By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — She serves. Already a Knox County Commissioner, she now adds another hat to the many she already wears, that of Chief Operating Officer of the historic Knoxville College, built in 1875. It is fitting that that Knoxville College, rising up from the ashes after great efforts by former state legislator Rick Staples to get the schools accreditation back, be led by a woman whose is known as a visionary, and with her qualifications and expertise, well able to oversee the big picture operations of one of the oldest and most historic colleges in the…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “We are a friend of Justice.” Those are the words of Reverend Sam Brown, newly elected President of the Knoxville NAACP. The Knoxville Chapter celebrated its 100 year anniversary in 2019 and one year later has elected its youngest president. Those who know him would tell you like Paul said of Timothy, not to disparage his age for he is more than qualified to lead the organization. which has grown to over 200 members over the last year. Rev. Brown, who pastors Logan Temple AME Zion Church has long been an activist in Knoxville.…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They started lining up on New Year’s Eve. Despite their advanced age, heavy rains, then winds and fog that would not let up till the sun came back out on Saturday; people lined up: sleeping in tents, many brought chairs and others came in wheelchairs struggling, helped over traffic medians by people who stepped out of line to help them get in line. The collaborative goal: to get the vaccine that hopefully would save their lives and keep them from joining the over 310,000 Americans already dead from covid-19. Just like the movie Willy…
By Vivian Shipe The council meeting lasted over five hours but when it was over, a council that had already made history with the election of Indya Kincannon as its second female mayor, the selection of its first African American female vice mayor and a first-time female majority council, made history again — this time they voted to right the wrongs of an urban removal project that began in 1959 and lasted through 1970. The long-range results of that project destroyed the long-standing Black community in Knoxville to make way for a new infrastructure for downtown. Led by a strong…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The numbers in Knoxville are in the red zone. Hospitals are filling up. The Knoxville Board of Health has issued regulations banning gatherings of more than 10 people. The death count is over 200. People are dying. Funeral homes are busy. Testing is needed. Once again, The Faith Leaders Church Initiative moves into action. The 70 churches who have been meeting every Thursday since May, along with several community organizations have banned together to hold another Drive-Up, Drive-Thru testing event. The first one was highly successful with over 500 people tested. In partnership with…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They have been in the field from the beginning of the pandemic. Essential workers, battling to save lives and prevent deaths thru testing. Doctors, educators, nurses, clinicians, nurse practitioner’s, researchers, statisticians, Their war is two fold, they fight to save lives and they fight to save their own people, for these are African Americans leading this charge. Undeterred , they have been waging a war against COVID-19 since March when the killer disease first reared its head. All over the country they have served in and outside of hospitals. Now, the battle takes a…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Giving. Its not just in the form of money. Worldwide the giving came in many forms on December 1st. Despite the pandemic the world is suffering from, the first Tuesday of December citizens and businesses opened their hearts and wallets to share what they had with others. This giving came in the form of money, time, advocacy, services and goods. Called “Giving Tuesday,” Knoxville Mayors Indya Kincanon and Glen Jacobs worked in partnership with the United Way on the Big Give in Knoxville. Many small nonprofits across the city did not wait for Tuesday.…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The sun shone down from a beautiful blue cloudless sky. The purple tents were set up outside in recognition of the need to social distance during the ceremony honoring community leaders and volunteers who had worked tirelessly over the last two years during the 2020 Census. A proclamation from County Mayor Glen Jacobs and Certificates of Recognition from The Voice of the Voiceless made it a joyful and thankful occasion befitting the beginning of the holiday season. November 19th in Knoxville will now forever be known as Positive Census Impact Day. The leaders and…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — No matter the weather they are out there. Every Monday, year after year. Doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, case managers, pharmacy students and RN’s are joined by volunteers and donors to provide free health care, a hot meal, and personal items to the poor and homeless. There are no fees charged. People are seen by those in the medical field who are there not for profit but to do one thing: use the gifts and skills they have to help heal others. They do it not with a brick and mortar clinic but rather in…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The Young Professionals of Knoxville selected Vrondelia Ronni Chandler, executive director of Project Grad as the recipient of their prestigious Impact Award. The award is given every year to a leader who helps young professionals become leaders who serve the community. The recipient is selected by the example they present in their personal and professional lives. Chandler, who has been married for over 45 years to her childhood sweetheart Tim Chandler; serves in the ministry at her church, First AME Zion Church, and has long been a mentor for young people in Knoxville. A…