Nashville is changing rapidly, and local youth have something to say about it.
Since the previous mayoral race in Nashville, the city has been through a lot. We have seen a pandemic, protests in response to the murder of George Floyd, a near-total ban on abortion, a school shooting and much more. Meanwhile, the city’s population has grown exponentially and professional sports continue to expand, while long-time Nashvillians harbor concerns about issues such as transportation, school safety and affordable housing.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the city’s next mayor holds the future of Nashville in their hands. Who better to discuss Nashville’s next chapter than youth? Tonight, the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative will present a mayoral candidate forum and field questions from youth across the city — hosted by our own Khalil Ekulona. On today’s show, we’ll be diving deeper with local youth on what it’s like to be a teen in Nashville and what they see as Nashville’s most pressing issues.
But first, we’ll hear from WPLN reporter Rose Gilbert on the Lewis Country Store being named in a report for connections to neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.
Guests:
- Suzanna Wilkinson, member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, rising senior at Hillsboro High School
- Oluwaseun ‘Victoria’ Fabiyi, member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, rising senior at Hume-Fogg Academic High School
- Joey Mendez, recent graduate of Hillsboro High School
- Ephe Solomon, member of the Mayor’s Youth Council, rising senior at Cane Ridge High School
- Sarah Wang, rising sophomore at Hume-Fogg Academic High School
- Christina Amaya Sandoval, recent graduate of Hume-Fogg Academic High School
This episode was produced by Elizabeth Burton and Steve Haruch.
Related links:
- For Nashville’s Future: A Mayoral Candidate forum registration
- ‘I’m an actual literal Nazi’: Lewis Country Store owner responds to Southern Poverty Law Center report finding the business hosted hate groups
- Mayor’s Youth Council
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