News + Events

“For Nashville’s Future” Mayoral Candidate Forum a Smashing Success [Video & Podcast]

July 3, 2023

The forum was moderated by the host of “This Is Nashville,” Khalil Ekulona, on WPLN 90.3 FM.

Over 300 students, parents and other civic-minded citizens recently gathered at the Honey Alexander Center to hear from seven of Nashville’s mayoral candidates and to join the conversation about Nashville’s children and youth. The forum was brought about jointly by the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative (of which Martha O’Bryan Center is a part) and WPLN News Radio 90.#1 FM, Nashville’s local news and NPR station.

This Is Nashville and WPLN News collaborated with the Nashville Child and Youth Collaborative to put on a mayoral forum, called “For Nashville’s Future.” The goal was to center the needs and interests of Nashville’s youth, and four local teens from the Mayor’s Youth Council a chance to ask questions directly to the candidates:

Madison Moore, Nashville School of the Arts
Hudson Honeybone, Ensworth High School
Suzanna Wilkinson, Hillsboro High School
Yusuf Dogan, Middle Tennessee State University

Seven candidates took part in the forum, which was held at the Honey Alexander Center in front of a live audience. They are pictured above and listed from left to right:

Jeff Yarbro
Matt Wiltshire
Alice Rolli
Freddie O’Connell
Sharon Hurt
Jim Gingrich
Heidi Campbell

In addition to segments from This Is Nashville, the NCYC released a full recording of the forum. You can view more highlights from the forum on the Nashville Child & Youth Collaborative site and listen to the “This Is Nashville” WPLN podcasts here.