RESOURCE BOOK Agenda 8:15 - 8:35 am
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS What’s Next?
Introductions & welcomes
CNM Mayor Megan Barry Stephen Francescon, Piedmont Natural Gas
Part I - Data and News: What’s Going On? 8:35 - 9:05 am
A Transforming Region: Data and Policy Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
9:05 - 9:20 am
The News Perspective with WPLN Nashville Public Radio
Jennifer Carlat, Vice President of Policy Rebecca West, Director of Applied Research Meribah Knight, Reporter
Part II - Perspectives from the Field 9:20 - 9:50 am
Nonprofit Case Studies Panel with nonprofit executive directors Moderated by Dawana Wade, Salama Urban Ministries
9:50 - 10:05 am 10:05 - 10:40 am
Gerald Brown, Dismas House Jim Hawk, Neighborhoods Resource Center Derri Smith, End Slavery Tennessee
Break & icebreaker questions Affordability and Development Panel Moderated by David Plazas, The Tennessean
Adriane Bond Harris, Mayor’s Office Michael Kenner, MiKen Development Brian Sexton, New Level Community Development Corporation
Part III - Call to Action: What Can You Do? 10:40 - 11:20 am
How Nonprofit Leaders Can Get Involved in Metro Initiatives Metro Nashville Mayor’s Office
11:20 - 11:55 am
Unlocking Systems-level Change Through Strategic Collaboration Moderated by Kim Carpenter Drake, Center for Nonprofit Management
Erik Cole, Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Empowerment Lonnell Matthews, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement Karen Cramer, TechBridge Kristine LaLonde, Lipscomb University Joanne Pulles, HCA Foundation
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Welcome to CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management Show your supporters that you are here today, engaging in community issues by using #CNMTalksChange. Center for Nonprofit Management: @CNMNashville Mayor Megan Barry: @MayorMeganBarry Piedmont Natural Gas: @PiedmontNG Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce: @nashchamber Nashville Public Radio: @WPLN Meribah Knight: @meribah Salama Urban Ministries: @SalamaInstitute Dismas House: @DH_Nashville Neighborhoods Resource Center: @NRC_Nashville End Slavery Tennessee: @EndSlaveryTN The Tennessean: @tennessean David Plazas: @davidplazas Adriane Bond Harris: @actionista007
Mayor’s Office of Economic and Community Development: @Nashville_ECD MiKen Development: @mikendevelop New Level Community Development Corporation: @NewLevelCDC Lonnell Matthews: @InspireWithLM Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement: @moon_nashville TechBridge: @iamtechbridge Kristine LaLonde: @KLinNashville Lipscomb University M.A. in Leadership & Public Service: @LipscombMLPS HCA Foundation: @HCAFoundation
Nonprofits: Tell your story! Those who tell stories change the world. -Plato Are you reaching new donors, volunteers, and supporters in innovative ways? Has your organization pulled itself out of a tough management situation and achieved success? Is sustainability an integral part of your nonprofit’s business approach? ...and in what other ways is your nonprofit achieving excellence? Your nonprofit does amazing work every day... so now it’s time to show how! Apply for a Salute to Excellence award through the Center for Nonprofit Management by April 14. About $250,000 will be awarded in 13 different categories. Learn more at www.cnm.org/events/salute.
Special thanks to event sponsor Piedmont Natural Gas!
