By Lavenia Chappel Helping students focus on ways to prevent their peers from smoking was the focus of a two-day tobacco-free conference sponsored by Tennessee State University and the Truth Initiative on April 21 and 22. Keynote speaker Dr. Phil Gardiner said 99 percent of smokers start before the age of 26 and that’s why college campus policies are critical to help prevent the use of tobacco by young adults. Truth targets Historically Black Universities and Colleges because studies over the last few decades have shown that tobacco companies prey on African American communities. Students from Tennessee State University, Le…
Author: Lavenia Chappel
NASHVILLE, TN — Originally a footpath from the Cumberland River to the Hadley Plantation, Jefferson Street was once known as one of America’s best known districts of jazz, rhythm and blues. It served as the home to artists such as Little Richard, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Pats Domino and Memphis Slim. “This was the only place black folks could find logic and enjoy themselves without being Jim Crowed,” said Dr. Learotha Williams, Professor of African American History at Tennessee State University. What was known as the “Golden Era,” ended in the 1960s once the construction of Interstate 40 segregated the…
By Lavenia Chappel A diverse group of authors presented about the books they had written on President Obama’s accomplishments, breaking into Hollywood and how news of a lynching affected black women at a bridge party at the 10th annual Literary Luncheon on Feb. 25. The luncheon, sponsored by the Nashville chapter of Les Gemmes was attended by over 300 people. Les Gemmes is a national organization that provides cultural and educational opportunities, positive role models and boosts the self esteem of teenaged girls who are referred to as “Jewels.” Michael Days, Pulitzer Prize winning editor of the Philadelphia Daily News…
By Lavenia Chappel Nashville,TN—Alana Raybon, school teacher and co-author of the book Undivided, raves about the Nashville Storytellers Project sponsored by The Tennessean. The Tennessean represents one of the hundreds of newsrooms within the USA Today Network that has a goal to help communities connect. Selected by Tennessean storytelling columnist, Jessica Bliss, Raybon will be one of four people taking the stage to share their personal narrative and explore the idea of self-definition in the upcoming presentation titled BLENDED. “Nashville is such an amazing place to live in and this is a way to showcase the diversity among us while…
By Lavenia Chappel NASHVILLE, TN — Shannon Lee in 2015 founded the Nashville nonprofit Ladies Who Strive “to motivate, inspire and educate” young women to accomplish their entrepreneurial and career goals. The organization is designed to be a support system for striving young women, something Lee felt was missing from the local business scene. “Women always feel the need to compete with one another and instead we should motivate and help each other because there is enough room for all of us,” Lee said. Lee, originally from Nashville, attended Tennessee State University for several years before embarking on a four-year…