The Contributor: September 13, 2023

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

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

Año 21 - No. 378

Nashville, Tennessee

Conferencia Nacional USHCC: Explorando Oportunidades y Conectando Negocios

Del 24 al 26 de septiembre de 2023, Orlando, Florida, se convertirá en el epicentro del espíritu empresarial y la colaboración mientras la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de los Estados Unidos (USHCC) Por Yuri Cunza organiza su muy Editor in Chief @yuricunza e s p e r a d a Conferencia Nacional 2023. Miles de líderes empresariales, emprendedores y expertos de todo el país y más allá se reunirán en el Loews Sapphire Falls Resort de esta ciudad para casi tres días de inspiración, networking y exploración de oportunidades comerciales.

Un Escenario Inspirador

Local Images

inclusión y la diversidad impulsan la innovación y el crecimiento económico.

La Conferencia Nacional de la USHCC de 2023 es la reunión más grande de líderes empresariales hispanos en Estados Unidos. Reuniendo a las Cámaras de Comercio Hispanas locales, líderes empresariales hispanos y socios corporativos para fomentar el desarrollo económico hispano para la economía estadounidense en general.

Cada año, los asistentes a la Conferencia Nacional participan en debates interactivos con líderes empresariales, miembros del Congreso, la Casa Blanca y otros miembros que representan a los 5 millones de empresas de propiedad hispana en nuestro país.

Foto: Yuri Cunza

USHCC President and CEO Ramiro Cavazos, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Jerry L. Demings, Mayor of Orange County, Florida, U.S Congressman Darren Soto and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando President and CEO Gaby Ortigoni, announce the upcoming conference next month.

La Noticia + The Contributor

La energía vibrante y la diversidad cultural de Orlando servirán como el telón de fondo perfecto para esta conferencia visionaria. Desde los atrapantes parques temáticos hasta la rica herencia cultural que caracteriza a la ciudad, los asistentes se verán inmersos en un ambiente que cataliza la innovación y la determinación de la comunidad empresarial hispana.

Explorando Oportunidades de Negocios

Colaboración y Networking La conferencia USHCC 2023 priorizará la colaboración y el conectar como aspectos fundamentales para el éxito empresarial. Las sesiones de networking cuidadosamente diseñadas proporcionarán un terreno fértil para que los líderes empresariales influyentes, los visionarios de la industria y los emprendedores ambiciosos se reúnan y establezcan relaciones duraderas. Estas conexiones no solo enriquecerán las perspectivas comerciales, sino que también podrían dar forma a alianzas estratégicas para un futuro próspero.

Tecnología e Innovación La conferencia se sumergirá en la intersección entre tecnología e innovación, destacando cómo estas fuerzas impulsan la evolución empresarial. Las conversaciones sobre transformación digital, inteligencia artificial y estrategias de marketing en línea proporcionarán a los asistentes información de vanguardia sobre cómo aprovechar las últimas her-

ramientas y tendencias para lograr el éxito empresarial en la era digital.

Empoderamiento Diversidad

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

Empresarial

y

El empoderamiento empresarial y la promoción de la diversidad continuarán siendo temas clave en la conferencia. Se celebrarán casos de éxito inspiradores protagonizados por empresarios hispanos en diversas industrias, enfatizando cómo la

El objetivo central de la conferencia será brindar a los participantes un escenario La Noticia, one of the propicio para explorar nuevas oportuPhotographer Alvine nidades comerciales. A través de paneles de discusión de vanguardia y sesiones leading Spanish-language los asistentes tendrán la brings us imagesinteractivas, from posibilidad de aprender sobre las últimas tendencias empresariales, estrategias de newspapers in the nation, crecimiento disruptivas y prácticas last month's special empresariales sostenibles. Con la participación de oradores destacados de diverbrings Spanish content to sas industrias, la conferencia ofrecerá conocimientos invaluables en una varsession of the Tenn. iedad de temas cruciales.

The Contributor.

Legislature.

Contributor vendors write in this issue about gun violence, injuries, thoughts, public wealth, and a tribute to a customer named Herald.

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

El tema de la conferencia USHCC este año es "El futuro es ahora: Elevando las empresas latinas para el mañana". La agenda incluirá business matchmaking, paneles dinámicos y presentadores, una emocionante sala de exposiciones y, para resaltar el cierre, la gala anual y ceremonia de premios. La organización indicó que anunciará más detalles inspiradores en los próximos dias.

Moving Pictures

Para mayor inforación visite: www.ushccconference.com Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-567-3569

Joe Nolan writes about Wes Anderson’s newest film Asteroid City, which is now streaming on Peacock.

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) 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.

por

WHAT WE DO $2 VENDOR SELLS PAPERS

$0.25 VENDOR BUYS PAPERS

CUSTOMER TAKES PAPER

Buying more papers grows & legitimizes a vendor's business, allowing the vendor to apply for housing.

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WHO WE ARE

The Contributor is a nonprofit social enterprise that creates economic opportunity with dignity by investing in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.

Starting in 2019, our C.O.V.E.R. Program (Creating Opportunity for Vendor Employment, Engagement, and Resources) was the natural expansion of our mission of removing obstacles to housing. We now offer full case management, assistance with housing and rental expenses, addiction recovery, health insurance, food benefits and SSI/SSDI assistance. We see the one-stopshop team approach radically transforming a vendor's image of self and their place in community.

Since we started in 2007, more than 3,200 different vendors have purchased $2.3 million worth of The Contributor and sold over six million copies, generating over $15 million in income for themselves.

Take the paper, change a life.

Read the paper, change yours.

Kerry Graham, Chair • Amber DuVentre, Chair Elect • Christine Doeg , Secretary • Cathy

Jennings • Demetria Kalodimos • Jerome Moore • O. Wade Nelson, Jr. • Waddell Wright • Robin Kimbrough-Hayes • Jim Shulman • Tom Wills • Drew Morris

Contributors This Issue Amanda Haggard • Linda Bailey • Ridley Wills II • Judith Tackett • Jen A. • Alvine • Norma B. • Yuri Cunza • Lisa A. • Jamie W. • Maurice B. • June P. • John H. • Mr. Mysterio • Chris Scott Fieselman • Wendell J. • Joe Nolan

Contributor Volunteers Christine Doeg • Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Laura Birdsall • Marissa Young • Matthew Murrow • Gisselly Mazariegos • Tyler Samuel • Jamie Dore • Russ Heldman Cathy Jennings Executive Director Tom Wills Director of Vendor Operations Carli Tharp SNAP Specialist Ree Cheers SOAR Manager Andrew Terry IV SOAR Referral Specialist Rachel Ternes Housing Navigator Andreos Chunaco Housing Navigator Holly Bowman Director of Development Esther Mwandiko Kitenge Engagement Specialist Jesse Call Operations Consultant Raven Nye Director of Housing Initiatives Justin Wagner Resource Coordinator & Reporter Barbara Womack Advertising Manager Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors Chelsea Jackson Vendor Office Manager 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

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

Building Community, Continuing the Legacy:

A Rosenwald Schools of Tennessee Symposium

September 15 & 16, 2023 Fisk University & Tennessee State Museum

Photo courtesy of the Tennessee State Library & Archives.

For speakers, schedule and registration info, please visit: TNMuseum.org/Rosenwald-Symposium

TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM FOUNDATION This project is funded in part by the Tennessee State Museum Foundation and a grant from Humanities Tennessee, an independent affiliate of the Endowment for the Humanities.

Scan here to register:

FREE Admission 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.

615.741.2692 • TNMuseum.org

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

NASHVILLE HISTORY CORNER

The less familiar Fort Loudoun

BY RIDLEY WILLS II

Nashvillians are generally familiar with Fort Nashboro, a replica of which stands on First Avenue North in downtown Nashville.

Less familiar is Fort Loudoun, built by the British in 1756 on the Tellico River near its confluence with the Tennessee.

Because officials in the British Colony of South Carolina felt threatened by actions of the French in the Mississippi Valley, they sent an independent company of South Carolina militia to the Overhill Cherokee country to build and garrison the fort. They hoped it would accomplish two purposes. One was that it would ally the Overhill Cherokee with the British in their fight against the French and second it would foster a continuation of trade between the Overhill Cherokee and the South Carolinians. The Overhill Cherokee had been petitioning the Governor of the South Carolina colony to build the fort, thinking it would

protect them from the Lower Cherokees in Georgia who coveted their land.

Fort Loudoun was built but things didn't work out as the South Carolinians hoped. In 1760, disenchanted Cherokees besieged the fort, causing provisions to nearly reach the vanishing point. For an entire month, the South Carolinians had “no other subsistence but the flesh of lean horses and dogs and a small supply of … beans some friendly [Native Americans] procured for them by stealth.” On Aug. 7, Captain Raymond Demere agreed to a surrender of the fort and garrison on five conditions: • That the Garrison marched out with their arms and drums, each soldier having as much powder and balls as their officers felt necessary.

