Mayor Freddie O'Connell announces hiring of Robert L. James Jr. as Director of Nashville's Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities I-Team

Today, Mayor Freddie O'Connell announced the hiring of Robert L. James Jr. to lead Nashville's Innovation Team (i-team) for the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative which will build transformative programs at the intersection of climate action and racial wealth equity.

James is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School and Alabama A&M University. He previously served as the Assistant Director in TennCare's strategic planning and innovation department and worked in Meharry's Office of General Counsel.

"Robert James' background has created the right blend of expertise to help us create a better future together," Mayor Freddie O'Connell said. "Our goal is healthier and safer communities, and the work that Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities enables us to do will address longstanding inequities in our community."

The three-year initiative from Bloomberg funds the hiring of James and two others who will build relationships in historically disadvantaged communities, center resident engagement, experience and impact in a collaborative design process to drive forward ambitious programs, mobilize investments and lay a foundation for long-term equity, sustainability and resilience.

"I am tremendously excited to work with the Mayor's Office and direct the Nashville i-team's work on the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative," James said. "The i-team will partner very closely with residents, community organizations, city government colleagues and other community stakeholders to co-create and implement bold, innovative solutions that jointly drive progress on climate action and promote equitable outcomes, using an evidence-based and equity-centered design process. The initiative presents a very powerful opportunity to work towards addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change, improving conditions for historically disadvantaged communities and communities of color in Nashville."

Nashville proposed in its grant application to develop and implement a residential clean energy initiative that also trains and upskills Nashville's Black communities for jobs and business ownership in the clean energy workforce. Further, the innovation team will help Nashville engage communities not to simply give input on projects but rather to have a stake in design processes.

The city anticipates deploying this workforce and these businesses to reduce energy burden among renters and homeowners in the North Nashville, Bordeaux, and Southeast Nashville communities.

James' first day with Metro Nashville was Monday, September 9.