Drug-Free South Gets the Word Out at Nashville State Community College

The Truth About Drugs program provides teachers, law enforcement and community groups with effective drug education materials.

Drug-Free South (DFS) was recently invited to Nashville State Community College for its Drug-Free Awareness Day. DFS distributed booklets to students and teachers on the Truth About Drugs.

The event took place during National Drug Facts Week (Jan 26^th - Feb 1^st).  The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services issued a press release which describes the week as “…an opportunity for teenagers to promote and participate in activities to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.”

Drug-Free South is the Tennessee Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides the Truth About Drugs booklets, The “They Said, They Lied” public service announcements, and the 100-minute documentary, The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories which all work together to provide students the facts on drugs. 

DFS helps kids understand the truth about drugs, so they don’t get caught off-guard when a dealer is trying to talk them into doing something they will always regret. That is why volunteers were out at Nashville State this week to promote this message of healthy living.

Drug-Free South is dedicated to handling the drug problem in Tennessee, and wants to encourage all educators to visit drugfreesouth.org to schedule a drug education seminar in their school. Parents and teachers can order Truth About Drugs booklets and DVDs free of charge from the website or download the free Truth About Drugs Education Application onto their iPads or iPhones. For more information on the Truth About Drugs program, or to order materials, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Church of Scientology Hosts Insight Event to Bridge the Gap Between Africa and America

 In honor of Black History Month, the Nashville Church of Scientology will be hosting a unique event to take a look at African roots and how Americans today can stay true to their ancestry.

In a talk show-style setting, “Insight” will help bridge the gap between black Americans and African roots by bringing together those who have been there and back and have an intimate knowledge of Africa and America today. The event will be hosted by Princess Fumi Hancock who was born in the Emure Kingdom of Nigeria but has lived in the United States for several years.

The event will take place on February 13^th at 7pm in the Church of Scientology's community hall.

According to Princess Hancock, “It's important to bring awareness back to our roots, and through this event we can bridge the gap.”

The panel will be comprised of the CEO of Let's Go Innovate, a business coaching enterprise, the President of Adassa Adumori Foundation, a US based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Tennessee, doing work in Africa and other 3rd World countries, members of the Southern Warrior Sister Tribe, which strives to inspire women, and public relations professionals who have experience in Africa and working with the King of Emure.

Princess Hancock would like to encourage everyone to attend to discover more about their roots and about themselves. “Guests will leave inspired,” she says.

For more information about the event, call Julie Brinker at 615-687-4600.

Youth for Human Rights Hold Petition Drive at Nashville MLK Events

For nearly 15 years, Youth for Human Rights International has taught young people about human rights, specifically the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and inspired them to become advocates for tolerance and peace. YHRI has now grown into a global movement, including hundreds of groups, clubs and chapters around the world.

The Nashville Chapter has events throughout the year to bring awareness to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promote the articles therein. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, volunteers held a petition signing event during the annual celebratory march and convocation at Tennessee State University. 

YHRI Chapters are petitioning local, state and national governments to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more broadly known by actually teaching it in schools. At the MLK Celebration, volunteers were able to get scores of signatures toward this cause.

Youth for Human Rights provides a wide array of educational materials at no cost to educators including the UNITED music video—a street-savvy, multiethnic, anti-bullying message that has captured the imagination of people around the world, 30 short public service announcements that depict all of the Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the What Are Human Rights? booklets, and a complete educational curriculum. The YHRI videos have garnered media attention as well, airing on television networks in countries worldwide.

“Our goal is to make human rights known and understood so that no one will be subject to abuses any more,” says Julie Brinker, regional coordinator for YHRI. Brinker said the MLK events were a success, not only in terms of petitions signed, but in terms of people reached who now know about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

To find out how to participate in local events or to receive materials, send an email to humanrights1210@gmail.com or for more information on Youth for Human Rights, visit youthforhumanrights.com.

Artist Tony Rockliff Shares Secrets of the Internet During Seminar at Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville was proud to host artist Tony Rockliff for a seminar geared toward helping artists advance in their careers, namely through internet marketing.

