The Contributor: Feb. 16, 2022

$2

Buy this paper with Venmo!

Include your Vendor’s Name & Badge #:

w w w . t h e c o n t r i b u t o r. o r g

Vo l u m e 16 | N u m b e r 4 | Fe b r u a r y 16 - M a r c h 2 , 2 0 2 2

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY February tours at the Tennessee State Museum center Black experiences

Lion by William Edmondson, 1940. Image courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum.

LOCALES - POLÍTICA - INMIGRACIÓN - TRABAJOS - SALUD - ESPECTÁCULOS - DEPORTES Y MÁS...

GRATIS Febrero/2

2022

L a N ticia

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

IN THE ISSUE

www.hispanicpaper.com

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

Año 20 - No. 344

Contributor Board

Nashville, Tennessee

Sueño Americano o Ilusión: Cómo comenzar su historial de crédito Estados Unidos es aun el país de las oportunidades, pero a diferencia de lo que muchos creen, el dinero no crece en los árboles, y se necesita más que trabajar duro para poder disfrutar de una vida Por Yuri Cunza mejor en contraste Editor in Chief con la realidad que se vive en casi la @LaNoticiaNews totalidad de paises hispano hablantes. La clave para empezar con buen pie es el tener un buen crédito, lo que para el inmigrante en realidad significa ‘tenerlo’ para empezar osea ‘establecerlo’. Con un buen historial de crédito puede ser más fácil conseguir un trabajo, apartamento o incluso una tarjeta de crédito. Sin embargo, establecer y mantener un buen crédito requiere disciplina y planeamiento.

Comprenda el estado de su cuenta y cómo monitorear su tarjeta de crédito. Además, infórmese cómo iniciar y mantener su crédito o ayudar a sus hijos a iniciar el propio.

Tarjetas de crédito: Antes de pedir créditos o préstamos, asegúrese de verificar si las condiciones que le ofrecen son favorables y confiables.

Al solicitar una tarjeta de crédito, considere lo siguiente: La tasa de interés anual (APR). Si la tasa de interés es variable, pregunte cómo se determina y cuánto puede variar.

La tasa periódica. Se trata de la tasa de interés utilizada para calcular los gastos de financiamiento sobre su saldo en cada período de facturación.

La cuota de membresía anual. Algunas tarjetas le cobran una cantidad cada año por ser titular de la tarjeta de crédito.

Programas de recompensas. Use los recursos en línea para encontrar la tarjeta que ofrece las recompensas que más le interesan.

El período de gracia. Se trata de la cantidad de días de los que usted dispone para pagar la cuenta, antes de comenzar a correr los cargos por financiamiento.

4

Los cargos por financiamiento. Es importante saber exactamente lo que está pagando en cargos de financiamiento. Por ley, las entidades financieras deben divulgar el método que utilizan. Para evitar pagar cargos por financiamiento en las compras con tarjetas de crédito pague su saldo adeudado cada mes.

Otros cargos: Averigüe si se cobran cargos especiales por adelantos de efectivo, por pagos fuera de plazo o por sobrepasar el límite de crédito. Algunas compañías también cobran un cargo mensual.

La Ley de Igualdad para la Oportunidad al Crédito lo protege al tratar con entidades que suelen ofrecer crédito, incluyendo bancos, compañías financieras, tiendas, compañías de tarjetas de crédito y cooperativas de crédito.

Cómo disputar cargos: La Ley de Facturación Justa de Crédito le da el derecho a disputar cargos que aparecen en su tarjeta de crédito que son incorrectos, que usted no hizo o que se tratan de bienes o servicios que no recibió.

Siga los siguientes pasos: Envíe una carta al acreedor dentro de los 60 días de la fecha en que se emitió la factura.

Incluya su nombre, el número de su cuenta, la fecha y la cantidad del cargo en disputa, así como una explicación de por qué está usted disputando el cargo.

Envíe su carta por correo certificado y solicite el acuse recibo.

El acreedor o emisor de la tarjeta debe acusar recibo de su carta por escrito dentro de los 30 días de haberla recibido y realizar una investigación dentro de 90 días. Usted no tiene que pagar la cantidad en disputa durante la investigación.

Si hubo un error, el acreedor debe acreditar su cuenta y eliminar cualquier multa o costo asociado.

Si la factura está correcta, a usted le deben notificar por escrito cuánto debe y por qué. Usted debe pagar lo adeudado y cualquier cargo financiero asociado. (fuente: www.usa.gov/espanol) Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-567-3569

16

17

Conoce tus derechos: La Noticia + Vendor The Contributor Spotlight ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada?

1. Mantenerse callado 2. Sólo dar nombre y apellido 3. No mentir 4. Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos 5. No revelar su situación migratoria 6. No llevar documentación de otro país 7. En caso de ser arrestado, mostrarla Tarjeta Miranda (llámenos si necesita una)

"I love music because it's just a worthwhile hobby.

It keepspor you occupied, keeps your brain occupied. It's fun."

Basados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, los derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un abogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda luego de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, de 1966.

www.juanese.com juanese@usa.com

La Noticia, one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers in the nation, brings Spanish content to The Contributor.

Tom Wills, Chair Cathy Jennings, Bruce Doeg, Demetria Kalodimos, Ann Bourland, Kerry Graham, Peter Macdonald, Amber DuVentre, Jerome Moore, Annette McDermott, Drew Morris

23

Vendor Writing

Moving Pictures

In this issue, vendors write about ending homelessness, caring about people, and the great Ben Roethlisberger.

‘The Contributor’ Presents: A Moving Pictures Academy Awards Special Spectacular Column!

Contributors This Issue

Hannah Herner • Linda Bailey • Amanda Haggard • Barbara Womack • Derek H. Alderman • Joshua F.J. Inwood • Judith Tackett • Isabella Romero • Yuri Cunza • Norma B. • Chris Scott F. • Julie B. • Mr. Mysterio • Fred S. • Wild Bill • Angela H. • Joe Nolan • Emily Cooper Contributor Volunteers Christine Doeg , Volunteer Coordinator Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • John Jennings • Janet Kerwood • Logan Ebel • Christine Doeg • Laura Birdsall • Richard Aberdeen • Marissa Young • Ezra LaFleur • Rachel Stanley • Linda Eisele • Matthew Murrow • Wendy Curland

Cathy Jennings Executive Director Tom Wills Director of Vendor Operations Hannah Herner Staff Writer

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Carli Tharp Social Services Intake Specialist Dymin R Cannon Section 8 and E&T Specialist Ree Cheers SOAR Manager Rachel Ternes Housing Navigator Catherine Hardy Housing Navigator Jesse Call Operations Consultant Raven Nye Director of Housing Initiatives Barbara Womack Advertising Manager Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors Gisselly Mazariegos & Isabella Romero Interns

The Contributor now accepts Venmo!

Scan the QR Code above, or find us: @The-Contributor Make sure to include your vendor’s badge name and number in the description. If you bought this version digitally, you can still leave your regular vendor a tip.

Email Cathy@thecontributor.org for more information or with questions!

Andrew Krinks Editor Emeritus Will Connelly, Tasha F. Lemley, Steven Samra, and Tom Wills Contributor Co-Founders Editorials and features in The Contributor are the perspectives of the authors. Submissions of news, opinion, fiction, art and poetry are welcomed.

The Contributor reserves the right to edit any submissions. The Contributor cannot and will not endorse any political candidate.

Submissions may be emailed to: editorial@thecontributor.org Requests to volunteer, donate, or purchase subscriptions can be emailed to: info@thecontributor.org Please email advertising requests to: advertising@thecontributor.org

The Contributor P.O. Box 332023, Nashville, TN 37203 Vendor Office: 615.829.6829

Proud Member of: Printed at:

Follow The Contributor:

PAGE 2 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Copyright © 2018 The Contributor, Inc. All rights reserved.

YOU CAN SUBSCRIBE ONLINE TO THE CONTRIBUTOR FOR JUST $99 A YEAR OR $30 FOR 3 MONTHS. DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION AVAILABLE OR YOUR ISSUES WILL BE MAILED MONTHLY AND YOU CAN DESIGNATE A VENDOR TO RECEIVE THE PROFITS — AND EVEN LEAVE A TIP FOR YOUR VENDOR! SIGN UP AT: WWW.THECONTRIBUTOR.ORG

populist.com

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

PHOTO BY HANNAH HERNER

DAVE FINDS THINGS WORTH THE TIME

BY HANNAH HERNER Dave’s friends used to say he was a traitor to America — that is, because of his love for British bands. He’s a big music fan in general, the type that reads biographies of his favorite bands and knows the individual members and their specialties.

Some of his favorites are the Rolling Stones — specifically the music they put out in late '60s through early '70s — and of course the Beatles. He used to be a big concert goer, and even camped out overnight in 1988 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit to see AC/DC. That ranks his best concert to date, but he says Rush was almost as good.

On the American side, he loves Van Halen and Guns N’ Roses. Today it feels too dangerous to go to big concerts like he used to, though sometimes he’ll hit up a free outdoor concert in Nashville.