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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A Transforming Region: Data and Policy (selected slides) presented by The Research Center of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Source: US Census, American Community Survey; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Source: Greater Nashville Realtors and US Bureau of Economic Analysis; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Source: American Community Survey and US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Source: US Census, American Community Survey and US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Source: US Census, American Community Survey; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Source: EMSI and US Department of Housing and Urban Development; Provided by: The Research Center, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for the full presentation.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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The News Perspective with WPLN presented by Reporter Meribah Knight
Stories to learn more: New Apartments On Jefferson Street Part Of Nashville’s Push for ‘Workforce Housing’, Tony Gonzalez “A 54-unit apartment will be built by MDHA at 10th and Jefferson for families that earn between $33,000 and $51,000.” -November 20, 2015 More Money Entices Record Number Of Affordable Housing Proposals For Nashville’s Barnes Fund, Tony Gonzalez “After years of talking about affordable housing in Nashville, the buzzword has turned into action -- with city-funded efforts finally leading to some new rooftops. A record level of $10 million available through the Barnes Housing Trust Fund has led to a wave of interest from a broad range of developers.” -January 4, 2017 With Few Legal Protections, Nashville Mobile Home Park Residents At Risk Of Losing It All, Meribah Knight “As Nashville rents rise, mobile home parks are expanding as a viable option of affordable housing stock. But with few legal protections, residents can feel powerless.” -January 9, 2017 Two Longtime East Nashville Churches Ask: Is It Time To Leave The Neighborhood?, Meribah Knight “Indeed, little has changed inside the church. But outside, the neighborhood has transformed. Luxury apartments sprouted up next door, a fancy hot yogs studio opened down the street. White professionals are moving in as land prices soar. But for the better part of a century, this neighborhood has been a community of color. And as development takes hold, the churches that for generations rooted the neighborhood, are being pushed out.” -January 23, 2017 Facing Displacement, Residents At One Nashville Housing Complex Organized And Fought Back, Meribah Knight “When a developer bought a large affordable housing complex in Nashville’s Edgehill neighborhood, residents worried they might lose their homes. And they had good reason. Across the city, developers are buying up buildings, remodeling them and raising the rents. But before that could happen, these residents banded together, formed a tenants’ union and asked the buyer to talk. And much to their surprise, the new owner agreed.” -February 28, 2017 In Coveted Nashville Neighborhoods, A Rush To Protect Senior Citizens From Rising Property Taxes, Tony Gonzalez “Many Nashville neighborhoods are bracing for their new property tax bills, which could be substantially higher after this year’s countywide assessment — so much so that homeowners may find it difficult to keep up with the costs. But before that can happen, there’s been a mass mobilization of volunteers to spread the word about Metro’s little-known tax freeze and relief programs.” -March 21, 2017 Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for hyperlinks to these stories and additional information.
Nashville Public Radio: 90.3 WPLN FM and nashvillepublicradio.org
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Nonprofit Case Studies In 2016, we heard from Dawana Wade of Salama Urban Ministries, Corey Gephart of St. Luke’s Community House, and Melanie Shinbaum of Fannie Battle Day Care about what was taking place in their neighborhoods. Now in 2017, check in with these nonprofit leaders in the following Q&As:
Dawana Wade CEO of Salama Urban Ministries Q: Could you briefly describe the situation Salama Urban Ministries was in at this time last year in terms of gentrification? What were you seeing in your neighborhood, and what actions were you considering? A: As you know, we are located in the Edgehill neighborhood, and there is public housing development and many low-income residents there. Over the years, however, that has begun to change drastically. People wonder whether they need to move, and there is a lot of uncertainty. We work with kids, and even they know about these issues because they hear the adults talking about it. Additionally, Salama owns property and folks come by regularly to ask if we are willing to sell. Salama wants to continue serving the Edgehill neighborhood but we are unsure which direction to go: should we sell and use the additional funding to allow for longer-term programming? That’s always a good thing. Or how do we make what we do appealing to our new neighbors? How do we include them in our community-building? Q: How has your neighborhood changed over the past year? A: One year ago we were pretty much in the same situation that we are now. Change seems to be coming even more quickly. It’s still very alarming. But we’ve been approached in real ways about our property as well. Q: In last year’s session, you mentioned how important it was to consider big, community changes like gentrification in strategic planning. Now one year later, do you have anything you’d like to add to that? A: Certainly -- because gentrification is not going to stop
anytime soon, some folks are still going to be displaced. So if you aren’t planning ahead or thinking three to five years down the road, you are planning to fail. You don’t want to be in a place where you aren’t serving those who need your services. Q: What’s next for Salama on this issue? We’re still exploring options for what happens after 2019 when our lease is up. If we decide to sell, we want to maintain a real and prominent presence in the neighborhood, while continuing to pay attention to the need and where people might be going. We have begun partnering with other community agencies: advocacy groups and others -- not necessarily just other nonprofits. This helps us keep the conversation going about the tremendous changes we are seeing in the neighborhood. We’re engaged in broader-level conversations about development but we’re also getting involved in grassroots organizing that gives voice to residents. I strongly believe that there is only so much we can get done separately. Q: Looking on the city level, what gives you hope and what keeps you up at night? A: What gives me hope is the fact that there are more grassroots opportunities popping up and they are proving to be safe spaces where people can be heard. Real change takes place when those we serve are empowered. Coalition-building is happening and the process is being refined. We are learning what to do from other areas in order to advance more quickly. What scares me is that we still have a long way to go. More money than ever has been pledged to the Barnes Fund, so how do we apply that? Meanwhile, development is still happening, and the middle class is continuing to shrink.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Corey Gephart CEO of St. Luke’s Community House Q: Could you briefly describe the situation St. Luke’s was in at this time last year in terms of gentrification? What were you seeing in your neighborhood, and what actions were you considering? A: We noticed rapid turnover throughout the neighborhood and surrounding area, and while this wasn’t something completely new, it had become so much more prominent that we needed to address it as an organization.
organizations should be like-minded. For us, it’s about quality. We want to provide quality services with respect and dignity, so we look for others who share these same values while also filling a gap in services. This helps us both move forward, and it’s a win-win for the community on the whole as well. We are neighborhood-based but we are looking to expand our reach. It’s our social responsibility to make sure that all are being served. For now, people know where we are and they are still coming.
