The New to Nashville Facebook group is growing by the dozens each day, bringing in newcomers to Nashville and fostering a welcoming community of people and businesses.
Marilyn Hunt started the group in August 2020 after she moved to Nashville in May 2019 from Los Angeles. She had wanted to find a group of people to connect with in town.
“I feel like I am paying back to the city that has welcomed me and has been so kind to me. I have met in person about 3,000 people now and have formed some really fabulous friendships and acquaintances,” Hunt said.
During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group — which now boasts 14,700 Facebook members — initially relied on online messaging and posts to connect. Whether looking for food or business suggestions, the group always had quick responders ready with a good recommendation.
Since the loosening of COVID-19 restrictions, the group has started hosting regular gatherings for different cohorts within the group. There are singles get-togethers and business-focused gatherings to help promote new businesses in town.
“Making the social connections for me, not knowing a single person in the entire state when I moved, has been most important. In that way, New to Nashville has been extremely helpful,” said Ginger Reynolds, an original group member.
New to Nashville has been able to connect people professionally as well. The group sponsors some real estate agents, mortgage brokers and other services to help people find their bearings in town. Often members of the group will promote business opportunities, too.
New to Nashville prides itself on being a welcoming place that is well moderated to make sure that members connect with one another. There is also a large diversity of backgrounds coming to the group.
“Here my friends are anywhere from 20 all the way up to 60s. It’s actually expanded my horizons as far as what types of friends I have,” said Gerald Berrera, a longtime member of the group.
The group continues to multiply, and Hunt hopes to capitalize on this popularity to create a more functioning brand. She plans to create an app and website to move the community away from Facebook and have a more centralized resource pool to share with others.
Hunt hopes to have this side of New to Nashville developed by the end of the year, but for the time being, the group is growing rapidly on Facebook. You can find and join the group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1266538553686527/about.
