10 Ways to Build Community in Nashville
Tell your friends to buy and read the newspaper from a Contributor vendor.
You’re already there if you’re reading this, but chances are you have at least a couple of folks in your circle who’ve never had the pleasure of interacting with one of our vendors or reading the paper they sell. Vendors grow their microbusinesses by purchasing more copies for 50 cents, which they sell on the street for $2. This is the vendors’ money to keep. Free papers, gear and map badges (reserved locations) incentivize vendors to grow their microbusinesses. The part where you come in is helping them increase their customer base. Buy a paper and jump on Instagram to give your favorite piece of vendor writing a shoutout.
Be a bingo caller at a senior home.
Have you ever felt like you’d be an excellent game show host, but never had the opportunity to try? The Lantern at Morning Pointe of Franklin is looking for folks to call Bingo for their memory care seniors as well as prizes and rewards for the game. There are several times and dates available into the New Year. Visit www.handson.unitedwaygreaternashville.org to sign up for a slot, and start working on your calling voice.
Read at least one history book from a Nashville author.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if as a society we could learn from the folks who made some awful choices in the past? Reading about local historical events helps us better understand the roots of our community and the forces that shaped it. These tellings, regardless of viewpoint, bring us to the people, places, and stories that define our shared identity, which is something we may need to come back to more and more in the coming years. A few choices: Betsy Phillips’ Dynamite Nashville: Unmasking the FBI, the KKK, and the Bombers Beyond Their Control; “Fortunes, Fiddles, and Fried Chicken” by Bill Carey; and Nowville: The Untold History of Nashville’s Contemporary Art Renaissance by Contributor freelancer Joe Nolan.
Volunteer with the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.
For more than 20 years, the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition (TIRRC) has been building an organization and coalition of community leaders to represent “a model for immigrant rights organizations in the Southeast and throughout the United States.” As refugees and immigrants face unknowns with a changing administration in the White House as well as challenges from the Tennessee State Assembly, TIRRC provides a space for advocacy, education and community. There are plenty of ways to volunteer, from days on the hill to working with English classes and more. Visit www.tnimmigrant.org/volunteer for more information on how to volunteer.
Help remove invasive plants from local parks.
Beaman Park hosts a monthly Weed Wrangle in the park to aid in removing invasive plants in the area. Volunteers can help pull, cut and get rid of species like Japanese Honeysuckle and Chinese Privet. The removal of these plants, which are not native to the area, will help flora and fauna in the area stay healthy and thriving. The next Weed Wrangle is on Jan. 4 — it could be a good activity for the family while the kids are out of school as well. There will be work happening in different sites throughout the park. Email beamanpark@nashville.gov to find a spot and register.
Make winter or summer kits to hand out at stop lights.
This one is evergreen and a practice to begin and keep doing. Put together small bags of essentials to hand out at stoplights. They don’t take up a lot of space, and they aren’t expensive to put together. Consider the following items put in a gallon plastic bag: protein bars, gift cards to fast food restaurants to help folks get a moment of warmth without a hassle, hand warmers in the winter, bottles of water, trail mix or other high protein snacks, hand sanitizer, a face mask and a slip of paper with local resources listed on it. Or better yet, a Where To Turn In Nashville guide, which is full of resources and information they may need. Visit wttin.org for more information.
Use public transit, walk or ride your bike.
Whether you voted for the city’s new transit plan, using public transit, biking, and walking is a key way to create healthier communities and reduce personal environmental impact. Sustainable transportation methods decrease greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and combating climate change, and they can help promote physical health and can be more cost effective than driving in many cases. Nashville isn’t (yet) built for the perfect public transit experience or for walkers and bike riders, but you can make it a goal to find one way to decrease your reliance on your car over the next few months.
Check on your neighbors.
This is an important recommendation we give each year. Sometimes it’s a simple wave and a hello, others it means noticing a little more about your neighbors. As neighbors, our family tries not to be too nosey, but we also try to notice if a neighbor is gone for a long period of time, or if it doesn’t seem like they’re bringing packages in. Instead of worrying from afar, it’s nice to ask from across the street if there’s anything your neighbor needs that they cannot do for themselves. Leave them a note in the mailbox with your information if you’re afraid to knock on the door. Call for a wellness check if you are concerned.
Help keep your neighborhood clean.
Especially if you’re already taking walks through your neighborhood as part of your challenge to use your car less, begin the practice of cleaning up as you go. You can wear gloves or get a grabber (we use a dog pooper scooper, you’re welcome) and carry a bag with you as you go. We don’t do it every time we walk, but it’s a great habit to incorporate into long weekend walks or hikes. Of course, we’d prefer if folks didn’t toss trash outside, but until they stop doing it, it makes sense to help clean up where you can.
Help fight food insecurity locally.
Across Nashville, there are many chances to combat food insecurity in our community. From partnering with the Nashville Food Project to delivering meals in North Nashville, there are countless ways to contribute on the calendar at www.handson.unitedwaygreaternashville.org. Volunteering to fight this fight locally strengthens the bonds within our neighborhoods and ensures that everyone has access to basic necessities. By helping those in need close to home, we foster a sense of compassion and shared responsibility that creates lasting change. Whether it’s packing food boxes, delivering meals, or supporting grassroots organizations, all of it matters to ensuring folks have the basics.