NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- September 1, 2011 – While hate violence makes headlines, the positive actions of people across the country, as part of a movement called Not In Our Town, are creating a different story.  Nashville Public Television (NPT) is proud to be a part of that story.

Centered around the NPT broadcast of Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness, a one-hour documentary about a town coming together to take action after anti-immigrant violence devastates its community, the Not In Our Town National Week of Action and Nashville's expanded 10 Days of Peace initiatives mark an opportunity for Nashville to show the world how it thrives in its diversity. Starting on the tenth anniversary of September 11, Nashville will embark on 10 Days of Peace events leading up to an International Day of Peace Party on Wednesday, September 21 at Centennial Park and the broadcast of Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness at 9:00 p.m. on NPT-Channel 8.

Nashville’s events include a candlelight prayer vigil for peace, campus discussions, an Islamic Center-sponsored “fast-a-thon,” gang awareness programs, immigrant and refugee soccer tournaments, a Tennessee Returned Peace Corps peace picnic and more.

"What makes the work in Nashville such a powerful example of the Not In Our Town model," says Kathy Edson, NPT community outreach manager, "is that it brings different sectors of society — schools, law enforcement, faith, Islamic, Latino/Hispanic, and local government -— together in ways that link common experiences and issues, so that no one is excluded or left vulnerable to hate."

A complete listing Not in Our Town 10 Days of Peace Events follows (or is after the jump if you are viewing this on the Pressroom home page). For more information, please contact Kathy Edson at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Nashville's 10 Days of Peace Events:

All media contacts are through NPT unless otherwise stated.

Saturday, September 10

Silent Candlelight Prayer Vigil

8:00 PM – 10:00 p.m.

On the eve of 10 Days of Peace, we ask the public to bring a written prayer for peace which will be placed in a copper bowl at the event. Participants will light candles and walk the labyrinth at Scarritt-Bennett. Musicians will accompany the proceedings. It is free and open to the public.

Where: The Labyrinth at Scarritt-Bennett , 1008 19th Ave., Nashville, TN 37212 Parking along 19th Avenue and Scarritt-Bennett parking lots

Sunday, September 11

Metro Nashville 9/11 10th Anniversary Commemorative Service

Time:  3:00 p.m.

Location:  Downtown Library Jointly-sponsored by the Fire Department, Human Relations Commission, & Council of Metro Davidson County

All residents of Davidson County are invited to attend this 10th anniversary commemoration of the tragedy and triumph of events of 9-11.  This program will include special readings by Metro Council officials, a tribute at the city’s firefighter monument, remarks and music by area clergy, musicians and special guests. Rain or shine, the event will take place at TBD.  It is free and open to the public.

Monday, September 12

Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening followed by discussion / Part of Diversity Week @ TSU. Free and open to the public.
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Downtown Campus TSU Avon Williams Campus Auditorium 3rd Floor, 330 10th Ave., North Nashville, TN 37203

Media interviews:  Dr. Galen Hull, Director, Office of International Business Programs  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday, September 13

Vanderbilt International Lens: Not In Our Town:  Light In The Darkness documentary screening with panel discussion. Hosted by Kathy Edson, NPT and the Vanderbilt Hubert H. Humphrey Fellows . It is free and open to the public.

7:00 p.m.

Sarratt Cinema 1st Floor, Sarratt Student Center, 24th Ave. at Vanderbilt Place, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240 Free parking is available in Zone 2 Lot 2 located at 23rd Avenue South and West End Avenue on the Vanderbilt University Campus. Handicap Parking: Lot 19 behind Sarratt Student Center

Wednesday, September 14

Diversity Speakers Day / Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening and panel discussion with Keynote: Richard Herman, author of Immigrant, Inc.  

4:30 PM  – 6:00 p.m.

TSU Main Campus, Forum Auditorium, Floyd-Payne Center, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN 37203

Media interviews: Dr. Galen Hull, Director, Office of International Business Programs  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Wednesday, September 14

Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening and panel discussion

7:15 p.m.

Islamic  Center of Tennessee, Antioch

Thursday, September 15

Diversity Speakers Day / Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary acreening and panel discussion with Keynote: Richard Herman, author of Immigrant, Inc.   

2:30 PM  – 6:00 p.m.

TSU Main Campus, Forum Auditorium, Floyd-Payne Center, 3500 John Merritt Blvd., Nashville, TN 37203 Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary clip viewing and panel discussion with Keynote: Richard Herman, author of Immigrant, Inc. It is free and open to the public.   

Media interviews: Dr. Galen Hull, Director, Office of International Business Programs  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thursday, September 15

Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening and panel discussion / Fast-a-Thon.  Hosted by Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University, Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Islamic Center Nashville, Center for Refugees and Immigrants Tennessee. It is free and open to the public.  

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Lipscomb – Ezell Center,  1 University Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37204

Thursday, September 15

Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening and discussion

12 p.m.

Frist Center for the Visual Arts

Friday, September 16

Share Your Diversity Thoughts Day

2:30 p.m.

