MOBILE
WORKSHOPS

Greenways fortify communities and enrich the lives of residents by providing barrier-free access to nature, recreation and transportation. Join Nashville leaders and community advocates on a guided tour of some of Nashville’s best urban and neighborhood greenways. Explore how Nashville has worked to weave new and existing greenways into downtown, neighborhood parks, and new developments as the city has grown. 

Nashville is transforming its streets through Choose How You Move, the landmark voter-approved transit program that is making up for decades of deferred investment. From upgraded sidewalks and smart traffic signals to expanded transit routes, tangible change is already underway. Join this mobile workshop for a front-row look at how the city is translating unprecedented funding into a transportation network built around people.

Leveraging its industry strengths in health, mobility and entertainment, Nashville is focused on becoming one of the top innovation hubs in the U.S. This workshop will discuss the role the city plays in the Nashville Innovation Alliance, a new joint effort with Vanderbilt University. Learn how Nashville is leaning in on radical collaboration with researchers at local universities to solve city challenges, deliver better services to residents, and in some cases, create new technologies that are scalable.

Germantown has transformed from working class residential and industrial sites into one of Nashville’s most dynamic urban neighborhoods. Nowhere is this better displayed than at the Neuhoff District. Once the site of a stockyard and meat-packing plant, this development along the Cumberland River showcases what can happen with thoughtful design and adaptive reuse to breathe life into an area with the integration of great public space, resiliency, and urban density. Hear from city planners, private investors, and others about how they balanced preservation of the industrial architecture with modern amenities for a “movable feast” of experiences for residents and visitors alike.

Crisis management is one of the most demanding responsibilities facing local elected officials—especially when residents are experiencing domestic violence, human trafficking, or elder abuse. Nashville has built a nationally recognized model centered on cross-department collaboration, rapid coordination, and survivor-focused services. Hear directly from Nashville Police Chief John Drake and Metro Office of Family Safety Director Diane Lance about how the city responds to high-risk cases and protects vulnerable residents. Tour Nashville’s Family Safety Center, a nationally recognized Model Family Justice Center, where law enforcement, courts, healthcare providers, and community partners work side by side. This immersive session demonstrates how rethinking systems—not just assembling stakeholders—can improve victim safety, strengthen offender accountability, and ultimately save lives.

Nashville is known as Music City, but this moniker is about more than country music. Understand the city’s influence on music of all genres through a walking tour of two iconic locations. Dubbed the “Mother Church,” the Ryman Auditorium is a world-renowned concert hall, Rock & Roll landmark, famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry, and music’s most iconic stage that has brought artists and fans together for decades. Across the street, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans, highlighting their central role in shaping the American soundtrack. As part of this experience, guests will enjoy a music executive fireside chat moderated by NMAAM, followed by guided tours of each dynamic venue.

Music City doesn’t just make records—it sets them. Behind the crowds is a collaborative spirit that was purposeful in building a tourism economy. This session will explore how to create and grow a destination brand that prioritizes authenticity featuring leaders from Nashville’s creative and culinary sectors on how those industries can serve as powerful demand drivers. It will also highlight how strong, collaborative partnerships across organizations and city agencies can drive long-term success, including lessons from Nashville’s hosting of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Designed to be both informative and immersive, the session will feature a live songwriter performance to showcase the city’s creative and authentic spirit followed by a hands-on, collaborative experience. Attendees will leave with adaptable ideas to help shape their own city identities, regardless of market size.

Nashville is transforming its streets with Choose How You Move, the landmark voter-approved transit program making up for decades of deferred investment. From upgraded sidewalks and smart traffic signals to expanded transit routes, tangible change is already underway. Join this mobile workshop for a front-row look at how the city is translating unprecedented funding into a transportation network built around people.

