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I received a call from a prospective client today, also a member of the Nashville Chamber, who found my business on the Chamber website. I literally sent my Chamber dues in on Monday and received her phone call on Thursday as a new client. The fees from the client's tax work will well exceed the cost of my Chamber membership. My investment in the Chamber paid itself off in only four days -- could it be any easier?
- Wes Aull, CPA
Wes Aull CPA
K-12 Education Initiatives
Recognizing that today's students are tomorrow's work force, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce has made improvement of public education its number-one priority.
The Chamber works closely with Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools to develop initiatives geared toward helping students succeed. The overarching mission of the Chamber's education department is to help ensure 100 percent success for all Metro public school students.
Through a variety of programs and initiatives, the Chamber works to engage the community at large in public education and create opportunities for business leaders to participate. Involvement opportunities for Chamber members include the Education Report Card Committee and Career and Thematic Academies.
Education 2020
In 2008, the Chamber developed a three-year plan to increase the organization’s support for education improvement and reform. Initiatives in the plan are guided by several Chamber Education 2020 committees: Public Education Advocacy Committee (community support and adequate K-12 funding); Education 2020 Leadership Council (community partnerships, accountability); and the CEO Champions (high school and middle school reform).
Education 2020 initiatives include a speaker series focused on engaging the Nashville community around important education issues, the development of a campaign to increase community support for Metro Schools, and the continued growth of Friends of Metro Schools in partnership with Stand for Children and other community organizations.
Education Report Card
Since 1993, the Chamber has annually convened a diverse group of business and community representatives to evaluate the progress of Nashville's public school system. The committee examines academic performance data and prepares a written report presenting findings and 10 recommendations for improvement to the city, including the school board, the director of schools and the mayor.
High School Reform
In fall 2007, Metro Nashville Public Schools began the restructuring its comprehensive high schools into smaller, more personalized learning environments. This district-wide high school redesign initiative was based on the small learning communities (SLC) model. SLCs include Freshman Academies, which allow for a smoother transition into high school, and Academies with a career or thematic focus. Academies prepare high school students for both college and career through a rigorous curriculum that incorporates the “real-world” relevance of a particular industry or themed interest.
The Chamber and the PENCIL Foundation have created six Partnership Councils that correspond to six broad industry areas: Arts, Media & Communications; Business, Marketing & Information Technology; Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Technology & Agriculture; Health; Hospitality & Tourism; and Human & Public Services.
Chamber members can support high school academies by serving on an industry partnership council, speaking to a classroom of students belonging to an academy or hosting an academy teacher in order to help educators incorporate industry examples into their classrooms. In addition, each Fall the Chamber partners with MNPS to organize an annual Career Exploration Fair to give high school freshmen the opportunity to meet adult volunteers working in specific industries and discuss the skills they will need to become successful in those professions.
Mayor's First Day Festival
The Mayor's First Day Festival was started in August 2000 as a citywide celebration of the beginning of a new school year. The annual event takes place in downtown Nashville at the Sommet Center and features free school supplies, educational resources and fun activities for students and their parents. The Nashville Area Chamber serves as the lead organizer of this signature city event by encouraging member businesses to host activity booths, provide volunteers, and participate as financial sponsors.
SuccessPAC
The Nashville Area Chamber established a political action committee, SuccessPAC, in 1998 to focus solely on electing the best possible candidates to the Metropolitan Board of Public Education. Because school board members serve staggered four-year terms, elections are held every two years. The SuccessPAC board conducts interviews with all school board candidates in order to identify and endorse candidates who understand the role of a policy-making board and are focused on the successful academic achievement of all children.
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