We started the strategic planning process keeping this in mind, and through our research and planning process, we found that there was not a decrease in the need for our services; if anything, our clients are coming to us, both locally and from other neighborhoods in Nashville, because they know that we are here and the types of things that St. Luke’s can help them with.
Q: What would you want other nonprofits to know about the planning process?
Q: How has your neighborhood changed over the past year?
Q: Looking on the city level, what gives you hope and what keeps you up at night?
A: The neighborhood is continuing to turn over and it is not going to stop. We continue to see the need for our services. For us in the next three to five years, we want to hone our programming, clarify our mission, and keep our finger on the pulse of these changes.
A: What gives me hope is the increased emphasis on collaboration and working together for collective impact. We’re also seeing that new style of leadership in the Mayor’s Office.
Q: In last year’s session, you spoke about the need for partnerships and collaboration. Now one year later, do you have anything you’d like to add? A: Ultimately, when you are forming a partnership, the
A: When you go through an extended planning process, be patient and trust the process. It’s important to have a board that gives you grace in doing that. The planning document itself isn’t what’s the most important about strategic planning -- it’s the mindset.
But what worries me is that there is not enough affordable housing. It’s great and positive that Nashville is moving forward, but we seem to be seeing a divide between economic classes and we need to be mindful of that.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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Melanie Shinbaum Executive Director of Fannie Battle Day Home Q: Could you briefly describe the situation Fannie Battle Day Home was in at this time last year in terms of gentrification? What were you seeing in your neighborhood, and what actions were you considering? A: A year ago we were collecting a lot of data, and we were seeing the neighborhood change dramatically. We were trying to strategically decide if we could continue to meet the needs while staying in our East Nashville location. The data showed us that while East Nashville is changing, there is also a significant need. We looked at the Metro Social Services poverty map and other sources that showed us the income levels of the surrounding neighborhood. So we knew that we weren't going to have a hard time staying filled, but we are considering changes about how we meet those needs. We are working to streamline and strengthen our enrollment process because we want to be very sure that we are successfully meeting families' needs.
their board involved? A: Our board as a whole is more well-versed in what's happening throughout the neighborhood, and throughout the city. Our conversations are always there: how are we meeting the needs in this area? It has made them more aware. The board continues to be engaged and interested in increasing our ability to help those who are approaching the benefits cliff. We have expanded the number of children we serve, and we are also working with partners to meet the needs of our families. A year ago we had spent a lot of the previous year mining data from the community and from our own systems, so the board feels confident. The data has really allowed us, as an organization, to embrace the need that exists and it allows us to better meet those needs. Q: Looking on the city level, what gives you hope and what keeps you up at night?
A: There is still a lot of new building happening but it does seem to be slowing down. In East Nashville, the wave of gentrification in Nashville really started here so there hasn't been a huge change within the last year.
A: For us in early childhood education, there's a lot happening on the city and state level. While in the past year we haven't seen a huge change, the city as a whole is still changing. And while right now there's more need that we can currently meet, we are also committed to continuing to look at the data to help us make decisions. We want to make sure we are monitoring along the way so that we're meeting the right needs.
Q: In last year’s session, you were grappling with these big issues with your board. Now one year later, how has involving your board affected Fannie Battle’s approach to this issue, and what would you say to other nonprofits to encourage them to get
Because of the changing climates it is forcing us all to be more mission-focused, and I think that is a good thing to come out of the change. There is also an increased necessity that we work more collaboratively so that we can be more nimble.
Q: How has your neighborhood changed over the past year?
