04/18/2026
Metro Budget 101: Session 2 Recap – Housing & Education 🏠📚
I arrived early enough to take a selfie with the Power Panel for Session 2! It was incredibly tough to decide which breakout speaker to highlight because both Angie Hubbard and Matt Wiltshire have my heart when it comes to affordable housing and tackling this crisis with creative financial engines to promote Nashville and our surrounding community. I learn something new every time I hear them speak.
This was also my first time meeting April Calvin, and she did not disappoint. While every speaker could have kept me captivated all day, I was deeply intrigued by April and her commitment to providing avenues to assist the unhoused in Nashville. As the Director of the Office of Homeless Services, she manages coordinating efforts for the Nashville-Davidson Continuum of Care and provides vital leadership in collaboration with the Mayor and Metro Council to support our unhoused population.
My kids grew up in the Sumner County school system, so this was also my first introduction to Freda Player and Dr. Berthena Nabaa-McKinney. I learned so much about the Metro District budgets and allocations throughout the Metro School System, as well as the incredible growth and the amazing teachers working within the system.
Shoutout to Anton Jackson, Director of Mission Advancement, at Rebuild Nashville. Thank you, Councilwoman Toombs, for a fabulous Session 2 Panel!
A Huge Thank You to the Session 2 Guest Speakers:
Housing Investment Panel:
Angie Hubbard: Director – Housing Division.
April Calvin: Director – Office of Homeless Services.
Matt Wiltshire: President, Pathway Lending Housing Fund.
Education Investment Panel:
Freda Player: Chair, Metro School Board; District 7 School Board Member.
Dr. Berthena Nabaa-McKinney: Vice-Chair, Metro School Board; Chair, Budget and Finance Committee; District 4 School Board Member.
Don't Miss the Remaining Sessions! 📢
We still have two sessions left, and one of them is happening TODAY! * Session 3: Public Safety, Spaces, and Resources * TODAY: Saturday, April 18, 2026
* Time: 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
* Location: Southeast Community Center
Session 4: Transit, Infrastructure, and Community Roundtable
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: WeGo Transit Center Downtown
Can’t make it in person? You can watch the LIVE STREAM right here on Facebook! Just go to Councilwoman Toombs' page and click on her profile picture on the left during the scheduled session times.