By Kelsey Beyeler
IN THE ISSUE
La Noticia + The Contributor
Vendors write about education in the time of Covid-19,
La Noticia, one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers in the nation, brings Spanish content to The Contributor
Moving Pictures
Writer-director Asif Kapadia’s latest film offers viewers a glimpse of an American dystopia of the near future.
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Since The Contributor 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.
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-stop-shop team approach radically transforming a vendor's image of self and their place in community.
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Satu Suihkonen on Community Gardening
'Rohee' vendor in Finland explains what community gardening has given her – beyond the harvest.
Urban gardening and community allotments have grown in popularity in recent years. Existing gardens have been expanded, and new ones have been established, but many folks have also started growing produce on their own windowsills, balconies or gardens. In 2023, Tampere, a populous city in Finland, hosted an open urban gardening introductory course as more people began to recognize that growing vegetables and herbs is not only nutritionally beneficial and economical, but also educational and communal.
In my own garden in the countryside, I grow perennial varieties like rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants. For several years, I have also grown some vegetables. They were more like experiments to see what worked and tasted good. However, expanding my own vegetable garden did not interest me, so I was very happy to discover the Kalevanharju community garden. It has provided me with a great place to learn, experience community and grow food, and has a multi-faceted significance in supporting my own wellbeing.
Community farming is about growing food together for your own use. This enables mutual learning, the formation of a new social network and a strengthening of local community. We care for the together according to common principles: during the growing season, we meet once per week and coordinate activities and tasks. We divide the workload, and there is no requirement for any participant to contribute every day or week. There is always someone to handle the watering during the summer heat. We collect the harvest from the growing season and share it among the participants.
During the growing season, we think about varieties and box rotation for the following year. After the turn of the year, we purchase seeds, or collect them from our
62nd State of Metro Address Slated for May 1
The 62nd State of Metro Address with Mayor Freddie O'Connell is slated for May 1 at the Nashville Public Library downtown. While seats in-person went quickly for the 10 a.m. event, the morning will also be streamed at https://www.youtube.com/MetroNashville. O'Connell will speak, delivering remarks about various community priorities. Spanish language and American Sign Language interpretation will be provided.
OHS to Host June State of Homelessness Symposium
The Office of Homeless Services is hosting a 2025 State of Homelessness Symposium on June 4, 2025, according to an OHS newsletter. This event will bring together national experts, local leaders and service providers for a full
BY SATU SUIHKONEN
own plantation, and pre-grow them indoors. Participants do not need to be experts: seed packets and the internet can provide recommendations on sowing times and growing conditions. Shared experiments and experiences provide the necessary knowledge.
In the winter, we wait for the snow to melt and for the arrival of spring. As soon as possible, we start preparing the garden boxes, finishing what was left undone in the autumn. After that comes work with soil, fertilization, and finally planting the
pre-grown plants and sowing seeds once the nights have warmed up. Our spring volunteer day is in May, during which we take care of necessary tasks in smaller groups.
In summer, we water, fertilize, weed and water some more. The absolute highlight is when we gather the first harvest of the year from the garden. Towards the end of the summer, we have a volunteer day, or several, during which we gather the final harvest. The remaining plant stems and raked leaves are composted in the autumn.
News Briefs
day of connection and learning. Attendees can expect keynote addresses, critical updates on funding and local resources, engaging training sessions, and valuable networking opportunities. The symposium also includes an exposition space for service providers to share tools and strategies. For more information, please contact Kayla Ritchie at kayla.ritchie@ nashville.gov.
Nashvillians Can Ride the WeGo Star Train for Free on April 25
The Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure and Nashville Connector are cohostint a free ride on April 25 where residents can ride the WeGo Star train for free from Riverfront Station in downtown Nashville to Donelson Station. The event, called 'Ticket to Ride', is part of Nash-
ville and Davidson County's Transit Month, “a county-wide initiative celebrated each year in April to highlight public transportation in the community,” according to a Metro release. After arriving at Donelson Station, folks are invited to gather at Party Fowl on Lebanon Pike for complimentary appetizers networking with local representatives from Transit Now Nashville, WeGo Public Transit, Young Professionals in Transportation Nashville, Transit Alliance of Middle Tennessee, Network for Sustainable Solutions, Civic Design Center, and Commute with Enterprise. Leaders from the Office of Mayor Freddie O'Connell, NDOT, Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), WeGo Public Transit, and Transit Now will also speak on project updates related to sustainable transportation throughout Middle Tennessee. After the event, attendees can
It is often thought that gardening is a spring and summer activity, but it actually takes up almost the entire year. This year, the last raking was in November, and soon we will start planning and working with seeds again.
Translated from Finnish via Translators Without Borders
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return from Donelson to downtown Nashville by taking a vanpool courtesy of Commute with Enterprise or joining a group bus ride that will drop off attendees near Riverfront Station.
Tax Extension Offered to All of Tennessee
The Internal Revenue Service announced April 14 tax relief for individuals and businesses in the entire state of Tennessee affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began on April 2, 2025. Taxpayers now have until Nov. 3, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments in the state, as the entire area was designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This means that individuals and households that reside or have a business in Tennessee’s 95 counties qualify for tax relief.
Courtesy of Rohee
INSP.ngo
COURTESY OF ROHEE / INSP.NGO
Diane Lance, a well-known national advocate for victims’ rights, currently serves as the director of Metro’s Office of Family Safety.
Lance shared that she got into this field through her first job in San Diego, where she ended up running what was then called a “battered women shelter,” a term she had previously been unfamiliar with.
“It really impacted me and turned my world upside down,” Lance said. From there, she went to law school and ended up in the Nashville District Attorney’s Office. “Since I had a domestic violence background, I got put right into the domestic violence division.”
Eventually, she was hired as special counsel to Mayor Karl Dean, where she oversaw the Nashville-Davidson County Domestic Violence Safety and Accountability Assessment that was released in 2013.
In 2015, Metro created the Office of Family Safety, which oversees two Family Safety Centers: One located at 610 Murfreesboro Pike and the other, the Jean Crowe Advocacy Center, a fully court-based center at 100 James Robertson Pkwy.
You have been the director of the Office of Family Safety since its inception in 2015. What led to the creation of Metro’s Office of Family Safety?
When I was a special counsel in Karl Dean’s office, we did a safety and accountability assessment that looked at how Nashville as a Metropolitan city could do better in terms of domestic violence victim safety and offender accountability system wide. It focused only on those areas that the city has [purview] over or has some controls over. Our audit reviewed 911, patrol response, detective response, prosecution response, night court response, general sessions court, probation, and then fatality review, which looks at how our city reviews domestic violence homicides in order to gain lessons learned.
While in the Mayor’s Office, I rounded up a lot of practitioners, interested community members and survivors in each of those areas, so we had over 100 people working on this project. Then for two years, we reviewed all of those things with all of those teams working simultaneously. So, a review of prosecution might be going into court and observing court, sitting beside victim witness coordinators or prosecutors back at the office, understanding their paperwork, understanding their protocols and procedures. Same with detectives. In each area, we were observing their job from many different angles. And through that you find a lot of problems.
We expected from the beginning that the problems were 98-99 percent of the time not the people in the jobs. Instead, [problems arise from] the process. That entire assessment was focusing on what processes need to be improved to eliminate those things that were barriers to victim safety and offender accountability.