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Other voices from the sector: Dr. Rhonda Switzer-Nadasdi, CEO of Interfaith Dental Clinic Q: Interfaith Dental Clinic is located right in Midtown. What are your plans for your location? A: We have a "FOR SALE" sign outside of our building as of today. [Q&A took place on Feb. 8, 2017.] If the number we are offered is high, we have options of where we can relocate -- and for a long time, people have been wandering in and offering us money for our building. We want to stay in Davidson County and near an interstate. Q: What made Interfaith decide to relocate? A: We did a heat map of where our clients are coming from and we found that they are from all over Middle Tennessee. Not many of our clients ride the bus, so we don't have to worry too much about bus lines. In our current location, it doesn't seem that we are that easy to find, but people continue to find us. We decided
to make the decision to sell because we are supposed to be good stewards of our assets and we put investment into this property. We helped the neighborhood when we moved here in 1998. But we've found that our services are so in demand all over Middle Tennessee, that we have many options for where we can go when we relocate. So our reasons for moving are different than most others’ reasons probably. Q: How are you feeling about this big change? A: It makes me wanna barf! We're trying to find a location that we can afford, while hoping that the projections we made from our data are sound. But our board has been involved in this decision at pretty much every level, and we have looked at it from every angle that we can, so we feel that we are making the right decision. It’s about being the best steward of our assets so that our services can continue and expand.
Steve Fleming, Executive Director of Bethlehem Centers of Nashville Q: What have you noticed in your neighborhood? A: I'm a longtime resident of the area - I grew up in the Bethlehem community. It's between Midtown and downtown so of course there is a lot of building going on - especially the north side near the Gulch. But with our clients, we are still able to serve in this area and people still use our services. However, with the changes we don't always know what new development will pop up next and we have to keep asking whether the long-term residents will be staying or not. And then if they are displaced, where will they be relocated? For us right now, this is a good location and we plan to stay and continue offering our wrap-around community services. But we are paying attention. Q: How is Bethlehem Centers addressing this issue with your clients? A: We have met with people in community forums to give them a space to share their concerns about people
with money coming in and overhauling the community. They often say that they feel strong-armed and that they feel disrespected when they don't have a voice in what's going on. Looking ahead, we plan to hold more community forums, and we are also having these conversations with our board members. The first thing to do is to be in the know about what's going on and trying to plan, but with all the uncertainty that can be difficult. Q: Looking on the city level, what gives you hope and what keeps you up at night? A: I'm proud of the progress Nashville has made but in order to be successful, everyone must be included. It often seems that low-income people aren't included as a part of the "it city." I'm excited about the physical changes in Nashville because the new buildings do improve the overall look of an area, but I'm concerned about residents aren't always informed of the changes.
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“The Cost of Growth and Change in Nashville” with David Plazas and George Walker
In preparation for today’s event, CNM spoke with Opinion Engagement Editor David Plazas and Photojournalist George Walker of The Tennessean to learn more about the ongoing series "The Cost of Growth and Change in Nashville." Special thanks to David for being a moderator for the Affordability and Development Panel! Q: How would you describe the editorial series? David: The series is called “The Cost of Growth and Change in Nashville” and it’s about looking at what’s happening in the affordable housing sphere. It started out with months of research, and thinking about how everyone is talking about how Nashville is getting more expensive and how everyone is feeling it. Meanwhile we’re hearing this talk of the “it city” and “New Nashville,” but what does that mean for the people who have lived here for a long time and who are being priced out of the community? So the idea is to tell the story, raise consciousness, raise awareness, and at the same time, hopefully come up with some solutions that can help us become a city that can be for all of Nashville. Q: What was the catalyst for starting this series? George: As a native, I’ve always been interested in how the city is changing and what’s going on. As you look around, you see old neighborhoods that don’t look how they used to. You see what was middle-class workforce housing look completely unaffordable. They look like places that I myself couldn’t afford and I’m sure for people who lived there before are looking at it going, “Is this city for me anymore?” So that’s one of the things that interests me because I’m a native. With my friends, neighbors, and people I’ve grown up with, I’m just curious: who is this city for? David: That’s a great point because this information – empirical anecdotes – help lead us to data. We found, for example, that since 1962 when Metro formed as a county city government, we’ve been on a pro-growth mode for the longest time, with different eras of renewal in the suburbs or in the urban core. Right now we’re in an urban core renewal mode, and what it’s doing is causing some great things, of course, to happen to Nashville. Nashville is
