BOOK’EM           

Book’em's mission is to create a more literate Nashville and ignite children’s passion for reading through book ownership and enthusiastic volunteers.  They purchase and collect books to provide to schools and community organizations in the Middle Tennessee area.  Stephanie currently serves as a volunteer in the Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program where I volunteer to be a classroom reader at a Title I Metro Nashville Elementary School (Cumberland Elementary) five times throughout the school year.  She engages the students through interactive reading. At the end of each visit, students each pick their own book to keep and enjoy at home. Each child ends the school year with five new books in their home library, and (hopefully) a re-energized love of books and reading.

 

DREAM STREETS NASHVILLE           

Dream Streets’ mission is to protect and empower individuals living in distress. Many members of the group have recently overcome drug addictions, face food and housing insecurity, struggle to find safe, affordable childcare, and face other challenges unique to socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.  The organization provides supplemental groceries and family-strengthening tools to members of the community.  Dream Streets also has a Mom’s Ministry that operates as a support group for mothers. Stephanie serves as a volunteer, participant and member of the Mom’s Group, which meets weekly on Sunday afternoons. She also serves on the housing grant committee, which provides housing subsidies to individuals seeking to achieve financial stability or purchase a home.

 

A STEP AHEAD FOUNDATION OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE           

ASAF aids in the prevention of unplanned pregnancies by providing free, long-acting reversible contraception to women in Middle Tennessee. In 2019, Stephanie was invited to make the “ask” at the inaugural Brunch and Bubbly Fundraiser for the organization.  The event garnered significant contributions, exceeding the group’s goal. Stephanie is currently a board member of this organization.

 

BOOKED NOT BOUND           

Stephanie co-founded Booked Not Bound (BNB) – A Juvenile Justice Literacy Initiative with two friends and colleagues in 2018. BNB is a book club for youth housed at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center. Each month a book is selected and either donated by partner organizations or purchased and subsequently distributed to youth in the Davidson County Detention Center for them to read on their own. The founders and other volunteers then meet with the youth to discuss the book, various life lessons and enjoy a meal.

 

LES GEMMES, INC. – NASHVILLE CHAPTER          

Les Gemmes, Inc.’s purpose is to promote ​and provide charitable, educational, civic, and cultural activities aimed at enhancing the populations in the communities where local chapters are active. ​The Nashville Chapter has made its impact locally by mentoring girls and young women beginning in the 6th grade and continuing through their graduation from high school.  The annual Literary Luncheon is the organization’s main event to raise funds that support programming for our mentees and provide scholarships to mentees who are graduating seniors who plan to further their education. Stephanie am a member of Les Gemmes, Inc. – Nashville Chapter.  Stephanie also served as Co-Chair of the Literary Luncheons from 2020-2022 and as Vice-President of the chapter from 2021-2022.  

 

WOMEN’S POLITICAL COLLABORATIVE OF TENNESSEE          

The mission of the non-partisan Women’s Political Collaborative of Tennessee is to achieve parity for women by influencing policy through education and mobilization of statewide networks. The organization serves the community by providing informative and relevant programming on matters that impact women and families, and through legislative lobbying.  Stephanie joined as a member in 2016, served as President Elect from 2019-2020 and President from 2021-2022.  Stephanie is currently a board member of this organization.

 

ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC.          

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA), an international service organization, was founded in 1908 on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. It is the oldest Greek organization established by African American college-educated women.  AKA is comprised of more than 325,000 initiated members in graduate and undergraduate chapters located in 12 countries.  Stephanie joined as a member of the PI Chapter while attending Fisk University in 1993 and is currently a member of the Kappa Lambda Omega Graduate Chapter in Nashville.

 

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF NASHVILLE  

The Junior League of Nashville is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Stephane initially joined in 2017 and is currently a member.

 

YOUNG LEADERS COUNCIL

Young Leaders Council (YLC) was formed to broaden and strengthen Nashville’s volunteer leadership base. YLC’s programming consists of a series of eleven interactive training sessions, which address fundamental board skills. Each session is facilitated by an industry expert and includes discussion on topics that are crucial for today’s nonprofit leadership roles. Stephanie was a member of the Young Leaders Council Class in 2017.

 

GRASSROOTS SELF ORGANIZED EFFORTS                

Over the years, Stephanie has spearheaded and organized grass-roots community projects during the holiday seasons (2011-2017) to spread holiday joy and provide wants and essentials to those in the community who were in need and otherwise less fortunate.  To carry out and fund these projects, each year Stephanie pulled together a growing team of friends, family members, and colleagues. Highlights include:

 

• Provided gifts and necessities to families in need in the East Nashville during Christmas. (2011-2012)

• Provided entertainment, gifts, food, and other necessities to women and children in an abuse shelter for Christmas. (2013-2014)

• Visited an assisted living facility and sang Christmas carols and passed out food. (2014)

• Collected donations, purchased and personally delivered toiletries and coats, that doubled as sleeping bags, to homeless individuals on the streets of Nashville. (2015)

• Collected donations, purchased reading software, distributed books and provided classroom supplies and treats to the children and teachers at Tom Joy Elementary School in East Nashville. (2016)

• Coordinated a Christmas Eve sleepover for those in the homeless community with the assistance of Open Table Nashville.  Stephanie stayed in the overnight shelter and hosted approximately 30 of our unhoused neighbors on Christmas Eve.  Everyone was provided with gifts, games, entertainment, food, shelter, and a place to take a hot shower for the night, followed by transportation to Monell’s for Christmas morning brunch.  (2017)

• Provided books and other items requested at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center (2018)

 

NEW LEVEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTER     

New Level CDC advocates for the low-to-moderate income community by working with legislators, other non-profits, and private developers to create more affordable homes in Nashville. Stephanie was a board member for New Level from 2010-2017.

​

OTHER AFFILIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

• Davidson County Democratic Women, Member

• Emerge Alumnus, 2023

• Equity Alliance LiberTEA Collective Liberator, Cohort 9

• Harry Phillips Inn of Court, Past Member

• Lawyers Association for Women (LAW), Member

• League of Women Voters, Member

• Napier Looby Bar Association, Past Board Member and Current Member

• Nashville Bar Association, Member

• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Member

• Tennessee Bar Association, Member

• Walk Bike Nashville, Member

• University of Tennessee Law Alumni Council

• Women in Numbers, Member