Brenda Waybrant split her childhood between southeastern Kentucky, and northern Michigan. Growing up in a single parent household that survived on disability, food stamps, public housing, and Medicaid, the impact that trauma and poverty has on our lives and society shape her current beliefs and values. Brenda graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2008 with a BFA in theatre. The impact of the recession meant the college job of waiting tables became a career.
She moved to Nashville in 2013, and like many people have struggled to afford housing and find a job that pays enough to live and thrive. She worked her way from server to Sales Director at Dick’s Last Resort. Even after climbing the ladder to their corporate office, income needed to be supplemented by waiting tables on the weekend because the corporate salary didn’t reflect the city she worked in.
After 15 years in the restaurant industry, and 8 here in Nashville, Brenda found herself jobless, and unsure of everything when COVID-19 hit. She was frustrated with the disorganized response, and the lack of inclusion of workers voices. In April of 2020 she co founded Restaurant Opportunities Center (ROC) Music City, a grassroots organizing model for restaurant workers. As part of ROC-Music City Brenda is engaged with many community organizations such as Nashville Living Wage and the Central Labor Council. Currently, Brenda is an organizer for SEIU Local 205 with Metro Nashville employees. SEIU represents 3700 public and private workers in the state of TN.