promoting itself as a great tourist destination, as a place for music and food and fashion, but at the same time, it’s a place that’s becoming unaffordable. There are also some national trends that have hit Nashville really hard. One of them is the renters dilemma. There’s a renters crisis; home ownership has dropped to record low levels. About a decade ago it was near 70 percent and today it’s about 61 percent. We’re nationally building for high-income earners, and that’s pressing a lot of people out. The average household income is $52,000 [in Nashville] and that’s not enough to afford $2,000-6,000 in rent. Q: Through your research and conversations in the community, what has surprised you? George: I’m not sure that in things I’ve done [I am too surprised] – and David has done most of the work in the research and look at hard numbers. I’ve been out talking to real people who have been in this situation or dealing with this situation. I’m not sure there has been that much that has surprised me, but it’s good to know and it’s good to hear from people who are being affected by this. Those folks are where the real stories are. David: Because I haven’t lived here as long as George, there were several surprises for me. First of all, the big surprise was how aggressive some people are at trying to get people to sell their homes. That’s something that was new to me and that I didn’t realize until we did the research and when George met Sallie Dowell – who is now the inspiration for a country song – and Sallie has a placard that says "THIS HOME IS NOT FOR SALE" and is really adamant that she’s going to die before she sells this home. That kind of tension between the development community and realtors and people who just want to live in their neighborhoods by their churches, their services and their friends, they are really having to make a tough decision. [continued]
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
Because if you do so, where do you go? Because there aren’t a lot of places that are comparable. At this moment, the affordable areas, or so we’re told and from the research we’re seeing, is in Madison and Antioch. But even Madison is getting more and more expensive. And Antioch, despite being more affordable, really has no transportation access that is easy and Belle Meade is a mess half the time. So there are some real issues that people are dealing with. George did a great job talking with Kennetha Patterson. George: Kennetha was a woman who lived in an apartment complex that was near downtown in the Edgehill neighborhood and now lives in Cheatham County. [Learn more here.] It takes about an hour to get to her place now – she is way out there in the sticks as you could say – and it’s kind of unfortunate that she’s away from all of the things that she’s known throughout her life. She’s also a native of Nashville and is now living outside in the counties. Q: In your opinion, is Nashville headed in the right direction in terms of how we, as a city, are responding to changing neighborhoods? George: I think Nashville is in a direction of growth; of course it is, and growth is good. But we can’t forget about who is here and who is from here and who benefits from the services of the city. We can’t forget that that’s what makes Nashville Nashville, and if those people aren’t here – if everybody has to move out of the city – what is Nashville? David: From the affordable housing perspective, we heard a lot about that during the mayoral campaign of 2015 and now there has to be execution. There have been a lot of good things on that front but what’s very difficult is that we’re in a hot, booming market. Zillow has named
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Nashville the number one real estate market in the country and you have a lot of tension between supply and demand. Those are things that are out of the hands of the government. There are some things that are being done by Mayor Barry and her staff but the question is, how fast can you do it? One hundred units of affordable housing created by the Barnes Fund is not enough. People are saying you need 20,000-40,000 units of affordable housing and that’s going to be very difficult to accomplish. Though from the standpoint of “is there the intention?” I think there is. Will we be able to execute it? I think that has yet to be seen. Right now the economic situation is really against us at this moment. Q: David, what are you looking forward to in [today’s] event? David: I’m really looking forward to the CNM changing neighborhoods session very, very much, and the reason is because it’s an opportunity to raise consciousness, again. If anything, I think nonprofits have to speak up, and they have to encourage their clients to speak up because a lot is changing very, very quickly and if we don’t move now, if we stay silent, we really miss an opportunity to do something effective. There are a lot of good things happening with Nashville and we’re moving forward in many good ways – we’re seeing some tremendous developments and we’re seeing the benefits of being the 25th largest city and growing – but at the same time, we have to watch those who are the least among us. Q: Where can readers learn more? George: Our affordable housing series is running on the last series of every month, so pick it up on the newsstand or go hit the www and go to the Tennessean.com to read what David and I have to say.
Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for hyperlinks to these stories and additional information.
