By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — In response to Mayor Megan Barry’s announced plans for nMotion 2016, a $6 billion mass transit plan that includes a light rail, computer rail, rapid bus service improved infrastructure and more, a coalition of community advocacy groups have come together to form People’s Alliance for Transit, Housing and Employment (PATHE) to raise concerns over the plans. PATHE, comprised of Democracy Nashville, Homes for All Nashville, Music City Riders United and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1235, is aware that Nashville is in need of a mass transit system, but are fearful that light rail proposed…
Author: Cillea Houghton
By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — Transit For Nashville, a 45-member coalition of community members advocating for Mayor Barry’s mass transit referendum, have officially launched their petition campaign. Walter Searcy, spokesperson for Transit For Nashville, said that the main goal of the coalition is to get the community to vote “yes” on the referendum that will designate a portion of the state’s sales tax to fund mass transit system in the region that would provide light rail and an improved infrastructure and bus system. He also said that affordable housing is a key factor in developing mass transit. “One critical…
By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — Political commentator and former special advisor in the Obama administration Van Jones brought his We Rise Tour to Vanderbilt’s Langford Auditorium, along with guests Demi Lovato and activist Connie, to discuss the recent attacks in Charlottesville, Va. and other current issues. “When they’re marching and when they have their torches and the President of the United States can’t distinguish between people who are using violence to oppress people and people who are basically trying to defend themselves, there’s something wrong,” Jones said about the Charlottesville attacks. Connie, a young woman who was at the…
By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — Local civil rights icon Mary Louise Watson recently celebrated her 98th birthday and family and friends gathered to honor her influential role as a major part of the Civil Rights Movement in Nashville. Watson and her daughter, Barbara Jean Watson, were selected as one of the 11 eligible families to be integrated into an all-white school during desegregation in 1957. On the first day of school, Mary Louise walked Barbara Jean from their home on 12th Ave. North to what is now Jones Paideia Elementary Magnet School. Watson and her then six-year-old daughter walked…
By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — Professional artist Walter Hood brings Nashville’s crucial role in the American Civil Rights Movement to light with Witness Walls. The project features images from nonviolent protests in Nashville throughout the 1950s and 60s chiseled into stone. Wood was commissioned by the Nashville Arts Commission to create the sculptures using images from the Nashville Banner archives that depict powerful moments from the movement like lunch counter sit-ins and the violent acts against the protestors. It is on display in the northwest corner of Public Square Park and marks the site where the silent walk…
By Cillea Houghton LAVERGNE, TN — Chinese-based company and Walmart supplier Sinomax will bring 350 new manufacturing jobs to Tennessee with its factory in LaVergne. The company plans to add 30 new employees each month. The move is part of Walmart’s 10 year initiative to source $250 billion more in products in the U.S. Sinomax, a manufacturer of pillows and bed toppers and major Walmart supplier, opened the manufacturing location in LaVergne in 2016. The company has been a major supplier to Walmart for foam bedding products since 2006 and currently supply to roughly 3,500 stores. Walmart’s announcement of…
By Cillea Houghton MEMPHIS, TN — Roughly 40,000 people are expected to attend the 31st annual Africa in April Cultural Awareness Festival in Memphis. Vendor set up is on Thurs., April 20. The festival was started by David and Yvonne Acey in 1986. David attended black studies conferences in the 1970s and 80s and the couple realized there was a void in the city of festivals honoring African-American culture, inspiring them to create Africa in April. The festival takes place April 21-23. Each year it brings dignitaries and ambassadors from other countries to Memphis, with many of the city’s council…
By Cillea Houghton NASHVILLE, TN — CapStar Bank has unveiled its new corporate headquarters in downtown Nashville. The bank moves from its current location on Fourth Avenue North on Friday, Feb. 24, to the new location at 1201 Demonbreun St. in the Gulch. Bank employees will work on the seventh floor. The new building includes a 100-square-foot, state-of-the-art media wall of big TV screens that will be used to display advertisements, images and other local elements that will be visible to passersby on the street. It’s the largest media wall in Tennessee and one of the first of its kind…