• That the Garrison be permitted to march for Virginia or Fort Prince

George as the commanding officer may think appropriate and that they be accompanied by a number of Native Americans to hunt for provisions while on the march.

• That such soldiers who are lame or disabled by sickness be received in the Indian towns and kindly treated until they recover and then returned to Fort Prince George.

• That the Native Americans provide the Garrison with as many horses as they can conveniently furnish, to be paid by the officers.

• That the Fort, Great Guns, Powder, balls and spare arms be delivered to the Native Americans on the day appointed for the march.

The Native Americans agreed on the surrender terms and, on the day appointed, the

PAGE 4 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

whites — men, women and children — moved out and proceeded for 15 miles when they camped. On Aug.10, many Native Americans surrounded the camp. The white men, enfeebled by near starvation, were incapable of resistance. Four officers, 23 privates, and at least three women were killed. The Garrison’s commander, Captain Demere, was made to dance around for some time, after which they chopped off his arm, then the other and then his legs. He had already been scalped. After removing the big guns from Fort Loudoun, the Cherokees burned it. In 1762, Lt. Henry Timberlake visited the site and found the fort to be in ashes.

A replica of Fort Loudoun at Fort Loudoun State Historic Site stands surrounded by Fort Loudoun Lake and the Tennessee River. Fort Loudoun is the state’s only French and Indian War park.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Learn More About The 100 Day Campaign to house 100 Families

BY JUDITH TACKET T

On June 4, 2013, I stood in a room at the Nashville Public Library’s Downtown Branch where I witnessed a small crowd raise $36,000 in less than 10 minutes for the first 100 Day Challenge held in Nashville.

The most recent 100 Day Challenge is focusing on housing 100 families who experience homelessness in 100 days. United Way of Greater Nashville and Safe Haven Family Shelter lead the effort of 30 nonprofit and government agencies across Davidson County.

The countdown of housing 100 families started on Aug. 28 and will last through Dec. 9, 2023.

While housing 100 families over the next three and a half months will not end family homelessness in Davidson County, deploying this proven methodology that sets a challenging, coordinated, and collaborative goal will have the power to improve our systemic approach and redefine how we, as a community, address family homelessness.

Let’s take the concept of a 100 Day Challenge apart and look at its history more in-depth.

As I mentioned earlier, 100 Day Challenges are not new. In the homelessness field, a humble leader called Nadim Matta founded the Rapid Rehousing Institute — now called Re!Institute — to implement 100 Day Challenges to improve systems. He started working with Community Solutions, a national nonprofit founded in 2011 that led the 100,000 Homes Campaign.

In 2013, the new director of the Metropolitan Homelessness Commission, Will Connelly, partnered with Community Solutions to launch one of the first 100 Day Challenges in the homelessness field that focused on housing 200 of the most vulnerable, chronically homeless individuals in 100 days.

The effort, which we locally called the How’s Nashville Campaign, was chronicled in a 60 Minutes segment hosted by Anderson Cooper.

It was the beginning of Nashville’s coordinated effort to address chronic homelessness. Within the past 10 years, our city launched two more challenges — one focused on creating a coordinated entry system, and the second was a shortened 90 Day Challenge to speed up the housing efforts of Veterans.

Now, Nashville is among one of

the first cities nationwide to work with Community Solutions’ Built for Zero team on improving our approach to family homelessness. The ultimate goal is to meet functional zero* for family homelessness, which I described in a past column.

Re!Institute describes the 100 Day Challenge as a “methodology [that] brings everyone together, fostering a sense of urgency, a focus on tangible results, and the freedom to experiment.” 100 Day Challenges empower frontline teams to break down silos and fragmentation. It does so by creating communication tools to allow teams to be the drivers in how our community works with families. Furthermore, data is used to evaluate best practice approaches, so we know what works.

Thus, 100 Day Challenges are not just about meeting a specific goal like housing 100 families in 100 days. This effort is about improving how the current system works.

The goal really is about overcoming fragmentation at the political and agency levels that often happens when there is a lack of working with non-governmental partners and people closest to the problem (those with lived experiences).

In short, the goal for Nashville family providers is to learn and grow together.

At a recent event on August 29 that announced the 100 Day Challenge, we were told that currently 480 families are on our community’s By Name List (BNL). BNLs collect data in real time and usually are reported out to community providers on at least a monthly basis. They are generally divided into several subgroups: Families, Individuals, Youth/Young Adults (18-24), Veterans, and People fleeing Domestic Violence.

In preparation for the 100 Day Challenge, Nashville already evaluated the quality of its Family BNL and found that on average, the community housed 29 families per month. Thus, the goal to house 100 families in 100 days will be slightly above that average. I hope to actually see more families being housed.

Regardless of the actual number of families housed, I believe the 100 Day Challenge is worth it for the following reasons. Our community will: • I mprove c ol l a b or at ion among family service pro-

viders; • Be able to evaluate old and implement new processes as well as establish ongoing evidence-based approaches; • Improve the quality of data collection, which will allow for a family-centered service approach (versus a provider-centric approach); • Energize landlord engagement efforts and recruit more landlords to identify housing units; • Deduplicate services and increase efficiency in service delivery; and • Collaborate on the development of a communitywide Family Plan to sustain all processes we improved during the 100 Day Challenge.

It is critical to note that the 100 Day Challenge is not happening in a vacuum. United Way of Greater Nashville established an initiative called The Family Collective (TFC) whose mission is to prevent and end family homelessness.

United Way launched TFC in 2014 together with Safe Haven Family Shelter and Catholic Charities.

The collaborative effort has meanwhile expanded into a five-county area with dozens of partners.

Since 2014, TFC has empowered more than 3,500 families (including 500 families in 2023 alone) to work toward self-sufficiency. TFC will be critical to help sustain the systems improvements our community hopes to make during the 100 Day Challenge.

What we learned from the first 100 Day Challenge in 2013 was that when we come together as a community, we will make a difference by breaking down silos, building trust around common goals, and most of all, improving service delivery with a housing-focused approach for some of the most vulnerable families in our community.

While homelessness is a symptom of inequity and systems failures (such as health care, criminal justice, education, etc.), homelessness providers still believe we can end homelessness for families, individuals, Veterans, youth/young adults and people fleeing domestic violence. Ending homelessness does not mean that no one will ever lose housing again. Rather, it means that our community comes together to implement a system

GO TO 100DAYNASHVILLE.ORG TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP. GIVE: Donate through the 100 Day Challenge Fund at Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

VOLUNTEER: Contact volunteermanager@safehaven. org for volunteer opportunities.

Donate: New household items and toiletries are needed for families moving into housing. Contact dontationdrive@ safehaven.org to arrange a donation drop-off time.

HOUSING PARTNERS: Encourage landlords and property owners you know to support this initiative and provide affordable housing options. Contact Brittney Brown at bbrown@safehaven.org or (615) 524-0720 with potential housing partner information.

SHARE: Like, comment, and share the 100 Day Challenge content found on the social media outlets of United Way of Greater Nashville and Safe Haven Family Shelter.

The following organizations are involved in 100 Day Challenge in addition to United Way of Greater Nashville’s The Family Collective team and Safe Haven Family Shelter: • Bethlehem Center • Catholic Charities • Community Care Fellowship • Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee • The Contributor • HERO Program with MNPS • Martha O’Bryan Center • Mary Parrish Center • MDHA • Metro Action Commission • Mental Health Cooperative • Metro Public Health Department that identifies families and individuals who have lost their housing quickly, coordinates resources to address each household’s needs, and is able to rehouse them quickly with the adequate supports.

In other words, let’s look at which resources are available for what populations, coordinate with each other, include the people we intend to serve in decision-making processes, implement a housing-first approach, evaluate our outcomes, continue to improve our efforts and ensure that we listen to each other.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

• Metro Social Services • Morning Star • Nashville Rescue Mission • Oasis Center • Office of Homeless Services • Open Table Nashville • Operation Stand Down • Park Center • People Loving Nashville • Room In The Inn • The Salvation Army • Step Up • St. Luke’s Community House • YWCA The 100 Day Challenge is a starting point to energize frontline staff and demonstrate how Nashville stakeholders can improve the current system while simultaneously housing 100 families in 100 days. *”Functional zero is a milestone, which must be sustained, that indicates a community has measurably solved homelessness for a population. When it’s achieves, homelessness is rare and brief for that population.” - https://community.solutions/built-for-zero/ functional-zero/

A FEW QUESTIONS WITH

A Few Questions with The Contributor’s Executive Director

C

BY JUDITH TACKETT

athy Jennings started with The Contributor as a volunteer in 2012. After serving as a board member for a couple of years, she took on the role of executive director and implemented a vision that takes the traditional street paper model and combines it with a person-centered approach that focuses on vendor’s needs including income, housing, support services and long-term employment.

For this issue, we talked with Cathy Jennings, the executive director of The Contributor Inc., about our organization’s purpose, structures, and needs.

Could you give us a brief history of The Contributor?

