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Tisha Wilson is a diamond in the rough. For starters, she’s a born-and-raised Nashvillian, which some may say is a dying breed. More importantly, she contains an internal drive and unmatched passion that’s rarely seen. She was first introduced via Nashville Public Radio’s “Neighbors” podcast, when host Jakob Lewis peeled back Tisha’s many layers and uncovered a history most of …

Thuy Rocco is the author of The Last Surviving Child: A Memoir, a collection of stories and poems about her refugee journey from the darkest moments of death, poverty, racism, discrimination,  abuse, and depression to a life of survival and hope. As a child refugee from Vietnam, she lost all of her siblings and her father.  Her mother braved seven …

Marrika Rodgers is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin native and a mother of one (beautiful daughter). She has been serving the community for over 18yrs though various capacities, a true pioneer and innovator of her generation. As a mental health clinician/business consultant, she is known for empowering others by providing effective tools with tangible results. She lives a life dedicated towards serving …

Chinese Arts Alliance of Nashville (CAAN) is organized to promote the awareness, understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the Chinese visual arts and performing arts. CAAN, founded in 2012, is a 501(c)(3) non-profitable arts organization. Our activities include dance productions, dance workshops, exhibitions, classroom teaching, and educational workshops for adults and children. CAAN brings Chinese arts to Nashville by developing and showcasing …

Upasana Indian Dance Company Upasana Peforming Arts Center, founded in 2003 by Sonia Chaudhuri, is the largest school of Kathak & Hindustani Vocal  in Tennessee. Their mission is to enrich the human spirit through dance and music, inspire through creative innovation, EMPOWER through art education and awaken the performer in every individual while building on the rich legacy of India’s performing arts. Upasana …

Honoring the Aztec Earth Goddess Founded by Julia Rivera and Alicia Leos, Danza Azteca Coatlicue is a colorful representative of Nashville’s Central American Community, combining rhythms and ritual dance in an effort to preserve a vibrant culture and educate Nashvillians about the richness of Latin American Heritage. The dances honor the Aztec Earth Goddess, Coatlicue, with its ancient traditions handed …

Ladylike Stevie Rae is a pop singer-songwriter whose powerhouse vocals, presented through honest lyricism and soaring melodies, create the perfect canvas for her message of empowerment and feminism. Past achievements range from reaching the top 75 contestants on American Idol season 12 to singing the National Anthem for the San Francisco Giants. With a BA in Recording Technology and a …

Curves with Purpose. A (humble) Journey Nancy Youssef is founder and President of Curves with Purpose. She embarked on this journey decades before conception. As a students at Istituto Marangoni in Milan, Nancy saw her own family and friends struggle to find great, quality clothes that fit their shape. She knew then there was a dire need in the marketplace. …