Mountaintop
Co-Governance and Democracy Summit
February 27TH • 5:00 - 8:00PM
February 28TH • 10:00 - 5:00PM
In collaboration with the John Lewis Center For Social Justice at Fisk University
Democracy is under attack, and we know our path forward must include organizing Black, working class, and traditionally marginalized communities to engage in collective decision making and governance. The democracy we are fighting for can only be possible through relationship based community organizing, leadership development, and a commitment to shifting power. Co-governance is a critical practice of democracy and must be the foundation of our organizing strategy.
Co-governance is not just a strategy for reform, it is a vehicle for shifting power and meeting material needs. It centers Black and working-class communities as architects of public policy and community safety. When base-building organizations and elected officials enter into accountable, power-sharing relationships, policy is shaped by the people most impacted by systemic harm. Co-governance turns grassroots demands into long-term infrastructure, ensuring that decisions are rooted in community wisdom, rather than political convenience. It’s how we move from demands to dual power and from systemic harm to collective liberation.
Our co-governance and democracy building summit centers the power of Black-led organizing to build a multiracial democracy rooted in justice, accountability, and material change. As Black organizers working with Black and working-class families, young people, and community members, we invite participants to deepen their skills with us by learning how to advance community-driven policy solutions through deep base-building, organizing, and co-governance.
People power is not only about resistance, it’s about governance. This summit is about building infrastructure to move our communities from the margins to the center of decision-making, shaping policy and programs that meet the real needs of Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Immigrant, and working-class people.
In this political moment, we gather to share how we are organizing locally and statewide to shift power with those who are fighting to turn collective vision into lasting political transformation.
Southern Movement Committee
The Southern Movement Committee (SMC) is building democracy and organizing to transform Tennessee.
As a community organizing and civic engagement organization, we are committed to base building and leadership development to shift power, strengthen democracy, and enable communities to govern themselves.
About the SMC
The Southern Movement Committee organizes for racial justice and human rights in Tennessee through community-led lawyering, civic engagement, community organizing, and participatory democracy.
We are organizers, artists, educators, youth leaders, and movement lawyers working alongside directly impacted communities to implement progressive, transformative programs that tackle systemic violence, racism, and economic inequality through issue-based campaigns.
As a community organizing and civic engagement organization, we are committed to base building and leadership development to shift power, strengthen democracy, and enable communities to govern themselves.
Our activities include civic engagement events, base building, community outreach, and leadership development to strengthen grassroots power and advance community-driven change in Tennessee.
We’re happy to announce another big win for the Varsity Spending Plan!
This year, the substitute budget presented by Budget Chair Delishia Porterfield includes a $1.7 million budget allocation in support of the Office of Youth Safety and increased Community Center Programming!
The Southern Movement Committee is organizing and building power in the US South for racial justice and human rights.
DONATE TO THE SMC
As a movement-building organization, your financial support makes a huge difference! Consider giving a donation to us today. As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, your contributions to the Southern Movement Committee are fully tax-deductible.
What we’ve been doing
2025 RECAP
4th annual State of Black Tennessee Town Hall
IN THE NEWS
-
![]()
Urban Outlook
The recent Antioch High school shooting is still fresh. So are the calls by young people and grown-ups, saying something needs to change. The Southern Movement Committee is being very vocal to try to do something. On this episode of Urban Outlook, host April Eaton is joined by Erica Perry, Executive Director of the Southern Movement Committee, and Jamel Campbell-Gooch, Organizing Director, to discuss their work organizing youth. Visit oursmc.org for more information.
-
![]()
News Channel 5
Organizers offer preview for 4th Annual State of Black Tennessee Town Hall
-
![]()
Nashville Scene
Chuck Indigo Calls for Community at The Blue Room
-
![]()
Nashville Post
February 6, 2025
Metro Council begins budget debate. Residents request funding for safe neighborhoods, housing, transit
-
![]()
WPLN
February 6, 2025
The Varsity Spending Plan proposes bringing restorative justice programming to community centers and high schools through dedicated staff. The $1 million allocated last year is being used for programming at Napier Community Center and to establish a new “Office of Youth Safety.”
-
![]()
Nashville Banner
February 4, 2025
Nashville Officials, Community Groups Gear Up for Annual Budget Debate
-
![]()
WPLN
February 3, 2025
Nashville youth want a solution to gun violence. A new Metro office is looking for one.
