Ashley Brantley

Ashley Brantley served as editor of Better Tennessee through 2018. She has more than 15 years of experience in writing, editing, social media and public relations.

Ashley’s background in journalism, social media and PR gives her a well-rounded view of how communications can succeed. After working for several years as a reporter at the Tennessee state capitol, Ashley returned to school to get her MA in journalism and public relations from University of Memphis.

Ashley volunteers her writing and marketing skills to Our Kids, a Nashville nonprofit that helps children and families affected by child sexual abuse, where she is on both the board and marketing committee. Ashley’s writing has been published in Frommer’s Travel Guides, The Nashville Scene, and many more.

Stories by this contributor

1. 

   Report Card: Dental Health In Tennessee: How our mouths affect our health

   Tennessee ranks 38th for dental health in the nation. Here’s how we stack up.
2. 

   7 Things You Don’t Know About Health in Memphis

   Today, more Memphians than ever before are working together to improve health in their city. Here are some things you may not know about health in Memphis.
3. 

   Forces at Play: Exploring the intuitive design of the upcoming BlueCross Healthy Place at David Carnes Park in Memphis

   Could the path to happiness start at your local park? It sounds too good to be true, but research increasingly shows it’s a real possibility. A recent study of well-being in 44 major cities across the U.S. found that park coverage was among the best predictors of residents’ health and happiness. The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation is investing in Memphis parks through its first BlueCross Healthy Place project, the revitalization of David Carnes Park in the city’s Whitehaven neighborhood. “Concentrating our giving on BlueCross Healthy Places will allow us to have a bigger impact within our communities, reaching both urban and rural areas across the state,” said Scott Wilson, BlueCross director of community relations and health foundation. “We’re […]
4. 

   The Path to Parenthood

   For Torey Covington, motherhood was a journey that she expected to face alone. “I was 19 and pregnant and didn’t have any support from my child’s father,” Covington says. “I couldn’t even finish school.” “I was young and lost, and I didn’t know where I was heading.” “But as soon as I met my case worker from Baby University, MaryBeth Steffey,  I knew I was in good hands.” Since 2015, Baby University has been partnering with expectant parents and those with young children to create sustainable futures so children can thrive. The Chattanooga-based program focuses on childhood development from prenatal stages to preschool. And it provides mothers and fathers with the tools to enhance a child’s stability while achieving their […]

   The Path to Parenthood: Two women talk about how Baby University helped them realize their full potential

   For Torey Covington, motherhood was a journey that she expected to face alone. “I was 19 and pregnant and didn’t have any support from my child’s father,” Covington says. “I couldn’t even finish school.” “I was young and lost, and I didn’t know where I was heading.” “But as soon as I met my case worker from Baby University, MaryBeth Steffey,  I knew I was in good hands.” Since 2015, Baby University has been partnering with expectant parents and those with young children to create sustainable futures so children can thrive. The Chattanooga-based program focuses on childhood development from prenatal stages to preschool. And it provides mothers and fathers with the tools to enhance a child’s stability while achieving their […]
5. 

   Step Outside

   Walking is good for you — this we know. But does it matter where you walk? One recent study shows it might. People who walked through nature for 90 minutes showed reduced activity in parts of the brain linked to mental illness compared to people who walked through a city. Other studies have shown that walking in nature — or even just viewing pictures of nature — can improve a person’s ability to concentrate and problem solve. In Tennessee, we’re surrounded by nature, which means we can take advantage of its restorative properties every day. Here are 5 places where you can do that without ever leaving the city: Chattanooga’s Riverwalk The Chattanooga Riverwalk stretches 13 miles along the Tennessee […]

   Step Outside: 5 places to embrace the outdoors in Tennessee cities

   Walking is good for you — this we know. But does it matter where you walk? One recent study shows it might. People who walked through nature for 90 minutes showed reduced activity in parts of the brain linked to mental illness compared to people who walked through a city. Other studies have shown that walking in nature — or even just viewing pictures of nature — can improve a person’s ability to concentrate and problem solve. In Tennessee, we’re surrounded by nature, which means we can take advantage of its restorative properties every day. Here are 5 places where you can do that without ever leaving the city: Chattanooga’s Riverwalk The Chattanooga Riverwalk stretches 13 miles along the Tennessee […]
6. 

   Teen Suicide in Tennessee

   Think about what a day looks like for today’s teenager. Most days, you’re balancing eight hours of class, after-school activities, hours of homework and maintaining relationships with family and friends. Some are doing all that while working part time. Most are doing it while trying to maintain a certain image in the outside world, in person and online — all while internally struggling with self-esteem issues that are common during adolescence. For some teens, online image holds a lot of importance. The Pew Research Center reports 94% of teens who go online using a mobile device do so daily, and 71% use more than one social media site when they do. That can lead to intense peer pressure, scrutiny and […]

   Teen Suicide in Tennessee: Are today’s youth more at risk than previous generations?