Tony Rockliff knows how to work social media and internet marketing. He began in 1995, creating Cybertown, an on-line community of people from 155 countries interacting in a 3D Virtual Reality off-world town set about 100 years in the future.  Cybertown grew to 1.3 million members, was receiving 1.5 billion hits a year and was listed in the top 2500 sites in the world.

Not only that, but Rockliff has decades of experience as a record producer, recording engineer and composer. He has worked with artists including Cat Stevens, Billy Ocean, Beck, Elton John's band, Regina Bell, the Temptations, Sir George Martin, Brian Johnson from AC/DC, Uriah Heep, David Pomeranz, David Campbell, Nicky Hopkins, members of Yes and the Doors and many others. 

Rockliff described his seminar, “We covered the exact activities being done by the musicians who are being successful expanding their careers with the Internet. We talked about social media and and exactly how to use it, with step-by-step strategies.” Rockliff has given similar seminars in the past, but updated this one to reflect cutting edge internet strategies.

The seminar was hosted in the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville’s hall, and for good reason. The Celebrity Centre has a mission to help artists, and does so in a practical manner. President of the church, Corinne Sullivan, says, "We have seminars like this all of the time to help artists.” She pointed out a passage by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard: “The artist has an enormous role in the enhancement of today’s and the creation of tomorrow’s reality.”

For more information on upcoming seminars to help artists at the Church of Scientology, call Julie Brinker at 615-687-4600. For more on Tony Rockliff, visit his website www.indietrak.com.

Artlightenment 7th Annual Art Show and Film Festival Scheduled for 2015

The annual Artlightenment Festival has just announced the dates of the 2015 festival for Nov 12-14.

While the Artlightenment Festival began as an artist’s dream to help other artists and promote the art of existence, it is now inspiring countless others in the City of Music. The festival is entering its 7^th year and organizers are starting early.

Robyn Morshead is founder of the annual art show. An artist and filmmaker herself, she gears the event toward the advancement of every artist and filmmaker who participates or attends.

The festival will run the second weekend of November, from the 12^th -14^th. As has become custom, there will be a film festival on Thursday and Friday, with the art show formally opening on Saturday at noon, an artist reception will take place Saturday night immediately followed by the awards ceremony.

In previous years, featured artists for the festival have included celebrity photographer Raeanne Rubenstein, underwater photographer Christy Lee Rogers, and fine artist Owen York.

The festival will take place this year November 12 - 14 at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville, 1130 8th Ave S, and all are welcome. Prospective participants may submit their film or artwork online at artlightenment.com or contact Robyn Morshead at robynmorshead@gmail.com.

Drug-Free South Encourages All to Participate in National Drug Facts Week

The Truth About Drugs program provides teachers, law enforcement and community groups with effective drug education materials.

Drug-Free South (DFS) is reaching out and encouraging all to participate in National Drug Facts Week, which will take place Jan 26^th - Feb 1^st. Drug-Free South is the Tennessee Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, which provides the Truth About Drugs booklets, The “They Said, They Lied” public service announcements, and the 100-minute documentary, The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories which all work together to provide students the facts on drugs. 

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services just issued a press release on January 13^th which describes the week as “…an opportunity for teenagers to promote and participate in activities to shatter the myths about drugs and drug abuse.”

Drug-Free South (DFS) helps kids understand the truth about drugs, so they don’t get caught off-

guard when a dealer is trying to talk them into doing something they will always regret. That is why volunteers for the group are making themselves available anytime during National Drug Facts week to visit schools and share information on the Truth About Drugs.

Drug-Free South is dedicated to handling the drug problem in Tennessee, and wants to encourage all educators to visit drugfreesouth.org to schedule a drug education seminar in their school. Parents and teachers can order Truth About Drugs booklets and DVDs free of charge from the website or download the free Truth About Drugs Education Application onto their iPads or iPhones. For more information on the Truth About Drugs program, or to order materials, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Church of Scientology Celebrates Black History Month

The Church of Scientology is on an unrelenting drive to forward human rights across the world. Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard made it clear that human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream, and it is with that in mind that the Church inspires people of all backgrounds to stand for what is right.

