Raising Kellan

In today's episode, I chat with Crisella Giron Sanchez, a MTSU student who majors in Political science and is one of Representative Behn's legislative interns. She will tell us about upcoming legislation being planned for the Tennessee Legislative session in 2027: “No Blank Checks for Data Centers.” The bill focuses on the tax incentives Tennessee gives to  Data Centers that take away potential revenue from Tennesseans. “We want people to know that this fight against Data Centers is here, and we hope that people can join our journey and local communities.” - CGS

Timeline

1:51 Who is Crisella Giron Sanchez?

2:36 Background episodes from this podcast on data centers: Episodes 175 and 182.

2:54 Retailers Sales Tax Act

05:41 "No Blank Checks for Data Centers"

06:64 2027 Legislative Session starts Jan 12, 2027

07:28 Next Steps for Crisella?

08:17 How young people engage with Government and Policy

09:00 Get out the Vote on November 3, 2026

In today's episode, I chat with Richard Massey, a community organizer and environmental advocate in the Memphis area who has worked on several environmental justice campaigns and is now the Data Center Accountability Manager for Young, Gifted & Green

Timeline of our conversation:

1:52 What's the difference between Data Centers and A.I. Data Centers

3:00 Outcomes of the Memphis City Council Meeting on 10-20-26.

8:17 Are residential consumers subsidizing A.I. Data Centers' energy consumption?

10:15 The purpose of gas turbines at A.I. Data Centers and the impact on BoxTown residents respiratory health, per the American Lung Association.

13: 35 A.I. Data Center myth busters

16:23 Young Gifted and Green is coming to Dyersburg, TN on 11/7/26. We hope to see you there, and you can sign up at this link. bit.ly/dyerdata

In today’s episode, I chat with Matthew Dietz, a civil rights attorney and founder of Dislaw Consulting. Matt has spent more than thirty years advocating for people with disabilities. His litigation has advanced effective communication for Deaf people, challenged the unnecessary institutionalization of children with disabilities, and protected voting rights for people with disabilities. His work also addresses discrimination in housing, education, employment, healthcare, and access to community life.

Matt began in private practice before bringing his legal work into Disability Independence Group, the nonprofit he founded to combine litigation, community education, and advocacy. He later served as professor and director of Nova Southeastern University’s Disability Inclusion and Advocacy Law Clinic, representing clients while teaching future lawyers to challenge exclusion and work alongside people with disabilities.

Today, through Dislaw Consulting, he provides legal services, consulting, training, and expert assistance to individuals, families, organizations, and attorneys. Living with a stutter gives his advocacy a personal dimension. He joins us to discuss U.S. v. Florida and the fight to ensure children can grow up with their families with the nursing care and support they need

Timeline of our conversation

1:00 Matthew (Matt) Dietz background as a disability rights lawyer.

2:54 Background and latest updates on the Florida lawsuit regarding the provision of home care to medically fragile children.

3:24 The journey of how the Department of Justice (DOJ) initially sued Florida to provide services to children and now the DOJ’s changed position in light of the Olmstead Opinion issued on June 18, 2026. 1

0:10 Implications of the Florida case conflated with the September 23, 2026,  Texas vs. Kennedy ruling, which now applies to ALL states. 

12:21 Investigative reporter Mike Hixenbaugh series on NBCDisabled and Denied calls for families impacted by Medicaid changes to contact them at the following link.12:44: The story of Amy and Sue Root, the faces behind the Florida lawsuit. 15:57 What brought about the changes to the DOJ position, and how this aligns with this administration's current “homelessness” policy. (Source: “Disabled and Denied” )

21:39 The institutionalisation of care of the disabled and how this has played out in the past, in the cases of Willowbrook and Clover Bottom

23:00 Calls to Action: We have to VOTE and TELL OUR STORY.

27: 00 Conclusion. 

A tenth-generation South Memphis resident, Marquita Bradshaw is the first African-American woman to win a statewide nomination in a major party nomination. She has built on her family’s tradition of labor and community advocacy by working on issues affecting working families and historically underserved neighborhoods. Her career has focused on environmental health, workers’ rights, economic opportunity, and public accountability. As executive director of Sowing Justice, an environmental justice nonprofit, she has addressed concerns involving industrial pollution, fossil-fuel infrastructure, data-center development, and their effects on local communities.

Her Call to Action:

The importance of voter engagement and participation in the upcoming November 2026 General Election. -- We’re going to need an incredible grassroots team to create the change we want to see in Washington.

Timeline:

00:41 Marquita Bradshaw's background.

01:55 Her career as a community organizer and her role as Executive Director of Sowing Justice.

02:49 Affordable and accessible broadband, and data privacy protection.

07:11 Gerrymandering and protecting voter rights

09:03 Budgets reflect morality, and universal healthcare is a policy choice and priority

11:02 Ms Bradshaw's 3-step grassroots voter engagement:

1) Are you registered?

2) Do you have a voting plan?

3) Invite others to join you to vote.

13:22 You are invited to a Community Forum taking place Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:30 at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg, TN

14: 19 Conclusion

Gary Blumenthal is the brother of Steve Blumenthal, a senior adult with profound autism, and dementia, now receiving hospice services in his HCBS group home in Lawrence, KS. He is a former high school Civics teacher, former six-term member of the Kansas House of Representatives, and former disability official in the Clinton and Obama administrations, and is currently serving as a Senior Political Advisor for The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals.

Timeline of the conversation:

1: 00 Backstory of Gary and Steve Blumenthal

3:25 Transition from institutional living of "3 hots and a cot" to home and community-based services (HCBS)

5:41 Civic engagement and voting

6:30 Education and communicating with Legislators.

