After three years with the Nashville State Community College Foundation, Ryan Parker has been named its new executive director following a search for outgoing director Cecily Freeman, who is moving to be closer to family. Having joined Nashville State’s Foundation in July 2021, Parker has served as the development officer and director of donor relations and programs. As a senior leader at the College, Ryan will be responsible for donor development, retention, and recognition; cultivating relationships with internal and external constituents to build, sustain, and support the college’s mission; growing college and alumni relations; and coordinating fundraising and engagement events.…
Author: Press Release
Tennessee State Parks recently announced the availability of new all-terrain wheelchairs at 10 state parks, enhancing accessibility for visitors and bringing the total of parks with all-terrain wheelchairs to 22. All-terrain wheelchairs are designed to navigate a wide range of terrains. They give visitors with limited mobility the opportunity to access and enjoy outdoor recreation that might otherwise be inaccessible. The chairs are free for visitor use and available for both children and adults. They can be operated independently and offer the option of allowing caretaker control. The new wheelchairs are the result of a collaboration between the parks and…
Nashville, Tenn- The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that a defamation and false light suit filed by Bill Charles against Donna McQueen must be dismissed under the Tennessee Public Participation Act (“TPPA”). The litigation began in 2020 after Durham Farms, a planned community in Hendersonville, announced plans to add a “rental-only” unit section to the community. Residents of Durham Farms and surrounding communities were upset by this announcement, as well as earlier changes to the Durham Farms development plan. They tried to stop the proposal by petitioning local officials and posting comments on the internet. Several Durham Farms residents, including…
NASHVILLE – WeGo Public Transit is finalizing a strategic planning process for optimizing and improving WeGo Star service and planning for infrastructure investments over the next few years and into the future. Public meetings have been announced for July. As a result of extensive research, analysis, and public input, WeGo is presenting the results of the planning effort which seeks to ensure that the Star regional rail line meets changing customer needs, is maintained in a state of good repair, provides for sustainable financial operations, and coordinates effectively with the owners and freight operators of the rail corridor. WeGo is looking…
NASHVILLE, TN – Mayor Freddie O’Connell has joined the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee (CFMT), First Horizon, the Metro Housing Division and other funding partners to launch the Nashville Catalyst Fund, a new tool to create, preserve, and develop more affordable housing. Metro and partners created the Nashville Catalyst Fund to provide fast, flexible capital to mission-driven developers to enable them to move quickly in Nashville’s competitive real estate landscape. The Fund will launch with an initial $75 million – $20 million from Metro, $50 million credit facility led by First Horizon, and $5 million from Vanderbilt University – with…
KNOXVILLE, TN — Faculty in the University of Tennessee Herbert College of Agriculture are helping pave the way for more women and minorities to seek advanced degrees in science and other STEM fields through a grant that provides mentorship and resources to community college students. The Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields grant program (WAMS), funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture, awarded a three-year $200,000 grant to the UT Institute of Agriculture, and Texas Tech University to work with partner community colleges. Through the grant, the universities will establish…
NASHVILLE, TN — Leadership Middle Tennessee (LMT) celebrated the commencement of their Class of 2024 on Tuesday, June 18th at the Adventure Science Center. The celebration was the culmination of an 11-month program where class members attended a session each month in one of 10 Middle Tennessee counties to gain a greater understanding of critical issues in the region, learning through interactive presentations, facilitated dialogue, behind-the scenes visits, and experiential adventures. Each year, the class is composed of outstanding business and community leaders from the 10-county Middle Tennessee region, including Cheatham, Davidson, Dickson, Maury, Montgomery, Robertson, Rutherford, Sumner, Williamson, and…
SPRINGFIELD, TN — Springfield Baptist Church, located at 401 Main Street in Springfield, Tennessee, will host the 4th Annual Night of Champions July 10, 6 p.m., welcoming Tennessee Titans Quarterback Malik Willis and a live performance by the Jason Lovins Band for an evening of inspiration and music. Night of Champions celebrates athletes who exemplify the values of faith, perseverance and community. Willis will serve as keynote speaker and will share his powerful story of overcoming obstacles and, most importantly, his journey with Jesus. Before the talk, the Jason Lovins Band will play live. The event is free and open…
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware One of the most exciting pieces of news from the 2024 Hampton Ministers Conference is the launch of Hampton University’s School of Religion, which offers the usual degrees in religion and theology, and is now the first HBCU to offer a doctorate. “It’s more than a dream come true. It’s much needed at this time in the life of the Black church and the Black community. Churches need as much support and assistance as we can give them,” says Rev. Dr. Debra L. Haggins, founding dean of the School of Religion, executive director and treasurer…
NASHVILLE, TN — Baseball was the theme, particularly with last Thursday’s MLB salute to the Negro Leagues by Major League Baseball and the passing of Willie Mays. The Nashville Stars – named for the old Nashville Negro Leagues team – helped sponsor the celebration and provided jerseys, bats, balls, posters and t-shirts for the event. Dwight Lewis, longtime reporter, editor and columnist for The Tennessean and a member of the TSU baseball team in the 1960s, regaled the audience with his memories of watching Negro Leagues teams play in Knoxville and his stories about several of Nashville’s Negro League…