

The new officers of the board include Jimmy Webb, Vice-Chairman; David Manning, Secretary; Ed Goodrich, Treasurer; Julie W. Walker, remains as Chairman.

In addition to newly appointed members, Nashville Zoo’s Board of Directors includes Cynthia Arnholt, Samantha Boyd, Drew Crawford, Lauren Curry, Anne Davis, Laurie Eskind, Will Fitzgibbon, Lily Followill, Ed Goodrich, J.R. Greene, Barbara Hagood, Carl Haley, Jr., Chris Holmes, John Howard, Kent Kirby, John Lueken, David Manning, Alex Marks, Tara Scarlett, Brian Smallwood, Butch Spyridon, Barbara Turner, McArthur VanOsdale, Julie W. Walker, Jimmy Webb and Kimberly Williams-Paisley.

The Zoo has also comprised a group of Advisory Directors that includes former board members and longtime supporters that will serve as advisors to the Board Chairman and Zoo President and CEO, Rick Schwartz.

The Advisory Directors are George Armistead III, Kelley Beaman, Lee Beaman, Kathryn Carell Brown, Renee Chevalier, Neely Coble III, Kelly Crockett Crook, Missy Eason, Jennifer Frist, Rodes Hart, Jim Hunt, Sarah Ingram, Jeff Jacobs, Tom Loventhal, Ellen Martin, Frank McGrew, Richard McRae, Larry Papel, Anne Parsons, Robin Patton, Sheryl Rogers, Charles Sonnenberg, Renata Soto, Richard Speer and Abby Trotter.

Two high school underclassmen to watch in 2019 basketball tournaments

Mike Patton
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Two high school underclassmen to watch in 2019 basketball tournaments

The end of basketball season is rolling around and that means one thing in the state of Tennessee: tournament time.

Some teams have had the season they wanted and others will be using the tournament as a time to start anew. While there will be some teams trying to find themselves, there will be some starting players in the Midstate area trying to make a bigger name for themselves.

One of the stand out players on that short list is Brentwood Academy’s, Randy Brady. Brady is new to the Nashville area, as he was playing for The Baylor School before his family moved to the Nashville area.

The sophomore guard currently plays for the Brentwood Academy Eagles and following in the steps of players like Brandon Wright and Darius Garland, he is becoming the main attraction for the team.

Standing at 6’4”, Brady can shoot the basketball as well as take it to the basket and finish over shorter defenders. He still has some work to do on his three-point and midrange game, but as it stands right now, he will be the next in a long line of stars that laced up their basketball sneakers for the Brentwood Academy Eagles.

And although he is the focal point of the team, Eagles coach Hubie Smith loves how he has fit in.

“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever been around. He works hard every day,” Smith said.

Marvin Hughes

Another player to keep your eyes on is McGavock’s, Marvin Hughes. The junior guard is fielding offers from a few teams as he continues his scoring rampage in the city of Nashville.

In McGavock’s up-tempo style, Hughes gets plenty of chances to put the ball in the basket. He can take the ball off the rim and go coast-to-coast, bullying his way through the defense and finishing with finesse around the rim.

While he does need some work on his jump shot, he can get streaky and shoot the lights out as well. With McGavock getting that brand-new start to the season, Hughes will be pivotal for their success.

The better he is and the more efficient and successful he is, the more his team will be able to fill in around him as they make a push to the postseason.

Both Brady and Hughes may be underclassmen, but they are both critical to the success of their teams. While they play alongside other talented teammates, these two have the potential to be their respective team’s focal points.

For both Brady and Hughes, this is a chance to show what they are made of and it also is their chance to introduce those that are not aware of their talents to their world of basketball.

The legacy of a legend, David Williams

Ron Wynn
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The legacy of a legend, David Williams

Nashville and Vanderbilt University lost far more than an athletic director, vice chancellor and law professor Feb. 8 when David Williams died at 71.

The world lost someone who bridged the gap between academics and athletics, sports fans and professors, Nashville’s black community and a university with a less than exemplary track record in terms of historical treatment of and attitude towards African Americans.

Williams reached many people who otherwise could care less about Vanderbilt sports or the institution.

A funny thing though: Because the outpouring of grief was so widespread and immediate, it’s easy to overlook the fact that when he was tabbed to be athletic director in addition to Vice Chancellor of University Affairs (the first black to hold either position by the way and the SEC’s first black athletic director) there were hosts of people in the sports world who thought Vanderbilt had lost its collective mind.