The Contributor launched in 2007. It was the brainchild of four local homeless advocates who are well-known in our field.

They were Tasha French, who was the first executive director, Will Connelly, Steven Samra (both used to work for Park Center around that time) and Tom Wills. Tom still serves as our director of vending.

He and his family have a long history with Downtown Presbyterian Church, which became the home base for The Contributor.

The four founders came together to launch a street paper as a means to challenge stereotypes surrounding homelessness and offer low-barrier, immediate workforce opportunities for individuals experiencing homelessness. The concept is that a person with lived experience, called a vendor, purchases the paper for 25 cents and sells it for a profit. In the beginning the sales price was $1. Currently, the purchase price is 50 cents and the sales price is $2.

Thus, The Contributor functions as a micro-business where a vendor purchases a stack of newspapers every two weeks when we publish a new issue and sells it for a profit. The paper created a database to track vendor sales and hired staff to provide stability and serve as a liaison with the International Network of Street Papers (INSP). The Contributor newspaper was so successful that, at one-point, vendors sold over 100,000 papers in the Middle Tennessee area every two weeks.

Over time, lack of adequate funding, increases in cost and competition with a church-based street paper out of Kentucky, and decreases in people reading printed papers became an issue. A new executive director tried out the European model for a street magazine. That was around the time I became a board member. We quickly learned that there was no appetite for readers to pick up a magazine from a street vendor, and the vendors, who are actually The Contributor’s main customers, did not like the new format.

The board decided that we needed a drastic change or to close our doors.

That’s when I stepped into the executive

Contributor vendor Sharon H. and Cathy Jennings. director role in late 2018 and I am still here.

Why did you take that step?

I saw the need in our community to elevate the issues of homelessness, especially through the voices of our vendors.

As a former volunteer, I always believed in the value of The Contributor’s low-barrier access to employment and saw the potential to build on the relationship that volunteers and staff have with the people who seek us out to become vendors and launch their own micro-business.

The Contributor remains the product of vendors, and we ensure that 35 percent of the paper’s content is filled with vendor articles. Our data shows that our readers love to hear directly from people with lived experience.

Under your leadership, The Contributor Inc. has grown as a nonprofit. While the street paper is still the crucial part of the organization, explain the overall organizational model and vision behind it?

The Contributor has evolved into a sophisticated ecosystem that empowers our unhoused neighbors on a path to establishing micro-businesses, earning income, finding housing and self-advocating, all of which restore their self-confidence, their dignity and their community.

Our two core programs are a) the news-

paper vendor business and b) our Rapid Rehousing program called C.O.V.E.R. (Creating Opportunities for Vendor Employment/Engagement and Residency), which includes housing, supportive services and SOAR. Our front door is the newspaper. People approach us to become vendors because of our low-barrier access to income.

In 2019, we began our relationship with SNAP E&T*, a program we use to help vendors on their journey to self-sufficiency.

Through SNAP E&T we subsidize birth certificates, help with ID replacements, provide bus passes, and connect vendors to our other employment partners.

Because The Contributor is part of the press, when COVID hit in early 2020, we were one of the few nonprofits who were legally able to keep our physical doors open.

We are centrally located downtown and with churches and nonprofits closing their physical locations, we were able to help hundreds of people who all of a sudden were stranded without the usual supports.

Libraries that offered internet access, restaurants, and churches were closed. It was the first time in Nashville that people experiencing outdoor homelessness went hungry. We retained food through SNAP and a partnership with Rethink foods, we applied for stimulus checks and unemployment, and just connected with people to help meet their needs.

When federal CARES Act funding be-

PAGE 6 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

came available, and we saw the immense need, we applied for Emergency Solutions Grant dollars and launched our Rapid Rehousing program. We carefully listened to our vendors and the people we served and saw a need for SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery), a program that assists individuals to obtain SSI and SSDI. And recently, we were selected as a Metro contractor to provide Critical Time Intervention case management, which will help us continue our Rapid Rehousing program after the federal COVID dollars run out.

So, we have grown into an organization with several doors. People can walk up physically to our front door and enter this ecosystem of support, employment, housing and community building. As part of our federal and local grants, we also take referrals through the community’s coordinated entry process. The key for us is to listen to the people we serve. We recognize that our low-barrier access to employment and housing, and how we journey alongside people with them being the drivers of their destiny attracts many folks to us who otherwise have stopped working with traditional case management approaches.

We are applying the same philosophy that started with the street paper approach — we fill gaps based on what people tell us and we partner within the community to ensure every person has a chance to achieve their own goals.

A FEW QUESTIONS WITH

The Contributor is unique in that it is based on people’s choices and elevates their voices in the community. Can you talk about why that is so important?

Absolutely, the uniqueness of The Contributor truly lies in its emphasis on people's choices and their voices within the community.

It is about empowering individuals and recognizing their agency in improving their own lives. What sets us apart is that 35 percent of our paper's content is actually created by vendors themselves. We believe that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has valuable insights to share.

Since 2007, The Contributor newspaper has been a platform for those experiencing homelessness to express themselves through articles and artwork, and we compensate them for their contributions.

Through writing workshops, we've nurtured their writing skills, enabling many participants to become confident voices in their community.

This empowerment has led some of them to actively engage in decision-making processes whether at individual nonprofits or on community boards.

Our Contributor Business Breakfasts, held twice monthly, are a cornerstone of our approach. Attended by 60-100 individuals with lived experience of chronic homelessness, these gatherings incorporate participant perspectives into the agenda.

And they are a hub for the larger community to interact with our vendors. We’ve had council members, prospective mayors and most recently representatives from Vanderbilt University Medical Center seek input from participants at our Business Breakfasts. We also use them to organize flu shot clinics, job fairs, voter registration, participatory budgeting, and other activities.

Not only are these meetings informative, but they also provide a sense of community and fun. Importantly, the input received at these meetings shapes programs like our Rapid Rehousing program called C.O.V.E.R. influencing everything from service offerings to staff structure.

We're also expanding our outreach through new initiatives like our street tour Unseen Nashville, which aims to educate the public and document homelessness from the viewpoint of those living on the streets. Our commitment to listening and providing a platform for voices empowers people to find an avenue to self-advocate, a distinct difference than someone else advocating on your behalf.

How do you respond to people who view The Contributor as a way to panhandle?

I used to respond politely. Haha.

I mean, it’s another stereotype right?

To most, standing on the street corner means you are panhandling when at one time in our history, the only way to get news was to buy it from a man standing on a street selling it. The Contributor is a different kind of nonprofit, a social enterprise.

We sell newspapers to homeless people who work for themselves. They train to learn how to sell papers to you, they keep the money they earn, and they buy more when they need to replace their stock. As they return to the office to buy more papers, we engage with them. We walk with and support them as they regain stability and rejoin their community to improve their quality of life. Our staff helps people find housing, furniture to move into housing, get health insurance, seek education, find other jobs, etc.

Our biggest fans don’t always get this. They see the humanity of the vendor but misunderstand the model, seeking to help the vendor by not taking the paper. This strips the dignity, relationship and support we offer through continued visits from the vendor. Taking the paper makes our model work, not taking it breaks it.

So yes, there is a HUGE difference between selling The Contributor newspaper and panhandling.

What are The Contributor’s most pressing needs to continue and maybe even grow the business model you just presented?

We need volunteers in our office. They are an integral part of our team. We need customers to buy and take the paper from our vendors (or subscribe in their name).

The Contributor accepts Venmo to purchase the paper. And we need monthly donations to pay for the gaps not covered by restricted funding. We are a community of people lifting up our vulnerable neighbors.

The Contributor is the vehicle that fills the gap, moving our chronically homeless neighbors not only off the streets, but helping them become Contributors in our community.

* The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training helps eligible participants achieve their vocational goals and increase self-sufficiency through funded education, skills training, and supportive services.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

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VENDOR WRITING

Waa!!!

BY JEN A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR "We cannot continue to be assholes to women."

— Nancy Mace, Republican US Rep. from South Carolina I would not have been shocked to see Tennessee legislators pile out of a clown car in full regalia, Cameron Sexton wearing a big red nose, bright-orange fright wig, and floppy shoes, at the beginning of the recent "Special Session" of the Tennessee legislature called by Gov. Bill Lee to address "public safety."

From the start, it was clear that the event would more appropriately be called a circus of the absurd.

Highlights of the brief circus included a massive phalanx of Tennessee Highway Patrolman meant to intimidate and limit any concerned citizens who dared to show up to advocate for gun safety laws. Space for concerned citizens was extremely limited. New "rules" against allowing proponents for gun sanity to hold 8 1/2" X 11" paper signs were mandated by Speaker Sexton. (Really?) Water bottles weren't allowed in hearing rooms

(though you could bring your gun) and the drinking fountains were conveniently out of service.

