Finding the Joy in Activism
Building Community at Tomato Art Fest
It all started with the seed of an idea, planted during a night of sisterhood with my friend and East Nashtivist founder, Melissa Sautter. What if we made a float for the annual Tomato Art Fest parade instead of just marching? That night, we came up with a theme and I convinced Melissa that a month would be enough time to make it happen. And just like that, the “Garden of Democraseeds” float came into existence.
The East Nashtivists marching in the Tomato Art Fest parade on Aug 9, 2025
We quickly put out a call for volunteers and scheduled our first float building committee meeting. The creativity and teamwork that sprang forth from our group was inspiring. Emma easily drew out a sketch of our idea onto paper and agreed to make all the artwork. Leigh Ann volunteered the use of her scarecrow that we would dress up as Lady Liberty. Melissa agreed to let us use her house for the building process. Others volunteered crafting supplies and trips to dollar stores to get cheap materials to use. I donated some plywood for the base of the float. Lynn let us use her truck to shuttle supplies from my place to Melissa’s. And Meg helped transport the float base to Sarah’s house where we finished putting it all together.
Together we decided on the tenets of Democracy we wanted to include in our garden. Our tomato artist, Emma, then made signs to represent the things we believe are necessary for a strong democracy: Equality, Free Speech, Due Process, Reproductive Rights, Healthcare, Education, Justice, Civil Rights and Checks & Balances. (This list is nowhere near exhaustive, we just ran out of space on our float)!
Over the next few weeks, the team met and slowly built up the float, turning our seed of an idea into a seedling and, eventually, a full garden. The day before the parade, our team gathered one last time to put everything together, add the finishing touches and test out the road-worthiness of our float.
Our float the night before the parade
We invited all of the elected officials who represent the East Nashville area and several of them joined us for the parade, including at large Metro Council members Olivia Hill and Quin Evans Segall, TN House Representative for district 51 Aftyn Behn and TN state senator for district 20 Heidi Campbell. We also had Dahron Johnson and Brian Sullivan from the Tennessee Equality Project march alongside us, dressed like farmers with straw hats and overalls. My best friend and her son came along too, representing butterflies needed to pollinate our garden.
The 30+ volunteers who marched with us dressed as gardeners and carried watering cans and tomatoes decorated with the word “vote.” Our message was this: if you want to grow democraseeds, you need to water them with your vote! We passed out wildflower seed packets with QR codes so that parade spectators could check their voter registration (such a brilliant idea from Melissa).
Marching past the Lipstick Lounge
The parade was the culmination of a big idea, careful planning, strategic building and excellent teamwork. It was an absolute blast. A moment of pure joy. Marching through the streets of East Nashville, hearing the cheers of onlookers and seeing so many smiling faces is a memory I will cherish for a long time. Pulling our float through the finish line, over the tomato street mural in 5 points, our group was sweaty but satisfied. Together we made our dream a reality!
And that’s what it’s all about. Advocacy and activism is hard work. But it can also be fun and filled with joy. Finding community and laughter is necessary to survive the adversity and challenges we face. For me, being a part of the East Nashtivists means knowing I have found my people. The people I can lean on for support when things get rough, challenge me to do more for the movement, and make sure I also find time for rest and play. In the words of East Nashtivist leader and founder, Melissa Sautter: “Moments like this remind us that building power isn’t just about phone banks and canvasses — it’s about the community we create around the work.”
I’m grateful now more than ever that I saw the email about the East Nashtivists three years ago and went to that first meeting. This group has given me community, purpose, motivation, lifelong friends, and moments of laughter and joyfulness like this. Please find your community, whatever that looks like for you. I guarantee it’s out there if you look hard enough. Sometimes you have to be brave like Melissa and start a new group! Join the movement to make the world a more inclusive, equitable place where everyone belongs and thrives!
After the parade, outside Fanny’s House of Music
Other ways to find joy in these trying times:
Taco Tuesday! Join the East Nashtivists and our sister action council, Fight for All, every third Tuesday for a night of food and fellowship. We’re trying our best to pick immigrant owned/operated restaurants to support our community members who’ve been through so much and work hard to make Nashville a vibrant place to live. Check our social media for the locations each month.
CELEBRATING FEMALE ARTISTS: Amanda Shires, Brittney Spencer, Cecilia Castleman, Haven Madison, M'Lynn, Queen Anne. The second in She Is The Music, FEMco, and Anzie Blue's series Celebrating Female Artists. 6-8pm. 18+. Show is FREE, but a ticket is required.
InterNASHional night market! This year the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition is celebrating the 5th year anniversary of their InterNASHional Night Market! For half a decade, the InterNASHional Night Market have featured immigrant owned restaurants, local cultural performers, and welcoming environment of culture and community. For 2025, the Night Market will host even more restaurants, more performances, greater diversity in dishes, and a new art component!
Alt-Americana Showcase. Check out the amazing singer/songwriter talent at the Lipstick Lounge on Friday Sept 12. Proceeds benefit the Drag Defense Fund at the ACLU of Tennessee. Show is 21+ and tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the door.
Standing outside Fanny’s House of Music with our float on Aug 9, 2025
Dr. Katrina Green, MD FAAEM, FAMWA is a board certified emergency physician, and public safety and health advocate in Nashville, TN.
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