Simone Boyd’s strategic leadership at the McGruder Family Resource Center has been instrumental in securing and stewarding vital ARP funding to enhance this critical community hub. She not only helped direct newly allocated resources but also ensured the effective use of previously awarded funds, all while leading the creation and presentation of a compelling proposal to the Metropolitan Government. Thanks to her advocacy, McGruder is better equipped to continue its mission of empowering and uplifting North Nashville residents.
M. Simone Boyd's work as an artist in community has changed the way I approach community work. She leads with a clear vision of caring for people foremost and uses all her creative powers to facilitate magical and transformative experiences. The integrity of her approach to creating art with community is my gold standard. Simone is the kind of leader who calls you into your best and most morally courageous work. Working with her is a complete honor. Because she constantly models creating art–not in service of oneself–but in complete service of community, healing, and truth. My creative practices will never be the same because she has inspired me to do better.
Simone is compassionate, a visionary, inspiring and a born leader. She has taken her God-given talents as an accomplished artist, community activist, historian of the Black community in North Nashville added her love for justice and woven it into a tapestry. This tapestry brings people together to celebrate North Nashville’s past, present and future. Under her leadership–through community gatherings–such as dinner under the interstate overpass, which split the North Nashville community when it was put in place, initiated a renewed pride to be a North Nashville resident.
I have known and collaborated with Simone Boyd for approximately three years. During this period of time. I have witnessed her compassionate, dedicated and vocal engagement and criticism of the adverse impact that the accelerated growth and development of Metro Nashville is causing the continued decline and already distressed and isolated North Nashville community. In addition, I am currently and will continue to support her in what I consider to be her primary goal of the rebirth of North Nashville with a vision that includes affordable housing for the many displaced life-long residents in this community and the restoration of the strong fabric of unity, pride, tradition, love, and common struggle that makes North Nashville strong and resilient. As a “footnote,” Simone’s knowledge, character and temperament are exemplary and well suited for involvement as a leader as well as a supporter.
It was not by coincidence that I met Simone at a North Nashville neighborhood meeting. She courageously represents our community and cares for longtime residents, such as myself, by avoiding the pitfalls of gentrification and problematic zoning. She prioritizes her impactful storytelling gifts to maintain the legacy of our community. I'm grateful to have her as a neighbor and friend.
Simone Boyd is the glue that holds North Nashville together. Her passion and love for the community is what stands out whenever you talk to her. Simone has been such a blessing to me in so many ways. However, the one that I'm most proud of is her giving my father an opportunity to tell his story and receive the love he deserves from the community he cherishes.
Simone’s passion for people and community is unparalleled. She is the person you want on your team when the stakes are high. She is poised, polished, thoughtful and fierce, a driving force for positive community change.
Simone is an extraordinary artist, facilitator and community/cultural strategist who gets things done. In my experience, the craft and passion she brings to coalition-building and holding space is unsurpassed. The number of times in my journey that, had I known her then, I truly believe I could have upped my game and amplified my impacts, are legion.If you have the chance to collaborate with Simone, jump at it.
Simone is an expert artist in the medium of community and world-building. Simone listens, convenes, visions, ideates—and boldly, bringing to life unprecedented works such as a community meal with neighborhood elders under an interstate bridge, complete with chandeliers hanging from the beams (for which she successfully advocated repair). I highly recommend working with Simone to develop a creative and thoughtful approach to projects and engagement. -
Simone has a gift, and it is guiding others, bridging conflict, and leading with kind strength. She led two teams, who were at odds with each other, to create something more than they could be on their own. The Bordeaux Collaboration came together because of Simone and her desire to understand the impact projects have on people and communities and share that understanding with others.
Simone is an inspiring, top-notch, and highly professional speaker. She was a pleasure to work with in preparing for the event, and gave a crystal-clear and extraordinarily powerful talk about the complex, creative, and multi-sector work she is doing in Nashville. We can’t wait to host her again.
Simone’s ability to connect to each individual in the room through her storytelling was extraordinary. Her passion is infectious and her message was inspiring – she helped our agency fulfill it ’s mission in a beautiful way. We consider ourselves very blessed to have Simone in the Interfaith family – she is truly a gift.
I thoroughly enjoyed working with Simone during the Open Streets planning sessions; her attention to details and overall energy about community engagement provided a great opportunity for us to build synergy. She was awesome in managing the activities and helped lead efforts to ensure the needs of the partners, artists and neighbors were being met. The success of the Open Streets event would not have been possible without the multiple assets she possesses.
I've never worked with anyone so passionate about change for the better as Simone Boyd. She is an honest and transparent partner with an amazing knack for bringing people together; and her efforts produce results. Planning Open Streets Nashville in tandem with Simone was one of the most rewarding projects I've been a part of. Simply put, Simone is a dynamic and genuine leader.
The Day Sonny Died is an amazing book that demonstrates strength and endurance. My 8th grade students were all into the book, which melted my heart because it is so hard to find reads that will keep their attention. This book challenged their comprehension, and they persevered through the challenge.
Even though the title told me Sonny was going to die, I found myself pulling for Sonny all the way through the book. Be prepared to shed a tear or two. The authors did an excellent job of showing how generational curses are real BUT can be broken if you decide to make the right choices.
Our book club read and discussed The Day Sonny Died. It was a very good discussion. We talked about the statistics of fathers that aren’t present in homes, the effect it has on kids and generational curses. We loved it!