After two years, Mayor Karl Dean released that report and its recommendations alongside all the leaders of each of those areas. Then we go to work on [improvements]. One of the first initiatives was to create the Jean
Q&A with Diane Lance A
BY JUDITH TACKETT
Crowe Advocacy Center, which is our courtbased family justice center. That took care of eight of the recommendations in the report because it helped prosecutors in their work, the courts, and how victims experience court and their safety in the courthouse. It was a major priority to make sure victims are safe and receive services on their court day.
The Jean Crowe Advocacy Center was the big first initiative and opened while still under Karl Dean’s administration. Then Karl Dean’s second term ended, and there needed to be a place for this body of work to go, and that’s why the department was created. We have many cities across the country come to Nashville to understand our model and how we do it, and how they can bring that back to their own city.
Why was it necessary to convince the city to create a new department?
When I was recommending to the mayor that we become our own department, this is why: a lot of family justice centers start from some city leader like the District Attorney's Office or the police chief. Rarely are they run out of the Mayor’s Office. That was really unique for Nashville, which was great for us.
Let’s say you’re a family justice center that the police chief had started. So, this is the police chief’s baby. A lot of investment, a lot of energy is going into it, and it’s doing great. It’s thriving. And then that police chief retires and a new one comes in. There is no guarantee that [the] new chief is going to love that baby as much as the first chief. That new chief might come in and say, “OK, that’s going well. But you know the priority for me now is guns on the street.” That’s a great priority that everyone in that hypothetical city cares about. But that [imaginary] police chief has not been given the money to address that problem, so where is he going to get it? He can decide that he is taking a little bit of money out of everything. So, all of a sudden some of the money that was going to their family justice center is now going towards gun violence. And it’s chopped away at, and no city leader can see what’s happening to that initiative because it’s in the bigger overarching budget.
In our situation, because we are an independent department, when our budget gets cut, you know exactly what you’re cutting. So, if you’re going to cut this programming, let’s all be in agreement that’s where the cuts need to be. Hopefully that is not the case here in Metro.
But going back to our example, when that happens in other cities, eventually that program is going to be weakened enough, it cannot sustain. Sometimes what they do is they jump into another friend’s office. Let’s say they’re weakened and there’s a District Attorney that has a lot of energy around interpersonal violence, and they’ll say, “hey, I’ll take all of that program.” Then the program is moved over there, and the same thing happens over time and eventually a nonprofit is formed. Then suddenly you’re competing for the same funding as the partners you are trying to lift up. In my mind, that is not a
long-term successful model. They’re all over the country with that model, but our model and this building are designed for longevity. It’s a statement that the city cares about some of the most vulnerable among us who are victims of interpersonal violence and their children. To me, that’s a city I want to live in because that shows the city’s values.
What happens in this building here at the Family Safety Center on Murfreesboro Pike?
This is a building that is designed to house partners that can be helpful in the situation. We have very close relationships with nonprofits that work out of this building, too. We work together on a lot of multi-disciplinary teams. When we get a high-risk victim and that victim needs to go into shelter, the YWCA is very familiar with the risk determination and will prioritize that case knowing how crucial that moment is to survival. The Mary Parrish Center does a lot with housing, they have someone who works through here. We also work closely with the Sexual Assault Center.
My team, the Office of Family Safety, has crisis advocates. Those are the people who meet you on a walk-in basis. There is no need for an appointment to get help. That crisis advocate can help you with an order of protection, safety planning, can help connect you with a detective — if you want to meet with law enforcement — do the needs assessment, and connect you with resources.
We also provide a lot of trainings in the community because we want everyone else to benefit across the state and the country from what we know.
There has been news about potential funding cuts. What are your main concerns in that area?
The big funding that’s our concern is the VOCA (Victims of Crime Act) money. And everyone across the country is concerned about this. That money comes from federal fees and fines. Those have been going down. And because that pot of money is going down and that is the only fund that the VOCA money pulls from, those grants have been reduced.
We did have a lot of grants through VOCA, and they diminished greatly because the state cannot give us as much money as we once had. VOCA positions are also in the District Attorney’s Office, they’re in the Police Department, they are in nonprofits, they are in child advocacy centers — it is a huge way that the state supports services for victims, and it’s dwindling, and it’s alarming right now.
I am a very firm believer that a victim of a violent crime should never have to pay for the help they need. Period.
Public safety is a priority of most, if not all, elected officials in city and state government, and when there is a violent crime, victims shouldn’t have to pay. I cannot image being raped and then having to struggle with my budget to pay for the therapy that I need to recover from this. It’s further abuse.
Can you talk about the interconnectedness of domestic violence and homelessness?
We know that there is a high percentage among people who struggle with homelessness who are also experiencing domestic violence, sexual assaults, or being trafficked. They are being preyed upon by sexual predators who may do it under the disguise of being a person’s intimate partner and end up abusing or trafficking them.
And then, anyone who wants to leave their offender, they’re struggling with homelessness. They’re going to a shelter or they’re living with a relative while they’re trying to hide from that offender. Whatever happens, I mean, domestic violence drives you into homelessness.
What a choice! I mean what a choice! The fact that there is the question of, “Why don’t they leave [their abuser]?” That question is so hard for me to understand. It shows a lack of empathy.
Let’s look at this example. If a woman is abused by her husband and has children, she has to think about where she will go. Shelter sounds really scary or there are no shelter beds. Shelters have to turn away 40 percent of calls for a lack of availability of beds. So, maybe this woman has called shelters and there were no beds available for her and her children.
Secondly, her offender has threatened her all along the way that he will take the kids away from her. If she believes that, that’s a horrific decision to make. So, why would she leave if she is the only protection for them at this point? And if she leaves and he gets partial custody of the children, then again, she is in that situation of letting her kids be alone with an abuser. Why would she do that?
Even when you take the children out of the picture, the financial dependency and all the other things that are in the mix that create a complete lack of options for her as a victim are all in play. And leaving, she’s got the highest risk of being killed. If he has told her over and over again that he’s going to hunt her down and kill her, why would she leave? She’d rather be alive.
What is your main focus right now?
Right now, the budget. Everyone across the country who works in government is concerned about their budgets.
Our overall goal is homicide prevention and making sure people know that we are here and what services we provide. We were open almost one year when COVID happened, so we lost two years of time of being able to do strong outreach. We’re working really hard on our outreach right now. It's tricky in this field. Setting the goal of saying, we want less sexual assaults in Nashville — of course, that’s what we want — but you can’t judge that by the number of reports because the better your city services are, the more people will come forward to report a sexual assault. When you're doing really well in providing services, your numbers will appear to go up.
ACROSS
THEME: DOCTOR'S ORDERS
1. Little Richard's "____ Frutti"
6. Arrival time, acr.
9. Deity, in Sanskrit
13. ____-under, pl.
