Cumberland River Compact

The trees planted by student volunteers at Meharry Medical College last week are just half of what will be planted on campus this winter once the Compact's latest depave project, planned in collaboration with Meharry leadership, is complete! It was inspiring to gather last week and celebrate the project with a ceremonial groundbreaking; now, Compact staff are hard at work removing 2,050 square feet of concrete outside the School of Dentistry to make room for the final trees. This depaving and planting project will absorb stormwater runoff, reduce flooding, create shade, and create new green space on Meharry's campus, strengthening connections between environmental and human health. Special thanks to Meharry Medical College for their commitment to fostering resilient community in North Nashville.

We're hiring! Are you ready to make a real impact on the environment? Join the Cumberland River Compact team as our next Development Coordinator! This entry-level role is perfect for someone who’s excited to support fundraising, connect with donors, and keep our databases running smoothly. You'll assist the Communications & Development Director with fundraising campaigns and annual events (like Hellbender on the River!) while managing donor data, acknowledgements, and reporting. At the Compact, we believe that building and maintaining strong community relationships is the power behind fundraising, and this new position serves to further that goal. This is a full-time, hourly, Monday-Friday role based at our office in the Germantown neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee. Applications will be accepted until January 5, 2026. Find more information and learn how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/eSRCc__Q

You're invited: on Tuesday, December 2nd, at 9:00 AM, the Compact and leadership from Meharry Medical College will host a celebratory groundbreaking for a new depave project on Meharry's Campus! The ceremony is free and open to the public, and will begin at 9:15 AM. From 9:00 to 10:30 AM, Compact staff will host “Donuts and Depave,” where you can ask questions about the depave project, find informational materials about depaving to take home, and enjoy complimentary donuts from a local business. If you’re a business owner or community leader interested in depaving your own property, this is a great opportunity to learn more; if you just want to celebrate with us and show your support, we’d love to see you. This is a drop-in event, and you are welcome to arrive at any time. For more information, please view the web event here: https://lnkd.in/etAQWmgJ

Through our Fortitude Re 4 Good program, we donated $200,000 to the Cumberland River Compact and volunteered with Root Nashville to help plant trees toward their goal of 500,000 by 2050, advancing sustainability and environmental education across Middle Tennessee. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4phJElj #DestinationFortitudeRe #FortitudeRe4Good

Every fall and spring, students from all over Nashville get to observe live creek critters, learn about local water quality, explore the impacts of stormwater at their school, and more through in-classroom programs offered by the Cumberland River Compact. Last month, the Compact’s Education Team reached a massive milestone: they taught their 30,000th student! 👏 School is the perfect place to build the foundation for a lifelong environmental passion– and for many students, the Compact’s programs are their very first exposure to the Cumberland River or a local stream. This work has massive ripple effects in our community, and it couldn’t be accomplished without the support of dedicated partners like Fortitude Re, whose generosity funded many of the Compact’s education programs this year. Learn more about the work of the Education and Engagement Division at https://lnkd.in/eimvY6mP.

It's an honor to receive support from the Fallon Community Fund this year! Thank you for your commitment to clean water and environmental stewardship. 🙌 🌱

Tree planting season is near! 🍁 Is your company interested in volunteering as a group to plant Root Nashville trees with the Cumberland River Compact this fall? If so, now is the time to get the (root) ball rolling! The Compact’s annual week of citywide volunteer planting is just around the corner in November; be a part of a massive effort to add hundreds of trees to Nashville’s canopy by planting one of our Community Reforestation sites. All the trees planted will contribute to the Root Nashville campaign’s goal of planting 500,000 trees in Nashville by 2050. Email volunteer@cumberlandrivercompact.org today to secure a site for your group, or learn more at rootnashville.org. Root Nashville is a public-private urban forestry campaign led by the Cumberland River Compact and Metro Nashville.

Currently hiring on the Working Lands team! This role works on some incredible projects to improve water quality on agricultural and previously mined land. If farms and remote reaches of the Cumberland River basin are your thing, take a look at the link for the full job description.

We’re hiring! The Cumberland River Compact is seeking a Working Lands Program Coordinator to support our agricultural programming and conservation initiatives across the Cumberland River Basin. From helping farmers earn River Friendly Farms certification to coordinating workshops like our Grazing School and Terra Firma business class, this role is all about advancing soil and water stewardship while building strong partnerships with agricultural communities. The Working Lands Program Coordinator will also play a role in facilitating the Compact’s mine land reforestation work. This role is based in Nashville, but you’ll travel all over the Cumberland River basin to oversee projects and create educational opportunities— all in the name of improving land management practices to promote clean water. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about agriculture, sustainability, and making a positive impact on rural lands in the Cumberland River basin; learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/eSRCc__Q.

Do you know of a North Nashville space that could use a little less grey and a little more green? The Compact has recently begun working alongside the community to depave 18,000 square feet of asphalt in the area that drains to TSU’s Tiger Bay wetland, mostly located in the 37208 zip code. You can suggest a site, such as a church, school, business, community space, or empty lot, by filling out a form on our website. https://lnkd.in/enuA7QUD The first few projects are already being planned in collaboration with Slim & Husky’s, Pearl Cohn High School, and Tio Fun. The new green spaces they’ll create will make North Nashville streets more beautiful for residents, lower temperatures, and ease the burden on the nearby Tiger Bay wetland, which filters and absorbs hundreds of thousands of gallons of stormwater each year. The health of the TSU wetland is critical to improving water quality, and it provides a haven for wildlife, birds, and butterflies. Asphalt removal is performed by the Compact’s professional Field Team. This service along with the cost of native trees (planting included) are covered for qualifying sites. Read about a recent Cumberland River Compact Depave project at Calvary United Methodist Church: https://lnkd.in/eb7_jVEd