By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Standing before a packed ballroom filled with members, funders, mayors, legislators, and other supporters; Gwen McKenzie, sixth district city council woman, member of the board of directors, and daughter of the first Executive Director of the Knoxville Area Urban League moderated the organizations 50th annual membership luncheon on Wednesday February 20th at the Knoxville Convention Center. The Urban League of Knoxville continues to celebrate its jubilee year having recently completed a 2.6 million dollar renovation of its facility at 1514 East Fifth Avenue. The vision and the mission of the League is to promote…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It wasn’t the first time the community had risen up in protest of gun shows being held for over a decade in the gun zone of East Knoxville in Chilhowee Park. The first rallying cry was held by Lawrence Washington, the founder of Safe Haven, an organization that provides support to inner city youth to get out of and stay out of gangs. This time the call came from a formidable leader: District Six council woman Gwen McKenzie (first African American woman to serve on citycouncil) who represents the people of the community in…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “They Hate to See Us At Our Best, That Is Why We Never Rest” This was the topic of the Oratorical Contest held in Knoxville during the Youth Symposium held by the MLK Commission. Sponsored by Jack & Jill Inc., the contest was open to middle and high school students in Knoxville TN. The top two winners were presented before a crowd of over 2000 during the closing ceremony of the King memorial celebration at Overcoming Believers Church. The young ladies who finished first in the competition: Ayanna Albright and Elena Kendricks, pulled no…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The Courage To Lead with a Greater Determination was the theme of a week of eleven King celebration activities held in Knoxville by the MLK Commemorative Commission in honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. One of the activities was the Commissions thirtieth annual luncheon. Held at Rothchild’s Catering Center, 700 attended the luncheon which recognizes leaders in the areas of business, education, and advocacy. The event was highlighted with a dynamic speech by Minnijean Brown Trickey. Trickey, an American Civil Rights Icon and activitist, is one of the Little Rock Nine, a…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Brick, stone, mortar and wood. Founded in 1913, and burnt twice by fire, McMillan Chapel, sitting at the entrance to historic Knoxville College, closed and boarded up for decades, reopened this past weekend with a ribbon cutting and rededication service. The chapel is the first building on the historic campus of Knoxville College to be restored as the college; closed for decades, reopened in the fall of 2018 with an initial on-line presence after being reaccredited thru the efforts of Representative Rick Staples. The ceremonies were attended by local dignitaries, trustees who traveled from…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The beginning of 2019 has seen women take the helm in historic numbers all over the United States. There are more than 100 women sworn into congress and the legislature than any time in history. All over the country on every level, women and minorities are being sworn in as judges, school board leaders, senators and legislatures. The unions of America also have experienced a first in this new wave of leadership. As 2019 began, The National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees; a 105 year old union, formed by 35 black railway clerks…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — As the first year of service draws to a close; the East Knoxville Lions Club, the largest chapter in East Tennessee came together to celebrate and make plans for serving the inner city in 2019. The first year has seen the club live up to the Lions International motto, :”We Serve” with a mighty roar. The club has held countless vision fairs and partnered all thru the city; participating in health fairs, going into day cares, senior centers, and partnering with different organizations to come and hold screenings on different sites. The efforts have…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It was one of the most glamorous social events and well attended parties of the year. The Annual Christmas Gala held by the Beck Cultural Exchange Center drew hundreds to the festive event. Shuttle buses brought the guest to the Beck Mansion as over flow parking was needed. Upon arrival, the guest received royal treatment from the minute they walked through the double doors into the foyer. Every room was immaculately decorated and sumptuous food flowed from several stations provided by one of Knoxville’s finest caterers, Karen Harden.The party was also a celebration of…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “Is this really for us?” Those were the words of the youth who came thru the doors of the Change Center at 203 Harriet Tubman St. during the soft opening of the 5.1 million dollar facility that will officially open at 3 pm on Friday, December 21st when Mayor Rogero and other officials will cut the ribbon and open up a new world to the youth of East Knoxville. A world the youth themselves envisioned and designed. “The Change Center is the result of listening to the youth of the inner city. It was…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — An historic event occurred in Tennessee following the recently held election. Rick Staples from Knoxville who easily won a second term was elected the Assistant Minority Leader of the 111th General Assembly. First elected in 2016, during his freshman year he was able to get many bills passed and secure funding for his 15th district. He returns to Nashville ready to serve under and assist another history maker, Karen Camper. Karen Camper from Shelby County was elected the first African American woman to serve as Minority Leader. She is a veteran, having served as…