14. Lysergic acid diethylamide
15. Support person
16. Fictional professor Lupin's first name
17. Snoop
18. Computer accessory
19. *Pill alternative
21. *Medical care
23. Use eyes
24. Slap on
25. Hot beverage amount
28. Tear down
30. *Tissue testing
35. Smell
37. Gardener's storage
39. Shipping box
40. Eight furlongs
41. Subject matter
43. Square footage
44. Like some towelettes
46. Russian ruler, once
47. Pasturelands
48. Acted
50. Enthusiasm
52. "Silent Spring" subject
53. Popular PBS science show
55. Letters of distress
57. *Stitches
61. *Perpetual illness
65. Offer two cents
66. *____ Hot, pain relief patch
68. Branch of economics
69. Sega hedgehog
70. Bubble maker
71. Be of use
72. December stone
73. Born, in society pages
74. Rental agreement
DOWN
1. Rigid necklace
2. Eye's middle layer
3. Short-term employee
4. *Hernia support
5. Surgeon General, in relation to warning on smoking
6. Other than what's implied
7. *5 cc, for short
8. Adytum, pl.
9. Mendelsohn on "The New Look"
10. Cocoyam
11. Julia Louis-Dreyfus'
HBO role
12. Major employer
15. Pertaining to amoebae
20. Minimum
22. Busy airport
24. ____ blue ____, to Baby Beluga
25. French WWI battle site
26. Expression
27. *Disease once alleviated
with iron lung
29. *Tdap/DTaP, e.g.
31. *Type of thermometer
32. Peeled and cut, as in pear
33. Lieu
34. Leavening agent
36. *Bed ____
38. Obsolescent phone feature
42. Violent collision
45. Hedgehog-like Madagascar native
49. Anonymous John
51. *Like 97 to 99 degrees
54. "Peace" with fingers (2 words)
56. Wine from Verona
57. Average
58. Fairytale's second word?
59. Like Elton John's Dancer
60. Type of operating system
61. Inflorescence
62. March Madness org.
63. Part of #2 Down
64. His was a merry old soul
67. Pool tool
Learn More About The Family Safety Office
As of this writing, Nashville has recorded close to 2,500 domestic volence (DV) victims in 2025 so far, with more than 660 children present during those incidents. More than 261 victims and 144 children were taken to safe places as a result of a domestic violence incident just this year.
Victim advocacy organizations have been fighting for additional funding from the state. Gov. Bill Lee revised his budget request and included $20 million in state dollars for agencies serving victims of IPV and sexual assault.
According to an article by Anita Wadhwani published in the Tennessee Lookout on March 31, 2025, “the governor’s funding — $10 million in grants for each of the next two years — fell short of the request for $25 million in recurring state funding a coalition of state nonprofits say they need to preserve current services.
“Sexual assault centers, domestic violence shelters and child abuse counseling agencies — many serving key roles in working with law enforcement to bring perpetrators to justice — have seen their share of federal Victims of Crime Act funding dwindle from a peak of $68 million in 2018 to $16 million last year,” Wadhwani wrote.
Diane Lance, director of the Metro Office of Family Safety (see Q&A on page 5) explained that the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funding stems from federal fees and fines, which have been decreasing. While the Office of Family Safety is certainly affected by the loss of VOCA dollars, the vast majority of the office is funded by Metro.
The Office of Family Safety, which was created as its own Metro department in 2015, is a crucial piece in improving victim services in Nashville and oversees two family safety centers — the Family Safety Center on Murfreesboro Pike, adjacent to, but separate from the Metro police headquarters, and the Jean Crowe Advocacy Center located in the Davidson County Courthouse on James Robertson Parkway.
The Family Safety centers serve victims of interpersonal violence, which includes domestic violence/intimate partner violence (DV/IPV), sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, elder and vulnerable adult abuse and child abuse.
Lance said that when people come in with one presenting problem, there are often more victimizations behind the initial issue once her team pulls back the layers. This is called polyvictimization.
Lance gave the following example to explain what polyvictimization looks like: “One of the big drivers to come here is to get an order of protection,” she said.
During the visit, the team may conduct a danger assessment, safety planning and other services with the client who came to get help with an order of protection.
“[Through the assessments] we may start to uncover that there are a lot of firearms in that house,” Lance said. “We learn that this offender is gang-involved, and this is also queuing us up to wonder if there is any sex trafficking going on. [We may find] there [have] been sexual assaults in the past by other people. It also looks like [the victim]struggled with homelessness and was sexually assaulted during that time. Then child abuse growing up was there as well. So, what is presented at the door can be just the first layer of abuse.”
BY JUDITH TACKETT
Family Safety Center
610 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37210
The Family Safety Center takes walk-ins and phone calls. Hotlines for victims of Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV):
Open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Open 24/7 for Orders of Protection.
Phone: 615-880-1100 Email: FSCINFO@jisnashville.gov
Jean Crowe Advocacy Center (court-based)
100 James Robertson Parkway, Suite 114, Nashville, TN 37201
Open Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Phone: 615-862-4767 Email: FSCINFO@jisnashville.gov
In 2023, the Office of Family Safety’s crisis advocacy programs served more than 5,000 individual IPV clients, which received 1,132 orders of protection, 3,770 safety plans and 1,429 danger assessments. In addition to the victims, the Office of Family Services supported 367 witnesses, 393 children, and 1,177 support people in both of their family safety centers.
The vast majority of clients identify domestic violence as their primary cause for victimization. In 2023, that made up 94 percent of the cases with an additional 5 percent identifying primarily as victims of stalking, and 1 percent as victims of sexual assault.
Most adult victims, according to MNPD’s data dashboard, are between the ages of 20 and 40. But victims can be as young as zero to four years of age, and a significant percentage are 65 years and older.
While the overall goal is to reduce victimization, the data may be harder to evaluate because high numbers may mean higher reporting of domestic violence and intimate partner violence — which is a good thing.
The Office of Family Safety is paying close attention to the rate of homicides related to domestic violence. A Domestic Abuse Death Review Team (DADRT) takes a deep dive into one or two domestic violence homicides each year to learn how response teams and victim services can improve.
Lance explained the presence of a firearm or strangulation are two of the indicators that a victim is at extremely high risk of death. The Family Safety Center will explain to a victim what those high risks entail and what options they have to protect themselves and their children.
One of the things that surprises many people
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
YWCA Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-334-4628
Morning Star Sanctuary: 615-860-0003
Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee Hotline: 1-800-356-6767
Tennessee Human Trafficking Hotline: 855-558-6484
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
is that strangulation can have long-term consequences, which can include death months after the actual incident. Crisis advocates at the Family Safety Center will make sure a client’s medical provider is informed. They even have handouts for the medical provider to help them understand the situation and what to look for.
About two years ago, the Violence Policy Center conducted a 25-year review of femicides in the United States. According to that review, Tennessee had ranked in the top 10 states for femicides due to domestic violence for 20 of the previous 25 years.
The 2022 Annual Report of the Domestic Violence Homicide in Nashville reported that nearly 20 percent of Tennessee’s domestic violence homicides occurred in Davidson County. In 2022, 20 DV homicides were reported in Davidson County, and 15 percent of the victims were children under the age of 18.
On a recent tour of the Family Safety Center, it became very clear to me how intentionally the space was created. The colors are calming, and the space reminds folks entering of a comfortable living room.
Private interview rooms are set up to ensure victims feel safe. If victims have children, they can choose to send them to a supervised play area, and a TV monitor in the interview room will allow them to keep a watch over what their children are doing in that play area.
In those situations, where victims do not want to separate from their child, the Family Safety Center offers private rooms with an adjacent small play area. That play area has a glass door that can be closed so that children will not hear the conversation of the parent with the advocacy team member or counselor.
The Office of Family Safety is a collaborative effort with multiple agencies and nonprofit organizations throughout the city. While it is located next to the Metro police headquarters, the entrance is completely separate, and it is a victim’s choice if or when they want to include police.
A friend of mine from the DV arena once told me that the coordination among Nashville agencies completely changed with the creation of the Office of Family Safety to help with planning and coordination. In addition, the two Family Safety Centers have vastly expanded the ability for victims of domestic violence to meet with partner agencies and receive warm hand-offs between different organizations that can help them.