In keeping with this mission, the Nashville Church of Scientology will be hosting a series of events to celebrate Black History Month.

The first week of February 2015, the Church will host an exhibit of the Black Legends of Basketball.  The exhibit will include pamphlets, posters and photos from the early years of basketball (1900-1960), featuring the Harlem Globetrotters and the New York Rens.  The exhibit will open with a reception at 2pm on February 1^st.

On February 13^th, the Church is hosting an event titled “Insight,” which will be an evening of inspiration for African American peoples.

“Ain't I a Woman: A Tribute to African American Women” will take place on February 22, 2015 at 2pm and will celebrate the history and lives of African American women, including Sojourner Truth, Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni.   Elizabeth (“Lizzie”) Kimbrough will bring to life the legacy of these women through dance, poetry, and recitations.   The donations for this event will benefit the Minerva Foundation of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Nashville Alumnae Chapter.

Then, on February 28^th at 1pm, Memphis journalist Art Gilliam will hold a book signing and talk about his recently published book “One America,” which chronicles his own experiences growing up in the segregated South.

That same night, there will be a film screening of Reflect, Reclaim, Rejoice: Preserving the Gift of Black Sacred Music, a film which traces the history of African American music and spirituals.  

For more information about Black History Month events at the Church of Scientology, contact Julie Brinker at 615-687-4600.

Hubbard Dianetics Foundation Relieves Painful Experiences of the Past with Two-Day Seminar

The Hubbard Dianetics Foundation offers a weekly seminar to help people resolve problems, discover the source of unreasonable fears and insecurities, and overcome barriers in life.

For over twenty years, the Church of Scientology in Nashville has been providing services to help people gain relief from painful events in their past.  Now it offers a seminar every weekend where participants gain personally and learn to help others.

Pain, painful emotions, sadness and grief can last a lifetime.  But do they have to?  Why does an event that took place in 1985 still affect a person in 2015?  Isn’t there something that can be done about it? 

Since 2009, Tennesseans have been finding answers to these questions and more. And what’s better, they have been trained in highly effective techniques to resolve those conditions. It’s all happened at the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation, a department within the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville.

The Seminar is based on the bestselling self-help book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health and takes just a weekend to complete.  The techniques of Dianetics were developed by L. Ron Hubbard in the 1930s and ‘40s, and first broadly issued with the publication of Dianetics in 1950.

“This seminar is life changing,” says the Hubbard Dianetics Seminar Director, “Everyone who has been to the seminar leaves feeling better and with the knowledge that they can continue to improve their lives.”

The two-day Dianetics seminar is offered every weekend at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville at 1130 8^th Avenue South. For more information, visit www.dianetics.org or call the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation at 615-687-4600.

Church of Scientology Celebrates MLK Day by Joining With Churches for Joint Service

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nashville churches are coming together for a joint service on Sunday, January 18, from 2-4pm.

In the journey toward diversifying Nashville, two pastors are stepping up to make a change. Rev. Enoch Fuzz of Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church is partnering with Rev. Brian Fesler of the Church of Scientology to hold a joint church service which will celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Sunday before MLK Day.

This isn’t the first time. The pastors of these churches have been working together for years to make a difference in the city.

Pastor Fuzz is encouraging all to attend to “share in the dream of Martin Luther King,” and “journey to diversity through dialogue on immigration.” This celebration and dialogue will take place Sunday, Jan 18^th.

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

Each church leader will conduct a portion of Sunday’s service. The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 18^th from 2-4pm. It is open to the public. For more information, contact Rev. Brian Fesler at 615-687-4600.

Church of Scientology Hosts Songwriters’ Night for Freedom to Honor MLK Day

The Nashville Church of Scientology will host a special songwriters’ night to honor human rights and freedom on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Jan 19, 2015.

