By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — What started as a group of content creators transitioned into a powerhouse vocal septet of individuals grouped together to form the North Star Boys, an Asian-American creator group and pop band. Brothers Sebastian and Oliver Moy, founders of North Star Boys, worked together to form their group in August of 2021, joined by members Regie Macalino, Ryan Nguyen, Justin Phan, Darren Liang, and Kane Ratan. They performed Sunday, April 2 at Eastside Bowl in Madison from 8 to 10 pm. Tickets started at $25 with an option to add the VIP shooting start…
Author: Alison Decker
By Alexis Clark NASHVILLE, TN (TSU News Service) — Tennessee State University’s wetland is crucial to the health of both water resources and wildlife in North Nashville. TSU graduate student Devin Moore said that’s why he is grateful to be able to participate in research of the TSU wetland project, ultimately benefiting local Nashville communities. Moore’s study of TSU’s wetland is made possible through a $6 million grant from the 1890 Center of Excellence Land. The award is for three years and will provide critical research on creating a quality environment that mitigates the impact of climate change in Tennessee,…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — Over 40 years ago Ezra Gipson’s parents Grady and Lula Gipson started making popcorn in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. During the summers Gipson would help his father pop popcorn and operate the equipment that makes the popcorn process easier. Summer festivals were a seasonal hit along with the popcorn trolly and concessions which served fair-style foods—caramel apples, funnel cakes, sodas and even snow cones. As a family they would cook to honor their grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Food was not just a way of life but a way to give back to the community and their…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — The Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, hosted the first Mid-South Innovation Summit for innovators, students, founders, government officials, investors and community and ecosystem partners across the entire Mid-South region on Thursday February 9th at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel Ballrooms. The Mid-South I-Corps Hub is laying the foundation for innovators to commercialize their inventions. The venture spreads across the region and includes four states. Vanderbilt University is one of nine universities included in the innovation hub. One of their key missions is to provide an inclusive environment for innovators. Charleston Bell, director of entrepreneurship and biomedical…
By Alison Decker Play Like a Girl, a local Nashville non-profit organization, has a simple philosophy: To bridge the gap in gender equality and help young women foster a relationship with technical and science-based learning interests, preparing them for a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics). Dr. Kimberly Clay, CEO and Founder developed the organization as part of her dissertation while obtaining her Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Alabama. She has also worked for the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) as a public health analyst working on million-dollar projects focusing on race and health disparity…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — Bernard Lyght a stuntman and stunt driver from Albany, Georgia looks forward to each season competing with his fellow comrades in a 1500-horsepower Megalodon monster truck throughout the United States, but especially Nashville, for Monster Jam. This show is for families and people of all backgrounds and ages. Lyght started out with the company 11 years ago, transitioning from stunt man to stunt driver, and is going into his sixth year as a stunt driver for Monster Jam. A skilled acrobat and former cheerleader, martial artist and stunt man, Lyght has worked as a…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — The Christmas season brings people from all walks of life together to rejoice regardless of color, circumstance, or class. At Historic First Community Church Pastor Ella Clay and staff work to bring Nashville locals together through workshops offered by Healing Minds and Souls, a faith-based community that provides educational classes to address trauma. During the COVID-19 pandemic many churches closed their doors and were not able to allocate resources for the community due to the lockdown. However, Historic First Community Church still offered online worship and resources for the community that were greatly needed…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — Disney on Ice’s “Let’s Celebrate” returned to Nashville Thursday, September 22 through Sunday 25 featuring Frozen, The Lion King, Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Toy Story 4, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Snow White, Mulan, Finding Dory and Pinocchio. The cast of the ice-skating production had two weeks to learn their choreography and script before performing it for the very first time after a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are 50 characters to portray and 45 cast members, along with 15 to 20 additional staff and crew that help with the behind-the-scenes technical…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN —The Korean American Association of Greater Nashville held a festival Saturday, August 27 to commemorate 77 years since the end of the Second World War and to celebrate Korea-US relations, and promote peace among all peoples at the War Memorial Building and Legislative Plaza. Rabecca Shin, president of The Korean American Association of Nashville said, “The cross presented during ceremony represents country communications between people, promotes peace and harmony in our hearts. We long for more people to know we are a peaceful community.” The festival began with a sign held by Shin and escorted…
By Alison Decker NASHVILLE, TN — Roy Broderick Jr, CEO/president of Authentique, immerses culture, people and community in Nashville while cultivating a second location off of West End Avenue. Authentique is an integrated marketing agency with deep general market and multicultural experience. Authentique develops social media content and creative assets. Its mission is to be a collective of consciously disruptive creators and strategists passionate about designing campaigns that redefine the narrative. Clients with the agency include Papa Johns, Rice-a-Roni, CMA, Bounce TV, and more. Atlanta is currently the headquarters for the growing entrepreneur business that focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community…