The annual, multi-disciplinary deep dive into a specific domestic violence homicide by the DADRT left a huge impression on me because it aims to continually learn and improve how victims of violence can be served better. This constant review process allows for accountability and avoids that process becoming increasingly burdensome for the people we all want to help, as is naturally the case in many areas of the human services sector.
The 2022 report I reviewed included the following quote I want to leave you with as it applies to all of us. I hope it inspires us all to speak up when we see wrongdoing.
“When traumatic events are of human design, those who bear witness are caught in the conflict between victim and perpetrator. All the perpetrator asks is that the bystander do nothing. They appeal to the universal desire to see, hear and speak no evil. The victim, on the contrary, asks the bystander to share the burden of pain. The victim demands action, engagement and remembering.” — Judith Lewis Herman.
A Harley Davidson Under my Ass On Two Wheels I’m Coming Home
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
What can I do? What can I say? I signed my life away, (My Life Away?)
To have a Harley Davidson under my ass. I’ve learned a thing or two, From what I’ve been through in the past. Wondering how I’ll ever end up, Coming up with all of the cash? Nothing lasts forever, Better be Grateful for what you do have. I’ve been through my share of, The Good Things in Life, And I’ve seen my fair share of the bad. There are no guarantees in this life, So just keep “Hanging on for the Ride” Take the good with the bad, And keep on smiling, And learn how to live with that. Every Moment is Magnificent, Unexpected and Unplanned, And from here on out, There’s no turning back, Despite everything that you think that you lack.
Yes - Yes - Yes - Yes - Yes ... 16 Years away from here, I was addicted to Crack. Do I look scared? I am not scared. I’ve already been through that. And I’m still here after so many years? Overcoming the fears... The shedding of tears... Let me make one thing perfectly clear... I am still here and that’s a fact. The star of a documentary titled, “Saint Cloud Hill”
I never {pictured} me, Ever being on the right track. There’s a lot of history about me, And the time that’s been spent planning my revenge, For the embarrassing experience, I had to endure, When the city chose me to Attack? Why Me? I’m basically a nobody... But somebody had to eventually be, “The Leader of the Pack” A lot of my friends, Have so little chance, Of ever winning, Thinking the cards are stacked. The only reason I’ve made it this far? Is by Believing that God’s got my back.
All’s well that Ends well at, Boswell’s Harley Davidson, Of Nashville, Music City, Tennessee. Look at who I am right now, From what I used to be.
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015
This was the first song I penned, The first week I was here in, Nashville, Music City, Tennessee. While staying at The Nashville Rescue Mission.
I left it all behind, Not knowing what I’d find. Got on that Greyhound bus, And made a vow “In God I Trust.” Now, every step I take, Is just another Step of Faith, Leading me eventually, To my final destiny.
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m hoping Nashville, Tennessee, Will be real good to me.
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m going to make this happen for, Myself and Family.
Now, try and understand, I didn’t have much of a plan.
I just knew I had to get some food, And a place to lay my head. So, I made a quick decision, Ended up at The Nashville Mission. It was there I bowed my head to pray, And said Father Lead the Way.
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m hoping Nashville, Tennessee, Will be real good to me.
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m going to make this happen for, Myself and Family.
I’m going to spread my wings and fly. And if I never make it, I’ll be able to say I tried. Now, if this song is reaching you. You’ll know I made it, And you’ll know that you can too. Just follow through-ooh-ooh...
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m hoping Nashville, Tennessee, Will be real good to me.
I’m Coming Home...
In a box or on a Harley.
I’m going to make this happen for, Myself and Family.
Written by Chris Scott Fieselman / Vendor #0015
Music Arrangement and Produced by Jimmy Dale. Guitar and Vocals by Ray Nesbit. Available for download on “Reverb Nation” Under “Chris Scott Fieselmnan” songs.
Come on baby, start. Come on... They don’t understand why you need that throttle in your hand, And the wind in your face, when you’re going someplace. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
Riding ‘tween the road and the sky. The power you control can get you high. Feel the engine roar between your legs. One wrong move could be your last mistake. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
It’s a Power and a Freedom, something eagles only feel. When you’re riding like an outlaw, On a horse that’s made of steel. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
Well, they say that you’re insane. They call it suicide. But you just cannot explain to them, The reasons that you ride. You get wet out in the rain and your pipes are way too loud. Always feel just like a stranger and you stand out in a crowd. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
It’s a Power and a Freedom, something eagles only feel. When you’re riding like an outlaw, On a horse that’s made of steel. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
Well, sometimes you’re running with the pack. Sometimes you ride alone. Feel your lover lean against your back, When you’re carrying her home. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
You don’t know just where you’re going, Half the time you just don’t care. Cause, the best part of the trip is knowing, How you’re getting there. On Two Wheels. On-on Two Wheels.
I’d rather die while I’m still living, Then be dead while I’m alive.
I can take all this life’s giving, Just as long as I can ride, On-on Two Wheels.
It’s a Power and a Freedom, something eagles only feel. When you’re riding like an outlaw, On a horse that’s made of steel. When there’s nothing worth believing, The only thing that’s real. Riding down the road, On Two Wheels. Riding down the road, On Two Wheels. Riding down the road, On Two Wheels. On Two Wheels.
What a Ride.
Nashvillians Explore Local Sustainability Efforts Through New Documentary ‘It’s
The concept of environmental sustainability can be abstract and overwhelming. Often we can’t see how our decisions affect the environment around us — whether positive or negative. We don’t typically see where our waste ends up or how much carbon emission our transportation methods result in or come into contact with the sea animal saved from not using a straw. While individual-level decisions may not be able to
All
Connected: The Art of Sustainability’ It's All Connected
BY KELSEY BEYELER
reverse wide scale environmental issues, they can have a positive impact that affects our planet, communities and everyday lives for the better.
A new documentary titled It’s All Connected: The Art of Sustainability explores its subject matter through a hyper-localized lens, revealing the many actions that Nashville residents and organizations are taking to invest in their community and create a more sustainable
city in the process. It also highlights how these different actions inform one another, and how they can help us establish a deeper connection to our surroundings.
The film was released through Nashville Education, Community, and Arts Television. This local nonprofit, which became a part of the Nashville Public Library system in 2022, provides arts and education programming while also providing opportunities to learn about video
production by offering guidance, equipment, resources and a place to broadcast projects. Alongside the new documentary, NECAT has helped make or distribute projects like The Sit-In Mixtape, which explores Nashville’s 1960 lunch counter sit-ins through the lens of hip hop, and Dr. Gangrene's Cinetarium — a local TV horror show. NECAT studio manager Cameron McCasland is also the writer, director and co-producer of It’s All Connected.
“It's not about doing everything yourself,” says Cameron McCasland, writer, director and co-producer of 'It’s All Connected: The Art of Sustainability.' “It's about every day trying to choose to do one thing better than you did the day before.”
“I keep telling people, the movie is not the answer,” McCasland told The Contributor at the film’s March 22 premiere at the main NPL branch. “We're not answering the question of how every one of these things can be fixed.”
Instead of trying to answer all these complex questions about sustainability, the movie simply examines them with a bevy of local residents and changemakers. This exploration highlights how sustainability efforts can double as an act of love for our communities and a way to take care of our surroundings and our neighbors.
