Healing Nashville through Human Advocacy
This is personal commentary on how the pandemic has changed my own sense of community followed by a compilation of the most impactful resources Nashville offers in terms of Community and societal healing and well-being.
From time to time, we like to give you a list of resources outside of Human Amplified to help with a seasonal goal related to understanding human nature, your own nature, and navigating life. Since we started, these resource round ups have come in the form on indie podcast lists (because who doesn’t love a good indie podcast, amirite?)
But now, while we still have several indie podcasts for you in the list below, I’ve met too many good people doing good things around Nashville over the past year and a half since the pandemic hit to limit the list to just indie podcasts.
Embracing Local Community
The reason I’ve been so fortunate to meet so many people in my local community (and surrounding areas and even the Southeast and Midwest) is the pandemic. Here we are, a year and a half in, and one thing is certain:
Covid isn’t going away. It’s now shaped how we meet people and consequentially, how we give and receive support.
It shaped where I went for my own social support. I learned the value of being involved locally as well as globally. Only before, I always put the focus on global — which is easy to do with the internet. Turns out (and maybe this is obvious), local communities are the backbone of our society.
Much like individual humans making up the entirety of the human race, local communities are the pieces and parts that make up society. And when you want to influence how your life is going and also make sure human rights are protected, starting locally is where you’ll have the most impact and get the most traction.
Before the pandemic, I also didn’t pay much attention to politics. I voted and all that, but it seemed policy didn’t change much either way before the Trump era. I still don’t consider myself a hugely political person.
I always thought, yeah, that’s important, but change is more important for groups of everyday people. Maybe that’s true, and we can definitely all work on internal changes and shifts to heal and therefore be able to hold space for others to heal, but just as there’s a duality to night and day, feminine and masculine, there is also a duality to the power of change. With community comes politics. And politics influence community, whether taking the needs of the community into account or not.
So, if you’re not paying attention to your board of education, county commissioners, governors, etc. in combination with the citizens, your life and community can change based on a loud minority. And that life and community makes up a larger society. Therefore, society changes, but you haven’t had a say in how.
In summary, embracing local community for me has come to be two-fold: supporting healing in the people and influencing the politics.
We change the world by doing the work within and also doing the work without at the foundational levels that then ripple out.
Side Note: An amazing example of community influence and support that I’ve had in my life in the last year and a half is Your Coach Meg. She’s so involved in her community in St. Louis it’s inspiring. See for yourself here: Episode 068: See Them for Who They Are - Tips for Nurturing Relationships through Emotional Baggage. Meg is one of the “helpers” who inspire me to keep taking action. Plus, she has connections to Nashville!
Looking for the Helpers in Order to Be a Helper while Coping with Current Events
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to relearn over several times in my life is to have faith that everything will be okay, no matter what.
As I write this, the rain is coming down outside my fogged up office window.
It’s a familiar rain scene I’ve seen a million times outside of my office window. But this one is a little different than normal. It’s not the care-free rain of the early summer when the proverbial covid clouds seemed to be parting.
It’s rain coming off of hurricane Ida on the same day the United States military made it out of Afghanistan by deadline.
It’s rain following the devastating floods in Waverly, Tenn. that will likely take about two years to recover. And, it’s a day or two after the United States department of Education has launched an investigation into five states, including Tenn., who are possibly violating the health rights of students.
It’s a heavy rain, even though it’s not raining hard.
All this to say, it’s a tough time out there right now. People are going through a lot (understatement). And the waves of change in the human collective are whipping us around in directions we never thought possible.
We’re all in need of some real healing and it’s going to take a while for all the healing needs we have to unfold and then for us to intentionally address each one. And these needs are going to be big. They already are, but they’re growing.
A good place to start coping is to acknowledge the feelings you have and work through them rather than numbing them.
Looking for the helpers (a Mr. Rogers quote that has been simplified in the face of tragedy that was circulated because there is some truth to it) is a great place to start to stay motivated while working through your emotions. Also remember to take care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Self care, being grateful for the good in the present, and rest is going to keep you going.
Then, the next step is to find solutions and take action so that things can go differently in the future. Your actions will make a difference, whether it’s being kind in the face of anger or voting.
Taking action fuels hope, and hope in turn keeps fueling action.
So there is hope for a better future.
And when there’s hope, there’s motivation and healing.
What is Human Advocacy
Before we dive into the list of hope givers and healing supporters in Nashville, let’s break down what human advocacy is. Typically, people also call human advocacy things like human rights work, advocacy work, or human rights advocacy.
