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| The Nashville Voter
Volume 77, No 10
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| Correction: The League of Women Voters of Williamson County Meeting will be held on November 20th. The registration link has been updated below.
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League CalendarNovember Hot Topic: New Chinatown Project Planned for Antioch. November 1st at 12:00pm CT via Zoom. Our November Hot Topic will feature Joy Styles, Metro Council District 32, discussing the new Chinatown project planned for Antioch. This development at 5255 Hickory Hollow Parkway will feature Register here.
League of Women Voters - Williamson County: Sustainable Transportation with November Speaker's Michael Paritee. November 20th at 1pm at the John P. Holt Brentwood Library (8109 Concord Rd. Brentwood). Please join us for a timely and important topic with Michael Parite who will discuss sustainable transportation, why electric vehicles ar part of a sustainable future and what is the future of transportation. Michael has 40 years in the automotive and transportation industries He has participated in the deployment of conventional, electric, natura gas and hydrogen fueled vehicles. He is a specialist in advance vehicle deployments and commercialization of emerging technologies. He has personally deployed thousands of clean fueled vehicles an their related infrastructure (i.e. EV1, S-10 Electric, Equinox FCEV). Prior to founding Glidesign with his partners, he was advising new technology start-ups and investment funds. Prior to that he was CEO of Maxwell Motors and the founder of Serrada Capital. He started his career at General Motors where he held multiple senior management positions. For additional details, register here. Visit the Williamson County chapter's website here.
Vox Grata Women's Center present We Have a Voice: A Celebration of Women's Suffrage featuring Andrea Ramsey's Suffrage Cantata. October 27 at 3:00pm at Fifteenth Avenue Baptist Church (1203 Ninth Avenue North). As our country approaches the 2024 national elections, Vox Grata presents a concert reflecting upon the struggle for women’s voting rights in America. Andrea Ramsey’s Suffrage Cantata examines the long road women have traversed to gain the right to vote. Through song and narration, the work uplifts the momentous impact suffragists have made upon the United States of America while also acknowledging the lack of equality in voting rights that African American women have experienced. Raising their voices in song alongside the W. Crimm Singers and ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Vox Grata aims to amplify the voices of American women and the organizations that support their right to vote. Vox Grata hopes to leverage the power of music and collaboration with our community to provide a platform to increase knowledge of and engagement in the upcoming national elections. The concert’s free-will offering will benefit the League of Women Voters’ Education Fund. This event will be livestreamed. For more information, click here.Save the Date: The Public Health Committee will be hosting a Legislative Forum with Davidson County state legislators on January 13, 2025 at the Lentz Public Health Center in Nashville. More information to come!
Election Date Reminders
- Early Voting: Oct. 16th-31st
- Absentee Ballot Request Deadline: Oct. 29th
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President's Message
As we approach the national elections, it’s inspiring to see our community so actively engaged in voter registration and education. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers, we’ve reached students, new voters, and the broader public, equipping them with the tools they need to participate in the upcoming election. Together, we’re helping to strengthen our democracy by encouraging informed and active participation.
I also want to encourage everyone to attend Vox Grata’s upcoming concert, Suffrage Cantata, which reflects on the struggle for women's voting rights in America. This powerful event, celebrating the voices of suffragists and shining a light on the continued fight for voting equality, is a meaningful way to connect with the history of our democracy. I hope to see you there as we uplift the legacy of those who paved the way for the rights we cherish today.
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Vox Grata Women's Choir presents "We Have a Voice: A Celebration of Women's Suffrage
As our country approaches the 2024 national elections, Vox Grata presents a concert reflecting on the struggle for women’s voting rights in America. Andrea Ramsey’s Suffrage Cantata examines the long journey women have taken to secure the right to vote. Through song and narration, this work celebrates the profound impact suffragists have had on the United States, while also acknowledging the inequality African American women have faced in exercising their voting rights.
Joined by the W. Crimm Singers and ALIAS Chamber Ensemble, Vox Grata aims to elevate the voices of American women and the organizations advocating for their right to vote. Vox Grata hopes to use the power of music and community collaboration to increase awareness and engagement in the upcoming national elections. Proceeds from the concert’s free-will offering will benefit the League of Women Voters’ Education Fund.
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Hot Topics
By Karen Wieckert and Melissa Hanson
New Chinatown Project Planned for Antioch
Our November Hot Topic will feature Joy Styles, Metro Council District 32, discussing the new Chinatown project planned for Antioch. This development at 5255 Hickory Hollow Parkway will feature traditional and modern Chinese architecture, creating a vibrant cultural attraction that offers shopping, dining, jobs, and investment in the community. Register here.
October Hot Topic Recap: Mis-, Dis-, and Mal-Information with Guest Speakers Melissa Mallon, MLIS and Emily Bush, MLIS
Our October Hot Topic event focused on the critical issue of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, particularly in the context of election seasons. In a time where the spread of false information is rampant, this session, led by experts Melissa Mallon and Emily Bush from Vanderbilt University, provided attendees with essential tools for identifying and counteracting misleading information.
Melissa Mallon and Emily Bush, both seasoned librarians specializing in teaching and digital learning, shared insights on the tactics used to manipulate public opinion and offered practical tips for fact-checking and verifying information. The session was highly interactive, encouraging attendees to discuss how misinformation affects their daily lives and share experiences of encountering false claims.
The speakers emphasized the importance of staying informed and provided resources to help voters and the public recognize and challenge voter misinformation. Participants left the session better equipped to navigate the digital landscape and contribute to a healthy democratic process.
