A VOICE

(for the reduction of poverty in Nashville)

WEBSITE:  http://www.nashvillevoice.org/

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I would like to introduce you to, and invite you to join, A VOICE - a nonpartisan coalition of Nashvillians committed to reducing poverty.  We hope to accomplish this by educating our community about issues and realities related to poverty and by raising our collective voice to urge elected officials and public-policy makers to provide substantive economic relief for those living in poverty.  Because we believe that reducing poverty is both a moral and economic imperative we are encouraging you to become a part of this effort … something you can easily do by signing up at http://www.nashvillevoice.org/join-us.html.

The reality is that too many among us are struggling just to feed their families, pay their living expenses, and find relief from the high cost of medical care. According to the 2011 census:

The median household income for Davidson County dropped from $50,164 in 2007 to $43,556 in 2011.

In 2011, 30.5% of those living in Davidson County under age 18 lived in poverty.

The 19.3% poverty rate for all people in Davidson County is higher than the U.S. rate of 15.9% and higher than the Tennessee poverty rate of 18.3%.

A VOICE plans to be a union of many voices that want to serve as a force for good. We know from experience that there is strength in numbers. To achieve our goal of reducing poverty, A VOICE will provide you with timely information with links to resources and, on occasion, will call on you to contact decision-makers.  While we realize we may not agree on every aspect of every issue related to poverty, our hope is to link as many people together, as often as is reasonably possible, to collectively speak out as best we can.

Please consider joining A VOICE (http://www.nashvillevoice.org/join-us.html).  Membership will require very little time and effort.  The only thing we will ask of members is to serve as ambassadors of our mission and to occasionally raise your voice.  As a member you will receive periodic informational bulletins to increase your understanding of poverty in Nashville and in our country, and carefully selected “calls to action” urging you to contact elected officials and people of influence.  You will also be invited to attend periodic educational public forums related to our cause.

If you have any questions or want to become part of our organizing effort, please contact one of our conveners.  Please feel encouraged to generously share this invitation to join us with others you know.

Sincerely,

Conveners:   Avi Poster (aviposter@comcast.net) and Marsha Edwards (medwards@marthaobryan.org)

Organizers:  Bill Barnes, Don Beisswenger, Barbara Clinton, Howard Gentry, Dinah Gregory, Lindsey Krinks, Bob McNeilley, Fran Rajotte,   Judy Saks, Bill Sinclair, Charlie Strobel

Advisors:      Stewart Clifton, Jennifer Murphy

 

 


Avi

5300 Crest Hollow Court

Nashville TN  37211

615/831-0681 (home)

615/414-2396 (cell)

aviposter@comcast.net


"Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many." ... Larry Kopald/Strategist


"We have not taken care of the least among us. We have allowed a revolting level of income inequality to develop. We have watched as millions of our fellow countrymen have fallen into poverty. And we have done a poor job of educating our children and now threaten to leave them a country that is a shell of its former self. We should be ashamed." ... Charles Blow/New York Times

 

Three of Nashville's greatest advocates for the poor:
Marsha Edwards ... Avi Poster... Dinah Gregory will introduce you to a powerful initiative to fight the pervasive Poverty which permeates our state (their bios follow)
Yes, we can !!! be a part of righting this terrible wrong!                 
                        Come, find your VOICE!  
                         http://www.nashvillevoice.org/
"We have not taken care of the least among us. We have allowed a revolting level of income inequality to develop. We have watched as millions of our fellow countrymen have fallen into poverty. We should be ashamed." ... Charles Blow/New York Times

Saturday, April 12th, 6:30 pm at the home of David and Pam Kidd ... 641 Harpeth Trace Drive ... 37221.
Bring your favorite finger food/drink and be a part of something good! 
Scroll down for more info on A VOICE including their website ...http://www.nashvillevoice.org/shapeimage_2_link_0

 

Dinah Gregory is the Director of Planning and Coordination for Metropolitan Social Services.  When she came to Metro Social Services in 1988, she served as Program Manager for Central Services for Elderly and Disabled Persons.  From 1994 to 2005, she served as Program Manager for the Refugee Services Programs, which provided Employment Services, Social Adjustment and English Language Training for refugees who came to Nashville from across the world.  The Refugee Services Program became a multi-ethnic, multi-language program, which even provided language interpreters to other Metro agencies, and the program was an early advocates for compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, particularly the provision that ensures culturally and linguistically appropriate services for persons with Limited English Proficiency.

 

At the time the Refugee Services Program began in 1994, there were far fewer refugees and immigrants in Nashville.  In order to help other agencies provide better services to foreign-born residents, she created a multicultural team, which made Cultural Sensitivity presentations to hundreds of employees of the Metro Government, the State of Tennessee and many nonprofit agencies.  In addition, she created a series of half-hour video programs about Nashville’s international culture for Community Access Television to help American born viewers to understand and accept their new international neighbors. 

