By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN — On the day of the controversial decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement by President Donald Trump, the Belcourt Theater hosted the documentary From the Ashes discussing the perils of climate change. The documentary is a compelling look at coal and the mining industry which debuted to rave reviews during the Tribeca Film Festival and was recently acquired by National Geographic. Produced by the Academy Award- and Emmy-winning production company RadicalMedia, in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, From the Ashes captures Americans in communities across the country as they wrestle with the legacy of…
Author: Keena Day
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN — In an effort to advocate for African-American achievement through educational advancement, the Nashville Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted a scholarship luncheon to unveil its recipients for the 2017 school year. The Chapter has awarded over $120,000 dollars for students’ educations through the Guide Right Foundation. This year, the chapter awarded 11 scholarships to seniors attending various colleges in the fall. “Each year, the chapter proudly sponsors scholarships to deserving young men who aspire to pursue a college degree,” said Jerry McCarter, Scholarship Committee Chairman. To be eligible, applicants must be…
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN — As many communities are being broken apart due to gentrification and the bustling real estate market in Nashville, the Bordeaux Hills community, devastated by the historic floods seven years ago, continue to band together to revitalize and rebuild their community towards greatness. The 2010 flood devastated 200 homes in the community. During the despair, a lot of people’s vulnerabilities were exposed such as the lack of adequate flooding insurance and financial preparedness. To add to that, some of the older homes in the Bordeaux Hills communities made what could be considered minor damage major.…
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN — Fisk Alumni and other local dignitaries attended an exclusive screening of the upcoming documentary Tell Them We Are Rising as a fundraiser for Fisk University. The film was featured at the Belcourt Theater and included a Q&A session with the award-winning filmmaker Stanley Nelson and President of the UNCF Dr. Michael L. Lomax and was moderated by News Channel 5 anchor Vicki Yates. The documentary, which focuses on the history and legacy of HBCUs, will air nationally in February as part of the Independent Lens programming on PBS. The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the…
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN – On the heels of an agreement between Mayor Barry, MNPD and the TBI on police investigations, the Tennessee State NAACP in conjunction with the family of Jocques Clemmons has called for accountability of the police department. “We just don’t believe the police can police the police,” said Ms. Gloria Sweet-Love, President of the TN State Conference which was held in Nashville. The NAACP along with coalition partners from across the state hosted a press conference calling for a fair and unbiased investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.…
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN – HGTV is looking to diversify its appeal. And the home flipping franchise decided to start in Nashville with two dynamic black entrepreneurs. “Joined at the FLIP”, a show about two exes working together to flip properties in Nashville and Atlanta premiered at a red carpet party at WKND Hang Suite this past week. “The premise is that we are flipping homes. The backdrop is we dated, so we’re exes, but we still work together. There is no drama, but we still butt heads, and that makes it interesting,” said DeRon Jenkins, co-star of the…
By Keena Day NASHVILLE, TN — In the midst of waning segregation and on the heels of the feminist movement, Ellen Ruth Willis ran for mayor of Nashville in 1979. With very little money, no campaign – or advertising budget, and no party supporting her efforts, Willis received 4,792 votes which is 6 percent of the total vote in a race that was filled with white male opponents. During a candidates’ forum, Willis was asked about her “electability” and she shot back that she was electable “as long as there’s no rule that the mayor has to be a white…
By Keena Day BRENTWOOD, TN — Americans are on the go and finding nutritional meals can be challenging, so Giardino’s Salads offers healthy alternatives to fast food by providing freshly-made meals. Currently celebrating its one-year-anniversary by honoring customers with gifts and discounts, the restaurant is a result of siblings Matt Osman and Mindi Clayton who saw a need for what they call “nutritional empowerment” and dining choices throughout Nashville. “Nutritional foods — healthy options — are timeless,” Matt says. “They’re never going away and we will never stop eating them.” Giardino’s Gourmet Salads, 18 Cadillac Drive in Brentwood’s Tower Shoppes,…