“It's good, because then you can think to yourself, ‘Oh, it didn't cost me anything.’ But most free events I've seen, I walked away and thought to myself, ‘Hey, that was really cool. That was worth the time invested in it,’” Dave says.

He learned clarinet in school, took guitar lessons, bass lessons, and can play some keyboard.

“I love music because it's just a worthwhile hobby. It keeps you occupied, keeps your brain occupied. It's fun,” he says. “My goal was, playing a guitar, if I can sit in a room by myself and play for an hour, then I'm gonna pat myself on the back, because that's all I really want to do.”

When Dave moved to Nashville from Detroit 10 years ago, his routine became going to the library every day. His favorites are autobiographies.

“I love to read. I don't care if it's the paper, a comic book, encyclopedia, biography, a history of a band. If it's interesting to me, I'll read it,” he says.

In those 10 years he experienced homelessness, he spent about half of the duration in shelters, and the rest sleeping outdoors. Last year, he agreed to seek housing with the help of a social worker from Mental Health Co-Op. In July, he moved into his own apartment with the help of a Section 8 voucher.

“With my luck, I thought I can't get it. He said, ‘Well, I'm here to tell you, you have just as good a chance as anyone else,’” Dave says. “I got really lucky.

I got a voucher really quickly, and the first place I talked to they said, ‘OK, come on in.’”

When he’s out selling The Contributor, off of Second Av-

enue South, he’s putting the money together to pay for rent early, and be ready to pay for his electric bill. He goes to church near his selling spot, the Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ.

“All those people in the church have been nothing but a Godsend to me,” Dave says.

“I got a lot of people willing to back me up because ever since I got my apartment, I have all these people asking me, ‘Do you need this?’ ‘I have this, do you need it?’ They're like, ‘well, let us know what you need. And we'll get it for you.’”

He didn’t even ask for a television, but a church member gave him one anyway. Now, the highlight of his day is often watching reruns of Hee Haw at 2 p.m. each day. He’s not a big country music fan, but rewatching this show is

PAGE 4 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

making him remember some of the greats that he watched as a child — people like Roy Clark, The Oak Ridge Boys, Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash.

He checked out a book on the show from the library and read it in one sitting.

Dave says he’s not a pessimist, or an optimist, but a realist. He says he tries not to take on things he knows he can’t solve, but it’s also important to him to look to his support system to help.

“I'm thankful to God for The Contributor, because you guys have helped me out a lot.

I like this job. You meet a lot of different interesting people,” Dave says. “I'm thankful to God for everything everyone down here has done. Because when you can't do something for yourself, then you need some help.”

Don’t pay to file your taxes.

We offer in-person, virtual and do-it-yourself options.

Visit unitedwayfilefree.com or call 211 to get started.

In partnership with the IRS

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

NASHVILLE HISTORY CORNER

WHY WE CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH

BY BARBARA WOMACK In light of recent events that threaten the very core of our democracy and our freedoms, I felt the necessity to run this article again with some alterations.

Racism, of course, has been a constant in American history. It was there at the founding of the United States of America. The Civil War did not end it, Reconstruction, or legal separation or the Civil Rights struggle did not end it. Racism is still with us as our churches and Historically Black Colleges and Universities are threatened.

The proliferation of racist propaganda signals dangerous civil and race-based divisions in America.

In order for us to fully appreciate the celebration of Black History Month and to understand why there is a need for this celebration, it is imperative that we look back at North America before 1926 when Black History Month was established.

Between 1901 and 1925 there were 1,364 lynchings of Black men, women and children.

Beginning in 1906, there were hundreds of race riots in which thousands of Blacks were killed from Atlanta to Arkansas. In 1913 the Wilson Administration began government segregation of work places, rest rooms and lunch rooms. The summer of 1919 is called the "Red Summer" as there were 26 race riots between the months of April and October. In 1922 an anti-lynching bill was killed by filibuster in the U.S. Senate. In 1925, Malcolm X was born.

It was this kind of climate that inspired the talented and brilliant African-American scholar, Dr. Car-

DR. CARTER G. WOODSON

ter G. Woodson to lead in the search for truth and to institutionalize what was then referred to as Negro History Week. Woodson is quoted as saying: "If race has no history, if it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world and it stands in danger of being exterminated."

Woodson, who had a PhD from Harvard, dropped out of academia to devote his life to the scientific study of the African-American experience

in America, Africa and throughout the world. He was a powerful factor in Negro History Week being launched in 1926 in hopes of neutralizing the apparent ignorance and distortion of Black History.

What was created as Negro Histor y Week has been expanded to encompass the whole month of February in order to examine the collective ingenuity, creativity, cultural and political experience of the masses of African-Americans.

PAGE 6 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

In a piece of writing by Vanderbilt's Felix Boateng, he states, "Black History Month should be the reaffirmation of struggle and determination to change attitudes, and to heighten the understanding of the African-American experience. It challenges the present-day white and Black generations alike to protect and to preserve the humanity of all peoples of African descent."

The significance of February is that many African-American birthdays as well other important events happened in February.

Frederick Douglass, the Great Emancipator and publisher, poet and writer Langston Hughes, Pianist Eubie Blake, and Abraham Lincoln were all born in February.

As for events, The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded in February. Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the U.S. tried to free the slaves with his "Emancipation Proclamation," was born in February as well. W.E.B. Dubois, the founder of the NAACP was born in February. The 15th Amendment granting Blacks the right to vote was passed in February and Malcolm X died in February.

So, the month of February is designated as Black History Month. In reality, this month is a time of ref lection for all races to find common ground and to bring civility back into a world filled with hatred and a disregard for each other as human beings. The final question is whether Black people and the totality of Americans love and care enough about each other to save each other and to save the world.

INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF STREET PAPERS

How Black cartographers put racism on the map of America B Y D E R E K H . A L D E R M A N A N D J O S H U A F. J . I N W O O D How can maps fight racism and inequality?

The work of the Black Panther Party, a 1960s- and 1970s-era Black political group featured in a new movie and a documentary, helps illustrate how cartography – the practice of making and using maps – can illuminate injustice.

As these films show, the Black Panthers focused on African American empowerment and community survival, running a diverse array of programming that ranged from free school breakfasts to armed self-defense.

Cartography is a less documented aspect of the Panthers’ activism, but the group used maps to reimagine the cities where African Americans lived and struggled.

In 1971 the Panthers collected 15,000 signatures on a petition to create new police districts in Berkeley, Calif. – districts that would be governed by local citizen commissions and require officers to live in the neighborhoods they served. The proposal made it onto the ballot but was defeated.

In a similar effort to make law enforcement more responsive to communities of color, the Panthers in the late 1960s also created a map proposing to divide up police districts within San Francisco, largely along racial lines.

The Black Panthers are just one chapter in a long history of “counter-mapping” by African Americans. Counter-mapping refers to how groups normally excluded from political decision-making deploy maps and other geographic data to communicate complex information about inequality in an easy-to-understand visual format.

The power of maps Maps are not ideologically neutral location guides. Mapmakers choose what to include and exclude, and how to display information to users.

These decisions can have far-reaching consequences. When the Home Owners Loan Corporation in the 1930s set out to map the risk associated for banks loaning money to individuals for homes in different neighborhoods, for example, they rated minority neighborhoods as high risk and color-coded them as red.

The result, known as “redlining,” contributed to housing discrimination for three decades, until federal law banned such maps in 1968. Redlining’s legacy is still evident in many American cities’ patterns of segregation.

Colonial explorers charting their journeys and city planners and developers pursuing urban renewal, too, have used cartography to represent the world in ways that further their own priorities. Often, the resulting maps exclude, misrepresent or harm minority groups. Academics and government officials do this, too.

Counter-maps produce an alternative public understanding of the facts by highlighting the experiences of oppressed people.

Black people aren’t the only marginalized group to do this. Indigenous communities,

An early 20th-century NAACP map showing lynchings between 1909 and 1918. The maps were sent to politicians and newspapers in an effort to spur legislation protecting Black Americans.

CREDIT: LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

women, refugees and LGBTQ communities have also redrawn maps to account for their existence and rights.

But Black Americans were among the earliest purveyors of counter-mapping, deploying this alternative cartography to serve a variety of needs a century ago.

Black counter-mapping Mapping is part of the broader Black creative tradition and political struggle.

Over the centuries, African Americans developed “way-finding” aids, including a Jim Crow-era travel guide, to help them navigate a racially hostile landscape and created visual works that affirmed the value of Black life.

The Black sociologist and civil rights leader W.E.B. Du Bois produced maps for the 1900 Paris Exposition to inform international society about the gains African Americans had made in income, education and land ownership since slavery and in face of continuing racism.

Similarly, in 1946, Friendship Press cartographer and illustrator Louise Jefferson published a pictorial map celebrating the contributions of African Americans – from famous writers and athletes to unnamed Black workers – in building the United States.

In the early 20th century, anti-lynching crusaders at the NAACP and Tuskegee Institute stirred public outcry by producing statistical reports that informed original hand-drawn maps showing the location and frequency of African Americans murdered

by white lynch mobs.

One map, published in 1922 in the NAACP’s magazine Crisis, placed dots on a standard map to document 3,456 lynchings over 32 years. The Southeast had the largest concentration. But the “blots of shame,” as mapmaker Madeline Allison called them, spanned the country from east to west and well into the north.