-
![]()
This is Nashville
January 23, 2025
Your Turn to Talk: Antioch High School shooting and gun violence
-
![]()
Nashville Scene
January 12, 2025
Brittany Howard and Friends Get Hardcore, Support Nonprofits
-
![]()
News Channel 5
December 9
Nashville launches Office of Youth Safety to tackle gun violence and promote conflict resolution
-
![]()
News Channel 2
December 2
Southern Movement Committee looks forward to new ‘Office of Youth Safety’
-
![]()
The Tennessean
December 2
New city office continues Nashville youth's legacy of charting new paths
-
![]()
Fox 17
October 21
City leaders work to launch Office of Youth Safety in Nashville to combat gun violence -
![]()
Scoop Independent News
October 4
The legacy of slavery, segregation, white supremacy, and environmental racism haunts Tennessee. “A long history of anti-worker policies in the South—rooted in a racist agenda—has had devastating consequences for its residents.
-
![Yes! Magazine]()
Yes! Magazine
OCTOBER 4
Cop Cities Meet Growing Resistance Nationwide
-
![]()
The Tennessean
AUGUST 14, 2024
Dozens of young people lined up on a night in early June to voice their support before the Metro Council for funding to make Nashville communities safer, curb gun violence and reduce arrests.
-
![]()
This Is Nashville
AUGUST 13, 2024
You've seen them around town, organizing Black Nashvillians to become greater participants in local, state and national governments. They are not the only organization in town to do this work, but they are one of the most effective....
-
![]()
Tennessee Tribune
JULY 1, 2024
The Southern Movement Committee (SMC) celebrates encouraging news, as Metro Budget Chair Delishia Porterfield allocated $1 million to SMC’s proposed Varsity Spending Plan in her substitute budget that went into effect July 1.
-
![]()
News Channel 2
JUNE 19, 2024
Addressing youth safety in Nashville
-
![]()
News Channel 5
JUNE 19, 2024
What began as a dream and evolved into a proposal has now become a tangible reality for the youth of Nashville. The city is set to establish an Office of Youth Safety, aimed at protecting children from violence.
-
![]()
News Channel 2
JUNE 13, 2024
The Southern Movement Committee is a democracy building, youth organizing, and community organizing organization focusing on TN, so right now our base is in Nashville. We organize young people around the end of the school-to-prison pipeline and really foster safe and healthy communities
-
![]()
Tennessee Tribune
JUNE 13, 2024
Black Nashville Assembly (BNA), an extension of the Southern Movement Committee (SMC), is hosting its first family fun field day on June 15 to promote community togetherness.
-
![]()
Nashville Banner
JUNE 11, 2024
Youth Violence Advocates Put Budget Ideas Front and Center
Varsity Spending Plan’ seeks $10 million for programs in schools and community centers aimed at cutting gun violence
-
![]()
WPLN
JUNE 7, 2024
Nashvillians gathered at city hall to share their desires for the city budget with Metro councilmembers, one ask stood high above the rest: the Varsity Spending Plan.
-
![]()
The Tennessean
JUNE 6, 2024
Nashville youth delivered a consistent message to Metro Council members during Tuesday's public hearing on the city budget: They want investments in community centers, an Office of Youth Safety and restorative justice programs in schools to address gun violence.
Youth Power
•
Co-Governance
•
Civic Engagement
•
Organizing Families
•
Youth Power • Co-Governance • Civic Engagement • Organizing Families •
OUR TEAM
-
![]()
Erica Perry
Executive Director
-
![]()
Mike Floss
Arts and Culture Director
-
![]()
Aaron McGee
Staff Manager
-
![]()
Diamond Bell
Youth Organizer
-
![]()
Khadijah Lakesi
Administrative Assistant
-
![]()
Janée Williams
Communications Associate
-
![]()
Aaron Greene
Policy and Legal Manager
-
![]()
Lauren Williams Batiste
Community Organizer
Board Member
-
![]()
Jill Cartwright
Program Officer
-
![]()
Anthony Johnson
Non Profit Strategist and Lawyer
Board Member
-
![]()
Tyler Whittenberg
Movement Lawyer
Board Member
-
![]()
Tiffany Williams Roberts
Movement Lawyer
Board Member
10K+ Black People Engaged
•
36+ Political Engagement Events
•
50+ Members
•
20+ Block Captains
•
10K+ Black People Engaged • 36+ Political Engagement Events • 50+ Members • 20+ Block Captains •
