CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Tiffany Perkins, founder of Black Clarksville, hosted the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour on Tuesday evening. It was the last stop of TBCSL’s Statewide Town Hall series, and the first time they’ve held the event in Clarksville.

Several state representatives, all members of Tennessee’s Black Caucus, were on hand so share highlights from the first half of the 113th General Assembly, and to talk about what’s next. Others spoke about work programs, issues involving veterans, economic and community development, and more.

Clarksville District 67’s state Rep. Ronnie Glynn was instrumental in bringing the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour to Clarksville on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Attendees are briefed on highlights of the first half of the 113th General Assembly by several of state legislators at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
State Rep. Ronnie Glynn, right, introduces Clarksville NAACP President Jimmie Garland, left, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Bishop Anthony Alfred addressing a packed house during the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Mayor Joe Pitts welcomed several of his former colleagues from the Tennessee House of Representatives to Clarksville, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Leadership Clarksville Director Yolonda Williams, left, talking with Clarksville First Lady Cynthia Pitts, right, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Loretta Morris, first vice chair, NAACP Clarksville-Montgomery County Branch #5582, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Knoxville District 16’s state Rep. Sam McKenzie, chairman of the Tennessee Black Caucus, talked about challenges being faced at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Bishop Anthony Alfred, who is trying to bring more minority credit unions to Tennessee to assist the unbanked and underbanked, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Workforce Essentials’ Freeman Forrest presents information on a state-funded summer work program, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Representing Memphis, District 84, G.A. Hardaway Sr. at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Rep. Yusuf Hakeem of Chattanooga, District 28, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Rep. Antonio Parkinson of Memphis, District 98, one of more than half-dozen state representatives that spoke in Clarksville during the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Nashville, District 58’s state Rep. Harold M. Love Jr. talked about bills that he is working on at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Montgomery County Commissioner Rashidah Leverett at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)
Memphis, District 85’s state Rep. Jesse Chism, vice chairman of the TBCSL, at the Tennessee Black Caucus Listening Tour event on Aug. 9, 2023. (Tony Centonze)

Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts welcomed the representatives, many of whom he knew well after serving with them at the state House prior to becoming mayor.

On hand were Reps. Sam McKenzie of Knoxville, Jesse Chism of Memphis, Yusuf Hakeem of Chattanooga, Antonio Parkinson of Memphis, Harold Love Jr. of Nashville and G.A. Hardaway Sr. of Memphis.

Leading the discussion was Rep. Ronnie Glynn of Clarksville District 67, who also holds the position of sergeant-at-arms with the TBCSL

“It’s an honor for us to host the TBCSL, and be able to share what they have on their agenda, and all they are doing at he legislative level,” Perkins said. “This event gives members of the community a chance to ask questions, be heard, and be active in what is happening to, around, and for us.”

The room, inside the Emmanuel Family Life Center on Fairview Lane, holds about 65 people. Perkins and her team had to bring in a few extra chairs to accommodate everyone.

“We’re very pleased, and proud of the community for coming out and showing up,” Perkins said. “Rep. Ronnie Glynn … did a lot of great work in this community before he became our representative. He asked if I would be interested in hosting, and we worked together to make sure that we had an agenda, and a program for tonight. He was really focused on making this about the people and their concerns.”

Perkins says that Black Clarksville is focused on educating the public and sharing information. Her goal is to make people unafraid of politics while helping them feel empowered, emboldened and excited about the process.

More information can be found at www.blkclarksville.com.