NASHVILLE, TN — Dr. William Blaine Butler, DDS, MD, retired, served as interim dean at Meharry Medical School in 2010. He was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Restorative Dentistry, and senior advisor to former Meharry Medical College President and CEO Wayne J. Riley, M.D., MPH, MBA, MACP. Dr. Butler had been with Meharry for 33 years. During this time, he served as chair of the Department of Prosthodontics 16 years and associate dean for Academic Affairs one year before his appointment as dean. Notable accomplishments in Dr. Butler’s time as dean included upgrades to the dental equipment in…
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By National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW), Los Angeles LOS ANGELES, CA — Lifetime network docuseries, “Surviving R. Kelly,” presented an extensive pattern of abuse of girls and young women by R. Kelly that spanned decades and was facilitated, enabled or ignored by many adults who were aware and were silent. It is beyond belief that this predator has not been brought to justice. And it is equally unbelievable that RCA Records continues to record and promote someone whose well known behavior has caused so many so much pain. Our personal and professional outrage demands that we strongly express…
NASHVILLE, TN – William Barr testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington Tuesday. Barr is President Trump’s pick to replace Attorney General Jeff Sessions who resigned in November. Trump wanted Sessions gone because he failed to protect the President from Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is investigating Trump’s 2016 political campaign. Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) asked Barr if he would stop an investigation like the Mueller probe if Trump asked him to. Barr said he wouldn’t. He also said he wouldn’t stop federal attorneys from pursuing cases against Trump in New York and Virginia. On the other hand, Barr…
Statement of Beatriz Beckford, campaign director, and Monifa Bandele, senior vice president of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam’s decision to grant clemency to Cyntoia Brown. “Fair-minded people across the country are celebrating today’s long overdue move by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to grant clemency to Cyntoia Brown, a victim of sex trafficking who has already served 15 years in prison. We applaud Gov. Haslam for taking this step. “Cyntoia deserves to be free. Our justice system failed her again and again – first, by failing…
NASHVILLE, TN — The United Way of Metropolitan Nashville has been selected as the lead organization to manage the implementation of the “Blueprint for Early Childhood Success,” the first-of-its-kind citywide literacy plan to double the number of Nashville third-graders reading on grade level by 2025. The ambitious Blueprint combines the thought leadership of literacy groups, faith and volunteer partners, parents, students, and educators to create a shared implementation framework to address Nashville’s early literacy deficit. Using technical support provided by the Center for Nonprofit Management’s Collective Impact Accelerator program, the Blueprint for Early Childhood Success Steering Committee assembled a panel…
NASHVILLE, TN — Citizens Savings Bank and Trust, the oldest continuously operating minority-owned bank in the United States, has appointed two new directors to its board. Paul Luter and Jim Schmitz have joined both the board of the bank and the holding company. Mr. Luter is an accomplished accounting executive, most recently serving as Director-Interal Audit for LKQ Corporation. Mr. Schmitz recently retired from his position as president of Regions Bank’s Middle Tennessee area. Both are excited about the future of Citizens. Mr. Luter observed, “I have been particularly impressed with CEO Sergio Ora, the current bank leadership team, and…
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper (TN-05) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would stop congressional pay if Congress fails to pass its spending bills on time. The No Budget, No Pay Act, introduced with Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL), would prevent House and Senate members from receiving their salary if they miss annual deadlines for budget and appropriations bills, and would not be paid retroactively. The bill would force members to work together to pass bipartisan legislation and prevent damaging government shutdowns that hurt families and embarrass America. Government should never shut down because Congress refuses to do…
CYNTOIA DENISE BROWN STATEMENT The following statement was issued by Cyntoia Denise Brown in response to Gov. Bill Haslam’s clemency decision: “Thank you, Governor Haslam, for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me. I want to thank those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who saw something in me worth salvaging, especially Ms. Connie Seabrooks for allowing me to participate in the Lipscomb LIFE Program. It changed my life. I am also grateful to those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who will work with me…
Commentary by Jenny Ziegler Miami Times This [NFL] is a man’s world, but it would be nothing without a woman or a girl … (speaking in my James Brown voice). Sure, we are on the sidelines as cheerleaders, owners, reporters and such, but there has never been a female head coach manning the sidelines in any male professional sport. There’s always a first time for everything. Well, hold that thought as we are not there yet. Recently, Condoleezza Rice was trending on social media when it was reported by NFL insider, Adam Schefter that the Cleveland Browns were considering the…
NASHVILLE, TN — With the rapid decline and disappearance of North Nashville’s historic environment and the continued displacement of its long-term residents, the time has come for a critical reassessment of the life, culture, and history of the community and its current and future place in the city’s collective memory. Dr. Williams will highlight how the memory of this community resonates among both long-term and recent residents of North Nashville, with a focus on how the community often cultivated sensibilities and became the source of protest movements that challenged the status quo in the Music City. He will provide insight…