File #: RS2023-2034    Name:
Type: Resolution Status: Passed
File created: 2/13/2023 In control: Metropolitan Council
On agenda: 2/21/2023 Final action: 2/21/2023
Title: A resolution honoring the life of Avi Poster.
Sponsors: Zulfat Suara, Russ Pulley, Courtney Johnston, Jeff Syracuse, Bob Mendes, Nancy VanReece, Tom Cash, Erin Evans, Colby Sledge, Sandra Sepulveda, John Rutherford, Brett Withers, Kyonzte Toombs, Bob Nash, Jennifer Gamble, Ginny Welsch, Gloria Hausser, Robert Swope, Freddie OConnell, Delishia Porterfield, Joy Styles, Tanaka Vercher, Dave Rosenberg, Tonya Hancock, Sharon Hurt, Emily Benedict, Angie Henderson, Thom Druffel, Brandon Taylor, Antoinette Lee, Larry Hagar, Burkley Allen
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A resolution honoring the life of Avi Poster.

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WHEREAS, Avrum B. "Avi" Poster, a fervent Nashville activist for social justice and a Jewish community leader, died on January 26, 2023, at the age of seventy-seven; and

WHEREAS, Poster fiercely and persistently called for action to elevate the dignity of Nashvillians and condemned hateful speech and action toward people of color and minority faith groups. He was passionate about education, immigration and refugee rights, poverty reduction, affordable housing and criminal justice reform; and

WHEREAS, Poster served on more than twenty boards and commissions, including the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, several Metro Nashville Public Schools committees, and was one of the longest-serving Commissioners in the history of the Metro Nashville Human Relations Commission; and

WHEREAS, Poster was heavily involved in Nashville for All of Us, the Coalition for Education about Immigration (CEI), and Our Place Nashville. He was instrumental in the Community Covenant resolution, RS2019-31, that was unanimously adopted by the Metropolitan Council at the first meeting of its 2019-2023 term; and

WHEREAS, Poster was a member of Congregation Micah, a Reform Jewish synagogue, and he was involved with numerous Congregation initiatives including its team of members that work with the Nashville Organized for Action and Hope and events educating the community on Israel; and

WHEREAS, in 2008, Poster formed the Circle of Friends with Abdelghani Barre for the purpose of improving the relationship between the Jewish and Muslim Communities in Nashville; and Poster served with and led several Jewish community groups and other groups advocating for dialogue between local Jews, Christians, and Muslims; and

WHEREAS, Poster grew up in Chicago, Illinois and was a longtime educator in public schools, teaching social studies and eventually becoming a principal. He was the first school principal in Illinois-and pe...

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