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Homelessness Year in Review The Contributor looks at the events and policy shifts that shaped the year

2025

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

I N 2025T LH aE NI S Sticia UE G RATIS Diciembre

Newspaper Nashville

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

Año 23 - No. 424

Nashville, Tennessee

Raúl Malo, voz y alma de The Mavericks: su música continuará uniendo culturas

Con profundo dolor, la comunidad musical y cultural de Nashville —y del mundo— despide a Raúl Malo, amigo, colega, hermano de escenario de muchos, inspiración e icono de varias generaciones, quien falleció el 8 de Por Yuri Cunza diciembre de 2025 a Editor in Chief los 60 años, tras una @LaNoticiaNews valiente batalla contra el cáncer.

Vendor Writing

History Corner Where did the original Nashville Predator come from, and why was it missing a tooth? Answers on Page 6!

genes bajo la misma melodía. Su arte fue un puente: entre idiomas, culturas, generaciones y ciudades. Y Nashville, que lo vio crecer como referente internacional, hoy lo recuerda como uno de sus grandes embajadores musicales.

La Noticia + The Contributor

En este duelo, la Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) y la NAHCC Foundation se unen al sentimiento de pérdida. Raúl Malo fue un apreciado amigo de esta organización, y recuerda con gratitud que su padre, Raúl Malo Sr., sirvió en la junta directiva durante muchos años. La conexión de la familia Malo con la misión de la Cámara refleja una herencia de servicio, liderazgo y orgullo comunitario.

Foto:Yuri Cunza (2014)

Moving Pictures

Malo, the Voice and Soul of The Mavericks: His Music Will Continue Uniting Cultures memoria. Le sobreviven su amada Vendors write about SinRaúl La Noticia, one of the New documentary, Secret embargo, entre los logros que mar- con firmeza: la educación musical esposa de 34 años, Betty; sus hijos caron su carrera, Malo se sentía espe- como inspiración y derecho creativo Dino, Victor y Max; su madre Norma; unexpected gifts, leading Spanish-language Mally Apartment, Como fundador y carismático líder de cialmente orgulloso su hermana Carol; pictures y sus compañeros para cada niño, en Estados Unidos de su compromiso The Mavericks, Raúl elevó el están- de vida con la preservación del reper- en el resto del mundo. Por esa visión de The Mavericks Paul Deakin, Eddie dar de lo que unaleadership, banda puede repre- torio musical Jerry Dale McFadden. amplia, y por su defensa incansable estadounidense multiscripture, newspapers in the nation, the Perez art yof affordable sentar: un punto de encuentro entre lingüe. Este enfoque no fue un detalle del poder formativo del arte, Raúl tradiciones y and futuros,friends entre raíces marginal, sino un eje central de su fue honrado con reconocimientos de Aunque su presencia física se haya choices brings Spanish to entre ellos housing. it generosidad on Blu-ray su voz, su y su luz latinas, country, rock, soul y el vasto misión artística. gran relevancia, el ido, Find En 2020, hizo histo- content perduran en las canciones que ya son repertorio popular norteamericano. ria al lograr que un álbum debutara en Lifetime Achievement Award de la parte del holidays. patrimonio emocional de housing. Suswithout actuaciones, siempre intensas y el primer lugar tantoThe the en las Contributor. listas de Americana Music Association y el for miles de personas. Raúl Malo no solo

llenas de alma, construyeron una base de seguidores leales y apasionados. Su destreza como compositor y músico le mereció reconocimientos de alto nivel, incluyendo múltiples premios Grammy, ACM y CMA, reflejo de una trayectoria que combinó innovación con respeto por la memoria musical colectiva.

Latin Pop como en Folk-Americana, un hito que rompió barreras simbólicas y comerciales, y que reafirmó su empeño por demostrar que la música no necesita permisos para habitar distintos mundos a la vez.

Ese compromiso cultural se complementó con otra causa que defendió

American Eagle Award del National Music Council of los Estados Unidos.

El impacto de Malo no se mide únicamente en discos, premios o listas. Se mide también en la huella emocional de sus canciones, en esa rara capacidad de reunir a personas de distintos orí-

cantó historias: ayudó a que muchas comunidades se reconocieran entre sí. Y ese legado —humano, artístico y cultural— seguirá resonando por mucho tiempo. Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-582-3757

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, mostrar la Tarjeta Miranda

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Venmo has canceled our account, but you can still pay using Square! You must identify your vendor so we know where to send the payment. Here's how: por Basados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, los derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un abogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda luego de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, de 1966.

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Contributor Board

Amber DuVentre, Chair • Christine Doeg, Secretary

Cathy Jennings, Demetria Kalodimos, O. Wade Nelson, Robin Kimbrough-Hayes, Jim Shulman, Drew Morris, Kerry Graham, Jenny Charles, Devin Graham, Yuri Cunza

Contributors This Issue Maurice B. • Norma B. • Linda Bailey • Bill Carey • Mccollonough Ceili • Yuri Cunza • Gary E. • Chris Scott F. • FreForever • FreePressGma • Deanna H. • Amanda Haggard • Lashika • M.E. Martin • Mr. Mysterio • Mark N. • Joe Nolan • Howard P. • Judith Tackett • Barbara Womack Contributor Volunteers Ann Bourland, Andrew Kuluk, Andy Shapiro, Deborah Narrigan, Jamie Dore, Logan Ebel, Loren Montoya, Marissa Young, Matthew Murrow, Michael Reilly, Susan Richter, Tyler Samuel

Amanda Haggard & Linda Bailey Co-Editors Brandon Battle Housing Stability Guide Laura Birdsall Copy Editor Holly Bowman Director of Development Jesse Call Operations Consultant Sarah Champion Housing Stability Guide Ree Cheers Director of Program Operations Will Connelly Executive Director Cathy Jennings Director of Finance Andrew Krinks Editor Emeritus Andrew Kuluk SOAR Coordinator Caroline Lindner Vendor Program Manager

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Lindsey Longoria Housing Stability Guide Zero Mannino Housing Stability Guide Raven Nye Director of Quality and Training Jay Smelley Administrative Coordinator Andrew Terry IV Program Operations Team Lead

WHAT WE DO

WHO WE ARE

$2 VENDOR SELLS

Since The Contributor started in 2007, more than 3,200

PAPERS

$0.50 VENDOR BUYS PAPERS

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

CUSTOMER TAKES PAPER

expansion of our mission of removing obstacles to housing. We now offer full case management, assistance with housing

Carli Tharp Housing Stability Guide Barbara Womack Advertising Manager 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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December 17 -31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 2

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

West Nashville Community Rallies Around Long Time Contributor Vendor STORIES AND PHOTOS BY BARBARA WOMACK

Prince William, heir to the English throne, has often suggested that one way to end homelessness is for the community to assume responsibility for those homeless individuals in their neighborhoods. This premise was exhibited on Dec. 3, 2025, when several members of West Nashville came together to honor their Contributor vendor, Maurice B. The group gathered at Edley’s Bar-B-Que on 4500 Murphy Road. Dinner was sponsored by Metro Councilwoman Brenda Gadd. The “Celebrate Maurice” event was coordinated by Mr. David Smedley, one of Maurice’s customers who is a member of the Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association. In explaining why he wanted to do this for Maurice, Smedley said, “For a long time now, I always stop at the same light on the way to work and I see this happy gentleman

in a power chair at 46th and Charlotte; he waves and has a friendly smile. He’s there in the rain, in the sun and I’ve even seen him in the snow. I don’t know his name and honestly, I have never taken the time to stop and meet him, but for the last couple of days he has been on my heart. I don’t know his story, but I am thinking about putting together a GoFundMe. I would like to do something special for him with an envelope for the holiday.” Many of the attendees spoke of their feelings and relationships with Maurice. Kristen Butler Braaksma said, “Maurice! Such a nice man. He occasionally writes an article for the paper he sells. Always happy. Always smiling!!!! He is a person who is earning a good living by selling the newspaper. Buy one. If it’s on your heart, then give him more

than the $2 selling price. THEN ACTUALLY READ THE PAPER!” Rachel Welty had this to say: “I own the law office on the corner of 46th and Charlotte and I have known Maurice since I moved there in 2018. He is the best!!! The kindest, gentlest soul and is so so proud of his writing and the work he puts into the paper. Thank you David for doing this for him.” Laura Wilson, another one of Maurice’s customers said: “He is out there rain, snow, heat ... it does not matter!!! He always has a smile on his face! Waves to everyone! He radiates goodness.” Mr. Smedley did the GoFundMe and at the end of the event, Maurice was presented with a check for $3,400. More than 110 residents of the Sylvan Park area donated to this GoFundMe for Maurice. After receiving the

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 3

check, Maurice said, “I’m truly grateful that Allah, God, allowed His will to be done, as it was a joyful moment.” This action on the part of the Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association is proof positive that Prince William’s ideas on ending homelessness can work with the proper initiative and by working with individual communities and by changing public perception of homelessness, just as Maurice [and his community] have done in one area of Nashville. By changing the perception of homelessness, we can then focus on prevention and supported housing to show that ending homelessness is achievable. The Contributor strives to come closer to this idea than any other organization in this city and Maurice proved that one person with a smile and a handshake can make a difference.

