Nashville's Agenda 2007: Conversation across the city

[Text of the draft report being circulated among top community leaders]

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[As reported today by NashvillePost.com, organizers of "Nashville's Agenda" circulated this draft report last week to a "steering committee" of influential local leaders, where it is slated for discussion on Tuesday morning, June 12.]

Final Report
Introduction

The "ideas for action" on the following pages are proposed by the citizens of Nashville.

During the spring of 2007, more than 3,000 Nashvillians participated in the Nashville's Agenda 2007 process — sharing ideas in survey questionnaires and community meetings — with the goal of finding fresh new ways to "make Nashville the best it can be."

In 1993, the original Nashville's Agenda project involved a similar process and brought forth 21 ambitious goals for the city's future. Shortly thereafter, in March 1994, a Steering Committee of diverse community leaders was formed and initiated an array of volunteer action teams. These groups helped move the city forward on a list of "ideas for action" that had also been identified in the goal-setting process. The work of these Nashvillians produced the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, the Nashville Housing Fund, the Davidson Group, and other important accomplishments that today help describe the new Nashville.

In January 2007, a similar group of interested community leaders determined it was time to undertake such a process once again to identify fresh ideas for moving the city forward - but this time utilizing the technology of the internet, as well as the time-tested method of bringing Nashvillians together in a number of community discussions.

First, a "Survey of Nashvillians" was undertaken utilizing a questionnaire circulated by telephone interview and also via the internet. A total of 306 telephone interviews were completed with broad distribution of respondents across the city, and nearly nine times that number participated online. This multitude of responses helped frame the top discussion topics for community meetings and also established a "database of ideas" as an ongoing community resource for action teams to use later.

Next, using the survey information as an organizing tool, five well-publicized community meetings were held to facilitate a "conversation across the city" over a two-week period in April. These occurred in Woodbine, Bordeaux, West Meade, East Nashville, and downtown, with hundreds participating via small "discussion circles" assisted by trained facilitators. These generated hundreds of possible action ideas, which were ranked in the same sessions by the same participants.

No idea was lost, but Nashvillians talking together simply ranked some ideas higher than others — identifying those that were most in need of attention by the community at large. All the ideas will be part of the permanent project archive. This record, organized by topic and meeting date, will be available as a resource to Nashvillians working subsequently on implementation activities.

As Nashvillians begin to grapple with implementation of these ideas, it will be important to understand the availability of this larger body of work - the total "database of ideas." Just as a mountain has a broad base structure as well as a more visible summit, we know that authentic community action requires a broad base of participation and source of ideas, as well as leadership for organization and direction — and a shared spirit of community to bind the whole together. We know this can work. From the implementation work that began in 1994, we know from experience that all the parts of the mountain are important.

The 58 top-ranked actionable ideas are now presented in seven categories on the following pages for the community's attention. We respectfully present this report to our fellow Nashvillians - in the hope that this document can serve as a foundation for action.

To be successful, this will require continuing participation and leadership. In Nashville, the most important leadership has always come from multiple sources — individuals and organizations, business and labor, clergy and laity, private sector and government. In this way, we have seen such progress occur before — with impressive and historic results for our city.

We also recognize that making progress on this ambitious list of ideas will take time. We suggest the time to begin is now.

This ambitious project was brought about by organizers, facilitators, and other volunteers who are identified at the end of this document. We especially thank The Frist Foundation for its enthusiastic support and generous funding. Above all, we appreciate the many Nashvillians contributed time and enthusiasm to this initiative.

Here's how you can help ... Take a look at the following pages, and find the topic that interests you the most. If you would like to volunteer, please call ____________ or visit the website at www.nashvillesagenda.org Leaders will be identified to organize teams of interested citizens to move the action forward.

As before, it is likely that these action teams will agree it does not matter who gets the credit; that many existing institutions in our city have an important role to play in implementing new ideas, and that some ideas herein may reveal a need for new institutions or programs.

Finally, our thanks to all the Nashvillians who brought to this process their energy and spirit to make Nashville the best it can be.

Nashville's Agenda 2007

Ideas for Action

EDUCATION

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Ensure that it is a safe and nurturing place for all children, where kids learn the skills they need for life in an effective school system that encourages parental involvement and respect for diversity.

• Provide skilled job training after high school and jobs for young people, with a mentoring component.
• Reduce public high school drop-out rate from 35%.
• The Mayor, Metro Council and Board of Education should develop a five-year funding plan for schools with no reductions. Provide necessary resources to close achievement gaps in education.
  Require community service work for youth as part of the school curriculum.
• Increase mentoring programs for all kids – not just those who are troubled. Senior citizens could be mentors for at-risk students, helping them avoid being placed in alternative schools.
• Re-establish vocational schools, possibly through agreements with community colleges and trade schools. Adult literacy and education should always at table and supported.
• Establish learning curves for preschools and daycares to match pre-kindergarten expectations
• Establish a “Blue Chair Program” in schools for parents to participate regularly by coming to classrooms, sitting/watching, holding students, with teachers and administrators accountable.
• Prepare for the transition of “baby boomers” with public service programs, community awareness workshops. Establish a senior citizen community that would include resources, financial security and education.
• Provide guidance counselors at every grade level.
• Create a Student Bill of Rights to clarify the rights and responsibilities of students.
• Provide diversity education for students and teachers.
• Start building small schools with better site planning to encourage community support, energy saving, and walking.
• Help non-profits design, market, & deliver curriculum based programs to schools more effectively. For example, offer art classes as a means of anger management.
  

