Nashville neighborhood associations — their successes and struggles

Their work can be subtle and unseen, but neighborhood associations often play a key role in building connections among neighbors and setting the vision for a community. But running an association is no small job.

Their myriad tasks can include staying on top of changes within the city, advocating for Metro services, organizing local events, and also recruiting participants to serve on the association itself. What does it take for a neighborhood association to remain relevant to the average (extremely busy) resident? On top of all that, the pandemic has tested the bonds of communities, and the city continues to change quickly, with newcomers arriving in droves.

That’s been challenging for neighborhood groups, so on today’s episode we’ll explore how they’re adapting and hearing from the leader of Neighbor 2 Neighbor, which offers training to neighborhood association leaders. In fact, there’s one day left to enroll in the nonprofit’s Emerging Neighborhood Leaders Academy, and their annual Good Neighbor Day Festival is happening Saturday in Madison.

We’ll also drop in on a community project in Cane Ridge, where the founder of the Tennessee Nature Academy has been working with teenagers to grow a massive pumpkin patch that will be the centerpiece of a new fall festival on Oct. 1. The effort has soaring ambitions of creating a bridge between the area’s agricultural heritage and the wave of new residents.

But first, we’ll dig into the controversy over the attorney that the Biden administration has nominated for the top prosecutor job in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Host Khalil Ekulona and WPLN All Things Considered host Marianna Bacallao will unpack why advocates for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are calling for the nomination to be withdrawn, and hear from the University of Tennessee professor who was prosecuted — but acquitted — after he says he was ensnared by the so-called “China Initiative.”

Guests:

• Twana Chick, president of Cane Ridge Community Club
• Jim Hawk, president of Neighbor 2 Neighbor
• Tiffany Archer, leader with North Nashville Organization for Community Improvement
• Carson Cooper, resident of District 30