NASHVILLE, TN — United Way of Greater Nashville (UWGN) announced today that Erica Mitchell, chief impact officer, UWGN, will be the new chief executive officer beginning January 1, 2025. Earlier this year, UWGN’s CEO Brian Hassett announced his retirement. An executive search committee made up of a diverse cross section of UWGN board of trustee members, community stakeholders and philanthropic partners was charged by the board to identify a new CEO. There are no anticipated organizational changes during the transition. “We are thrilled to have Erica serve as CEO beginning next year. Her remarkable leadership as our chief impact officer…
Author: Press Release
Business leaders Anthony Lewis and Gil Beverly join board of directors NASHVILLE, TN — After three decades serving on the Citizens Savings Bank & Trust board of directors, and as board chairman since 2017, Attorney Richard Manson will step down making room for two new board members to assist the historic bank continue in its strategic direction. Nashville-based Citizens Savings Bank & Trust is the nation’s oldest continuously operating minority owned and operated bank. Bank officials expressed their gratitude and appreciation to Manson in a letter acknowledging his “outstanding leadership and dedicated service.” Manson was saluted for his “commitment, passion, and…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — An oil portrait painted from life of Attorney Fred Gray, by artist Michael Shane Neal, has been acquired by The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. for its permanent collection. The portrait was commissioned by “Friends of Fred Gray,” a group of donors who believed in the historical significance of a painting of Gray and its inclusion in the museum’s collection to educate future generations on his work for the Civil Rights Movement throughout his lifetime. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, Gray is a nationally-recognized Civil Rights attorney, celebrated lecturer, successful author, minister, and former legislator.…
By Rebecca Cohen Frederick “Flips” Richard is already making a name for himself in men’s gymnastics as he soars into the Olympic trials, having recently clinched the No. 2 spot at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships, but he has been captivating an audience on social media for years and has big plans for the sport’s future. Richard, 20, grew up in Stoughton, Massachusetts and first hit the gym at twoyears old. After his parents saw him on their bed throwing flips he’d seen in his older sister’s gymnastics classes, they decided to put him in class, too. But he wouldn’t listen…
NASHVILLE, TN — The Southern Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated proudly announces the 49th Southern Regional Conference Impact Day: “Turn the Page” Banned Book Drive. In alignment with one of the organization’s Five-Point Programmatic Thrusts, education development, one of the best forms of education is through literacy and access to books. This year’s Impact Day is dedicated to purchasing and distributing banned African American books, in response to recent legislative efforts to remove these significant works from the public school systems. The sorority will partner with 15 local youth-focused agencies, donating a minimum of 100 books to each…
NASHVILLE, TN — On June 15, 2024, the community came together to celebrate James Henry (Jake) Sherrell, who at 97 years old have spent the past 67 years mentoring young men and women in North Nashville. The celebration was organized by Ken Taylor, a Nashville activist. Friends and family and Jake’s wife gathered Saturday to praise Jake who has operated Bel-Aire Unisex Barbershop in North Nashville for 67 years. Sherrell has brought hundreds of people to Christ while they sat in his Barber chair or his shop. Jake Sherrell has been a member of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church for…
NASHVILLE, TN — Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center (MWCHC), Nashville’s oldest non-profit health center, has announced details surrounding the 2024 Dr. Matthew Walker, Sr. Legacy Breakfast. The breakfast will take place in the evening at The Cal Turner Family Center at Meharry Medical College (1011 21st Avenue North) on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m. The event Visionary Sponsors are Amazon, CINQ CARE, HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health, and Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, with 100% of attendee’s donations strengthening MWCHC programs and services. The theme of this year’s event is “His Vision Continues.” The event includes a discussion regarding the impact of community health with…
Martin, Tenn.-The UT Martin TVA Investment Challenge students attended TVA’s annual spring conference April 2-3 in Nashville. While attending the conference, students were able to engage with portfolio management professionals, senior leadership at the Tennessee Valley Authority and peer students from other universities. The UTM TVA program received an award for its portfolio performance in 2023 at the conference as well, outperforming the portfolio’s S&P 500 benchmark. This award, while presented at the conference, also represents a monetary award that continues to fund investments related to student experiential learning in the College of Business and Global Affairs. While at the…
By Priscilla Thompson ALAMO, TX — Along the winding Rio Grande in South Texas lies a history many have never heard, of a southern route to freedom for enslaved people on the Underground Railroad into Mexico. “It’s so close, but yet it was so far for so many people,” O.J. Trevino said, peering across the river at the Mexican side of the border from his family’s property. “Knowing that they just had to get there.” Trevino, who grew up just 5 miles from the border, was shocked to learn that his fifth-great-grandmother helped ferry escapees across that river to freedom. …
By Julia Falcon FORT WORTH, TX — After 85 years, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” is moving back home. The home that Opal Lee lived in as a child was burned down on June 19, 1939, when hundreds of white rioters gathered to harass, vandalize, and run her family out of the neighborhood. Although she was only 12 at the time, Lee has said that she never lost hope of someday owning her family’s lot on the south side of Fort Worth. “Just to know that there might be children that we could have played with, that we might have known…