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Volu m e 14

| Number 27 | December 23, 2020 - Januar y 6, 2021

We Remember The 128 people from the homeless community in Nashville who died in 2020.

IN THE ISSUE

Contributor Board

Tom Wills, Chair Cathy Jennings, Bruce Doeg, Demetria Kalodimos, Ann Bourland, Kerry Graham, Peter Macdonald, Amber DuVentre, Jerome Moore, Erik Flynn

LOCALES - POLÍTICA - INMIGRACIÓN - TRABAJOS - SALUD - ESPECTÁCULOS - DEPORTES Y MÁS...

2020

L a N ticia

Año 18 - No. 320

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

GRATIS

Diciembre #2

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Redistribución de recursos naturales : El papel de la cultura y las instituciones

Vendor Spotlight “Being able to lay down... and be able to rest without having to keep my head on a swivel — it’s been amazing.”

La evidencia empírica sugiere que los recursos naturales pueden ser una maldición o una bendición. En el período 2003 y 2013, los países de la región de América Latina, ricos en recursos, Por Karina García experimentaron el Contribuidora auge de las materias primas, pero no todos se beneficiaron por igual de los altos precios de los hidrocarburos y otros recursos naturales. Bolivia tuvo un desempeño notable. Su crecimiento del PIB per cápita fue en promedio de 4,9% durante esos 10 años superior al promedio de la región. Y la reducción de la desigualdad también fue notable: el Coeficiente de Gini pasó de 0,6 a 0,4 en el mismo período, mientras que Brasil y Chile, que son países de la región altamente desiguales, se mantuvieron alrededor de 0,5.

La pregunta que hay que responder es si la propiedad pública o privada es la forma más eficaz de financiar la redistribución y fomentar el crecimiento.

President Evo Morales redistribution of natural resources and the role of culture and institutions

ductos a los consumidores en mercados competitivos. El primer paso de este mercado es nacionalizar los recursos. El gobierno del presidente de Bolivia, Evo Morales, con apoyo popular pero no tanta popularidad en la región, ejecutó esta política en 2006 para promover el crecimiento y la redistribución financiera.

riqueza natural; ejemplos exitosos son Botswana y Noruega. Botswana es digno de mención debido al cambio dramático desde la experiencia poscolonial de inversión mínima y alta desigualdad para tener el segundo gasto más alto en educación como una fracción del PIB; y Noruega, que también es destacable por su crecimiento basado en las exportaciones de petróleo pero a diferencia de países con las mismas características tiene niveles excepcionalmente bajos de corrupción.

Sin embargo, existe un hecho que no se puede negar, Bolivia luego de tomar el control de la comercialización de su gas, renegoció sus contratos de suministro con sus principales compradores para obtener mayores ingresos de 0.98 $ por millón de metro cúbico a 2,95 $ lo que aumentó la cantidad de alquiler disponible para gasto público. De hecho, el vínculo entre propiedad pública y redistribución coincidía con la cosmovisión andina en la que se traducen en los principios de propiedad comunal y reciprocidad.

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New hard-hitting doc, Suffer for Good reveals hard truths and tough love behind the glory of combat sports.

In this issue, vendors write about change, scooters, revelations, and what one vendor got her mouse for Christmas.

¿Qué explica las diferencias en los efectos de la redistribución en esos países? Acemoglu y Robinson sostienen que las diferencias explicativas en el desempeño están en el papel que juegan las instituciones en el desarrollo económico; Tabellini sugiere que la cultura medida por los valores y creencias individuales también tiene un efecto en el desarrollo; Además, Alesina, Stancheva y Teso demuestran que las creencias marcan el nivel de impuestos y explican las diferencias entre los países europeos y EE. UU. La institución y la cultura también pueden explicar los diferentes modelos y por qué el socialismo de mercado es una opción para algunos países y no para otros. Shleifer y Vishny explican el socialismo de mercado como una economía en la que las empresas son propiedad y están controladas por el gobierno, pero luego venden sus pro-

Podría ser demasiado pronto para evaluar los efectos de la propiedad pública de los recursos naturales en el crecimiento duradero y el efecto subsiguiente sobre la sostenibilidad de las políticas redistributivas porque, aunque las tendencias en los precios de las materias primas están bajando desde 2013; el crecimiento del PIB en 2019 siguió siendo positivo en torno al 2,2% (Banco Mundial); el gasto público dedicado a programas sociales no cambió mucho (alrededor del 47% del PIB); y el desempeño en la reducción de la pobreza aún bajó del 38,9% en 2013 al 34,6% en 2018 (Banco Mundial), lo que indica que hasta ahora el gobierno ha podido sostener políticas redistributivas. Los datos empíricos han mostrado efectos positivos y que los países ricos en recursos pueden beneficiarse de su

1. Mantenerse callado 2. Sólo dar nombre y apellido 3. No mentir 4. Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos 5. No revelar su situación migratoria 6. No llevar documentación de otro país 7. En caso de ser arrestado, mostrarla Tarjeta Miranda (llámenos si necesita una)

por

Como se nota, las diferencias en las instituciones pueden ser el factor explicativo. Las instituciones extractivas concentran el poder y benefician sólo a un pequeño grupo provocando el conjunto de efectos negativos antes mencionados; mientras que las instituciones inclusivas redistribuyen la riqueza e invierten en la diversificación, generando efectos positivos en el uso de los recursos naturales para promover el crecimiento y reducir la desigualdad. Con esa información previa sobre los posibles efectos buenos y malos de los recursos naturales en el crecimiento y la sostenibilidad y teniendo en cuenta el papel de las instituciones en el lugar;

Una visión de la literatura y hechos estilizados nos puede decir que la intervención sobre los recursos naturales es inevitable y que los posibles resultados sobre la propiedad pública versus privada dependen de factores culturales e institucionales que promueven una participación más amplia en la elaboración de políticas distributivas.

Karina García es graduada de Estudios de Gobierno y Política y estudiante del Máster en Manejo Internacional Público del la Escuela en Paris de Asuntos Internacionales PSIA. Envíenos sus sugerencias por e-mail: news@hispanicpaper.com

Basados en la Quinta Enmienda de la Constitución, los derechos de guardar silencio y contar con un abogado fueron denominados Derechos Miranda luego de la decisión de la Suprema Corte de Justicia de Estados Unidos en el caso Miranda vs. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, de 1966.

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Contributors This Issue

Hannah Herner • Linda Bailey • Amanda Haggard • Ridley Wills II • Yuri Cunza • David Pineros • Joe Nolan • Mr. Mysterio • Emily A. Benfer • Vicky B. • Paul A. • June P. • Jen A. • Deana H.

Contributor Volunteers Joe First • Andy Shapiro • Michael Reilly • Ann Bourland • Patti George • John Jennings • Janet Kerwood • Logan Ebel • Christine Doeg • Laura Birdsall • Nancy Kirkland • Mary Smith • Andrew Smith • Ellen Fletcher • Richard Aberdeen • Shayna Harder Wiggins • Pete MacDonald • Robert Thompson

Cathy Jennings Executive Director Tom Wills Director of Vendor Operations

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Hannah Herner Staff Writer Jesse Call Housing Navigator Raven Lintu Housing Navigator Barbara Womack Advertising Manager

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Editorials and features in The Contributor are the perspectives of the authors. Submissions of news, opinion, fiction, art and poetry are welcomed. The Contributor reserves the right to edit any submissions. The Contributor cannot and will not endorse any political candidate. Submissions may be emailed to: editorial@thecontributor.org Requests to volunteer, donate, or purchase subscriptions can be emailed to: info@thecontributor.org Please email advertising requests to: advertising@thecontributor.org

