We’ve been on the front lines since disaster struck on March 3rd. Here’s what we’ve been up to.
It’s been a little over a month since the March 3rd tornadoes ripped through North Nashville and parts of Middle Tennessee. I wanted to update you on what we’ve been working on since we sprung into action on Super Tuesday.
Many of us are anxious about the COVID-19 pandemic that is crippling our healthcare system and our economy. Now more than ever it is critical to support our work to keep Gov. Bill Lee, Secretary Tre Hargett and state lawmakers accountable to the ever-changing dire needs our people face.
This is not the first time we’ve faced crisis and, through it all, we can build power together and demand that African Americans and other communities of color have a fair and just economic opportunities at realizing the American dream.
TEA has built a track record responding to uncertainty with this infallible truth: power belongs to the People.
That’s why TEA has been #OnTheFrontLines during this current crisis. Even in the midst of a Safe-At-Home order, we’ve shifted our outreach strategies and tactics to meet continual community needs. Here’s a review of what we’ve accomplished this month:
- Sent updated election information about polling locations after the storms hit on Super Tuesday, offered rides to the polls, and called the state Coordinator of Elections to keep polls open past 7 p.m.
- Recruited over 600 volunteers for our #DontSellOutNorf community canvass and cleanup
- Knocked on 500 doors in two hours to assess needs of residents after the storm
- Hosted two homeowners meetings to educate homeowners on their options and avoid predatory developers, which attracted 278 North Nashville residents
- Provided $11,227 in direct financial assistance from our #DontSellOutNorf Fund to North Nashville families and continue to receive calls daily
- Made 1,307 calls and texts during our weekly Days of Actions to check on residents during COVID-19 social distancing orders and ensure they get counted in the 2020 Census.
- Featured on WPLN, City Lab, Nashville Scene, NewsChannel 5+ OpenLine, Nashville Pride, Tennessee Tribune, News Channel 4, News Channel 2, in The Tennessean here and here, and Fox 17 to discuss our #DontSellOutNorf campaign to prevent gentrification
- Joined a coalition of 15 organization to send an open letter to Gov. Bill Lee asking him to relax overly restrictive state laws and give local governments the freedom to best address the COVID-19 crisis.
- Hosted seven virtual census trainings for Nashville, Murfreesboro and Clarksville supporters
- Partnered with Nashville Mayor John Cooper on National Census Day to reach thousands of Middle Tennessee viewers during his daily press update
- Organized a #CountMeInTN Social Media Storm on National Census Day where our supporters stormed the virtual airwaves to urge Tennesseans to get counted
- Contributed to making Tennessee being #1 in the South for having the highest self-response rate on Census Day!
And this was just in the past 30 days.
But we know the road to recovery will be long as we face an impending economic downturn. That’s exactly why we were founded – to work with you, together, to build power for our people, for the long haul. That’s our model and will always be the way we do this thing: together.
We need your support. The 3rd Annual Black Women’s Empowerment Brunch is scheduled for July 25, 2020 where we will honor Black women #OnTheFrontLines. We would love for you to be involved now: pledge to sponsor a table, invite your friends and colleagues, or make a donation today.
I know these are uncertain times, but TEA is steadfast in what we’ve always set out to do. You can count on us to be #OnTheFrontLines, and we’ll stay there with your continued support.
Yours in the movement,
Charlane
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