These visualizations, along with the underlying data, were sent to allied organizations like the citizen-led Commission on Interracial Cooperation, to newspapers nationwide and to elected officials of all parties and regions.

The activists hoped to spur Congress to pass federal anti-lynching legislation – something that remains to this day unfinished business.

Much anti-lynching cartography was inspired by the famed activist and reporter Ida B. Wells, who in the early 1880s made some of the first tabulations of the prevalence and geographic distribution of racial terror. Her work refuted prevailing white claims that lynched Black men had sexually assaulted white women.

Modern maps The precariousness of Black life – and the exclusion of Black stories from American history – remains an unresolved issue today.

Working alone and with white allies, Black activists and scholars continue using cartography to tell a fuller story about the United States, to challenge racial segregation and to combat violence.

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

Today, the maps they create are often digital.

For example, the Equal Justice Initiative, the Alabama-based legal defense group run

by Bryan Stevenson, has produced a modern map of historical lynching. It’s an interactive update of the anti-lynching cartography made 100 years ago – although a full reconstruction of lynching terror remains impossible because of incomplete data and the veil of silence that persists around these murders.

Another modern mapping project, called Mapping Police Violence, was launched by data activists after Michael Brown’s murder in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. It tracks police use of force using a time-series animated map.

Deaths and injuries flash across the screen and accumulate on the map of the United States, visually communicating the national scale and urgency of this problem.

Counter-mapping operates on the theory that communities and governments cannot fix problems that they do not understand.

When Black counter-mapping exposes the how-and-where of racism, in accessible visual form, that information gains new power to spur social change.

Derek H. Alderman is a professor of geography at the University of Tennessee. Joshua F.J. Inwood is associate professor of geography and senior research associate in the Rock Ethics Institute, Penn State.

Courtesy of The Conversation / INSP.ngo

Tennessee’s

gift to you.

Free Admission. This, and Every Season.

Free Parking, Too.

Rosa L. Parks Blvd (at Jefferson St.) 615.741.2692 | TNMuseum.org

PAGE 8 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

NEWS

Point-in-Time count is unavoidable and often an undercount

BY HANNAH HERNER

Like nearly every city in the country, Nashville did not do a Point-In-Time count in 2021. It was exempt because of COVID-19. But this year, volunteers were back at it.

Around 115 unpaid volunteers canvassed the city and more remote areas of Nashville in groups of four or five on the night of Jan. 27 from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. — to count people sleeping outside.

Because of how transient the homeless population can be, it’s always considered an undercount. So why do we do it?

In short, because it’s required. The Point-In-Time (PIT) count is a one-night count required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and helps determine funding for cities based on how many people experiencing homelessness are counted during one night.

HUD requires that cities do an outdoor count at least once every two years, coupled with a Housing Inventory Count of beds and units dedicated for serving those experiencing homelessness. Doing annual counts is an incentive for more HUD money. Most places do it in the “middle of the night,” and HUD documents refer to the “night of the count” constantly throughout. The nighttime nature is thought to be more accurate because people have taken to shelters and their sleep spots, making them easier to count than if they’re out and about during the day. It’s not required to be at night, though – the count simply must be completed in the last 10 days of January, over a 24-hour time period.

“Typically Nashville chooses to do that because you if you've got people going to work during the day, walking on the sidewalks during the day, it's more difficult to tell whether they're really going to be sleeping outdoors at night,” says Suzie Tolmie, homeless coordinator with MDHA, who heads up the count.

HUD documents note that at the end of the month people may not have the resources they do at the beginning of the month, and may sleep outside or in a shelter instead of, say, renting a hotel.

Shelters are more full in the winter. Plus, it’s easier to recruit volunteers.

“In many communities, winter is the season when the public is most concerned about the ability of homeless people to survive, and many CoCs find it easier to recruit volunteers. A count on one of the coldest nights of the year can be very effective in raising public awareness of the challenges faced by

Open Table Nashville outreach workers and volunteers check on an unhoused friend during a cold night. IMAGE BY EMILY COOPER.

homeless people without shelter,” the HUD guide to the count reads.

So each year, more than 100 volunteers venture into the night with flashlights, looking for people sleeping outside. This year, they brought NARCAN donated by the state, snacks, supplies for warmth and the promise of a $10 gift card for those who are awake and want to take the 40-question survey — 33 questions from HUD, seven added from Nashville’s Continuum of Care members.

The safety tactic of announcing your presence, “outreach workers!” inevitably wakes some up, too. The other safety tactic is approaching in groups, and showing sensitivity and respect to those you may encounter.

Those who can be seen and are sleeping are counted. Those who are sleeping and can’t be seen, like people in abandoned buildings or tents, are not counted and instead documented on a “Sign of Life” form, which are collected and redistributed to outreach workers following the count.

Canvassing the city, and into the remote parts of wooded areas can be

scary, especially for newcomers. Team leads are meant to canvas the area ahead of time, to find places of habitation and let the people they do find know when the team will be back.

“We're just lucky to have a number of folks who have done it year after year, who are pros at canvassing ahead of time and also relating with the population they find there,” Tolmie says.

Ashley Blum, outreach coordinator for Park Center and 11-year team lead, says the antidote to the fear of this task is having team leaders that have experience, like outreach workers that are familiar with the area that their team is tasked with counting.

“I have the most experience. I know that some people do feel scared sometimes. I've felt scared, I've felt fear,” she says. “I mean, I'm not going to go to an abandoned building. Like that's just not something that anyone should do.

Unless, of course, you know someone that's in there, and you can call them or you can holler for their name.”

Blum suggests uniform name badges for volunteers for next year. There are already car magnets to identify those

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

working on the PIT count. She’d also like to see signs out near encampments to remind people of when the count will be, in case they’re at work or out when outreach workers do pre-canvassing.

“I do know a lot of people don't don't feel safe going in the middle of the night and that's OK. You know, that's why we need to have experienced people on our teams and help guide the way,” she says.

But it hasn’t always been exactly this way. Blum says in the past, outreach workers have done counting early in the morning, before people staying outdoors would leave for work. That ended for fear of double-counting.

“Even though I know it does not give us a valid representation of the amount of people that live outside or that are unhoused, still, it's really important that we try our best to get as many people counted as possible. Because they deserve the help,” Blum says. “And if we can show HUD that there are still people living outdoors, maybe they'll send us more money so that we can help these folks more.”

The count numbers are expected to be released in April.

NEWS

A Few Questions with Joy Styles, District 32

C

BY JUDITH TACKETT

ouncil member Joy Styles (District 32) said that she has always loved helping people. As a former actress and recording artist, Styles has honed her communications skills. She believes that people need to use their voices to work together and solve problems.

“We need to stop talking about problems and go about the business of coming up with solutions and enacting those solutions,” Styles said.

METRO COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND REPRESENTATION: Metro Council Women’s Caucus, chair Human Services Committee, vice chair

Looking at District 32, what are the top issues your constituents are concerned about?

Housing is one of the top issues for sure.

We have a lot of development coming to the area and current renters want to ensure that they are able to buy something in the future if they want to stay in the area; and homeowners who want to upgrade their home, they want to know if that’s feasible for them in the area.

Constituents are also very focused on having places to eat and places to shop. We lost a lot in the recession that never really came back.

You have been instrumental in the District 32 revitalization efforts, namely the 330-acre, mixed-use Century Farms development. Do you have any updates?

There is a lot of excitement about Tanger Outlets, which is part of the Century Farms development along I-24 behind the old Target.

Tanger Outlets will bring 65 stores and it will also have a few restaurants. We’re getting restaurants people have been asking for — a Panera, a Chipotle — destinations that are currently about 25 minutes away by car.

Currently there are some apartments under construction. One apartment complex has been open for about six to seven months.

And the soccer practice facility is under construction on that site as well. Century Farms is vitally important to the area.

We really are a second urban core to Nashville when you think about it.

The mall is also in process to be purchased to be revitalized. I’m having conversations to find out what people want to see on the site.

The person who has it under contract has done some surveys and came to community meetings to get input. There will be more community conversations to talk about that site. It’s going to be a community-focused center. It’s not about bringing the mall back, but it’s about creating a space that the whole community can enjoy, green space, hopefully some entrepreneurship opportunities for local business owners.

Another issue I hear about is homelessness. We had a surge when the Rapid Rehousing [program] came. That did increase a lot of our litter, and individuals have remained, so that continues to be an issue. I’m trying to

Council representative to the Metro Action Commission

work on social services, bringing The Salvation Army out, just trying to work with people to find housing but also trying to clean up our on- and off-ramps.

nent housing. So, it’s not a shelter, but it’s a temporary housing solution. That to me is what I would like to see more of, purchasing old motels or hotels.

You are also the vice chair of the Human Services Committee, which is looking to see what it can do to help address homelessness. What would you like to see happen in that committee?

We have some really great initiatives thanks to council member [Ginny] Welsch.

We are looking at other cities that have created homeless programs that truly help people go from being in the streets into being housed.

I think we spent a lot of time talking about the issue of homelessness and not enough time about the business of solving homelessness.

