The Civic Design Center has taken the past year to dive deeper into the housing conversation in Nashville, which will culminate in a special keynote and panel discussion during our Annual Celebration.
Please join us for what we know will be a powerful breakfast event on January 27th, 2023.
Event Schedule7:30 am: Doors Open for Coffee + Connections
8:30 am: Program Begins
9:15 am: Panel Begins
10:00 am: Closing Remarks + Networking Reopens
Event DetailsMeet Our Keynote
Ernest Brown (he/him)
Ernest is a current Board Chair of YIMBY Action, and has been active in the YIMBY movement since 2017. Ernest also serves on the boards of Tech Equity Collaborative and the San Francisco Housing Accelerator Fund. He is the Chief of Staff at Kaiser Permanente, where he supports the nonprofit’s strategy and partnerships. Ernest is a native of Atlanta, GA. He graduated from Emory University with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Economics, and is back at Emory pursuing his MBA.
Meet the Panelists
Gina Emmanuel, Centric Architecture Principal + Barnes Fund Chair
Gina Emmanuel has been a principal at Centric Architecture, a design focused architecture, planning, and interiors firm located in historic North Nashville, for the past 10 years. Originally from South Africa, relocating to Nashville in 1985, she has become more of a native than most with the influx of growth the city has seen.
For the last decade, Centric has focused on community-based projects in the heart of Middle Tennessee’s neighborhoods creating unique intentional spaces that instill a compelling sense of place. She serves as Commission Chair for the Housing Trust Fund Commission which administers affordable housing grants to local non-profit developers, a board member of the NAIOP Nashville Chapter, the President of Catholic Charities of Nashville, and a member of the inaugural steering committee for ULI’s Urban Plan program.
Colby Sledge, District 17 Council Member
Colby Sledge is a two-term Metro Nashville Councilmember whose service has included six years on the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission, where he helped put nearly 2,500 affordable units into development and recently secured another $15 million for the fund. He passed the single-largest investment in affordable housing in Nashville's history, and recently passed legislation to convert parking minimums into maximums in Nashville's urban core.
Learn about the ThemeThe housing debate in Nashville has people calling for affordable housing, but saying no to affordable housing in their own communities. This is a phenomenon called “Not in My Backyard,” commonly referred to as “NIMBY.” We are opening the discussion that supports the movement of “YIMBY,” or “YES, in My Backyard,” where community members are encouraged to show up to public meetings and support development that increases density in their neighborhoods.
People often say “no” to new development that threatens neighborhood character and other infrastructure challenges, however, the Civic Design Center offers a pathway for how our communities can be supportive of well-designed development. Building relationships with developers who are investing in the community is critical. Let’s work on reframing the conversation to say “yes” more, but make sure the community is represented.
Ticket InformationEarly Bird Ticket Rates (CLOSED):
Members—$100
Non-Members—$125
Full Table—$1200
Standard Ticket Rates:
Members—$120
Non-Members—$150
Full-Table—$1500
Standard ticket rates do not include fees.
Tickets included in Sponsorship Levels as Follows:
Presenting—10 Tickets (full table)
Program—10 Tickets (full table)
Keystone—10 Tickets (full table)
Cornerstone—10 Tickets (full table)
Voussoir—5 Tickets (half table)
Sponsors may purchase additional tickets at either the early bird or standard non-member ticket rate. For an idea of what it would take to complete your table, each table seats 10 individuals. View our sponsors here!