Category: Mentoring

Written by: Gunnar Eng Volunteering is described by many as hard work which can be very rewarding. No one believes that more than Michele Nicholson, Nashville’s Volunteer of the Month who takes pride in helping others. Nicholson volunteers a good amount of time at Nashville’s Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition (NAHT) and has developed a bond with...

Patricia Leonard is extremely passionate about empowering women. In her corporate, volunteer, and personal life her goal is to “inspire women to break through any glass ceilings through leadership and contribution.” She believes that talk is not enough – we have to act in order to empower. This is played out specifically in her volunteer...

June Volunteer of the Month: Jimmy Pitts Jimmy Pitts loves sports almost as much as he loves service. Between coaching basketball and serving on the corporate board of the Boys and Girls Club of Rutherford County, Jimmy constantly looks to improve the lives of those around him. The work of every Boys and Girls Club...

Marilin Kelley is spreading love in Nashville. A recent Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) mathematics graduate, Marilin is preparing for graduate school at Virginia Tech in the Fall of 2019. In conversation with Marilin, her pursuit of knowledge is apparent, however her love for others shines more clearly than anything else. From nonprofit service with...

Written by: Zac Cooper November’s Nashville Volunteer of the Month is Jacky Gomez, a community leader who deals with Hispanic and immigrant issues. She works as a receptionist at the Hispanic Foundation, a Program Coordinator with YMCA Latino Achievers, and a volunteer with the Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition. An overarching theme in Jacky’s...

Pastor Marc Hewlett Stopping Human Trafficking Like many in Music City, Marc Hewlett began as a musician. Yet he was also an alcoholic, drug addict, and general trainwreck. On one particular morning, he woke up underneath a bush in the pouring rain. After hitting his rock bottom, he turned his life around. Today, his life...

“We are our brother’s keeper. What we do matters because it (how we treat others) does affect others,” says Lynn Ewing. In Hebrew, “keeper” means more than “protector” or “defender.” Fortunately, Lynn exemplifies this every day. She lives out her definition of “protector” and “defender” through her volunteerism. Lynn is a local mediator who uses...

Sheyla Paz Hicks With a growing and increasingly influential Hispanic community in Middle Tennessee, it’s essential to have someone who can facilitate communication in both Spanish and English. Sheyla Paz Hicks has been filling that role and helping others achieve their goals in the film industry as a volunteer board member for Women in Film...

When Karen Shayne finished her last chemotherapy treatment for cancer she was declared “in remission” and a “survivor.” She looked in the mirror and asked herself “What next?”  She realized that surviving cancer has more impact on one’s life than simply returning to the way things were. Instead, there are many questions, we feel different...