We all know the cost of [building] housing is going up. But that doesn’t explain what we were doing before we were in this position and why we weren’t looking for places to purchase to take over and turn into housing opportunities.

I understand shelters can be a bit off-putting for some individuals, but I think we have to come up with an intermediary step… something that’s more along the line of temporary housing. We bring you in off the streets and you get to stay here for 30 days and during those 30 days we try to help you find perma-

What are other concerns you hear about?

People want to make sure we have good safety protocols in place. The new police precinct in Antioch is in the design phase. Being able to have a police precinct close by will decrease the police response time, which we all know is pretty long across the city. I do think our officers are doing a good job with what they’ve got, but we need more officers for sure.

You have called for accountability within Metro Arts Commission to address the racial discrimination and toxic workplace concerns that have been voiced by former staff. Are you satisfied with the way the current investigation is being handled?

I won’t be able to answer that question really until the results come out. The fact of the matter is, we have a toxic culture in Metro Arts. It’s one thing if only one person is saying it. It’s an entirely different story when multiple people are repeating the same narrative, and we’re talking about it occurring over a period of years. It should never happen. But when you think it’s only been for a few months, that’s one thing, when you find out it’s been going

PAGE 10 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

on for years and in the one department that has a racial equity statement that just makes it even more egregious to me because this should be the department where we don’t have this conversation.

And so, for me, of course with Director [Caroline] Vincent being on medical leave, which means she is still employed by Metro so of course legally nothing can be done to remove her. I do, however, believe that when her time is finished, she needs to move on.

I don’t see a solution that involves bringing a problem back into the environment and expecting a different outcome because that will create distrust with the staff given any great ideas they have, which they do, in terms of bringing in DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] staff and third-party investigators and making sure people are feeling safe in their work environment as everyone should if you do all of that for the next two months, you will completely destroy it if she comes back and you’re trying to convince staff that somehow we can coach the person who’s been doing this intentionally for years. We’ll coach them into being anti-racist and that’s not how this works.

I’m going to wait for HR to complete the investigation and see what they come back with.

If they come back with similar findings as the last time, my request will remain the same.

20

22

I'm Running for Re-Election and I respectfully ask for your prayers, your support and your VOTE!!

--Judge Rachel L. Bell

s ' e l l i v Judge serving the people Nash ON & OFF

the bench since 2012 !!!

Justice does NOT stop at the courthouse steps!

191,903 29,415 8,971 4,836 Criminal Cases

Civil Cases

Traffic Cases

14,944 $133,119

Mental Re-Entry Health Participants Committals Assisted

Taxpayer Money Saved

*EXPERIENCED *QUALIFIED *COMPASSIONATE *INNOVATIVE *REFORMATIVE I'm Running for Re-Election and I respectfully ask for your Prayers, your Support and for you to Ring the BELL for Justice & VOTE --Judge Rachel L. Bell Early Voting:

Wed. April 13, 2022- Thurs. April 28, 2022

Election Day:

May 3, 2022

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO RE-ELECT JUDGE RACHEL L. BELL, ROBERT NOTESTINE, III, TREASURER

WWW.JUDGERACHELBELL.COM February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

BLACK HISTORY

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY February tours at the Tennessee State Museum center Black experiences

BY A M A N DA H AG G A R D

T

he Tennessee State Museum is hosting two different tours focused on the Black experience in February.

A Black History Tour will guide visitors through black history in the state, offering stories about local moments in the civil rights movement as well as the Civil War. And the museum’s Black Craftspeople Tour focuses more specifically on folk artists like carpenter Lewis C. Buckner and the more well-known William Edmonson, a Black sculptor who was the son of enslaved people.

The tours were programmed by Joyska Nunez-Medina, who creates and presents programs like the tours and Lunch and Learn series for the Tennessee State Museum. In the past, Nunez-Medina has done internships at the National Park Service, National Forest Service and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and she has an M.A. from George Washington University in museum

studies and came to work for the Tennessee State Museum in 2018 when it reopened in its new space.

“I have a passion for learning about and teaching the histories and stories of the people and communities missing from the commonly taught historical narrative,” Nunez-Medina says.

While the Black Craftspeople Tour is new this year, Nunez-Medina says the Black History Tour has been going since 2019. When she and others present the Black History Tour, they often see many Black families taking the tour together.

“Once, my coworker had a whole family reunion join her on her tour,” Nunez-Medina says. “It made the work done feel truly special.”

In the Black History Tour, Medina says one of her favorite parts of the tour talks about contraband camps during the Civil War. “These were refugee camps that were established nearby Union troops during the war,” Nunez-Medina says.

“Enslaved people could be taken in by

William Edmondson

PAGE 12 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

BLACK HISTORY

Black History Month Film Screenings at Nashville Public Library Black History Tours are on Feb. 19, Feb. 20, Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 Black Craftspeople Tours are on Feb. 19 and Feb. 26 Visit tnmuseum.org for more information

Chair by Richard Poynor, about 1860. Dresser by Lewis Buckner, 1889. Lion by William Edmondson, 1940. Photos courtesy of the Tennessee State Museum.

the troops as ‘contraband’ because of their status as property. But what is amazing is that many enslaved people saw this as an opportunity to self-liberate and f lee from their enslavers.”

C o nt r a b a n d c a m p s e x i s t e d throughout the South, she says, but in Nashville, there were three major ones, which included one by the Capitol that was used as a fort after it was captured in 1862.

“Af ter the war, many of these camps stayed put and would create some of the first historically Black communities in cities, like Edgehill in Nashville,” she says.

In a 45-minute tour, it can be tough to decide what you include and what you don’t, particularly since the audience is different with each tour and guides are never sure what knowledge

visitors may have.

“You don’t k now how much they know about a certain topic,” Nunez-Medina says. “You don’t want to include too much or too little information. When talking about someone like William Edmondson, we want to remember that not everyone knows who he is, so we introduce the basics.”

The Tennessee State Museum has four Edmonson sculptures on display.

“Lion” in Change and Challenge and three more in Art After 1900, that allow guides to tell his stories.

The challenge in programming is keeping the scope squarely on Tennessee state history while also utilizing what is on display to tell stories about the state.

“This can be difficult, depending on the story we want to tell,” she says.

“Some stories need to be told, even if there is only a panel on the subject.

Sometimes, that means telling the story by that panel. As we have worked with the exhibits in the past three years, the educators came up with different ways to share various stories.”

In the Black Craftspeople Tour, guides will also provide some context of the time frame during which someone like Edmondson was working to get a sense of the artist's world, she says. The tour also features artists like furniture maker Lewis C. Buckner.

“Ultimately, we try to include notable information or a story that is memorable or important to the person,” Nunez-Medina says. “If too much time is spent on a timeline of events, it’s hard to focus. Stories are what connect people to their past.”

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

The Bordeaux Branch of the Nashville Public Library is hosting two film screenings in the second half of February in honor of Black History Month: One is a showing at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 17, of A Child Shall Lead Them: The Desegregation of Nashville Public Schools. The documentary film outlines how first-grade students walked into schools in Nashville, becoming a few of the first in the South to attend desegregated schools. On Feb. 19 at 10: 30 a.m, the branch will show By Design: The Shaping of Nashville’s Public Schools, looks back at the city's schools from the 1800s and on, and includes firsthand accounts from the first graders who integrated schools.

This longer documentary looks at how policies and priorities continue to shape education in the city.

Discussions will follow both films.

NEWS

Q&A: Kevin Batts

Recovery courts are seeking to close the ‘revolving door’ for people with substance abuse disorders

BY I S A B E L L A R O M E R O Recovery courts are giving those struggling with addiction the opportunity to turn their life around through a program that seeks to change the narrative surrounding addiction.

In the Nashville area, Kevin Batts is a part of that change. Prior to becoming the director of the 23rd Judicial District Drug Court in July of 2009, Batts worked as a public defender for 33 years. Batts first heard of recovery courts in 2007. He was asked to sit in on meetings to discuss the development of a statewide drug court.

Batts said the more he learned about recovery courts, the more interested he became.

He found that recovery courts might actually do something about the drug problem in America.

Recovery court programs vary from district to district based on a community’s specific needs. Programs integrate law enforcement, the criminal justice system, trained professionals, and the community to treat those with impending non-violent drug charges. It serves as an alternative to incarceration for people struggling with addiction.

Recovery court programs in Tennessee house and rehabilitate those who are willing to participate through five phases with 18 months of supervision.

Within a week of retiring as a public defender, Batts was contacted by the Dickson County Drug Court. Batts started doing volunteer work, grant writing and court expansion. In the process of helping fund the court, he created a director position.

After a couple months, he thought his work was done, but he was offered the position he had just created.

Batts discussed the “revolving door” people with substance abuse disorders have faced throughout the history of the criminal justice system — a cyclical system that repeatedly incarcerates drug addicts and alcoholics when they break the law and as soon as their sentence ends they go back to their addiction which only leads them back behind bars. Batts talked about seeing the same people going in and out of the criminal justice system. He would then see their family, children and grandchildren as well.

“They were violating laws based on the addiction they were suffering from, and it just made a lot of sense to me,” Batts said.