Grieving mother's holding signs were dragged out of hearings by officers of the above THP. The ACLU filed suit against the sign ban on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. They won. Then AG Skrmetti, the legal beard of the TN legislature (and Covenant Church member) challenged the ruling for Sexton saying Cammie had every right to mandate rules in his chamber. He lost. Signs eventually won the day. Looking back, it seems a hollow victory.

The whole event was a diaper fire. But the thing that stood out most to me as the final gavel fell, as physical skirmishes and name calling between legislators ensued, and as body guards hustled their bodies out of the chamber, were the shrieks and tears of the assembled women who had thought that they could make a difference with their paper signs — that there would be legislation passed to reign in the dangerous proliferation of guns in Tennessee communities ­— that

they could save the children.

Ladies, tears and shrieks haven't worked since Lucy Ricardo used them on Ricky to get her way back in the day.

What you were trying to organize was not a bake sale fund raiser. You brought tears and some Southern sass to a gun fight and got slaughtered. I hope y'all learned something through this experience.

I used to carry a stack of voter registration applications around with me to encourage folks to vote. I was stunned by the number of women who told me they weren't interested. In fact, most of the women told me that they had never voted. How many of the women who formed the prayer circle around the Capitol the first day of the session were registered voters? They prayed as armed Proud Boys unfurled their banner on the front railing. That image is what this fight is all about.

One video clip from the "special session" spoke volumes about the naivety of the women who came to the legislature to call for common-sense gun laws. A woman approached Justin Jones to pin

a Covenant ribbon on his lapel like it was some sort of sorority rite saying, " I want you to know, I'm a Republican, but you guys stood up for us."

Why in heaven's name did this woman feel compelled to qualify her tribute to Jones by saying she was a Republican? Our legislators did everything they could think of to humiliate y'all. The Tennessee legislature is predominantly a group of Republican men who created a law that mandates, in the event of a catastrophic complication to a pregnancy, a woman will be left to bleed to death while their doctor stands by unable to save her. And what other role did the Tennessee legislature play in what happened at the Covenant School? And where were the fathers of the Covenant children?

These are important questions for these newly politically active women to consider before they take on the legislature again. Toughen up, buttercups!

Refine your strategy! You have some unique, powerful weapons. Win for all the women and children of Tennessee!

Contributor Spotlight: Holly Bowman

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Customers, meet The Contributor’s Director of Development, Holly Bowman!

She comes to us from Virginia, just outside of DC. She’s been a Nashville resident for three years. What brought her to Tennessee? Her education. She’s attending Vanderbilt University to obtain a Master's of Education in Community Development.

How did she first come in contact with The Contributor? She became a customer of several vendors that came across her path in East Nashville.

What prompted her to take the leap and go from Contributor supporter to Contributor employee? She believes in The Contributor’s mission to “Create economic opportunity with dignity by investing in the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty.” She saw the job posting online and it’s a job she’s always wanted to do.

As an added benefit, she had experience in development/fundraising. It seemed like a great fit, so she applied.

We are so glad that she did!

What are her goals? What does she hope to accomplish in her new role?

(She’s only been in the position for about

a month.) She wants to raise enough money so the paper can continue for as long as it’s needed. She also wants to make sure there’s enough money to keep the housing program in place and fully functional long-term.In order to achieve these goals she hopes to expand existing relationships and create new ones along the way.

What does she think of her new job so far? She says, “It’s a fun job!” She particularly enjoys the vendor breakfast; she thinks it’s cool because it gives her an opportunity to get to know the vendors one-on-one.

(I don’t know how well she got to know me during the course of this interview, but it was conducted at the conclusion of one of those breakfasts, and I feel like I got to know her pretty well!)

When asked if there was anything else she wanted our readers to know about her personally or professionally she told me she currently lives with her partner and their dog Henry (a 4-year-old Goldendoodle who is absolutely adorable.

I’ve seen pictures).

In her free time, she also enjoys making pottery, which to me sounds a little messy, but very cool.

Holly Bowman stands with a piece of pot tery she made. PHOTO BY LINDA BAILEY

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

LOCAL ACTIONS

Cold Blooded

By Jen A.

The grieving women carried the limp, Bullet-riddled bodies Of their children Up the steep steps to the Capitol And gently laid them down Upon the cool marble floor Before the anointed Pilates of the day The callous Pilates Unmoved by the display Ordered their Praetorian Guards To drag the distraught women away While they stepped over the wee bodies The gold bounty for their indifference Jingling in their pockets

Images from the Tennessee General Assemblies Special Session. PHOTOS BY ALVINE.

PAGE 10 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

LOCAL ACTIONS

Images from the Tennessee General Assemblies Special Session.

PHOTOS BY ALVINE.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

COVER STORY

ILLUSTRATIONS BY HARRISON WAYNE @HOTBOYCOFFEE

Inaugural HOPEfest 2023 Calls for Community Building The newly shaped event will provide a one-stop shop for services STAFF REPORTS A coalition of community partners is gearing up for an event that promises to unite several organizations in an extraordinary show of support for those in need.

On Oct. 9, 2023, from 4-8 p.m., Nashville's War Memorial Plaza will transform into the site of the very first HOPEfest, a holistic health and wellness resource street fair. This endeavor is a joint effort by The Contributor and

People Loving Nashville, with support from the Tennessee Valley Authority Community Partnership.

With recent estimates showing that over 2,000 individuals in Nashville are currently grappling with homelessness, and many still enduring the harsh reality of sleeping outside in encampments, the need for comprehensive assistance has never been more urgent.

Homelessness is more than just a lack of shelter: It is a public health crisis that affects the mental and physical well-being of those without safe, affordable and stable housing. Extensive research has established the undeniable link between homelessness and poor health outcomes, and that interventions like one-stop shops can identify the most acute issues people on the streets are facing. Notably,

PAGE 12 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

individuals experiencing homelessness tend to rely on inpatient services and emergency departments at significantly higher rates compared to their housed counterparts. For instance, incidents requiring emergency medical services (EMS) for the homeless population in 2018 occurred at a rate of 1,155 per 1,000 homeless residents, a staggering 14 times the rate for housed residents.

COVER STORY

As part of the broader effort to make homelessness rare and brief, local groups are attempting to work at exploring how local health departments and health systems can strategically participate in a comprehensive system design. It begins by coming together.

This approach significantly enhances access to services and effectively addresses the barriers preventing people experiencing homelessness from engaging in services and receiving proper care. Drawing from various communities within the community’s rich network, events like HOPEFest offer a more integrated approach.

Living on the streets or within crowded homeless shelters is an incredibly stressful experience, further exacerbated by exposure to communicable diseases, violence, malnutrition and harsh weather conditions. Managing chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma becomes even more challenging due to the absence of a safe and stable environment for medication storage.

People experiencing homelessness face immense structural barriers when seeking resources as well: these obstacles include a lack of health insurance, financial constraints, and limited transportation options. This event offers free transportation from anywhere in the Middle Tennessee area. The struggle for survival, securing food, shelter and employment often takes precedence over health concerns or legal issues.

Moreover, distrust of the systems, as well as negative past experiences like stigmatization and discrimination from providers, can deter individuals experiencing homelessness from seeking care.

Cathy Jennings, the executive director of The Contributor, knows that Nashville is capable of building the kind of network that makes homelessness rare and brief. She hopes this event brings providers together to provide necessary support.

"We are thrilled to bring HOPEfest to life in Nashville,” Jennings said. “It embodies our city's spirit of compassion and unity. It's about more than just services; it's about restoring dignity, hope and opportunity to our homeless neighbors. By joining hands as a community, we can truly make a significant impact on the lives of those in need."

Jennings underscored the importance of community involvement in making HOPEfest 2023 a success.

"The success of HOPEfest depends on our community's involvement,’ she said. “We invite local businesses, organizations, and individuals to join us in this endeavor. Whether through sponsorship, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, every contribution counts. Together, we can create lasting change and offer a much-needed touchpoint for those who need it most."

In addition to HOPEfest, The Contributor will be celebrating the 15th

For organizations wishing to provide resources and support, sponsorship and participation opportunities are available.

The deadline for reserving a booth or table is Sept. 15, 2023. To get involved, email natelampa1@gmail.com.

anniversary of the Where To Turn In Nashville Guide at the event. This guide has been a vital resource for individuals experiencing homelessness, providing essential information on available services and support throughout Nashville. In the next year, The Contributor hopes to expand the effort into a more robust website and community outreach network.

“This guide has been a lifeline for those experiencing homelessness, directing them to vital services,” said Linda Bailey, co-editor of The Contributor and creator of the guide. “Looking ahead, we aspire to make it even more impactful for the community, ensuring folks can find the services they need when they need them.”

HOPEfest 2023 will provide numerous resources, ranging from healthcare, education, and legal assistance to housing support, veteran resources, employment services, haircuts, hygiene services, clothing, supplies, education,

identification, bus passes, veterinary care, pro bono legal consultation, Naloxone distribution, and even DNA testing to help reconnect families.

In addition to these resources, partners will host workshops and seminars that cover a wide range of topics, including SNAP/food stamps, health insurance, WIC, Naloxone training, and the journey from the streets to independent housing.