Special Exhibition in 2026

Quilt, by Rebecah Foster, 1808, 78.92.1

FREE Admission 1000 Rosa L. Parks Blvd. Nashville, Tennessee

615.741.2692 • TNMuseum.org

December 17 -31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 4

PIECES OF POETRY - 66

Merry Christmas Redeem the Time

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015

Cross Your Path

Written by Chris Scott Fieselman, Vendor #0015

Wondering what’s coming.

Random Acts of Kindness,

Want to make it count for something?

Are really some - thing to see.

Doing something nice for someone,

They’re uncommon in,

Just because they cross your path.

Our self-centered-society.

Make the most of moments,

With so many - still out there?

Like a river that keeps flowing.

Looking for a little Love?

Time flies by,

If we take care of each other,

Before you know it,

Then we all - will have - enough.

Your present is your past. Make something good, Redeem the Time and make it worth,

Happen for someone,

The moments we spend,

Just cause, they Cross Your Path.

Upon this earth.

Don’t let the chance,

The Life we lives’

Slip through your hands.

A Gift God gives us.

Don’t let the opportunity pass.

Don’t let it slip away.

Even if nobody,

Redeem the Time today.

Sees what you’ve done.

Redeem the Time,

You couldn’t help a hundred,

Cause, time flies by.

At least you helped one,

From the day we’re born,

And they have you,

To the day we die.

To thank for that.

Redeem the Time,

Just cause, they Cross Your Path.

It goes by fast. Only heaven knows,

A lasting impression,

How long it lasts.

On the people we meet.

Redeem the Time.

A bitter taste,

Redeem the Time.

Or a fond memory. Someone who,

What you say and do for others,

You never knew,

For your sisters and your brothers.

Before today,

Taking care of one another.

Is Grateful that,

Let the Love come shining through.

You happened to,

The time you spend together.

Pass their way.

Make their Life a little better.

No one’s ever useless,

To the world,

Who can lighten the load?

It may not matter.

Of their stranded fellow man,

How much is it worth to you?

On the side of the road. Never forget,

Redeem the Time and make it worth,

We’re all in this together,

The moments we spend,

When because of you,

Upon this earth.

Someone’s doing so much better.

The Life we lives’ A Gift God gives us.

Make something good,

Don’t let it slip away.

Happen for someone,

Redeem the Time today.

Just cause, they Cross Your Path.

Redeem the Time,

Don’t let the chance,

Cause, time flies by.

Slip through your hands.

From the day we’re born,

Don’t let the opportunity pass.

To the day we die.

Even if nobody,

Redeem the Time,

Sees what you’ve done.

It goes by fast.

You couldn’t help a hundred,

Only heaven knows,

At least you helped one,

How long it lasts.

And they have you,

Redeem the Time.

To thank for that.

Redeem the Time.

Just cause, they Cross Your Path.

THEME: DISN EY CH A R ACTER S 72. Not safe in baseball ACROSS 73. Like salad greens 1. Imperfections 6. Part of T.G.I.F. 9. Stark daughter on “Game DOWN of Thrones” 1. Part of an envelope 13. Kind of print, for short 2. *Nani Pelekai’s little sister 14. Hula dancer’s flowers and new pet owner 15. Kitchen tear-jerker 3. At the summit of 16. Viva voce 4. Beats, slangily 17. Draft beer container 5. Hypertension sufferer’s 18. Confused 19. *Irreverent Disney nanny dietary concern 6. Sorts 21. *Scar’s older brother 7. Driver’s aid 23. Famous T-Rex 8. Fraternity letter 24. Gardening tool 9. Dwarf buffalo 25. Louisville Slugger 10. Oil field structures 28. Stallion’s mate 11. Moving meditation 30. Famous ciphering mapractice chine 35. D’Artagnan’s weapon of 12. “____ day now” 15. Hurt or upset choice 20. Some tides 37. Essence 22. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s 39. Gloomy and drab strings 40. Containing limestone 24. Take back 41. Scrawny one 25. *Beast’s love interest 43. Purse to match a gown 26. Bee-related 44. Spot for boutonniËre 46. John Oates’ partner Daryl 47. Prepare for a rainy day 48. Catch in a snare 50. Rapper LL ____ J 52. ____ Aviv 53. Wholly engrossed 55. Call to Bo Peep 57. *Shere Khan’s sworn enemy 60. *Marie’s and Toulouse’s younger brother 64. Beneficiary 65. Opposite of nothing 67. Pancho’s last name 68. Weasel’s aquatic cousin 69. “New” prefix 70. *Like Iago in “Alladin” or Laddy Kluck in “Robin Hood” 71. Karate blow

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

27. Act like a siren 29. Macaulay Culkin’s “Richie ____” 31. Wraths 32. Gain access to (2 words) 33. Shade of violet 34. *a.k.a Little Mermaid 36. Ogler 38. Angel’s headgear 42. Geography class prop 45. “____ than life” 49. Chum 51. Immature, as an undeveloped insect 54. Baby grand 56. Full of pep 57. It’s drawn to light 58. “I’m ____ you!” 59. Shed tears 60. Soak some ink 61. Hipbones 62. *”I am ____, and I like warm hugs” 63. Goofy or silly 64. *Leader of the seven dwarfs 66. Romanian money

A FEW QUESTIONS

Q&A with Ashford Hughes Sr. BY JUDITH TACKET T

Ashford Hughes Sr. is the Executive Officer of Student Success and Opportunity for Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee recognized Hughes as one of the 2025 Game Changers in Nashville. When we asked what it means to be a game changer, Hughes credits three people who influenced him the most and taught him how to be a change-leader: his grandmother, the late Rev. Bill Barnes, and the late Judge Richard Dinkins. “Rev. Barnes really was the one who taught me, as his later book outlined, to love a city,” Hughes said. “What I learned from him is that you can’t just talk justice. You can’t just say you love a community. You have to be immensely connected and thrown in the community to love it, to understand the way that it moves, the way that it feels, the heartbeat of that city.” Hughes was hired as a senior advisor under Mayor Megan Barry and was later appointed as Nashville’s chief diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) officer under Mayor David Briley. He continued his work under MNPS. You are the Executive Officer of Student Success and Opportunity for Metro Nashville Public Schools. What do you do? I work a lot with teachers and principal leaders, helping them identify ways that they can create the conditions and environments where students can be most successful. A lot of the work I lead with teachers and educators is around looking at things through a different lens at how we take the whole child into consideration as we embed our instructional practices. For instance, how are we taking the child’s lived experience into consideration, his home environment, his culture, the things that he’s aware of, the things that make him happy? How do we bring all those things into the classroom setting so that we can increase engagement? We can increase a sense of belonging for our students, and we can get them to be the best person they can be? I really help our educators, whether it’s through professional development, whether it’s through strategic leadership and partnership design, really working with them to look at the child from a holistic perspective to really focus on student strengths and student well-being. Another portion of my role within the district is to be a liaison for Dr. Battle in working with community leaders. We meet with several key community groups within the African-American community, the Hispanic and Latino community, the Muslim community, the faith-based community, the community that represents students with disabilities, and I serve as the liaison to ensure that we’re building trusting, transparent relationships in the effort that we can hear from them, that we take into consideration and acknowledge what their community and their children are going through. We do our best to ensure that when they come into the classroom, we’re able to give them all the support they need. Another part of my work is focused on the school option side of things, the lottery process. How do I ensure that we’re opening ourselves up to be a welcoming district that provides plenty of opportunities for students and fam-

ilies to choose a multitude of schools that they can go to. So I am making certain that the way that we articulate the opportunities for our students is spread out across language, across economics, so that everybody understands they have choices within our school district. But what I would say that I am the most proud of is when I am connecting with our young people. Myself and my team, we really focus on cultivating student voice, asking students about what they want their educational experience to look, to feel and to be like, so that we can work with our educators to bridge that gap of awareness and understanding. We’re really working with our students to help them understand the power within their voice, the responsibility to express themselves, and the responsibility they have to be the best versions of themselves. [We ensure] they know that they’re supported every step of the way. So that’s kind of a long view, but really, if I could put it into one or two words, it’s about creating and having our people, our educators and our students, focus on the possibilities that exist in education and not always focus on the problems. And those possibilities are wrapped around creating positive, caring spaces and environments and conditions by which every student can thrive. What were some examples of changes that were made because of that direct engagement with students? One of the best outcomes is when teachers can start to understand what the students are going through at home. One key example is through our Muslim community during their holy season. A lot of our Muslim students were saying that there were some schools where they worked with teachers to get an understanding for the teachers when they were fasting and why they may not always be energetic during that time. And they didn’t have space to necessarily go and pray. So we began with that understanding and worked with our teachers and the American Muslim Advisory Council to think about ways by which we can articulate better to our teachers and educators the need during this holy season when students are fasting, the need to not only offer them some empathy and grace and trying to understand what they’re going through but also identify designated locations that they can go and pray. You co-chair My Brother’s Keeper Nashville. What is the importance of My Brother’s Keeper Nashville and what’s its impact? My Brother’s Keeper is important because we work with young males, black, African American, other males of color … to create a holistic environment where these students and these young people have what they need to thrive and be successful. My Brother’s Keeper is an opportunity. [In] a world where the images and depictions of black and brown men [has] oftentimes been historically negative, we are working to shift that narrative within the hearts and minds of our young males in the effort to get them to see, again, you have limitless possibilities. Don’t focus on what people say your problems are or the problems or challenges that you

