By Peter White NASHVILLE, TN – Mayor Megan Barry is negotiating with The Kaleidoscope Group, a Chicago-based firm, to end racist and discriminatory hiring for city jobs, she said last week. If the firm specializing in cultural assessments and diversity training is hired, training would be mandatory for all Metro employees. The full-scale Kaleidoscope diversity program — it has several phases and lasts three years — would cost at least $500,000. “We are in the process of finalizing our workforce diversity strategic plan by finalizing the contract with the provider who is going to help us focus on equity…
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By Peter White NASHVILLE, TN — A former city councilman and a black businessman met with Mayor Megan Barry recently to discuss what everybody knows but nobody wants to talk about: Metro is not giving minority businesses a fair shake when it comes to awarding contracts. Nashville passed a Nondiscrimination Procurement Ordinance in 2008 and set up a Business Assistance Office to help minority, women-owned, and small businesses get work with the city. But year after year, the Procurement Nondiscrimination Program (PNP) has fallen short of its benchmark goals. The program is voluntary and relies on good faith efforts between…
By Peter White NASHVILLE, TN – After Donald Trump got elected, Teresa Shook was so upset she went on Facebook and wrote “I think we should march.” Then she went to bed. By the time Shook woke up, 10,000 people had endorsed the idea. Shook approached Harry Belefonte and, within days, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, and Linda Sarsour began turning Shook’s idea into a reality. The three are professional organizers and they’re all women of color. Mallory anticipates 150,000 people marching in Washington Jan. 21. It will be the first protest of any newly-inaugurated president and maybe the biggest demonstration…
NASHVILLE, TN — The R. Kelly, “Pied Piper of R&B” visited Nashville last week for his Holiday Jam Concert at Bridgestone Arena. It was a night of laughter, love, and live music. The stage backdrop featured a faux fireplace, decorated with holiday stockings. The arena was packed with screaming fans elated to see the music icon and was eager to sing along to his popular radio hit singles. He opened the show up with his smash dance song “Step in the Name of Love” followed by flawless performances of songs from nearly his entire discography. Kelly also played songs, “The…
FRANKLIN, TN — If you’re a fan of graphic design, fashion or interior design, the recent art day event at O’More College of Design in Franklin, featured exhibits of beautiful and creative art. Faculty, staff and alumni of the college showcased some of their work to a nice crowd of art enthusiasts. Chris Thompson or his artist name, CHRISOLUX, is a graphic designer, artist, speaker and teacher that spoke with the audience about his unique exhibit. Thompson who is a Nashville native, later moved to New York where he worked with famous art director and author James Victore. Guests were…
NASHVILLE, TN — A Metro councilman raises questions about agreements for the proposed National Museum of African American Music and a council- woman wants an independent evaluation of property values. That’s the upshot of a community discussion at the Cathedral of Praise on Clarksville Pike where NMAAM Director H. Beecher Hicks and the developer of the old convention center promoted their plans Nov. 17. Nearly 25 people attended the meeting. Originally, the museum was to be at the corner of Jefferson Street and Rosa Parks Boulevard but last year Gov. Bill Haslam proposed $120 million for a new state museum there.…
NASHVILLE, TN — The long bitter campaign is over. The markets tumbled on the shocking news that Donald Trump won the White House. Politico called it the biggest upset in American history while reactions around the world registered alarm and dismay at Trump’s victory. One Philippine newspaper, the Manila Bulletin, reported that some Americans are looking to move to New Zealand and Canada. Others, like El Pais in Spain, carried the headline: “United States Fears Total Paralysis.” The election was deeply personal to many voters and feelings on both sides have been bruised. The country has not been so polarized…
Students and faculty at Fisk University welcomed guest speaker/social activist Joe Madison to their campus last week. Madison, who is also a radio talk show host for the “Urban View” on XM Sirius radio, engaged in conversations with the audience on the importance of community structure and the current presidential elections. The event was part of the Fisk Lecture Series, moderated by journalist Dwight Lewis, former columnist and editorial page editor at The Tennessean newspaper. The award-winning radio host and activist, discussed voter rights, self-advocacy, and community effectiveness to faculty, students, and members of the Nashville community. “Don’t let folks…