 

Since 2005, Dinah has served as Planning & Coordination Director at Metropolitan Social Services.  She has provided assistance to various organizations regarding program design and development, resource identification and other critical issues.  In 2009, Planning & Coordination completed its first Community Needs Evaluation, establishing a systematic process for gathering, interpreting and reporting data about social service needs and gaps in services for Davidson County. 

 

The 5th annual edition scheduled for release this spring with information on the patterning and magnitude of poverty, demographic, social and socioeconomic data, plus enhanced sections on Understanding Poverty and Evidence-Based Practices.  Planning & Coordination provides an array of newsletters and issue papers on topics related to poverty causation and alleviation, as well as consultation and coordination with service providers.

 

Prior to her work with Metro Social Services, Dinah worked in the Congressional Office and Mayoral Office of Bill Boner.  She is also a licensed attorney and a lifelong resident of Tennessee. 

Avi Poster

Community Volunteer

 

Avi moved to Nashville in 2001 with Joie, his singer-songwriter wife, following a thirty-four year career as a public school administrator and national educational consultant.  During his professional career Avi was primarily known for his focus and interest in middle school best practices, social-emotional learning, and organizational culture.  Three schools Avi served as principal were awarded the prestigious U.S. Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Award by three different Presidents


Much of Avi’s Nashville community service has centered on advancing public school education.  He served four terms as chair of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Citizens’ Panel for a Community Report Card, six years as a member of the Charter School Review Committee, five years as chair of the MNPS Family Advisory Council for Special Education, and five years as the Co-Chair of the Middle School Transformation Committee.  He has been engaged in district strategic planning and has served on a variety of committees aimed at elevating social-emotional learning as a district focus and commitment. 

 

Avi devotes most of his time to a varied menu of community service.  He serves as chair of The Rochelle Center for Adults with Developmental Disabilities, The Coalition for Education About Immigration, The Muslim-Jewish Circle of Friends, and A Voice For Poverty Reduction and is a member of several boards including The Nashville Human Rights Commission, Community Nashville, The W. O. Smith Music School, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, The Nashville Poverty Council, Nashville for All of Us, Family of Abraham, and The Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation.  Avi’s current national service includes posts as a board member for Peacemakers, J-Street, and The Jewish Council for Public Affairs. 

 

Avi continues to be engaged as an educational consultant.  He is president of Chi-Cuz Music Publishing and a principal partner in Edu-Characters, a multi-media company that develops character education programs and commercial educational vehicles including movies, television, and books.   

 

Marsha A. Edwards

Biography

 

Marsha Edwards is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Martha O’Bryan Center.  She joined Martha O’Bryan in July 2001 as the Vice-President of Development and Marketing.  She brings her background as a litigation attorney and small business owner to the Martha O’Bryan Center, which provides an integrated group of services to the most vulnerable families in Nashville.  

 

Under her dynamic leadership, Martha O’Bryan Center has quadrupled in size over the last twelve years, growing from $1.9 million to over $9M in annual budget. This year, Martha O’Bryan Center will serve over9,000 individuals in the areas of education, employment, youth development, parent education and crisisservices.  

 

A strong advocate for the disenfranchised and often invisible poor, Marsha has formed partnerships in all major sectors of our city in order to bring voice, opportunity, and hope to children and families who believe in the American dream but often have not been able to access it as successful workers, parents and citizens.

 

She is known for her ability to simultaneously speak honestly about the challenges we face in our city; all the while, inspire others with her great belief that together we can solve problems and build a better future for all our young people.

 

Her fearlessness in proposing initiatives and investments that others believe are impossible has led the Martha O’Bryan Center to leadership awards from Bank of America, local organizations and national recognition. Her leadership resulted in the Martha O’Bryan Center and Nashville being named a Promise Neighborhood by the US Department of Education. Marsha was honored with the 2013 Peter B. Goldberg ARAMARK Building Community Executive Leadership Award in recognition of her innovative and inspirational work on behalf of community centers and her commitment to neighborhood revitalization.

 

Marsha has served on the Boards of the Chamber’s East Area Business Council, the Operating Board of Alignment Nashville, and is a past President of the Board of Directors of KIPP Academy Nashville charter school.  She has served as a volunteer to the Mayor’s Office of Children and Youth in a number of capacities and Vanderbilt University’s Center for Community Studies advisory group.  

 

She is an active member of the Chamber, serving on the CEO Champions and Charter School committees andmember of Leadership Nashville, Class of 2009.  In addition, Marsha currently is on the Board of Directors oftwo elementary charter schools sponsored by Martha O’Bryan Center – East End Preparatory School and Explore! Community School which will open in 2015.

 

Marsha is a native of Dayton, Ohio.  She received her undergraduate degree from Warren Wilson College in Asheville, NC and her J.D. from the University of Dayton, School of Law.  

 

Known for her passion for children, especially children without parents, she and her husband, Eric Vaughter, live vicariously through the adventures of their four beloved children, Zach, Devin, Hannah and Mackenzie.