may even face. Think about your possibilities of greatness and excellence that live within you. This is a timely movement now, as we see men in general not attending college as much. We see men in general who are struggling with employment, they’re struggling with mental well-being and mental health issues. We work with young males, particularly with students in the school system who are probably about 10 to 21 years old, getting them prepped and ready to be reading at grade level, ensuring that they’re high school graduation ready, ensuring that they have social and emotional intelligence and support, and then ensuring that they’re college ready, life skills ready, and ready to enter the workforce. We want these young boys to understand their power, and we want them to enact it in a way that’s going to benefit themselves, their family, and our communities. How do you select participants and about how many young men are involved? We have a couple of programs. One is called “I Read, I Lead.” We started that at the onset of COVID. We wanted to find a way that we could get books in the hands of our elementary school boys but also model to them black and brown males reading. So right now, we’re in about five or six different elementary schools. Each elementary school that we’re in, there are around 30-35 kids in the program. Educators help us select the kids. We have a second program called the “King and Me.” It is for our middle school and high school boys. We run that program one Saturday out of the month for around three and a half hours. We fluctuate between 30 and 50 young men, and we really are sitting down and addressing everyday life skills and what it means to be a leader. Those are our two mainstay programs. We have an annual summit where we bring all of our students together. That’s been averaging around 325-350 young people in grades six through 12. So we have access at any point in time to around 400 young people. The important thing about My Brother’s Keeper and our connection with kids is that we partner with other organizations that also have these programs, for instance, Backfield in Motion [or] Transformation Life Center. So we have within this city around 1,000-2,000 males whose lives we can touch and to whom we have access at any given time, giving them these positive messages. You recently expressed on social media your concern about the increase in visible homelessness among “Black men, especially young men” who “are showing to be unhoused and struggling with visible mental health challenges.” An increasing phenomenon you have observed not only in Nashville but in cities across the nation. What, in your opinion, could help stem this tide? First, as a community, we need to have an acknowledgement and a recognition that this is happening, right? I think some people see it but kind of look away. I know we really, as a city and as a country, haven’t progressed our conversation around

December 17 -31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 6

the unhoused, around the issues. Particularly within our African American community, this is a conversation that we are not having. And if we’re having it, we’re having it in isolated small pockets, in my opinion. So first thing is awareness and acknowledgement and not just talking about it, but having a deep and broad, nuanced conversation about what this means for our families and communities. I think some of the root causes are economic issues that are facing men, particularly black men, right now over the last couple of years. I think there’s a lot of, in some areas, substance abuse at an early age. I think there’s a lot of trauma in families that has caused this to happen. And even though we’ve had pockets of conversation around this, we haven’t really had holistic, value-driven understanding and awareness around how these issues are affecting us now. We also have to really take a look at the impact that COVID had, the impact of isolation of individuals that may have already been isolated. When I turn to myself and I say, “Well, Ashford, what can you do to influence some change? Where would I start?” I think one, it is really to take a look at the economic opportunities for our men in this community and not just to work a job, but what gives them economic independence? What can they do to earn a living wage in this city? I think when I see the younger men I ask myself, what opportunities were they provided in the education system? Did we do our best to ensure that they were graduation-ready? And when they graduated, were we able to give them an outlook, whether it was a skilled trade, to join the labor union to earn a living wage? Was it an opportunity if they wanted to go into the military to do that? So, I think about the economic opportunity really tied to education. And then I think about the many communities that are continuing to be under-resourced. And by that I mean lack of resources and finances for healthy food. If you look in the J.C. Napier area, there is no grocery store within a three- to five-mile radius. If you only go to the gas station or you go to a tobacco outlet to get your food, I guarantee you aren’t getting fresh fruit and vegetables. If your body and your mind aren’t healthy because of the foods you’re eating, it’s going to transpire into your physical and your mental health. I also think, again, what are we doing for the unhoused? In a land that is as wealthy as we are, we still cannot get the housing situation situated for our community members. When the economics impacts men, black men particularly, and they can’t provide for their families, some turn to substance abuse, and some don’t know where to turn. You see a lot of black men leaving the church, I think we have to take our ministry to the streets again and identify what’s going on and why this is happening. It has to start with a more nuanced conversation at the top. And also has to include those that are unhoused, that are experiencing these things, in the conversation to make it better. We have all that we need right now to address this issue. And for some reason, we aren’t having nuanced conversations.

HISTORY CORNER

The original Nashville Predator and its mysterious missing tooth A half-century ago, a construction company unearthed the remains of a saber-toothed cat that had lived in present-day downtown Nashville 11,000 years ago. A quarter-century ago, that discovery resulted in the naming of a pro sports team. But about the same time, one of the prehistoric cat’s teeth turned up missing. This strange story begins in August 1971. Workers were digging on the site of what is now known as the UBS Tower when they stumbled across some bones in an underground chasm. The construction project was halted for a few weeks while scientists studied what they had found. It turns out, you see, that downtown Nashville sits on a series of vertical caverns. And in the fall of 1971, while the construction project was halted, archaeologists and paleontologists found about a thousand bones in this cavern. In one section, high up, they discovered human remains, which were later determined to be from the Woodland period (about 1,000-3,000 years old). In another cavern, down low, they discovered the bones of a saber-toothed cat, along with those of other prehistoric animals including elephants, horses and camels — all of which were known to roam Middle Tennessee at one time. At the time, the saber-toothed cat bones were carbon dated to be between 8,700 and 9,600 years old, which is about 2,000 years younger than any saber-toothed cat remains ever found in North America. Today, the scientific community doubts the accuracy of this carbon dating, and the feeling now is that the bones are more like 11,000 years old. “We won’t know, and we will never know, why all these animal bones ended up in the same

BY BILL CAREY

The display case in the lobby of Regions Bank (previously AmSouth Bank) in 2008 shows various recovered bones. place,” Aaron Deter-Wolf of the Tennessee Division of Archaeology speculated in a recent talk to the Nashville History Club. “The animals may have died on the surface, and their bones later washed into the pit. Perhaps they fell in while alive and couldn’t escape. “In the case of the saber-toothed cat, it may have been drawn in while following its prey and also become trapped.” We should credit both the Foster & Creighton Construction Company and First American National Bank for halting the project in the first place because there was (and still is) no law in Tennessee that prohibits an individual or company from digging through and discarding animal bones, no matter how old. In fact, First American

was so proud of its actions that the bank put up a display in its lobby at 315 Deaderick Street, featuring several of the bones and teeth that were discovered in the dig. I thought I’d remind people of this archaeological and paleontological find because of two things that happened in the late 1990s. In 1997, Nashville’s expansion NHL team took suggestions on what its nickname would be. On the eve of announcing a decision, the Tennessean reported that the leading candidates for the nickname were the Fury, the Edge and the Ice Tigers. But then, at the last minute, team owner Craig Leipold chose to call the team the Predators — in a nod to the discovery of the saber-toothed cat’s bones 26 years earlier.

