ThinkTennessee

We're excited to introduce our new Research Director, Chris Candelaria! With extensive experience from Vanderbilt University and the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Chris will lead research projects for both our Working Families and Strengthening Democracy initiatives. Welcome, Chris!

The National Housing Crisis Task Force, convened by Accelerator for America and Drexel University, has released its State and Local Housing Action Plan to boost and support the housing ecosystem. 15 tools across land, capital, construction, regulation & governance: buff.ly/GwJOZ80

One year from today, Tennesseans will vote in primary elections to choose party candidates for governor, all 9 U.S. House, 1 U.S. Senator, all 99 state House, and 16 state Senate seats. Our latest blog analyzes what we can expect based on historical trends. buff.ly/4WcCrLM

Lexington, TN residents – save these dates for your upcoming municipal election! The deadline to register to vote is August 12. Visit hendersoncoec.com for more information.

To take a short break from a busy summer, the ThinkTN team recently toured the Tennessee State Museum! We had a great time exploring the museum’s extensive collection showcasing our state’s rich history. Thank you to the Tennessee State Museum for hosting us!

Speaker announcement! Business leaders Bill Dunavant III & Matt Kisber, former Governors Bredesen & Haslam, and Mayor Ken Moore join our Policy Forum panels on economy, bipartisan leadership & regional growth. More announcements coming! Early bird tickets available buff.ly/eJPduQ4

Last week, ThinkTN traveled to West Tennessee to meet with community leaders & regional partners in Memphis & Jackson. Grateful to UW Mid-South & MidSouth Development District for hosting and our local board members for productive conversations about regional priorities!

Knoxville residents – save these dates! The deadline for voter registration for the primary election is Monday, July 28th. Visit buff.ly/tAkygrM for polling locations, sample ballots, and voter ID info.

#KnoxVotes

Church-Owned Land Could Help Fill Affordability Gap The need for affordable housing is driving efforts to partner with churches and religious-based organizations to utilize available church-owned land

A new movement called YIGBY (Yes in God's Backyard) seeks to create 800k+ housing units on unused land owned by churches & religious groups. @Forbes.com discusses how 2.6 million acres of faith-based land can be used for affordable housing:

The ThinkTN office will be closed today in celebration of Independence Day. We hope everyone has a great (and safe) weekend!

Report: Tennessee voter turnout trends upward, lags behind other states Davidson County among lowest turnout rates in state for 2024

Check out @nashvillepost.com's coverage of our After Action Report analyzing Tennessee's 2024 election cycle. Article by @julianneakers.bsky.social

It's July 1st - several laws from this year's legislative session take effect today! Flip through the slides for highlights & read our full #TNLeg summary on our website for more insights into 2025's bills.

#TNLeg #votingrightsrestoration #childcare #transportation #paidfamilyleave

Report: Tennessee voter turnout trends upward, lags behind other states Davidson County among lowest turnout rates in state for 2024

While Tennessee voter turnout saw a decrease in the 2024 election cycle compared to 2020, the state’s voter engagement is following an upward trend overall, according to a new report from @thinktn.bsky.social.
www.nashvillepost.com/politics/ele...

2025 ThinkTennessee Policy Forum ThinkTN's policy forum will bring together leaders, advocates & community members to engage in meaningful dialogue around TN's most pressing policy issues.

Registration is open for @thinktn.bsky.social's first-ever policy forum on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Music City Center in Nashville. Civic leaders, experts and community members will engage in meaningful dialogue around some of the most pressing issues facing Tennesseans today. Join us!

July is #NationalParksandRecreationMonth! ThinkTN’s research shows that Tennesseans suffer from some of the highest rates of chronic diseases in the country. Making time for outdoor physical activities can be extremely beneficial in combating these illnesses.

Registration is now open for ThinkTN's 2025 Policy Forum "Driving Tennessee's Prosperity" on Sept. 30 in Nashville.

Early bird pricing available for a limited time! buff.ly/tbKoGx9

#ThinkTNPolicyForum

In observance of Juneteenth, the ThinkTN office will be closed today. Since 1865, this day has marked a historic step towards freedom and equality.

Are you an undergrad, grad student, or law student interested in public policy, nonprofit management, or communications? We are now accepting applications for our Fall '25 internship positions! More info at buff.ly/ZyMhCAe. Applications due by July 18.

Our Election 2024 After Action is here! The report analyzes TN’s '24 elections in 3 parts: voter turnout, choice & experience. You’ll also find historical election trends & challenges that continue to prevent would-be voters from casting a ballot. buff.ly/0OVT2oh

ThinkTN President Erin Hafkenschiel took to the stage at #CNU33 in Providence, RI to present “Transit & Mobility: Lessons Learned from Nashville”. This presentation was part of an informative session on successful referenda across the US. Thank you to ‪@cnunewurbanism.bsky.social‬ for hosting!

Free event asks: Can Chattanooga learn from Nashville on improving transit? | Chattanooga Times Free Press Erin Hafkenschiel wants to prove that Chattanooga can learn something from Nashville.

Erin Hafkenschiel wants to prove that Chattanooga can learn something from Nashville.

We're thrilled to announce ThinkTennessee's 2025 Policy Forum "Driving Tennessee's Prosperity" on Sept 30, 2025 at Music City Center, Nashville!
A first-of-its-kind forum on housing, transportation, childcare & workforce development.
More info: buff.ly/d16usZI
#ThinkTNPolicyForum

It’s #NationalHigherEducationDay! TN Promise & Reconnect have helped 172K+ residents, but we still face a worker shortage with the most in-demand jobs requiring some college education or credentials. See our higher education data: buff.ly/IRNSOEo

Free event asks: Can Chattanooga learn from Nashville on improving transit? | Chattanooga Times Free Press Erin Hafkenschiel wants to prove that Chattanooga can learn something from Nashville.

ThinkTN Prez Erin Hafkenschiel was featured in this ‪@timesfreepress.bsky.social‬ interview discussing how mobility lessons from Nashville can apply to Chattanooga:

Meet our summer interns! We are thrilled to welcome University of the South student Avery Lewis Stout and Kelly Su from UT Knoxville to the team this summer!

ThinkTennessee’s State of Our State Dashboard is an interactive tool designed to help decisionmakers, advocates, and the public learn more about policy outco... ThinkTennesseee State of Our State Dashboard Tutorial

New 4-minute tutorial shows you how to navigate our State of Our State Dashboard! Perfect for policymakers, researchers, and engaged citizens seeking to leverage data to drive positive change.

#TNStateDashboard

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Meet our summer law clerks! We are so excited to welcome UT Knoxville students Chloe Philpot and Ashley Varnedoe to the team this summer!

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It's #AffordableHousingMonth! TN communities face growing pressure to create affordable housing options while maintaining neighborhood character. Our research explores policy tools that can help localities reduce housing costs & encourage developers to build more housing tailored to community needs.

Honoring and remembering those who have given their lives in service to our country today. The ThinkTN office will remain closed in observance of Memorial Day.