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VENDOR SPOTLIGHT

Carl B. puts his song book and life back together BY HANNAH HERNER In the quiet of his hotel room, Carl Deblasio tries to put his song book back together. He says losing that book was like cutting off an arm. “It’s almost like a photo album,” Deblasio says. “I can look back at those songs and know exactly where I was at, and what was going on in my life. I can take myself to where I was emotionally, what I was feeling.” When he was in the hospital after having a stroke, people who camped with him stole his guitar, songbook and anything else of value. But the solitude of the hotel — as compared to a shelter where he was staying before — helps to try and remember years worth of songs lost. There’s a sense of urgency, too. Deblasio has blindness in both eyes and a family history of dementia. “Here it’s quiet, I can hear my song in my head,” he says. That stroke, combined with a marriage that fell apart and the death of his parents, compounded to put Deblasio out on the streets. He says staying at a

local shelter put him in a funk. He was full of regret and became reclusive. Panhandling was something he tried, but was really uncomfortable with. Deblasio says the last five months selling The Contributor at Murfreesboro Rd and Thompson Lane have started to turn things around for him. Far from reclusive, these days, Deblasio is as chatty as can be. “I told a guy the other day, ‘now you realize if you keep standing there I’m just going to keep talking,’” he laughs. Describing himself as, ‘just a lonely old man,’ Deblasio loves when customers roll down their windows just to talk. Money becomes secondary at those times. “I had no idea what The Contributor would do for me,” he says. “I was hoping to have a few dollars in my pocket, but for me personally I was able to get outside of myself. I was no longer ashamed. I felt I had a legitimate business and I could talk to people eye to eye, on their level. I didn’t have to

be so ashamed of being homeless. Everyday I woke up it gave me purpose.” Deblasio was never a shy person to begin with. He spent 30 years as a professional drummer, and a lot of that meant performing onstage; being part of a backing band on cruises, in shows in Las Vegas, and for new artists coming through Nashville. He misses that. “Anytime you cut off the ability to be creative, something is missing,” he says. “When you’re playing music, sometimes it’s laborious and you really have to work at it. But if you do it consistently and often, there are nights when it’s effortless. It’s like a runner’s high. I had never experienced that from running, but I had from drums.” Th roug h T he Cont ributor ’s C.O.V.E.R. program, social workers got Deblasio into the temporary hotel, and just moved him into another room to stay for a full year. He’s gotten to watch some of his favorite Westerns in peace and even cook some of his own meals. On his desk at the hotel sits an applica-

PAGE 4 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

tion to become a member of a church he used to attend while at the shelter. More than anything though, Deblasio says he’s happy to have a clean shower to use and not to have to guard his valuables. “Being able to lay down and close my eyes and be able to rest without having to keep my head on a swivel with one eye open — it’s been amazing,” he says. It’s freedom that he didn’t have before, to come and go as he pleases, and a safe place to keep his biggest valuable, his song book. “When I go out to work and come back, this room and The Contributor has given me a glimpse again of something that I forgot about. At one time I was just a regular guy and I worked hard and I had a place to live,” he chokes up. “This reminded me of something that I had forgotten and circumstances took from me. It’s giving me a glimpse of not only what was but what could be again, if only I can stay the course.”

NEWS & FEATURE

Why Johnny STILL can't read?

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH AND BEERSHEBA SPRINGS BY RIDLEY WILLS II Sewanee’s early history is inextricably interwoven with that of Beersheba. The famous pre-Civil War watering hole was the scene of two meetings of the University of the South Board of Trustees. Col. John Armfield, of Beersheba, gave the first two Sewanee chancellors, Bishops James Harvey Otey of Tennessee and Leonidas Polk of Louisiana summer homes in Beersheba. The charter of the

university was granted by the State of Tennessee in January 1858. The next year, plans were laid in Beersheba for the laying of the cornerstone at Sewanee in October 1860. A summer resident of Beersheba, Judge Oliver J. Morgan, of Carroll Parrish, Louisiana, made the final gift needed to complete the university endowment. In appreciation for his support, Morgan’s Steep on the west brow in Sewanee

is named for him. Along the same brow are Otey’s Prospect, Polk’s Lookout and Armfield’s Bluff. For many years, the home altar that had been in Polk’s Beersheba cottage was housed at different spots in Beersheba, including the Howell Cottage and the Northern Store. It finally found a permanent home in All Saints Chapel in Sewanee.

NEWS BRIEFS Nashville Homeless Connect launches pilot program On Dec. 15, new nonprofit Nashville Homeless Connect launched its 90-day pilot program that will provide free rides to those who need them. Through March 15, 2021 two 16-passenger wheelchair accessible vans will travel along a fixed route of 19 stops from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. every day. Organizations and individuals can reserve spots, though it’s not a requirement, by calling (615)991-1190 or visiting nashvillehomelessconnect.org. The stops are as follows: 1. Centerstone @ Metro Center 2. Downtown Clinic 3. Greyhound Bus Station Nashville 4. Howard Office Building Nashville 5. Jefferson St. Bridge/2nd Ave Underpass 6. Municipal Auditorium 7. Nashville Metropolitan Courthouse 8. Nashville MTA Music City Central 9. Nashville Rescue Mission 10. Nashville VA Medical Center 11. Operation Stand Down Nashville 12. Rescue Mission Women’s Shelter 13. Room In the End Nashville

14. Salvation Army @ Dickerson Road 15. Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle TN 16. Social Security Office @ Metro Center 17. The Contributor 18. The Fairgrounds Nashville 19. Kroger 8th Ave & Walmart/ Powell Ave TN data shows families with children are struggling through the pandemic Tennessee has shown improvement in access to health care, but is falling short on economic security and mental health, a report says. A 50-state report of recent household data called Kids, Families and COVID-19: Pandemic Pain Points and a Roadmap for Recovery was developed by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth also released The State of The Child 2020: COVID-19 Edition, which took a deep dive into the state-level data, Tennessee’s response to the pandemic, and how to support child well-being moving forward.

More than half of households with children in Tennessee have lost income since March 13, 2020. The Hispanic community in Tennessee has been disproportionately impacted with 69 percent of households reporting income loss. Nearly one in four households with children reported being likely or very likely to face eviction or foreclosure within the next two months. Similarly, 23 percent reported having little or no confidence in paying their November rent or mortgage payment on time. At the end of the summer over half (56 percent) of Tennessee’s young adults ages 1824 reported feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge most days and 42 percent reported feeling down, depressed or helpless. These were the second-highest percentages in the nation during that time period for both indicators. “Tennessee’s children have faced remarkable challenges throughout this pandemic. It is our responsibility to ensure they are prioritized and supported throughout our recovery efforts,” said Richard Kennedy, executive director of Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, Tennessee’s member of the KIDS COUNT network.

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 5

3 out of 4 children in Tennessee cannot read at grade level. Find out why at N2Reading. com or check out N2Reading on Facebook.

The New Christian Year Selected by Charles Williams (1941)

Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886–1945), the editor of the following selections, is today probably the third most famous of the famous Inklings literary group of Oxford, England, which existed in the middle of the 20th century, and which included among its ranks the better-known and longer-lived Oxford Dons J.R.R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis—but he was arguably the most precocious and well-read of this eminent and intellectually fertile group. He was also known to have influenced Dorothy Sayers, T. S. Eliot and W. H. Auden. Lacking a proper degree unlike his fellow Inklings, this genius Cockney-speaking author, editor, critic, and playwright was eminently well-versed in both philosophical and theological writings of the remote past as of the present day (the mid-20th century) and used this familiarity to good effect in his poetry, supernatural fiction and his lesser-known devotional selections designed for the spiritual benefit of the faithful in the Church of England. This series of profound quotations, encompassing all walks of life, follows the sequence of the themes and Bible readings anciently appointed for contemplation throughout the church's year, beginning with Advent (i.e., December) and ending in November, and reaches far beyond the pale of the philosophical and theological discussions of his day. It was under his hand, for instance, that some of the first translations of Kierkegaard were made available to the wider public. It is hoped that the readings reproduced here will prove beneficial for any who read them, whatever their place in life's journey. — Matthew Carver

4TH WEDNESDAY IN ADVENT

SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS

FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION

RELIGION is no religion, and virtue is no act of choice, and reward comes by chance and without condition, if we are only religious when we cannot choose; if we part with our money when we cannot keep it; with out lust when we cannot act it; with our desires when they have left us. Death is a certain mortifier; but that mortification is deadly, not useful to the purposes of a spiritual life. When we are compelled to depart from our evil customs and leave to live, that we may begin to live, then we die to die; that life is the prologue to death, and thenceforth we die eternally. Jeremy Taylor: Holy Dying.

CHRIST’S human nature was so utterly bereft of Self and apart from all creatures as no man's ever was . . . Neither of that in him which belonged to God, nor of that which was a living human nature and a habitation of God, did he, as man, claim any thing for his own. His human nature did not even take unto itself the Godhead, whose dwelling it was, nor anything that this same Godhead willed, or did or left undone in him, nor yet any thing of all that his human nature did or suffered; but in Christ's human nature there was no claiming of anything, nor seeking nor desire, saving that what was due might be rendered to the Godhead; and he did not call this very desire his own. Theologica Germanica.

HE began betimes to suffer for us, and he that never did sin began this day to bear pain in his sweet tender body for our sin. Much ought we to have compassion and weep with him, for he wept this day full sore . . . for that bodily circumcision we have ghostly circumcision, that is cutting away from us all superfuluous things that dispose to sin, and holding with us an affection only that is needed to virtuous living. For he that is truly poor is virtuously circumcised. The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, tr. by Nicholas Love.