“If we could shut that revolving door by closing down the drug problem as much as we could then we could give them a chance to rehabilitate not just from the

It's normally gauged by their sentence. If they feel like their sentence is going to be less than rehab they might choose to observe the sentence. It's unfortunate because usually in a year or two we see them come back through that revolving door.

If you have a six month sentence and you're told you need to go to treatment for a year plus recovery court for 18 months, you might want to sit in jail for six months.

This is especially the case if you're getting some bad advice from jailhouse lawyers who are telling you it's all about the time.

But when you get out of jail you're not well, and you've not done anything to improve your life.

drug, but rehabilitate their entire lives, rebuild their family structure, rebuild their careers, their jobs, and go back to school, if that's what they want to do.”

Do you think there is a place where recovery courts and rehabilitation programs differ such as the rehabbing of the entire person, not just the [addiction issues]?

[Rehab programs] are wonderful, but I think the real difference between a standard rehabilitation center and a drug court is that we have the authority of the state of Tennessee behind us as an arm of the legal world. We can go in as part of the judicial branch and actually order individuals to go through a rehabilitation program. We can mandate participants follow all these rules that we put out like attending meetings and meeting with a probation officer, things like that. So that's the biggest difference right? Regular treatment center, you'll walk out and there are generally no repercussions from that treatment center.

You either want to stay clean or you don't.

With us, if you walk out from the court program that you have been ordered to attend as an alternative sentence, the judge can charge you with escape. This would allow the district attorney to go back before the judge to put your sentence into effect.

There are a lot more repercussions when

you slip up in a drug court compared to a traditional treatment center.

What is the general role of a recovery court judge?

Recovery court judges in our district are circuit court judges that have the additional duties of running the recovery court. In some jurisdictions in Tennessee there are general sessions drug courts that are for people who have committed misdemeanors and the two operate similarly. The role of the recovery court judge is to lay down the normal duties of a judge and become more of a rehabilitation-type judge. We're all working together as a team with the judge to get this person well, as opposed to simply handing out justice.

When people first kind of hear of recovery courts do they know how long the treatment will be before choosing it?

Our people usually come straight from the jail setting so they've talked with other inmates about how long the program is.

It's not a surprise to most people. Some people are taken aback when they realize they have a very serious addiction issue and may need to go to inpatient treatment for a year. I've seen people decide not to come in through a court because they do not want to go to a full year of inpatient treatment.

PAGE 14 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

What have you learned through working in recovery courts?

I've learned that it is possible to turn people's lives around. I have a whole new respect that I didn't have 20 years ago for what can be done to rehabilitate people. I don't think anybody should be given up on and I think that happens in the traditional criminal justice system. I think the system itself just gets tired of dealing with an issue and in drug court we never have that feeling. We never feel like we've finished or that we can't do something more. And I think that's what has impressed me the most.

There's always something more to do, and there's always more people to reach out to.

Is there a specific memory from working in recovery courts that sticks out to you?

I love our graduation exercises, and that's a collection of memories because we ask our graduates to stand before the court, all the other participants, their families, sheriffs, and former graduates. It's one big group looking for the same goal. The graduate stands up in front of his or her peers and has some very heartfelt talks.

They talk about the difference the drug court has made in their lives, telling their peers to stick with it, listen to each other, and depend on each other. It is a group effort as much as it is an individual effort.

I get so charged up after listening to one of those speeches. And you know, with no exception, everybody gets up and gives such a beautiful speech. And some of the graduates, I've never really heard them speak publicly before. They kind of come out of their shell, but they're so excited about their new life that they just bubble over. I think that's the most obvious blessing that comes to mind.

NEWS

Following people's participation in the recovery court program, how does their life change? What does it look like versus before their participation? Do they have a new outlook on life?

Yeah, absolutely. We give them a job when they first come in and we give them a nice place to live. Our houses are very nicely decorated. It looks nothing like a jail cell. We're trying to get them used to living life again. They sit down at a table, eat dinner with other people, and cook dinner themselves, as a group. Participants learn how to cooperate and do things like a big family so that when they rejoin their family, they know how to do it.

Participants learn how to get along with one another. Their whole life changes.

They've learned good eating skills because they're surrounded by people who are trying to get on better diets and eat the proper meat and vegetables, not the junk food addicts tend to fall into because they don't necessarily think about taking care of themselves. They didn't always have those skills. They've learned the skills of getting up every morning, cleaning up, presenting themselves, and going off to work. Participants have learned an awful lot by the time they've gotten through two years of group and individual counseling.

The most significant thing is that they have served their time in an alternative drug court sentence, so when they get out they don't have to go back to jail. They're really free to start their life again, and that's the most significant change. It's a whole different life.

How do you think recovery courts affect both the drug addict population and the homeless population, specifically Nashville and the surrounding Nashville area?

Those suffering from homelessness that are ordered to go to court were homeless when they went into jail. If they don't have a violent criminal history, but they do have a drug issue, and they voluntarily apply to a court, the judge will order drug court as an alternative sentence. The catch is that you have to want it. If you don't want it, you don't get it. You gotta want it. That person who may have been homeless when they got involved in the criminal justice system can eventually be sentenced to drug court. The program gives them a home and a place to live. You're much much less likely to return to a homeless state when you graduate from the program.

Our graduates that keep up with us prior to graduation do not have any desire to go back to the issues that created the homelessness to begin with. They want to stay employed, healthy, sober, and in a good home where they can provide for themselves.

What do you wish other people knew about recovery courts?

I'm happy more people are learning

about them all the time. I wish more people understood that what we're trying to do is totally change someone's life, not just get them off of drugs. We are trying to change their lives and the lives of their children. I wish more people could understand that an addict is a genuine person with genuine feelings just like everyone else. They have an addiction, an illness, they struggle with that pervades every aspect of their life and I wish others could think of them that way. If more people could think of an addict in those terms, we can treat their illness, we can turn their illness around, and know it's not that they were

just a bad person. There are too many people out there that avoid addiction issues because they feel it's something to be avoided when it really should be something to reach out to.

How have recovery courts grown in the last several years?

In the last two years, everything has been different because of COVID, but in the last several years, our success rate has become more noticeable to the government and news media. There are more people in government that are looking to drug courts for the answers now. There is more support for recovery courts, we just

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

had to prove ourselves. The courts are pretty new. Most courts in the country are less than 20 years old. And it just took a while to get the track record we have now. That has helped us tremendously in having a voice in the recovery community. We've really grown as far as financial support, but it's been methodical year to year. We're able to grow by increasing our ceiling a little bit and taking another ten more people than we did last year. But the biggest growth has been in society realizing that we are a viable answer.

Not just a viable answer, but probably a better answer than most other options available out there.

LA NOTICIA “The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.

“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.

LOCALES - POLÍTICA - INMIGRACIÓN - TRABAJOS - SALUD - ESPECTÁCULOS - DEPORTES Y MÁS...

GRATIS Febrero/2

2022

Año 20 - No. 344

L a N ticia

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

www.hispanicpaper.com

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

Nashville, Tennessee

Sueño Americano o Ilusión: Cómo comenzar su historial de crédito Estados Unidos es aun el país de las oportunidades, pero a diferencia de lo que muchos creen, el dinero no crece en los árboles, y se necesita más que trabajar duro para poder disfrutar de una vida Por Yuri Cunza mejor en contraste Editor in Chief con la realidad que @LaNoticiaNews se vive en casi la totalidad de paises hispano hablantes. La clave para empezar con buen pie es el tener un buen crédito, lo que para el inmigrante en realidad significa ‘tenerlo’ para empezar osea ‘establecerlo’. Con un buen historial de crédito puede ser más fácil conseguir un trabajo, apartamento o incluso una tarjeta de crédito. Sin embargo, establecer y mantener un buen crédito requiere disciplina y planeamiento.

Comprenda el estado de su cuenta y cómo monitorear su tarjeta de crédito. Además, infórmese cómo iniciar y mantener su crédito o ayudar a sus hijos a iniciar el propio.

Tarjetas de crédito: Antes de pedir créditos o préstamos, asegúrese de verificar si las condiciones que le ofrecen son favorables y confiables.

Al solicitar una tarjeta de crédito, considere lo siguiente: La tasa de interés anual (APR). Si la tasa de interés es variable, pregunte cómo se determina y cuánto puede variar.

La tasa periódica. Se trata de la tasa de interés utilizada para calcular los gastos de financiamiento sobre su saldo en cada período de facturación.

La cuota de membresía anual. Algunas tarjetas le cobran una cantidad cada año por ser titular de la tarjeta de crédito.

Programas de recompensas. Use los recursos en línea para encontrar la tarjeta que ofrece las recompensas que más le interesan.

El período de gracia. Se trata de la cantidad de días de los que usted dispone para pagar la cuenta, antes de comenzar a correr los cargos por financiamiento.

Los cargos por financiamiento. Es importante saber exactamente lo que está pagando en cargos de financiamiento. Por ley, las entidades financieras deben divulgar el método que utilizan. Para evitar pagar cargos por financiamiento en las compras con tarjetas de crédito pague su saldo adeudado cada mes.

