2020 Issue 6 Nov/Dec - Focus Mid-Tenn Magazine

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JEFF SWAFFORD (HE/HIM) In 2019, Jeff founded a nonprofit called Nashville Street Project which hires homeless people to clean up the streets of Nashville. Since it started last August, they have cleaned up over 8000 pounds of trash off the streets — and he is out there every week picking up trash alongside them because he doesn’t ask them to do anything he won’t do himself. Beyond giving them a job, he also makes sure they have what they need, especially in cold weather. He has given them tents, sleeping bags, clothes and food. He also takes them out to lunch on a regular basis as well as trips to the movies. In addition to the Nashville Street Project, he co-founded another nonprofit with a group of friends called Feed The Need Nashville. They serve lunch each Wednesday to the homeless in downtown Nashville at McKendree United Methodist Church. They also assist in getting IDs, replacement social security cards and birth certificates that are so important in getting jobs and housing. He said that he never saw himself doing this when he moved to Nashville but working with homeless people has changed his heart and he has truly found what he was meant to do. NEYDER MCDONALD (HE/HIM) Volunteering has been a passion of Neyder’s since he was 16 years old. His first volunteer moment came when his hometown of Caracas, Venezuela experienced flooding that wiped out homes and took lives. Neyder was devastated seeing people his age displaced and empathized with them. It was a very humbling experience that led to him appreciating whatever circumstances he was in and learning to navigate through his own problems while helping others with theirs. Prior to living in Nashville, Neyder lived in New York where he gave his time to organizations that helped with food drives for people infected with HIV/AIDS and the homeless. He also helped prepare and serve meals to the homeless during the holidays. Through his employer, he helped organize walks to benefit HIV/AIDS and childhood cancer research. Since moving to Nashville five years ago, Neyder has participated with the UBS Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) and then accepted the position of chair of the ERG when it opened up. As chair, he has raised money and had the ERG donate time and resources to the Oasis Center and the Aids Walk. Under his leadership, not only has membership quadrupled in size, so has the participation in community outreach initiatives at UBS. RON SANFORD (HE/HIM) Ron is a special event professional and business owner. He currently owns and operates Ron Sanford Productions, LLC. in the heart of Nashville. After college, he settled in Atlanta. This is where he won the title of Mr. Gay World 1986 and gained ownership of Lipstix Showbar. His event career emerged when he was hired by Mr. Ted Turner to provide catering to events which led to Ron working at the Atlanta Omni Hotel as a floral guru and production specialist. From here, his newly minted company, Cream of the Crop Productions, began catering elite events including filming of music videos for the likes of Sir Elton John. Ron eventually landed back in Nashville where he founded Flamboyant Designs. Through Flamboyant, he produced the opening ceremony for the Frist Center, the groundbreaking for the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Tin Pan South Music Festival. After the Supreme Court ruling on the Obergefell v. Hodges case was finalized in May 2015, he decided that it was time for a major life change, thus Ron Sanford Productions was officially launched. Since then, Ron Sanford Productions has produced the yearly charity gala for the Scott Hamilton Cares Foundation, was named annual planner of the Tennessee Kidney Foundation’s annual gala, was named the annual producer for Miss Gay USofA and Miss Gay America, and has worked with the local LGBT community for fundraising events. You will often see him at various events lending his time, labor, money and creativity to causes that support the community like Nashville Pride, the Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Bianca Paige Day, and the Nashville Cares AIDS Walk. Page 18 / focusmidtenn.com / NOV+DEC 2020 / CHEERS!
DR. ROBYN HENDERSON- ESPINOZA (THEY/THEM) Dr. Robyn is an activist theologian who uses story to mobilize folks for radical social change. They are also the founder of the Activist Theology Project and author of Activist Theology. Dr. Robyn was named 1 of 10 Faith Leaders to watch by the Center for American Progress in 2018. In addition to their work in theology and activism, Dr. Robyn has volunteered with many causes including the Colorado Latinas for Reproductive Justice (COLOR) in Denver, Colorado, the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance in Chicago, Illinois, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Dr. Robyn is currently working with Open Table Nashville during cold nights getting homeless folks into shelters by canvassing the streets and transporting people. Dr. Robyn is wearing Bow Tie: Broadway by Clifton+Leopold CHEERS! / NOV+DEC 2020 / focusmidtenn.com / Page 19
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2020 Issue 6 Nov/Dec - Focus Mid-Tenn Magazine

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