4TH THURSDAY IN ADVENT THE Light which lighteneth every man that cometh into the world, came here in the flesh; because He was here in His Divinity alone, the foolish, blind, and unrighteous could not discern Him; those of whom it is said above, The darkness comprehended it not. St Augustine: On St John WHAT is it to serve Christ? The very words explain. They serve Christ who seek not their own things, but the things of Jesus Christ, i.e. who follow him, walk in His, not their own, ways, do all good works for Christ's sake, not only works of mercy to men's bodies, but all others, till at length they fulfil that great work of love, and lay down their lives for the brethren. St Augustine, quoted in St Thomas: Catena Aurea.

CHRISTMAS DAY THIS is the solemnity of all the Holy Trinity Father and Son and Holy Ghost by whom this sovereign deed of the Incarnation was wrought and fulfilled . . . But sovereignly this day is a high feast and a special solemnity of all mankind: for this day was mankind sovereignly worshipped in that it was oned and knitted to the Godhead in Christ without departing. And this day began the healing and the redemption of mankind, and the reconciling to the Father of heaven. For unto this time God was wroth to mankind for the sin and the trespass of our forefathers. But from this time forth he may no longer be wroth seeing his dear Son became man. And therefore is this day skilfully called the plenty [plenteousness] of time to man. The Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ, tr. by Nicholas Love. BUT he was under a heavier law than the Greeks or Romans, the law of his Father and his own eternal decree. Donne: Sermons on Christmas Day, 1625. NOT by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by taking of the manhood into God. The Creed commonly called of St Athanasius. GOD united Himself with her spirit, and spake to her His secret Word, and bare His only son in her spirit with unspeakable love and joy. This is the eternal birth of Mary. Tauler: Sermons.

THE FEAST OF ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST HE did lay aside His own nature in that He did make Himself poor of the fame of His holiness, goodness and innocence . . . He might have revealed himself in all the fame of holiness, so that He would have been universally held to be the greatest of all saints and one in whom there was no sin; but He did choose to take upon Himself the sins of us all and the fame of holiness did He give unto His servant John. Angela of Foligno: The Book of Divine Consolation. OUR Lord asks but two things of us: love for Him and for our neighbor: these are what we must strive to obtain. If we practice both these virtues perfectly we shall be doing His will and so shall be united to Him. St Teresa: The Interior Castle.

DEATH is ugsome (loathsome) and very terrible unto the flesh; but joyful and welcome is it unto all such as are instructed in the secret science of God. Coverdale: Fruitful Lessons upon the Passion. THE Lord, having taken upon him all the infirmities of our body, is then covered with the scaret-coloured blood of all the martyrs. Hilary, quoted by Aquinas: Catena Aurea.

ALL outward power that we exercise in the things about us is but a shadow in comparison of that inward power that resides in our will, imagination, and desires; these communicate with eternity and kindle a life which always reaches either heaven or hell . . . here lies the ground of the great efficacy of prayer, which when it is the prayer of the heart, the prayer of faith, has a kindling and creating power, and forms and transforms the soul into everything that its desires reach after: it has the key to the Kingdom of Heaven and unlocks all its treasures, it opens extends and moves that in us which has its being and motion in and with the divine nature, and so brings us into real union and communion with God. William Law: An Appeal.

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS THEN I saw that there was a way to hell, even from the gates of heaven, as well as from the city of Destruction. Bunyan: The Pilgrim's Progress.

ALL bodies together and all minds together and all their products are not equal to the least motion of love; that belongs to an order higher by infinity. Pascal: Pensées.

"I HAVE yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now." Not because they are so unlike your mortal experiences, but because they are so like. Patmore: The Rod, the Root, and the Flower.

THE FEAST OF HOLY INNOCENTS

2ND Monday AFTER CHRISTMAS

WELCOME, all wonders in one sight! Eternity shut in a span, Summer in winter, day in night, Heaven in earth and God in man. Great little one, whose all-embracing birth Lifts earth to heaven, stoops heaven to earth. Crashaw: Nativity Ode.

CHRISTMAS WEEK Wednesday GRACE is the incomprehensible fact that God is well pleased with a man, and that a man can rejoice in God. Only when grace is recognized to be incomprehensible is it grace. Grace exists, therefore, only where the Resurrection is reflected. Grace is the gift of Christ, who exposes the gulf which separates God and man, and, by exposing it, bridges it. Barth: The Epistle to the Romans.

CHRISTMAS WEEK Thursday

THE FEAST OF ST STEPHEN

CHRISTMAS WEEK SATURDAY

WE cannot know whether we love God, although there may be strong reasons for thinking so, but there can be no doubt about whether we love our neighbor or no. Be sure that in proportion as you advance in fraternal charity, you are increasing in your love for God, for His Majesty bears so tender an affection for us, that I cannot doubt He will repay our love for others in augmenting, in a thousand different ways, that which we bear for Him. Saint Teresa: The Interior Castle. GOD loves all existing things.

Aquinas: Summa Theologica.

IT shines everywhere, though not to all. In a word, it shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehends it not. The light sees the darkness, for with it seeing and shining are the same thing; but it is not in turn seen by the darkness, because the darkness comprehends it not. St Bernard: On Consideration. THE Stoics say, "Retire within yourselves; it is there you will find your rest." And that is not true. Others say, "Go out of yourselves; seek happiness in amusement." And this is not true. Illness comes. Happiness is neither without us nor within us. It is in God, both without us and within us. Pascal: Pensées.

2ND TUESDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS LOVE is a life, coupling together the loving and the loved. For meekness maketh us sweet to God; purity joins us to God; love makes us one with God. Love is fairhead [beauty] of all virtues. Love is [the] thing through which God loves us, and we God, and each one of us other. Love is [the] desire of the heart, ever thinking to that it loves; and when it has that is loves, then it joys, and nothing may make it sorry. Love is yearning between two, with lastingness of thought. Love is a stirring of the soul, for to love God for himself and all the other things for God; the which love, when it is ordained in God, does away all inordinate love in anything that is not good. But all deadly sin is inordinate love in a thing that is naught; then love puts out all deadly sin. Love is a virtue, that is rightest affection of man's soul. Truth may be without love, but it may naught help without it. Love is perfection of letters, virtue of prophecy, fruit of truth, help of sacraments, stabling of wit and cunning (knowledge), riches of poor men, life of dying men. See how good love is. Richard Rolle: The Form of Living.

Sponsored by Matthew Carver, publisher

PAGE 6 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 7

COVER STORY

We Remember

The 128 people from the homeless community in Nashville who died in 2020.

Q&A: CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Bobby Watts assesses past and future in homeless mortality BY HANNAH HERNER Thirty years ago, the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Healthcare for the Homeless Council teamed up to put on the first National Homeless Memorial, held annually on December 21, the shortest day of each year. But it’s not the sort of anniversary to celebrate. “We should not be doing this 30 years later. We should have solved this problem by now, instead of it seeming to get worse,” says Bobby Watts, CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, which is based in Nashville. The number of people dying from lack of housing-related causes is hard to fully know, because it’s rarely fully documented. Just a few days before the 30th National Homeless Memorial, NHCHC released a mortality toolkit to encourage cities to keep a standardized count of people who died while homeless. Nashville’s homeless service providers team up to make the list as complete as possible each year, and while potentially underreported, the numbers certainly aren’t shrinking. In 2017 there were 117 deaths, 2018 had 127, there were 103 in 2019, and at time of press in 2020, there were 124 people who had died having experienced homelessness. Watts evaluates the city’s work this year and looks at future priorities to help those numbers shrink in 2021. How does Nashville fare nationally as far as addressing issues around homeless mortality? From what I can see over the last year, they’ve really been trying to get

more people housed. One of the silver linings of COVID is that there is CARES act funding to help people experiencing homelessness, and Nashville got a fair amount of funding. The Homelessness Planning Council said they wanted to put most of that into rapid rehousing, which is one of the things that we were in favor of. Also Nashville, at least parts of it, are really looking at equity, looking at race equity in particular. Racism is a big driver of why we have homelessness presented as it does where people of color, especially African-Americans are overrepresented in the country. It’s not out of thin air, it’s out of historical patterns that continue to this day. They have formed an equity and diversity committee and I happened to be on it. It was a new committee formed in the last year. Another exciting thing in equity is [The Department of Housing and Urban Development] has [Continuums of Care] they’ve selected to be in a national demonstration project on equity, and Nashville is one of them. Nashville will get extra training and extra support in figuring out how to address equity when we’re responding to homelessness. I saw one of NHCHC’s initiatives this year was medical respite. Can you tell me more about why you wanted to focus on that this year? Medical respite is something that is so important, so lifesaving, for people who don’t have a home who no longer have a clinical reason to stay in a hospital. Without medical respite the hospital will discharge them back to a shelter or

their friend’s couch or even the streets, not a safe place that’s equipped to help them heal. They will get sicker, come back into the emergency room with more complications, maybe need to be admitted back into the hospital. And of course, many cases never recover completely without a safe place to heal following the hospitalization. If anything, the COVID pandemic has made the interest and the recognition of the need for medical respite greater than ever. So we created The National Institute for Medical Respite Care to help more communities develop medical respite. What do you think are some of the biggest things people don’t understand around homeless mortality? When it comes to homeless mortality people don’t connect the dots and see that homelessness kills. They know that it’s unfortunate. They know that it leads to human suffering. They may even know that it leads to poorer health. But they don’t really connect the dots that it leads to such great amounts of premature and excess deaths. The figure is, under 50 years of age average [life expectancy] for someone who’s on the streets versus 78 for the general population. So we’re losing about 30 years of life. Looking toward 2021, what are some of NHC’s concerns and goals? We’ve recognized that people need a safe place to live during a pandemic. The fact is people need a safe place to live period. So after the pandemic is over, will we continue that commitment?

