On the night before Valentine’s Day, more than 50 women from the Nashville area came together to attend Ladies’ Night at The Lab on Jefferson Street, an event hosted by the Nashville Voice.
Women of all ages celebrated self-love, sisterhood, and self-care, while discussing the plight of Nashville’s dating scene over food and wine. Kimberly ‘Brownie’ Vaughn, author of the book Confidence B4 Commitment led a group dialogue about the importance becoming self-confident and establishing clear expectations before seeking out Mr. Right. Brownie also provided a platform for women to share out-loud, steps they can take to engage in self-care, and name things they love about themselves.
Brownie’s positive and energetic demeanor helped foster a warm environment where all attendees felt comfortable sharing raw and honest thoughts about their past dating experiences. Following expressions of both self-affirmation, and frustration alike, women around the room rallied in a show of support. Some women expressed concerns about Black men in the metropolitan area not being ready for commitment, while others shared how reflecting on past relationships led to a greater understanding of their own actions may contribute to the breakdown of a relationship. Brownie encouraged each woman to embrace freedom from shame and insecurity. The women also took the time to write down and share the things they expect from future Mr. Right.
This year’s Ladies’ Night is the the third installment of the Nashville Voice’s Single in the ‘Ville series. The goal of the series is to spark important and inclusive conversations about love and relationships among Black singles in the city. Leading up to this year’s event, the Voice published multiple stories exploring the state of Nashville’s dating scene, and surveyed several men about their thoughts on Black love and relationships. Since the start of the series, the Voice has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees who appreciate being provided the space to engage in open and honest conversations about both self, and romantic love.
Towards the end of the night, Brownie led a group affirmation during which each woman acknowledged their own unique beauty, and worth. Twenty women received complimentary copies of Brownie’s Confidence B4 Commitment, while one lucky winner was presented with a $150 dollar gift card to WoodHouse Spa. The Nashville Voice hopes to continue sparking conversations about the city’s evolving cultural climate in the future.