TSU Avon Williams Campus, Auditorium

Friday, September 16

Not In Our Town: Light In The Darkness documentary screening

NOTE: THIS SCREENING WILL BE FULLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE HEARING AND VISION IMPAIRED, WITH BOTH AUDIO DESCRIPTION AND CLOSED CAPTIONING AVAILABLE. PLEASE RSVP TO JOE PAGETTA AT This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it BY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 AT 5:00 P.M. CST IF THESE SERVICES ARE REQUESTED.

11:30 a.m.

Belcourt Theatre
Nashville

Presnted by the Nashville Hispanic Chamber of Commerc.

Saturday, September 17

Metro Human Relations Commission's Strategic Planning Retreat and Screening of Not in Our Town: Light in the Darkness

12:30 p.m.

Shelby Bottoms Nature Center, 1900 Davidson Street, Nashville, TN 37206

The Metro Human Relations Commission will screen Not in Our Town during its annual retreat, Saturday, September 17, at Shelby Bottoms Nature Center.  The screening will take place at 12:30 p.m. and will be followed by a brief discussion on how Commission programming can address issues raised in the film.  The event free and open to the public.  Please RSVP to Caroline G. Blackwell, MHRC Executive Director, at 615-880-3374 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, September 17

Play for Peace Exhibition Soccer Tournament / NIC Soccer Exhibition - 7 v 7 round robin soccer matches, showcasing the many nations of the Nashville soccer community followed by a time to mingle and player interviews.  

12:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Montgomery Bell Academy, 4001 Harding Road, Nashville, TN 37205

Soccer is the world's sport, and right here in Nashville the world plays together in the Nashville International Cup.  The NIC is a competitive men's soccer tournament hosted by InterFACE Ministries and her many partner churches, universities and corporate friends.  The tournament features 200-300 players from 24 home countries- all living in Middle Tennessee.  The NIC helps build community amongst the diverse people groups in our city and helps our city fall in love with the nations in Nashville.

NPT has invited the Nashville International Cup to put on exhibition matches on September 17th to highlight the diversity and unity of the NIC community.  Please join your international neighbors for a day of fun soccer and friendship on September 17th noon-5:00p.m. The Sept. 17th NIC Exhibition is part of NPT's 10 Days of Peace and the Not in Our Town movement for genuine community amongst the nations in our communities. The event free and open to the public.  

Media Interviews: Rob Vaughn, NIC director, 615-479-7873, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Saturday, September 17

Community Open House & Not In Our Town: Light in the Darkness screening

10 a.m.

Islamic Center of Nashville

Saturday, September 17

Diverse Community Sports Day

10-6 p.m.

Nashville International Academy

Sunday, September 18

Family Peace Picnic

1:00 PM – 3:00 p.m.

Fannie Mae Dees Park a.k.a. Dragon Park, Park Shelter

Come join us in Dragon Park to snack on some worldly flavors and fun. The TN Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (TNRPCV) will be showcasing a variety of foods to sample and display items from countries where they served.  Then author/illustrator Linda Ragsdale from The Peace Dragon will be leading all able artists in drawing peace dragons. Watch how letters, numbers and punctuation become the basic strokes of this peaceful messenger. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and family to taste, hear and see adventures from around the world; as we come together to share peace in our community.

2400 Blakemore Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212

The event will take place rain or shine  (held under the shelter). Street Parking is available. The event free and open to the public.  

Monday, September 19

The Taste of Peace: Comfort foods from around the world

7:00 PM – 10:00 p.m.

Icon in the Gulch – Ultra Lounge, 600 12th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203

Diversity is the spice of life and the flavor of Peace. How shall we serve it up? By indulging our guests with a smorgasbord of worldly treats, prepared by local chefs with recipes submitted by the international fellows from Vandy’s Hubert H. Humphrey program. You’ll meet this year’s candidates from over nine different countries; watch a clip of NPT’s new initiative “Not In Our Town”; and experience The Peace Master Class, an internationally collaborated school program for students for “living peace” through conflict.

Recipes provided for adventurous world cooks!

Media Contact:   Linda Ragsdale, 615-972-0165 This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tuesday, September 20

Meet the Peace Agents: FBI and TBI present Gang Awareness 

11 a.m.

Belcourt Theater

Tuesday, September 20

Sing Your Art Out

7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

The Listening Room, 209 10th Ave S # 200, Nashville, TN 37203-4124

In the key of peace, tune into some songs of love and hope and let your “art” speak on hearts you can decorate with your message. Once the evening is over, we’ll place the hearts all over the city where unsuspecting people will receive a secret smile. A silent auction of “heart” work will help support The Peace Dragon’s Peace Master Class, a “living peace” curriculum crated through an international collaboration of teachers, principals and policy makers in a program which aims to establish peace as the default mechanism for conflict. It is a free program and will be offered in the multiple languages.

Wednesday, September 21

Grande Finale / 30th Anniversary International Day of Peace

7:15 PM – 8:15 PM   

Centennial Park Bandshell

Come celebrate world peace together.