Events: Upcoming & Already Happened

Busy times, but important to connect with other like-minded people

Friends, This post is intended to alert you to ways you can engage over the next few months and also provides video clips of a few recently past events that may be of interest.

In the next 2 weeks, the following events are taking place: • Annual John Lewis March (7/19) • Democracy Defenders Training Conference (7/20-25) • Flip the 7th community conversation (7/27) More about these events immediately follows.

At the end of this post, there is information about a few East Nashtivist upcoming events. To learn more, click on this link: https://linktr.ee/eastnashtivists: • Taco Tuesdays to support immigrant businesses (3rd Tuesday of each month) • Campaign Boot Camp to learn about running for office • Grassroots Organizing Retreat to protect and expand the right to bodily autonomy

Recent past events that may be of interest are included below: • Rapid Response Town Hall with US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and TN Representative Justin Jones (7/13). • East Nashtivists Monthly Meeting (7/9) featuring CA Governor Gavin Newsom (testing the water for a Presidential run?) and Metro Council Vice Mayor Angie Henderson, At-Large member Olivia Hill and Council members serving East Nashville neighborhoods: Sean Parker- District 5, Clay Capp- District 6, and Emily Benedict- District 7.

Let’s keep gathering and building community. It is the antidote to the virus running rampant in our country. In peace and solidarity, Michele

UPCOMING

1.) Saturday, July 18- John Lewis Way Annual Walk

This community gathering commemorates the life and legacy of the late Congressman John Lewis, alongside local civil rights icons Dr. C.T. Vivian, Diane Nash, Rev. James Lawson, and so many others who marched for justice, equity, and nonviolent change.

To register, go to: https://www.johnlewisway.com/

2.) July 20-25- Weeklong conference: Democracy Defenders Summer Seminar & Summit focused on taking action to create a multi-racial democracy that serves all of us.

3.) Sunday, July 27- Community Conversation regarding the Special Election for US Congressional District 7. Titled Flip the 7th, this event, hosted by TN State Senator Charlane Oliver, is an opportunity for community members to reflect, strategize, and discuss what kind of leadership is needed to represent District 7 in Congress in light of current Congressman Mark Green’s resignation, effective 7/20.

RECENTLY PAST EVENTS

1.) Saturday, July 13th: District 52 Town Hall Meeting (this is Andy Ogles current district, where he has NEVER held an open town hall) featuring US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in conversation with TN Representative Justin Jones. (To hear more clips than those included below, go to Representative Gloria Johnson’s Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/votegloriaj/?hl=en)

People were still checking in when these photos were taken. Every seat ended up being filled in the auditorium at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch.

Albert Bender, Indigenous leader and Cherokee activist, journalist, and author, provided the opening remarks. “NO one is illegal on stolen land.”

An Attorney with Tennessee Justice for Our Neighbors (JAFON) spoke next about the free/low-cost immigration legal services they offer to low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, especially important given the recent ICE raids in this South Nashville District.

Brekin read her moving poem that led to a standing ovation.

Below are two clips from Representative Jones’ opening remarks:

Several of Congresswoman Omar’s opening remarks are featured below. She is so inspiring that I encourage you to listen to each clip.

After answering a series of questions, Omar made the following last comments:

Followed by Jones’ final comments:

2.) July 9- East Nashtivists Monthly Meeting:

Below are two of Governor Gavin Newsom’s reflections. (NOTE: Newsom’s decision to attend the East Nashtivist meeting, while on a trip that included stumping in rural South Carolina communities and urban Nashville in a possible Presidential run, was an acknowledgment of the successful engagement of this group in legislative and community actions over the last few years.)

The first clip includes comments about the assaults by the current national administration against federal and educational institutions in the US at a time when the Courts cannot be counted upon to limit the President’s efforts to control every aspect of national and state authority, as evidenced by his attacks on immigrants in LA.

Newsom also highlighted the importance of local people stepping up to resist the current national administration.

Robertson County resident and East Nashtivist Leadership member, Jo Keohane, talked about the roll-out of the recently passed national big, bad, ugly bill, indicating that most of its worst impacts will take effect after the Midterms in November 2026. She encouraged people to keep talking to their national legislators to let them know what they don’t like about the bill. She also suggested that rather than focusing on the President per se, to talk about “the Administration” and “Republican voters” so their comments are not ignored as just coming from another Trump hater.

Emergency Room Doctor Katrina Green, and co-chair of East Nashtivists, outlined the expected impacts of the DUMB (Dangerous, Ugly, Monstrous Bill) that passed both the US House and Senate on July 4th. She worries about the impact of the cuts on her patients and encourages everyone to care for each other during these times.

Isabella Bartaloochi highlighted the special election that will take place to fill US Congressman Green’s seat, which he is vacating to run for Governor of TN. A Primary and General Election will occur over approximately 100 days, take lots of work, but it is possible to flip in favor of a Democrat.

Vice Mayor Angie Henderson facilitated a conversation between Council members whose district includes East Nashville neighborhoods: • Sean Parker, District 5 •Clay Capp, District 6 • Emily Benedict, District 7

At-Large Councilmember Olivia Hill also participated in the discussion.

After introducing themselves, the Councilmembers were asked to comment on why they had run for office.

