We are delighted to welcome Meredith Benton, MPA, to our Community Action Council! Meredith is the CEO of Communities in Schools of Tennessee (CISTN) in Nashville, and her extensive experience and dedication to the nonprofit sector will be an incredible asset to Tennessee Nonprofit Network.
Meredith brings over 25 years of government and nonprofit leadership experience, having served a former President, a US Senator, and two Governors. Under her leadership, CISTN has seen exponential growth, now serving around 30,000 students in 17 counties across Tennessee.
When asked what inspired her to join Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Meredith shared, “As a recovering lobbyist, I know how important nonprofit voices are in policymaking, particularly in Tennessee. I’m honored to support TNN’s work and advocate on behalf of our sector.”
For Meredith, the nonprofit sector in Tennessee holds a critical role: “As a state, the political landscape leans on nonprofits to provide critical and essential services to communities instead of government. This means we are a critical player in our communities to ensure all residents have the opportunity to thrive.”
During her time with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Meredith hopes to ensure that “we are a trusted and valued voice by policymakers and that our voice is led and informed by our members.”
On a personal note, Meredith is a mom through adoption to a wonderful 13-year-old daughter. They also love spoiling their 8-year-old Havanese dog, Petey.
While her current occupation as CEO of CISTN is her passion, she enjoys the ability to lead exponential growth that directly impacts children’s lives.
Meredith recommends the movie “Sliding Doors,” noting, “I can recount so many moments where a few seconds dramatically changed my life for better or worse. And that soundtrack is amazing!” She loves that Nashville offers “the amenities of a big city but can still feel like a small town.” For an escape, her favorite local spot is Radnor Lake State Park, where she loves to “escape the city into nature.”
A surprising hidden talent Meredith possesses is being a long-distance hiker, with treks completed in Peru, New Zealand, and Spain! If she could travel anywhere in the world right now, it would be New Zealand, which she describes as her “favorite place ever visited.” From the landscape to the culture to the politics, I’d love to spend more time there.””
Her advice to someone just starting their career in the nonprofit sector is insightful: “Focus on asking the right questions rather than having the right answers. I was given this advice in my early 20s and I’ve carried it with me. And be nice. We are all connected and your career will be long; it’s not worth burning bridges and relationships are essential in TN.”
Beyond her work with Tennessee Nonprofit Network, Meredith is particularly passionate about preventing childhood trauma and ensuring communities have the resources to support parents, especially single parents and their children, so they can thrive and not just survive.
And for a fun fact, Meredith has been to all 50 states and every continent – she even eloped in Antarctica!
We are truly excited to have Meredith Benton join our Community Action Council and bring her invaluable experience and passion to Tennessee Nonprofit Network. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to her!