At its premier, Susan Drye, NPL’s assistant director for administrative services and sustainability committee chair, introduced the film as “a labor of love,” that took more than two years and the efforts of many different people to produce. Organizations represented in the film include: Urban Green Lab, Cumberland River Compact, the Nashville Zoo, Edgehill Garden and Bell Garden, the Nashville Public Library and more. A 2023 grant from Urban Green Lab’s Nashville Food Waste Initiative helped NPL’s sustainability committee start planning for the film.
McCasland explained to The Contributor how the various sub-topics of the film arose while examining how
one aspect of sustainability affects the next. What started as an exploration of library-based sustainability efforts flowed into other topics like community gardens, which blossomed into a conversation about food access and drinking water. As conversations about the Cumberland River arose, so did the Nashville Zoo’s related aquatic conservation efforts, and so on. The film leverages the idea of interconnectedness as a way to transition from one sustainability-related topic to the next.
The film also celebrates the community connections that arise throughout these various efforts. Edgehill Community Garden Manager Brenda Morrow, for example, explains in the documentary how the garden provides opportunities for intergenezrational connection and education. The semi-regular Donelson Library Branch Repair Fair creates an opportunity for makers and tinkerers to exercise their skills while helping others fix items like lamps, bikes, small appliances and clothing. Not only do participants learn from one another in these settings, but they can save money by getting food from the gardens or fixing a broken item instead of buying a new one.
While local sustainability efforts offer positive outlooks, there are still many difficult truths that make these
efforts necessary or prevent people from participating in them altogether. Community gardens, for example, often serve neighborhoods whose residents experience food insecurity or who cannot easily access fresh, healthy food. But even the most abundant garden cannot fix the systemic issues that create these conditions. Matters that intersect with sustainability such as racial equity, affordable housing and public transit are also explored in the film.
Though it leans into some difficult conversations and uncomfortable truths, It’s All Connected is careful not to lecture people on how to live a more “green” lifestyle, nor does it try to guilt viewers into doing so. McCasland noted during a panel discussion following the film’s premier that “the last thing we ever want is for people to feel bad about how they live their lives.”
People who appear in the film don’t purport to live perfectly sustainable lifestyles, either.
“It's not about doing everything yourself,” says McCasland. “It's about every day trying to choose to do one thing better than you did the day before.”
The film and its related panel discussion can be viewed through NECAT, which operates local public television channels Music City Arts, iQtv and Access Nashville. These channels are broadcasted via Comcast cable channels 9, 10, and 19 in Davidson County and via AT&T U-Verse channel 99 in several other Middle Tennessee counties. Those without television channels can also download the NECAT app on Roku or lean on the NECAT website. The documentary and panel discussion is also published on NECAT’s Youtube page. Keep an eye on these channels for continued sustainability-related programs — McCasland hinted during the panel discussion about plans for an upcoming TV series called It’s Still Connected, which would follow up on the topics covered in the documentary to keep the conversation going.
NPL employee Bassam Habib discusses the “cognitive dissonance” of knowing where he could make more environmentally-friendly decisions, but doesn’t because alternatives aren’t very practical or accessible. Creating space for these conversations provides an important reminder that one doesn’t have to dedicate their lives to sustainability or ignore it altogether — there can be a middle ground. Perhaps one still drives a car most days, but they choose to take a bus once a week. Or maybe someone doesn’t recycle, but they cut down on consumption by utilizing the library system.
Education: Still Feeling The Effects Of The Effects Of The COVID-19
It’s been about five years since the Covid-19 pandemic turned the entire world upside down and turned every home with children into a virtual classroom. At the time, it was the only viable solution to a monumental problem.
A real life example of something’s better than nothing.
Students have since returned to a traditional classroom setting, and in spite of spending $190 billion in an attempt to bridge the gap and provide some relief to our struggling education system, our schools have not rebounded. It is noteworthy though that according to an article on EducationRecoveryScoreboard.org, studies have shown those from higher income areas are four times more likely to recover from learning loss in the areas of reading and math than students from lower income areas.
The effects of learning loss, are also compounded by chronic absenteeism, students skipping classes, and a lack of motivation among students. With that in mind, it’s not surprising that not one state has scored above pre-pandemic levels to date. In fact, today’s
BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
students are at least half a grade level behind in reading and math.
With regard to reading one educator I talked to for this story said, “Many elementary students do not use phonics [the ability to sound out words] or have the ability to break words apart, manipulate them, and put them back together in different ways. Many fail to recognize the same sound in a text. That makes it difficult to analyze a text to find its deeper meaning, or to write an original piece, or to find alternative solutions to the one presented in the story.”
What can be done to reduce these adverse effects?
The first step is to encourage parent and student involvement to get them fully invested in their education.
Washington DC has ranked number 1 in their post-pandemic recovery efforts for the past two years, according to CBS News, and have found success using these proven methods:
• Make class sizes smaller.
• Offer students opportunities for remediation during the school day.
• Deliver high impact tutoring. (It’s like
having a private tutor during school hours, and it’s free to students.)
• Provide additional teacher training, giving a $1,000 stipend to those who completed specific courses in support of learning loss recovery efforts.
One school administrator from the same news article stated, “Giving students additional support in literacy and math has helped to bring down truancy, as students begin to see their own progress that was encouraging to them.”
In addition to these suggestions we must find a way for ALL students to have access to low or no cost meals. It’s hard to learn ANYTHING if you’re hungry!
Children also need a reliable connection to the internet and more availability of Summer Learning Programs.
Of course none of these things are free, and with pandemic relief money gone, it is vital for states and districts continue to provide the funds necessary to keep public school programs that are working in place to combat learning loss and to discard the ones that aren’t working.
Title 1 funding can help with this (it makes up approximately 14 percent of school budgets here in Tennessee), but the amount each school receives is determined by a number of factors such as the number of students enrolled.
In an attempt to accelerate learning, nine states have legislation banning the use of cell phones in schools and 16 others have it in the works or are considering it.
In doing the research for this story, I found learning loss isn’t the only major issue affecting a students ability to learn in the classroom. They must also bounce back from the disruption to their social and emotional development. The educator I talked to put it this way, “Children don’t know how to process problem solving even little problems for themselves. They don’t know how to interact with their peers appropriately, when more difficult problems arise, they don’t persevere, they just give up.”
It is imperative that this be addressed as well. Why? Failing to do so can leave our children unprepared to deal with the problems that come up in day to day life in the future, much like allowing learning loss to continue can affect their job prospects in the future.
The Things that Room In The Inn has Done for Me and Others
Last year I had a bad episode last year with my house. I had a bad reaction to a medication the doctor gave me and I thought someone was trying to kill me. I had everyone worried that I was going to hurt them or hurt myself. It was so bad I almost lost my apartment at Room In The Inn.
Thank God Room In The Inn is so understanding. When all this happened, they gave me the option to let someone come into my room three times a week and help me straighten it up. I had to get rid of a whole lot of stuff. I’m going to say I got rid of at least $3,000 or more worth of items. It hurt the pocket, but I love my room now. You ought to see it, compared to what it was.
I have a lady named Miss Pat who, through the Room in the Inn, helps me still go through my food sometimes, help me throw food away that’s bad. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see the expiration dates because they are so small. So,
BY WILLIAM B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Room in the Inn has done so much for me. They actually saved my life twice before this so letting Miss Pat come in and get me and my home back in order was the third time. They said, “We know there’s something in you that’s good. We want another William to come back here.”