There were even columnists suggesting this was a sign Vanderbilt was de-emphasizing athletics.

Williams disdained separate dorms for athletes, and put equal amounts of attention on education, insisting it was important even for the select handful of Vandy football and basketball players who had a chance to earn big dollars in the NFL or NBA.

Yet, rather than Vanderbilt athletics fading under Williams’ leadership it soared. He hired the most successful football coach in recent Vanderbilt history in James Franklin, also its first black head football coach.

Franklin didn’t stay very long, but he was there long enough to get the Commodores into bowl games, and for a brief moment even into the Top 25.

His successor Derek Mason hasn’t duplicated Franklin’s lofty achievements, but has gotten them to multiple bowl games and garnered multiple wins over hated in-state rival Tennessee.

That Williams hired TWO black head coaches when a lot of SEC schools have yet to hire their first also says a lot about his devotion and dedication to equal opportunity.

What many detractors either didn’t know or realized about David Williams was his whole life personified the notion one could love sports, arts, politics, and academics with equal vigor.

He’d been a track athlete and student activist at Northern Michigan during the ’60s, a peak time for activism among students and athletes.

Williams loved music (especially soul and Motown) and had been teaching in the law school since 2000 despite the many demands placed on an athletic director.

He found time to be involved with numerous other non-athletic things, including maintaining ties with Vanderbilt’s Black Cultural Center, Nashville’s Equal Justice Initiative, and various other social and political groups.

Williams always made sure the local Black press got the same treatment at press conferences and sports events that mainstream publications and broadcast outlets received. He did not let anyone feel neglected or ignored.

The Williams era at Vanderbilt will no doubt be regarded as one of the most, if not THE most, productive.

The school won four national championships over his 16 years, the first Vanderbilt ever earned in any sport. He was as proud of the women’s two bowling and one tennis title as he was of Tim Corbin’s 2014 baseball squad finally capturing the College World Series crown.

Although football, the only sport that matters in much of SEC country, never threatened for a conference or national title, even it flourished under Williams.

Before 2007, Vanderbilt had appeared in a grand total of three bowl games since they began football in 1890. Over the next 11 years, they appeared in six.

Still, if you ever talked to Williams about his time at Vanderbilt, he would inevitably return to what he considered his greatest personal achievement. He brought back into the Vanderbilt sphere pioneering basketball player Perry Wallace, who’d been the SEC’s first full-time Black player.

Vanderbilt ostracized Wallace for decades because on his way out the door in 1970 he had the temerity to let everyone know just how bad things had been for him, both at the school and in the SEC.

While Wallace, a true student-athlete, would go on to become prominent as a law professor at American University after working for the Justice Department as an attorney, his alma mater acted as though he were invisible.

Williams ended that nonsense. He had Wallace’s number retired, got him inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame, and personally endowed a scholarship in his name.

Nashville author Andrew Maraniss, a longtime friend of Williams, wrote the definitive biography of Perry Wallace “Strong Inside,” and teamed with him to launch a Sports and Society Initiative beginning this year. Sadly, Williams didn’t live to see that come to fruition.

It’s a testimony to David Williams’ stature, impact and contributions to society that the list of those paying tribute after news of his death hit the airwaves and websites included journalists, athletic officials, politicians, fellow professors, and former and current Vanderbilt athletes.

Everyone was in total shock because he had a retirement party scheduled that evening, with friends and family from around the nation gathered in Nashville for the event.

While many remain in mourning, the greatest lesson that can be taken from David Williams is never to accept conventional notions about anything. He didn’t make bogus assumptions that athletes can’t be scholars, or academicians can’t have fun and love music. He was a phenomenal individual, irreplaceable, and will never be forgotten.

Savage: ‘Don’t be fooled by the propaganda, the FOP is desperately trying to protect officer Andrew Delke’

Niara Savage
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Savage: ‘Don’t be fooled by the propaganda, the FOP is desperately trying to protect officer Andrew Delke’

By NIARA SAVAGE | Nashville Voice

The further the Hambrick case advances towards a conviction for Andrew Delke, the more desperate the Nashville Fraternal Order of Police becomes in its attempt to rescue Delke from the justice he deserves.

