Vendor Writing: Volunteer Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight: Tyler Samuel

BY NORMA B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR

In keeping with the volunteer spirit of the Volunteer State, it’s time for another Volunteer Spotlight!

Meet Tyler Samuel. She was born in Arkansas, and moved to Nashville in 1998 after her parents divorced.

She is grateful that she got to experience life in the city in Nashville, and the country life spending her summers in Arkansas. You might say she experienced the best of both worlds!

She went to Cumberland Elementary School for grades K-4. She attended East Literature Magnet School for grades 5-12.

Her collegiate career was spent at the University of Evansville in Indiana where she got her degree in Vocal Performance, but she didn’t wait until she had a degree to pursue her dreams. She’s been singing professionally since she was 14!

She loves singing opera and classical music. She also does background vocals with the group W. Crimm Singers (aka Wakanda Chorale). They specialize in negro spirituals, a historical art form dating back to the time of slavery. (If you’re unfamiliar with this style of music as I was, I encourage you to check it out. It’s unique and VERY moving!)

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, that’s not all! There’s so much more to her story!

She’s on the Mayor’s Advisory Council for People with Disabilities. She’s also on the Tennessee Deaf, Blind, and Hard of Hearing Council, as well as the State Rehabilitation Council, which are 3 year terms that are appointed by the Governor.

So how did she get involved with The Contributor? She remembered it from when she was a kid, and bought a subscription from Maurice B. (A digital subscription makes it easier for her to read as she’s legally blind.) While reading the paper, she noticed an ad inviting people to volunteer at The Contributor.

She took immediate action and contacted our Volunteer Coordinator Christine Doeg and she’s been volunteering on Thursdays and at paper release ever since July 6, 2022.

In that short time, she says she’s gained a real sense of community, and that she’s found joy and is more fulfilled as a result of the vendors and staff.

She stressed the importance of outreach in helping others. To that end she says she wants to see Nashville take care of each other.

When asked what she hoped to achieve as a volunteer she said personally she wants to help people by being a part of their support system. That’s DEFINITELY a good goal to have, I mean, EVERYBODY NEEDS THAT!

She also says she wants people to recognize the value of the content of The Contributor as a voice that needs to be heard in the community. I wholeheartedly agree!