Otros cargos: Averigüe si se cobran cargos especiales por adelantos de efectivo, por pagos fuera de plazo o por sobrepasar el límite de crédito. Algunas compañías también cobran un cargo mensual.

La Ley de Igualdad para la Oportunidad al Crédito lo protege al tratar con entidades que suelen ofrecer crédito, incluyendo bancos, compañías financieras, tiendas, compañías de tarjetas de crédito y cooperativas de crédito.

Cómo disputar cargos: La Ley de Facturación Justa de Crédito le da el derecho a disputar cargos que aparecen en su tarjeta de crédito que son incorrectos, que usted no hizo o que se tratan de bienes o servicios que no recibió.

Siga los siguientes pasos: Envíe una carta al acreedor dentro de los 60 días de la fecha en que se emitió la factura.

Incluya su nombre, el número de su cuenta, la fecha y la cantidad del cargo en disputa, así como una explicación de por qué está usted disputando el cargo.

Envíe su carta por correo certificado y solicite el acuse recibo.

El acreedor o emisor de la tarjeta debe acusar recibo de su carta por escrito dentro de los 30 días de haberla recibido y realizar una investigación dentro de 90 días. Usted no tiene que pagar la cantidad en disputa durante la investigación.

Si hubo un error, el acreedor debe acreditar su cuenta y eliminar cualquier multa o costo asociado.

Si la factura está correcta, a usted le deben notificar por escrito cuánto debe y por qué. Usted debe pagar lo adeudado y cualquier cargo financiero asociado. (fuente: www.usa.gov/espanol) Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-567-3569

Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada?

1. Mantenerse callado 2. Sólo dar nombre y apellido 3. No mentir 4. Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos 5. No revelar su situación migratoria 6. No llevar documentación de otro país 7. En caso de ser arrestado, mostrarla Tarjeta Miranda (llámenos si necesita una)

por

Basados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, los derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un abogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda luego de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, de 1966.

www.juanese.com juanese@usa.com

PAGE 16 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

THE END OF AN ERA

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR Another NFL season has come to a close, as is the career of a great quarterbacks, Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What makes him special?

Consider a few facts: • He was a first round draft pick in 2004 (#11 overall) and won Rookie of the Year honors that year leading his team to a record of 13–0 that year.

• In 2005, he led his team to the Super Bowl and won becoming the youngest quarterback to do so.

• He spent his entire 18 year career with one team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, a true franchise player.

• He had 18 consecutive winning seasons (winning more than half his games, leading to 12 post-season berths during his 18 seasons.)

• He passed for over 3,000 yards in 15 of his 18 seasons-(his career total is over 64,000 yards.)

SOMEBODY TO LEAN ON

behind familiar names such as Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Brett Favre.

• He finished 5th overall in the # of wins with 163 of 249 games (92 at Heinz Field.)

• He finished 3rd in 4th quarter comebacks with 41.

• He is #1 in games won by 6 points or less with 58.

• He led his team to 8 AFC North championships.

• He has 6 Pro Bowl appearances in the course of his career.

• He was in 3 Super Bowls winning 2 (one of only 12 quarterbacks to accomplish this feat.)

So while he may not be in the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) as quarterbacks go, he is definitely in the top tier for sure!

So long for now Big Ben, I have no doubt we’ll see you in Canton, Ohio when you’re inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame!

THE EAGLE’S NEST - PROPOSAL C H R I S S C O T T F. , F O R M E R C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R

JULIE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR Why do people of Nashville walk on by the vendors and don’t give anything? All we’re trying to do is make a living for ourselves. And when you pass us by and don’t give anything, we don’t eat or have something to drink. This is our job. This is what we do for money.

This is how we make our living. You all may not like how we make our living, but just like you, we make our money this way.

And what if you were sitting here, would you want someone to just pass you up like you don’t matter or are invisible? Would you want someone to say mean things about you and make fun of you? You shouldn’t make fun or say mean things or even walk by someone that is trying to make it the only way they know how. People in Nashville need to learn what compassion is and what it is to have a heart and sympathy for someone that is trying to make a living out here the only way we know how and deal with people that don’t have a heart for people like us.

We are human. Do we not bleed when you prick us?

Do we not cry when you hit us? We are just like you. We are human, and we have feeling. So when you see us, stop and get a paper, or donate something. Because as the song said, we all need somebody to lean on. And for the people that sell the paper, Nashville is who we have to lean on. So we need your help to make it in this world.

Be there for us and it will come back to you in return.

So when you see us, buy a paper or donate something so we can have food to eat. Nashville, we need your help to make it.

The problems resulting from Nashville, Tennessee City Government’s failure and inability to find a workable solution to address the city’s ever increasing homeless problem has created a present-day, citywide, dilemma and sense of urgency. For thirteen years, I have lived in Nashville. My first seven, as a homeless camper in the woods on the north side of Fort Negley/Saint Cloud Hill, until the camp was destroyed. Everything happens for a reason and the steps of a righteous man are ordained by God. I am

an Army veteran who, for some unknown reason, has been drawn to the land surrounding a United States of America, former military installation known as, Fort Negley. In the setting sun’s shadow of that historical monument, I can hear the words of our beloved former 16th president, Abraham Lincoln say, “Heal This Nation.” My intention for that presently unused, city owned piece of property, formerly known as Greer Stadium, is the subject of this Proposal. To Be Continued…

A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR When my last secular job ended and my unemployment ran out, I became a professional couch surfer, and I constantly struggled with how to pay my bills that kept coming even though there was considerably less money to go around.

It was during that difficult time that I got to know Chris- he worked with my daughter at Starbucks in Hendersonville.

His grandmother Margaret sells The Contributor and according to Chris, “does pretty good,” he said. “you should try it, with your personality you’d be really good at it.” At first, I said no, then I was hesitant, but like I said, the bills kept coming, the money not so much.

Eventually I swollowed my pride and called to asked him how to sign up to sell the paper and the

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

rest is history.

The reason I bring this up now is I recently learned that around New Years Eve he died suddenly at age 37.

Though I didn’t know him all that well, as it happens with so many these days we lost touch, but I can honestly say that simple act of kindness changed my life for the better-thank you for that.

It is my sincere hope that you find peace and rest that proved to be elusive you in the course of your young life.

I would also like to ask for prayers for his mom Cheryl and his grandmother Margaret as they cope with this terrible tragedy of losing their loved one far too soon.

You will be missed by ALL who were blessed to have the opportunity to get to know you.

VENDOR WRITING

THE EAGLE’S NEST - PROGRESS 1 CHRIS SCOTT F., FORMER CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR What has been done? and where are we now?

The Journey’s begun and the Gauntlet’s thrown down.

People are already choosing up sides.

I’ve made Adversaries and I’ve made loyal Allies.

I visited some of the homeless camps.

I saw how things were and I talked some with them.

I noticed, the first thing that had to be done, Was Garbage Collection and Sanitation.

This was a problem. I let it be known.

I spoke up for those with no voice of their own.

Still waiting to see if my efforts succeed.

This isn’t just comfort. It’s something they need.

The dumpsters got emptied and what happened then?

They cleaned the place up and re-filled them again.

It just goes to show, you never can tell.

How much how so little, can be so much help.

I also went out to Brookmeade Park where, They could use some removal of Shopping Carts there.

THEME: K INGS A N D QUEENS ACROSS 1. Outback birds 5. Pilgrimage to Mecca 8. Well, to Sofia Loren 12. Impose a tax 13. No way!

14. Malicious burning 15. ____ over 16. Radiant light 17. Ran easily 18. *"The King of Staten Island" star Pete 20. Goyim, alt. sp.

21. Mork from Ork, e.g.

22. Common furniture wood 23. "Der Ring des Nibelungen" composer 26. Petroleum product (2 words) 30. Shakespearean fuss 31. Loan shark 34. Village People hit 35. City in France

37. Street, in Paris 38. Show in progress (2 words) 39. Tiny purse 40. Was almost out of gas, e.g. (2 words) 42. *First H in HRH 43. Type of bag 45. Unguarded 47. Brick and mortar carrier 48. Resize a dress, e.g.

50. "For ____ the Bell Tolls" 52. *Netflix royal drama (2 words) 55. Bridal veil fabric 56. One who hoes 57. Not far 59. Orderly arrangement 60. Drunkard, slangily 61. Stare 62. Country club pegs 63. Drivers' licenses, e.g.

64. *2019 movie "Queen & ____"

DOWN 1. Not Moose or Shriner 2. Fitting reward 3. Iris holder 4. Forest spirit 5. Gingerbread sculpture 6. Kitchen garb 7. *Billie ____ King 8. *Queens neighbor 9. ESPN trophy 10. Denials 11. December 31st, e.g.

13. Lowest points 14. Plural of alga 19. Intestinal obstruction 22. Opposite of their 23. *Prince Charles' domain 24. Temples' innermost sanctuaries 25. Not stay in (2 words) 26. Perceive by touch 27. *The NBA's Kansas City-____ Kings (1972-75) 28. More unfriendly 29. *Late "Live" King of CNN 32. Russia's mountain range 33. Seek a seat 36. *The last "king" of Russia 38. Proprietor 40. *The ___ Queen, regal chess character in "Through the Looking Glass" 41. Public disapproval 44. Cozy and comfortable 46. Two of these do not make a right 48. Near the wind 49. Potato soup partner, pl.