It’s all about empowerment and respect so all humans can live in freedom and dignity.
Is it meant to alleviate suffering? Maybe not all suffering, but the suffering caused by social inequities and lack of fair treatment, yes.
When you Google it, you see a lot of government organizations, universities, and groups concerned with civil rights.
Civil rights are the rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality. There are many ways to work toward realizing civil rights in society, and we’re in the middle of a civil rights transformation as we speak, as evidenced by the racial injustice awakenings so many went through during lock down in 2020.
Related: Episode 055: No Justice, No Peace! featuring Belinda Harvey
According to the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, there is a slight distinction between being an advocate and an activist. They explain that many human advocates listen to what other humans need, amicably share their own thoughts, and work together and within the system to help. Advocacy includes education for change. You can be an activist in addition to being an advocate. Activists speak out to change the system in a way that grabs attention. Advocacy and activism work together to create change.
In fact, tying in a spiritual perspective, learning about how advocacy and activism work together reminds me of how feminine and masculine power work together to create balance in our world. There is immense value in going within and also in going without.
So, while the list below focuses on the advocacy aspect of certain Nashville-based organizations I’ve grown to know and love over the last year and a half, know that they are closely tied with activism in many ways.
There’s a time and place for listening and there’s a time and place for speaking. The key to making progress for humanity with both is knowing when to practice one over the other and with whom.
Related: A Guide to Hearing and Being Heard
6 Organizations Caring for Nashville’s Societal Well-Being + Their Indie Podcasts
You know that famous quote that’s been attributed to everyone from Confucius to last year’s employer:
“If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.”
I really took it to heart and created a virtual room right here in this post with some of the smartest, most insightful people I’ve had the pleasure to meet in the last year and a half, right in my own backyard — Nashville, Tenn.
The leaders of each of these organizations are really good at knowing when to advocate and when to act and with whom. They also all offer an aspect of education for change.
If you need social support personally and also professionally, or also want to find ways to make change, each organization listed below has an inclusive way to give you opportunities.
TRILUNA Wellness
TRILUNA Wellness is healing Nashville through a unique approach to wellness that prioritizes inclusion and they know health is a social justice issue. They really combine all aspects of being human in how they approach wellness.
I first heard of TRILUNA when looking for workshops to take on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A local friend, Courtenay, who I’ll introduce you to later in this list (see CDR Consulting), with the same goals as me, introduced me to co-founders and CEOs Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore with a glowing recommendation on workshops she’d had from them before. They’re both certified yoga instructors who left corporate jobs for more alignment and wellness.
We spoke to them about a group of white women who were hungry for information and who wanted to work at embodying an anti-racist existence.
Knowing that this goal means being equipped for a lifetime of unlearning racism that’s ingrained into our U.S society, TRILUNA worked to pare down a huge Diversity and Inclusion Series into an hour and a half workshop called The White Supremacy Delusion.
The event sold out.
And rightly so -- they not only got vulnerable and created a safe space for empathy and understanding the personal impact of racism, but they broke down white supremacy culture, how to go from diversity to inclusion, understanding body politics, and how to take action as an ally.
White women left the workshop with resources and a foundation to keep unlearning systemic racism, be prepared for a lifetime of learning, and equipped with ways to speak up, speak out, and change our own behavior.
To get to know TRILUNA better, go check out their podcast:
Wellness, Community, Magic
Ashely and Elizabeth bill their podcast as having a pro-donut, anti-racist, Glenda-the-good-witch agenda.
There are so many good episodes in this indie podcast. Absolutely start from the beginning and work your way through the first season. However, if you want to start with one of my favorite episodes, check out episode 11: Kiss with a Fist - Kia Jarmon.
Part of healing oftentimes starts with unlearning long-held beliefs that just haven’t been explored because they were taken as truth. This episode helps you ask the right questions and explore the language behind your questions.
Side Note: Kia Jarmon is a local educator, speaker, and amazing all-around human who has insight that can blow your mind. She focuses on Black philanthropy and is one of the most anticipated guests who’ll be coming on Season 4 of the Human Amplified podcast in 2022, amid the biggest rockstar line up we’ve ever had. You do not want to miss anything she has to say, anywhere she says it.
