State-Wide Town Hall: Vaccination Strategies for Tennessee Nonprofits

Event Description:

With a significant fraction of our state still reluctant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, most Tennessee nonprofits have not yet mandated vaccination policies for their staff, volunteers, and board members. Yet, if we truly put the communities we serve at the core of our mission, we must weigh staff concerns and fears against the undeniable probability of slowing the virus' spread and reducing the number of positive COVID-19 cases.

Join CNM, Momentum Nonprofit Partners, Alliance for Better Nonprofits, and Venture Forward in a state-wide discussion on the barriers to vaccine adoption in the nonprofit sector. We will hear from health experts and nonprofit community leaders on implementing vaccine mandates, managing misinformation, minimizing board resistance, and addressing staff turnover and funding reduction fears.

Featured Speakers: 

Brett Batterson assumed the role of President & CEO of the Orpheum Theatre Group on January 1, 2016. Prior to this role, Brett spent 11 years as Executive Director of the national historic landmark Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. On its own and in partnerships with others, the theatre has been recognized on four occasions with Tony Awards, most recently in 2018. In the community, Brett founded the Memphis Cultural Coalition, a roundtable of the CEOs of Memphis’ largest cultural institutions. 

Dr. Mary-Margaret A. Fill, MD, MPH currently serves as the Deputy State Epidemiologist for the Tennessee Department of Health and has served as a leader of the state’s COVID-19 response. Dr. Fill earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine, followed by dual-residency training in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Following residency, she served as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vernon Rose has served as the Executive Director of the Nashville General Hospital Foundation since joining in 2016. Throughout her 40-year career, she has held multiple top-level nonprofit leadership roles both locally and nationally at organizations such as The United Way of Middle Tennessee, American Red Cross, and Boys & Girls Club of America.  

Dr. Andrea D. Willis currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Within BlueCross, she is the standard-bearer for clinical excellence and positive health outcomes, and she is a public advocate for health equity. Before joining BlueCross, Dr. Willis served the State of Tennessee as Director of CoverKids, helped develop Tennessee’s federally approved State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and served as deputy commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Health.

Special Needs, Accommodations, and Event Questions:

We strive to be open and inclusive with our special events. Please contact Kathryn Swanton (Manager of Marketing and Special Events) at 615.259.0100 x3130 or kathryn@cnm.org if you require any accommodations, special requests, or have additional questions.