And I said, “I do, too. I don’t like this William. Let’s do it.”
So, we’ve done it. And things have gotten so good now that they use me as a spokesman when people come in for an interview from schools or colleges. They also use me as ambassador. I’ve got an ambassador badge when I volunteer. Evidently, I must be a good spokesman because they keep calling on me every time they see me. I do go as far as saying I used to do crack cocaine, but I got off on drugs. Well, I did! And I want people to know. It’s as hard as you want it to be, not as hard as you think it could be.
Back then I broke into a place three times in one day. When I went back, I had tattoos on my head, and I made sure they were all visible so the police would know it was me who did it. When they came to arrest me I had already nailed my windows down, left my keys, and said goodbye to that apartment. I don’t regret
that. The only thing I regret is, when I went to prison, I was trying to get a low sentence, to get off drugs. But I got a 10-year sentence, and it goes on my record.
Back then, I neglected to eat. I neglected to go to my doctor’s appointments. I didn’t care about myself. Now, I love the hell out of myself. I love people. I love meeting people. That’s another thing with The Contributor, they gave me all these opportunities with meeting people, selling my paper, singing, playing spoons — that’s a dream come true. Y’all made my dream come true.
I love The Contributor, I love the Room In The Inn and I love the church. The church means the world to me. If I have any problems, the people help me figure them out. I just want to say thanks for listening, out there, to my story. If you like my story, get in touch with The Contributor newspaper, and give me some feedback. I’ll take any kind of feedback, good or bad.
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.
Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Nashville: Liderazgo hispano con impacto local y visión nacional
honor de presidir la Cumbre Le gislativa 2025 de la Cámara d
e n Wa s h i n g t o n D C , compar to lo que fue o t r o g r a n h i t o : nu e s t r a 2 6 ª
Reunión Anual de Miembros de la C á m a r a d e C o m e r c i o H i s p a n a d e Nashville (NAHCC), celebrada el 12 de marz o en el acelerador empresarial Nashville Entre preneur Center Como miembro de la Junta Directiva Nacional y presidente del Comité de Asuntos Guber namentales de la USHCC (además de mis funciones como editor de este medio), tuve el privilegio de representar a Tennessee en una cumbre que reunió a líderes empresariales de todo el país para abogar por políticas que fortalezcan nuestras comunidades Uno de los momentos más importantes fue unir nos a la campaña
#SecureAmericasWorkforce, junto a ABIC , el Latino Donor Collaborative y el Comité de 100, para promover soluciones migratorias sensatas que apoyen a nuestras empresas y refuercen la economía nacional Empresarios de todos los estados nos unimos para hablar con líderes del Congreso y de la Administración, conscientes de que el futuro económico del país depende también de una fuerza laboral fortalecida y participatoria
De re g reso en casa, la energía continuó c o n nu e s t r a r e u n i ó n a nu a l e n Nashville El evento reunió a miembros de la cámara, líderes comunitarios, re presentantes del gobier no local
y aliados estratégicos, todos con un objetivo común: apoyar el crecimiento sosteni
E n t r e p r e n e u r C e n t e r, a b r i ó e l p r og r a m a d á n d o n o s l a b i e nve n i d a y d e s t a c a n d o l a a l i a n z a c o n t i n u a e n t r e n u e s t r a s o r g
n i z a c i o n
s
c l u ye n d o l o s b e n e f i c i o s r e c í p r o c o s p a r a n u e st r o s m i e m b r o s C o n t a m o s t a m b i é n
c o n s a l u d o s e s p e c i a l e s d e l a l c a l d e Fr e d d i e O ’ C
Ta m b i é n d i m o s l a b i e nve n i d a a n u e st r a Ju n t a D i r e c t iva a c t u a l y n u evo s i n t e g r a n t e s :
Mikey Corona, Tio Fun! Mexican Munchies
Cynthia Pachas, Limo Peruvian Eatery
Mario Ramos, Mario Ramos PLLC Monchiere’ Holmes-Jones,Mojo Marketing Juan Lombera, MC Granite Nashville
Claudia Zuazua, Williamson Inc
Manuel Cuevas, Manuel American Desings Suzy Zamudio Vera, Vera Art Perla Salas, Perla Salas PLLC , y Marisa Muñoz, M Casting Wordlwide
También fue un gusto escuchar a nuestro querido cole ga José Juan Lombera M a r t í n e z l i d e r a n d o nu e s t r a j u n t a directiva, compar tir su experiencia de empoderamiento comunitario a través del emprendimiento
Otro momento clave fue la ratificación d e l A c u e r d o d e C o o p e r a c i ó n I n t e r -
C á m a r a s c o n l a Te n n e s s e e P r i d e
Chamber of Commerce (TNPC), fortaleciendo nuestro compromiso mutuo con la inclusión económica y el apoyo a ne gocios diver sos Como e xpresó la D r a S t e p h a n i e M a h n ke , d i r e c t o r a ejecutiva de TNPC , esta alianza sigue siendo un acuerdo de solidaridad con una visión compar tida: "Es fundament a l ap oya r e l a c c e s o e c o n ó m i c o y empresarial inclusivo para pequeñas e m p r e s a s d e t o d o s l o s o r í ge n e s Renovamos con orgullo estos compromisos y esperamos se guir trabajando en conjunto para cumplir esta visión c o m ú n " A g r a d e c e m o s t a m b i é n l a presencia de líderes de TNPC como Aja P r i c e , Jo s e p h Wo o d s o n y M i r a n d a McDonald-Brown
Asimismo, tuvimos una mesa redonda sobre crecimiento de pequeñas empresas liderada por nuestra directora ejec u t iva d e l a F u n d a c i ó n NA H C C , Loraine Se govia Paz, con la par ticip a c i ó n d e C l a u d i a Z u a z u a y N i c k
B i n i ke r d e Wi l l i a m s o n I n c
Compar timos el éxito de prog ramas conjuntos como nuestra Academia de Emprendedores, que está ya en su se gundo año, capacitando a nuevos líderes empresariales para lanzar y escalar sus ne gocios
Este evento fue testimonio del compromiso, la resiliencia y el espíritu colaborativo que define a nuestra cámara Ag rade z co profundamente a todos los que hicieron posible este encuentro: nuestros miembros, patrocinadores y socios comunitarios Se guimos creciendo, liderando y constr uyendo juntos un futuro más inclusivo y próspero
G r a c i a s
Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper com ó 615-582-3757
Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada?
Mantenerse callado
Sólo dar nombre y apellido
No mentir
Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos No revelar su situación migratoria No llevar documentación de otro país
En caso de ser arrestado, mostrar la Tarjeta Miranda sados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un ogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda go de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs Arizona, 4 U S 436, de 1966
Por Yuri Cunza Editor in Chief @LaNoticiaNe ws
Año 23 - No 412 Nashville, Tennessee
“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”
Nashville Entrepreneur Center CEO Sam Da vidson with Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board members, president and CEO Yuri Cunza, and guest speakers Councilman Jacob Kupin and Lilibeth Leon, Mana ger of Entrepreneurship and Economic De velopment for the Ma yor ' s Office
Poems
BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Fall is swinging in aquamarine, orange, red. my own sweet yellow butterflies prance amid’st the swirl of treetops
-by freepressGma at Joe Nolan’s Workshop ******
a bell clear day so clear you can hear it. piled wood chips spire steam
Up through the spiders’ strands
river mist coils below The sun, she waits. Hesitant to climb into the ringing chill.