Website: trilunawellness.com | Podcast: https://www.trilunawellness.com/podcast
Our Truths
Our Truths is all about transforming other organizations with talented Black women. They provide training, coaches, and speakers to help companies get and engage diverse talent. They also recently added book publishing to their impressive list of offerings.
They’re healing Nashville through making right what should have never been wrong in the first place: diversity, equity, and inclusion. That is, they’re taking action to provide representation for Black women at work and advocating for fair treatment in so many ways, including but not limited to fair wages, being seen, being heard, and educating so Black women can feel more supported.
Christy Pruitt-Haynes who founded Our Truths is also a TEDex speaker and entrepreneurial leader with a background in HR creating results for companies such as MTV, CMT, Vanderbilt, Infiniti, The Dollar General, Viacom, and the Memphis Grizzlies.
I first met her, again, through my friend (see CDR Consulting below) and through our desire to do something about systemic racism. When Christy realized we were trying to find ways to help, she immediately supported our efforts and asked Courtenay and I to create a panel discussion with her so we could explore the intersectionality of Black women and white women in the workplace.
Christy called it “Same Space, Different Truths.” She invited her colleague, LoLita Toney, as well. We all had a few working calls to iron out the details, and from those calls we created graphics, talking points, event logistics, and decided to ask Brittany Cole of Career Thrivers to moderate (more on Career Thrivers in a moment).
The “Same Space, Different Truths” panel discussion was my first live speaking engagement. If it weren’t for Christy, I wouldn’t have pushed that comfort zone. And even being on the panel, I learned more that day in February 2021 from her and LoLita and the attendees than I could have thought possible. Turns out, I was there to learn, not speak.
As mentioned earlier, advocacy has to do with listening, and we should all listen to Christy in her bold transparency and also her team at Our Truths anytime she and they have something to say.
Speaking of just that, check out Christy’s book: Would the World Be Better if We Were All Alike?
If you have a need to be better humans at your business or workplace, call them.
Websites: ourtruths.com and christypruitt-haynes.com
Career Thrivers
Career Thrivers is all about providing targeted leadership development curriculum, programs, and strategy that enhance equity in the workplace. They help advance Black professionals and also teach allies how to develop their allyship skills.
Brittany Cole is a phenomenal leader, TEDex speaker and coach, as well as the founder and CEO of Career Thrivers where she also hosts the Career Thrivers podcast.
She moderated the “Same Space, Different Truths” panel discussion mentioned when we were talking about Our Truths, so that’s how we met. Of all the panel participants, I’ve interacted with Brittany the least, but she left a lasting impression with her ability to connect others in conversation while moving the conversation forward.
That’s what I’d say Brittany does in everything she’s involved in: she moves it forward in continuous improvement using her own personal experiences and philosophies on resilience, communication, empathy, and allyship.
Some of my favorite episodes of her Career Thrivers podcast are:
Also, check out Brittany’s new best-selling book: Thrive Through It.
Websites: careerthrivers.com and brittanyncole.com | Podcast: https://brittanyncole.com/subscribetopodcast
Make it Brave
Make it Brave is a Nashville-based indie podcast hosted by Laura Click, founder and CEO of Blue Kite, a local brand strategy shop.
I met her as a result of the same diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts that brought TRILUNA, Our Truths, Career Thrivers, CDR Consulting, and Human Amplified together.
Laura started this podcast because she wants to be braver and help other people be braver too — an ability that will help us change the world.
Make It Brave boasts a huge collection of inspirational interviews, covering everything from speaking out against racial injustice to embracing your inner misfit. A variety of personal and business scenarios are covered too.
Of course, you should listen to all the episodes in their entirety. But if you want a good place to start, here are my top five recommendations (yes, five):
Episode 56: Why This Teacher and Mom of Three is Running for Office with Elizabeth Madeira
Episode 54: Creating Brave Spaces at Work with Brittany Cole
Episode 43: Building a Confident and Courageous Life with Kia Jarmon
Episode 31: The Power of Believing in Yourself with Courtenay Rogers
Episode 26: Rethinking Wellness with Ashley Brooke James and Elizabeth Moore
Recognize any of these guests so far? I hope so.
The world of indie podcasts is vast, but also small, just like Nashville. And I’m so happy to know of Laura’s brave work to make our home a better place to live.
Website: makeitbrave.com and flybluekite.com
Her Story of Success
Her Story of Success is a women’s business and media collective. Leah Glover Hayes is CEO and host of the Her Story of Success podcast.