Kid’s Corner Created by Mccollonough Ceili

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About two years later, Birmingham-based AmSouth Bank took over Nashville-based First American. At the time I was a business reporter, and I can tell you this was a big corporate takeover with a profound effect on the Nashville psyche. First American was the last of the big Nashville banks, and a lot of people in Davidson County were very upset about its demise. A few months after the takeover was announced, I got an anonymous tip that some of the prehistoric bones had been stolen from the display in the bank’s lobby in the transition from First American to AmSouth. I called the bank, and, sure enough, a tooth that had belonged to the saber-toothed cat was missing. “I cannot tell you how long it was gone before we discovered it,” an AmSouth spokesman told me at the time. “It happened before I was able to take a complete inventory.” The AmSouth spokesman told me then that a person who is not an archaeologist or paleontologist would probably not be able to identify it. “You might think that it came out of a rottweiler’s mouth,” he told me. A quarter century has passed since the Nashville Predators got their name and since the saber-toothed cat’s tooth turned up missing. On behalf of the city of Nashville, the NHL’s Predators and the Tennessee Division of Archaeology, I’d like to ask the person who took the tooth to return it. I promise you’ll get a letter of thanks from the mayor and free hockey tickets if you return the tooth. Bill Carey is the founder of Tennessee History for Kids, a non-profit organization that helps teachers cover social studies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT

Learn More About Nashville’s Fight to Keep People Housed BY JUDITH TACKET T

The city of Nashville is fighting to keep local homelessness programs intact and Nashvillians housed. A recently submitted Metro Council resolution calls for the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) to work with the Homelessness Planning Council and submit a contingency plan by March to support local programs that face federal funding cuts and help keep Nashvillians in housing. The non-binding resolution is in response to looming federal policy changes that threaten to cut funding from local homelessness programs. If adopted, Metro Council urges OHS to utilize money from $4.4 million in Metro funds the department received in the current fiscal year that started in July 2025 to ensure Nashvillians served by these programs do not lose their permanent housing. As widely reported in other media, the city of Nashville also joined a national lawsuit challenging the federal government’s decision to stop a two-year grant funding process and replace it at the last minute, which would jeopardize local programs and likely result in the loss of housing for hundreds of individuals and families. National Alliance to End Homelessness, et al. v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development & Scott Turner and was filed on Dec. 1, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. A first hearing was held on Monday, Dec. 8. Immediately prior to the hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, HUD withdrew the FY2025 NOFO and claimed the lawsuit was moot. McElroy, a Trump appointee, was not pleased and did not grant HUD’s request to dismiss the court case. She scheduled a follow-up hearing for Dec. 19 and requested a response and explanation about why HUD withdrew the FY2025 NOFO. “I understand changing policies,” McElroy said. “That’s not the issue. You can change the policy all you want, but there’s a mechanism for doing so, and it’s not doing things an hour before court.” The withdrawal of the FY2025 NOFO resulted in even more chaos among provider agencies because HUD reserved the right to reissue the FY2025 NOFO at any time. This means that communities like Nashville had to pause the current local CoC competition, a cumbersome and work-intensive process, to wait and see what HUD is doing next. Nashville alongside national nonprofits and other cities requests that HUD abandon the current FY2025 NOFO and continue funding programs under the previous twoyear FY2024-25 NOFO. This would allow local communities to prepare for anticipated policy changes, which will significantly change rules and cut permanent housing (read about the potential loss of permanent supportive housing in Nashville in our issue publish on Dec. 3). April Calvin, director of the Office of Homeless Services, Drew Freeman, CEO of Safe Haven Family Shelter, and Mary Katherine Rand, executive director of the Mary Parrish Center, have each filed a sworn affi-

davit for the plaintiff in which they describe how the new HUD NOFO would negatively impact Nashvillians. “For the Nashville CoC, this means that the maximum amount it can apply for in Permanent Housing projects is approximately $3,414,184, or approximately $8.4 million less than it received for FY 2024,” Calvin stated in her affidavit. “Should the Nashville CoC be limited to a 30 percent renewal for Permanent Housing funds, it is inevitable that a large number of clients currently in Permanent Housing will lose years long safe, stable housing.” While Calvin’s numbers are not completely accurate, Nashville still stands to lose approximately $6.9 million in permanent housing dollars under the FY 2025 NOFO - if it were to be reissued with the same 30-percant cap on permanent housing. If funding under the old, two-year NOFO is discontinued – a possibility that still looms large as of this writing – some permanent housing programs may end as early as January. Freeman states in his affidavit that “Safe Haven has a CoC grant from HUD of $361,375 for Rapid Re-Housing (“RRH Grant”) that expires on January 31, 2026. “Without that funding being renewed, approximately 45 families comprised of 151 children and adults will lose the housing we found for them,” Freeman writes. “We now have approximately two months, over the holiday season, to find replacement funding. In a competitive fundraising environment, with such short notice, we cannot expect to find replacement funding without renewal of the RRH Grant.” Even with the current temporary withdrawal of the new NOFO, Safe Haven and other organizations face an abrupt funding cut – unless the court requires that the funding continues as originally planned. The lawsuit also claims that the timing of the FY2025 NOFO was illegal, coming months after a statutory deadline passed in June 2025. Besides limiting the funding of permanent housing programs to 30 percent, other significant changes included in the now withdrawn FY2025 NOFO included that programs are not permitted to participate in harm reduction, offer racial preferences, or collect data on and gender besides male/ female designations. HUD also clearly stated that they reserved the right to deny applicants with a history of supporting diversity and harm reduction – even though that’s exactly why the federal government promoted in this program over the past decade. Furthermore, programs receive extra points if they closely work with local law enforcement, and communities become more competitive when they implement criminalization measures such as making it illegal to camp in public. In her affidavit, Rand, a domestic violence provider, points out that the FY2025 NOFO requested forced treatment for transitional housing programs, which is in direct contradiction to other federal law such as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and

TERMS TO KNOW Continuum of Care (CoC): A designated geographic area in which stakeholders work together to build a homeless crisis resolution system. The federal government provides homelessness funding in an annual competition (NOFO) through the CoC Program. Homelessness Planning Council (HPC): A community board serving as the governing body of the Nashville-Davidson County Continuum of Care. The HPC is housed within Metro government but was not set up to function as a regular Metro board. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issues a NOFO to appropriate a total of about $3.8 billion in CoC Program funds to thousands of agencies providing homeless services nationwide. In 2024, the Biden Administration issued a two-year NOFO, referred to as FY2024-25 NOFO. In November of 2025, the Trump Administration rescinded the FY2024-2025 NOFO and issued a new FY2025 NOFO that drastically reversed policy, which Congress had approved for years. Consequently, two lawsuits were filed – one by 20 states, the other by nonprofits and cities. Read below about the second one that Nashville joined. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): The federal agency that for decades has promoted housing first policies and abruptly changed course limiting funding for permanent housing in the FY2025 NOFO. Rapid Rehousing (RRH): A permanent housing program that moves people from shelters or outdoor situations into permanent housing quickly, where they hold their own annual lease, and offering temporary rental assistance and support services. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): A permanent housing program that moves people from shelters or outdoor situations into permanent housing, where they hold their own annual lease, and offering ongoing rental assistance and support services without a time limit. Coordinated Entry (CE): A process that standardizes the way individuals and families at-risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness access, are assessed for, and referred to housing and services. the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA). Under both those acts, “it is illegal for a provider to require beneficiaries to participate in support services as a condition of receiving housing assistance; those services must be voluntary,” Rand writes. Yet, HUD gives extra points in applications that mandate treatment. “As a result of this scoring disadvantage, my organization does not have a fair or meaningful opportunity to compete for CoC funding,” Rand states. “My organization receives both VAWA and FVPSA funding, and in our community, we are the only CoC-funded entity that exclusively provides victim services. “If we are not awarded CoC funding, these housing programs will close,” Rand continues. “As a result, our community will no longer have any longer-term housing options designed specifically for survivors.

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There are no comparable programs in this community that could absorb these survivors if our programs close.” The Mary Parrish Center served 246 individuals through their CoC-funded housing programs in 2024. In addition, the Mary Parrish Center operates the federally required coordinated entry (CE) process for survivors of domestic violence, which by law has to be separate from the CE process for the general homelessness population. Rand stated that currently about 334 households are on the domestic violence CE By Name List, “representing 684 adult survivors and their children in need of safe housing.” OHS is currently engaging local providers around contingency planning and encourages community members interested in receiving updates regarding the local competition to complete an online form to subscribe to the Continuum of Care listserv.

FEATURES

Unknown Songwriter Christmas Edition 2025 BY M.E. MARTIN, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Born Feb. 27, 1807 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the greatest poets of our time, and a national treasure. He was known for poems like, “A Psalm Of Life” and “Paul Revere’s Ride.” Henry and his wife Fanny Appleton Longfellow raised six children. In 1861 her dress caught fire. The fire was intense and Henry did everything he could to put it out, even covering her with his own body. She died from her burns a short time later, and Henry was so badly burned that he couldn’t even attend her funeral. He grew a beard to cover burns on his face and was so grief stricken he feared being placed in an asylum. His eldest son Charles ran away from home at 18 and joined the Civil War without his father’s knowledge. When his son finally returned from the war he was badly wounded and required Henry to care for him. It was during this time one morning, that he heard

church bells outside his window and wrote the poem, “Christmas Bells.” This was put to music in 1872 by an English organist by the name of John Baptiste Calkin. This is the carol we know today as, “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day.” The song, “Silver Bells” first appeared in the movie The Lemon Drop Kid in 1951. The first recorded version was by Bing Crosby and Carol Richards on Sept. 8, 1950 and Dean Martin included “Silver Bells” on his Christmas album in 1966. It was written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. The song started with the title, “Tinkle Bells.” Ray Evans was quoted as saying, “We never thought that ‘tinkle’ had a double meaning until Jay went home and his wife said, ‘Are you out of your mind? Do you know what the word tinkle is?’” And so we have “Silver Bells.” Hugh Martin and Ralf Blane wrote “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” for Judy

Garland in 1944 for the movie Meet Me In St.Louis. Martin said that the song began with the melody. “I found a little tune that

I liked but couldn’t make it work. I played with it for two or three days and then threw it in the trash.” Fortunately Blane had heard it and told Martin that it was too good to throw away. Blaine said, “We dug in the trash till we found it, and thank God we did.” And so let us embrace the true meaning of Christmas, with all of our loved ones gathered around. Let us try and do the things that Jesus would appreciate. Let’s care for those less fortunate than ourselves. You will never understand what everything is until you lose it. And while I would like to think that Hugh Martin is a distant relative of mine (I don’t think so) I am grateful to a man named Blane who knew a good tune when he heard it. And to a man’s wife who knew that the word tinkle had a double meaning!! Merry Christmas to you all and remember God loves us all especially when we sing.

