Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Cotton.
Hi Danielle, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Danielle Cotton, and I am the proud co-founder of AWAKE Nashville, a nonprofit dedicated to mitigating displacement and creating affordable housing solutions for seniors on fixed incomes while providing supportive services to keep them connected to the community.
In 2020, after my great aunt passed away, I found myself overwhelmed by more than grief. I was deeply moved by the legacy she left behind. As a lifelong schoolteacher, she had touched countless lives and after hearing story after story I reflected on the profound impact she made on her students and her community. I remember sitting with that weight, overwhelmed with emotion, and praying to God to give me purpose because I too wanted my life to stand for something meaningful, something that mattered to others. I had no idea that just a couple of years later, I would be walking directly into that purpose alongside my mother, Karen Holder.
In January 2022, my grandmother, Norma Upshaw, and the residents of the North Park Senior Community received a letter informing them that their longtime senior housing community had been sold to a local developer. They were given less than sixty days to relocate. I remember sitting at my grandmother’s kitchen table as she read the letter. What stays with me most is not fear, but her response. She said she was not worried about herself because she had family to support her, but she was more worried about her neighbors who did not have anyone. Without allowing herself to sit in defeat, she looked at my mother and me and asked a simple yet powerful question: What are we going to do?
I did what I knew how to do best. Drawing on my background in public relations, I launched a public awareness campaign to shine a light on the injustice our seniors were facing and the growing housing gaps impacting those living on fixed incomes in a rapidly growing city.
If you know me, the love for my Nana and elders runs deep. We were raised to love thy neighbor as thyself, and that belief became the guiding principle behind AWAKE Nashville. Watching my grandmother endure involuntary displacement opened our eyes to how many seniors were quietly facing the same crisis, unseen and unheard. It was my grandmother’s experience that gave me a newfound purpose, and she became the catalyst for AWAKE Nashville’s commitment to ensure seniors have a voice and an affordable place to call home.
As three generation Native Nashvillians, we have watched our neighborhoods change before our eyes. Gentrification and growth have pushed longtime residents, especially seniors, out of the communities they helped build. It is a sad reality, that we knew we had to change through advocacy, policy change, organizing, and creating solutions to provide more affordable independent housing for seniors.
Since our inception in 2022, we have made significant progress towards our mission including helping over 25 displaced seniors secure stable housing, championed legislation to extend the eviction regulation period for involuntarily displaced seniors from 30 to 60 days through the Norma Jean Upshaw Act, and secured metro-land and funding to start building our first affordable senior community in North Nashville.
We knew that AWAKE Nashville had to be an organization that not only advocates for change but also creates the solutions for the change we wanted to see in our community.
That vision is now becoming reality. On December 2, 2025, we launched the Our Legacy Lives Here capital campaign to raise essential funds for The Cottages at Silverstone—a 46-unit affordable senior community designed to support independent living, wellness, and social connection. With projected predevelopment costs of $250,000 and a total project cost of $13.75 million, this development represents more than housing. It represents stability, dignity, and the preservation of legacy.
Every contribution moves us closer to breaking ground on a neighborhood that doesn’t just provide homes, but honors history, strengthens community, and builds hope for generations to come. You can learn more about the campaign here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/capital-campaign-29.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Fighting for systemic change is never easy, especially in the affordable housing space, where progress often sits at the intersection of politics, policy, and limited funding sources. Along the way, we have faced skepticism from critics and encountered moments where every step forward seemed to require navigating layers of red tape and resistance, making the journey even more challenging.
On a personal level, stepping fully into my purpose has stretched me far beyond my comfort zone. Building AWAKE Nashville has required me to grow in ways I never anticipated—learning new systems, finding my voice in unfamiliar rooms, and showing up with confidence even when I did not have all the answers. Walking into a male-dominated industry without a formal background in affordable housing added another layer of challenge. There were times when I had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously and to prove that lived experience, conviction, and commitment matter just as much as credentials.
In those moments, I had to lean deeply on my faith and remain teachable by seeking out mentors, asking questions, and continuing to learn as I move forward. The road has been humbling, refining, and at times uncomfortable, but it has also been incredibly purposeful. Every challenge has reinforced why this work matters. The struggles did not stop the mission; they shaped it, strengthened it, and reminded me that real change is rarely easy, but it is always worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a native Nashvillian with a sincere passion for community, family, and social justice. I have established a thriving career in state government and public relations, bringing over eight years of professional experience in business leadership, publicity, marketing, brand consultation and design, email marketing, event planning, and more.
An honors graduate of Lipscomb University with a B.A. degree in Business Management & Communications, I began my career in public relations in 2015, specializing in the domestic and international entertainment arena. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of leading countless successful marketing campaigns for prominent television and entertainment companies, drama festivals, nonprofits, and city leaders. My deep commitment to community service has evolved into a professional mission.
What I am most proud of is the way my professional skill set has evolved into purpose-driven impact. I am known for bridging strategy with heart, using storytelling, public engagement, and advocacy to elevate voices that are too often overlooked and to turn awareness into action. What sets me apart is my ability to move seamlessly between worlds of government and grassroots, policy and people, vision and execution. I don’t just help shape narratives; I help build solutions. Whether advancing equitable housing through AWAKE Nashville or leading meaningful campaigns that center community and justice, my work is grounded in authenticity, collaboration, and a deep love for the city I have grown up in. At the end of the day, I am most proud of creating work that leaves people better than I found them and contributes to lasting change for generations to come.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality that has been most important to my success is a deep sense of purpose rooted in family, legacy, and resilience. I was raised to honor those who came before me and to carry their stories forward with integrity and respect. That foundation has shaped my commitment to work that is bigger than myself and anchored in service to others. Along the way, setbacks have been inevitable, but resilience and determination have allowed me to keep moving forward while learning from the challenges rather than being defined by them. When your work is driven by love for family, respect for legacy, and an unwavering belief in the mission, perseverance becomes not just possible, but necessary.
Pricing:
- On December 2, 2025, we launched Our Legacy Lives Here capital campaign to raise essential funds for The Cottages at Silverstone — a 46-unit affordable senior community designed to support independent living, wellness, and social connection in North Nashville.
- For The Cottages at Silverstone, our projected predevelopment costs total $250,000, with a total project cost of $13.75 million. Every dollar you contribute moves us closer to breaking ground on a neighborhood that not only provides homes—but preserves history, strengthens community, and builds hope for generations to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.weareawakenashville.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareawakenashville?igsh=MXN5NGJveXVsM2ZpMQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18Cat75LtE/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareawakenashville/