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How Nonprofit Leaders Can Get Involved in Metro Initiatives
presented by Lonnell Matthews, Director of Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods and Community Engagement and Erik Cole, Director of Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and Empowerment Financial Empowerment Center The Nashville Financial Empowerment Center is a program in partnership with the Office of Mayor Megan Barry and United Way of Metropolitan Nashville that provides free, one-on-one financial counseling to assist Davidson County residents reduce debt and build assets. Since 2013, the Nashville Financial Empowerment Center has reduced debt over $5 million and increase savings by nearly $800,000. Our professional financial counselors work with partner organizations to improve the level of service and client outcomes across disciplines. http://fec.nashville.gov The Barnes Fund for Affordable Housing The Metropolitan Housing Trust Fund Commission, which runs the Barnes Fund has leveraged over $15,000,000 in local and public funding, to provide over 450 units of housing. The Barnes Fund makes competitive grants to nonprofit housing developers to increase affordable housing options for Nashvillians. Grants include funding for renovation or construction of affordable homeownership and rental opportunities and other supportive efforts to encourage affordability. Funds can be leveraged by nonprofit developers with other existing tax credit and funding programs. Nashville Promise Zone Awarded in 2016, the Nashville Promise Zone covers 6 subzones generally within Nashville’s urban core. The Nashville Promise Zone (NPZ) comprises 46-square miles (9.67% of Metropolitan Nashville, Davidson County), including the neighborhoods immediately south, east, and north of Nashville’s central business district. The Promise Zone is co-lead by the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) and the Mayor’s Office. In several of the MDHA developments in the zone, more than half of households report zero income (MDHA 2016), and according to the Census, the overall NPZ has a poverty rate of 37.61% (Census 2010). NPZ residents face low post-secondary education levels and road congestion that make upward mobility, affordable housing and employment more difficult to obtain. The Zone is focused on the following six goals (which align with Mayor Barry’s goals): Create jobs. Increase economic activity. Improve educational opportunities. Reduce violent crime. Increase access to affordable housing. Improve community infrastructure. Six non-profits are lead agencies in each subzone. Nashville Construction Readiness Partnership The Nashville Construction Readiness Partnership (NCRP) is a collaborative workforce development initiative created by Mayor Megan Barry and led out of the Nashville Career Advancement Center (NCAC). This initiative was created to ensure the citizens of Nashville have the access and skills needed to engage in Nashville's vibrant construction industry. The NCRP will develop and implement strategies that match employers with skilled Davidson County employees, and provide training opportunities for residents seeking to enter the industry for the first time. The 6-week construction-training program is for a Davidson County resident that has no open or pending charges against them and no previous record of sexual offenses, is in good physical condition and has, or will be able to obtain, a valid Driver’s License and a dependable mode of transportation. Experienced instructors will help individuals learn various construction skills including: basic safety, introduction to power tools, introduction to blueprints and more.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
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MyCity Academy MyCity Academy empowers New Americans to understand and participate in Nashville's government, and the program is the first of its kind in the nation. Over the course of seven months, MyCity participants meet with leaders from Metro departments and tour Metro facilities. In doing so, they gain a better understanding of how their government works and learn how to resolve issues and obtain information. Upon graduation, MyCity participants are able to help their communities understand and access government services. MyCity graduates also have the opportunity to interact with New Americans from other communities through their participation in the MyCity alumni network. In all, 141 participants from 47 countries have graduated from MyCity Academy. If you are interested in more information please email newamericans@nashville.gov. Applications for 2018 have not yet been released. Opportunity NOW Opportunity NOW is a coordinated initiative launched by Mayor Megan Barry to provide young people in Davidson County access to employment. In Nashville, we have seen fewer and fewer teenagers and young adults working during the summers and after-school. At the same time, Nashville employers across various industries are concerned about the lack of “soft” skills among their youngest employees—skills most readily learned through actual work experience. The initiative was created based on recommendations from the Mayor’s Youth Violence Summit as a way to connect youth to opportunity and to hope. Opportunity NOW is designed to combat the growing gap in opportunity and will become the much needed system for delivering employment and employment-like opportunities for young people. The Opportunity NOW system is broad enough to cater to a variety of skill