2020 Year in Review – Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter

 

2020 saw many changes to the way nonprofit organizations operate, and Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter, was no different in that regard.

 

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) Nashville Chapter began the year with a special panel discussion on Safety During Worship held in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January where chapter members and the community confronted a serious topic: religious persecution, hate crimes and safety.

 

Following this, with stay-at-home orders being issued across the country in March, CCHR held events virtually for the remainder of the year.

 

This included a virtual message put out by the group for World Mental Health Day to help remind people to seek help if they’ve been abused by those practicing mental health, and on Veterans Day to salute veterans and them, their friends and family to be vigilant about education on mental health issues especially those affecting them.   

 

A Board Member of CCHR Nashville said, “CCHR volunteers know that there is much more work to be done. People are getting hurt every day at the hands of psychiatrists. They must be brought to account for their actions.” Those who have experienced abuse are encouraged to visit cchrnashville.org and fill out the “report abuse” form.

 

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health industry watchdog whose mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health.  It works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health.  In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed five decades ago. For more information on CCHR, visit cchrnashville.org.

2020 Year in Review - The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee

 

2020 saw many changes to the way nonprofit organizations operate, and The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee was no different in that regard.

 

The Way to Happiness, a book written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, is comprised of 21 precepts, each one predicated on the fact that one’s survival depends on the survival of others—and that without the survival of others, neither joy nor happiness are attainable. In the three decades since it was authored, more than 115 million copies of the book passed hand to hand, thus inspiring the international movement which is spreading throughout Nashville, TN.

 

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) remained active virtually throughout the year, spreading positive audio-visual messages, and even issuing a virtual challenge for International Friendship Day 2020 with photos on social media of friends sharing the hashtag #Friendship2020.

 

Volunteers took part in a free concert in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., distributing booklets to those attending and others walking through the park. And to close out the year, volunteers showed the award winning public service announcements on their social media to help people see and understand the concepts and describe how they can be used to uplift communities.

 

TWTH-TN is making a true impact across Tennessee and reaching other parts of the world. To learn more about the program, or to order copies of The Way to Happiness booklet, visit twthtn.org.

2020 Year in Review – Tennessee United for Human Rights

 

2020 was an interesting year that showed resilience and innovation to keep certain activities moving forward. Tennessee United for Human Rights was able to continue carrying out the work of the international organization United for Human Rights in the Southeast United States virtually.

 

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TnUHR) was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights. Five years later, in 2020, the organization has taken great strides to provide help to people of all ages so they may understand their basic human rights. And this year has taken a virtual turn.

 

Much of the year was spent educating people on their human rights online through audio-visual presentations and public service announcements online.

 

The group reminisced on International Religious Freedom Day where students are typically educated on their human rights, with a special focus on freedom of thought.

 

Closing out the year as always, TnUHR was a co-organizer for the annual Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, a spectacular event which showcased human rights leaders for their work and uplifted others. This year the event was fully held online on Zoom and live streamed on Facebook where it can still be viewed: https://www.facebook.com/tennesseehumanrights/videos/704354210509464.

 

“The time for true human rights education is now,” says Julie Brinker, spokesperson for Tennessee  United for Human Rights, “we’ve come far over the past few years but there is still more work to be done so that each and every person has a voice and human rights can be a reality for all.”

 

TnUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights (UHR), 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. 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 humanrights.com. For more information on the Tennessee chapter, visit tnuhr.org.

2020 Year in Review - Religion Communicators Council, Nashville Chapter

 

The Religion Communicators Council is an interfaith communications organization working to promote peace and fellowship while spreading the good news.

 

The longest running interfaith communications organization in the United States, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the country that meet regularly and promote “excellence in the communication of religious faith and values in the public arena and encourage understanding among religious and faith groups,” according to the RCC website. In Nashville, the RCC Chapter meets every month to promote its ideals through conversations and learn from their peers about specific communications techniques to help in their professional development. “People of faith have influence,” says Board Member of the Nashville Chapter, Julie Brinker, who also does community relations with the Church of Scientology, “We all need to step out and speak up because the good news, of which there is an abundance, tends to be overshadowed.”

 

The chapter had a busy year, even with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic the chapter held its meetings as usual, virtually.

 

The first meeting of the year was a Daybreak Discussion at the Cookery Restaurant in Nashville where members met over coffee to network. This was followed in February with a meeting called Podcasting for Your Brand with Jamie Dunham, the Chief Brand Strategist for Brand Wise. In March, the meeting had to be cancelled due to the unexpected tornadoes that came through Nashville the night before the meeting was set to take place. Then in April, things shifted virtually with the COVID-19 pandemic surging and resulting in Stay at Home Orders throughout the country. The first virtual meeting was a discussion between members on “How do we as faith leaders keep our communities accurately informed about COVID-19?”

 

In May, it was a virtual meeting with Mimi Bliss of Bliss Communications teaching "Presentation Skills for Leaders" with special focus on how to present your best self on Zoom. In June, with Stay at Home orders lifting, a small group of RCC members were able to visit Dismas House with social distancing and masks in place. Dismas House is a 501(c)(3) transitional re-entry program for individuals recently released from incarceration. July had members meeting virtually once again, with members hearing from Aisha Lbhalla, Founder of the Muslim Women's Council. Aisha answered questions on "What are some things racism has taught her?" and "What would she tell a non-Black person that wants to become Anti-racist?"  