Contributor Supporter Phoebe Heldman Leaves a Legacy of Creativity Phoebe Clark Heldman passed over on December 5, 2025, surrounded by her family, just after the full supermoon. With much strength, she had been positively navigating illness for most of the calendar year, aware of God’s presence throughout her journey. She was born on October 23, 1986, and is survived by her parents, Russ and Mimi Heldman;

her sisters, Mary Deaton and Mamie; and her grandparents, Marvin Nischan and namesake, Phoebe Clark Nischan. For those lucky enough to know her, Phoebe Clark was a pure force of originality. Everything she touched was an authentic expression of her creative brilliance and intuition, spanning her painting, curation, and jewelry design. She

moved through the world with a rare kind of attention. An avid steward of the earth, she was happiest when spending long, unhurried time on her favorite walking trails or beneath a vast pink sky, collecting wildflowers and keepsakes along the way. She was deeply passionate in her work at the Waldorf Peapod Playgarden, meeting the children

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with the same imagination and steady wonder that shaped so much of her life and relationships. Her friends and family will remember her as fiercely loyal, deeply curious and in awe of the natural world and its healing qualities. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to https://friendsofbeamanpark.org, a place that held her heart.

COVER STORY

2025

Homelessness Year in Review 2025

The Contributor looks at the events and policy shifts that shaped the year BY AMANDA HAGGARD In 2025, the city experienced a busy and chaotic year addressing homelessness, with a cascade of events, policy shifts and program expansions shaping the landscape in Nashville and nationally. This year, the release of the Point-in-Time Count in June revealed rising numbers of unsheltered residents. Strobel House celebrated its one-year milestone as a permanent supportive housing apart-

ment complex. Legal battles over federal funding, repeated encampment clearings — including a high-profile sweep on July 4 just in time for the fireworks show and the closure of a longstanding encampment — and the continued closure of the downtown library disrupted lives and highlighted persistent gaps in services. At the same time, new programs like the Unseen Nashville walking tours

and increased Metro funding created pathways for support, engagement and housing. The combination of displacement, advocacy and systemic intervention made 2025 a year of dense, transformative activity in Nashville’s homelessness crisis. While this list is nowhere near exhaustive, here are some of the things that shaped the homelessness sector in the past year:

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COVER STORY

Impact of Closing Old Tent City Nashville closed Old Tent City, the city’s largest and longest-standing encampment, located off Anthes Drive near the Cumberland River. For more than 40 years, the site had served as a self-organized community for people experiencing homelessness, providing not just shelter, but informal governance at times, shared resources and mutual support. Its closure marked the end of a space that had offered some stability, safety, and social connection for generations of residents, despite conditions at times also not being great in the space. Residents received 60-day eviction notices in March. Some were placed into transitional motels or permanent housing, while others temporarily stayed with family or friends. Despite these efforts, many lost not only their homes but also the community networks that had been central to their survival. The dismantling highlighted the trauma caused by repeated displacement and raised questions about whether temporary placements truly meet the needs of those affected. The closure underscored a broader pattern in Nashville’s homelessness strategy: clearing encampments without sufficient permanent housing to absorb displaced residents. Many who were relocated faced ongoing instability, often forced to find shelter in unsafe or hidden spaces. The event also drew attention to structural challenges such as insufficient affordable housing, limited shelter capacity, and inadequate support services. Beyond logistics, the closure carried symbolic weight to so many in the community. It erased a visible community, displacing not just bodies but histories, relationships and agency. Advocates argue that the event should prompt a shift toward housing-first policies, emphasizing permanent supportive housing, long-term stability and meaningful involvement of people with lived experience in policy decisions. Audit of the Office of Homeless Services Metro’s Office of Homeless Services underwent a partial audit that uncovered operational issues within the department. The partial audit identified gaps in financial controls and recordkeeping. The full audit expanded these findings, revealing broader structural weaknesses in oversight, contract management and program tracking. The results of the audit are not complete and still pending. Closure of the Downtown Nashville Public Library After Parking Garage Fire The downtown Nashville Public Library — one of the most essential daytime refuge spaces for people experiencing homelessness — closed temporarily after a fire in the connected parking garage forced the building to shut down. The closure immediately disrupted daily survival routines for many unhoused individuals who rely on the library for bathrooms, computer access, charging stations, safe indoor rest and protection from extreme weather. With few alternative daytime options downtown, the shutdown created significant strain on people living on the streets. As the year closed, the library remained shut heading into the new year, leaving a major gap in the city’s already limited daytime services.

Housing Instability Multiple individuals who had been placed into housing programs earlier in the year lost those placements after struggling to maintain stability. The incidents pointed to vulnerabilities within Nashville’s housing retention system, including inconsistent follow-up services, landlord complications and insufficient case management support. Point-in-Time Count Results Released The annual Point-in-Time Count — conducted each January — showed shifts in Nashville’s homelessness numbers when the full results were released in June pointing to an increase in unsheltered homelessness in Nashville. The data provides a snapshot of how many people were living unsheltered or in emergency shelters and highlighted several areas of growth, especially among those living outdoors or experiencing chronic homelessness. Legal Challenges Over Federal Homelessness Funding A major conflict emerged around the federal homelessness funding process (NOFO), resulting in a lawsuit alleging that local organizations were unfairly evaluated during the competition for federal dollars. The dispute created uncertainty for several Nashville programs dependent on those funds and intensified scrutiny of how federal resources are allocated to local agencies. Read more on Page 8. Strobel House One-Year Milestone Strobel House, the permanent supportive housing apartment complex, reached its oneyear anniversary. The program’s first full year of operation showed many successes around providing the type of support that comes with literal in-house support, but also faced challenges related to staffing, capacity and management. Homelessness Symposium in June Nashville hosted its first Homelessness Symposium that gathered service providers, researchers, national housing experts and individuals with lived experience. The event examined system-wide challenges, including outreach shortages, retention services and the city’s growing unsheltered population, and offered evidence-based strategies for improving coordination across agencies. It was one of the year’s largest forums for collaborative policy planning. Dispute Within the Homelessness Planning Council A conflict arose inside the Homelessness Planning Council related to payments and financial decision-making, centered in part around concerns raised by a member with lived experience Kennetha Patterson. The dispute escalated into broader questions about governance, transparency, and internal accountability within Nashville’s homelessness leadership structures. July 4 Encampment Clearing One of the most controversial closures outside of the Old Tent City closures happened ahead of the July 4 weekend. A longstanding encampment was cleared to make way for the fireworks celebration. The clearing displaced residents with limited or no advance notice and resulted in the loss of personal belongings,

including essential items like identification documents and medications. The timing and abruptness of the sweep seemed to happen with very little transparency ahead of time. Unseen Nashville Tours and Unzine Nashville at The Contributor The Unseen Nashville program expanded its walking tours, providing new paid opportunities for individuals who had experienced homelessness. Participants were trained to lead tours that highlight downtown history through the lens of survival, resilience and lived experience, offering another sustainable income opportunity and community engagement. Unzine Nashville also launched, publishing more than 40 issues in collaboration with vendors and community members and organizing collaborative workshops where people experiencing homelessness could write, create visual art and share personal stories. It became a growing creative outlet and community-building project across the year. Efforts to Reduce Visibility of Homelessness Downtown Several public-space management efforts — particularly in high-traffic areas downtown — seemed to be implemented to reduce visible homelessness. These included targeted cleanups, removal or redesign of benches and increased police presence downtown. The changes affected areas around major tourist corridors and pushed unsheltered individuals further from central public spaces. Benches for seating in spaces near Korean Veterans Bridge and Music City Center and surrounding were removed, making it difficult for folks to rest in those areas and be seen by others. Community members stepped in all over Nashville building and installing benches, all volunteers hoping to ease hardship for daily riders. JourneyPass Transit Access Program Nashville continued operating the JourneyPass program with WeGo Transit, providing transit access for people experiencing homelessness to attend appointments, job interviews, service programs and essential errands. The program is slated to increase to more service providers in 2026 with enrollment processes and usage guidelines evolved over the year. Transit remains a critical piece of service navigation in the city and will be served better by the most robust services possible for low-income riders. Increased Metro Budget for Homelessness During the fiscal year’s budget process, Metro allocated an additional $5 million to homelessness initiatives. This raises the total funding for the Office of Homeless Services to approximately $11 million, the largest budget aimed at homelessness and housing in the city’s history. Growth and Milestones at Daybreak Arts Daybreak Arts expanded its creative and workforce development programs for artists with lived experience of homelessness or housing insecurity. The organization facilitated new exhibitions, increased artist stipends, and broadened access to income opportunities rooted in the arts. It also celebrated an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, which highlighted the organization and its artists.