levels while creating pathways to both subsidized and unsubsidized employment for youth aged 14 to 24. For additional information, and to find out how you can be involved in Opportunity NOW, please email opportunitynow@nashville.gov. Tax Freeze Program The tax freeze program was approved by Tennessee voters in a November, 2006 constitutional amendment referendum. The Tax Freeze Act of 2007 permits local governments to implement the program, and Metropolitan Nashville-Davidson County became the first jurisdiction in the state to establish a tax freeze program. Under the program, qualifying homeowners age 65 and older can "freeze" the tax due on their property at the amount for the year they qualify, even if tax rates increase. Applicants must present: 1.Proof of age - birth certificate, Medicare card, driver's license, passport, etc.; 2. Proof of ownership - current tax bill or receipt, recorded deed, etc.; 3. Evidence property is principal residence - voter registration card, etc. Further, income records must be provided showing the total income of all owners of the property during 2015 does not exceed $41,660 for Davidson County. Income records include Federal tax returns or other items acceptable to the Trustee. All applicants must sign an income verification form permitting the Trustee to contact IRS, SSA or the State Division of Property Assessment to verify income. The application is a public record, but the financial documents remain confidential. Applications for the Tax Freeze must be filed by April 5th each year. New applicants must come to our office, but no appointment is required. Bring the required documents to the Office of the Trustee and please arrive by 3:00pm. If you need additional information concerning the program, please feel free to call us with any questions at (615) 862-6330. Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for hyperlinks to this information from Metro and more.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
#CNMTalksChange
Unlocking Systems-level Change Through Strategic Collaboration
moderated by Kim Carpenter Drake of the Center for Nonprofit Management panelists Karen Cramer of TechBridge, Kristine LaLonde of Lipscomb University, Joanne Pulles of The HCA Foundation
Information and resources What is collective impact? “Collective impact occurs when organizations from different sectors agree to solve a specific social problem using a common agenda, aligning their efforts, and using common measures of success.” -FSG, www.fsg.org The Five Conditions of Collective Success, from “Collective Impact” article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review 1. Common agenda: a shared vision for change and common understanding of the problem 2. Shared measurement systems: consistent collection of data and method of measuring results 3. Mutually reinforcing activities: each participant undettaking activities at which it excels 4. Continuous communication: build trust along with a shared vocabulary and understanding 5. Backbone support organization: serves as coordinating agency and supporting infrastructure Read more at ssir.org, and find the specific link to this article on www.cnm.org. The Power of Possibility, www.thepowerofpossibility.org - “The Power of Possibility: Exploring Greater Impact through Strategic Partnerships campaign encourages nonprofit leaders to think about going beyond organizational boundaries to do together what you may not be able to do alone. To consider how your efforts could be accelerated and amplified by working together.” Collective Impact Forum, collectiveimpactforum.org - This site includes a Resources page with lots of valuable information regarding collective impact: articles, case studies, toolkits, and more. We highly recommend this site as a resource for nonprofits at any level of collective impact engagement. Nonprofit board member resources: - BoardSource.org: “Our mission is to inspire and support excellence in nonprofit governance and board and staff leadership.” - StandForYourMission.org: “The Stand For Your Mission campaign is an ongoing effort to build awareness about the importance of board advocacy to advance an organization’s mission. Our goal is to inspire and challenge board leaders to ‘stand for your mission’ through active engagement as ambassadors and advocates for your organization’s work.” TechBridge, techbridge.org - “TechBridge is a nonprofit that drives community impact by bringing affordable technology and business expertise to other nonprofits.” - works with nonprofits in all 50 states - Karen Cramer and Maithri Vangala of TechBridge are leading the breakout session “Transforming Your Technology and Data Management Strategy” at this year’s Bridge to Excellence conference. Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for hyperlinks to these resources and more.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
#CNMTalksChange
Additional Resources Equitable Development: Promising Practices to Maximize Affordability and Minimize Displacement in Nashville’s Urban Core prepared by Amie Thurber, Jyoti Gupta, Dr. James Fraser, Dr. Doug Perkins Community Research and Action Program, Vanderbilt University
Enterprise Reporter Tony Gonzalez of WPLN highly recommended this research report from September 2014 as a resource for diving into the issue of affordability, development, and Nashville’s changing neighborhoods. With permission from Dr. James Fraser, a section from the Executive Summary is reproduced here. Please visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for a link to the full study.
