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…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
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…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The location has changed, the strong and loyal leadership has not. In early October the CAC East office opened on Asheville Highway with a grand opening of it’s new location, Director Albert Nelson greeted people with a humble and proud smile. From his early days in transportation, he has been with the CAC in many positions for over 46 years. His dedication to the inner city and East Knoxville community is known far and wide and has never wavered. Nor has his reputation of integrity. He holds high standards and expectations of the young…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — When the polls open for early voting on October 16th in Knoxville the citizens of Knoxville will be making a decision between two of current Mayor Rogero’s former employees: Indya Kincannon and Eddie Mannis. By the time the polls close on November 5th, one will be the next city mayor of Knoxville. Mannis is born and bred in Knoxville. He owns Prestige Cleaners with 13 locations and under Rogero was Knoxville’s first Chief Operating Officer. For over 10 years, his organization Honor Air Knoxville, has flown over 3500 veterans from the WWII , Korea, and…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — For over twenty years she has been using art as therapy in the inner city of Knoxville. Audrey Wallace has been an advocate for young children, showing up in parks and centers helping children see their future in a positive light . Audrey Wallace shows up in a park and all over Knoxville, children come from all over to sit with the “Art Lady.” For awhile technology is forgotten and the children become fully engaged in creating vision boards and coloring pages as Miss Wallace teaches love, resolves conflicts, and encourages them to believe…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — If you sit at the feet of this elder, she will take you back through time almost a hundred years. Meet Mrs. Clara Curd Hall Hughes. In September she will celebrate her 99th birthday. Still driving her car, quick witted and with a sharp mind; she remembers, oh how she remembers. She was the first African American female maintenance supervisor hired into Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was part of the Secret City Manhattan Project. Clara is quick to tell you they had no idea of what was being built in that man made city…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — On Monday, August 26th, Channara Pheap died in the rain. The Knox County Regional Forensic Center listed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the back. Beyond this fact, everything else about what led to the young man of Cambodian descent being shot by Knoxville City police officer Dylan Williams is unclear. One reason: city officers do not wear body cameras. This lack of clear understanding of what exactly happened has led to an uproar in the Knoxville community. As Mayor Rogero asked for the city to remain calm as the investigation…
Commissioner Schwinn, left, and Representative Staples listen as questions flow from attendees. Photos by Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “I am always aware, no matter where I go in the state, these are my babies; almost one million of them. We are raising our future.” These were the words of Penny Schwinn, education commissioner for Ten- nessee. She spoke for nearly one hour before educators and other members of the Knoxville community at a “Fireside Chat” set up by District 15 representative Rick Staples. She gave some of her vision for the state. Among the items she shared were her…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “I heard the bomb go off. It shook our house.” Those were the words of Jeannie Garrett. She moved to South Carolina but was back after 50 years to remember and acknowledge the brave young teenagers known as the Clinton 12. In 1956, these young African American students ages 14 to 18 would be the first to desegregate a public high school in the South. The first African American graduate from public high school in the South would be Bobby Cain from this brave group The school would be blown up. The perseverance of…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Over 700 citizens and organizations from throughout Knoxville and Knox County among them faith based organizations, businesses, non profit organizations, and education leaders gathered together for a two day summit along with state and federal leadership to begin what will be a one year commitment to developing a strategic plan to turn the tide of the substance abuse epidemic. The effort is called ALL4KNOX. It is a joint effort of Knox County and the City of Knoxville. The effort is being supported by the Metro Drug Association, the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office,…