On Saturday morning, a coalition of community members gathered at a church in East Nashville. Advocates for the homeless, public transit and clergy members all came together to build benches that will be distributed in public spaces around the city.
The effort is in response to the city removing popular benches in August along Korean Veterans Boulevard and outside the Downtown Public Library as part of a “beautification” effort. The benches were replaced with concrete spheres which advocates say have displaced unhoused people who normally slept or rested there.
Pastor Robin Lovett Owen believes that Nashvillians deserve more places to sit — not fewer. And the dozens of people working on building benches agree with her…