International Human Rights Day Celebrated in Tennessee

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day took place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center in early December.  

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, some seventy years ago, on Dec 10, 1948. In Tennessee, the Human Rights Day celebration has become a time to reflect and look to the future. During the annual event, people are honored that have given a lifetime of service to making human rights a reality, those who have demonstrated outstanding service to forward human rights and those who are picking up the torch and carrying it forward.

Tennessee celebrated Human Rights Day this year on December 11 in Nashville with a moving and memorable event at the John Seigenthaler Center. The theme for 2018 was chosen to align with the United Nations’ theme and was ‘Born Free & Equal? The Timeline of Justice in Nashville.’ This was showcased through segments on the past, present and future of human rights for Nashville with an audio recording from lifetime human rights advocate, Rev. Bill Barnes (1931-2017), a panel discussion of current human rights issues in the city, and a performance of encouragement by musical artist Wyte T Breezy.

Awards were presented for lifetime achievement and outstanding service in the field of human rights with video segments, along with recognition of rising advocates.

This year, four Rising Advocate Awards were given to those who have made great strides for human rights and show even greater promise for the future. They were Anne Barnett & Odessa Kelly, both with STAND UP Nashville, who were instrumental in making sure the ‘Do Better Bill’ passed earlier this year; Fayo Abadula, who co-founded Oromo Youth of Nashville, a mentorship group for the Oromo youth and anyone from the African Diaspora interested in pursuing a college degree; and the Community Oversight Now coalition which recently successfully got Amendment 1 passed which will create a Community Oversight Board for the police in Nashville, and has advocated for social justice and civil rights.

The award winners in the category of Outstanding Service are Dawn Deaner, who has served unselfishly as Nashville’s Executive Public Defender and stood strong against a criminal justice system fraught with injustice; and Tom Negri who has served on nearly 20 boards and action committees including the YWCA and Conexion Americas as well as taking a leading role on Nashville for All of Us, the initiative to defeat the ‘English Only’ bill.

Lifetime Achievement awards were presented to King Hollands, who fought for civil rights as a student of Fisk University during the Nashville sit-ins; and Dr. Blondell Strong Kimbrough, a lifelong advocate for civil rights and justice.

The program was co-organized by the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, the Metro Human Rights Commission, the United Nations Association, UNICEF USA, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights and the Church of Scientology.  

Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology, has been the event chair since 2011. He said, “Not only do you have to educate people about their rights, but you have to celebrate and honor those who are in the fight. The more people who join in to work for human rights for all, the closer we get to human rights being a reality for everyone.”

Fesler said that the Church of Scientology supports United for Human Rights, the world’s largest nongovernmental human rights educational campaign. For more information about United for Human Rights or programs supported by the Church of Scientology, visit www.scientology.org.

To find out more about the Tennessee Human Rights Day event, visit tnuhr.org. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Council to Learn What Makes an Idea Stick

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications.  

How come some ideas stick while others fade? This is what religious communications professionals will learn during their monthly meeting in January. The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations.

“It’s important to know how to get an idea to remain relevant and interesting,” says Julie Brinker, Communications Coordinator of the Nashville chapter of RCC, “People of faith need to stay on top of current ways to communicate their message to people, otherwise religious influence could fade.”

The meeting will take place on January 8^th at United Methodist Communications over lunch. The guest speaker will be Laura Buchanan, Senior Creative Content Specialist at United Methodist Communications. Her passion for writing, strategic messaging and connecting with audiences comes from a 12-year career in nonprofit fundraising and faith-based communications. Her topic on “What makes an idea memorable?” comes from the book, “Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die.”

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more.

The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising and development. The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.

Faith Communities to Unite Again for Nashville’s Multi-Faith Citywide MLK Service

It is not uncommon for pastors to work together. It is uncommon for various denominations to celebrate a service together. And In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, several faith leaders, communities and congregations are coming together for celebration in a joint service on Sunday, January 20, 2019, from 3-6pm.

This is the annual MLK Day celebration service taking place at the Church of Scientology on Sunday, Jan 20, 2019 and Rev. Brian Fesler feels this is a historic way to help make Dr. King’s dream a reality. “With so many congregations coming together to worship as one, choirs joining each other in song, people of different denominations sitting side by side, and each faith leader participating, it’s a beautiful way to honor Dr. King’s legacy.”

This is the second year the Church of Scientology will host the service.

Faith leaders and congregations scheduled to attend will represent Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, Corinthian Baptist Church and more. If your church or congregation would like to participate, email the event coordinator, Julie Brinker at media@nashvillehumanrights.org.

“Dr. King stood for diversity and a unity among all people. We are celebrating that in the best way possible –actually coming together in one place and celebrating our differences and similarities,” says Rev. Fesler of the Church of Scientology.

The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 20^th from 3-6pm and ending with a potluck at the Church of Scientology in Nashville. It is open to the public, and members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information or to RSVP, visit tnuhr.org.

Tennessee United for Human Rights Educates the Next Generation

Part of an international movement, Tennessee United for Human Rights is raising awareness in commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Tennessee United for Human Rights held two events to commemorate 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this December. The first took place in early December and introduced young advocates to the subject of human rights.