Her Story of Success believes in the power of networking and the importance of women coming together to support one another in reaching their next levels of success. I love the spirit of this effort and the community building behind it.
And, if you’re reading this article here at Human Amplified, you are likely interested in connecting and human connections too. Some of the most fulfilling and inspirational parts of being human revolve around connecting with other humans. Connection comes as a result of healing and also assists in the healing process. So I consider Her Story of Success a wonderful human advocacy effort that’s promoting healing in Nashville.
On that note, Leah and I haven’t actually met yet (she’s a friend of a friend), but I have a feeling our paths will cross more directly eventually based on where we’ve come from so far and how we’ve brushed past one another and said hi on the Internet.
Definitely give the podcast a listen and start with these episodes:
Episode 107: Believing in Yourself with Bailey Spaulding, co-founder and CEO of Jackalope Brewing (such a great Nashville spot and brew)
Episode 97: The Power of Story with Fawn Weaver, founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Episode 22: Lessons on Career and Family from a Celebrity Chef with Maneet Chauhan (my husband and I LOVE her restaurants in Nashville)
Website: https://herstoryofsuccess.com/ | Podcast: https://herstoryofsuccess.com/listen
CDR Consulting
Last but not least, Courtenay Rogers is the founder of CDR Consulting — a business she opened at the beginning of the pandemic when lay offs were going around and the future was uncertain. There was no better time to use her top-notch logistical skills to get shit done. She focuses on bringing strategic planning and optimization, tactical project management, and event logistics and production to under-resourced and underrepresented small businesses to scale and succeed.
The reason this heals Nashville is because when you’re under-resourced, it can be difficult to be seen and heard. And being seen and heard provides wellness. It provides validation and empowerment.
Related: The Healing Power of Seeing and Being Seen
Courtenay knows just what to do to make that happen and get the message or lesson out into the world. Her no-nonsense approach is evident on her website and is super effective in the most positive way when combined with her huge heart for people.
I first learned of Courtenay at a diversity and inclusion event on International Women’s Day that my last employer hosted. She was speaking on a panel with Kia Jarmon.
So, we’ve come full circle. We’re at the ground zero event that laid the foundation for me to be able to tell you about all the amazing humans I’ve had the privilege of working beside, hanging out with (virtually), or following closely since the pandemic began.
To take connections even further, the event that laid the groundwork for this entire list to be possible was organized by two amazing past Human Amplified podcast guests, who you can also check out for inspiration:
Fast forward to two years later after this corporate event when the pandemic hit, Courtenay and I connected on Facebook over shared wishes to change ourselves and change the world.
Update, August 2024: CDR Consulting closed as Courtenay took on a new role. Check out her 2024 interview with Human Amplified detailing a healing journey where she now lives in more authenticity and alignment.
Finding What We Seek: Connections Leading to Social Support
The social support I was looking for throughout the pandemic came in the form of one connection after another unfolding as I sought to accomplish my own goal of human advocacy within my community. As I gave what I had and put myself out into the world, even if only virtually, I received connection and enriching information in return. This once again nods to the balance of feminine and masculine - a cycle of going within and without - the nature of giving and receiving that interplays in our human interactions and lives.
As you see in the list above how the connection played out, it’s clear that human advocacy comes in many forms and is a method of societal or community healing. Education is typically the unifying factor in all of human advocacy’s different forms. And if you’re looking for it and interacting in your local community, you’ll find it where and when you need it most.
Human advocacy has a way of going where it’s needed most, driven by human spirit and fueled by our physical bodies and mental state of being.
And, it’s definitely popped up in Nashville with some rockstar women leading the way. I can’t wait to continue watching how the impact of each of these human advocacy organizations in Nashville make our community a better place to live and work.
You should really reach out to any organization on this list if it speaks to you and find ways to uplift your own life through the opportunities all around you.
We can be better as a community, we can do better as humans within this community, and we can love one another through it all.
And if you’re not in Nashville and you don’t have organizations and human advocates around, like we went over in this post, consider doing what these courageous women did and take action.
About the Author
Brandi Fleck is a writer, artist, and a recognized communications and interviewing expert. She is also an avid researcher of human nature and founder of Human Amplified, where she helps people embrace being their true selves so they can expand more fully into their own humanity without fear of being seen and heard. Brandi hosts the top-rated Human Amplified podcast (formerly the On Being Human podcast). READ MORE
UPDATE: After four years of producing Human Amplified independently, Brandi has recently moved on to working as a trauma-informed certified coach.
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