Executive Summary In the first phase of NashvilleNext, Nashville’s comprehensive general plan update, residents identified affordable living as a top planning concern for the next 25 years. People of all incomes care about affordability, the costs of living in general, and housing costs in particular. Many expressed concern about the ways neighborhoods are changing -- particularly neighborhoods that have previously been affordable for renters and homeowners. These changes affect not only who can afford to live in neighborhoods, but what neighborhoods feel like to those who live there. Addressing affordability is imperative to preserving and improving overall quality of life while keeping Nashville competitive for economic growth. Without concrete tools to ensure affordable housing choices throughout all neighborhoods, the city will continue to experience economic segregation and more households will face a staggering cost burden, displacement and exclusion. In April 2014, Metro Planning contracted with a research team at Vanderbilt University’s Community Research and Action program to conduct a review of best practices for maximizing the production of affordable housing and minimizing residential displacement. [...] Equitable development is the redevelopment of neighborhoods that improves the quality of life for residents of all incomes. This report recommends adopting the following three components of an equitable development strategy: 1. Adopt an equitable development approach rooted in the values of equity and diversity, driven by an understanding of the positive and negative impacts of revitalization, holistic in strategy and design, informed by a racial equity lens, and enacted through strong community partnerships. 2. Monitor neighborhood demographics and resources including use of a data-informed typology of neighborhood displacement risk, and opportunity mapping to recognize neighborhoods and communities with higher quality of life and opportunities, and develop strategies to increase access to quality services for all Nashvillians. 3. Build an equitable housing development toolkit that includes planning tools and services a. Designed to fund, build, and preserve affordable housing, and retain residents; b. Appropriate to different types of neighborhoods; c. Appropriate for different scales of development.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS: What’s Next? presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management
#CNMTalksChange
Additional Resources
NashvilleNext, www.nashville.gov/Government/NashvilleNext - “NashvilleNext is a plan created by Nashvillians to guide how and where we grow in the coming 25 years. On June 22, 2015, the Metro Planning Commission unanimously adopted NashvilleNext after three years of community engagement involving over 18,500 participants.” Metro Social Services, Community Needs Evaluations Maps, www.nashville.gov/Social-Services/Planning-AndCoordination/Maps - Explore links on this site to find Davidson County maps that include the latest poverty rate data (as mentioned by Executive Director of Fannie Battle Day Home Melanie Shinbaum in her check-in Q&A with CNM). New Level Community Development Corporation, www.newlevelcdc.org Nashville Neighborhood Alliance, www.nashvilleneighborhoodalliance.net Nashville Civic Design Center Neighborhood Assessment Toolkit Nashville Civic Design Center’s (NCDC) Neighborhood Assessment Toolkit (NAT) is a Nashville specific city development resource intentionally designed for neighborhoods organizations, associations, and individuals to utilize when presented design and development opportunities. This Toolkit contains: resources to create a neighborhood and parcel level assessment; score new development against the 10 Principles from The Plan of Nashville; and provide a means in which to outline and communicate local feedback on potential development projects. The 10 Principles, an outcome of the 2004 collaborative publication The Plan of Nashville, are believed to provide the strongest measure in which to test development while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to the unique contexts of each Nashville neighborhood. NCDC recognizes Nashville is in dire need of such a Toolkit. Similar resources are now more than 10 years old, and work within the context of a vastly different Nashville and region than exists today. Likewise, NCDC hopes to instill and affirm the value of equitable, participatory, and community-based planning and design, as well as community education and ‘active citizenship’ for an engaged and empowered citizenry. By empowering neighborhood groups and associations through the Toolkit, NCDC also intends to acknowledge and affirm the unique histories and cultures present throughout Nashville, and provide communities a greater voice in determining the future of their locale. NCDC continually aims to foster community initiated considerations on the intersection of design, the built environment, and community health, and the Toolkit furthers that goal. By engaging thoughtfully with these issues early in a project, we intend for more holistically mindful development in Nashville that builds towards a healthier and cohesive City for all. About Nashville Civic Design Center: The mission of the Nashville Civic Design Center (NCDC) is to elevate the quality of Nashville's built environment and to promote public participation in the creation of a more functional and beautiful city for all. NCDC fulfills its mission through: promotion of The Plan of Nashville and Shaping the Healthy Community: The Nashville Plan; revitalizing and reclaiming public spaces; community visioning sessions; public education about civic design, citizenship and urban planning; and monthly programming and events. For more information on NCDC and its programs, please visit www.civicdesigncenter.org. Visit www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods for hyperlinks to these resources and more.
CHANGING NASHVILLE NEIGHBORHOODS What’s Next?
Thank you for attending! Please look for a survey about today’s event coming soon to your inbox.
www.cnm.org/ChangingNashvilleNeighborhoods
#PROUDTOBENONPROFIT Nonprofits, we know your job isn’t easy. Resources are slim, and you are tackling some of the biggest issues our community faces. But despite the challenges, nonprofits step in every day to provide services that wouldn’t otherwise exist – creating a stronger community for all. As nonprofits, you: Embrace the marginalized. Defend the vulnerable. Spotlight the creative. Speak with the voiceless. Protect the planet. Cultivate lifelong learning. …and so much more. The work of nonprofits is critical in creating a diverse community that raises up its citizens (and animals and environment!). When nonprofits work towards a mission, life is better for everyone. At CNM, we are proud to support nonprofits. Your accomplishments are nothing short of incredible. And we think the world should know. That’s why we launched #ProudToBeNonprofit, highlighting the role nonprofits play in our community. You should be proud to be a nonprofit; we are certainly proud of you. Visit www.cnm.org/AboutCNM/ProudToBeNonprofit to learn more.