Building a Network of Hope and Prosperity

Just down the street from where Pete Seeger first heard the song, We Shall Overcome, before he went on to record it as an anthem for civil rights, sits a century old high school. It is called the Littell-Partin Center. Abandoned for over 20 years, it is coming back to life through a revival of sorts. It is here where many of us on the Plateau and friends from other parts of the world have all been inspired to collaborate.

Nicholas Ma from American Revival, with Abigail Washburn, perform with Grundy County student musicians at the South Cumberland Shindig.

Educated by the Littell-Partin center’s vision to become a central gathering place that is a one stop shop for housing needs, job placement, transportation services, work-force development, therapy, and community activities through the arts, music, entertainment, sports, and crafts, we believe this way of reclaiming gathering space is how we build a brighter future together.  

This is why South Cumberland Community Fund is joining hands with the Littell-Partin Center, Millions of Conversations, and the American Revival Festival to help foster the completion of the Littell-Partin Center and then move beyond that act to continuing to make the Plateau a place of hope and prosperity for all who live here. 

Let’s tell you about this partnership.

American Revival is a traveling festival of joy that can inspire us with the confidence that we do matter–in ways we can’t even know. That we can rescue our country from despair and build a future that we want our children to live in, around shared values that transcend divides. It’s going to require more than hope, it’s going to require faith, and it’s going to require commitment. But we believe, fundamentally and without hesitation, we all want the same things for our neighbors: peace, security, health, kindness. We want to love and be loved. 

American Revival came to the Plateau as a result of its relationship with Millions of Conversations, which has been working with the Littell-Partin Center for over five years. Millions of Conversations envisions a future where every American feels safe and free to be themselves. Their work begins with a simple, powerful act: The Pledge to Listen. MOC invites every American, regardless of background or belief, to take that first step. The Pledge is a commitment to hear others with empathy, engage across differences, and create space for real, human connection that leads to peace.

We invite you to join us in this work that is mission-critical to everything else we have collectively been envisioning doing together: building trust between parties where it had eroded; creating new norms for collaboration between urban and rural counties; telling stories in ways that inspire healing; offering a new narrative frame around solving complex issues; galvanizing energy around a vision that people want to play a part in making it come true; and anchoring ourselves through action in ways that remind all of us how our system can function if we practice responsible accountability.

Start by attending the Helpers Helpers Festival on May 9  at the Littell-Partin Center, 14399 US Hwy 41, Tracy City. People helping people from all across the South Cumberland Plateau will be sharing their work, providing services, recruiting volunteers–and maybe finishing a fun project or two on the spot–all in a festival atmosphere of local music and the talent of friends such as Abigail Washburn. Finish the day by joining in a community square dance. 

South Cumberland Community Fund is a full participant in both the Helpers Fair and the vision of American Revival and Millions of Conversations. We believe people can unite around the issues that affect them most deeply. That is why we are working hard in our community to make housing more affordable, create transportation services, address nagging public health challenges, and foster the development of joyful public spaces.

We aim to galvanize community members to be a solution to our common problems, and we hope the work we do here can point the way for other communities, wherever they are.

Brooke Ackerly, South Cumberland Community Fund 

Samar Ali, Millions of Conversations

Nicholas Ma, American Revival

Thomas Sanders, South Cumberland Community Fund