"We will offer more than resources; we offer knowledge and empowerment,” Jennings said. “Our workshops and seminars, spanning topics from SNAP/food stamps and health insurance to WIC and Naloxone training, illuminate the path to self-sufficiency.

They are also about educating people in the community who may not be struggling so that they are better and more equipped to step in and help their neighbors.”

As a one-stop shop approach, organizations hope to build relationships

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

in the community to provide further support beyond the event itself.

“This event isn't just a moment in time to get services,” Jennings said. “It's the beginning of sustained support and compassion for our neighbors facing poverty and homelessness.”

The significance of HOPEfest 2023 lies not only in its aim to provide immediate resources and support to those in need, but also in its recognition of homelessness as a complex public health issue. By bringing together the community, local health departments, and healthcare providers, this event seeks to bridge the gap and make critical healthcare services more accessible for Nashville's homeless population.

"H0PEfest 2023 is a testament to the resilience, compassion, and strength of the Nashville community," Jennings said. "Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of our homeless neighbors, being in community with them with a renewed sense of hope."

A mayor for all Nashvillians.

Freddie O’Connell will be a mayor who puts Nashvillians first.

He has the experience necessary to start on day one building a Nashville for Nashvillians that gives everyone a safe, affordable neighborhood to call home.

He will institute a housing-first model to create a network of highly accessible transitional housing in locations that also offer supportive services for physical, mental and economic health.

He is focused on basic services like reliable trash and recycling pickup, improving traffic flow, filling potholes, and preventing stormwater flooding.

He led the creation of the Office of Homeless Services which will coordinate resources to assist Nashville’s unhoused.

Paid for by the Ready for Freddie Committee, Isaac Addae, Treasurer

ReadyforFreddie.com

RUNOFF ELECTION SEPTEMBER 14 | EARLY VOTING: AUGUST 25 - SEPT. 9 PAGE 14 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

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...

L a N ticia 2023

GRATIS Agosto/3

Newspaper Nashville

w w w. h i s p a n i c p a p e r. c o m

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

Año 21 - No. 378

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

Nashville, Tennessee

Conferencia Nacional USHCC: Explorando Oportunidades y Conectando Negocios

Del 24 al 26 de septiembre de 2023, Orlando, Florida, se convertirá en el epicentro del espíritu empresarial y la colaboración mientras la Cámara de Comercio Hispana de los Estados Unidos (USHCC) Por Yuri Cunza organiza su muy Editor in Chief @yuricunza e s p e r a d a Conferencia Nacional 2023. Miles de líderes empresariales, emprendedores y expertos de todo el país y más allá se reunirán en el Loews Sapphire Falls Resort de esta ciudad para casi tres días de inspiración, networking y exploración de oportunidades comerciales.

Un Escenario Inspirador La energía vibrante y la diversidad cultural de Orlando servirán como el telón de fondo perfecto para esta conferencia visionaria. Desde los atrapantes parques temáticos hasta la rica herencia cultural que caracteriza a la ciudad, los asistentes se verán inmersos en un ambiente que cataliza la innovación y la determinación de la comunidad empresarial hispana.

Explorando Oportunidades de Negocios El objetivo central de la conferencia será brindar a los participantes un escenario propicio para explorar nuevas oportunidades comerciales. A través de paneles de discusión de vanguardia y sesiones interactivas, los asistentes tendrán la posibilidad de aprender sobre las últimas tendencias empresariales, estrategias de crecimiento disruptivas y prácticas empresariales sostenibles. Con la participación de oradores destacados de diversas industrias, la conferencia ofrecerá conocimientos invaluables en una variedad de temas cruciales.

inclusión y la diversidad impulsan la innovación y el crecimiento económico.

La Conferencia Nacional de la USHCC de 2023 es la reunión más grande de líderes empresariales hispanos en Estados Unidos. Reuniendo a las Cámaras de Comercio Hispanas locales, líderes empresariales hispanos y socios corporativos para fomentar el desarrollo económico hispano para la economía estadounidense en general.

Foto: Yuri Cunza

USHCC President and CEO Ramiro Cavazos, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Jerry L. Demings, Mayor of Orange County, Florida, U.S Congressman Darren Soto and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro Orlando President and CEO Gaby Ortigoni, announce the upcoming conference next month.

Colaboración y Networking La conferencia USHCC 2023 priorizará la colaboración y el conectar como aspectos fundamentales para el éxito empresarial. Las sesiones de networking cuidadosamente diseñadas proporcionarán un terreno fértil para que los líderes empresariales influyentes, los visionarios de la industria y los emprendedores ambiciosos se reúnan y establezcan relaciones duraderas. Estas conexiones no solo enriquecerán las perspectivas comerciales, sino que también podrían dar forma a alianzas estratégicas para un futuro próspero.

Tecnología e Innovación La conferencia se sumergirá en la intersección entre tecnología e innovación, destacando cómo estas fuerzas impulsan la evolución empresarial. Las conversaciones sobre transformación digital, inteligencia artificial y estrategias de marketing en línea proporcionarán a los asistentes información de vanguardia sobre cómo aprovechar las últimas her-

ramientas y tendencias para lograr el éxito empresarial en la era digital.

Empoderamiento Diversidad

Empresarial

y

El empoderamiento empresarial y la promoción de la diversidad continuarán siendo temas clave en la conferencia. Se celebrarán casos de éxito inspiradores protagonizados por empresarios hispanos en diversas industrias, enfatizando cómo la

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) 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.

por

www.juanese.com

Cada año, los asistentes a la Conferencia Nacional participan en debates interactivos con líderes empresariales, miembros del Congreso, la Casa Blanca y otros miembros que representan a los 5 millones de empresas de propiedad hispana en nuestro país.

juanese@usa.com

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

El tema de la conferencia USHCC este año es "El futuro es ahora: Elevando las empresas latinas para el mañana". La agenda incluirá business matchmaking, paneles dinámicos y presentadores, una emocionante sala de exposiciones y, para resaltar el cierre, la gala anual y ceremonia de premios. La organización indicó que anunciará más detalles inspiradores en los próximos dias.

Para mayor inforación visite: www.ushccconference.com Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-567-3569

PAGE 16 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

Public Wealth

BY LISA A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

We rarely stop to think how much of our private enterprise is held afloat by public wealth: our velvet smooth roads, constant electricity supply, running water. Sanitary sewer systems, courtesy of Jane Hull. Buses, trains, farm subsidies — public housing.

Our grandparents set up public housing.

It is maintained through public funds and supplemented by the rents that people are able to pay within that structure. Low-interest mortgage insurance is available for first-time home buyers through this same program.

Much thought went into the construction of The Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lyndon B. Johnson conceived of this federal program as a part of what he dubbed “The Great Society.” The program has successfully prevented slumlords from benefiting from people experiencing poverty. It has successfully housed single mothers and people who would like to get up off the bottom rung. It is a safe place for low-income elders and ensures that our low-income elderly no longer die on the streets, penniless. Before

this program, many of our elderly simply died on the streets of dehydration, starvation, or extreme weather conditions.

Many people are of the opinion that this safety net only benefits the poor. But when you look at statistics over several countries, including our country (before and after our safety net program), you see a drastic difference in the overall wealth of every constituent. People who can buy a few cleaning products, go out for the occasional movie, enjoy some leisure time at the library, and generally enjoy a safe life are of benefit to the wealthy.

“Income inequality in the United States hampers growth and forces up debt. In advanced economies in which investment is not constrained by scarce savings, high levels of income inequality lead automatically to either more unemployment or more debt. Such inequality undermines not only the health of the economy but eventually also the rich.”

- Michael Pettis, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

I Miss Selling the Paper

BY JAMIE W., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Well on Saturday, Aug. 19th, I was coming home from the store. I was trying to cross the street and I was hit by a car. I got up to see if I could walk and I could not feel my left foot. Then, I fell down. I ended up at Skyline Medical Center. They said I had broken my leg and my knee.

The next day they did surgery. I have screws and plates in my left leg and knee. I was in the hospital for six days. They had to give me a blood transfusion as well. Thank God Tommy, my husband, is here. I can’t get out of bed for anything unless Tommy is back here.

Everyone, please be careful when you cross the street. I’m in so much pain. I have to use a walker because I can’t put any weight on my left leg for two months. I’m fixing to start physical therapy. I don’t wish this pain on anyone. Thank God I’m not dead. I know all of my customers are worried, wondering what’s happened to me.

To all of my customers: I love y’all and I miss you. As I’m able, I look forward to seeing y’all again. Please keep me in your prayers and may God bless every one of my customers and everyone at The Contributor.

Sorry I'm not on my spot B Y J U N E P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R

Even my little friends don’t want to be bothered right now. So what am I supposed to do?

I’m trying not to get depressed with all of this, but I believe I’m there. I was trying to write a poem, but I couldn’t even get my mind to let go enough to think steadily.