Over the past several months, officer Andrew Delke has gone from being the first-ever Metro Nashville Police Officer charged with criminal homicide to the first officer indicted on such charges.

Last Wednesday, Feb. 13, Delke entered a “not guilty” plea during a hearing. The case, involving the shooting death of a 25-year old fleeing Black man Daniel Hambrick by Delke, has reignited tensions regarding police brutality in Nashville and in similar incidents across the nation.

In its latest attempt at making Delke—a murderer—look like an angel, the FOP has launched a digital ad campaign defending Delke, and, once again, positing that Hambrick pointed a loaded gun at the officer.

The Nashville Voice and several other media outlets have repeatedly pointed out the fact that there is no video evidence suggesting that Hambrick ever pointed a weapon at Delke. The defense coincidentally claims that this portion of the video footage was lost.

According to David Harris of the University of Pittsburgh, fraternal organizations sometimes take advantage of the ultra-shareable technology of the recent digital age to influence the outcomes of criminal cases.

“They’re trying to influence public opinion about the case in advance of the trial with the idea of influencing a jury,” Harris said.

Interestingly, David Raybin, the FOP’s apparent and unofficial ally filed a motion earlier this month requesting for murder evidence to be blocked from the case. According to Raybin, sharing evidence from the public could have many “unintended consequences.”

However, the FOP’s ad is more reminiscent of biased political propaganda than the actions of an institution interested in maintaining the integrity of an ongoing case.

It’s obvious that Delke’s defense and the FOP are meticulously filtering what the public does and does not see in regards to the Hambrick case as they hide potentially critical details of the investigation.

In the face of this blatant attempt to manipulate the public, it’s hard not to ask: if Andrew Delke is so innocent, then what does Raybin have to hide?

Amazon invests money in electric pickups

CNN Newsource
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Amazon invests money in electric pickups

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN Business

(CNN) — Amazon is putting money into electric trucks.

The online retailer led a $700 million investment in Michigan-based electric pickup maker Rivian, the companies said Friday.

Rivian unveiled an all-electric pickup and an SUV at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show in November and plans to begin production of the vehicles in a factory in Normal, Illionois, next year. The company is headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan, not far from Detroit.

The total investment was split with Abdul Lateef Jameel Company, a Saudi Arabia-based importer and exporter that is already a major stakeholder in Rivian. Amazon invested a “significant majority” of the money, though, a Rivian spokesman said. Amazon declined to provide any details about the investment.

Rivian’s pickup and SUV are both based on a large battery-based engineering platform Rivian calls a “skateboard.” Both vehicles are designed to excel off-road with the help of four separate electric motors, one driving each wheel independently.

“The investment is a drop in the bucket for Amazon,” said Michelle Krebs executive analyst at Autotrader. “But it is huge for Rivian in terms of the amount of money and in terms of raising the profile of Rivian. Amazon is exploring ways to reinvent its delivery fleet, and Rivian’s electric-powered skateboard concept, which could carry a variety of body styles, offers an interesting possibility.”

Rivian’s pickup, called the R1T, will have a starting price of about $69,000 while the SUV, which can seat up to seven, will start at $72,000. Both vehicles should be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, for electric vehicles. Both vehicles are expected to have a driving range of over 400 miles.

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‘Carlton Dance’ refused copyright registration

CNN Newsource
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‘Carlton Dance’ refused copyright registration
By Lisa Respers France, CNN
(CNN) — It’s not unusual for the “Carlton Dance” to be loved by anyone, but the US Copyright Office apparently doesn’t think it’s all that special.

Former “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Alfonso Ribeiro has been involved in a lawsuit with Take-Two Interactive, publisher of the video game “NBA 2K,” and the publisher of “Fortnite” over avatars in the games being able to do the dance that his character popularized on the hit ’90s sitcom.

A letter from Saskia Florence, a supervisory registration specialist with the US Copyright Office, to Ribeiro’s attorney, David Hecht, surfaced this week as part of federal court documents in California.

In the correspondence, Florence wrote that the moves are “a simple dance routine.”

“As such, it is not registrable as a choreographic work,” the letter stated.

She also wrote an explanation of the choreography in which “the dancer sways their hips as they step from side to side, while swinging their arms in an exaggerated manner.”

Florence wrote, “This single dance step is not registrable as a choreographic work. Accordingly, your application for registration is refused.”

Ribeiro debuted the moves during a scene on the popular show that starred Will Smith.

