Dismas House Makes the Cover of Nashville Business Journal
November 6, 2025
We are pleased to share that our very own Dismas House CEO, Steven Murff, appeared on the cover of the most recent issue of the Nashville Business Journal. The cover and cover story features Leaders Moving Nashville Forward. You may see his interview with the Nashville Business Journal below and be sure to click this link to read the full article on the NBJ website.
NBJ: What does Dismas House Do?
Steven Murff: Dismas House empowers justice-involved individuals through holistic reentry services, championing diversity, dignity and second chances across Tennessee.
What’s your advice to companies pursuing DEI efforts today?
The most important first step is intentional self-assessment. Organizations must take a hard look at their internal culture, policies and practices to understand where inequities exist and where inclusion can be meaningfully improved. This reflection should be honest, data informed and driven by a desire for lasting cultural change, not short-term optics.
Grade Nashville on its inclusion practices. What would you like to see change to improve that grade?
Nashville deserves a passing but cautious grade, perhaps a B-minus, for its inclusion efforts. The city has made visible progress in areas like community outreach, cultural recognition and increasing representation in public appointments.
There is a growing awareness and willingness among leaders and organizations to engage in conversations around race, equity and access. Efforts to support minority-owned businesses, immigrants and refugees have also improved over the past decade, reflecting a broader commitment to becoming a more inclusive city. However, these efforts still fall short of fully addressing the structural barriers and disparities that persist.
What one book should everyone read, and why?
Reading “Night” was one of the most emotionally jarring and intellectually clarifying experiences I’ve had, and it fundamentally reshaped how I view humanity, justice and my responsibility to others. It’s a slim book, but its weight is immeasurable. It doesn’t present history in abstract terms. It places the reader inside it, with the fear, the confusion, the despair and the silence. That silence, above all, is what lingers. In a world where conversations about diversity and inclusion can sometimes become buzzwords or performance, “Night” strips away all pretenses.