We are grateful to our guest speakers for this informative session and to all attendees who participated in the discussions!
If you missed it, click here to watch the recording.
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Voter Services
By Kathryn Anderson and Kalen Russell
September was an active month for Voter Services, with voter registration and information events held at seven high schools, two Nashville State Community College locations (White Bridge Road and Antioch), LUSH store in Green Hills Mall, the Full Moon Pickin’ Party, and a Community Health Fair in collaboration with LINKS.
At Overton High School, one student registered, while Pearl Cohn saw 49 students sign up, thanks in part to the support of Mr. Amalang. In-class presentations and discussions at the Academy at Old Cockrill, Johnson ALC, Cane Ridge, Nashville Big Picture, and James Lawson High Schools resulted in 58 new student registrations. On September 17, LUSH in Green Hills provided a table for voter registration, resulting in three new voters, while the Nashville State campuses registered 26 students. Though the Full Moon Pickin’ Party and Health Fair events registered just three voters, many others received election information. Special thanks to Maureen Organ and her team for their impressive efforts at the downtown Farmers’ Market, where they registered 27 voters in September and 31 in August. Volunteers' hard work is deeply appreciated, and it is hoped that all new voters will cast their ballots next month.
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Environment Committee
By Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Jack McFadden
Choose How You Move - Nashville's Transportation Initiative
Nashville's transportation improvement program aims to benefit all users with 86 miles of new or improved sidewalks, 600 smart traffic lights, expanded 24/7 bus services, and safety enhancements at 35 high-risk intersections. This plan will be funded by a half-cent sales tax increase, opening the city to a $1.4 billion federal matching fund. The referendum will appear at the bottom of your ballot.
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Healthcare/Public Health
By Patti Scott and Harper-Grace Neidermeyer
The Public Health Committee submitted comments to the State Board of Education on their draft rules and regulations for the Charter Boarding School Law. Several other organizations, including ACE Nashville and the Youth Law Center, also raised concerns about eligibility criteria, privacy issues related to health and mental health records, parental involvement, and the lack of on-site health services.
The committee strongly believes that Opportunity Public Charter Schools should adopt the Coordinated School Health (CSH) framework, which Tennessee has championed since 2001. CSH promotes healthy lifestyles, provides essential support to at-risk students, and helps reduce health problems that impair academic success by connecting health (physical, emotional, and social) with learning.
The committee also recommends that Opportunity Public Charter Schools employ experienced school nurses (RNs) and mental health professionals, integrating them into the school community to ensure comprehensive care, particularly for students with special health needs. Consistent with the CSH framework, all schools should adopt a trauma-informed approach in education, health, and discipline, with regular staff training. We’ll continue to monitor the implementation of the rules and keep the League updated.
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Metro Government
By Karen Hernan and Pat McCauley
Thank you to everyone who attended our forum on Nashville's Transit plan. The Transit Forum was a great success, featuring Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Bill Howell as speakers.
Voting Update Reminders
Early Voting: Early voting is now open, with a new location at Lentz. Don’t forget to bring your Tennessee or Federal government-issued photo ID, such as a Tennessee driver’s license or a U.S. passport. Polls are busiest on the first and last days of early voting, so plan ahead. Polls are open until 7 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Absentee Ballots: Absentee ballots are still being accepted, but time is running out. If you need to request one, email your request form to expedite the process. Once your absentee ballot request is submitted, you cannot change your mind and vote in person.
Senior Voting: If you have mobility issues, you can skip the line at the poll. If you bring someone to help you vote, you must request assistance verbally from the poll official.
Election Day: Election Day is November 5. You must vote at your assigned precinct. If you haven’t voted since the last presidential election, your precinct may have changed, so be sure to check.
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| Stay Informed about Upcoming Calendar Events!
If you get the electronic version of the Voter, we want you to know that the upcoming calendar events are available on our wonderful, new website – www.lwvnashville.org. On The calendar scrolls on the events of the current and upcoming events thanks to Tracy Depp, who keeps the calendar current. If you haven’t taken a look, do so to make sure you mark your calendar so you won’t miss a thing!
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ATTENTION: The Nashville Voter is a digital publication. If you have received this copy of the Voter in the mail, it means the League of Women Voters of Nashville does not have an e-mail address for you. Please help us by sending your e-mail address to LWVNash@gmail.com. Being on the LWVN e-mail database ensures your receipt of all LWVN newsletters, event invitations, meeting announcements, and Call to Action alerts.
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| 2024-2025 LWVN Board of Directors
Co-Presidents: Lara Webb and Ophelia Doe
1st Vice Presidents: Melissa Hanson and Karen Weickert
Secretary: Ethel Detch
Treasurer Susan Mattson
Portfolio Chairs
Communications: Yolonda Beech
Community Connections: Sabina Mohyuddin and Leona Edwards
Education: Dr. Patricia Brock, Dr. Leslie Cowell, and MaKenzie Mosby
Environment: Russanne Buchi-Fotre and Jack McFadden
Health Care/Public Health: Patti Scott and Harper-Grace Niedermeyer
Membership: Reba Holmes and Cindee Gold
Metro Government: Pat McCauley and Karen Hernan
Voter Services: Kathy Anderson and Kalen Russell
Williamson County Representative: June Bond
Nominating Committee Chair: Senator Brenda Gilmore
Nominating Committee Members: Betsy Walkup, Constance Caldwell, Hasina Mohyuddin, Ophelia Doe, and Brenda Wynn
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