50. "She ____ a Yellow Ribbon" 51. Add to payroll 52. Native of Thailand 53. Lash mark 54. Member of National Socialist German Workers' Party 55. Giant pot 58. "Shiny Happy People" band

“If you want it done right, then do it yourself.”

The Parks Department responded, “Tell somebody else.”

So, so much for asking them for some help.

But now, what about The Eagle’s Nest, And where we are presently, in the way of Progress?

I opened the door and words getting out.

They now have something, they’re thinking about.

I stated my case and let it be known.

I stand up for Justice, but don’t stand alone.

A lot of people like this idea, And are anxious to see where we take it from here.

I wish that I had more Good News to report, But it’s indeed a slow process, gaining public support.

The Nashville, City Council, Homeless Commission, Has got the last word and the final decision.

They have the power and I have the plan.

They’re City Government. I’m just one man.

PAGE 18 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

FUN

HOBOSCOPES AQUA RIUS

It’s quiet out there, Aquarius. Maybe a little too quiet. Tell you what, let's go out and take a look around just to make sure nothing’s going on. You go out the front way and I’ll meet you up around the corner. Hey, while you’re out there, maybe you should look around a little bit. Maybe you could take a few deep breaths and get your legs moving. Leave your phone in your pocket and take a look at those clouds. It’s quiet out here, Aquarius. Almost quiet enough.

PISCES

The duck-billed platypus has no stomach. The duck-billed platypus is a mammal that lays eggs. The duck-billed platypus has venomous spurs on it’s heels. The duckbilled platypus can sense the electric fields generated by all living things. The duck-billed platypus has no car, no wallet and no sense of self-doubt. The duckbilled platypus knows exactly what it wants. I think you are more like the duck-billed platypus than you know, Pisces. Which of your platypine qualities will you work on this week?

ARIES

If I had a time machine, I think the first thing I’d do is go pick up some really good mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce.

Then, while those sticks were still crispy and hot, I’d get in my time machine and go back 15,000 years into the past and find some of our prehistoric ancestors out hunting and gathering and I’d give them that whole order of mozzarella sticks. I assume it would be such a life changing experience that it would triple the pace of global human development. It would really give those neolithic folk something to strive for! But, I guess we can’t change the past, Aries. Stil, you’ve still got some choices about what to do with the rest of your day. How bout some mozzarella sticks?

TAURUS

It’s water in every direction. Just you in your little lifeboat. The sun rises and sets over the ocean and you drift alone for another day. But I’ve got a feeling, Taurus, that there’s about to be some land peeking over that horizon. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week. And when you see it, I hope you’re ready to disembark. You’ve been out at sea a long time.

GEMINI

There used to be a pet store in the mall.

You might pick up some slacks and a pretzel and then swing by the pet store and get a puppy or a parakeet. It was extremely convenient, Gemini. Like, you’d get done at the movie theater and then accidentally pop over for some fish food or a carpet python. But lately, Gemini, you never go anywhere except for the places you mean to go.

Maybe you need to end up somewhere you didn’t mean to be. Maybe just go in the next open door you’re invited to. You might end up with an iguana you didn’t know you needed.

LIBRA

My middle name is my Dad’s first name.

His middle name is his grandad’s name.

But nobody calls me by my middle name.

And nobody calls my dad by his. We’ve all got markers to remind us where we came from. Sometimes they point to family. Sometimes they point to history.

Sometimes they point to things we’ve done to break away from both. What’s your middle name, Libra?

What else tells you where you’ve been?

SCORPIO

CANCER

You remember the time, Cancer, when your history teacher assigned you to interview somebody in your family so you could write a report about your own connection to history? I interviewed my grandfather who had traveled through Europe before World War II. It sounded so long ago and important.I was thinking, Cancer, that these days you and me are the family members who have lived through history. You’ve seen some things these kids today don’t know about. Share the stories you’ve got. Don’t let future generations forget about flip phones and Two and a Half Men.

LEO

This is it, Leo, it’s your time to shine! I knew there was some reason you memorized all those facts about state capitals and their major exports and this is it! But before you rush out onto the stage for your big moment, give yourself a quick check. Shoes tied? Cumberbund fastened?

Tophat angled just so? Alright, Leo, if you’re ready, get out there and tell the folks what they need to hear.

VIRGO

An archeologist needs patience, curiosity, and a good brush. If you’re going to find out what’s in here, Virgo, you can’t just go digging and poking, you’ve got to be more gentle. Brush off the first layer of dust. Still can’t read it? Brush away the second layer. We’ve got a ways to go, but I think you’re getting somewhere, Virgo. Take your time. You’ll get to the bottom of this.

“Measure twice, cut once.” Carpenters are always saying stuff like that, Scorpio. I get it, they want to make sure you don’t make a change you can’t take back if you’re not sure. But I’m an ameteur astrologer, not a carpenter, Scorpio. I think you’ve measured enough. If you’re ready to make the cut, make the cut.

SAGITTA R IUS

My dog likes to sleep on the worn-out bath mat in front of the toilet. I figured it was because her dog bed had gotten old and flat. So I went out and bought a new dog bed.

It’s brand name, memory foam, orthopedic, extra durable and triple soft. But my dog still wants to sleep on the bath mat. Sometimes we need a better place to land, Sagittarius. Bus sometimes we’re just fine where we’re at. All I know is, this dog bed is way more comfortable than my futon.

CAPRICORN

Sometimes science and religion seem to be at odds with each other, but one thing they seem to agree on is that before there were people, there was mud. Before we had a planet teeming with life, we needed a formless ball of water and dirt.

And the stuff that made that mud ball is the same stuff you and me are made of, Capricorn. I like that quote about how we’re all “stardust” and all that. That’s nice.

But sometimes it helps me more to remember that we’re all made of mud. You’ve come a long way for a mud ball, Capricorn. I can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a registered archeologist, or a mall herpetologist. Mr. Mysterio is, however, a budding intermediate podcaster! Check out The Mr. Mysterio Podcast. Season 2 is now playing at mrmysterio.com. Got a question, just give Mr. M a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19

Thank you to all supporters and providers for serving our friends in the community who are experiencing temporary homelessness.

Open Table Nashville, People Loving Nashville, ShowerUp, Project Return, Park Center, The Contributor, Mental Health Cooperative, Room in the Inn, West End United Methodist, Councilman Sean Parker, Clencliff Village

*Paid for by Friends to ReElect Lynda Jones, Cathy Werthan, treasurer

PAGE 20 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

LIVING LIFE IN THE DARK FRED S.

Being homeless I feel like no one is there

FUTURE INFINITE

but I know life is not fear.

WILD BILL

(MY MAJESTY)

I know no one hear and no one knows me I’ve never seen an angel, and that’s a fact —

and I try my best to be a kind man.

ANGELA H.

I never saw an angel ‘til I saw you — I love you Lord and praise your holy name,

Living life in the dark is not a good thing. I know one day things will get better and the sun will shine.

you are my light my everything.

Let’s dance the night away ‘Til dew drops on the dawn

‘Til that day comes I’ll still be:

Holding on the future in our hands

I worship you down on my knees. I kiss your hand, my majesty.

I bow before you with worries on my mind,

Living life in the dark.

I take a deep breath and give you my time.

I love you Lord ‘til the very end, I praise your name once again.

Visit SalvationArmyNashville.org to find the hope.

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 21

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886–1945), the editor of the following selections, is today probably the third most famous of the famous Inklings literary group of Oxford, England, which existed in the middle of the 20th century, and which included among its ranks the better-known and longer-lived Oxford Dons J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. First published in 1941, this series of profound quotations, encompassing all walks of life, follows the sequence of the themes and Bible readings anciently appointed for contemplation throughout the church's year. It is hoped that the readings reproduced here will prove beneficial for any who read them, whatever their place in life's journey. — Matthew Carver

SEPTUAGESIMA WEDNESDAY IT is written, “The Angel who spake in me.” And yet there is a difference even here. The Angel is in us suggesting what is good, not bestowing it: stimulating us to goodness, not creating goodness. God is so in us as to give the grace and infuse it into us; or rather, so in us that He Himself is infused and partaken of, so that one need not fear to say that He is one with our substance. For you know, “He that is joined unto God is one spirit.” The Angel is in the soul as a comrade, God as life.

St Bernard: On Consideration.

SEPTUAGESIMA THURSDAY GOD has not bound up man’s salvation with any given way.

What one way has, what possibilities, with these God has furnished all good ways without exception, for one good never clashes with another, and by the same token people ought to realize that they do wrong to say, when they come across or hear about some admirable person, that because he does not use their way it is all labor lost: they dislike his method, so they decry as well his virtues and intentions.

Eckhart: In Collationibus.

SEPTUAGESIMA FRIDAY PRAYERS negligently performed draw a curse, but not prayers weakly performed. The former is, when one can do better and will not; the latter is, when one would do better, but, alas! he cannot: and such failings, as they are his sins, so they are his sorrows also: pray, therefore faintly, that thou mayest pray fervently; pray weakly, that thou mayest pray strongly.

