TENNESSEE IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY BUSINESS GROUP (TIMBG)
INVITES YOU TO ATTEND
A NASHVILLE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM
ON ISSUES IMPORTANT TO IMMIGRANT AND MINORITY BUSINESSES
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Tuesday May 19, 2015
6:30 -8:30 PM
Global Event Center, Global Mall
5252 Hickory Hollow Pkwy, Nashville (Antioch)
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TIMBG was founded by Drs. Ming Wang and Galen Hull in September 2013 to promote communication and interaction among immigrant and minority business owners through a series of monthly seminars. For further information see www.timbg.org and www.diversecutluralevents.com.
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Moderator: Mr. Steven Hale, Nashville Scene Staff Writer
Panelists:
Charles Robert Bone – Attorney with Bone McAlister Norton; Democratic Party fundraiser; businessman, helped start over 20 small businesses, mostly in health care, technology and manufacturing.
David Fox – Former Metro School Board Chair; represented District 8 from 2006 to 2010; former Tennessean business reporter; until recently worked at Titan Advisors, New York-based hedge fund.
Bill Freeman – Co-founder of Freeman Webb management and real estate investment company, a billion dollar business with 500 employees and 15,000 apartment units nationwide; a top bundler for President Obama’s 2012 e-election campaign.
Howard Gentry – Has served as Davidson County Criminal Clerk since 2011; served as Vice Mayor from 2002 to 2007; longtime advocate for the homeless; ran for Mayor in 2007, coming up just 405 votes short of making the run-off.
Jeremy Kane - Founded LEAD Public Schools, Nashville’s largest school network, in 2004 and served as CEO; Executive Director of Tennessee Charter School Association; speech writer for Sen. John Kerry; taught American Literature, Government, and Economics in public and private schools in Nashville.
Issues to be addressed
- Mayor’s Office of New Americans
Mayor Dean recently established an office on New Americans (MONA). Are you familiar with the objectives and initiatives of this office? Would you continue support for this initiative? If so, do How you have ideas about how to expand upon MONA?
- Pathway for New Americans
Under a new initiative known as Pathway for New Americans the Mayor’s Office has establishedNew Americans Corners at library and parks locations throughout the city. Have you visited any of these? What are the services that these centers provide new Americans?
- Cities for Citizenship
At a recent National Immigrant Integration Conference Mayor Dean announced Nashville’s participation in Cities for Citizenship which seeks to increase citizenship among eligible U.S. permanent residents by sharing best practices and programs. Are you familiar with this initiative? The Cities for Citizenship website provides an extensive list of initiatives that American cities can initiate to serve new Americans. Would you commit Nashville to actively participate in any of these?
- Community Organizations that Support Immigrants
There are numerous organizations in the Nashville area that provide support to immigrants. Are you involved in any of them? If so, in what capacity?
- Nashville Police Department
USA Today recently reported that the Nashville Police Department was pushing the state legislature to change a law that bars non-citizens from becoming law enforcement officers. Immigrants who have been honorably discharged from the military would be eligible for service. Would you support such a move?
- In-state tuition for undocumented Tennesseeans - (SB0612/HB0675)
Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga) and Representative Mark White (R-Memphis) have introduced legislation to exempt certain students from payment of out-of-state tuition rates at public universities regardless of immigration status. If passed, this legislation would make college a possibility for thousands of undocumented youth across Tennessee. Do you support this proposed legislation?