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OHS 2025 HIGHLIGHTS The Contributor asked the Office of Homeless Services to offer some wins and challenges from 2025. The following are some of the things OHS wanted to highlight for the year: • As community, we moved over 1,800 individuals into permanent housing. • Metro Council added $2 million to the annual budget dedicated to Strobel House to continue housing and supportive services. • Metro Council added an additional $2.4 million for Rapid Response Funding to provide short-term rental assistance and shorten the length of time that households experience homelessness but create a pathway for long-term stability. • Hosted the city’s first State of Homelessness Symposium where over 300 registered to gain insights from Nashville’s homelessness data and national speakers. • Engaged in network expansion opportunities to partner with Nashville Fit Magazine and local churches to host a community-wide resource fair Rise Up. The event was designed to engage the philanthropic community and the faith-based community to increase an awareness of the work being done in the city and opportunities for them to support the work. The next Rise Up event will occur in February of 2026.

VENDOR WRITING

Thankful for Everything I Receive STORY AND PHOTO BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

As another year comes to a close, I always like show appreciation for the many gifts I’ve been given. I’ve often said that selling The Contributor is NOT just about the money, and this is a prime example of that. While I was out recently I didn’t make much money this particular Sunday, instead I refer to days like this as “necessity days.” That’s when you receive things you need other than money — things like a nice blanket that keep me warm and toasty. I was also given plenty of food: bread, soup, crackers, mashed potatoes, collard greens, fruit cups and more. For dessert I was given brownies, both pre-baked and others I can bake at home. I was also given snacks in the form of trail mix and fruit bars, fruit cups and water to drink.

Many were hesitant to take a paper, some outright refused, but I always try to remind them how valuable their gift truly is, and that it is appreciated! One other experience I found touching was a young man who is STILL homeless passed by one morning and noticed I didn’t have any coffee. He returned a short time later saying, “I thought you might need this,” and he handed me a cup of coffee and a cheeseburger! I offered to give him a few dollars, but he refused saying I’d helped him many times. Why was this SO special? This guy was clearly worse off than I was, yet he took the time to do something nice for me anyway — that deserves a shout out!!!

No Parking

Leader[Ship?]

BY MAURICE B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR Look down the streets and you’ll see it’s understandable that there’s no time to park, it’s only time to boogie and only time to jam. That’s what the action of moving forward towards our hopes, aspirations and dreams looks like. Take the mere concept of this whole wide world being like a dance floor. Dance floors are usually crowded and we must focus mainly on our own moves. We must accept and understand life like, yeah we all came from a hole and respectfully we’ll all return to a hole. As “humankind” has been created as

a whole nature we all have our differences that we look and ponder on more than we observe and accept the similarities thereof. Focusing on race and the conduct of each other’s behavior is the issue that keeps us all separate. In religious teachings where religion is merely defined as a way of life the teachings were and are always the same. First came the law to an era of people, then came a teaching to fulfill or “carry it out” to an era of people, then came the full teaching of how to live/dance on the dance floors of life for all humanity. It’s only but by our choices that we create complications

BY MARK N., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

of matters that usually don’t pertain to our own groove. As each individual is on the dance floor of existence does mean their groove is your groove and vise versa, but at the same time if it’s truly meant for the two to line up by Allah/God’s will than in time they’ll groove together. And that goes without saying in any relationship, because the factor of planning is really required whereas after a human has come from a hole the plan of returning to a hole should already exist. Sorry to say, dancing on the dance floor has it’s place and time for all of humankind.

What does it take to be a leader? I really don’t know, because I’m very picky of the people I follow, and I really don’t want people to follow me. I would think any person who has certain traits of being a fallible human being would pause on being a leader. So, what traits should a person look for in a leadership? Me, I would need to be headed in the right direction at all times or at least most of the time. The leaders of the day don’t even care what a person thinks — my way or the highway. Guess what? Nothing new under the sun. Ezekiel 22:27: “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gains.” NO more to say.

Isaiah’s Mystery Metaphor and Amazing Grace BY GARY E., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Many years ago I had the privilege or viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Pacific Science Center of Seattle and I discovered that the “sons of light” had preserved 20 copies of the book of Isaiah. Some scrolls date as early as 200 years before Christ. Open your Bible (assuming you have a paper copy) and you’ll find this book almost right in the middle. The prophet Isaiah lived in Jerusalem 700 years before Christ and 300 years after two of Israel’s greatest kings, David and Solomon. Isaiah is the first of the “major” prophets and whereas the two that follow, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, are considered to be the “Father” and “Holy Spirit” respectively; Isaiah is considered to be of the “Son.” Why the son? The book has many prophetic fulfillments in the New Testament such as the virgin birth; but it also has the oft-quoted chapter 53 about the suffering servant and lamb of God. But it’s interesting too that Isaiah is the prophet who wrote, “But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags …” (Isaiah 64:6); thus pointing to the need for more than good deeds to save us. God said to Isaiah, “Behold, I will make thee

a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills a chaff … the wind shall carry them away … and thou shalt rejoice in the Lord and glory in the Holy One of Israel.” (Is. 41:15-16) It’s easy to imagine this word coming to Isaiah after viewing a worker threshing the wheat or barley with what we know as a flail. Consider that the book of Isaiah has 66 chapters (same number as the books of the Bible) and seems to transition to New Testament themes in chapter 40. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord …” (Isaiah 40:3). Those very words would be spoken by John the Baptist 700 years later. Until chapter 40, much of the subject matter was about law and government. Even the beautiful descriptions of the soon-coming millennial reign of Christ found in Isaiah 11:4-9 are about law and government. But now God is revealing a new tool or weapon in the imagery of a flail: grace, and grace that is only made possibly by the cross. A flail is a threshing tool consisting of wooden staff with a short heavy stick swinging from it to beat the crop, thus separating the worthless husk from the grain. The tool promised to Isaiah would be sharp with teeth to, “thresh the

mountains and beat them small” and, “make the hills as chaff” to be blown away with the wind. What these “mountains and hills” are for each individual person may be different. For some it could be sin, for others financial difficulties or health challenges (that’s me). For God, the mountains and hills are the hindrances of his kingdom on Earth. The movie Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddell, the famous Olympic runner in the 1930s who shocked the world by refusing to run on the Lord’s day. In so doing, he allowed a man who was vehemently determined to beat him to win the race for England and get the glory. Liddell heartily congratulates the man upon the win. Grace isn’t always about winning in the way we think. In the movie, Liddell reads from Isaiah to a church gathering. “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him as less than nothing.” (Isaiah 40:17) If you look up the word “grace” in the dictionary you find the word connected to only one religion; it is uniquely Christian. Grace is always about God reaching down to us, as John says, “Herein is love, not that we we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the

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propitiation for our sins.” Paul says it another way, “But God commends his love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “The Bible is no mere book but a living creature that conquers all who oppose it.” He obviously saw how the Christian faith had toppled the Roman Empire, which became the Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox or Byzantine; but he also saw how the Protestant Reformation had spared England the terrible fate of his own country in the French Revolution. Finally, he saw how Protestantism had given birth to free America. Incidentally, freedom was won by Protestantism, beginning with Luther in the 1500s, long before the writing of the American Constitution; and many died for the faith. The price of freedom has no been cheap. I’ll say it this way: we can’t lose for winning if we place our faith in Jesus. Yes, our gifts to the poor and newspaper purchases count and those will be tallied in heaven, or even rewarded here on Earth; but that’s a topic for another article. Here I say with the great reformer, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” God bless you.

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

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FUN

HOBOSCOPES SAGITTA R IUS

So we brought the tree inside, Sagittarius. Somewhere around the 15th or 16th century we thought it would be a good idea to take the trees we’d previously been decorating in the town square, chop them down and bring them into our houses. I guess it’s all part of a privatization of ritual. We didn’t have to share the same tree with our neighbors anymore. Now we have one just for our own family. And it’s sweet and nostalgic. Nothing wrong with a tree in the house. But let it be a reminder this year that you’ve got something to share. That your neighbors near and far may have less than you. And that the first gift we used to give was our presence in the square.

CAPRICORN

Got home from work today and the strangest thing happened, Capricorn. Do you remember Jake who used to work mornings? I’d only see him when I was clocking-out from third shift. He was always super nice and would offer to rewind any videos I hadn’t gotten around to. Anyway, Jake’s ghost showed up at my house tonight. I was like “I thought you just moved to Florida.” and he was like, “No, bro, I died. Probably from working too much.” Anyway, he told me I’ll be visited by three ghosts so I’m gonna try to clean up around here. This reminds me, Capricorn, that you always need to be prepared for the unexpected, but especially this time of year.

