By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — As the 200 runners lined up Saturday morning, the cold did not seem to be an issue. It was the first time, post covid that the diverse group of runners, all ages, races and runners from organizations across the city, were able to line up together, side by side, and run. The excitement and smiles shown everywhere. Everyone was more than ready. Sponsored by the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA for 27 years, it’s an opportunity for the community to join in the celebration and mission of the YWCA to eliminate racism and empower women. The…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The theme “Moving On Towards Freedom, Justice, and Equality” perfectly describes the Knoxville 2023 celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Events celebrating Dr. King will begin in the winter months and culminate as summer arrives. One of the largest and longest celebrations in the country; the Martin Luther King Commemorative Commission has planned nine major events to be held around the city celebrating through the arts, education, forums, an oratorical contest, tributes and prayer services. The events will culminate in the new tradition of marching in the Juneteenth…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It has been said that relationships matter. In the quest to continue to make sure the marginalized communities of Knoxville are able to receive covid-19 and flu vaccine for free, the Knoxville Area Urban Leagues navigators with their ALL!N vaccine project have been working to build relationships across the city and county to reach those citizens who are in dire need of care. The latest partnership, between Cherokee Health Systems, the trusted messengers of the Fish Pantry and the urban league resulted in citizens in North Knoxville receiving food, vaccines and free health care.…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Kwanzaa, the seven day celebration of African American culture and values begins Monday December 26th at the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA and runs through January 1st. As it has been for over three decades, activities are planned all over the city with the community encouraged to attend the many events planned for the celebration. Kwanzaa means first in Swahili and celebrates the seven principles of African heritage: Umoja, (unity), Kujichagulia, (self-determination), Ujima, (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa, (cooperative economics), Nia, (purpose), Kuumba, (creativity), and Imani, (faith).
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — A Christmas Story: The Night The Bus Stopped in Knoxville: Everyone beneath the sound of my voice, come with me….we are taking a trip into the future….all around you are people sitting in seats side by side…they are soldiers, young parents, grandparents, Abuelas, YAYAs, BIBIs, TIAs, immigrants, refugees….some are traveling for sanctuary, others…going home to surprise their loved ones…some will stop in Knoxville, others will travel through. They can’t see us…but we see them…. the bus is coming into Knoxville around 4 am…Its raining – or maybe it’s snowing… but that’s okay, no worries,…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Early in the wee hours of the morning a bus pulls up and passengers file off a Greyhound bus and find themselves without water, a place to use the restroom or even sit down. Add to that the fact that the bus drop location off has been changed three different times in the past six months, leaving people walking up and down empty dark streets at 4 and 5 in the morning and you have a tragedy waiting to happen. The latest drop off point came unannounced during the Thanksgiving Holiday travel weekend as…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “Life will be better, the world will be better, when all of the children know they are somebody.” These were the nuggets of wisdom spoken by civil rights icon, The Honorable Reverend Dr. Harold Middlebrook as he accepted the 2022 Legacy Award from the Emerald Youth Foundation before a crowd of over 1,300 at the Knoxville Convention Center. The Emerald Youth Foundation has a mission to work with churches and faith-based organizations and works to engage the youth in Knoxville Tennessee through faith, learning and health. Dr. Middlebrook was recognized for his commitment to…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The heavy rains finally ended Saturday afternoon – opening the door to a harsh night for the homeless. Not only will they sleep on wet grass and concrete- but the temperature will also drop into the low twenties – it will be that way every night for the next seven nights with the overnight low only rising to 30 degrees until the next Saturday. For a city that has seen the homeless and houseless population grow since the pandemic and housing crisis – the situation is dire and life threatening. With no official warming…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Faith, compassion, education, service, and love. these are the five core values of The Mend House, a sober living community created by Founder and Executive Director, Reico Hopewell. Now a 501c3 organization, over the years since it began in 2015, over 2500 men have been able to rebuild their lives and transition back into mainstream society. It takes time to recover and at The Mend House there is time to recover, rebuild, and re-engage. Addiction knows no age or color and men, ages eighteen and up, from all walks of life, dealing with alcohol…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It was an evening of celebration, recognition, and awareness raising. What made it even more unique was the number of bold and courageous African American women who put on the gala with the theme: “Unmasking Domestic Violence”. On Saturday evening, October 29th at the Jubilee Banquet Hall, the storytelling and testimonies flowed. From Generation Z up to the baby boomers – one gentleman and several women on program stood, determined to tell their stories in hopes saving lives now and in the future. While each had a story of survival – one woman, Hannah…