Cathy Carillo
ReMix TN

Robin Lovett Owen
Pastor + Urbanist

India Pungarcher
Open Table Nashville

Ivie Tran
Nashville Youth Design Team

If you are a designer, planner, or developer, you have the power to influence change project-by-project that reflects inclusive and welcoming places. If you are already an advocate, you might be wondering if there's more you can be doing on a wider scale to influence long term change. Belonging should be a central component to placemaking, so if you have a role in placemaking, you shouldn't skip this forum. 

This event will feature an inspiring panel of people that are speaking up, organizing, and working on the ground to address the issue of belonging. Our COO, Kaitlin Dastugue, will moderate a discussion around their stories following by a group brainstorm on planning and design solutions that could bring a beacon of hope into a time of darkness. 

Drinks and snacks will be provided. Members always attend free, but this time, we have also included a pay-what-you-can ticket to reduce the barriers for attendance.

JT Neal is many things. Organizer, Activist, Geek, & Friend. But chiefly, he is someone who cares! A native Nashvillian (among the few left in the wild) from a family of educated educators, he is a third-generation college graduate who has devoted his time to fighting environmental injustices around his hometown and the wider community. By getting involved with his local Sunrise Hub, he has gone on to give voice to the issues real people face, educate others on the things happening around them from a wider world, and be a helping hand in any way he can.

As a community ambassador rooted in North Nashville, Poet Williams has dedicated the last five years to advocating for mental health awareness and social justice. Originally from Maryland, his journey in Nashville began through the vibrant poetry community, where he found his passion for community work. Poet strives to uplift and empower the Black community, aiming to create a better reflection of our shared experiences and aspirations. Residing on Meharry Boulevard, adjacent to the historically significant Jefferson Street, he recognizes the importance of this area in fostering cultural identity and community unity. As an artist, Poet deeply appreciates the role of the arts in advocacy and transformation, and I am committed to using my skills to contribute positively to our community's growth and well-being.

Winston Wellington Wright is a passionate public health professional working to create solutions to advance health equity in healthcare. As a proud alumni of Fisk University and Nashville transplant via Philadelphia since 2007, North Nashville has held a special place in Winston’s heart, becoming the setting of many key experiences during his formative years. Now, as an emerging young professional and self-coined health equity strategist, Winston manages a portfolio of work both inside & outside of his professional role that allows him to leverage his experience & network to better serve communities as a Community Outreach Ambassador for the Jefferson Street Corridor Study.

Keith Benion is a multidisciplinary advocate, cultural wellness strategist, and community-based storyteller. As a promoter of I Am Sound, Nature’s Drummers, Rest and Restore, Gratitude Workx, the Urban Garden Project, and the Keep Heritage Alive: Our Story Docu-Series, he weaves together rhythm, land, healing, and history to activate collective resilience. His work centers on the restoration of Black and Indigenous wisdom traditions through immersive experiences—from trauma-informed sound healing and edible garden builds, to cultural preservation projects and intergenerational storytelling events. Whether leading Rest & Restore healing pop-ups or producing powerful documentary series episodes that uplift community voices, he stands as a vital connector between past, present, and possibility.