PAGE 8 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Now we have two vaccines with emergency approval. Where in the priority list will people experiencing homelessness fall? We have recommended to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to others that people experiencing homelessness should be high in the priority. And CDC has recommended that they are in phase two. So after frontline health workers and residents of nursing homes or longterm care facilities, people experiencing homelessness are in that second wave that includes prisons, jails and other congregate living situations. So we’re pleased with that, but those are just guidelines. Each state will make its own vaccination plan. If people are reading this and want to help, what’s a good thing for them to do? I think probably even before supporting and learning is just caring. Often if you see someone experiencing homelessness and they may ask you for something, even if you can’t give, please just acknowledge the person, look them in the eye, say, ‘no, I’m sorry, not today,’ or something, but acknowledge and recognize their humanity and their dignity as a human being. That will often mean a great deal. So I would say that, then support, learn and advocate. When we’re talking about homelessness, mortality, people dying, it can be very technical. We’re talking about disease rates and death rates but it’s more than a technical issue. It is a moral issue. For more information, visit NHCHC. ORG

COVER STORY

Remembering ‘Contributor’ Vendors who passed in 2020

C H A R L I E AV I N G E R , J R .

RANDOLPH BROWN

SANDY TORME Y

Even if Charlie couldn’t make it to dinner at his aunt’s house, his younger sister Marilyn would always take him a plate. Now, with Charlie gone, Marilyn is the only one of her immediate family left, and she’s been taking it hard. She shared how Charlie loved to dance, sing and rap. He even rapped in the middle of her graduation ceremony, which made her mad at the time. Charlie’s favorite artist was Prince, and he became known on a local radio station as “Eastside Charlie” for all the times he would call in to request and introduce his songs. “International Lover” was a favorite. He always claimed the Dallas Cowboys as his team, playing countless games as the Cowboys with cousins on one of those old-fashioned vibrating tabletop football games. Just over a year apart, when Marilyn and Charlie were in high school, they practiced incessantly for the talent show, performing a duet to “If This World Were Mine” by Cheryl Lynn and Luther Vandross. Later, Charlie started working third shift and Marilyn would take his car out for joy rides while he slept. He eventually caught on when she came back and it wasn’t in the spot he had left it. Charlie is dearly missed by his sister and cousins and aunts and uncles, but he’s reunited with his parents and younger brother, and hopefully Prince, too. As told to Hannah Herner by Charlie’s sister, Marilyn

Randolph Brown would have turned 60 years old on Dec. 19. Originally from Iindola, Miss., Brown was soft spoken and dedicated, according to staff of The Contributor. He sold papers at 16th Avenue/Magnolia and Wedgewood Avenue at the top of Music Row. Mornings at the Contributor office could be crowded and hectic. Randolph was often one of the first vendors waiting in line to quickly replenish his papers. Contributor volunteer Laura Birdsall remembers that whenever she walked through the crowd of vendors to get into the office, Randolph would step out of his place in line to graciously tap on other vendors’ shoulders and ask them to clear the path to the door for her. When she thanked him, he would respond with his trademark, “Alright, alright, alright!” Contributor volunteers say Brown was never without a smile and “had definite opinions about fairness.” By Amanda Haggard

Sandy Tormey, passed away peacefully on Feb. 15, surrounded by his family. Sandy sold The Contributor downtown at 4th and Commerce and in front of his church, Nashville First Baptist Church at 7th and Broadway. Sandy deeply loved his family, his church community and all of his loyal customers downtown. When I think of Sandy, I remember how he cared for his wife Elizabeth after she had a major health crisis. I remember how much he loved his kids and how excited he was when he found out he was going to be a grandfather. I remember how strongly he felt his faith in God and how much he loved his church. In fact, I went back to read the first vendor spotlight we did on him in 2012 and he said that he moved to Nashville on a Friday and started going to Nashville First Baptist Church on Sunday. The community he found there meant a lot to him, and I think he meant a lot to the members there as well. Whenever I’d see Sandy, he would always ask how I was doing. I’ll remember Sandy as someone who had a constant pleasantness. One that wasn’t dependent on his current circumstances, but that came from his deep appreciation of life and the people he had around him. It was a joy to see Sandy walk up the steps to our office to buy papers and check in. By Linda Bailey

TRACEY PODANY

JESSIE FOSTER I met Jessie in 2016 at a Contributor paper release meeting and we became fast friends. We grew up a few decades apart in small towns in the same part of West Texas, which I found comforting and led Jessie to start calling me, “Tex,” the best nickname I’ve ever had. Jessie loved to write and had many poems featured in The Contributor. She was very good at expressing her feelings and putting her experiences into poetry in a way that could be universally understood and shared. She was also extremely thoughtful and I remember her giving personal Christmas cards to her regular customers. When I think of Jessie I think of her big white smile, contagious energy, and her appreciation for life. I also owe her a lot because she really taught me a thing or two about life and I imagine she did that for others too. By Linda Bailey

I had the opportunity to get to know Tracey on just a few occasions. The first time we had a long talk, she’d just lost her partner in an accident. She was injured from that same accident, but worse, her heart was broken. I quickly learned that Tracey was someone who loved deeper than most of us. She told me that she’d had a house and a car before she’d met her partner, but that even after everything they’d been through, she was happier with him in a tent than she’d ever been with anyone else in a house. Every time I saw her after that, I would see her eyes light up and my heart would feel warmed by her sincerity and gentleness. Even after all her loss, my experience of her was that she was self-giving — a woman with dignity and hope that transcended her circumstances. The last time I saw her, Tracey gave me a bouquet of flowers that someone else had given to her. She said that she was afraid they would die in her care, and she would rather them be somewhere where they could remain alive and add beauty to the world. Tracey deserved so much more than this world gave her. As a person of faith, I hope that I will meet her again, sitting across from me at God’s table, healed of her wounds. Maybe in God’s perfect grace, she will get to enjoy a colorful bouquet on her own table— just as beautiful and cherished as she deserves to be. Written by Tracey’s regular customer, Emrie Smith

JULIO GUTIERREZ Julio Gutierrez was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1967. He loved salsa music and dancing. Volunteers say he “could light up a room when you addressed him in Spanish.” His favorite food was rice and beans. Gutierrez, who was 52 years old at his time of death, died in an unfortunate traffic accident while crossing Buena Vista Pike near Cliff Drive. By Amanda Haggard

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 9

COVER STORY

128 people from the homeless community in Nashville died in 2020 Open Table Nashville, and several other local service organizations, maintain a spreadsheet of people who have died on the streets of Nashville throughout the year. In 2018 that spreadsheet had 119 names. In 2019 it had 101. So far in 2020 it has 128 names — the highest Nashville has ever seen. For more than a decade, members of the homeless community have gathered at Riverfront Park for the Annual Homeless Memorial where the names of everyone who has died are

read aloud in an act of honoring and remembering the friends who have died in the last year. This year, India Pungarcher, Master of Public Health Candidate at Vanderbilt University, and Vanderbilt Cornelius Professor Dr. MaryBeth Shinn, have expanded on the 2020 spreadsheet to conduct a community-engaged mortality study. The goal of the study is to better quantify the number of deaths occurring in Nashville among people experiencing or with a

history of homelessness, understand causes of these deaths, create policy recommendations, and memorialize and humanize our friends, family, and loved ones who ultimately passed because they did not have housing or did not have it soon enough. Below, you’ll find part of that study. We’ve listed the names of the 128 people that we know of who died in the homeless community this year. We’ve also included a short obituary col-

lected in the study to honor the people behind the statistics. More information and photos from the study can be found online at https:// arcg.is/0qeSCe. The website will be continually updated as we learn more information about the individuals listed and for anyone else who dies in 2020. If you have more information about anyone on this list, you can email india@opentablenashville. org and she will incorporate your memories.

