I lead a nonprofit organization based in Nashville, TN focused on building a welcoming community and creating opportunities where Latino immigrants can belong, contribute and succeed. In 2012, we created a nonprofit collaborative, Casa Azafrán, that houses nine groups under one roof and that has become the unofficial gateway to Nashville's international district and most ethnically diverse neighborhood. We are in the middle of transforming a used car lot into a public park, in addition to facilitating community conversations and advocacy to promote an inclusive development of the busy corridor we call home.
I am interested in placemaking as a tool for immigrant integration, community building. I am interested in learning about inclusive development and innovative, practical policies and strategies to fight involuntary displacement of residents and businesses in communities of color. I am interested in engaging artists as key partners/conveners/leaders to tackle these issues.