Thomas Fuller: A Wounded Conscience.

IT is well enough known that Christ constantly uses the expression ‘follower’; He never says anything about wanting admirers, admiring worshippers, adherents; and when he uses the expression ‘disciples,’ He always so explains it that we can perceive that followers are meant.

Kierkegaard: Training in Christianity.

SEPTUAGESIMA SATURDAY IT is not in the power of the devil to do so much harm, as God can do good; nay, we may be bold to say, it is not in the will, not in the desire of the devil to do so much harm, as God would do good.

John Donne: Sermons.

BELIEVE me, by God’s help, we shall advance more by contemplating the Divinity than by keeping our eyes fixed on ourselves, poor creatures of earth that we are.

St Teresa: The Interior Castle.

SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY THE soul cannot enter into the night of itself, because no one is able of his own strength to empty his heart of all desires, so as to draw near unto God. St John of the Cross: Ascent of Mount Carmel.

IN all our deaths, and deadly calamities of this life, we may justly hope of a good issue from Him; and all our periods and transitions in this life, are so many passages from death to death.

John Donne: Sermons.

SEXAGESIMA MONDAY HUMAN nature, even though it sinned not, could not shine by its own strength simply; for it is not naturally light, but only a recipient of it; it is capable of containing wisdom, but is not wisdom itself.

Origen: Homilies.

HOW could we know what God wants to do with us when we cannot even know what we are nor who we are?

Léon Bloy: Letters to his Fiancée.

SEXAGESIMA TUESDAY THE earth was made, but the earth itself which was made is not life. In the Wisdom of God however there is spiritually a certain Reason after which the earth was made. This is Life.

St Augustine, quoted in Aquinas: Catena Aurea.

IT is not that we keep His commandments first, and that the He loves; but that he loves us, and then we keep His commandments. This is that grace, which is revealed to the humble, but hidden from the proud.

St Augustine, quoted in Aquinas: Catena Aurea.

SEXAGESIMA WEDNESDAY HEREIN lies the true ground and depth of the uncontrollable freedom of our will and thoughts: they must have a selfmotion and self-direction, because they came out of the self-existent God. They are eternal, divine powers that never began to be, and therefore cannot begin to be in subjection to anything. That which thinks and wills in the soul is that very same unbeginning breath which thought and willed in God, before it was breathed into the form of the human soul; and therefore it is, that will and thought cannot be bounded or constrained.

Herein also appears the high dignity and never ceasing perpetuity of our nature.

William Law: An Appeal.

THE FEAST OF ST MATTHIAS THE kingdom of heaven suffers violence from warm love and living hope, which conquer the Divine Will, not as when man overcomes man, but conquer it because it chooses to be conquered, and, so conquered, again conquers by its own benignity.

Dante: Paradise.

JESUS does not regard in Judas his enmity, but the order of God, which He loves and admits, since He calls him friend.

Pascal: Pensées.

SEXAGESIMA THURSDAY IF we were a little severe with ourselves at the beginning, we should afterwards be able to do all things with ease and delight.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation.

WE implore the mercy of God, not that He may leave us at peace in our vices, but that He may deliver us from them.

Pascal: Pensées.

SEXAGESIMA SATURDAY IF this is a world in which I, and the majority of my fellowbeings, live in that perpetual distraction from God which exposes us to the one great peril, that of final and complete alienation from God after death, there is some wrong that I must try to help to put right.

T. S. Eliot: The Idea of a Christian Society.

THE seven works of bodily mercy be these: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and needy, harbour the houseless, comfort the sick, visit prisoners, bury the dead. The seven works of spiritual mercy be these: teach men the truth, counsel men to hold with Christ’s law, chastise sinners by moderate reproving in charity, comfort sorrowful men by Christ’s passion, forgive wrongs, suffer meekly reproofs for the right of God’s law, pray heartily for friend and for foe.

Middle English Sermons (abridged).

QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY THE life of Jesus is perfected obedience to the will of the faithful God. Jesus stands among sinners as a sinner; He sets Himself wholly under the judgment under which the world is set; He takes His place where God can be present only in questioning about Him; He takes the form of a slave; He moves to the cross and to death; His greatest achievement is a negative achievement. He is not a genius endowed with manifest or even occult powers; He is not a hero or leader of men; He is neither poet nor thinker:—My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Nevertheless, precisely in this negation, He is the fulfillment of every possibility of human progress, as the Prophets and the Law conceive of progress and evolution, because he sacrifices to the incomparably Greater cause there is no conceivable human possibility of which he did not rid Himself. Herein he is recognized as the Christ; for this reason God hath exalted Him; and consequently He is the light of the Last Things by which all men and things are illuminated.

Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

QUINQUAGESIMA MONDAY DO not lie about the past.

AND as I walked towards the jail, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “My love was always to thee, and thou art in my love.”

George Fox: Journal.

JESUS said: “Would thou love one who never died For thee, or ever die for one who had not died for thee?

And if God dieth not for man, and giveth not himself Eternally for man, man could not exist; for man is love, As God is love: every kindness to another is a little death In the divine image; nor can man exist but by brotherhood.”

Blake: Jerusalem.

SEXAGESIMA FRIDAY OUR heart must we give wholly unto him; that hath opened his heart so wide. His heart is ours must be all one. Nothing requireth he of us but the heart. “Son,” saith he, “give me thy heart.”

Coverdale: Fruitful Lessons on the Passion.

ANTICHRIST alone is enemy enough, but never carry this consideration beyond thyself.

John Donne: Sermons.

Leonardo da Vinci: Notebooks.

QUINQUAGESIMA TUESDAY NO creature can be a child of God but because the goodness of God is in it; nor can it have any union or communion with the goodness of the Deity till its life is a Spirit of Love.

This is the one only band of union betwixt God and the creature . . . Here the necessity id absolute: nothing will do instead of this will; all contrivances of holiness, all forms of religious piety signify nothing without this will to all goodness. For as the will to all goodness is the whole nature of God, so it must be the whole nature of every service or religion that can be acceptable to Him. William Law: The Spirit of Love.

Sponsored by Matthew Carver, publisher

PAGE 22 | February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

MOVING PICTURES

‘The Contributor’ Presents: A Moving Pictures Academy Awards Special Spectacular Column

BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC The Music City Film Critics Association announced its movie awards on Jan. 25, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its Oscar trophy nominees on Feb. 8. Now that we’ve all had a week to process the stars and stinkers on that list, it’s time to get down to the serious awards season business of sorting through the overrated and the overlooked, defending the honor of cinema art against the self-congratulatory spectacles of the mediocritizing marketplace, and even seeing if we can predict at least a winner or two.

One big parallel between the official Oscar nominations and the MCFCA winners are the two top race-runners: The Power of the Dog was the MCFCA’s top winner with four awards. Dune came in second with three awards. The Academy’s nominations have The Power of the Dog in the lead with 14 and Dune lagging behind at 10. The Power of the Dog won the MCFCA’s Best Picture award and it’s got very good chances here. This movie is deservedly recognized as one of the year’s best, and the optical politics of a subversive western focused on toxic masculinity directed by a woman can’t be ignored when it comes to an Oscar’s stage. That said, The Power of the Dog was a low-budget boutique art film made by the streaming platform Netflix. At a time when Hollywood is panicking about reviving the theatrical audience at the tail end of a pandemic, Dune’s $400 million — so far — box office receipts might be the thing Tinsel Town most wants to celebrate. When it comes to other nominations, Don’t Look Up was one of my favorite comedies of the year, but it’s not a serious Best Picture contender.

Licorice Pizza had a great soundtrack and it’s also the most overrated movie of the year. Belfast might sneak into a number of winning columns, but my Best Picture prediction is Dune.

With that in mind, my pick for Best Director is Dune’s Denis Villeneuve be-

cause we all know that the Best Director makes the Best Picture. Which is why it's insane that Dune is up for an Oscar, but Villeneuve is not. The shocking snub is one of the biggest stories around the announcement of the official Oscar nominations, but some commentators think that Villeneuve getting overlooked in this category will actually make Dune’s chances at Best Picture even stronger. Of course, Jane Campion might be the main contender in this category, but, again, don’t overlook Kenneth Branagh for Belfast here either. Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza is the worst film he’s made so I’m pretending his nomination doesn’t exist, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s Drive My Car is only going to win Best International Feature Film. I predict Best Director for Campion, who also won the directing award from MCFCA. The MCFCA awarded Best Actor honors to Nicolas Cage (Pig) and Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye). I don’t always agree with my fellow local film critics, but these two were my top nods and final picks for these awards. Cage didn’t actually get an Oscar nomination because the world is cruel and this is why we can’t have nice things. I’m simply going to pick Denzel Washington (The Tragedy of Macbeth) because the nominations list had me at “Denzel Washington.” I’d love to see Chastain get a statue and she’s clearly the best of the bunch among other not-terrible nominees: Nicole Kidman stood-down her naysayers with Being the Ricardos, and Penelope Cruz is an imminently watchable actress. That said, Chastain gets my prediction Best Actress at the Oscars.

The 94th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 27, 2022.

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville.

Find out more about his projects at www. joenolan.com.

February 16 - March 2, 2022 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 23