Alvin “Dewayne” Anderson, 53 Avid NASCAR fan who loved to cook ribs.

Randolph Brown, 59. Quick with a smile and kind word, loved by the Belmont student community.

Jason Felts, 38. Hard-working, always volunteering Titans fan who loved 90’s alternative music.

Leopoldo J. Araujo, 65 Loving father.

Belinda Browning. Deeply loved her dog, Ava.

Kobe Aschan, less than one month old. Precious child who brought great joy to his family in his short life.

Lloyd Case, 60

April Ferguson, 40. Loving mother and storyteller who loved music and always brought people together.

Charlie “Eastside Charlie” Avinger Jr, 53. Rapper, cook, dancer and bingo player who earned his nickname after his appearance on the local radio show, 92Q Quiet Storm. Terry David Barnes, 59

Harry Childress, 55. Went to his high school prom with Little Miss Mississippi. Jajuan Clark, 36. Full of energy. Tieran Coleman, 23 Tony “Country” Collins, 40. Gentle soul and family man who loved animals and nature.

Terry Barnes Michael Batey Sr, 43. Father of four who loved snack cakes and the Dallas Cowboys. Anthony “Tank” Baugh, 52. Jokester who loved to laugh. Sandra Beasenburg, 20 Steven Bevill, 36 Charles Bixler, 52 Chris “Black” Black. Friend of the Southside community who looked after others. William Bradd, 63. Knew how to keep a conversation going.

Joe “Krowe” Fugate, 30. Technical genius who traveled the country by freight train.

Joshua Corley, 29. Skateboarder and Titans fan who served with Bridge Street Ministries. David Crabtree, 56

Nathanial Gass, 71

William Criswell, 64 Odell Crump, 67. Once made up, you couldn’t change his mind.

Joe Greenwood, 61. Natural entertainer who revered his career as Mr. Jingles the clown, loved to volunteer, and could build or fix anything; even fierce dogs ended up in his lap.

Ronald Dean, 65. Liked jazz, burgers, fries and fishing.

Julio Danilo Garcia Gutierrez, 52. Loved salsa music and dancing.

Joey Deliefde, 35. Fashion lover.

Lisa Hagerty, 51. Avid reader with a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and a dream of going to graduate school.

Anthony Dempsey, 55. Strong and caring man.

Susan Braun, 65

Karen Dickerson, 46

Francisco Brown, 48

Rodney Elam, 61

Jerry E Brown, 67. Veteran who found community in the RITI VA Program.

Donald Elliot, 65. Patient and forgiving friend.

Mary Brown, 62. Loving, quiet woman known to the Downtown community for her long pigtails and love of fried chicken and Oreos.

Jessie Foster. Poet from Texas who channeled her experiences and feelings into poetry that changed the way others look at the world.

Vernon “Vern” Gaddis, 69. Truck driver, professional musician, and bookworm who read several books a week, knew how to waltz, and knew the words to every country song written before 1990.

Jack Dempsey, 52

Maemae Brown, 45. Medical assistant and cheerleader who loved God and her family.

Leroy John Finney, 58

Daniel Hall. Talented artist who made metal sculptures. Michael “Blind Mike” Hargrove, 57. Wanted everyone to know that Cobra Beer was his favorite.

Gregory Ellis, 71. Professional trumpet player.

James Hart, 51. Loyal friend who loved to watch cooking shows.

Lisa Fairley, 46. Always had a smile on her face.

Ronald Harvey, 62

Richard “Rick” Faust, 58. Contractor and business owner who loved his dog Little Bit, whom he called his cat.

David Hendricks, 62 Joshua Hendrix

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COVER STORY

Anthony Herring, 56. Poet who always liked to be in the mix and talked to anyone who would listen. John Hockaday, 48 Jessica Hoffman

Sandra Snider, 51

Johnathan Newman, 34

Corey James Tedlock, 28. Guitarist who loved metal music.

Lawrence “Preacher Man” Oinas, 55. Faith-filled and always singing.

Johnny Holley Steve “Sandman” Hopper. Father and advocate who risked arrest by standing with the residents of Fort Negley when the city shut the camp down in 2016. Octavis Horne, 46 EJ Jenkins

Kendall Ostine, 20. Young, bright rapper that had a contagious laugh, loved music, and recognized himself as the “Young King” that he will forever be.

Robert “Bobby” Jenkins, 53. Gracious giver and amazing paw-paw who inspired his former highschool classmates to raise thousands of dollars for others experiencing homelessness. Mark A Johnson, 45 Shirley Johnson, 53. Always went the extra mile for others, opened doors with a smile, and was working to open her own nonprofit. David Kelso, 62. Proud veteran who was active in his community. Edward E Kendall, 61. Veteran who was known as “Too Tall” because of his height. Audie “Snake” Matthews, 63. Dressed to the nines, never just walked into a room (he strolled), and if he liked you, he would call you “Dahhhh Lin.” Jessica LaBraney, 31 Maldon Lane, 58 Jeffrey McClure, 63. An outreach worker recalls that Jeff loved his wife, Rocky, more than she has ever seen a person love another human being. David McBee Rodney McCoy, 55. Talented barber who also ran his own moving company. Rafael McKissack, 59 James Mercer, 22. Emotionally-intelligent, sensitive soul who literally gave the clothes off his back to others and always hustled to help his friends out. Jerry Wayne Moore, 72. Soft-spoken friend of the Eastside outreach community.

Bruce Steiner, 60. Loved fly fishing and fly tying.

William Thomas, 59. Writer, artist, and hiker who wanted to travel to Australia. Tod Thomen, 49. Man who loved his children and took pride in his space.

Lisa Parker, 50

James Thompson, 70

Laurie Ann Parish, 47

Sandy Tormey, 48. Father and grandfather remembered for his strong faith, constant pleasantness, and deep appreciation of life.

Earl Peaks, 63. Outstanding guitarist who played at church in his later years.

Michael Jenkins, 66

Ciprano Moreno

Edward Lee “Eddie” Mosley Jr, 53. Truck-driver who enjoyed Rock & Roll music and PeeWee’s Burgers.

Debra “Deb” Pemberton, 59. Carried her mother’s silverware wherever she went to remember her hero. Nina “Freedom” Pemberton, 28. Feisty yet selfless individual who ended every conversation with “love you.” Tracey Podany, 46 Robert Preston III, 41 Alicia Pride, 48 Pauline Rader, 57 Wesley “Wes” Raney, 47 William Rennie, 73

Sherry Treadway, 49. Collector of purses with a sweet but sassy sense of humor and desire to help others. Jessie Upchurch, 64. Stubborn, hard-headed, yet soft-hearted, loyal storyteller who liked to go by “Jessie James.” Lora Veach, 33. Dreamer who loved life and adored her children. Alexander “Verge” Verge, 48. Motorcycle enthusiast who loved Black Biker Week in Myrtle Beach. Clarence Vigne, 65. Proud Louisiana native with a good laugh and a twinkle in his eyes. Eric Walker, 54

Stanley Reynolds, 63. Always looked out for others no matter what he was going through.

Dwayne Wallace, 49. Gentle giant who always had a kind word for everyone and a positive attitude.

Roger Rice, 54. Fierce friend and master of wit whose tagline was “thank you for your support.”

Frank Webster, 66. Man with a sweet tooth and endless jokes.

Andrew “Andy” Rohrbach,60

Brian Weekley, 58. Gentle man who enjoyed people-watching and taking care of his friends.

Scott Segal Christopher Seward, 61. Loved to share corny jokes with anyone he met.

Robert “Happy” Whelchel, 55. Sensitive and deep-thinking poet who always made others laugh.

Jack Shewmaker, 69

Aaron Wilkerson, 51

Ontario Simpson, 42

Millard Wilson, 74

Jory Singleton, 41

Woodrow Wilson Jr, 64

Kenneth Sisco, 55

James Woodard, 74

Tim Smith

Carolyn

William “Dewayne” Smith, 48

Lonnie

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 11

LA NOTICIA “The Contributor” está trabajando con uno de los principales periódicos en español La Noticia para llevar contenido a más lectores en Middle Tennessee. Nuestros vendedores de periódicos han pedido durante mucho tiempo que nuestra publicación incluya contenido que apele al interés de residentes de habla hispana en nuestra comunidad.