8:50 Be educated and to educate

9:32 Paid Family Caregiving

12:00 Get out the Vote (GOTV)

15:38 Why do States have waiting lists for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

16:33 Funding Priorities and Policies to determine funding of services and advocates making their voice known in an environment of lobbyists and money in politics.

17:00 Advocacy and Activism

18: Call to Action: Get Out The Vote (#GOTV)

Please read Gary's recent opinion in the Kansas City Star: 60 years of disability progress helped my brother. I fear we’re reversing it

Read more at:

Robbie Faulkner is the Executive Director of The Arc Tennessee, a nonprofit that protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also the proud parent of two sons, Ian and Collin. Since her older son’s diagnosis of autism 28 years ago, Robbie has looked to serve individuals with disabilities and, for 31 years did so in the public education arena before coming to The Arc Tennessee.

Timeline of our conversation: 

1:35 Robbie’s Background

5:00 Multigenerational households

6:14 The Dinner Table

7:28 Robbie’s teaching career

13:00 How did Robbie transition to the ARC Tennessee

15:00 Advocate challenges and the potential for positive policy change

          TX vs Kennedy and DOJ Olmstead Decision

19:00 Telling your story, prioritising your vote. 

23:00 The cost of misinformation

25:00 We can’t go back

27:05 CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS, especially If you have  ideas for solutions to problems you experience

28:00 Joining ARC TN and accessing the policy calls while the TN House is in session

Edward Mitchell was a victim of a hit-and-run bicycle accident in 2003 when he was hit by a truck, thrown into a ditch, and found by his little brother. Edward has quadriplegia with an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5 and C6 levels. Edward obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Lane College, a private HBCU, and his MBA in 2011 from Union University. 

That hasn’t slowed him down; he works as Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee while serving on numerous boards. 

In 2018, Edward was selected as an inaugural ABLE Advisor for the Able National Resource Center. ABLE Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. In the summer of 2018, Edward was confirmed by the Republicans & Democrats of T.N. to testify before the Washington, D.C., Senate Special Committee on Aging. The hearing was titled, “Supporting Economic Stability & Self-Sufficiency as Americans with Disabilities ​and their Families.

Timeline of the conversation.

​01:00 Edward Mitchell's backstory.​01:41 What are Able Accounts?

​04:51 Home and Community-Based Services and the Role it plays in the Disability Community.

06:08 Disability Advocacy Organizations in TN: Disability Rights TN, Tennessee Disability Coalition, ARC TN, and Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities​

08:24 Centers of Independent Living

10:10 Statewide Independent Living Council

11:50 Conclusion

Chaz Molder is a native son of Columbia, Tennessee. He graduated from Columbia Central High School, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Memphis Law School. He also served as his high school and college student body president.

He was elected as the Mayor of Columbia, in 2018, becoming the youngest mayor in his city’s 200+ year history.

Since then, Chaz has delivered for his community, revitalizing downtown Columbia, investing in public safety, and prioritizing community engagement, all while passing seven balanced budgets without increasing property taxes.

He knows what it takes to win in tough places — he’s done it twice before.

Now, Chaz is ready to win again and bring Tennessee values to Congress. Chaz is married to Elizabeth Fitzhugh, a Ripley, Tennessee native, and they are raising their three kids in Columbia.

Timeline:

01:52 Homage to Dolly Parton

03:31 Chaz Molder's Bio

His positions on:

07:00 School Vouchers and Education

10:00 HealthCare

12:30 AI Data Centers

14:32 Chaz Molder's support of the Disability Community and home and community-based services.

17: Call to Action: #GOTV

In this episode, Sara Smith and I chat with Scott Schoefernacker and Sarah Houston of "Protect Our Aquifer,", a water resource nonprofit in Memphis, TN. This podcast centers on the Memphis Sand Aquifer and the potential impact of data centers on the environment.

Timeline of our conversation:

00:41 What is an aquifer and its significance?

03:41 The origin story of "Protect our Aquifer"

06:41 How big is the Memphis Sand Aquifer?

6:26 Sara Smith relates, in her opinion, what happened when the data center came knocking in Ripley, TN

9:21 Data centers and the impact on power and water

11:28 Ripley moratorium

12:54 How do communities do the research?

16: Community Benefits Agreement (informal) vs a Data Center Ordinance (legally binding)

19:34 Should Data Centers be contributing to the communities they build in?

21: 55 How should citizens engage in the pushback and questions to ask?

22:52 Environmental regulations including: EPA, TDEC, WHPP (wellhead protection plan)

26:52 Zoning and community planning.

30:38 Access to records and why a data center ordinance is critical for a single point of access to fact-find regarding the impact of data centers on their communities and surrounding environment.

35:15 PFAS and "forever chemicals"

36:37 Upcoming Community events by "Protect our Aquifer" (POA)

In this episode, I chat with Mandeep Kaur and Leah Williamson of Family Voices of Tennessee.

Timeline:

1:30 Introduction of Leah Williamson, Director of Family Voices of Tennessee.

5:25 Introduction of Mandeep Kaur, Family Advocate at Family Voices of Tennessee.

10:34 What does Family Voices do and how do families connect with this organization?

12:26 Advocacy is an ever-changing landscape.

12:30 Statement from Family Voices National (and TN) on the DOJ opinion on the Olmstead Decision is available on the Family Voices Facebook page.

17:24 Upcoming events: Party in the Park Oct 17, 2026 and Disability Day on the Hill 2027

18:59 Call to Action

19:37 Words of encouragement.