Creating Change at Home: Paloma Buck’s Victory with Transit Plan

How a Belmont senior became a campaign director on Nashville’s recently approved transit plan 

Born and raised in Nashville, Paloma Buck has always held a personal stake in this rapidly growing city. She witnessed her hometown transform from a mid-sized community to a vacation destination hub. While infrastructure expanded to support tourism, she watched many residents become increasingly cut off from the metro area. 

Buck studies political science at Belmont. When her professor Dr. Vaughn May invited Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell to speak to her freshman class, she spoke to him after class, wanting to get involved with the mayor’s office. 

Mayor O’Connell agreed to meet for coffee and invited her to join the ground floor of his “Choose How You Move” transit improvement campaign — which nearly 66% of voters approved during the Nov. 6 election. 

Buck joined the grassroots campaign working full-time during summers and part-time during school, rising to one of its campaign directors. The team grew from five members to more than 20. 

During the campaign, she managed social media, organized community outreach events and helped design transit-themed beverages for local restaurants — a strategy that engaged Nashville’s hospitality industry while promoting the plan to its patrons.

Beyond marketing experience or personal connections, Buck was always focused on understanding the human impact of transportation policy. 

“I think about families living far outside the city that aren’t able to get a job downtown because of transportation, or the mothers who don’t feel it’s safe to take their kid to the bus stop because there aren’t sidewalks,” said Buck. “Those are the stories that are special to me. They’re why I care so much about this project — there are people who need it.” 

Between her transit campaign work and her role at the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, Buck plans to focus on human rights, wanting to create meaningful change through future legal work, nonprofit advocacy or policy development. 

She credits challenging conversations within Belmont’s political science classes for shaping her perspective. 

“I’ve changed my mind several times on an issue before because of class discussions,” she said. “Our classes are about understanding different viewpoints, not just defending your own. That’s something you don’t get in bigger poly sci programs at other schools.” 

Buck also credits her professors for opening doors through their community connections to Nashville's accessible political scene. 

“Dr. May and Dr. Nathan Griffith are incredible and give students special attention that bigger state schools won’t give you,” she said. “I also have to shout out the opportunities here in Nashville. There are lots of opportunities for advancement because our office is prioritizing people’s needs, not just Broadway.” 

Currently balancing her studies, policy work and role as president of Belmont Dems, the University’s Democrat student organization, Buck represents the growing trend of Gen Zers engaged in political advocacy. 

Her trajectory suggests meaningful change does not have to wait until after graduation — it can start as a student with support and dedication.