Well, that was weird, Aries. I just had a visit from The Ghost of Christmas Past. Cool lady. Just seemed a little worried about me, I guess. She showed me a Christmas when I was a kid and everything seemed magical and sparkly. And then she showed me when I was growing up and things got more complicated with my family. She seemed to think I might have unrealistic expectations for the magic of the season. That maybe everything was always complicated, I just used to know less. That maybe if I just give in to some chaos and discomfort, I might get a little bit of the magic back, too. Anyway, Aries, thought that might apply to some of what you’re looking at this week.

TAURUS

You know that story, Taurus, about the guy who steals Christmas? He sneaks into houses and pulls trees up chimneys and takes food off tables and presents out of boxes? Well, I know that guy, Taurus. And it’s not quite like they say. Yes, it’s true that his heart grew three sizes that day. But it wasn’t the cure for feeling bitter or jealous. When things got quiet again he got lonely. Because that’s what happens after a story, Taurus. Life keeps going. So I call him up every couple of weeks and check-in. Sometimes he does the same for me. We have to. Get close now, Taurus, and stay close later. It’s hard work but it’s worth it.

GEMINI

AQUA RIUS

I’ve been digging around in the hall closet for that one box of decorations but I can’t find it, Aquarius. Mostly I’m upset that I won’t have a stocking to hang. If you don’t have a stocking then you might not get an orange. And if you don’t get an orange then you might get scurvy. If you get scurvy you might lose teeth. And if you lose teeth you might wake up in the middle of the night face to face with a terrifying tooth fairy! I’ve got to find that box, Aquarius! But more than that, we may all need to quit guessing about what might go wrong next. It’s never what you expect. Just hang the socks you can and let the rest take care of itself.

PISCES

ARIES

I love that scene in It’s a Wonderful Life where there’s a run on the Bailey Building and Loan and George gives the speech to the crowd about how the money they’ve invested is taking care of their neighbors. He asks them to take no more than they need today so there will be more for everybody tomorrow. And then he and Mary give away every dollar they have (well, all but two). Maybe that’s the message this season, Pisces. Share what you have. Take what you need. Give what you can. It’s worth a try.

I grew up hearing about how poinsettias are a deadly poison. “Don’t eat it!” “Don’t touch it!” “Don’t look at it too long!” And yet we had them all over the house for a month. Every Christmas brought a minefield of intrusive thoughts. “What if I ate one?” Well, it turns out Gemini that it might not have been so bad. Digestive systems don’t like poinsettias but they’re hardly the deathtraps I heard about growing up. What are the fears that keep your mind occupied this month, Gemini? And how likely are they really? Maybe breathe a sight of relief every time you see a poinsettia this week. I think it’s going to be OK.

CANCER

This is wild, Cancer! I just had a full-on visit from The Ghost of Christmas Present. It was great, because usually this time of year I just stay in and watch documentaries. I always tell people I might go to their party. And I always say I may come out for the big singalong at the tree. But I never do it. That ghost took me to all the parties and events! Nobody could even see or hear me so it was way less awkward. I asked, but the ghost said he can’t do that for me every year. Uncomfortable social situations are kind of the price you pay for getting to celebrate and enjoy the season. He might have a point. Maybe next time we should both go, Cancer. If it’s too weird, we can at least make jokes by the fire.

LEO

I generally like Christmas music, Leo, but the insipid instrumental holiday cover leaking out of these crackly autoparts store speakers has me ready to walk out without the wiper blades I came in here for. Why does it have to be everywhere all of the time? People used to go hear live music performed in churches and concert halls. They’d sing songs at home around a piano. But it didn’t have to take up every inch of air in every aspect of life. I guess I’m just being a curmudgeon, Leo. Next month it’s back to the same boring autoparts funk-jazz. Maybe we can enjoy being where we are while we’re here. And I’ll get some washer-fluid too.

VIRGO

I never know what to get you for Christmas, Virgo. I never hear you talk about anything you want. I never see you get excited about things you don’t already have. And I guess that’s a good way to be, but could you maybe drop us a hint? Not that you need to go around asking for things. I guess I’m just saying that we’d like to know you better, friend. Tell me more about what you’re enjoying lately and even if I don’t get a gift idea out of it, we’ll at least understand each other more.

LIBRA

You’re not gonna believe this, Libra, but I just met The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come! At least, I think that’s who it was. He didn’t say a word. Just pointed at various scenes of future horrors and made terrible creaky noises. He showed me my grave and I said, “So wait, are you telling me that if I get in the holiday spirit now, I won’t die later?” That seemed to upset him. I think he was just trying to remind me that we’ve only got shot here. And that we all end at the same place. And that how we spend our holidays is how we spend our holy lives. I wanted to tell him that I get it and that I’ll spread the word. But he was already gone. Now I’ve got a lot to think about on my Uber home from the cemetery. Wait, Libra, what day is today? Did I miss it?

SCORPIO

One of the most profound lyrics in any seasonal song has got to be the one that goes “Fa-La-La-La-La La-La-La-La!” I mean, who can disagree with that, Scorpio? It’s just empirically true. Sometimes the words run out. Sometimes everything is full and sad and joyous and lonely and sparkly and scared and all you can really say about it is “Fa-LaLa-La-La La-La-La-La!” If that’s how you’re feeling this week, Scorpio, give it a try. You don’t even have to sing the rest of the song, just the good part.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a trained poinsettia detoxifier, or a certified windshield wiper technician. Want more? Visit mrmysterio.com Or just give him a call at 707-VHS-TAN1.

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

VENDOR WRITING

Housing Insecurities BY FREEPRESSGMA

When The Contributor newspaper staff first worked to find me housing they asked me very few questions. One of them was, how can we help you bring your drivers license up-to-date? A member of staff came with me to the DMV so that I could get a license with an address. That allowed me to get into MDHA housing. At the same time, the staff helped me address other needs. I needed a sleep machine, some disability compensation and some medication. I had severe depression. It wasn’t just because I was homeless, but that wasn’t helping any. After two and a half years in secure housing, I have begun to blossom. I am teaching art part time and I am selling the Contributor. I have participated in the Zine workshops and created six UnZines so far. They are very popular with my customers as well as the staff volunteers at the Contributor. Believe

me, formerly homeless people can tell when praise is sincere. It means a lot to me. I have been asked to be on the Contributor leadership committee and I give “Unseen” tours explaining what it is like to be homeless and the barriers there. I tell my personal story. It feels so good to be part of community again, not locked out. I think of all my customers who are kind and sweet and wave at me if they don’t have time to stop. I think of all the gifts of warm food and hot coffee, of cool water in the summer and the kindness of people who bring me things like a Fourth of July picnic on the Fourth of July! I give thanks for all the staff and volunteers at the Contributor. Their hearts are so full of love. They pay attention to needs, but they also have fun and laugh with us. I just read in the Contributor in this latest edition that my rights to a home are at threat.

Angel in a Cadillac

This sent me into a tailspin. I’m writing this in order to try to get some of the feelings of helplessness and rage out where I can see them and not let them control my entire life. I’m also worried about friends who are seeking housing still, and my friends who are not old enough to qualify for some sort of semi guaranteed housing. Why is it that Finland has solved this problem that we cannot? You know why in your gut. It is a question of greed. It is real estate markets that want everyone to struggle and strain to pay for their profit making schemes. It is our current administration and its cronies. They were all born with 10 silver spoons in their mouths. They have no idea what they are doing to us. If they do, shame on them and their lack of empathy. We need everyone with housing to shout about this, please. If we shout about it, it

Choices

DEANNA H., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

BY FREFOREVER, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

Angel in a Cadillac came and helped me, He appeared behind me when I had a flat tire. It was storming and lightening was shooting across the skies, like fire. He knocked on my window, to get my attention, So I rolled down my window. Did I mention, his eyes were blue like the sea, his hair was gold like the sun. I wonder was he going to help me on a night like this? He said, wait right here, I got you, I got what you need. So I watched him in my review mirror, get in his truck, the rain pouring down, as he is drenching wet, he jacks my car up. He puts a tire on and it fits, How? When I looked back in the mirror he was gone. So was my guardian angel in a Cadillac?

Life is made up of a combination of choices. Good ones, bad ones, and ones that are made for us. Regardless of who made the choice, the consequences are ours to reap. So, be careful and make sure that you have all the necessary information needed to make the best choice, given the situation. Always remember, never make a permanent decision based on a temporary situation. Know the cost involved and be sure that you are ready, willing, and able to pay it. Some of the choices we are given daily: The choice to Love or to Hate The choice to move forward or wait. The choice to be loyal or the choice to betray. The choice to be anxious, fret and worry or just pray. The choice to live or to die. The choice to go along to get along or be strong and courageous willing to stand alone. The choice to do what is right or what is easy. The choice to tell the truth or bury it in or with a lie. The choice to do what you are told or take a moment and ask why? These are just a few of the choices we are asked to make each and every day. So, choose wisely for your life and the quality of it depends on the choices you make today.

