We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Natalie Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Natalie below.

Alright, Natalie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Shell on Wheels, creating intentional access and vibrant place making through the performing arts.

Natalie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been in the nonprofit world almost 25 years….from the beginning in the healthcare nonprofit, to youth development to my real career focus to date–development of parks and green spaces through vibrant public/private partnerships. The Overton Park Shell is a beautiful example of a nonprofit stewarding the preservation and mission of The Shell, on behalf of the City of Memphis and our citizens. My life is ultimately about service of my community and I work to establish myself in the lens of equity making myself and the work of my nonprofit work accessible. I remember in the early days of my career in 2005, I was contracted by a local adoption agency in Memphis to look for new adoptive families for waiting children in Shelby County Foster Care. I learned, from that experience, that intentionality to build relationships can not be passive but meeting people where they are and solving community need through access. The cornerstone of my personal life’s mission is being a catalyst for others around ACCESS–resources, mission, opportunity and love.

I guess my proudest career moment was the unveiling of Shelby Farms Park’s capital development, Heart of the Park in 2016. After almost a decade of service through Shelby Farms Park Conservancy, seeing a bold vision come to life was incredibly edifying but prepared me for where I am today—taking The Overton Park Shell, being willing to think outside of its box, helping it evolve for the community’s need –with vision and determination. The Shell is about to unveil what is called the ‘Mobile Shell’, and is the first of its kind in the world–totally hydraulic, mobile replica of our historic stage–with the sound, lighting and power inside of it. The Shell’s mission of building community will be outside of its historic walls in Overton Park but through every community of Memphis and Shelby County.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 2006, due to a series of major health concerns, I learned that I would need to have a full hysterectomy at the age of 28, I realized that I would not be able to have children and be mom. I had always thought that part of my life would be a mother and the reality of that experience, at the time, was staggering to me. I remember asking myself, ‘what will be my legacy now? how will, as a woman, not feel as if I have lost part of my purpose?’ I remember having a conversation with a friend which changed the trajectory of my focus and ultimately my life….She said to me, Natalie, you can be an advocate for everyone through your legacy. That word ‘advocate’ became the driver for my career and the way I have chosen to invest in people–from my staff, my partnerships, communities that I serve, making myself intentionally open, available and ready to invest in others.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Opportunity is what I believe is the strongest catalyst of creating a healthy, sustainable creative ecosystem. Artists, especially in Memphis, struggle with the ability to have a sustainable business to live through their art form. I hear it everyday–I can’t afford to live in Memphis and do my craft because there is not enough opportunity and we as a community devalue the service that artistic expression provides us. My opinion that we have to change this through intensional access for them to opportunities–being paid at a living wage that they can sustain so they can continue to cultivate their craft and art as their business and career–not just a side hustle. In my career, I work to make the Overton Park Shell as a resource to local artists to have opportunity and we pay them at a competitive wage supporting their skill and talent.   

Contact Info:

• Website: overtonparkshell.org
• Instagram: n_m_wilson
• Facebook: Natalie Montgomery Wilson
• Linkedin: Natalie Wilson

Image Credits
Craig Thompson Natalie Wilson