In one episode, Ribeiro’s character, Carlton Banks, performs the dance to the Tom Jones classic “It’s Not Unusual.”

The choreography also helped the actor and TV host win “Dancing With the Stars.”

Ribeiro and his pro dance partner, Witney Carson, were crowned champions of that competition dance show in 2014, with one of their highlights being a performance featuring the “Carlton Dance.”

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Trump declares border national emergency to bipartisan skepticism

CNN Newsource
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Trump declares border national emergency to bipartisan skepticism

By Jeremy Diamond, Priscilla Alvarez and Kevin Liptak, CNN

(CNN) — President Donald Trump on Friday declared a national emergency to unlock billions of dollars in federal funds to build a wall on the southern border, bypassing Congress after lawmakers refused to meet his multi-billion dollar request for border wall funds.

For weeks, the President and his top officials had argued that there is a “crisis” on the southern border. Democrats pushed against that argument, saying there’s no security crisis but rather a humanitarian one.

According to federal data, Customs and Border Protection apprehended nearly 400,000 people along the Southwest border in fiscal year 2018, an increase from 2017 but a decrease from 2016. Many of those apprehended were claiming asylum.

Trump on Friday reiterated his claims of an “invasion” of drugs and undocumented immigrants at the southern border, but offered little factual or statistical evidence to back up his claim that a national emergency exists.

Instead, he refuted statistics — many from his own administration — that show that border crossings are at record lows, that undocumented immigrants commit crimes at lower rates than native-born Americans and that most drugs coming across the southern border flow through legal ports of entry.

The President announced his national emergency declaration during a rambling performance in the Rose Garden where he bragged about the economy, touted progress in his talks with China, vented about media coverage of his presidency and insisted his negotiations with North Korea are bearing fruit.

“It’s been signed many times before. It’s been signed by other presidents from 1977 or so. It gave the presidents the power,” Trump said. “There’s rarely been a problem. They sign it, nobody cares. I guess they weren’t very exciting.”

But at the same time, the President undercut his case about the existence of a national emergency and the urgency of building new barriers on the US-Mexico border.

“I didn’t need to do this,” Trump said. “But I’d rather do it much faster.”

Democrats and activist groups will almost certainly challenge the declaration in court, as critics pre-emptively argued that Trump cannot use the national emergency to free up taxpayer funds and build the border wall he has long promised his political supporters.

The President declared the national emergency even as he agreed to sign a spending bill from Congress that allocated $1.375 billion for the President to build 55 miles of new fencing. The additional executive actions he is undertaking aim to redirect more than $6 billion in federal funds toward the construction of hundreds more miles of border barriers — bringing total funding for the wall to nearly $8 billion.

“We don’t control our own border,” Trump claimed. “We’re going to confront the national security crisis on our southern border and we’re going to do it — one way or the other we have to do it.”

Repeating claims
Trump repeated claims about “tremendous amounts of drugs” crossing into the US from the southern border — even though the majority of those drugs come through ports of entry — and addressed the issue of human trafficking.

He once again reiterated his claim that El Paso, Texas, is safer because of border fencing built there in 2008, despite statistics showing the city had already become safer a decade prior and violent crime rates did not drop as a result of the new barrier.

Trump conceded that he expects his national emergency declaration will be challenged in the courts, but rejected criticism from those who argued he is setting a bad precedent and insisted he is on firm legal ground.

Trump griped about the legal battles to come in a sing-song tone, predicting the matter will eventually come before the Supreme Court.

“We will have a national emergency, and we will then be sued, and they will sue us in the 9th Circuit, even though it shouldn’t be there, and we will possibly get a bad ruling, and then we’ll get another bad ruling, and then we’ll end up in the Supreme Court, and hopefully we’ll get a fair shake and we’ll win in the Supreme Court,” Trump said.

Bipartisan opposition
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized or expressed concern about Trump’s plans to move forward with a national emergency.

“Declaring a national emergency would be a lawless act, a gross abuse of the power of the presidency and a desperate attempt to distract from the fact that President Trump broke his core promise to have Mexico pay for his wall,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said in a statement Thursday. “It is yet another demonstration of President Trump’s naked contempt for the rule of law. This is not an emergency, and the President’s fearmongering doesn’t make it one.”