******
shouts greet me, jesting Compliments; waylaid here, now. I laugh and sit. I’ll be late.
*****
Take one bus. Fill it with sleepy people. Add a singing chauffeur. Arrive; rested. *******
A tower of asters hit by sunlight stands on my dead mother‘s birthday
Tiny yellow centers vibrate against myriad shades of lavender The day, mild and bright, like her.
******
I float on my back as the chill lake water erases pain. Lakeweed tickles my feet Carp splash and plop. Above me, the clear sky Red Maple - fiery burgundy Cottonwood - green of deepest summer.
******
take one broiling summer day. Assemble old chairs in a circle Plop down a cheap-arse kiddy pool
Pour in Epsom salt. Turn the hose on. Stir with several pairs of feet. Finally, just give up and lay down in it.
My ground of being:
BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
A single atom learned to speak I heard her Went to her Magnetized to a blue spun ball Fascination
Of a delicious kind Blended with rich earth
The perfume of a thousand pollens Knocked me into ecstasy Entangled, I remain.
-By freepressGma,Poem inspired by D. Kubi: Blending two techniques from Joe Nolan’s workshop.
Free Show!
BY JAMES, "SHORTY" R., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Hey you! Do you want to see a free show? Just look up. It’s in the sky. The sun bright and warm on your face. The clouds light and fluffy. They are sometimes in motion. Sometimes they make weird shapes. Next, the birds. They fly north, east, west, south. They sing to you. Then, there are the things that are not so nice. Sometimes, the bees, wasps, etc. So, come watch a free show, no internet. Required!
Tonight
BY LASHIKA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
Dear God. Tonight As we lay our head to rest, we pray for your divine protection be upon our family. May you watch over us throughout the night and visit us with Your healing. Blessings and miracles.
HOBOSCOPES
TAURUS
Did you hear there was a break-in at the self-esteem factory, Taurus? Honestly, I think it’s a systemic issue. If something is necessary for a fulfilling life, it needs to be freely available to the public. Otherwise you end up creating criminals who would never have...hey wait a minute, Taurus, you seem to be feeling pretty good about yourself today. Is that new? I’m not saying you don’t deserve to have a strong sense of personal dignity. Listen, I’m not gonna tell anybody anything. But if you’ve got any extra we could all use a little.
GEMINI
Tom Petty had his Heartbreakers, Springsteen had The E Street Band, Old King Cole had his Fiddlers Three. Who do you call when you need a good band to back you up, Gemini? Because I think you could use some accompaniment this week. It doesn’t have to be enough to fill the stage, but if you could round up a couple of folks who could fit in a diner-booth, I think this is all gonna start to sound better. Just remember, no more than one saxophone. We kicked out last time.
CANCER
I hope it’s OK with you, Cancer, I went ahead and ordered a 6-foot party-sub for everybody to share. Honestly now I’m second-guessing the whole thing. I just remembered that Tom’s gluten-free. And then I realized Gina can’t do dairy — I guess it does have three kinds of cheese. Warren stopped eating meat in January, so he’s out. And it totally slipped my mind to say “no mayo” so I’ll probably just have chips. I’m afraid you may have to eat this whole thing by yourself, Cancer. You’re the only one who can. Take your time and start from the middle. We’re all rooting for you.
LEO
I had a coworker one time who was literally a saltwater crocodile. I’m honestly not sure how he got the job at that cafe. Our boss was always complaining that we never got the cleaning checklist done but it was hard when all he ever wanted to do was bask on the porch and wait for a customer to get close enough that he could grab them with his powerful jaws and pull them down into the water feature. I guess not everybody is good at every job, Leo. I hope you’re still in a setting that uses your talents well and appreciates the way you always finish the list.
VIRGO
Grief is strange stuff, Virgo. Just when you think it’s fading away you see a fork in the sink or catch the scent of a detergent and it all comes flooding back in. All I can tell you, Virgo, is not to fight those waves when they come. Lean in and let them carry you where they want to go. Every swell of grief is an opportunity to touch what you loved and to be honest about what you lost. Follow the feeling to the thought so you remember where the boundaries are. It’s not forever, but it’s with you now. Don’t chase it away.
LIBRA
I heard they’re sending you to space, Libra. How exciting! I think you’ll do great. Just don’t forget to wear your seatbelt, fasten the airlock, and, above all, have fun — because that’s what space is all about! While you’re up there, though, Libra would you mind taking just a moment to observe the vast emptiness of the universe and the relative insignificance of our tiny singular planet. Just for a breath try to notice that all your loved ones and all your enemies share the same unified orb and there’s no meaning except what we choose to assign to our brief lives. Also, take lots of pictures!
SCORPIO
I was making eggs this morning and one had a little speck of blood in the yolk. I’m not an expert in oomancy, Scorpio, but it did make me worry about you a little bit. It’s just that it reminded me that the world is unpredictable. You can crack 500 eggs and they’re all the same and then the 501st has something just a little off. And I know that’s not your preference. I know you’d rather just have your expectations met. But this complete breakfast was a reminder to me that sometimes you get something weirdly unexpected and you might have to pivot. If you’re feeling queasy, I’ve got frosted flakes.
SAGITTARIUS
The Stars are listening, Sagittarius. I know, they’re more famous for shining, but people forget they can hear you too. They heard what you said about your job and your car and your next door neighbor. They pick up on that subtle tone of dissatisfaction when you describe your situation as “fine.” And The Stars could change your fate, Sagittarius, but I don’t think they will. I think they want to hear your plan for a change first. Honestly, we all do.
CAPRICORN
Remember that month where every time you made a hard-left turn you would feel a clunk up through the steering wheel. And then one day you parked the car at the bowling alley and the engine just fell out into the parking space. It’s like that, Capricorn. You notice that feeling everyday just a little bit and it’s easy to ignore. But that infrequent clunk is trying to get your attention. Trying to let you know that the bolts are rusting through. And you may want to pay it some attention before it gets you stuck in one spot.
AQUARIUS
There’s a bird flying around in the laundromat. Nobody knows how he got in there. I thought maybe I could scare him out but that just upset him and now he seems exhausted and confused. I tried holding the double doors open but he just flew over behind the soda machine and he won’t come out. I think this is gonna take a little more patience and creativity than we thought, Aquarius. Go put another couple quarters in the dryer. Anything worth saving is worth all the attention you’ve got.
PISCES
I heard there was safety in numbers, Pisces, so I always carry a 7 and a 26. I keep a 12 in my glovebox and a 3 in the closet by the front door. Somehow I still don’t feel safe. Maybe there’s somebody I could talk to about it. Maybe a few people. In fact, maybe a few of us should get together and talk about what makes us feel secure. I’m feeling safer already, Pisces. We should do this once a week.
ARIES
We grew up thinking it was wrong to be angry. That anytime you felt that burning in your gut and the fire behind your eyes it was a moral failure that must be swiftly corrected. It’s not exactly anybody’s fault, Aries. It’s easy to confuse the feeling of anger for the reckless actions it sometimes leads to. But the anger is not the meanness. It’s not the lashing out. It’s just the fuel. So the next time you feel it, Aries, don’t push it away. Just pause and ask yourself, what could I use this feeling to change?
Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a registered saxophonist, or a literal saltwater crocodile. Listen to the Mr. Mysterio podcast at mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1.
Extra! Extra! Zine All About It!
