KNOXVILLE, TN — Dewey Roberts II received the Whitney Young Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award from the Knoxville Area Urban League. The award, named after Whitney Young Jr., the fourth National Urban League director, honors those individuals who, throughout their lifetime, have modeled the league’s mission of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, economic self-reliance, and civil rights. For over 70 years, civil rights icon Roberts has lived, fought, and stood in the trenches for his brothers and sisters in the movement to be treated fairly. Roberts, a quiet and humble man, is not one to raise his voice. In fact, he speaks…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
KNOXVILLE, TN — In 2006, an organization was formed to serve the community outside the church walls. Founded by Keira Wyatt and her late husband David Wyatt, for over two decades the organization has served thousands through its many programs. C.O.N.N.E.C.T. stands for “community organizations networking neighborhoods encouraging change together.” From its origin, the organization has done exactly that. It is a Christ-centered, hands-on resource center whose first partnership with Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church has grown into connections with multiple organizations over the years. C.O.N.N.E.C.T. became a 501(c)(3) in 2008 and serves as an in-house hub of activity,…
KNOXVILLE, TN — A maker, by one definition, is one who has the gift to take raw materials, ideas and concepts and bring them to life: one able to communicate those ideas with other like-minded talented individuals, birthing beautiful objects from heart and mind. For these talented individuals, the end product is just part of the creative journey, for from the very beginning of the thought to the feel of materials used, even the bumps and bruises along the creation pathway, all of the experiences matter to the maker. Margo Miller is that kind of maker. Born and raised in…
KNOXVILLE, TN — Magnolia Avenue, in its heyday, was the most prominent two-and-a-half-mile stretch in Knoxville. One of the first areas to have electric streetcar lines, the avenue boasted many restaurants, churches, and beautiful buildings with names that rolled off the tongue. The Aston, Shenandoah, and Lakewood were part of the beauty that made the corridor. A key entrance point to the city with interstate connections, the Magnolia corridor flows from the old city in downtown Knoxville, ending at the entranceway to historic Chilhowee Park. The corridor lies in East Knoxville, the African American part of the city. After urban…
KNOXVILLE, TN — The effort to hide Black history, including the history of the African American women who fought to get the 19th amendment, from the youth is failing in Knoxville, Tennessee. I AM the Voice of the Voiceless and The Suffrage Coalition are being intentional to make it known how much women of color were a very important part of the movement by providing a platform for the children of the state of Tennessee to research and write about the women in their communities and across the country who were Black suffragists. Not only are they allowing the children…
KNOXVILLE TN — When CEO Tanika Harper founded the Shora Foundation, her mission was to create a safe place for underserved communities to thrive. The Nigerian word Shora means Safe Place. Over the last 15 years the organization has been able to provide that safe space by offering youth education opportunities in the African American community. Working with kids year-round, students in her programs successfully move to their next grade levels, excelling in reading and math. Her program also teaches entrepreneurial skills as she believes the youth are the legacy of communities. Harper’s organization sets in one of the many…
KNOXVILLE, TN — Black History Month ended on the calendar of America, but the center teaching the youth of the true origins of a magnificent people who were Kings, Queens, mathematicians, and seafaring traders and warriors in Africa for thousands of years never stops. The lost connection of Black Americans to the lands from which they were taken is nowhere in the history books of America. Coupled with the intentional erasure of the contributions to the country by Black inventors, musicians, educators, scientist, and other areas that have made America what it is, has caused a great disconnect in this…
Knoxville, TN-Rain or snow, It’s an all-day celebration. Held annually by the Knoxville Phylliss Wheatley Branch of the YWCA, the event draws hundreds the weekend before Martin Luther King day to celebrate diversity, raise awareness about racism and promote inclusivity. The morning events included a certified 5K, a one-mile walk or run for the adults with a kid’s fun run also held. The races are the precursor to a day filled with activities, food, music, family activities and information booths. The major sponsor for this year was Brian Christopher Clay owner of WJZF 91.5 FM radio. Copyright TNTRIBUNE 2026. All…
KNOXVILLE TN — The elections of 2026 are shaping up to be a pivotal time America’s history. From the legislative branches in Washington, to local elections across the country, the promise of change is in the air as parties position themselves for the upcoming battle to gain and regain votes and voters. Leadership matters and the Democratic Party in Knoxville is preparing for the upcoming battle. Domonica Bryan took the helm as Chair of the Knoxville Democratic Party as 2025 ended with promises of a new vision to move the party forward by connecting to every community and creating new…
KNOXVILLE, TN — With over 62 percent of the vote, Denzel Grant, veteran, father, and community leader, was sworn in as the next city council representative for District Six before a cheering crowd at the Knoxville Convention Center on December 20th. Grant, former director of Turn UP Knox, a phenomenally successful violence interruption project that significantly reduced the number of gun deaths on the streets of Knoxville since 2022, will join four other new representatives when he assumes his position. During his campaign, Grant’s platform was built on violence prevention, expanding affordable housing, and advocating for equity in East Knoxville.…