Week two was nonstop travel! The youth began the week with a bird’s eye view of downtown Nashville from the Pinnacle Building. We were then able to tour the green roof, and were graciously treated to lunch in the Bass Berry and Sims cafeteria. Next was a ride to the Gulch on the Music City Circuit Green Line, and then back downtown to learn about the Music City Center Convention Center.

Tuesday's highlights include a Q&A session with Mayor Karl Dean and learning about the Metro Council from Vice Mayor Diane Neighbors. The latter included an opportunity for the Youth to identify problems within the city and participate in a mock-voting process. A slightly rainy picnic lunch in the Public Square was graciously provided by Vice Mayor Neighbors, followed by a tour of the Square and discussion of its historical, environmental, artistic and symbolic features. The day ended with a visit to one of our favorite buildings, the Downtown Public Library, where students visited the Civil Rights room and had the opportunity to meet NCDC Board Member Scott Chambers and visiting artist Charlotta Janssen who was installing her exhibit, “Threads of a Story: History Inspiring Art,” based on the 1956 Bus Boycotts and the Freedom Riders in 1961. Each stop reinforced the ideas of building community by investing in quality buildings and amenities for downtown- everyone's neighborhood.

Wednesday began with a tour of the Oasis Center’s beautiful office in the Youth Opportunities Center and a discussion of the numerous programs available to youth in this "one stop shop."  Various aspects of the building’s design were also discussed during the tour. Next, the youth got a tour of Edmondson Park for a discussion of landscape architecture and the role of parks (active vs. passive) as well as identifying potential new activities for this park, located adjacent to the Youth Opportunities Center and the John Henry Hale Homes. Next was a driving tour of Germantown, and an extensive tour of the Werthan Complex, including two magnificent private residences. Our final stop was the Frist Center for Visual Arts where we discussed the history of the building as a post office and how has been reused as the Frist.

Thursday was Sustainability Day, which provided several opportunities for the youth and coordinators alike. Our first stop was the Nashville Farmer's Market where we met the Marketing Director and a chef that specializes in the use of local produce. The youth were greeted with a carton of freshly picked blackberries (a first for some) and took part in a discussion about the importance of buying local food. A simple cooking demonstration followed, comparing local produce to items purchased at a grocery store. Finally, the youth were given 10 “Farmers’ Market bucks” and turned free to purchase local produce at Smiley's Farm, energized with their new knowledge!

We left downtown and spent a lovely afternoon at the Bell's Bend Park Outdoor Center. After a picnic lunch, we learned about the energy efficient characteristics of the facility, as well as the history of the site.