Although 2022 is on our minds as an election year, voting is only one way to be civically engaged. The public is invited to join us as we consider ways that individuals and organizations can work to improve our communities and democracy, and how to encourage such work.

Our guests will be Murfreesboro City Councilmember Kirt Wade and Rutherford RISE organizer Eric Meriwether. Kirt will share his perspective on civic engagement from his view as both an elected official and as a citizen who chose to get involved by running for election; Eric will share information about Rutherford RISE, a new local coalition open to all that is working to facilitate positive change in the areas of voting, education, housing, workforce development and youth empowerment.

More about our speakers

Kirt Wade, courtesy kirtwade.com

Kirt Wade was first elected to the Murfreesboro City Council in 2016, ten years after relocating to middle Tennessee. He is native of Trenton, Tennessee, attended Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and is a 1995 graduate of California Southern University. After positions with Gaylord Opryland and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kirt now owns Price Paving, an asphalt and paving contractor in Murfreesboro. In addition to serving on several city commissions, Kirt’s community involvement includes Samaritans Ministries, the Blue Raider Athletic Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. He has also served on the Motlow Foundation Board and Trustees and the Business Education Partnership Board. Kirt is the father of three sons, Jonathan, Zachary and Benjamin. In 2020, Kirt was the recipient of the Murfreesboro NAACP Humanitarian Award. His second term on the Murfreesboro City Council will expire in 2024.

Eric Meriwether; image courtesy E. Meriwether

Eric L. Meriwether is a 2005 graduate of the Jennings A. Jones College of Business at Middle Tennessee State University where he received his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management. A Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual, he has been in the financial industry in Middle Tennessee for over 17 years. Eric is a native of Memphis, TN and currently resides in Murfreesboro with his wife, Tempest, and their two daughters. His community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for Empowerment, Inc. a non-profit dedicated to supporting and preparing high school students for college and life; being selected for the City of Murfreesboro MED Investment Study Group in 2021; and being a member of Leadership Rutherford’s class of 2022.

Join us online

LWV-MRC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: LWV Meeting on Civic Engagement

Time: Jan 11, 2022 06:30 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3713019570?pwd=ekoxZ0RIN08vRXA3T1V2YVBkMlp2Zz09

Meeting ID: 371 301 9570

Passcode: rucoboro

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,3713019570#,,,,*421360# US (Washington DC)

+13126266799,,3713019570#,,,,*421360# US (Chicago)

Dial by your location

+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)

+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)

Meeting ID: 371 301 9570

Passcode: 421360

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/ksgRGrLl