Recognizing the global need for human rights education, the Church of Scientology works with community groups, human rights agencies and others to educate the leaders of tomorrow, in part because the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, said, “Human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

The Nashville Church of Scientology is unique in that it also has a special mission to help artists as a Celebrity Centre. So in honor of human and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Church will host a special songwriters’ night for Freedom on Jan 19^th.

“Songwriters in Nashville can always find a home here,” says President of the church Melissa Pennington, “we open our hall for music seminars and workshops, talent showcases and even jam sessions.”

The songwriters’ night will begin at 7 pm. There will be four rounds with 12-16 artists performing original tunes of freedom, justice and human rights.

The Church will also be showcasing a human rights program called Youth for Human Rights in its Public Information Center. There will be booklets and public service announcements describing the 30 universal human rights.

This exhibit and writers’ night is free and open to the public, and all musicians and artists are welcome to the writers’ night to perform on MLK Day, Jan 19, at 7pm. For more information, call Julie Brinker at 615-687-4600. 

Drug-Free South Resolves to Make 2015 Its Greatest Year Yet

Drug-Free South (DFS) wants to help kids understand the truth about drugs, so they don’t get caught off-guard when a dealer is trying to talk them into doing something they will always regret. That is why volunteers for the group have resolved to make 2015 their best year yet in terms of reaching youth across Tennessee.

Marc and Anne Vallieres of Canon County have trekked over 10,000 miles to educate students using the Truth About Drugs curriculum, but say they are nowhere near their goal. “We want to reach all young people in Tennessee,” says Anne Vallieres, “We are passionate about helping these kids.”  

Drug-Free South, the Tennessee chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, works with youth, educators, parents, religious and community leaders and law enforcement officers to provide drug education to children and teens. The Truth About Drugs uses a series of drug education resources that work—a multimedia program that speaks to the youth of today, informing them of the truth about drugs and empowering them to make their own decisions to live drug-free.

The cornerstone of the program is a series of booklets that provide the facts about the most commonly abused drugs: marijuana, alcohol, ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, crystal meth, inhalants, heroin, LSD, prescription drugs, painkillers, and Ritalin.

Next is a series of 16 award-winning “They Said, They Lied” public service announcements. They are contemporary, high-impact communications aimed directly at youth.

Finally, the core of the Truth About Drugs educational program is a 100-minute documentary, The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories. The film is a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred presentation told by former users who themselves survived life-shattering addiction.

Drug-Free South is dedicated to handling the drug problem in Tennessee, and wants to encourage all educators to visit drugfreesouth.org to schedule a drug education seminar in their school. Parents and teachers can order Truth About Drugs booklets and DVDs free of charge from the website or download the free Truth About Drugs Education Application onto their iPads or iPhones. For more information on the Truth About Drugs program, or to order materials, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Church of Scientology Unites with Three Other Churches to Celebrate MLK

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. four churches are coming together for a joint service on Sunday, January 18, from 11-2pm.

In a unique celebration that could only happen in the Bible Belt, four churches are celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in a joint service on the Sunday before MLK Day. This isn’t the first time. The pastors of these churches have been joining together for years. Part of the philosophy is to combine predominantly “white churches” with predominantly “black churches,” to draw attention to the unity and diversity which Dr. King preached.  

This celebration will take place Sunday, Jan 18^th and Pastor Enoch Fuzz feels this is a historic way to help make the dream a reality. “We’ve got four churches coming together in a mix of races and faith, and we’ll have our choirs singing together, each pastor leading a part of the service and all congregations worshipping together in one house of God.”

Corinthian Baptist Church had long ago partnered with the First Unitarian Universalist Church for the MLK Day celebration, beginning this tradition more than ten years ago. For the past two years, the Church of Scientology and the Historic Community Church of Nashville have joined in.

“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. Brian Fesler of the Church of Scientology.

Each church leader will conduct a portion of Sunday’s service. The MLK Celebration service will be held Sunday, Jan 18^th from 11-2pm. It is open to the public. For more information, contact Rev. Brian Fesler at 615-687-4600.