“The Contributor” is working with one of the leading Spanish-language newspapers La Noticia to bring content to more readers in Middle Tennessee. Our newspaper vendors have long requested that our publication include content that appeals to the interest of Spanish-speaking residents in our community.

LOCALES - POLÍTICA - INMIGRACIÓN - TRABAJOS - SALUD - ESPECTÁCULOS - DEPORTES Y MÁS...

L a N ticia 2020

GRATIS

Diciembre #2

Escanee esta imagen para ver La Noticia newspaper edición bilingüe digital

www.hispanicpaper.com

“DONDE OCURREN LOS HECHOS QUE IMPORTAN, SIEMPRE PRIMERO... ANTES”

Año 18 - No. 320

Nashville, Tennessee

Redistribución de recursos naturales : El papel de la cultura y las instituciones La evidencia empírica sugiere que los recursos naturales pueden ser una maldición o una bendición. En el período 2003 y 2013, los países de la región de América Latina, ricos en recursos, Por Karina García experimentaron el Contribuidora auge de las materias primas, pero no todos se beneficiaron por igual de los altos precios de los hidrocarburos y otros recursos naturales. Bolivia tuvo un desempeño notable. Su crecimiento del PIB per cápita fue en promedio de 4,9% durante esos 10 años superior al promedio de la región. Y la reducción de la desigualdad también fue notable: el Coeficiente de Gini pasó de 0,6 a 0,4 en el mismo período, mientras que Brasil y Chile, que son países de la región altamente desiguales, se mantuvieron alrededor de 0,5. ¿Qué explica las diferencias en los efectos de la redistribución en esos países? Acemoglu y Robinson sostienen que las diferencias explicativas en el desempeño están en el papel que juegan las instituciones en el desarrollo económico; Tabellini sugiere que la cultura medida por los valores y creencias individuales también tiene un efecto en el desarrollo; Además, Alesina, Stancheva y Teso demuestran que las creencias marcan el nivel de impuestos y explican las diferencias entre los países europeos y EE. UU. La institución y la cultura también pueden explicar los diferentes modelos y por qué el socialismo de mercado es una opción para algunos países y no para otros. Shleifer y Vishny explican el socialismo de mercado como una economía en la que las empresas son propiedad y están controladas por el gobierno, pero luego venden sus pro-

La pregunta que hay que responder es si la propiedad pública o privada es la forma más eficaz de financiar la redistribución y fomentar el crecimiento.

President Evo Morales redistribution of natural resources and the role of culture and institutions

Conoce tus derechos: ¿Que hacer en caso de una redada? 1. Mantenerse callado 2. Sólo dar nombre y apellido 3. No mentir 4. Nunca acepte/lleve documentos falsos 5. No revelar su situación migratoria 6. No llevar documentación de otro país 7. En caso de ser arrestado, mostrarla Tarjeta Miranda (llámenos si necesita una)

por

ww w.ju ane se.c om jua ne seUSA@gmail.com

PAGE 12 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

En el 2006, Evo Morales emitió un decreto que nacionalizaba la industria del gas natural del país y aumentaba el control sobre la industria energética. El sector ganador fueron los trabajadores de la industria ya que vieron un aumento de su salario mínimo real en más del 40%. Los movimientos sociales indígenas y sindicales de Bolivia que estaban presionando por la nacionalización también fueron los ganadores de esta política. Sin embargo, existe un hecho que no se puede negar, Bolivia luego de tomar el control de la comercialización de su gas, renegoció sus contratos de suministro con sus principales compradores para obtener mayores ingresos de 0.98 $ por millón de metro cúbico a 2,95 $ lo que aumentó la cantidad de alquiler disponible para gasto público. De hecho, el vínculo entre propiedad pública y redistribución coincidía con la cosmovisión andina en la que se traducen en los principios de propiedad comunal y reciprocidad. Una visión de la literatura y hechos estilizados nos puede decir que la intervención sobre los recursos naturales es inevitable y que los posibles resultados sobre la propiedad pública versus privada dependen de factores culturales e institucionales que promueven una participación más amplia en la elaboración de políticas distributivas.

MOVING PICTURES

This film dwells on suffering NEW HARD-HITTING DOC REVEALS HARD TRUTHS AND TOUGH LOVE BEHIND THE GLORY OF COMBAT SPORTS BY JOE NOLAN, FILM CRITIC Tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union spilled over into international sports during the final rounds of the Cold War: President Carter responded to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan by boycotting the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. The Soviet Union returned the favor in 1984 when they opted to pass on the Los Angeles Olympics. The cost of this political posturing was the sacrificing of countless dreams of some of the world’s best athletes. Seb Zewbie was a worldclass amateur boxer fighting for the Ethiopian Olympic team when the nation followed the lead of their Soviet allies and dropped out of the Los Angeles games. Suffer For Good is a new documentary film about Zewbie, his dashed dreams, and his new journey to train new champions and get back into the ring himself. Contemporary martial arts and combat sports of all types now occupy a sizable chunk of the online social environment: Instagram is jammed with highlight knockouts and fight gear sponsors, and YouTube has become a digital dojo where some of the best fighters and coaches in the world share their technical secrets and war stories with millions of view-

ers. Of course, few fighters post images when they’re out of shape, and highlight videos — by definition — are carefully edited to only show fighters at their very best. Director Danny Simmons’ film is admirable because it gives viewers something completely dif ferent: Simmons takes his cues from his film’s title, and instead of offering the glitzy lights, cheering crowds, and satin robes we associate with the pomp of fisticuffs, this film dwells on suffering. Simmons pictures the loneliness of early morning runs, the frustration of uncommitted athletes, the agony of defeat, and the pains of growing old. This isn’t a movie about glory. This is a film about the grind. The movie’s titular “good” is ref lected in lessons about humility, the openness it allows for and the learning it makes possible. W hen his fighters start to slack off in the middle of a grueling sequence of abdominal crunch exercises, Zewbie yells, “Suffer! Suffer for good.” His philosophy is about delayed gratification in the extreme: the idea that if fighters can voluntarily put themselves through hell in their training and sparring, they’ll find ease and comfort in the furnace of fight night. Unlike fight doc-

umentaries that might only focus on a particular bout or belt, Simmons’ film is a story about lifelong learning. “Suffer for good” is a phrase about athletic work ethic, but, more importantly, it speaks to the human condition as a whole. And it reminds viewers that in all the games of life we only lose when we quit. As Zewbie’s father taught him: “Try until you die.” Z ewbie’s jou rney f rom Olympic hopef u l to being injured in a criminal assault

to rehabilitation and making his way to America to build a new dream is, of course, inspirational. But Zewbie isn’t a flashy character or a sentimental type, and this film perfectly matches its subject. Simmons has done lots of commercial work, travel films, and directed a web series pilot, but this is his first feature length documentary. Simmons is a former college baseball player and he met Zewbie while training at Seb Boxing in Culver City, Calif. Simmons’ understanding

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 13

of athletic sacrifice from the inside out seems to have given him an edge when it comes to telling hard truths with tough love. And I’m sure his coach is very proud.

Suffer for Good premiered on most digital platforms on December 8

Joe Nolan is a critic, columnist and performing singer/songwriter based in East Nashville. Find out more about his projects at www.joenolan.com.

INSP

“The system is failing all the families that really need it”: How the threat of eviction has perpetuated health inequity and racial injustice during the pandemic Black and Hispanic communities have faced inequities and injustices based on race even before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that stimulus packages and eviction moratoriums are running out or expiring, futures are even more uncertain for these communities, who have also been hit hardest with higher job or income loss than white communities, says health and housing law expert Emily A. Benfer.

