Anna Marie's Sunday Focus

Nashville is more than honky-tonks and neon lights (not that there is anything wrong with that). Travel author Margaret Littman tells us there are dozens of unique experiences we've probably never heard of that we HAVE to check out (and some of them are absolutely FREE)!

In this Focus episode, hear about cool things to do in and around the city; day trips and weekend getaways; arts and culture; locations for foodies; history; and ...

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is on a nationwide tour to educate us about Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. We had the honor of interviewing one of their featured speakers who shared information about difficult behaviors related to dementias. Caregiver Support Coordinator Lynn Wood was also able to tell us how to get help and resources for any mental issue. You have more help available than you may have realized! P...

Nurtured children grow into resilient, capable adults. Nurture the Next helps Tennessee families build the skills and confidence to create a caring environment needed for the healthy development of their children. Nurture the Next does this through in-home services, parent mentorship, educational classes and crisis support. 
Hear Jen Vaida, Chief Program Officer of Nurture the Next, tell how these free, confidential services for...

f YOU'RE not talking with your child about drugs, and helping them make good choices about vaping, smoking or drinking, they're probably getting that information from other kids. 

Darla DeLeon is the Co-founder and CEO of non-profit Steered Straight Inc.
In this interview she talks about Steered Straight school assembly programs that aim to steer youth straight, by giving them information about what substances really do to the...

Each time we get in our vehicles, we expect to arrive safely to our destination. However, we all know that isn't always what happens. The solutions seem simple, but where exactly do we begin? Megan Cooper from AAA says it starts with US and OUR OWN driving behaviors!

In this Focus Cooper talks about the importance of defensive driving and avoiding risky behaviors, as well as the updates to the "Move Over Laws". She also shares wha...

The Greater Nashville Music Census, a survey for anyone working in the music industry, announces a week extension to its closing deadline. The Census is capturing key information about the Nashville music economy to help the city and community make informed, data-driven decisions to support our music ecosystem moving forward.

The census will now remain open through Sunday, April 1 at 11:59 pm.

“We have the highest concentration o...

The YMCA is so much more than a place to lift weights or workout! They offer summer camps, Special Needs/Diverse Abilities programs, water safety, youth sports, Health Care programs like the After Breast Cancer group, and Yoga and gentle workouts for older adults.

The YMCA is a community gathering place, where members form friendships that last beyond the doors of the Y!

Check out all the things that the YMCA can add to your life...

By law, students with disabilities may stay in the public school system until age 21. But what happens to them after that? About 80% of young adults with special needs leaving high school never find employment, even those able and willing. That's where non-profit organization BrightStone comes in!

They offer lifelong learning opportunities while teaching job skills, productive work habits, social skills, computer skills, health an...

Nashville Zoo is a family favorite in Middle Tennessee, with more than 1.2 million visitors last year! The zoological park located just 6 miles south of downtown Nashville has 188 acres, about half of which is developed. This makes Nashville Zoo the 9th largest zoo in the country by landmass!

The Zoo is one of the top tourist attractions in the state, partly because of the popularity of its Jungle Gym. The 66,000 sq. ft. Jungle Gy...

If you're looking for fun things to do with the family, remember Adventure Science
Center! It's a science museum that's LITERALLY out-of-this-world! One of the things they're featuring this summer is a chance to TOUCH another planet! A special exhibit will include a rock from Mars and a life-sized model of the Mars Rover!  
Adventure Science Center offers exhibits that involve the science of the body, of sound, of light, as w...

Tennessee ranks 44th in the nation for Voter turnout. When you see numbers like that, you may think it's because people just don't care. Organize Tennessee says it's partly because we're nearly LAST in the nation for ease of voting. Organize Tennessee works to prevent and respond to issues that prevent Tennesseans from voting. The group also works to keep abreast of and inform voters about precinct changes that could affect them ad...

Family & Children’s Service is connecting individuals and families to hope, to healing, and to one another! They provide a variety of FREE counseling services for individuals and families for a range of issues from depression, domestic violence, substance abuse to suicide prevention and much more. This includes the Crisis Line (615-244-7444) which provides free telephone and text-based crisis intervention to anyone who needs it...

Our Nashville Symphony is known around the world for its Classical music performances of great composers such as Beethoven and Brahms. But there's SO much more going on with the Symphony and at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center!

You can find free community programs, pay what you want programs, educational programs and even symphony musicians getting into local schools to teach, mentor, and play side-by-side with music students. 

Y...

If your loved one needs blood, you're going to HOPE it's available.. but for many Americans, it's NOT THERE! The national blood supply remains at critically low levels and the American Red Cross needs our help to ensure patient care isn't disrupted.

In this interview with Sherri McKinney, Regional Communications and Marketing Director of the American Red Cross - Tennessee Region, hear more about the emergency blood shortage and ho...

YEAH! (Youth Empowerment through Arts & Humanities) is an innovative program founded to empower young people through music! More broadly, participants take risks and create art representative of their similarities and uniqueness. Band collaborations develop entrepreneurial and life skills that lead to future success in all fields.

YEAH!’s lending library provides personal instruments, and their scholarship program removes fina...

Local families who find their hearts are leading them to adopt a child face some big obstacles. Especially when there are plane fares, administration fees, and time off work to make it happen.

One man, who was orphaned as a child, and KNOWS the struggles firsthand, started a non-profit that raises money to help families with adoption fees. The foundation is called "Both Hands" because volunteers serve a widow in their community wi...

Diabetes affects about 1-in-10 of us here in the United States, and with obesity rates increasing, diabetes rates could climb as well! 
Diabetes is one of the top 10 causes of death in America, and causes hundreds of thousands of cases of vision impairment, as well as blood flow problems that can lead to amputations. 
YOU may be at risk and not realize it! 
Shichun Bao, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the...

In Donelson, Tennessee there's a group of volunteers who've been buying, cooking, preparing, and handing out - for free - Thanksgiving meals to those who would usually go without. 

Mark Dickerson - one of the owners of Donelson Cafe and Catering - says their "Truly Thankful Thanksgiving" meals are for those who don't have a plate or a place, and that they can come eat at the Cafe, and join in the fellowship, or just pick up a plat...