I’m okay. Well, I will be ‘cause I know God has me; he always has and always will. I want you all to know that I feel I have let you down by not being there to sell my papers. You

know me. I lived at the Bi-Rite (my spot). My person. I miss not getting there every day to see you. You know, I was shy. I didn’t know how to talk to anyone until some Belmont kids took me under their wings and told me about The Contributor.

I was so scared to go. Now I’m so glad I did.

I’ve learned that we all stay at our own pace, some are just deeper than others. There’s always something going on in this life.

Harold

BY JOHN H., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I’m sitting in my corner on a beautiful Sunday morning and I can’t help but think about a friend I lost a couple of weeks ago. His name was Harold. He and his wife were some of the first customers I had upon starting to sell The Contributor. He came by my corner

at least 2-3 times a day. What I admired about him most was that he always made me laugh. I’m gonna miss him very much.

“We love you, Harold”.

This illuminates why guaranteed housing was first proposed by the wealthiest man alive at the time, Nelson D. Rockefeller.

The year was 1957. Like most great plans, it took over a decade to implement. So why is it that the huge majority of people who are angry about this program are in the poorest income brackets? Let’s posit an idea—we were all raised with these collective beliefs: Every American worth their salt can go from penniless to millionaire in one lifetime.

If you work hard, you will get ahead. (Really vague, right?)

We are the greatest nation on earth.

Only lazy people are poor.

We live in a free-market economy What if we could do a little experiment?

We simply pretend these beliefs are not true for a month. Pretend you are wearing polarized sunglasses. What comes into sharp relief might look like this: The janitor at our school didn’t get a schol-

arship to an engineering school. He tinkers with ideas at home on the weekends. He will most likely retire in government housing.

That person who made it big in social media had access to tools and people that this aspiring author working at a fast food restaurant does not.

The cashier at my grocery store works really hard. In ten years, she might make four dollars an hour more than she does now.

A Black woman in middle management discovers that she trained not her replacement, but the people who are going to be placed above her.

Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Korea and Argentina also tell their citizens that they live in the greatest nation on earth.

A giant corporation runs our grain market. Oil cartels determine our rate of inflation.

Men on yacht cruises still decide what the going interest rate should be. Polarized sunglasses are the best things since sliced bread.

Some Thoughts

BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

There are various amount of individuals who propose that they are entitled to certain things because of the situations and circumstances in their lives. However, the qualifications of many individuals don’t quite add up to their entitlement.

For instance, the fight here in Davidson County in dealing with the enormous homeless situation. When it comes to solutions, many homeless individuals accept help, but only for a period of time.

After a while, they return to rejecting help that is offered. Is this pattern unconscious? Or, are they entitled—consciously making decisions that hinder them from moving forward?

It seems that some become comfortable in an unstructured mindset, especially if these patterns of unconscious behavior are allowed. Not moving on from the era of our childhoods (and the teachings thereof) causes our growth to remain stagnant. If change did not occur, we would not be able to see the prosperous actions of social media become the enormous aspect of the new wave of learning and teaching that it is today.

Yes, there are various flaws and an enormous amount of individuals who disagree with the implanted, metaphorical chip that has been so smoothly placed into the largest amount of people's hands and minds without being forced or surgically implanted. Within the Governed law, the "law of the land”, it is notified to all that ignorance of the law is unacceptable.

Our Almighty Creator condones that

Dedicated to Harold September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

we all believe in Him, but we must also follow the law of the land. Therefore, what we all are entitled to is what is legally given to us by first, our Almighty Creator and then what is given to us by the time and land in which we find ourselves.

The only way to know what that is that we have been given is by researching and studying our Almighty Creator's laws and the laws of the land. Without self-knowledge and self-studies you'll be left on the false entitlement line of life.

Some individuals are, frankly, built for false existence—not true living. They are known as “followers” who will never gain the skills to lead.

As adolescents, many children wish that they could be grown. But, when the time comes and they realize the truth of life's responsibilities, only some hold firm and proceed forward. Some fall behind, but by our Almighty Creator's mercy and grace they continue in this race called life. Now there are many who assist those who have fallen behind.

However, there are many different individuals who just don't have the time and patience to teach a grown-aged person how to be a grown, responsible adult, especially when that person is arguing against everything the other is striving to teach them.

In short, that person is stuck in false entitlement and in their feelings. If an individual has the willingness to help, then we owe them the respect of listening.

FUN

HOBOSCOPES VIRGO

The leaves are turning crisp and tumbling through the air. The afternoon shadows are stretching out longer and everything I see is entering a quiet dormancy. But as much as I try to feel the fall vibes, it’s just hard when I’m this sweaty. I tried to go for a peaceful walk out here today but it’s so much hotter than it looks.

Remember, Virgo, that change rarely comes all at once. It comes in bits. Don’t try to get too far out ahead. You’re exactly when you’re supposed to be.

LIBRA

What do you call your grandparents, Libra? On the Mysterio side I had “Wobbert and Moomaw” and on my mom’s side it was “Grumpaw and Kiki.” I’m not sure why we called them that, but they never seemed to mind. Out of the four of them, I got to know three pretty well and they all stayed interested in my career as an amateur astrologer and professional video rental clerk. They’re all gone now. The older I get the more I realize I still need elders in my life.

People who have already been through what I’m in the middle of. What do you call yours, Libra?

SCORPIO

When you get a chance, Scorpio, could you sign the card for Libra? It’s next to the cake in the break-room. While you’re in there you should take a break. Maybe a really long one. Maybe just sign that card and then hang out until we all come in to sing Virgo happy birthday. And then just stay in there till it’s time to go. I mean, if you feel like you could use a break, I think you should make it a good one.

SAGITTA R IUS

I put on my hoodie when I took the dog out this morning. It’s not really chilly enough to need it yet, but I’m ready. It’s just nice to have something warm wrapped around you. And it’s nice that it’s not too unbearably hot to have that. I hope you can allow yourself some comfort today, Sagittarius. Even if those around you don’t offer it. Wrap yourself in whatever hoodie makes you feel taken care of.

CAPRICORN

I think you zoomed past me on the parkway this morning. I could tell it was you because “Buy another Diet Coke for Capricorn” was shoe-polished on your back window along with your Venmo tag. I appreciate your willingness to accept the kindness of strangers. I know better than anybody that sometimes when you leave it up to fate, fate smiles. But this week Capricorn you may need a solution that requires some advance planning. In related news, your rear passenger tire looks suspiciously low.

AQUA RIUS

Remember when we had to do that group project together for our History of Modern Futures class? It was you and me and Aries but then Aries had a family emergency and so you and me had to do all the work but Aries got credit anyway? Yeah, that’s how it is sometimes, Aquarius. Sometimes we back each other up. I know you always pull your weight and more and I know sometimes that’s hard. We appreciate what you do for us and I hope that when you need backup you’ll ask. Aries has gotten pretty good at powerpoint.

PISCES

Can’t stop won’t stop! That’s what the guy at the Dean’s Discount Brakes said when I called to check on my car. Sometimes you need to go full speed ahead, Pisces. But it doesn’t work out so well if that’s the only speed you’ve got. When’s the last time you came to a complete stop?

Take a tip from me and Dean, if you only stop when you absolutely have to you may find you can’t stop when you want to. Test those brakes.

ARIES

You have to overdo it with cinnamon toast. I’ve just recently learned this. All these years I’ve been spreading the butter thin, sprinkling a little sugar and a little cinnamon and enjoying a quick snack. But if you add more of everything, Aries, more butter, more sugar, more cinnamon, it transforms into an unrivaled confection of flavor. You’ve been very sensible with all your ingredients lately. Maybe shake a little extra today.

TAURUS

I’m pretty sure I saw death waiting for the bus at the corner of 9th and Charles.

In his left hand was the scythe he uses to harvest the souls of those fated for an ending. In his right hand was his phone. His hooded head bent to watch a video about a pug who sounds like Lionel Richie saying “hello.” I think I saw death’s shoulders shake with laughter as he scrolled to the next video.

It reminded me, Taurus, that none of this will last forever, but if you keep sharing what you love you may be able to keep death at bay a little longer.

GEMINI

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, if you would please direct your attention to exhibit A. This is a photograph of Gemini laughing and smiling with friends. As you can see, they’re at ease and filled with a sense of community and joy. But do you see this person in the room today?

I’m afraid I don’t. My client isn’t having much fun this week. And I would never ask them to perjure themselves by pretending to be. Mostly I just want them to look at this picture and remember that not every week feels like this. And there may be better ones around the corner.

CANCER

Once I applied to be a night desk clerk at a hotel. I thought it would be a quiet place to sit and read all the books I didn’t have time for during the day. I didn’t get the job. It’s probably a good thing. I think they needed somebody who could make quick on the spot decisions and meet guest needs without much backup. I don’t think they were looking for a reader. Are your current ambitions in line with your actual dreams, Cancer? Adjust as needed.

