Steve’s motivation ran deep and was driven by a kind of contemplative spirituality that understood that his liberation was intertwined with the liberation of everyone who was struggling. Instead of numbing out, disconnecting, or becoming cynical or apathetic, he acted. Even though he had the privilege to sit back, he leaned in.

At its best, Open Table Nashville is not just a nonprofit—it’s a way of being. It’s a way of creating communities that show up for each other. It’s a belief in the power of the human spirit; a belief that another world is not only possible, but is being created every time we choose compassion, justice, solidarity, and love.

On June 2nd and 3rd, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS), the Mayor’s Office, Metro Parks, and Metro Police closed Old Tent City—the oldest and largest encampment in Nashville. The importance of Old Tent City in Nashville cannot be understated. It started in the 1980s and its population has ebbed and flowed ever since. A $70 million project—“Wharf Park”—is planned for the site.