NashvilleBusiness.Net 100 Leading African Americans 2018 Recipient: At-Large Council Member Erica Gilmore

Click Here To Listen Nashville Business 100 Leading African Americans Council Lady Erica Gilmore

Erica Gilmore, a native of Nashville, TN. Currently, serves as the Councilmember At-Large representing the entire city of Nashville with approximately 680,000 constituents. She is the Chair of the Health, Hospitals and Social Services committee and past president of the Minority Caucus. Nationally, she has served as an at-large board member for the National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials where she helped to establish national initiatives that are implemented at the local level of government for black officials.

Councilmember Gilmore was first elected to the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County Council in 2007 where she served as the 19th District Councilmember. She represented 17,000 to 19,000 constituents, containing a mix of the downtown urban core, as well as a variety of neighborhoods, and universities. In 2008, Councilmember Gilmore was elected as the Metro Council Speaker Pro Tem, which is the third highest- ranking position in the city.

Currently, Councilmember Gilmore is a board member of the Nashville Children’s Theater. When she is not working with her council duties, she serves Tennessee State University in the capacity of Assistant Dean of Student Affairs.

In her community, Councilmember Gilmore served as the Advisory Committee of Transit Now, in addition to founding member, secretary and co-chair of the Nashville Food Policy Council.

Councilmember Gilmore served on the Central Business District Improvement Board as well as the Gulch Business Improvement Board. Additionally, she served as the past Chair of the Government Awareness Committee for the Hope Gardens Neighborhood Association, past Chair of Women in the NAACP, and member of Top Ladies of Distinction.

Her Council and community service has earned her multiple awards: 2014 “40 Under 40 for Blacks in Nashville”, 2013 “Women Empowered to Achieve the Impossible Trailblazer’s Award,” 2013 Finalist of Nashville Emerging Leader Award, “Forty under Forty Award” in 2012, “Edward Mullins Legacy Award” in 2011, National League of Cities: National Black Caucus Fellow of Local Elected Officials in 2011; “Women in History” in 2011, “Women Who Make A Difference” in 2009; and the NAACP’s “Under 45 Leadership Award” in 2008.

As a student at Howard University, she completed her degree in English, and completed additional courses abroad at the American University of Beirut. Upon completion of her degree from Howard University, she returned to Nashville, earning a Master of Arts in English from Tennessee State University. She completed her continuing executive education degree at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government.

Councilmember Gilmore is a native Nashvillian who is the parent of Anyah Gilmore-Jones and the daughter of State Representative Brenda and Harry Gilmore. She is a graduate of Whites Creek High school. One of her favorite quotes is, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” She is excited to give back to the city of Nashville.