A Man

LASHIKA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR A man was walking down the street. He was telling people about how God was good to him. The people asked him do he believe in God and he told them Yes I believe in God. “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name for the Lord is good his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Pain

just sounds like self-serving gobbledygook. If you shout about it, it means people care and will fight for it. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Here’s a poem to sweeten the dose. I watch the sunrise, pink and I think of all my friends who care about the means and not just the end. My mother who birthed me and all those who cared along the way. It is time we put humanity first and profit second. So let your heart fill with love and look at the sky above. I remember all my blessings, all of my confessing, and I thank you all for everything that is true heart.

Joke of the Issue S U B M I T T E D B Y H O W A R D P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club. A cell phone on a bench rings, and a man engages the hands free speaker. Everyone else stops to listen. Man: Hello Woman: Hi Honey, it’s me. Are you at the club? Man: Yes. Woman: I’m at the shops and found this beautiful leather coat. it’s only $2,000—is it OK if I buy it? Man: Sure, go ahead if you like it that much. Woman: I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new models. I found one I really liked. Man: How much? Woman: $90,000 Man: OK, but for that price I want it with all of the options. Woman: Great, oh, and one more thing. I was talking to Lexie and found out that house I wanted last year last year is back on the market. They’re asking $980,000. Man: Well then go ahead and make an offer of $900,000. they’ll probably take it. If not, we can go the extra $80,000 if its what you really want. Woman: OK! I’ll see you later. I love you so much! Man: Bye. I love you too. The man hangs up. The other man in the locker room stare at him in total shock. He looks around the locker room and asks, “does anyone know who’s phone this is?”

BY FREEPRESSGMA, CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR She ran down from the mountains. Found a city of silver, sand, iron. It was brighter than the moon. She was blinded. She laid on a bench. The city roared around her. She was startled awake by each passing footfall. How will she eat? How will she sleep? The city glitters, indifferent. Oh, for the warm burrow in the woods, the rabbit meat. The cozy rags. The worn boots. The loss of trust.

Jim's Journal S U B M I T T E D B Y J I M P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R

“There are many who dare not kill themselves for fear of what the neighbors will say.” - Cyril Connolly

December 17 -31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 16

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 t icia 2025

G RATIS Diciembre

Newspaper Nashville

www.lanoticianashville.com

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

Año 23 - No. 424

Nashville, Tennessee

Raúl Malo, voz y alma de The Mavericks: su música continuará uniendo culturas

Para quienes tuvieron la fortuna de estar en su órbita artística y humana, Malo fue una auténtica fuerza de la naturaleza. Su energía era contagiosa, su presencia escénica arrolladora y su voz, de esas que parecen nacer con un destino propio. A lo largo de más de tres décadas de carrera, entreteniendo a millones de personas alrededor del planeta, forjó un legado difícil de encasillar en un solo género. Su talento, profundo y generacional, creó una música estadounidense de espíritu multicultural capaz de trascender fronteras y dialogar con públicos muy distintos entre sí. Como fundador y carismático líder de The Mavericks, Raúl elevó el estándar de lo que una banda puede representar: un punto de encuentro entre tradiciones y futuros, entre raíces latinas, country, rock, soul y el vasto repertorio popular norteamericano. Sus actuaciones, siempre intensas y llenas de alma, construyeron una base de seguidores leales y apasionados. Su destreza como compositor y músico le mereció reconocimientos de alto nivel, incluyendo múltiples premios Grammy, ACM y CMA, reflejo de una trayectoria que combinó innovación con respeto por la memoria musical colectiva.

Foto:Yuri Cunza (2014)

Raúl Malo, the Voice and Soul of The Mavericks: His Music Will Continue Uniting Cultures

Sin embargo, entre los logros que marcaron su carrera, Malo se sentía especialmente orgulloso de su compromiso de vida con la preservación del repertorio musical estadounidense multilingüe. Este enfoque no fue un detalle marginal, sino un eje central de su misión artística. En 2020, hizo historia al lograr que un álbum debutara en el primer lugar tanto en las listas de Latin Pop como en Folk-Americana, un hito que rompió barreras simbólicas y comerciales, y que reafirmó su empeño por demostrar que la música no necesita permisos para habitar distintos mundos a la vez. Ese compromiso cultural se complementó con otra causa que defendió

con firmeza: la educación musical como inspiración y derecho creativo para cada niño, en Estados Unidos y en el resto del mundo. Por esa visión amplia, y por su defensa incansable del poder formativo del arte, Raúl fue honrado con reconocimientos de gran relevancia, entre ellos el Lifetime Achievement Award de la Americana Music Association y el American Eagle Award del National Music Council of los Estados Unidos. El impacto de Malo no se mide únicamente en discos, premios o listas. Se mide también en la huella emocional de sus canciones, en esa rara capacidad de reunir a personas de distintos orí-

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

w w w . j u a n e s e . c o m

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

En 2020, la NAHCC presentó a Raúl Malo y The Mavericks el primer “Unidos” Bridging Cultures Music Achievement Award de la Cámara, en reconocimiento a su impacto duradero en la unión de comunidades a través de la música y en el fortalecimiento del espíritu multicultural de Nashville y más allá. Raúl deja un fuerte círculo de amor y memoria. Le sobreviven su amada esposa de 34 años, Betty; sus hijos Dino, Victor y Max; su madre Norma; su hermana Carol; y sus compañeros de The Mavericks Paul Deakin, Eddie Perez y Jerry Dale McFadden. Aunque su presencia física se haya ido, su voz, su generosidad y su luz perduran en las canciones que ya son parte del patrimonio emocional de miles de personas. Raúl Malo no solo cantó historias: ayudó a que muchas comunidades se reconocieran entre sí. Y ese legado —humano, artístico y cultural— seguirá resonando por mucho tiempo. Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com ó 615-582-3757

ABBY R. RUBENFELD Attorney at Law

arubenfeldlaw.com

810 Dominican Drive, Suite 215 Nashville, Tennessee 37228 Telephone: (615) 386-9077 Facsimile: (615) 386-3897

December 17 -31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 18

MOVING PICTURES

Secret Mall Apartment pictures the art of affordable housing BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC Secret Mall Apartment is a documentary about an odd art project in an inhospitable space. It’s also about contemporary struggles with affordable real estate, and how those pressures affect creative communities. It tells the story of eight Rhode Island artists who pulled off an audacious and illegal DIY project when they built a fully functioning secret apartment inside Providence Place Mall in 2003. Filmmaker Jeremy Workman’s documentary deploys footage the artists captured themselves during their clandestine visits to the space, avoiding security and exploiting the mall’s infrastructure to secure food, supplies, services, and resources. Their project was an art installation, but also a performance that commented on the clash between upscale consumer culture and the struggling working-class neighborhoods literally in the shadow of the mall. Workman also includes present-day interviews with the group that reveal the deeper meanings behind their elaborate prank with the benefit of 15 years of hindsight. Michael Townsend, the de facto leader of the creative collective, discovers an unused 750-square-foot space within the mall’s parking structure. For a time the group explores the mall’s nether regions, but — artists being artists — they soon grab a couch from the mall’s furniture store to make the space a better hangout. The couch leads to more additions: lights, a television, and a PlayStation all running on very long extension cords from an outlet they discover in their rambles. The hangout evolves into a plan to create a livable, functioning apartment in the mall. The eight members all use the hideaway, which serves as a crash pad and headquarters for planning largescale public art installations and charitable projects throughout Providence. The scenes the artists shot are the best footage of the film. Viewers are given intimate access to every weird discovery, every harrowing structural journey, every anxious, blaring mall door alarm. The handheld digital camera work bristles with a fuzzy lo-res charm that makes scenes of life in a bustling mall seem almost romantic. The movie remembers a time in the first years after the 9/11 attacks, when the iPhone made its debut and social media was a new uncharted territory. Workman doesn’t edit for nostalgia’s sake, but the aesthetics of his medium and his subjects are unmistakable. Beyond the archival footage, Workman’s talkinghead interviews are effective because his subjects have interesting things to say, and they’re a generally personable gang of modest creative workers. The charitable and public projects that Townsend organizes are admirable, community-focused social practice art. The movie’s inclusion of these projects helps viewers understand the collective members and their friendships while underscoring the socio-political themes of the apartment installation. The problem is that the movie gets sidetracked from the mall story to over-explore other work that feels like a separate film, or even a great Blu-ray extra. In my book Nowville, I document the history of Nashville’s contemporary art scene — a story about weird projects in derelict spaces. In the early oughts, some artist-run galleries operated on cheap rent, while others embraced the notion that it’s better to apologize for trespassing than ask permission first. The apartment in the film remained undiscovered until 2007, when mall security finally stumbled

upon it. When this picture stays focused on its titular subject, it’s an important film about the complicated relationship between art and development — making it required viewing for boomtown Nashvillians today.

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

Secret Mall Apartment is now available on Blu-ray from Music Box Films

December 17 - 31, 2025 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19