Several Republican lawmakers also expressed serious concerns about Trump’s move to declare a national emergency, concerned about the precedent Trump’s move to bypass Congress might set. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who had previously opposed an emergency declaration, said Thursday he would support the move after Trump agreed to sign the compromise legislation to avert another government shutdown.

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky called it a “bad idea.”

“I generally don’t think it’s a good idea,” added Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.

The national emergency declaration still doesn’t guarantee Trump’s wall. The administration is expected to face a slew of legal challenges, including from House Democrats and landowners whose property will likely have to be seized to mount barriers.

House Democrats could introduce a resolution to rescind the national emergency and eventually vote on it on the House floor. It would then go to the Senate, where they’d have to vote on it within a certain time frame. Even if it were to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, Trump could veto it.

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The Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital

Erika Davis
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The Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital

The Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital (NGH) is a program that provides nutritional food totes to patients enrolled in the care management classes held at NGH for chronically-ill patients.

“Food is medicine and we treat our patients with different types of foods based upon their disease state needs such as diabetes, hypertension, morbid obesity, heart disease, and cancer patients,” says Mike Venters, Director of Nutrition Services at NGH.

The food totes reinforce healthy food habits to help patients achieve success in the lifetime commitment of disease self-management. The totes include shelf stable and fresh produce on a weekly basis. Support for the program is provided by the Margaret & Cal Turner Foundation, the Memorial Foundation, the Second Harvest Food Bank and NGH staff.

“Our food pharmacy is prescribed based on there specific diagnosis,” said Vernon Rose, Executive Director for Nashville General Hospital Foundation (NGHF).

Education is also an important aspect of the Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital. The foundation teaches patients how to properly read food labels. “We have an eight week class for diabetic patients where they learn about nutrition, the disease, and self-management,” said Rose. ”We also talk about the challenges of taking care of their bodies.”

“45%-50% of our patients arrive with little to no ability to pay for their healthcare,” said Rose. “That gives some indication that they may also be faced with food deficiency.” The program also is supplemental. The Food Pharmacy at Nashville General Hospital does not replace regular grocery store visits. Depending on the circumstances of the patients household, the patient can be connected with a case manager, a nurse, or a dietitian.

“We know what we are doing is working we just need to do more of it!” Rose added.

The Foundation is always accepting new volunteers; no one will be turned away. There are opportunities to volunteer at the food pharmacy, make a monetary donation, or assist with the other program initiatives of the NGHF. “If it is in their heart for what they are wanting to do when they want to support someone in the community people can visit the website,” said Rose. “If it touches your heart, get involved.”

To find out more information about the Nashville General Hospital Foundation and to contact Vernon Rose for volunteer work, visit www.nashgenfoundation.org.

Why are so many Nashville Black Women single?

The Nashville Voice
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Why are so many Nashville Black Women single?

As couples in Nashville celebrate Valentine’s Day, it is a good time to reflect on the dating scene in Music City. Particularly when it comes to African American women.

Nationally the stats are shocking. Only 42% of Black Women will be married in their lifetime. Double the number of White Women will tie the knot. According to abcnews.go.com there is 1.8 million more Black Women than Black Men. This number alone is a huge issue.

As of the 2010 Census the racial makeup in Nashville of the black population was at 28.4%.  At of the beginning of 2019, Davidson County’s Black population equaled an estimated 171,000 people, with 53% of them being women. While that number does show there are more women than men in the Black Community, it does not seem enough of a difference to explain the amount of women who are not married or in a long term relationship. So, we decided to gather a group of Single Black Women and talk to them about dating in Nashville by hosting an event titled Single in the Ville.

Black Women of all ages attend Dating in the Ville at TheLab Nashville. (Photo by: Jason Luntz)
Black Women of all ages attend Dating in the Ville at TheLab Nashville. (Photo by: Jason Luntz)

The event took place at TheLab, a co-working and event space in North Nashville.

That evening brought together a diverse group of women aged between 20 to 70 years old and led to a conversation with some interesting feedback on reasons why so many of them remain single.

The conversation was moderated by entrepreneur Markeith Braden, who presented the women with open-ended questions, allowing for some unique perspectives on dating in Nashville. The discussion followed the good, bad, and the ugly aspects of the Nashville dating scene.

Markeith Braden moderated the conversation about dating in Nashville (Photo by: Jason Luntz)
Markeith Braden moderated the conversation about dating in Nashville (Photo by: Jason Luntz)

Many of the women in attendance felt that there is not enough events here catering to their demographic. It was a recurring theme that the social scene in Middle Tennessee for black people needs some work.

