Vendor Writing

A Community Inspiration: Clemmie Greenlee

BY LISA A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

The most inspiring leader I have ever met used to be a “crack whore.”

Unashamedly, Clemmie Greenlee believes and says this was part of God’s Plan for her. And, indeed, she is robustly healthy, sparkling, impish, beautiful — and deeply compassionate.

When she first met me, she instantly recognized me as someone who had struggled to stay off the street my whole life. I didn’t need to say a word. We had a great deal of fun going door to door with flyers in East Nashville, promoting Galaxy Star, (founded 2001, dba Nashville Peacemakers).

While visiting Clemmie in her spotless and welcoming home, I am ushered into her home office, where I am faced with an entire wall of awards, including a 2018 Proclamation from the State of Tennessee.

What I find so disappointing 16 years later? She still doesn’t have:

• foundational support and

• a yearly salary. She doesn’t even own her own home.

People have been donating in dribs and drabs for 20 years while she struggles.

Greenlee is a beloved anti-violence activist in Nashville. She won the Nashville Scene ’s coveted Nashvillian of the Year in 2007. Since 2008, she has been helping the homeless get off the streets, addicts get into recovery and the penniless get into stable support systems. She has rescued neglected and homeless kids throughout their growing years. Here’s a testimonial from one of her kids:

“ … Clemmie showed me that I have people that care about me so I’m gonna push myself to get better to prove to them that I can do this… there was a point where I would feel like 'I can't do this.' But you guys pushed me to the place where I can do it. I learned how to seek for jobs, how to study in school, and how to cope with getting along with people. Leadership is one of the main skills I learned.“

Kira is now 20 years old and enrolled at Tennessee State College.

As a survivor of sex trafficking, a graduate of Magdalene House at Thistle Farms, Greenlee traveled to New Orleans and risked her life to break up a sex trafficking ring and help open a safe house called Eden. Many of the women went on to graduate from high school and college, embracing a career.

Greenlee has directly rescued hundreds of people and impacted thousands, including southern lawmakers throughout the region.

Prostitutes now have a chance at being viewed as victims of pimps and other traffickers. She is responsible for changing the political discourse.

Since long before the violence at the Convenant School, Greenlee was addressing all forms of gun violence as the executive director of Nashville Peacemakers, all from an intersectional perspective.

As the mother of a child murdered by gun violence who has helped dozens of women through her organization Mothers Over Murder, Greenlee is well qualified to lead the fight for sane gun laws in Tennessee.

With over 20 years experience as a community activist (her boots firmly on the ground), she deserves Nashville’s commitment in the form of

1. a reliable yearly salary,

2. the right to own her home,

3. and all the volunteer support

4. and coalition building we can muster.

To find out how you can help, please visit NashvillePeacemakers.org or Mothers Over Murder.