April 2015: Paul Galloway, American Center for Outreach

In April, Nashville's RCC Chapter met at the American Center for Outreach Office to meet Paul Galloway and learn more about the center which was formed in 2011.
 
What does a religious community do when they are attacked on the political stage? The answer: form a non-profit to address this. That is exactly what happened in 2011 when the American Center for Outreach was formed by Muslim leaders in Nashville, Tennessee.

Paul told Nashville RCC members about how he was recruited from Houston, Texas to come to Nashville which was steeped in anti-Muslim legislation and how the American Center for Outreach was formed as a 501(c)4 to address this.

Tennessee already had AMAC (American Muslim Advisory Council) which operates as a 501(c)3 to address issues with law enforcement, but the Muslim community didn't have a way to fight bigoted legislation at the capital. ACO (American Center for Outreach) was the answer to this need.

Current legislation that ACO is working to address includes Senate Bill 1040 / House Bill 1141 which deals with "no-go zones." It states that there are areas in Tennessee that are "controlled" by extremist gangs where average citizens aren't welcome. This is entirely untrue and perpetuates myths surrounding faith communities.

Paul has written for a blog titled "Muslim Matters." Some of his writing can be found here under the name Paul "Iesa" Galloway.

For more information on the American Center for Outreach or current campaigns, visit www.acotn.org.

Feb 2015: MaryAnne Howland, Ibis Communications

In February, Nashville's RCC Chapter met at Ibis Communications Office on a cold and icy day to meet MaryAnne Howland who formed and runs the International office based in Nashville. 

The Ibis is the bird of wisdom and symbol of knowledge, an omen of good things to come, the mythical scribe of powerful, transformative and beautiful messages. That’s the Ibis specialty, reaching niche markets across a broad spectrum of demographics, with fluent, resonant, and persuasive communications.

MaryAnne's personal philosophy is to include all people and help make the world a better place by serving others. She gave RCC members an insight into why she is passionate about this. Her son was born with a disability, but he is the bravest, most wonderful person and inspires her every day. 

MaryAnne, in her mission to help others will only serve as the communications agency of organizations of goodwill. 

She is also Founder and CEO of the Global Diversity Leadership Exchange, that launched in February 2012. This unique forum is designed to facilitate an on-going dialogue with global thought leaders and C-Suite executives on global diversity, inclusion and sustainability in the US, BRICS nations, and other emerging markets. 

During the Obama Administration, she attended four White House Summits: Women Leaders in Climate Finance and Investment, Women and the Environment conducted by the EPA, White House Business Council as a participant in Business Forward, and the Green Business Summit led by the American Sustainable Business Council. During the Clinton Administration, recognition for the success of her business led to the prestigious honor of an invitation to lunch on Capitol Hill for a White House tribute to the nation’s Women Business Leaders. 

Mayor's Office of New Americans

Our January meeting took place at Provence on Church Street. It was a cozy, warm lunch discussion with Mohamed Shukri-Hassan. He is Program Director for the American Muslim Advisory Council and recently was appointed by the Mayor of Nashville to serve on the Mayor's New Americans Advisory Council.  

Mohamed was a co-founder of the American Center for Outreach, works as the Welcoming Tennessee coordinator for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and formerly worked as an Outreach Coordinator for the Metro Public Health Department. He is passionate about helping new Americans settle in and be welcomed to Nashville. 

He was able to share with RCC members some of the programs run out of the New Americans Office including My City Academy which helps new Americans and neighborhood leaders understand how the Nashville government works. 

RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Gets Hands On

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In November, the Nashville Chapter visited the volunteer organization Hands On Nashville.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) hears regularly from a variety of organizations and groups which better the community, promote messages of faith or give tips on how to spread the good word. This month, the Nashville chapter went to Hands On Nashville which rose in prominence in Nashville during recovery efforts after the historic flood of 2010.

President of the Nashville chapter and Pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler says, “The mission of RCC is to promote excellence in the communication of faith and religious values, so it ties right in with our purpose to hear from organizations doing good works in the community.”

RCC met with the Director of Corporate Relations, Tara Tenorio, who discussed upcoming volunteer opportunities such as ReCYCLE forKids, a program to bring used bikes to kids in need, as well as the MLK Day of Service. Tenorio encouraged RCC members to promote these events by directing people to the website, hon.org.

This isn’t the first time the RCC has met with non-profit groups doing good for the community. In October of 2013, the group held a special meeting called “Putting Faith into Action” and had representatives of The Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. Prior to that meeting, RCC has met with members of Amnesty International, Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, and more.

RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Decides to Get Hands On

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In November, the Nashville Chapter will visit and hear from volunteer organization Hands On Nashville.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC) hears regularly from a variety of organizations and groups which better the community, promote messages of faith or give tips on how to spread the good word. This month, the Nashville chapter will visit volunteer organization Hands On Nashville which rose in prominence in Nashville during recovery efforts after the historic flood of 2010.

“It’s important to hear from groups that are doing good works,” says President of the Nashville chapter and Pastor of the Church of Scientology, Rev. Brian Fesler, “The mission of RCC is to promote excellence in the communication of faith and religious values, so it ties right in.”

This isn’t the first time the RCC has met with non-profit groups doing good for the community. In October of 2013, the group held a special meeting called “Putting Faith into Action” and had representatives of The Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army. Prior to that the group has met with members of Amnesty International, Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, and more.

The RCC meeting will be held on November 18^th over lunch at the Hands On Nashville office. RCC is open to members from all denominations, and the Nashville group includes Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, and more.  For further information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org. 

Religion Communicators Council Hears About Health, Disaster and Faith

The Religion Communicators Council meets each month to hear about a topic of interest. In October, the Nashville Chapter heard from the Tennessee Department of Health on faith and disaster preparedness.

Faith is not always front and center in today’s world. It is a mission of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) to promote the good news of people of faith through communications work. The Nashville chapter does this by providing meetings once a month to learn about new ways to improve religious communications or hear about topics of interest. For the October meeting, members heard from Dr. Michele Gourley, Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Tennessee Department of Health as well as two of her staff who spoke to disaster preparedness.

This wasn’t the first time Dr. Gourley has reached out to the RCC. In 2012, she came as a special guest to talk about her position and what it means to faith groups in the state. Her position had just been re-introduced at that time.   

“We are excited that Dr. Gourley was able to speak with us again,” says Rev. Brian Fesler, President of the Nashville RCC chapter and pastor of the Church of Scientology, “She brings faith and health together, and hearing from her is always a treat.”

Prior to serving in this role, Dr. Gourley worked for the state of Tennessee in the Division of Health Planning, where she helped write and oversee the 2010 and 2011 State Health Plans. She obtained her medical degree and Masters of Public Health degree from East Tennessee State University with an emphasis on rural primary care and community health.  She has also completed studies in wellness coaching, trauma and resilience and health impact assessments.

Dr. Gourley has spent the majority of her life as a part of faith communities in Middle and East Tennessee, has served as part of faith-based medical and public health projects in Central America and has participated in ecumenical faith communities in the Middle East and Europe.  In 2010, she was selected as a participant in Duke Divinity School’s Center for Reconciliation’s Summer Institute, where she focused on the role of food as it pertains to faith and reconciliation.

During the meeting, Dr. Gourley discussed the importance of being prepared in case of a disease epidemic in the community, such as Ebola, as well as having Points of Dispensing Clinics (PODs) set up well in advance so communities have a location to turn to in case of an outbreak of this nature. She encouraged congregations to set these up and also to visit the state department of health website to learn more.  

For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Set Goals for the Coming Year

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council (RCC) recently elected the new Executive Committee for the 2014-2015 term. The new Executives are setting the pace for the coming year with goals and new projects.

The Religion Communicators Council (RCC), founded in 1929, is an interfaith association of religion communicators at work in print and electronic communication, marketing and public relations. Members of the RCC come from many different religions and backgrounds including Christianity, Judaism, Baha’i Faith, Islam and Scientology, among others.

The Nashville Chapter recently elected its new slate of officers for the 2014-2016 year. These are: Rev. Brian Fesler, Pastor of the Church of Scientology, to continue in his role as President; Drew Pope, Public Affairs Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Vice President for Programs; Royya James, Conference Relations Coordinator of United Methodist Communications is Treasurer; Julie Brinker, Director of Community Affairs for the Church of Scientology to continue in her role as Communications Coordinator; and Aisha Lbhalla of the Tennessee Muslim Women’s Council is the new Membership Officer.

“I’m very excited about this slate of officers,” says President Fesler, “We are organizing a very exciting project to help promote goodwill and the good works of all religious people in the city.” He declined to comment on the exact nature of this project but said the details would be released in due time.

Fesler did go on to say that one goal of the new Executive Committee is to double attendance, and they will be reaching out further to gain new members and re-interest past members.

The Nashville chapter will continue to meet on the third Tuesday of each month for lunchtime presentations designed to improve attendees’ skills in some aspect of religious communications. For more information or to attend an upcoming meeting, visit religioncommunicators.org/nashville-chapter.