There is a new project at The Contributor called Unzine Nashville. The name is a play on the word “unseen” because people who are unhoused are often ignored, or, if seen, treated like a problem. This project gives vendors a way to share their own stories, in their own style, through self-published zines.
Zines have a long history from political pamphleteers to punk scenes to DIY creators telling stories outside the mainstream. They have always been about voice, choice, access, and doing it yourself.
With help from Stagger Press, Paul Collins, Melissa Willis, and others, several vendors have already made their first zines. Printed on 8.5x11 or 11x17 copy paper, they have included drawings, poems, stories, and even hand-lettered advice columns.
Earlier this month, street newspaper vendors Lisa, Norma, and Wendell brought their zines to a local small press event at the Coop Gallery in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. They sat alongside other zine creators, showed off their work, and made some money.
Unzine Nashville isn’t flashy. It’s personal, it’s local, and it’s growing. You may see these zines pop up at events, in our office, or on the sidewalk next to a vendor holding The Contributor. This is just the beginning.
BY HOWARD P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
I was out at my spot selling when a potential customer accused me of panhandling for money. I politely told him that I was selling the paper. So is The Contributor panhandling or is it selling?
A lot of people will argue that it is “glorified panhandling.” Some will say that with The Contributor you are selling a product to make money. I would have to agree that it is selling a product to make money. When a customer buys the paper they get a quality product, a smile, maybe a joke and a “good morn -
Is it Panhandling or Selling? My Testimony
ing.” Plus, they get the pleasure of getting a product for their money.
I have never panhandled, however I do know people who do. I think the difference between the two is that anytime you go into a store and buy goods you should get what you expect. That’s the same when the customer buys the paper. They are getting something in exchange for their dollars.
I am always proud to sell The Contributor. By selling The Contributor I’m able to put groceries in my refrigerator and my cupboards.
BY MARK P., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
My name is Mark, and I would like to share my testimony with you. As a child, I grew up in a God-fearing home. As a teenager, I sang in a young gospel group. When I started high school, I taught Sunday school. But then the Devil got a hold of me. I got out of church and never looked back. For years, I lived a very sinful life. I repented for my sins, and a few years later, I was ordained as a deacon. Then, God asked more of me, and I wasn’t ready for what he asked. I got out of church and moved to another state but never went back to church. God said that I would.
In ’93, I was hit by a train. I went through years of rehabilitation, learning to walk, talk and dress myself. I hated God and everyone for what happened to me. I hated life. I got addicted to prescription medication, but God wasn’t done yet. In ’06, I went to prison. In ’25, I lost everything, even my family. Now, I’m Homeless with nothing or no one. And yes, God whipped me. He put me on my knees, and I begged him for forgiveness. Now, I’m doing what he wants me to: be a witness for God and preach and spread the world that God is good all the time. Amen.
Your Roses Smell Like Poo Poo Poo
BY MARK N., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR
The ability of some, not all, to overlook the humanity of other human beings is amazing to me. But at the same time, my judgmental eyes that see are totally different from my past views on the world we live in. I will explain the change or rebirth at the conclusion of this article. But for now, I will be a judge. “They just got a job like everyone else,” my mom would say to me when she perceived someone displaying a pompous attitude. I never quite comprehended what she meant, until I myself started working and obtaining materials and goods. I’ll come back to that subject later.
1 Samuel 2:7 states: “The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, and he exalts.” My journey of life was that of what many people today have to do, especially when raising children. I have an abundance of peace these days, de -
pending on God and His words to lead me with His understandings and wisdom. The hard part is for me to get out of the way. Don’t get me wrong, having material goods is not a bad thing — just as long as you are not like the poor rich man who Christ asked to sell all of his goods in order to give the money to the poor. Christ told him to, "pick up the cross and follow me." What a fool. And speaking of fools, at one time I, too, became that person my mom spoke about. I just had a job just like everyone else. I worked on humility, stopped the crying and, as I said before, tried hard to take myself out of the picture. In conclusion, I appreciate the people I have met selling papers. Five hundred can pass me by, but when they pull up, my day is made. I can feel God’s strength in them. They know who they are and I did not expect that. Thanks.
SIGN BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR AND ZINE ARTIST
‘2073’ is a dystopian hit on MAX
Writer-director Asif Kapadia’s latest film offers viewers a glimpse of an American dystopia of the near future, about 50 years from now. 2073 ’s opening montage of drones, cameras, bombed-out looking cityscapes and rampant arrests and police brutality plays out while a bit of onscreen text tells viewers that the movie takes place 37 years after “The Event.” In New San Francisco, Capital of the Americas, everything is covered in dust and rust, and a toxic golden haze fills the air. It’s got none of the charm of a foggy day in the City by the Bay, and all of the trappings of nearly every sci-fi film focused on terrible tomorrows. Beyond the opening, 2073 might feel familiar to viewers because it’s based on French filmmaker Chris Marker’s classic experimental 1962 film, La Jetée La Jetée was also the inspiration for Terry Gilliam’s film 12 Monkeys. And maybe it was a whole bunch of Gilliam fans who made 2073 the number one trending film on MAX just after its streaming debut on April 7?
BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC
In 2073 ’s ravaged future, Samantha Morton plays Ghost, a mute survivor who’s only heard in voice-over. Ghost scavenges through the wreckage of New San Francisco — crumbling malls and garbage-choked seas under a perpetually orange sky. In the 37 years since “The Event,” society has split between underground rebels and a ruling elite hoarding the last scraps of sunlight. Ghost’s world is a grim dance of survival, dodging drones and AI enforcers. Ghost gets by with the help of allies like Naomi Ackie’s idealistic teacher, clutching books like lifelines, and Hector Hewer’s eerily gentle android hinting at defection. The visuals flip between Ghost’s bleak 2073 and a collage of real world news/social media footage — tech oligarchs, climate chaos, and authoritarian crackdowns — showing how we got here. 2073 isn’t a traditional narrative film, and Kapadia’s experimental daring results in a mosaic of despair, with themes of memory, resistance and the cost of apathy threading
through both sci-fi and documentary territory simultaneously.
Marker's La Jetee , the film's aforementioned spiritual godparent, is a 28-minute masterpiece of still images a "photonovel" of a — a “photonovel” of a time-traveler haunted by a memory, chasing love and doom in a post-apocalyptic loop. Marker's 1962 film reduces cinema to its essentials: black-andwhite photos, a sparse voiceover and one fleeting moment of motion that hits like a thunderclap. That simplicity amplifies its themes of time, longing and the fragility of existence. 2073 nods to it with reverence, borrowing the timebent survivor angle and that sense of being trapped in a memory you can’t escape. Ghost’s wordless drift through ruins echoes La Jetée ’s unnamed man, both tethered to a past that’s slipping away. Kapadia doesn’t embrace Marker’s formal extremes, but he blends fiction and documentary in a manner that feels up-to-the-moment contemporary.
Unfortunately, Kapadia’s filmmaking is more well thought out than his politics. 2073 ’s blending of fact and fiction becomes a confusing blur — that’s the point, and that’s good writing and directing. But all the found news footage that Kapadia and editor Chris King smuggle into their sci-fi-dystopian-Chris-Marker-homage ends up in service of the most predictably banal interpretation of mainstream political rivalries and squabbles, culture wars and economic chess games. Chris Marker was a poet of images, but Kapadia's ponderous political messaging is only propaganda. Marker was a radical artist and if 2073 is going to be explicit about politics those politics, should be explicitly radical.
2073 is streaming on MAX
Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.
