NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt Scarritt Bennett Center saw the screening of the impactful documentary “Tennessee 11” recently, which follows 11 Tennesseans who hold a wide variety of beliefs from across the political spectrum working together to draft solutions built on common ground on issues of gun rights and safety.
Community activist Ron Johnson, one of the participants documented in “Tennessee 11,” said the screening was “beautiful.” It was followed by a Q&A where audience members could ask questions regarding the documentary and address its topics for the purpose of stirring up more conversation in the community and encouraging more general conversation from across the political aisle about the issue of gun violence in Tennessee.
“We got asked, ‘Why did I take part in the film?’” Johnson said. “At that time, being a government official, I just felt like being a part of this film gives you a bigger stage, a louder voice, and I always want to be a part of that. Especially when it comes to trying to make a difference.”
Starts With Us Senior Manager of Communications Tori Larned said that the “Tennessee 11” effort was a part of Citizen Solutions, a civic experiment by the nonpartisan organization, Builders. She said the “Tennessee 11” plans to continue mobilizing behind the proposals they have created together. Larned said one such proposal educates citizens around firearms safety and was signed into law by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee last spring.
Larned said the “Tennessee 11” looks forward to sharing the documentary “far and wide,” by bringing it to other educational settings, including schools and college campuses, as a way of modeling critical thinking, civil discourse, and collaborative problem-solving.
Johnson said he will continue to share his perspective regarding gun violence in Tennessee by keeping himself available for public speaking events. He said he experienced gun violence while growing up in North Memphis and lost his mother to a shooting during his junior year of playing football at Tennessee State University.
“That was kind of like, my reasoning to want to be a part of this,” Johnson said. “Because violence runs rampant in a whole bunch of different areas, but you never think that it would happen to your mom.”
Johnson said the people who brought together the “Tennessee 11” participants did an “amazing” job in guiding group discussion. He said organizers of the project also did a good job in not telling the 11 strangers what to do, but instead acted as a driving force in encouraging the Tennesseans to find ways to understand each other in what Johnson describes as three “grueling” days.
“I always believe in the 80/20 rule,” he said. “I believe that 80% are the things we go through as humans, and 20% is just some of the things that we look at as non-negotiable. Like there are some people who believe so strongly in the Second Amendment, which is non-negotiable. Well, I differ in that.”
For those interested in learning more about “Tennessee 11” or would like to get involved, visit citizensolutions.us.
