Earlier this year, BNA Talent Group in conjunction with O&AN asked readers to submit nominations for a Nashville-Metro resident from 2012 that inspired the community in a truly meaningful and impactful way.

While readers submitted more than 50 nominations, the stories that poured in about Vic Sorrell’s community service and inspirational actions eased a difficult selection process.

Active in the Nashville community as the Coordinator of GLBTQI HIV Prevention Education at Nashville CARES, as well as being a HIV community educator/recruiter with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center HIV Vaccine Trials Program, Sorrell’s tireless work with these agencies provided both a foundation for the inaugural award and a high level of achievement for future recipients.

“Hopefully some of the inspiration I receive on a daily basis is actually moving through me and out to those in the community I serve,” Sorrell said of the honor. “To think that I may have shared something, at some point, with someone that has somehow improved their quality of life or increased their love of self, is an aspect of real success to me.”

Born in southwestern Virginia, Sorrell came to Nashville to pursue a music business degree at Belmont University. Like many, Sorrell became a victim of the 2008 recession and found himself looking for work.

With what Sorrell refers to as serendipity, he found a position with Nashville CARES that he says really resonated with him. “I was at a place in my life where I intended to do more philanthropic work and it was a fit right from the very beginning.”

Sorrell became involved with the Vanderbilt HIV Vaccine Program in 2009 while working with Nashville CARES.  Shortly after enrolling as an HIV-negative volunteer in a preventive HIV vaccine study, a unique position opened within the program for which Sorrell’s previous marketing experience was perfectly matched. Sorrell has been with the program since.

While inspiring others, Sorrell has continued to find inspiration in music. “Singing is the most natural thing I have ever done in my life and music is a part of who I am intrinsically,” Sorrell shared.

In 2012, Sorrell released a CD called Forever Changed—a title that aptly describes his journey since moving to Music City and he still performs and tours with the inspirational group Source. In fact, he revealed that they will soon begin work on a second album.

Even when performing, Sorrell carries an inspirational and hopeful message on stage. “I know I’ll always use a stage as a platform to speak about causes in which I believe such as HIV awareness and stigma reduction,” he shared.

While Sorrell inspires hope in those around him, he also has hopes for the community in which he lives. When asked where he saw Tennessee in 10 years, Sorrell hoped for a greater celebration of diversity, state employees to have domestic partner benefits, additional funding for social causes to promote the well-being of one another and finally to be able to have the right to legally marry whomever he chooses.

A lofty list but this is a lofty gentleman who has already proven that he is not only walking the walk of inspiration but whistling and singing its tune as well.

Additional reporting by Linda Brewer