Policy Team
The Raising Readers Nashville Policy Team works to educate the collective of current and possible local and statewide policies affecting the lives of children and families, and to intervene and inform on drafted legislation or rules with both beneficial and potentially harmful effects on the lives of children and their families.
Four Objectives
To track existing and upcoming policies affecting the lives of children and families in Davidson County and across the state
To educate the RRN collective on legislative structure, schedule, and best practices to increase individual organizational advocacy efforts.
To provide access to member organizations policy agendas in an effort to maximize our efforts as a collective
To create a space for organizations serving children and families to share resources and amplify their advocacy efforts to build the conditions for healthy nurturing environments.
Co-chairs
Denise Costanza
Tennessee Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Annie Paraison
Love Before All, LLC
Current members
Leslie Cowell, Lipscomb University
Katie Growden, Save the Children Action Network
Abby Lane, Vanderbilt University
Tara Lentz, Conexion Americas
Jenny McFerron, Greater Nashville Chamber of Commerce
Erica Mitchell, United Way of Greater Nashville
Cynthia Osborne, Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center
Victoria Payne, Greater Nashville Chamber of Commerce
Kathleen Seabolt, Vanderbilt University
Jennifer Vaida, Nurture the Next
Brandon White, United Way of Greater Nashville
Rebecca Woods, TQEE
Vanessa Zapata, TN Justice Center