Nashville’s Poverty Initiative
Last fall, the city of Nashville began an initiative to reduce poverty by 50% within the next ten years. Seven committees were formed to create a detailed plan to submit to Mayor Karl Dean that would become the plan by which the city would use as its guide. The Metropolitan Action Commission and the Nashville Chamber Public Benefit Foundation convened a Planning Group consisting of various organizations that work within the community have committed to work with others to develop Nashville’s Poverty Initiative.
Each Action Group has a chair and co-chair who is responsible for leading the group using specific facilitation practices developed at a recent training led by consultants of the National League of Cities.
The Action Groups along with the working notes from each meeting are listed below.
For more information on the groups or to join one of the Action Groups, contact Lisa Gallon.
Nashville’s Poverty Initiative Action Groups
Child Care
Chairperson: Melba Marcrum, McNeilly Center for Children
Economic Opportunities
Chairperson: Charlie Williams, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development
Vice-Chairperson: Tom Negri, Loew’s Vanderbilt Hotel of Nashville
Food
Chairperson: Jaynee Day, Second Harvest Food Bank
Vice-Chairperson: Julius Witherspoon, Metropolitan Social Services
Healthcare
Chairperson: Dr. Wayne Riley, Meharry Medical College
Vice-Chairperson: Mary Bufwack, United Neighborhood Health Services
Housing
Chairperson: Chris McCarthy, Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity
Vice-Chairperson: Bill Coke, The Rooftop Foundation
Neighborhood Development
Chairperson: Mike Hodge, Neighborhood Resource Center
Vice-Chairperson: Brady Banks, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods
Workforce Development
Chairperson: Paul Haynes, Nashville Career Advancement Center
Vice-Chairperson: Marsha Edwards, Martha O’Bryan Center, Inc.
Meetings will be held from now through April 2009. All meetings are open to anyone who would like to participate in this initiative. Please visit this site often for updates.