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Symphony agrees to provide furloughed musicians with stipend
In June, orchestral musicians learned they were furloughed from the Nashville Symphony Orchestra until mid-2021, but after months-long negotiations, the board of the organization has agreed to provide them with a stipend starting Jan. 3, 2021. “This agreement represents a vital first step in bringing the Nashville Symphony back from one of the most monumental […]
Nashville immigrant groups create social media platforms for sharing COVID-19 information
Nashville has a thriving immigrant community with residents speaking more than 130 languages. But that same diversity created challenges for Metro Nashville government officials when the COVID-19 pandemic reached Tennessee in March. Several of Nashville’s established immigrant communities either already had social media platforms or were in the process of developing outlets to be able […]
Forum addresses worries about COVID-19 effects on rare diseases
Rep. Harold Love, D-Nashville, said worries in the Black community about COVID-19 haven’t been only about the virus itself, but also about the effects it could have on patients with diseases like sickle cell disease. Love was one of several community leaders addressing the effect of COVID-19 in the Black community at a Saturday forum […]
Tax expert gives guidance on 2021 returns for small businesses with pandemic support
Citizens that haven’t received their federal stimulus check or missed the November deadline to apply can still declare it on their taxes for next year, tax expert Amy Paz said today. Paz spoke at a weekly press conference held by Fabian Bedne, who works on the staff of Nashville Mayor John Cooper. Bedne targets his […]
Immigrants face unique challenges in staving off evictions
For Maria Hernandez, 36, this has been a stressful year. Her husband was deported in February due to domestic abuse and although it was for the best, she hasn’t recovered financially. After months of trying to find work in a pandemic, Hernandez and her six children were about to be evicted, despite a national moratorium […]
Nashville nonprofits find creative ways to meet demand for Thanksgiving
As the pandemic continues into its eighth month, Middle Tennessee charities have had to restructure themselves to keep up with the increasing demand, and for Thanksgiving they’re busier than ever. “What feels more like a recession time is what we’re currently dealing with, this sort of prolonged time of need, versus right after the tornado. […]
Nashville nonprofit works to stave off flood of evictions
Faith Klein started a Monday morning by listening to a client who lost a six-figure job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic was now on the verge of eviction. As a medical technician, the man was immuno-compromised and couldn’t risk catching the novel coronavirus through his work. He asked for leave but was fired. […]
Berke tells League of Cities COVID-19 worsens education inequality
Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke told city leaders from across the country how COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minority communities and created a growing education inequality. On Friday, Berke met with members of the National League of Cities to discuss the pandemic-related crisis associated with employment, housing and neighborhood design. “The pandemic didn’t create inequality in American […]
Metro Council approves $500,000 for Farmers Market
Metro Council approved $500,000 in rent relief to vendors at the Nashville Farmers Market, despite reservations from several council members. The bill was previously deferred due to conflicts with U.S. Treasury guidelines, which would have considered the funds as unlawful revenue replacement, according to Councilmember Sandra Sepulveda, one of three sponsors. Council made the decision […]
Defunct HOA leaves South Nashville neighborhood in quandary with TDOT
Homeowners associations are typically associated with suburbia, but they play critical roles in the city neighborhoods as well, as residents of a Nashville community found out in recent years. While the role of an HOA is to keep land value up, it serves many other purposes. More people moving to Nashville necessitates road-widening projects, and […]
Tennessee group advocates for conservative Latino voters
Latino voters have historically leaned Democratic, but more Latinos than ever voted Republican in the 2020 election and showed they can’t be taken for granted by either political party. The Latino vote provided decisive leads. In Florida, Latinos cast votes for President Donald Trump. In Arizona, they helped decide the election for President-elect Joe Biden. […]
Tennessee non-profit teaches veterans to make a living in civilian life
At one point in his life, Jerome Hardaway was just a veteran trying to get back into civilian life. Today he runs a successful nonprofit teaching other vets to compete in a modern world. Launched in 2014, Vets Who Code is a nonprofit that teaches veterans technical skills to earn a stable income in the […]