Citizens Commission on Human Rights to Hold Open House on Antisemitism Awareness

 The Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Nashville (CCHR Nashville) will hold a special open house at the end of January.

The Nashville Chapter of Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR Nashville) will have a special discussion in late January to confront a serious topic: antisemitism. 

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.”

During this open house, attendees will hear from a special guest with the Jewish community on the topic “Holocaust Remembrance: Why Here? Why Now?” 

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. 

For more information on the open house or to contact CCHR Nashville, visit cchrnashville.org.  

Nashville Religion Communicators to Host World Interfaith Harmony Panel

 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 to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities. 

The February meeting will be virtual, with a multi-faith panel discussion in observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week, which occurs during the first week of February each year. According to worldinterfaithharmonyweek.org, “The World Interfaith Harmony Week was first proposed at the UN General Assembly on September 23, 2010 by H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan. Just under a month later, on October 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week.”

World Interfaith Harmony Week is based on the pioneering work of The Common Word initiative. This initiative, which started in 2007, called for Muslim and Christian leaders to engage in a dialogue based on two common fundamental religious Commandments; Love of God, and Love of the Neighbor, without nevertheless compromising any of their own religious tenets. 

The panel will be led by Rev. Brian Fesler, President of the Nashville RCC Chapter, Vice President of the RCC National Board of Governors, and Pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville. 

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. 

Nashville Religion Communicators Inspired to Participate in DeRose Hinkhouse Awards

 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 to learn about other faith traditions, learn from fellow communicators and gain professional development opportunities. 

The first meeting of 2022 took place virtually, with RCC Board members hearing how and why to enter and win the DeRose Hinkhouse Memorial Awards. “The DeRose-Hinkhouse Memorial Awards are given annually to active members of the Religion Communicators Council who demonstrate excellence in religious communications and public relations. The awards are named to honor the late Victor DeRose and the late Paul M. Hinkhouse, leading lithographers in New York City, and longtime friends of the RCC. Both men shared a strong interest in, and concern for, excellence in communications,” according to the religioncommunicators.org website. 

The discussion about the awards was led by Rev. Brian Fesler, President of the Nashville RCC Chapter, Vice President of the RCC National Board of Governors, and Pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville. Other RCC board members from across the nation joined in on the call to be inspired to participate as well. 

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. 

2021 Year in Review - The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee

 2021 saw continued 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, once it was safe, volunteers took to the streets and parks of Nashville during 2021 to continue distributing booklets to help people learn the concepts contained within the common-sense moral code and 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. 

2021 Year in Review – Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Nashville Chapter

 2021 saw continued 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 held events virtually during 2021, and once it was safe, began holding socially distanced events to promote awareness of abuses in the field of mental health. 

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.

2021 Year in Review: Drug-Free Tennessee

 2021 saw many changes to the way nonprofit organizations operate, and Drug-Free Tennessee was no different in that regard.

While no one could have anticipated all that 2020 brought, Drug-Free Tennessee (DFT) shifted its focus to virtual and on-call help for those in need across the state, and continued this into 2021.  

Tennessee has seen an increase of drug overdoses every year since 2015, with the most recent data in 2019 had Tennessee’s overdose rate at 2,089. This number increased in 2020 in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to health experts. 

Drug-Free Tennessee hosted virtual resources throughout the year online at drugfreetn.org with audio-visual messages and videos aimed at helping people steer clear of drug abuse and addiction. The organization has also long offered virtual learning resources and free materials to all educators wanting to help people learn the truth about drugs. Resources are available free of charge through drugfreeworld.org. 

In addition to the virtual resources, DFT was able to start reaching people again in person with Truth About Drugs booklet distribution events and seminars. 

Julie Brinker, Drug-Free Tennessee spokesperson, said, “Now more than ever is the time to help our friends and neighbors learn the truth about drugs. They are deadly, and people have a right to know what they are getting into before it’s too late.”

Drug-Free Tennessee distributes the Truth About Drugs booklet, which cover all basic side effects of drugs, common street names, and how to recognize when you are being persuaded by a dealer. DFT also has a range of award winning Public Service Announcements and an award winning feature length documentary detailing the dangers of drugs and addiction. To learn more or to order booklets or view the videos, visit drugfreetn.org and drugfreeworld.org.