 

In August, the presentation was from Free for Life International, a non-profit organization with the mission to identify, assist, and restore life to the victims and survivors of human trafficking. Their vision, while simply stated, is bold, "freedom for all." The September meeting was with Melanie Barnett, Community Development Director for Room In The Inn. In October, RCC members heard from special guest David Crumm of ReadTheSpirit Weekly online magazine. And in November, RCC members discussed the presidential election and its results.

 

RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Hindus and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Recaps the Year, Plans 2021

 

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

 

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. The Nashville Chapter meets monthly at rotating locations to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities.

 

The December meeting took place virtually, as has been the common meeting ground for all events this year. RCC Nashville President, Rev. Brian Fesler, lead the discussion about 2020 and what RCC members can look forward to in the year ahead.

 

“It’s always good to look back on the year and decide how to best move forward,” says Julie Brinker, Communications Coordinator for the Nashville RCC and Director of Community Affairs for the Church of Scientology Nashville, “and while 2020 has been a year like no other, our end of year meeting style remains the same—except that it won’t be in person.” 

 

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. For more information about the Religion Communicators Council, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.

 

Tennessee Human Rights Day Spreads Hope During Virtual Event

 

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day took place on December 10^th virtually.

 

Tennesseans gather each year on December 10th to celebrate International Human Rights Day. This year is quite different, as the event was held virtually. During the event, leaders are acknowledged, and awards went to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement.

 

The Rising Advocate Award went to Nashville’s 2020 Youth Poet Laureate, Alora Young; and members of the group Teens 4 Equality who organized the 10,000 person protest this summer in support of African American rights.

 

The Outstanding Service Award went to Rev. Becca Stevens, who is founder and president of Thistle Farms and has served as the chaplain at St. Augustine Chapel for more than 20 years; and Dr. James Hildreth, the 12th president and chief executive officer of Meharry Medical College, the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Awards went to Ernest “Rip” Patton Jr., a civil rights activist and veteran of the Freedom Riders; and Rev. V. H. “Sonnye” Dixon, the lead pastor at Hobson UMC, known as a passionate advocate for public education, a champion of human and civil rights for all people, and a person unafraid to speak truth to power in political, social, education and religious communities.

 

The theme for Human Rights Day this year was “Our Shared Humanity: Rooted in Hope,” and brought people together in an uplifting celebration of the good that has come out of a year filled with chaos. Rashad thaPoet did an incredible performance piece around this theme, which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Beverly Watts of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Panel members were former Commission Chair Jocelyn Wurzburg and past Human Rights Rising Advocate Awardee Justin Jones.

 

A committee of human rights organizations, nonprofits, and advocates, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Scarritt Bennett Center, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, and others, work together each year to plan the event.

 

“This year more than any before we have a need to acknowledge the goodness in mankind. Human Rights Day gives us a chance to do that, while also recharging our batteries for the year to come,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology in Nashville. “The day centers around the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and implementing the articles in that document are the best chance we have for human survival.”

 

All information regarding the event can be found on the website www.tnuhrg.org. 

 

Tennessee Human Rights Day Committee Prepares for Virtual Event

 

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place on December 10^th at 6pm virtually.

 

Tennesseans gather each year on December 10th to celebrate International Human Rights Day. This year will be quite different, as the event will be held virtually. During the event, leaders are acknowledged, and awards will go to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement.

 

The Rising Advocate Award will go to Nashville’s 2020 Youth Poet Laureate, Alora Young; and members of the group Teens 4 Equality who organized the 10,000 person protest this summer in support of African American rights.

 

The Outstanding Service Award will go to Rev. Becca Stevens, who is founder and president of Thistle Farms and has served as the chaplain at St. Augustine Chapel for more than 20 years; and Dr. James Hildreth, the 12th president and chief executive officer of Meharry Medical College, the nation’s largest private, independent historically black academic health sciences center.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Awards are going to Ernest “Rip” Patton Jr., a civil rights activist and veteran of the Freedom Riders; and Rev. V. H. “Sonnye” Dixon, the lead pastor at Hobson UMC, known as a passionate advocate for public education, a champion of human and civil rights for all people, and a person unafraid to speak truth to power in political, social, education and religious communities.

 

The theme for Human Rights Day this year is “Our Shared Humanity: Rooted in Hope,” and will bring people together in an uplifting celebration of the good that has come out of a year filled with chaos. Rashad the Poet will do a performance piece around this theme, which will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Beverly Watts of the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. Panel members will be former Commission Chair Jocelyn Wurzburg and past Human Rights Rising Advocate Awardee Justin Jones.

 

A committee of human rights organizations, nonprofits, and advocates, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, Scarritt Bennett Center, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, and others, work together each year to plan the event.

 

“This year more than any before we have a need to acknowledge the goodness in mankind. Human Rights Day gives us a chance to do that, while also recharging our batteries for the year to come,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology in Nashville. “The day centers around the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and implementing the articles in that document are the best chance we have for human survival.”

 

All information regarding the event can be found on the website www.nashvillehumanrights.org.