   Think about what a day looks like for today’s teenager. Most days, you’re balancing eight hours of class, after-school activities, hours of homework and maintaining relationships with family and friends. Some are doing all that while working part time. Most are doing it while trying to maintain a certain image in the outside world, in person and online — all while internally struggling with self-esteem issues that are common during adolescence. For some teens, online image holds a lot of importance. The Pew Research Center reports 94% of teens who go online using a mobile device do so daily, and 71% use more than one social media site when they do. That can lead to intense peer pressure, scrutiny and […]
7. 

   Good Sports

   Who do you admire most? Ask a kid that question and you’ll get lots of answers, but research shows there are a few that consistently top the list: Parents Athletes Teachers While 92% of kids say their parents are their biggest role models, 73% say they “look up to or want to be like” professional or Olympic athletes. Teachers are on par at 72%. So how can communities use that power for good? In Nashville, the Preds hockey players host an annual community day as well as Preds Prospect days in June. In partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, 36 rookie Nashville Predators went to 9 locations across Nashville to interact with kids and do some good in their new […]

   Good Sports: BlueCross volunteers and Nashville Predators partner to connect with kids in the community

   Who do you admire most? Ask a kid that question and you’ll get lots of answers, but research shows there are a few that consistently top the list: Parents Athletes Teachers While 92% of kids say their parents are their biggest role models, 73% say they “look up to or want to be like” professional or Olympic athletes. Teachers are on par at 72%. So how can communities use that power for good? In Nashville, the Preds hockey players host an annual community day as well as Preds Prospect days in June. In partnership with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, 36 rookie Nashville Predators went to 9 locations across Nashville to interact with kids and do some good in their new […]
8. 

   Walking in Memphis

   “Just start walking.” When doctors encourage people to start exercising, walking is often step one. It’s an activity most people can do, it’s easy and it’s free — but it’s not always that simple. “You can’t tell someone to go and walk their neighborhood if there’s no sidewalk, or to walk around the park if there’s no park,” says Jenny Bartlett-Prescott, senior director of integrated health programs for Church Health in Memphis. As a nonprofit providing services to those with little or no access to health care, Church Health sees firsthand how the environment matters. The built environment includes all of the physical parts of where we live and work: homes, buildings, streets, open spaces. According to the CDC, the […]

   Walking in Memphis: How the built environment affects health: Q&A with Church Health’s Jenny Bartlett-Prescott

   “Just start walking.” When doctors encourage people to start exercising, walking is often step one. It’s an activity most people can do, it’s easy and it’s free — but it’s not always that simple. “You can’t tell someone to go and walk their neighborhood if there’s no sidewalk, or to walk around the park if there’s no park,” says Jenny Bartlett-Prescott, senior director of integrated health programs for Church Health in Memphis. As a nonprofit providing services to those with little or no access to health care, Church Health sees firsthand how the environment matters. The built environment includes all of the physical parts of where we live and work: homes, buildings, streets, open spaces. According to the CDC, the […]
9. 

   Obesity Quiz

   Tennessee’s children are now the heaviest in the nation, and adults don’t fare much better, ranking sixth. As we know, obesity is a serious health problem and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. See how much you know about obesity in Tennessee, and scroll down to read about efforts to change it. Take the Quiz Stories about fitness & obesity awareness in Tennessee

   Obesity Quiz: Test your knowledge and learn what Tennesseans are doing to stop the epidemic

   Tennessee’s children are now the heaviest in the nation, and adults don’t fare much better, ranking sixth. As we know, obesity is a serious health problem and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. See how much you know about obesity in Tennessee, and scroll down to read about efforts to change it. Take the Quiz Stories about fitness & obesity awareness in Tennessee
10. 

    Report Card: Senior Health

    There are more than 1 million people ages 65+ in Tennessee. That’s 16% of Tennessee’s 6.7 million people. National Health Index The conditions with the biggest health impacts in Tennessee that affect seniors are: Hypertension: 13.5% Depression: 8.8% Substance or alcohol abuse: 8.2% High cholesterol: 7.8% Heart disease: 7.6% Diabetes: 5.9% COPD: 4% According to the BCBS Health Index, the health impact of a condition is how much it adversely affects the health of a population. Hypertension 1 in every 2 Tennessee seniors has high blood pressure. Depression Diabetes More than 25% of U.S. seniors have diabetes. That percentage is higher in Tennessee. Heart disease Alzheimer’s disease 110,000 Tennesseans age 65+ have Alzheimer’s disease. There has been a 148% increase […]

    Report Card: Senior Health: A quick look at the over-65 population in Tennessee

    There are more than 1 million people ages 65+ in Tennessee. That’s 16% of Tennessee’s 6.7 million people. National Health Index The conditions with the biggest health impacts in Tennessee that affect seniors are: Hypertension: 13.5% Depression: 8.8% Substance or alcohol abuse: 8.2% High cholesterol: 7.8% Heart disease: 7.6% Diabetes: 5.9% COPD: 4% According to the BCBS Health Index, the health impact of a condition is how much it adversely affects the health of a population. Hypertension 1 in every 2 Tennessee seniors has high blood pressure. Depression Diabetes More than 25% of U.S. seniors have diabetes. That percentage is higher in Tennessee. Heart disease Alzheimer’s disease 110,000 Tennesseans age 65+ have Alzheimer’s disease. There has been a 148% increase […]