LEO

Sure, it starts innocently enough. Just a dash of cinnamon. What could it hurt, Leo? And why not add some nutmeg.

Your grandmother loved nutmeg. You reach for the clove–just this once. But before you know it you’ve transformed. It’s gotten into your blood. Now it’s pumpkin spice all day every day. Some addictions are worth indulging, Leo, but maybe take a quick inventory. What do you do every day that you can’t live without? What if you tried living without it?

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a certified defense attorney or a trained brake specialist. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

PAGE 18 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams

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

15th Wednesday after Trinity

16th Monday after Trinity

THE less it thinketh that it loveth or seeth God the nearer it nigheth for to perceive the gift of the blessed love. For then is love master, and worketh in the soul, and maketh it for to forget itself, and for the see and behold only how love doth.

And then is the soul more suffering than doing, and that is clean love.

Walter Hylton: The Scale of Perfection.

THE more blest, the more curst, if we make his graces our own glory, without impression of all to him; whatsoever we have we steal, and the multiplication of God's favours doth but aggravate the crime of our sacrilege. He, knowing how prone we are to unthanfulness in this kind, tempereth accordingly the means, whereby it is his pleasure to do us good . . . This is the cause why, as none of the promises of God do fail, so the most are in such sort brought to pass, that, if we after condiser the culprit, wherein the steps of his providence have gone, the due consideration thereof cannot choose but draw from us the selfsame words of astonishment, which the blessed Apostle hath: "O the depth of the riches of the wisdom of God!" Hooker: Sermons.

LOVING, it [the Soul] flies, runs, and rejoices; it is free and is not restrained.

Thomas à Kempis: Imitation.

15th Thursday after Trinity LOVE does not consist in great sweetness of devotion, but in a more fervent determination too strive to please God in all things, in avoiding, as fas as possible, all that would offend Him, and in praying for the increase of the glory and honour of his Son and for the growth of the Catholic Church.

St Teresa: The Interior Castle.

THE the blessed Anthony knelt Down upon his knees on the ground, and prayed before Him Who said, "Before thou criest unto Me, I will answer thee" (Isaiah lxv, 24), and said, "O my Lord, this I entreat Thee: let not Thy love be blotted out from my mind, and behold, I am, by Thy grace, innocent before Thee."

St Athanasius: Life of St. Anthony.

15th Friday after Trinity ST THOMAS says the active life is better than the life of contemplation, so far as we actually spend in charity the income we derive from contemplation. It is all the same thing; we have but to root ourselves in this same ground of contemplation to make it fruitful in works, and the object of contemplation is achieved.

Eckhart: Sermons and Collations.

LOVE is as strong as death; but nothing else is as strong either; and both, love and death, met in Christ. How strong and powerful upon you then should that instruction be, that comes to you from both these, the love and death of Christ Jesus!

Donne: Sermons.

15th Saturday after Trinity HE showed me a little thing, the quantity of an hazel-nut, in the palm of my hand; and it was as round as a ball. I looked thereupon with eye of my understanding, and thought "What may this be?" And it was generally answered thus: "It is all that is made." I marvelled how it might last, for methought it might suddenly have fallen to naught for littleness. And I was answered in my understanding: "It lasteth, and ever shall last for that God loveth it." And so all thing hath the Being by the love of God. Juliana of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.

THIS and that are good; take away this and that, and see good in itself if thou canst; and so thou shalt see God, good not by any other good, but the good of every good.

St Augustine: On the Trinity.

Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity THE Goodness of God is the highest prayer, and it cometh down to the lowest part of our need. It quickeneth our soul and bringeth it on life, and maketh it for to waxen in grace and virtue. It is nearest in nature; and readiest in grace: for it is the same grace that the soul seeketh, and ever shall seek till we know verily that he hath us all in himself beclosed.

For he hath no despite of that he hat made, nor hath he any disdain to serve us at the simplest office that to our body belongeth in nature, for love of the soul that he hath made to his own likeness.

For as the body is clad in the cloth, and the flesh in the skin, and the bones in the flesh, and the heart in the whole, so are we, soul and body, clad in the Goodness of God, and enclosed.

Juliana of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.

16th Tuesday after Trinity PHILOSOPHY said: "Every lot is good whether it be harsh or pleasing." And at this I was afraid and said: "What thou sayest is true: yet I know not who would dare to say so to foolish men, for no fool could believe it."

Boethius: Consolation of Philosophy, translated by King Alfred.

I SAY, as do all Christian men, that it is a Divine purpose that rules them and not Fate.

Boethius: Consolation of Philosophy, translated by King Alfred.

[OF Fortune or Luck] This is she who is continually cursed and blamed with bitter voices by those who should praise her; but she is blessed and does not hear; she turns her sphere among the other joyous creatures who were made first of all and there enjoys her bliss.

Dante: Hell.

16th Wednesday after Trinity NOW, I say, the very proper character, and essential tincture of God himself, is nothing else but goodness.

And it is another mistake which sometimes we have of God, by shaping him out according to the model of our selves, when we make him nothing but a blind, dark, impetuous self will, running through the world; such as we ourselves are . . . that have not the ballast of absolute goodness to poise and settle us.

Ralph Cudworth: Sermon before the House of Commons, 1647.

GOD’S power displayed in the world, is nothing but his goodness strongly reaching all things, from height to depth . . . and irresistibly imparting itself to every thing according to those several degrees in which it is capable of it.

Ralph Cudworth: Sermon before the House of Commons, 1647.

Feast of St Matthew the Apostle [Of the Lord’s Prayer] Many folk, as servants and herdsmen, have more will to pray for special reward that they covet here, than as true sons for the love and the pleasing of our father, God of heaven: and so they set more their likings and business in a private prayer, made of man . . . than they do in this general prayer made of God Himself; the which without a doubt is most pleasing to Him and most speedful to us. And therefore they be deceived in many manners.

"THOU thyself," he says, "must go through Christ's whole journey, and enter wholly into his process."

Boehme: True Repentance.

GOD glorifies in Himself God glorified in the Son of man.

St Hilary, quoted in Aquinas: Catena Aurea.

16th Friday after Trinity BEES cannot stay in place where there are echoes or reboundings of voices; nor can the Holy Ghost remain in a house where there are a clamour, strife, contradictions and altercations.

St Francis de Sales: The Devout Life.

THE Truths of God are connatural to the soul of man, and the soul of man makes no more resistance to them than the air does to light.

Benjamin Whichcote: Aphorisms.

16th Saturday after Trinity CHRIST went before by nature, and we come after by grace.

His nature is more worthy than grace, and grace is more worthy than our nature. And in this he letteth us know fully that we may on no wise follow him to the mount of perfection, as it ought to be in the use of this work, unless we be stirred and led by grace; and that is full truth.

The Epistle of Privy Counsel.

ALL truth is shadow except the last truth. But all truth is substance in its own place, though it be but a shadow in another place. And the shadow is a true shadow, as the substance is a true substance.

Isaac Pennington.

Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity A BROTHER asked Abba Poemen, saying, "Tell me, why is it that when I offer repentance to a brother who is wroth with me I do not see him pleased with me?" The old man said unto him, "Tell me truly: when thou offerest to him repentance, dost thou not think that thou art not doing it because thou hast sinned against him, but because of the commandment?" And the brother said unto him, "It is even thus." The old man said unto him, "Because of this God doth not permit him to be pleased with thee, and because thou dost not offer repentance to him in fulfillment of thine own desire, but as if thou hadst not sinned against him, but he had sinned against thee."

The Paradise of the Fathers.

FOR the sake of each of us he laid down his life . . . He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other.

St Clement.

17th Monday after Trinity NOW forasmuch as God hath so furnished the world, that there is no good thing needful but the same is also possible to be had; justice is the virtue whereby that good which wanteth in ourselves we receive inoffensively at the hands of others.

Hooker: Sermons.

WE must be always on our guard lest under pretext of keeping one commandment we be found breaking another.

St Basil: The Longer Rules.

The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, tr. by Nicholas Love.

16th Thursday after Trinity PROSPERITY is the blessing of the Old Testament; adversity is the blessing of the New, which carrieth the greater benediction, and the clearer revelation of God's favour.

Bacon: Essays; Of Adversity.

IF thou has a woe tell it not to the weakling, Tell it to thy saddle-bow and ride singing forth.

Proverbs of King Alfred.

17th Tuesday after Trinity THE man who wishes to prove himself always in the right, in everything that he does, sees, hears, and discusses, and who will not give way and be silenced, will never be at peace in himself, and will have a barren, sullen, and wandering mind; he will prey upon himself, even though he be left in peace by all, and is tried by no outward pressure.

Tauler: Sermons.

OH, the dignity, the DIGNITY of mediocre souls! I have known it for a long time, this sinister mockery of my Saviour crucified!

Léon Bloy: Letters to his Fiancée.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19

PIECES OF POETRY / LU CKY NUMBER 7

Are you With Me? - I

WRITTEN BY CHRIS SCOTT FIESELMAN Anyone can see that I am definitely, A long, long ways from country.

