The Scoop: Take Two

Sycamore Than You Knew

• Nashville’s Finest ~ On May 8, Sycamore will host our 2nd Annual Forum with Samar Ali and Marianne Wanamaker in Nashville. Ticket prices increase this Friday, so secure your tickets today!
• Budget in Brief ~ We released our annual summary of the Governor’s proposed budget, which explains funding increases for the special session, TISA school funding, and the Highway Fund. 
• What Did You Say? ~ If you need a refresher on what some of those terms in the “Budget in Brief” mean, we recently published a glossary of key words and phrases. 
• My Tennessee Mountain Home ~ Where and why are Tennessee’s homes so expensive? Our most recent report answers these questions and more, including how home prices and incomes have changed over the past decade.
• Welcome! ~ Dr. Jeff McCord has been named the newest Sycamore board member and first board member from the Tri-Cities region. Join us in welcoming him!

Not From Around Here

• Sustainable Cities ~ East and West Tennessee cities have been working to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Memphis announced a partnership with the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative and Chattanooga is attempting to become North America’s first National Park City.
• Severed ~ Season two of the hit Apple TV+ show Severance recently wrapped up. If you’ve been watching, you’ll know Tramell Tillman, known in the show as Mr. Milchick. He also has a Tennessee connection as “one of the first African American male graduates of UT’s MFA acting program.”
• TN in AR? ~ “If questioned about the state’s western boundary, many Tennesseans might guess that it’s where dirt hits the Mississippi River, such as the bottom of the Memphis bluffs. They would be wrong. The middle of the river, then, with the western half of the waterway belonging to Arkansas and the eastern to Tennessee? Again, nope. The true western boundary of the state of Tennessee is in Arkansas.”
• Connection Opportunity ~ “Our [More in Common] study reveals that most Americans value and are interested in connecting across difference—especially when working toward a shared goal. When asked what challenges stand in the way of forming these connections, Americans most commonly report a ‘lack of opportunity.’ Furthermore, the more people believe others are engaging across difference (and value such engagement), the more interested they are in doing so themselves.” If you’re looking for an opportunity, I humbly suggest our Annual Forum…
• Speaking Of ~ The Nationhood Lab recently released a research project finding “broad support for a national narrative based on the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence.” This report was authored by Colin Woodard, last year’s Annual Forum speaker.
  

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