YOUTH

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Establish more places and programs that enable children to play safely, enjoy life, respect each other, and become discerning citizens.

• Place more emphasis on prevention programs that help parents help children at risk.
• Offer safe places for kids to play.
• Create a village for after-school arts and sports with instruction.
• Establish programs to involve youth in civic political processes.
• Provide additional summer programs for young students aged 13-17 to allow better choices for summer care for youth.

IMMIGRATION

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Identify ways to encourage understanding of immigration issues – including the problems associated with illegal immigrants – in a broader context of valuing cultural diversity and encouraging appreciation for new Nashvillians.

• Create more positive image of immigration in the city. Encourage corporate and political leaders to educate city on value of diversity and immigration. Find ways to increase cultural awareness in Nashville through more city-wide celebrations like the Celebration of Cultures festival. Educate public about differences between immigrants and illegal immigrants with a focus on the total immigrant population.
• Expand diversity training to identify cultural differences provided in the workplace, school, religious institution and govt.
• Encourage local corporations to “adopt” at-risk or immigrant neighborhoods for civic training and job placement.
• Provide a database and services that are multi-lingual to address specific newcomer needs.
• Convene a group of policy-makers to develop a special driver’s license for undocumented immigrants that, at a minimum, allows them to drive to and from work.
• Create an Office of Immigrant Integration that provides education, information services and forums that encourage civil conversation
• Hold “civics” classes at schools and libraries for new Nashvillians on local laws, government processes and services available.
• Create a leadership academy which partners immigrant leaders with native Nashvillians to expand partnerships and create stronger leaders.

ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Identify targeted streets and areas for special development to strengthen the city.

• Develop a downtown park for people who live and work downtown. Possible locations include the former baseball park site, Shelby Park or the Gulch.
• Develop a thoroughfare connecting North Nashville to West End.
• Revitalize the Jefferson Street business district.
• Revitalize Charlotte Avenue.
• Build out the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan to take advantage of the river banks as the heart of downtown.
• Conduct a strategic plan to retain college students as permanent residents of Nashville, with employment opportunities.
• Develop higher-density commercial and mixed use areas, particularly at significant neighborhood corners
• Provide more support for diverse businesses.
• Recognize competition with Williamson County, and collaborate on economic development with a regional perspective.
• Build the planned convention center and connect it with other area facilities like the arena and the current convention center.
• Find ways to support basic services downtown to provide amenities needed that are by residents and workers, including retail and medical care.
• Support the design and construction of the new Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall with accommodations for the Metro Archives and Metro Historical Commission under a suitable governance structure.
• Develop small communities for seniors with services needed in their daily lives.

POVERTY & HOMELESSNESS

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Develop more effective ways to help individuals and families in need break the cycle of poverty, reduce homelessness, and provide mentoring for those who are economically disadvantaged.

• Establish temporary housing for mothers and children who are homeless.
• Develop city-wide plans for adequate transitional living.
• Establish mentoring programs for economically disadvantaged by those economically advantaged.
• Encourage the business community to provide more job opportunities for the homeless and poor.
• Create an accessible adult public education facility that people can use to break out of cycle of poverty. It should be available at specific times and places (with babysitting facilities, etc.), that make it easy to attend.
• Help students break the cycle of poverty by understanding the link between lack of education and poor economic success.
• Establish a city-wide strategic plan to create and develop long-term solutions to poverty.
• Provide life skills & behavior training in public housing units & low income communities. This should include financial & decision management.
• Coordinate the governmental and community resources that address the root causes of homelessness and poverty.

ENVIRONMENT

To make Nashville the best it can be…

Be a “green city” which emphasizes respect for the environment, reduction of waste, and more efficient energy consumption.

• Set a goal of 50% waste diversion through more effective recycling & composting programs. Convert the city’s waste removal to a pay-as-you-throw garbage plan. Local government should use hybrid/electric cars, and convert city buses to electric power.
• Stop sewer sludge land application.
• Remove the dump from downtown area.
• Develop a program to clean up litter, broken windows, and abandoned buildings. Advocate for enforcement of Metro codes and ordinances to reduce graffiti and litter.
• City government should conduct an energy audit to become more energy efficient and reduce carbon dioxide. Require LEED certification for all Metro government buildings.

TRANSPORTATION

To make Nashville the best it can be…

The city should be safe, walkable and bikeable, and have a workable public transportation system that is accessible and affordable and connects neighborhoods in the city, and cities in the region.

• Develop more efficient, available, and environmentally-sound public transportation with better promotion and greater incentives (lower fares, better routes) for people to take public transportation. The “spokes” of Nashville’s main avenues and pikes should be served and cross-town connections provided. Develop better public transportation for seniors.
• Create a river taxi from northwest Nashville to downtown.
• Make Nashville more walkable and bikeable. Remove barriers, and add sidewalks and bike paths.
• Conduct a public transportation strategic plan for regional high speed lines from commuter areas, with incentives to discourage cars from driving into Nashville.