You know how parents celebrate every milestone? We feel that way about our own progeny, Casa Azafrán. At just two years old, Casa Azafrán may be just a toddler, but it has reached two important milestones recently.
We successfully completed the first phase of our capital campaign thanks to the support of many individual donors, foundations and government agencies. We owe special gratitude to The Frist Foundation, The HCA Foundation, The Memorial Foundation and to Mr. Bill Freeman. We are also grateful to The Dollar General Foundation, The Frist Foundation, The HCA Foundation, The Melkus Family Foundation, The Memorial Foundation, The Justin and Valere Blair Potter Foundation, The State Farm Foundation, The Tennessee Titans Foundation, The Cal Turner Family Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee Arts Commission, U.S. Department of Commerce | Economic Development Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human, Services | Community Economic Development, The late Bill Cochran, Martin Lewis, Donna and Jay Richards, and Michael and Lisa Shmerling.
Casa Azafrán was recognized for its work as a place where Nashvillians of all backgrounds can come together to dream, share and collaborate with the Peggy Steine Memorial Award for Human Rights Collaboration from Community Nashville. To accept the award on behalf of all the partners, Conexión Américas Executive Director Renata Soto shared these words:
Vibrant. A big presence. Model Nashvillian. Compassionate. Passionate. Loving. Supportive. Full of life. Full of humanity. These are all attributes that describe Peggy Stein. And those are all the qualities also those we strive to live up to at Casa Azafrán. Therefore it is our sincere honor to be receiving this award that pays tribute to the legacy of a great Nashvillian.
Peggy Stein didn’t live to see Casa Azafrán but I’m sure she would have felt at home in our casa. She was a food lover and great cook and would have loved our commercial kitchen and culinary incubator. She was a pioneering advocate and promoter of the arts and would have loved the art of Casa Azafrán including the mural and galleries featuring local artists, as well as our partnerships with the Belcourt Theatre, Nashville Symphony, Nashville Opera and Nashville Public Library to bring art to South Nashville.
So to the family of Peggy Stein we say thank you from Casa Azafrán and all the partners that make our casa a home for all of Nashville: American Center for Outreach, American Muslim Advisory Council, Conexión Américas, Family & Children’s Service, Financial Empowerment Center, Global Education Center, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Neighborhood Health, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition and Tennessee Justice for our Neighbors.
Our Casa Azafrán continues to grow so stay tuned for even more updates, or check out the news of the new Casa Azafrán public park!
Read more from our May 2015 Newsletter
Where’s the Playground? Casa Azafrán Park Coming Soon
A lot of work and a little luck. Host an Escalera intern this summer.
