Tennessee State University has announced two new appointments in its esteemed Aristocrat of Bands music program. James Sexton has been named the Interim Band Director of the Grammy Award-winning Aristocrat of Bands (AOB), and Dwight Pope will serve as the Director of Cheer and Dance that includes the esteemed TSU Sophisticated Ladies. Sexton, a TSU alumnus and former band member of the AOB, brings a wealth of experience in this position. Having served as the assistant director of the AOB since 1998, Sexton has been integral in shaping the band’s distinctive sound and performance style. His contributions were vital to…
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National (TN Tribune)-Independent filmmaker, author and actress Sonya Jenkins’ first animated film “Smiley, The Flight Attendant,” will screen at Indie Night Film Festival hosted by founder, Dave Brown and Q&A host, DJ Q Nice at the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Saturday, May 17. Jenkins’ book-to-film project, a 10-minute short, features “Smiley” working a quick flight with rough air, a passenger with a peanut allergy, and safety and courtesy tips. “Smiley, The Flight Attendant” marks Jenkins’ fourth film as an independent filmmaker and her first screening at a major film festival for screening. Along with “Smiley, The Flight Attendant,” Jenkins…
WASHINGTON—Decades before she learned how much history she was making while growing into adulthood, Rita Sanders Geier had collected multiple honors and been through enough court rooms, Geier began to feel her life mirrored riding on a non-stop merry-go-round. This week, Geier hopes to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with a special salute from the University of Tennessee School of Law as recipient of an honorary law degree for her contributions to higher education in Tennessee. It is to be presented during the weekend’s huge roster of graduation ceremonies in Knoxville, TN. “This recognition, approved by the UT Board of Trustees…is…
William Webster Easley, Jr. was born in Lexington, Henderson County, Tennessee to William Webster Easley, Sr., and Gretchen Lorraine (Funderburk) Easley. He was a graduate of Tennessee State University as well as a Richard Allen and a Ford Foundation Fellow. He also received Lubrizol Foundation Award for Academic Excellence Educational Services at Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio. As a Seminarian, Rev. William Webster Easley, Jr was selected to serve as a Student Observer to the Consultation on Church Union and as Liaison Representative for the National Council of Churches (NCC) and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) during the 1968…
Positions needed to support Choose How You Move service expansion NASHVILLE – WeGo Public Transit held a hiring event on Saturday that garnered more than 500 applications, much higher than anticipated. It was held at the WeGo administrative offices on Myatt Drive in Madison. As part of Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s Choose How You Move initiative, WeGo needs to fill a variety of roles—bus operators, mechanics, supervisors, support, and administrative staff—to help enhance transit service across the region. Many applicants were given on-site interviews at the event. They also had the opportunity to tour buses and talk to current WeGo…
Written by Rev. Janette R. Smith / Director of Church Growth As Bethel AME Church – Baltimore prepares to host the historic 209th Baltimore Annual Conference, there’s another historical celebration already underway. Bethel Baltimore also proudly marks its 240th anniversary, commemorating its long-standing commitment to faith, justice, and community empowerment. But before we get into the festivities, let’s address the friendly debate that has kept historians, scholars, and AME members buzzing for generations—who was first: Mother Bethel in Philly or Bethel Baltimore? A Tale of Two Bethels: Who’s REALLY First? We love our AME family, but let’s talk facts (with a friendly wink…
Hip-hop legends Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg are making their mark in downtown Nashville with the opening of the Still G.I.N. Lounge, the brand’s first location. The venue brings West Coast swagger to the city’s entertainment district, blending hip-hop culture with Southern hospitality. Located inside the 50,000-square-foot Nashville Live! Hospitality & Entertainment complex on 2nd Avenue North, the lounge is positioned near Category 10, a nightlife spot opened by country music star Luke Combs. Reed Cordish, principal of The Cordish Companies and CEO of Live! Hospitality & Entertainment, said in an interview with The Tennessean that the Still G.I.N. Lounge…
On February 3, 1965, SNCC, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, invited Imam El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz to speak at Tuskegee Institute, an 1890 Land-Grant HBCU in Alabama. On February 4, 1965 he traveled to Selma, Alabama and spoke in Brown Chapel A.M.E Church as SCLC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was building the Selma to Montgomery Voting Rights Campaign. Imam El-Hajj Malik articulated concepts and themes from his two classic speeches: “Message to the Grassroots” and “Ballot or the Bullet.” His mission was to convince the Civil Rights Establishment to elevate the domestic Civil Rights Movement debate to the international venue of Human…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville General Hospital (NGH) celebrated its 135th anniversary on April 23, 2025. In honor of this historic milestone, during the Hospital Authority’s April 24, 2025, meeting, Board Chair Dr. Raymond Martin shared a proclamation by Mayor Freddie O’Connell, officially declaring the date as “Nashville General Hospital Day.” Established in 1890 as the city’s first hospital, NGH continues to serve as a vital safety-net institution committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality care to all. During the Hospital Authority Board meeting, several key decisions were announced:• Interim CEO Appointment: Dr. Veronica Elders was unanimously appointed as Interim CEO of the…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced the hiring of Phyllis Hildreth as director of Nashville’s newly established Office of Youth Safety. Funding for the office was approved in the Fiscal Year 2025 operating budget, and the work the office will undertake is outlined in Mayor O’Connell’s Executive Order 53. “Phyllis’s passion for supporting our youth goes all the way back to her childhood, where she watched her father support kids in her community as a high school guidance counselor and Sunday school teacher,” Mayor O’Connell said. “Her background includes work in both education and juvenile justice – giving her…