A Long Island, New York Songwriter, In Nashville, Tennessee.

Taking the time to make it rhyme, For a Fourteen Year Long, Songwriting Career, That hasn’t made me a dime.

Oh well...

No problem...

That’s fine...

I don’t mind...

Everything that’s meant to be, Eventually will come in time.

I pray what I say, May be something they need.

They appreciate enough, To take the time to read.

An up and coming songwriter, Minus the Music, Struggling to succeed.

Trying to be happy, And be satisfied, Living the life I lead.

THEME: OCEA N DW ELLER S 70. Hundred, in Italian ACROSS 71. Hammer part 1. Kind of wrap 72. Not stood 6. Pose a question 73. Bar, legally 9. Be sore 13. Ottoman title 14. Ornamental pond-dweller DOWN 1. R&R destinations 15. Florida Key, e.g.

2. Angie Thomas' "The ____ 16. Mr. T and friends 17. Knot-tying vow (2 words) U Give" 3. Seaward 18. Milan's La ____ 19. *Walrus' cousin (2 words) 4. *Cetology object of study 5. Thin layer 21. *Crustacean "on the 6. *Like green sea turtle and barbie" loggerhead sea turtle 23. Finish line 7. Grass "carpet" 24. Creole vegetable 8. Newsstand, e.g.

25. He had 9. Fungal spore sacs 28. Gives a helping hand 10. *Edible bivalve 30. Tranquil 11. S.O.S. 35. Frosts, as in cake 12. Pilot's estimate, acr.

37. Bear, in Latin 15. Netanyahu's country 39. All the words in a lan20. Abomination guage 22. 9 to 5, e.g.

40. "By ____, I think she's 24. Bone burial spot got it!"

25. Muslim woman's head41. Silver to Lone Ranger scarf 43. Chows down 44. Mark Twain to Samuel Langhorne Clemens 46. Toupee spot 47. Pestilence pest 48. Singer Eilish 50. Rub the wrong way 52. Yoda: "Do or do not.

There is no ____" 53. *A type of whale or the color of many dolphins 55. Overnight lodging 57. *Inspiration for a certain pineapple dweller 60. *Inspiration for Marvel's Doc Ock 64. South American juice flavor 65. Bearded antelope 67. All thumbs 68. Pineda of Journey 69. Stomach pain-causing acronym

26. Cause for food recall 27. a.k.a. Lucifer 29. Between stop and roll 31. *Coral polyps' structure 32. Raise one's rank 33. Potassium nitrate 34. Student's request for ChatGPT? 36. *#19 Across' earless cousin 38. Hostile to 42. Opposite of ecbatic 45. Smoke, sometimes 49. Energy unit 51. Attract 54. Front of cuirass 56. Religiously unaffiliated, pl.

57. Confident answer 58. Glazier's unit 59. Baker's baker 60. Give a boot 61. Closely confined 62. Plotting 63. "____! In the Name of Love" 64. Year off in school 66. Giannis' league

I can write the words, That need to be heard, Written only to be destroyed.

A brand new issue, Published every two weeks.

There are some things, You cannot avoid.

Thank God that I’m not, Unemployed.

The scribble I’ve written, Is part of the commitment, Of the things that I, Willingly, Choose to do, To be allowed and be able, And more than fully capable.

To somehow be endowed, Right here and right now, With the power, And the tools, To get through to you.

To be there to care, And again get to share, My music from my, Point of View.

Are you with me?

It ain’t easy being me...

Are you with me?

Are you With Me? - II WRITTEN BY CHRIS SCOTT FIESELMAN I can only do so much, As a songwriting man, Who can’t even play, An instrument.

Such as it is, for a lyricist, Who’s not an accomplished musician.

Words never heard, are quickly forgotten, But songs are a lot more permanent, And mean something to the people, I consider my friends.

That’s why I keep doing, The things I keep doing, Over and Over, Again and Again.

There’s nary a chance, Or possibility, Of me being up on stage, At The Grand Ole Opry.

I pass by it twice a day, Working at Fed Ex, Cruising up and down, Briley Parkway.

You’ll never catch me hanging, At a Honky-Tonk-Bar, Kicking out country, And jamming guitar.

But I figured out one thing, Songwriting’s an art.

A beautiful something, That comes from the heart.

I ain’t afraid to say what I’ve been given to say...

I’ve prayed enough about it, To come out the right way.

As close as I may get to being up on stage.

Though I know it’s only for, A very short fourteen days.

A twice a month, homeless, street newspaper, And a prestigious piece of a page.

A Hassle or a Castle?

A Commitment or a Cage?

I can’t see myself again, Out there selling the paper.

Waiting for something, Coming sooner or later?

So, more often than not, I just give it away, To anyone willing to read what I say.

Why have I decided to do such a thing?

The only folk who truly know who I am, Are the people who know, what I’ve written.

Who make my life worth living, And are the reason I keep giving.

Are you with me?

It ain’t easy being me...

Are you with me?

PAGE 20 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

Kayleer Wilson is a comedy producer. Her goal is to own her own comedy club in Nashville. For more information: @KayleerWilson

BY CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR WENDELL J. #5314

Kinsley.music is a new artist in Nashville. She loves helping people who are less fortunate. | BY CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR WENDELL J. #5314

Kid's Corner

Illustration By Jen A.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 21

ABBY R. RUBENFELD Attorney at Law

arubenfeldlaw.com

202 South Eleventh Street Nashville, Tennessee 37206 Telephone: (615) 386-9077 Facsimile: (615) 386-3897

PAGE 22 | September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

MOVING PICTURES

Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City crashes into streaming on Peacock

BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC Wes Anderson’s formalist filmmaking puts him at the forefront of American movie makers. Lots of directors put stories on the screen, but Anderson’s movies aren’t just about things, they are things.

Anderson’s signature color palettes, uniforms, strict framing and conspicuous music cues make his movie’s unmistakable. That said, Asteroid City might have some viewers asking how much is too much when it comes to the Anderson-esque.

Asteroid City is framed as a television production of a play by the renowned stage scribe, Conrad Earp (Edward Norton).

The television scenes are shot in black-and-white and introduced by an unnamed series host (Bryan Cranston). Within the full-color alternative universe of the play’s scenes, a photojournalist named Augie Steenbeck (Jason Schwartzman) is driving to the Junior Stargazer Convention with his son Woodrow and Woodrow’s three younger sisters. When their car breaks down Augie’s father-in-law Stanley Zak (Tom Hanks) saves the day and drives the family to the convention.

Stanley pressures Augie to tell the kids that their missing mother has actually died.

Midge Campbell (Scarlett Johansson), a famous actress, and her daughter Dinah are also at the convention. Woodrow, Dinah and a group of kids are there to be honored for their ambitious science projects.

The place is brimming with scientists and ranch hands and school kids on field trips to see the giant asteroid crater that’s the town’s raison d’être.

The movie is set sometime in the 1950s and is bookended by scenes set in a roadside diner while atomic bomb tests explode in the distance. After an alien visitor in a UFO disrupts the award ceremony, the conventioneers are all quarantined at the local motel.

Asteroid City is a visually ambitious film even by Wes Anderson’s standards. Cinematographer and Anderson film veteran Robert D. Yeoman had to develop distinctively different lighting and camera styles for the black-and-white television studio scenes and the full-color, sun-blasted shots in Asteroid City. The roadside attraction desert town and the television show stage scenes are all constructed sets that read as deliberately artificial.

The fakery is made even more pronounced with the use of elaborate practical miniatures, forced perspective tricks and stop-motion animation. Asteroid City revels in the imaginary and in play — both in the kids’ fun sense and in the theatrical sense.

As with every Wes Anderson production, the look of Asteroid City is a big part of the experience here. And the visual gags, the over-the-top color palettes and retro aesthetics are as sumptuous as they are self-ref lexive. But they make a bold and brash wrapper for an adult drama about grief and isolation. Add to the intense visuals the story-within-a-story presentation of the movie as a television stage play production and it’s understandable why even some Anderson super fans might have been less than bowled over during its theatrical run. I think the structure was important to Anderson because the movie’s biggest theme seems to be the “performances” we all put on as the “characters” we play in our real lives as colleagues and parents, spouses, siblings, lovers and even artists. As Augie and Midge develop a relationship during their quarantine, a big part of their courtship is running lines from a script between the open windows of their motel rooms.

Schwartzman also plays Jones Hall — the actor playing Augie in the play. Hall confronts the

play’s director, Schubert Green insisting that he still doesn’t understand the play. But the director deflects his questions and assures Hall that he has to keep playing Augie the best he can despite his uncertainty.

It’s a beautiful and important moment that underlines the movie’s central message about

the theatrics of life and lives devoted to theater, but it’s easy to miss in between the aliens, asteroids and atomic bombs.

Asteroid Cit y is currently streaming on Peacock. Or borrow the DVD from Nashville Public Library.

September 13 - 27, 2023 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 23

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.