Others felt that the ratio of women to men was to vast to overcome.

Event attendee TaNisha Smith felt that some of the responsibility was on the women. “You get what you believe you deserve, and when you say nothing exist, you’ll see nothing. Have a list of superficial, easy stuff? You’ll get superficial, easy stuff,” she explained. “Recognize that being single is not a disease and a man/partner is not a cure. Be in love with you.”

While some women who attended seemed to accept that meeting a Black male partner was possible, the idea of finding one who was on the same educational level was not a reality. It was continued to be expressed that Black Women in Nashville may have to date outside their race or economic status.

With that said Lifestyle Blogger Melissa Watkins felt there were some positive outcomes from the discussion. “Several ladies recalled finding true love in the city, they spoke of going to places they wouldn’t usually go, being open and honest about their needs, and making sure to keep a positive mindset about dating in general,” Melissa said. “These sentiments, were met with approving sighs.”

What was discovered throughout the evening was that Black Women in Nashville have put in the time and work to produce successful and positive lives. As the night ended Braden and the Nashville Voice male staff that were in the room all agreed that it is time for the Black Men in Nashville to do their part and step up.

Hopefully more discussions like Dating in the Ville can help bring more Black Women and Men together.

Tennessee State University leading the way in the research of hemp, the ‘new cash crop’

Lee Johnson
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Tennessee State University leading the way in the research of hemp, the ‘new cash crop’

When Tonya Lewis decided to become a hemp grower and learn more about the “new cash crop,” the Nashville resident turned to a leading researcher of the plant: Tennessee State University.

“It helped me understand where the state is in regards to research on hemp, and how to go about getting everything from a license to actually grow hemp, to looking at the benefits of it statewide, as far as economically,” said Lewis, who attended one of several hemp workshops hosted by TSU’s College of Agriculture.

TSU is among the nation’s leaders in hemp research, and the recently passed U.S. Farm Bill is making sure it remains at the forefront.

The bill Congress approved in December legalizes the growth and manufacturing of industrial hemp, the cannabis plant with little of the chemical that can cause a high. The legalization clears the way for existing programs at land-grant institutions like TSU to expand research and development programs for medicinal and textile production.

“I am excited for this opportunity for TSU, and I look forward to seeing how this will help produce the next generation of agricultural leaders in our state,” said Tennessee Congressman Jim Cooper.

Historically, industrial hemp has been regarded primarily as an agricultural crop valued for fiber and grain. Hemp fiber is used to make textiles, building materials, animal bedding, mulch, paper, industrial products, and biofuels. Hemp grain, or seed, is used in food and feed products, and oil from the seed is used to make personal care products and industrial products, including paints, solvents, and lubricants.

“This is the new cash crop,” said Lewis, who attended the Southern Hemp Expo in Nashville last year. “There’s a multitude of uses for it. It could do a lot to revitalize the agricultural industry in Tennessee, as well as other states.”

TSU’s College of Agriculture has charged a team of scientists to develop hemp production practices for Tennessee. The research projects include developing hemp nutritional products for human consumption and studying the economic viability of hemp production in Tennessee. Currently, the university is growing and evaluating 10 varieties of hemp.

“TSU wants to be at the forefront of this new interest that’s cropping up across the country,” said Dr. Chandra Reddy, dean of the College of Agriculture. “If it’s ever approved for large scale use, we have some knowledge about it and can work with the farmers.”

TSU has hosted several hemp workshops, including one on Jan. 11 with the Tennessee Hemp Industries Association, an advocate for the production of industrial hemp. More than 200 people attended the meeting.

Joe Kirkpatrick, president of the TNHIA, said Tennessee currently has the largest state HIA chapter in the nation and he credited “TSU for helping us facilitate those meetings and outreach to the public.”

“It’s also great to have the world-class laboratories and scientists there, the researchers, to help … move the hemp industry forward,” Kirkpatrick said.

Michael Walls is one of the many farmers who has benefited from TSU hemp researchers. His family has a 140-acre farm in Hardeman County that is using an acre to grow hemp.

“There’s a lot of potential for what hemp can do,” said Walls, adding that his family plans to broaden their hemp growth. “I’m just trying to get more information to see what other possibilities there are.”

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