Henderson asked each member to identify a policy initiative about which they were most proud. Capp talked about trying to make the best out of the bad stadium deal. Parker mentioned his effort to curtail Airbnb’s negative financial impact on the rental market in Nashville.

Hill said she promised constituents that she would stick to what she knows, given her previous work experience, so she initiated an effort in partnership with TDOT (TN Department of Transportation) to create a directory that includes the identification of every utility located beneath each street in the city.

Benedict talked about her effort to address zoning to increase the number of affordable housing units built in Nashville so working people can continue to live here.

Henderson explained the singular nature of legislation in Nashville, identifying the restriction that Council members cannot consult each other about pending legislation outside of a committee or full council meeting. She commended Council members for the tenacity it requires to address major policy issues and undertake complicated projects.

Henderson asked Parker to talk about the infrastructure needs of Nashvillians, particularly from the perspective of residents who use foot and bicycle modes of transportation rather than cars. She also congratulated city residents for passing the Mayor’s transportation initiative.

Henderson then asked Parker and Capp to address the question raised about adding more roundabouts on city streets and stormwater challenges.

Parker talked about the stormwater master plan for the 526 square miles that comprise the greater Nashville area, noting there is quite a bit of variation from one neighborhood to another as it relates to water and sewer. He encouraged residents to contact their Council member to alert them to issues they may have regarding their water and sewer.

Capp addressed the roundabout challenges at the specific site of 10th and Shelby and mentioned the East Nashville Spokes Project, which will renovation needs of Woodland Street from Five Points to downtown and South 10th to South 5th. He also commented that he is “bullish” on the #4 bus.

Henderson noted there is now a “polygonal tornado warning system” that will emit a siren in more localized areas when there is a tornado in the area. She strongly urged people not to unsubscribe from this important warning system.

Henderson then asked members to talk about the affordability of housing. She noted that the city now has a Division of Housing located under the Planning Department that includes a “Housing Dashboard” to track affordable housing needs in the city and the progress being made toward meeting those needs. She encouraged people to go look at the Dashboard.

Henderson commented that the majority of the Council’s agenda relates to Zoning to create more density in places to encourage more development of affordable housing.

Benedict spoke about the next steps in the recently released multi-year Unified Housing Strategy, which indicates the city needs to build 90,000 more units in Nashville over the next 10 years. The only way to ensure this number is reached to house working people wanting to live in this city is to change current zoning to allow for building a higher number of units on each lot, such as 4 homes each valued at $500,000 on a lot that currently is zoned for one home that might be developed for asingle home sold at $3 to $4 million.

Benedict noted that a couple making $60,000 a year can afford a $500,000 home and that the days of building a $150,000 home are gone. She also clarified that no new Airbnb permits are being offered in residential areas unless they are in owner-occupied units, thus keeping more apartment units available for rental by residents.

Henderson talked about the number of caucuses within the Council, specifically the Women’s Caucus, Minority Caucus, Black Caucus, Immigrant Caucus, Veterans Caucus, and LGBTQIA+ Caucus.

Hill talked about the letter the LGBTQIA+ Caucus sent to Vanderbilt Medical Center to highlight how, over the last 4-5 years, members of this community have helped to better the hospital, but when things gotmore politically difficult at the state and national level, Vanderbilt walked away from their commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. “It’s almost like being kicked by a friend,” said Hill, leaving the community to wonder if the hospital was ever really on their side.

Benedict is reaching out to other hospitals in the city to see if they will address this gap that has been created by Vanderbilt’s negligent behavior.

Henderson spoke about the work of the Immigrant Caucus to protect the immigrant community in Nashville from ICE attacks.

She mentioned that the 40 members serving on the Council are from very diverse backgrounds. Further, Metro Nashville is the first consolidated governing board in the Country and is currently the 3rd largest city/county council in the US. Nashville voters approved the legislation to create the 40-member Council and confirmed the city has appealed the State legislation intended to reduce the size of the Metro Council.

Capp provided more background on the lawsuit challenging the State’s reduction of the Council and highlighted that what is at stake is the small neighborhood-based districts that reflect Nashville’s culture and repeated choice to operate as a small “d” democracy.

The city won its first challenge of the law at trial, but lost at the Court of Appeals level and has now appealed to the State Supreme Court. Capp noted that the decision of the Court of Appeals to overturn the trial court’s decision contradicts the Tennessee Constitution, which includes a provision for a larger number of district seats for a consolidated city/county government. “Local self-governance is at stake in this case.”

Hill closed the panel by addressing those in the audience who identify as LGBTQIA+, especially those who are “T.” She said she will not hide and is committed to standing “for each and every one of you.”

East Nashtivists Co-Founder, Melissa Sauter, encouraged everyone to attend the “Taco Tuesday” night to support immigrant-owned businesses on Nolensville Road that have been negatively affected by the ICE raids.

She encouraged folks to attend the 3-day Campaign Crash Course being offered by the TN Advocates for Planned Parenthood.

Sauter also noted the value of attending the grassroots organizing retreat, “Rooted and Rising” offered by Planned Parenthood at Montgomery Bell State Park.

More information about each of these events can be found at: https://www.eastnashtivists.org/