This event included interactive visual displays on each of the human rights, easy-to-assimilate materials, and activities that gave young advocates a practical view of specific rights. Young people created art that demonstrated various human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

Julie Brinker, event coordinator for Tennessee United for Human Rights, led the activities, “I’ve been involved with United for Human Rights since 2004, and I know that this program can help people across the globe by utilizing education to lift people up so they know their rights.” Brinker helped the young people understand what “human rights” means, then showed them the various human rights and asked them to begin demonstrating one of their rights through artistic activities.

Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

United for Human Rights is the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  For more information, visit humanrights.com.

Tennessee United for Human Rights Celebrates 70 Years of the Universal Declaration

Part of an international movement, Tennessee United for Human Rights is raising awareness in commemoration of the 70^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Tennessee United for Human Rights will have two events to commemorate 70 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this December. The first is December 8^th and will introduce young advocates to the subject of human rights, and the second is the annual celebration for Human Rights Day on December 11^th which honors and awards top leaders and advocates in Tennessee.

The first event will see interactive visual displays on each of the human rights, easy-to-assimilate materials, and activities that will give young advocates a practical view of specific rights. Youth will be creating art that demonstrates the various human rights in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  For more information or to RSVP, visit the Facebook page for Tennessee United for Human Rights.

The second event takes place at the First Amendment Center and will see a slate of seven advocates and one coalition receive awards for outstanding service to forward human rights. Tickets are available for this event and can be found at tnuhr.org.

Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

United for Human Rights is the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  For more information, visit humanrights.com. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Hears About Strategic Marketing

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) meets monthly to talk about topics of interest and hear from professionals in religious communications.  

For any message to get across to an audience, a strong strategy is key. This is what religious communications professionals gathered to learn recently during their monthly meeting where they heard from a marketing specialist for a large electrical corporation who shared the five key ways to make strategic marketing easier.  

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations.

“Religious people need to stay on top of the way messages are communicated in today’s world,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, president of the Nashville chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, “Knowing key ways to strategically deliver a message is very helpful to people of faith.”

The meeting took place at United Methodist Communications over lunch.

Lori Whitbey of Schneider Electric was the guest speaker for the day. Whitbey emphasized awareness and education promoted on various media to general audiences, then strategically getting your message across to help potential clients or consumers find your products or services.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. The RCC, founded in 1929, is an association of communications professionals who work for and with a diverse group of faith-based organizations in the areas of communications, public relations, advertising and development. The RCC provides opportunities for communicators to learn from each other. Together, RCC members promote excellence in the communication of faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter. 

Tennessee United for Human Rights to Participate at Nashville MLK Day Event

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TNUHR) has the mission to bring awareness and education on the 30 human rights, as listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to people all across the state.

“The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday is a perfect opportunity for Americans to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. [The day] empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King’s vision of a beloved community,” according to NationalService.gov. It is with this in mind that Tennessee United for Human Rights (TNUHR) will join in the movement in Nashville to honor Dr. King’s legacy.

TNUHR, which was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights, will participate in events in Nashville to honor the iconic human rights hero. The main event is the MLK Day march and convocation which takes place at Tennessee State University. The march begins at 10am at Jefferson Street Baptist Church. According to MLKDayNashville.com, the theme for 2019 is “Beyond the March: A Life of Action.”

One TNUHR volunteer says the organization is excited about being part of these events and is anxious to spread education on human rights, “This is the time for everyone to learn their basic human rights and be united in the fight for freedom.”

TNUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights, an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership is comprised of individuals, educators and groups throughout the world who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com.

United for Human Rights was founded on the Declaration’s 60th anniversary, in the face of continued worldwide abuses which violate the spirit, intent and Articles of this charter of all human rights, the first such document ever ratified by the community of nations. For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com.

Citizens Commission on Human Rights to Hold Forum on the Cause of Racism

Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) is holding a special forum at the end of January 2018.

The Nashville Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) is planning a special forum in late January to follow up on the holiday for Martin Luther King, Jr., where they will discuss the cause of racism and strategies to combat this in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.   

CCHR is known as an advocate for human rights, especially as relates to patients’ rights in the field of mental health. Per the international CCHR website, cchr.org, “CCHR has long fought to restore basic inalienable human rights to the field of mental health, including, but not limited to, full informed consent regarding the medical legitimacy of psychiatric diagnosis, the risks of psychiatric treatments, the right to all available medical alternatives and the right to refuse any treatment considered harmful.”

“CCHR is committed to helping people learn their rights, especially as relates to freedom of conscience,” says CCHR Nashville Board Member, Brian Fesler. CCHR Nashville regularly hosts events and meetings with local leaders who give insight into patients’ rights, parents’ rights and more.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health watchdog. Its mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and enact patient and consumer protections. CCHR receives reports about abuses in the field of mental health and is especially interested in situations where persons experienced abuse or damage due to a false diagnosis or unwanted and harmful psychiatric treatments, such as psychiatric drugs, electroshock (ECT) and electronic or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS). CCHR is often able to assist with filing complaints, and can work with a person’s attorney to further investigate the case. To contact CCHR Nashville for more information, visit cchrnashville.org.