By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Rick Staples was there, along with hundreds of other art lovers, sponsors, and contributors. They had come from far and wide, from New York, even as far away as Paris France . Of course they did; after all, this dream to bring the great works of Knoxville’s native son, artist extraordinare, Beauford Delaney back home, had been a dream and a goal of the art community and Knoxville Museum of Arts curator Stephen C. Wicks Delaney is considered one of the greatest American Abstract painters of the 20th century and there was great collaboration…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — This year is the 100th year anniversary of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote. ALL women. That fight saw women jailed, beaten, ostracized, even force fed in that battle to obtain that right. African American women were part of that struggle and will be recognized and celebrated in a showcase to be held February 29th in Knoxville. Women leaders from across the city will sing, act, speak and dance in a celebration and awareness raising afternoon. There will also be an essay project held for grades 5th thru 12th . The…
KNOXVILLE, TN — Let Freedom Ring: Social Justice, Economic Empowerment, Love, Peace and Unity. This was the theme.for the 38th Annual King Week in Knoxville sponsored by the MLK Jr. Commemorative Commission under the leadership of Deborah Porter, Chair. Eleven events and two historical occasions drew hundreds to events around the city. Arts Tributes, performances with the Knoxville Symphony, a celebration choir, interfaith prayer services, symposiums, a race against racism and a community forum were among the many activities. The week also kicked off the 100 year celebration of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA and the directing debut of Johnathan Clark,…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Go back and get what we left behind….this was the meaning of the African word spoken by Ronni Chandler, keynote speaker for the Knoxville Emancipation Proclamation Service held on New Year’s Day. Hosted by the Knoxville NAACP at the historic Mt. Zion Baptist Church ; the crowd who had gathered to remember the day the slaves were freed , listened as Chandler boldly and accurately broke down the history and issued a challenge. Her words were so clear and memorable, even the young people in attendance were able to repeat much of what she…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — With those three words, “Let us begin,” an historical mayoral inauguration ushered in the promise of great change in Knoxville. The inauguration ceremony was history making right from the beginning as Yassin Syrian was chosen as the Master of Ceremonies by newly-elected Mayor Indya Kincannon. Yassin, whose company, Yassins Falafel House was chosen as the nicest place in America by Good Morning America, shared his story of coming to America nine years ago with nothing and his humble beginnings of selling sandwiches on the street. He shared his story to show how the acceptance…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Ronni Chandler, Project GRAD Executive Director, stood before them with the report they had requested and with the push of a button presented a PowerPoint report that confirmed what over 1,000 people who showed up before the Knoxville School Board over a year ago in support of Project GRAD already knew, the program is making a difference in the lives of the students it serves. In April of 2018, citizens of Knoxville filled the Board of Education meeting room, the hallways, and the lawn outside the building with over 1,000 people in protest of…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They know it works. They have walked it. All they needed was a second chance. The living testimony presented by Tim and Shannon Macklin was an example of the fall and successful rise of the life of a former opioid addicted husband and wife. During the fourth ALL4KNOX townhall meeting held by the family/community sector, The Macklin’s shared their stories of becoming addicted to opioids. They were very transparent about their losses of their homes, jobs, children, family, time in jail, and sickness. They were also open about the stigma they overcame, their bold…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The Holidays are coming. During the season, tempers flair, in families people fight, shoppers react negatively, crimes increase; adults and children alike are affected by the season. But why? ACES may be the answer to not only holiday reactions but many other situations arising in the lives of those we interact with. ACES, also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences was the topic presented by Peer Recovery Grief and Loss Specialist Wraquel Spencer Brown at the third ALL4Knox town hall meeting. She advised the crowd to begin to look at people through a trauma lens…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “When We Fight, WE WIN.” Those were the words the sellout crowd boldly chanted during the 100 year anniversary celebration of the founding of the Knoxville Branch of the NAACP. The event was celebrated with a sold out Honors Award Gala held at Mount Calvary Baptist Church on November 14th. It was an historic night of resolutions read by Mayor Madeline Rogero, awards presented to pillars of the community, and a rousing no-nonsense speech by Mrs. Gloria J. Sweet-Love, President, Tennessee State Conference NAACP in Jackson, TN. Local President Rev. Dr. John Butler stood…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — With those words, Jacqueline Holloway, college educated, from a close knit family, began to tell her story of substance misuse and her journey from losing everything; her home, her possessions, her family, and her journey back from living in her car, back to a successful life of restoration of all she had lost. That’s the goal of the meetings: to hear the stories from those willing to share. Ms. Holloway was the first speaker at the first of 19 town hall zip code meetings being held in Knoxville/Knox County. The town halls are part of…