The cost of rent is taking futures When the pandemic struck, Marlenis Zambrano was a fulltime caregiver for the children of Department of Defense (DOD) employees. For 27 years, her housing was secure, she provided for her family, and was able to save for her children’s college tuition. Her daughter attends Virginia Commonwealth University and her son is a senior at Dartmouth College—first generation college students. Shortly after DOD families pulled their own children from the daycare due to the pandemic, Ms. Zambrano’s wages were cut, and she received a five-day notice of eviction from her Alexandria home. Ms. Zambrano, who is Hispanic, is one of the many renters of color who are particularly vulnerable to eviction due to the pandemic and pushed to make impossible choices. To protect her family’s health and safety, Ms. Zambrano was forced to put her daughter’s college tuition fund toward the rent. Families across the country are paying rent with their futures. “As a parent, as a hard-working mom,” Ms. Zambrano, who is advocating to keep families housed, told me, “I feel like the system is failing all the families that really need it.” The need is almost unfathomable: an estimated 50 million adults and children across the country live in renter households that suffered COVID-19-related job or income loss, with people of color hit the hardest. The federal eviction moratorium, issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offers temporary and crucial relief for the 30 to 40 million adults and children who are at risk of eviction nationwide. But, with the moratorium set to expire on New Year’s Eve and without emergency rental assistance to pay the mounting rental debt, renters are being pushed off the edge of the eviction cliff. The struggle of Black and Hispanic renters The human costs and housing loss will be especially heightened among people of color. Black and Hispanic landlords are in greater financial peril as they struggle to pay their mortgage and offer payment plans to renters at higher rates than white landlords. Among renters, nationally, nearly half of Black and Hispanic renters

Tenants and housing rights activists protest for a halting of rent payments and mortgage debt, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., October 1, 2020. REUTERS/LUCY NICHOLSON

have little to no confidence in their ability to pay next month’s rent, compared to less than a quarter of white renters. These racial disparities are in great part due to decades of racially discriminatory housing laws and policies that excluded people of color from mortgages and deepened segregation lines while promoting the investment of billions of federal dollars in white communities. The sordid legacy of these laws is embedded in the cavernous racial wealth gap that propelled entire generations into poverty, poor health, and housing precarity. As a result of the extreme socioeconomic divide, over 70 percent of Black and Latinx adults entered the pandemic lacking the emergency funds to cover three months of expenses, compared to under half of white adults. Without a safety net when crisis strikes, the downward fall is immediate and precipitous, and recovery may be impossible. The administration’s unveiled efforts to terminate fair housing, dismantle civil rights protections and advance “not in my backyard” suburban policies only intensifies the opportunity gulf by carrying past offenses forward. Further highlighting the sticking

power of racially discriminatory policies, housing stability varies drastically by race. The percentage of Black people in a community is a greater predictor of eviction filings than poverty level in some communities. On average, even across similar education levels, Black renters face eviction at nearly twice the rate of white renters. Coupled with widespread housing discrimination in the rental market, people of color are at extreme risk of housing loss and the social and economic inequalities it causes. In the pandemic context, many of the communities most in need of COVID-19 emergency rental assistance are also communities of color. Winnette Dickerson, a tenant leader with VOICE organizing to stop evictions, summed the effects of disparity when she told me, “We black and brown people will never be able to catch up. The plague of financial and housing insecurity will be looming over our heads. The goals of financial security and home ownership will remain a distant unreachable dream for us.” Ms. Dickerson, a longtime volunteer at a homeless shelter, also faced eviction during the pandemic after being furloughed from her job as a drug counselor.

PAGE 14 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Policy makers must act Ending the COVID-19 eviction crisis presents an opportunity to break a link in the systemic racism chain. Yet, policy makers have abandoned their duty to prevent the clear and steep human toll of the COVID-19 eviction crisis, with some justifying inaction by assigning blame and moral lashings to the people hardest hit by the pandemic. Without rental assistance, parents will be forced into even lower-wage jobs that, where available, will hardly cover rental debt on top of housing costs, and could increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to loved ones. Researchers determined that lifting eviction moratoriums over the summer resulted in 433,700 excess cases and 10,700 excess deaths. Underscoring the health inequity, Black and Hispanic adults have higher COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates than their white counterparts. In addition to taking lives, the eviction crisis is on track to devastate and further disadvantage communities of color and strip any chance of true equality and opportunity in America. Federal and state policy makers must both defend against this pressing threat to equality and repair past harms. In the immediate, this means extending the CDC eviction moratorium beyond January, as well as adopting robust state eviction moratoriums, and providing the emergency rental and foreclosure assistance necessary end the eviction crisis. Then, policy makers must redress longstanding inequality among people of color by guaranteeing equal access to safe, decent and affordable homes in thriving communities during and after the pandemic. Ms. Zambrano has hope for her children. “I know my children are going to be somebody one day, and not suffer the way I did,” she said. It’s every parent’s hope. It’s time every child has the same chance to reach for it. Emily A. Benfer is health and housing law expert, a law professor at Wake Forest University School of Law, the co-creator of the COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard with the Eviction Lab and the Chair of the American Bar Association COVID-19 task force committee on eviction. Courtesy of INSP.ngo

LOCAL ACTIVISM

PHOTOS BY DAVID PIÃ&#x2018;EROS

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 15

FUN

HOBOSCOPES SAGITTA R IUS

“NEW YEAR! NEW YOU!” That’s what the gym near my house used to shout at me everytime I drove past. It was a big floppy banner with red and yellow fireworks painted behind the word “NEW.” They went out of business in June. I guess I go on more walks lately. The dog likes it. What’s new for you, Sagittarius? It doesn’t really need to be much. I hope you’re taking care of yourself in whatever way you need. And I hope you know that you’re enough just exactly the way you are. And don’t forget to cancel your gym membership if you don’t go anymore.

CAPRICORN

“8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1!” Nothing like shouting out a countdown while I single-handedly make the eight slices of this frozen pizza disappear. But it feels like somebody else should be here, Capricorn. Like there should be a party and somebody to share all this with. And maybe sometime there will be again. This year we can just countdown the days until we can be together again and think about what we’ve learned over these past months that we can take with us. I learned I should probably stop at five slices.

AQUA RIUS

Things were so much easier when you just lived on your hidden island of warrior-women; protected, cared for, never fearing, always training for a battle that you never really thought would arrive. But the outside world always finds its way in, Aquarius. These times have tested every skill you’ve ever learned and taught you more than a few new ones. It’s enough to make an Aquarius jump into her invisible jet, f ly away and never return. But cut yourself some slack off that lasso of truth, friend, and give yourself a break if you don’t feel like fighting for everybody else all the time. Maybe just stay home today and fight for yourself.

PISCES

ARIES

Recently a physicist found evidence that there was a previous universe before this one. A universe that existed and then collapsed before our universe was even born. So if you’re going into this year feeling like it’s all been done before, Aries, you’re right. I can only assume that the previous universe also had a physicist who thought he’d made a huge discovery about an even older universe that came before. The only truly original thing you can do, Aries, is experience your life as yourself and experience it fully. Don’t worry about being the first or the best or the most. Just be you.

TAURUS

They let me be on the basketball team in 7th grade, Taurus. I was short and slow and didn’t really understand the game, but it was a small school and they assumed I would get taller. Every once in a while somebody would throw me the ball. Usually I’d drop it. I think about that this time of year because when we’re all watching the big ball drop and waiting for midnight when everything changes, I find it helpful to remember that not everything does. I’m still short and slow and I don’t understand basketball. But none of that matters to an amateur astrologer. Maybe it’s not you that needs to change in the new year, Taurus. Maybe it’s just your team.

GEMINI

So nobody came by your house with the prize goose this year, huh? Nobody gave you extra days off or doubled your salary? Come to think of it, this all feels like more of the same. Maybe the ghosts forgot to show up and change the hearts and lives of the people in charge. The good news is, we can stop waiting for them. If you need more time or more space or more respect, you may have to go find it. Stop waiting for people who never treat you right to come around. Be the Bob Cratchett you want to see in the world.

CANCER

It’s almost a new year, Pisces! Well, for some people, anyway. I mean, China has about 19 percent of the world’s population and they don’t celebrate a new year until Feb. 12. Balinese New Year will be on March 14. And there are about 100 million people in southern India who will celebrate on April 8. I guess what I’m saying is that you can start a new year any day you want, but if you’re looking for a big change, you’re probably going to have to make it yourself.

What were your New Year’s resolutions last year, Cancer? Come on, let me see ‘em. I won’t tell anybody...oh but this is too good. “Travel more. Go to the Gym. Spend more time hanging out with family and friends.” We never really know what’s coming next, Cancer. But I will say you did a great job rolling with the punches this past year. And it’s still hard to predict what kinds of things are coming in the future, but I think you have a great idea of the kind of person you want to be when you get there.

LEO

Nobody in my family ever really watched sports or cared much about holiday TV specials. But every New Year’s morning, we’d wake up and eat waffles and watch the Rose Parade. Flowers glued to f latbeds with a theme. That’s about all the sports we could handle. I think it’s cancelled this year, so if I want to see violets and lilies fastened together in the shape of Buzz Lightyear, I’m gonna have to glue it myself. These are DIY times, Leo. Whatever beauty you’re looking for, you might be the one who needs to make it. Get started. I’ll warm up the waffle iron.

VIRGO

How are you, Virgo? I know you’re always quick to tell folks that you’re better than you deserve, but this might be a good year to rethink that. Sure, it’s great to acknowledge that you’ve been given more than a person could possibly earn. You’ve got a mind and a body. You’ve got people to love and people who love you back. That’s a lot. But I’m afraid your focus on what you don’t “deserve” might be skewing your view of what other people deserve from you. You have a lot to give, Virgo. And when you make the rest of us work so hard for it, you miss out on the opportunity to fully be yourself.

