About Us
Renters’ Rights of Tennessee (RRTN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing housing justice by providing vital legal services, including eviction defense, community education, and advocacy to ensure equitable access for renters in Davidson County.
our vision
A future where everyone enjoys safe, affordable housing and lives free from the threat of eviction, creating a Nashville where everyone has a place to call home.
Our mission is to advance housing justice.
We’re committed to advancing housing justice for our most vulnerable community members by preserving housing and enforcing tenants' rights.
We stand up for the rights of our most vulnerable community members, helping to break the cycle of housing instability and provide housing justice for all.
We provide free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction, working toward a future where everyone has stable, secure housing.
Our values
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Housing shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s a right. We believe everyone in Nashville deserves a safe, stable place to call home.
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Housing inequality is rooted in structural racism, and we’re committed to breaking down those barriers so people of all races can fight for their housing rights.
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Everyone is welcome here; our doors are open. We’re dedicated to creating a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported, with access to the resources they need to advocate for themselves.
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Advocacy is our superpower. We stand by tenants, ensuring their rights are protected, and their voices are amplified.
our story
In 2019, Davidson County General Sessions Judge Ana L. Escobar and healthcare attorney Alé Dalton, both committed Latina leaders, recognized the need for a space where Hispanic/Latine attorneys and legal professionals could connect and network. Alé and Judge Escobar worked together to organize the first gathering at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLC, which ultimately led to the informal establishment of the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association (NHBA) in May 2019. In itsinitial years of operation, NHBA hosted mixers, networking events, and continuing legal education programs to foster a strong coalition of Hispanic/Latine legal professionals.
NHBA’s History as a part of the ERTC Program:
In May 2022, Metro Councilwoman Zulfat Suara introduced RS2022-1559, a resolution to invest $2.6 million in addressing Nashville's growing housing affordability crisis. The Metro Council unanimously passed this resolution, which funded the Eviction Right to Counsel (ERTC) Program. This program aims to provide free legal assistance to defend low- and moderate-income residents of Davidson County against landlord evictions. Before the implementation of the ERTC program, only 1% of tenants had legal representation in eviction proceedings, compared to 99.8% of landlords. The ERTC program ensures that eligible individuals, who would otherwise lack legal representation, have a fighting chance to stay in their homes. Acknowledging the need for advocacy within Nashville’s immigrant communities, the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association stepped up to offer culturally competent services for Hispanic/Latine clients. In the summer of 2022, NHBA became formally incorporated as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization with founding board members Judge Ana L. Escobar, Alé Dalton, Michael Rivas, Ginette Garza Brown, and David Esquivel.
Meet our Team
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Anne Boatner
Executive Director
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Michelle Salazar
Director of Social Work
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Janice Parmar
Staff Attorney
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Citlali Padilla
Program Administrator
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Maggie Behringer
Affirmative Housing Litigation Fellow
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Ellie Campbell
Paralegal
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Tere Lira
Paralegal
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Leah Vetters
Social Work Intern
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Monique Holmes
Social Work Intern
Meet our Board
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Ginette Brown
NHBA President
Ginette Garza Brown serves as the Interim General Counsel in the Office of the General Counsel. Ms. Brown provides legal advice and services to University administrators. She advises on a variety of legal issues, including employment, student affairs, contracts, real estate, governance, disability accommodations, open records, and privacy matters, as well as provides compliance and litigation support services to the University.
Ms. Brown received her B.S. in Mass Communications from Middle Tennessee State University in 2001, a Master of Education degree from Arizona State University in 2004, and her J.D. from the University of Southern California in 2010. Ms. Brown was a Teach for America corps member in Phoenix in 2002-2004.
Throughout her career, Ms. Brown has volunteered her time to many professional and community organizations, with a particular focus on serving disadvantaged youth, promoting diversity, and working for educational equality and equity for all students.
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Lody Powers
NHBA Vice President
Lody Powers was born and raised in Colombia until, as a teenager, she moved to South Florida with her family. Lody, a native Spanish speaker, quickly honed and mastered her understanding and use of English. And, upon graduating high school, Lody attended Florida International University prior to transferring, and graduating, from Middle Tennessee State University where she received her B.A. in History and Latin American Studies. She then achieved her lifelong dream of being an attorney and graduated from Nashville School of Law.
For the past 20 years Lody has called Middle Tennessee home and is proud of the community she advocates for. She is a criminal defense attorney with the Franklin-based firm, Legal Powers, PLLC.
Lody began her legal career at the Nashville District Attorney’s Office in 2014 and for over a decade she served our community as an Assistant District Attorney. Lody was named the first Latina Assistant District Attorney to serve in Davidson County Criminal Court.
Lody is bilingual and bicultural, and proud of the community she serves and represents.
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Maverick Flowers
NHBA Treasurer
Maverick Flowers is a seasoned corporate attorney specializing in complex business transactions and corporate matters at Polsinelli. With a keen focus on providing comprehensive legal services, Maverick collaborates closely with the firm's team of corporate attorneys to deliver tailored solutions to both corporate and nonprofit clients. His experience spans a wide range of areas, including transactional, nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations and tax and estate planning.
In addition to his legal practice, Maverick brings valuable experience gained from his previous roles, including serving as a law clerk for the Honorable R. David Proctor in the Federal District Court Northern District of Alabama. He has also held internships in prominent governmental institutions, such as the United States Senate and as a Legal Fellow for the Secretary of State of Colorado.
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Lindsay Oakes
NHBA Secretary
Lindsay Oakes currently serves as a Litigation Attorney in Member Medical Appeals with the Division of TennCare. Previously, she worked as a Litigation Attorney in Eligibility Appeals with the Division of TennCare. She has been a licensed attorney in Tennessee since 2015 and in the Commonwealth of Kentucky since 2016. She also served as a member or leader for numerous organizations including Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyer Division as a Publications Committee Vice Chair and Content Coordinator, Lawyers’ Association of Women as a Health and Wellness Co-Committee Chair. She graduated from the Mentor Tennessee Program in 2024. She participated in the Kentucky Legal Education Opportunity program as both a fellow and mentor.
She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She received her Juris Doctorate from Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase Law School. In her spare time, Lindsay enjoys speed puzzling, spending time with her schnauzer labrador dog Starkov, and exploring her community.
Our partners
Our work is made possible through the support of our dedicated partners. Through their generous support, the Nashville Hispanic Bar Association is able to carry out our mission of providing free legal representation to low-income tenants facing eviction.
