During the time in 2007-2008 when discussions were being held concerning the possibility of Nashville publishing a street paper, a very important venue for exchange of information, ideas and thoughts was already doing great things at the Downtown Presbyterian Church in Nashville. This open forum, The Living Room, was the brain child of Rev. Don Beisswenger and a few others, which met after the noon meal at DPC on Wednesdays. Rev. Beisswenger died in 2018.
The Living Room was a forum to talk about issues facing the unhoused population and those marginalized by poverty and other social conditions. At that time, there were few jobs available those with a criminal background except the never ending treadmill of the day labor pools. For years, many of those who were unhoused had been “flying signs” or panhandling, which often times resulted in arrests and jail time.
The Living Room gave us all a way to express our views and brainstorm ideas, which were very important to those who were participating in The Living Room. Under the moderation of Rev. Beisswenger and also Tom Wills, the foundations for The Contributor became a reality in Nashville were taking shape in it’s earliest stages.
One thing those of us who have experienced chronic homelessness is the desire to be HEARD! Being heard in a neutral non-partisan environment is what The Living Room provided all those years ago. Freedom from criticism and judgment is something we all need and deserve as a basic human right.
Although the challenges we face today are in some ways different from those of 20 years ago, we all yearn to make our own lives richer by listening to and helping others. Hope this brief summary gives our readers a little insight into The Living Room.