Metro Water Services is transforming Nashville’s historic water and wastewater systems with bold upgrades that boost reliability, protect public health and the environment, and prepare the city for tomorrow’s growth. During a special guided tour of the Omohundro Water Treatment Plant, you will see how historic elements of the National register-listed architecture, from terrazzo floors to brick arcades, are being preserved alongside efforts to expand capacity and enhance resiliency to make Omohundro the most sustainable water treatment plant in the country.  Attendees will also learn how careful planning and coordination is allowing this 10-year construction project to move forward while the facility remains in operation.

Through a four-decade public-private partnership, Metro Parks and Centennial Park Conservancy have worked together to sustain the vibrancy of Nashville’s historic 132-acre central park. Established following the 1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition, Centennial Park is home to the only full-scale replica of the Parthenon, accessible arts and educational programs, and enriching cultural festivals. Explore how Nashville’s Centennial Park blends historic preservation with modern activation to ensure the park remains a thriving and inclusive green space for generations to come. This guided tour highlights key redevelopment phases, innovative programming, and operational strategies that have transformed the park into a vibrant community and cultural destination. Attendees will gain insights into balancing legacy assets with forward-thinking design to create meaningful, sustainable public spaces.

Housing affordability and availability are among the most central issues facing cities across the U.S. today. This session spotlights initiatives like the Connecting Infrastructure to Housing (CHIP) program, which invests in pedestrian-focused infrastructure directly surrounding affordable housing developments. By linking walkable connectivity to housing affordability, CHIP demonstrates how intentional public investment strengthens communities and improves quality of life. Join us for an in-depth look at how Nashville is meeting the moment and building more equitable, connected neighborhoods for residents at all income levels

Nashville’s historic fairgrounds campus has become a blueprint for breathing new life into century-old public spaces. This workshop will explore how Nashville has reimagined the site for a new generation—from a new modernized exposition center, the addition of GEODIS Park, to the emerging MarketStreet development—balancing preservation, community identity and bold investment.

The East Bank, totaling 550 acres in the heart of downtown Nashville, is the largest urban development project underway in the United States. Anchored by a new stadium, performing arts center, and campus for Oracle’s headquarters, includes 22 million square feet of new mixed-use development and the opportunity to reimagine Nashville’s waterfront. Learn how city leaders started this planning process more than five years ago and hear directly from the public and private stakeholders who are working together to build this new neighborhood from scratch.

On any given night in Nashville, Broadway’s venues and public space can host up to 30,000 people, with crowds flowing between restaurants, bars, and live music spaces. Managing such density requires more than routine oversight. Crowd control, creating safe spaces for women, and coordinating closing times demand a comprehensive, integrated safety, security and mobility strategy. This session will give you a front row seat to Nashville’s approach to nighttime governance.

Housing affordability and availability are among the most central issues facing cities across the U.S. today. This session spotlights initiatives like the Connecting Infrastructure to Housing (CHIP) program, which invests in pedestrian-focused infrastructure directly surrounding affordable housing developments. By linking walkable connectivity to housing affordability, CHIP demonstrates how intentional public investment strengthens communities and improves quality of life. Join us for an in-depth look at how Nashville is meeting the moment and building more equitable, connected neighborhoods for residents at all income levels

Nashville is known as Music City, but this moniker is about more than country music. Understand the city’s influence on music of all genres through a walking tour of two iconic locations. Dubbed the “Mother Church,” the Ryman Auditorium is a world-renowned concert hall, Rock & Roll landmark, famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry, and music’s most iconic stage that has brought artists and fans together for decades. Across the street, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans, highlighting their central role in shaping the American soundtrack. As part of this experience, guests will enjoy a music executive fireside chat moderated by NMAAM, followed by guided tours of each dynamic venue.

Home to four HBCUs—Tennessee State University, Fisk University, Meharry Medical College, and American Baptist College—Nashville has long been shaped by institutions that have advanced education, civil rights, healthcare, leadership and culture. Attendees will explore how Nashville’s HBCUs continue to drive innovation, talent development, and community impact, while learning why Fisk University is central to the story of why Nashville became known as “Music City.” This immersive experience will highlight the intersections of history, higher education, and civic leadership that continue to define the city today.