LIBRA

I’ve been looking through all these Best of 2020 lists for albums and movies and TV shows. Turns out people made a lot of great stuff last year. Of course, it mostly just makes me feel old when I get to the top 10 and it’s all stuff I’ve never heard of (Will I understand Dua Lipa if I’ve never heard the first Lipa?). But it made me think I should do my own top 10 list for 2020, Libra, and I just wanted to let you know that you’re on it. I thought you might want to make one, too. Who are the top 10 people you’re most grateful for this year?

SCORPIO

Do you ever get the feeling that you’re not actually in the moment you’re experiencing? Like, maybe you aren’t really reading this right now. Maybe you’re far in the future and you’re just remembering, in great detail, the time when you read this. You’re remembering just what you were wearing then and the temperature and exactly how you felt when you got to the end of this sentence. That seems unlikely. You’re probably actually in the present moment, reading these lines and that’s good news. It’s good news because it means you get to decide what you’ll do next.

Mr. Mysterio is not a licensed astrologer, a certified financial planner, or a naturalized Themyscirian. Mr. Mysterio is, however, a budding intermediate podcaster! Check out The Mr. Mysterio Podcast. Season 2 is now playing at mrmysterio.com. Got a question, just give Mr. M a call at 707-VHS-TAN1

PAGE 16 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

VENDOR WRITING

A Change Has Come BY VICK Y B., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR A few days before Thanksgiving I was bringing my dog Faith into the building where I live and as I walked to the elevator I saw that the office lady and a temp both had that look. That look that created a very somber feeling. The look of finding another resident had passed away. That day amidst the Crime Scene vehicles and Metro Nashville cars the details were few, but the feeling was there. The feeling of being thankful that day that we woke up and trying to figure out who had died on the second floor. Was it someone we knew? Chatter started with friends about who we hadn’t seen the day before and we said prayers when it turned out it wasn’t them. Within a few hours I found out it was a resident who was mostly a loner and someone who frequented Memphis so his absence was normal. That day started to change

into Thanksgiving, joy and peace. It started the holidays and the spirit of the season. Soon, people were saying hello in passing and asking, “how are you?” A friendliness started and so far, hasn’t stopped. Soon the halls were dotted with Christmas cards sticking out of mailboxes and lights started to glow from behind the windows. I hate to think this man dying started this feeling at Hadley Park Towers, but when his body was discovered it had a profound effect on me and many others living here. I think we all thanked God for life and learned a new feeling of hope for the future. One of my biggest fears is dying and no one knowing. As I found out, others had this same fear. Check on your neighbors whether they’re in a tent, an apartment, a duplex or a house. Their very lives could be depending on you.

Scooter Problems

THEME: Y EA R IN R EV IEW

BY PAUL A., CONTRIBUTOR VENDOR I wanted to let you know that over here on Fifth Avenue North, they’re scattering scooters all over the place — lying in the middle of the sidewalk, up against the post, wherever. When I was sleeping in a camp, they would bring running scooters into camp. People are using other people’s money to ride the scooters. There should be something that we can do about it. I don’t know what they mayor can do,

I don’t know what the city council can do, but something needs to be done about it. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs, walkers, canes, crutches trying to manuever. When you’re looking ahead you don’t want to have to look down all the time to see if you’re going to trip over something. That’s dangerous. They need to figure something out. I don’t know what we can do about it.

ACROSS 1. *New wardrobe accessory 5. *RIP, ____ 8. Flock’s echo 12. Reply from a tunnel? 13. Feline noise 14. Edward Teller’s “baby” 15. Beat 16. Competently 17. Savory jelly 18. *Blue vs. red competition 20. One third of a three-piece suit 21. Mailed greetings 22. Long time 23. ____ biloba 26. Anointing oil 30. Nurses’ org. 31. Leafy vegetable 34. “Cogito, ____ sum” 35. Mooring spots 37. Bring into play 38. Old Brazilian coins

39. Prefix with ‘graph’ 40. *Joe’s running mate 42. PGA peg 43. What bees did 45. Fixes firmly 47. Summer mo. 48. R in NPR 50. Widespread 52. *WHO’s March announcement 55. Cliffside dwelling 56. Drop-off spot 57. Sonic sound 59. Sports figures, e.g. 60. Persian backgammon 61. Water carrier 62. *Late basketball legend 63. *____ lightning, cause of California wildfires 64. X-ray units

Christmas with my Mouse B Y J U N E P. , C O N T R I B U T O R V E N D O R Well it’s Christmas time and I want to get my friend — my mouse — a Christmas gift. Clothes are out. He’s too small. No shoes. He’d be too loud running around the apartment. I asked Santa. He said cheese. So I made him some cheese balls, cheese bread, cheese crackers. Hope he don’t get

stopped up! LOL. Well I gave in, and gave him some of his gifts already. He loved them. He’s been dancing around the apartment all week, making this weird noise. I think he’s saying, “Thank you! Thank you! Merry Christmas to you!” He left me a gift too: Poop! LOL. Happy New Year to all!

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 17

DOWN 1. Copy cats 2. Flu symptom 3. Synagogue 4. 1/100th of a ruble 5. Bid again 6. Western neckwear, pl. 7. Gwyneth, to friends 8. *Like a vote during lockdown 9. What Joy Mangano does on TV 10. Do like exhaust pipe 11. *”Transplant” network 13. ____ of honor 14. It’s often wreaked 19. Zoo enclosures 22. Compass dir. 23. Labored breaths 24. *Jared Kushner to Donald Trump 25. Nigerian money 26. Part of an eye 27. About to explode 28. Looked at, amorously 29. Smelling organs 32. Two of the same 33. Philosopher’s study 36. *Best Picture Oscar-winner 38. China grass 40. Party barrel 41. Having a cover 44. *What Zoom host does to guests, sometimes 46. Type of jacket 48. “M*A*S*H” character 49. Ticked off 50. *President Trump used this power in 2020 51. United ____ Emirates 52. Be undecided 53. *Caucus state 54. Like most universities 55. Pose a question 58. Robinson or Doubtfire

VENDOR WRITING

BETWEEN INTENTION AND RESULT

BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

REVELATION

Life goes faster when you walk past me

In this year of 2020

Not every action results in instant gratification

I’m standing there alone

When the faithful gather

It often takes long hours, weeks, or years--

Waiting for a coster of blessings

In their churches

An intermission, as it were--

Come around my head

To celebrate the Nativity

DEANA H.

JEN A.

Between intention and result

And to raise their voices

Think of the patience of the bird

I stand in the street

In carols of the season

As it waits from egg to empty nest

You walk by and say Hi

(Against sound medical advice

There’s a season to sow the seeds

And then as a blessing

And posing a deadly threat

And a later one to reap the fruit

You gave to me to hold

To their wider community

The mosquito drinks

Send me home with hope and I stop to do better

Of believers and those who don’t--

Before the itch commences

Not a disaster

Just because they can)

There is an interval of time

It’s cold out here

When they exclaim

Between making a committed try

I am praying you bless me with a dime or two

“O come let us adore him”

And ultimate failure

For me to survive in this hard world

They’re singing about

Between being bitten by the snake

I thank God for people like you

Jesus

And the poison crippling your heart

‘cause it makes me have purpose

Right?

Between belief in his malicious lies

I’m not alone when you stop to help

And the day democracy dies

God will bless you for my blessings We all need each other as we separate ourselves for health and maybe wealth One day I’ll be standing high One day giving generosity like you

Advertisers of The Contributor put their marketing dollars to work in lives of Nashville’s most vulnerable community. If your business is exploring cause marketing opportunties, consider partnering with The Contributor. CONTACT: 615-499-6829 OR

BARBARA@THECONTRIBUTOR.ORG PAGE 18 | December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

Congratulations to our

LIFNAV neighbors who will celebrate Christmas morning in their new homes!

Thank You to those who supported the LIFNAV program and changed lives in 2020!

As we prepare to journey into 2021, we encourage you to download our new LIFNAV App so that our community will continue to grow and improve the lives of our neighbors... no matter where they call home. Visit SalvationArmyNashville.org/lifnav to download your app.

December 23, 2020 - January 6, 2021 | The Contributor | NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE | PAGE 19

The Contributor: Dec. 23, 2020

Articles inside

Vendor Poetry

Vendor Writing

HOBOSCOPES

NEWS

Suffer for Good

News Briefs

History Corner

Vendor Spotlight

We Remember

We Remember

We Remember