By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Hundreds of concerned citizens gathered on the lawn of the City County building to show solidarity and oppose the separation of children from their parents at the borders of the United States. The Families Belong Together rally was sponsored by Allies of Knox Immigrant Neighbors (AKIN), Centro Hispano, Women’s March Coalition, and Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Those rallying heard riveting stories of the daily experiences of those living under fear of deportation and speeches of support. Among those speaking were Claudia Caballero, Executive Director of Centro Hispano and Country Commissioner Evelyn Gill…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN —Beck Cultutal Center held a day long Juneteenth celebration in memory of the day the slaves were freed in America – one of America’s little recognized or celebrated Black History facts. Under the direction of Director Reverend Renee Kessler, at the Beck, the day IS celebrated in Knoxville. After a day of activities, the evening closed with an historic panel of Knoxvilles Black Leadership, the first such representation on these levels ever held in the city of Knoxville. The leadership panel : representing state legislation, city council, county commission, and the school board, took time to…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — As the dust settles down from the historic community uproar over the school boards initial decision to defund Project Grad, restoration and recognition of the 18-year old program continues to grow. Mayor Tim Butchett offered funding in his budget to cover the million dollars cut by the board. The Knox County commission will vote on his offer this week. The deal will cover the coming school year, effective July 1st. As part of the deal, the school board on June 13th, voted to put back in their budget, 538k to for the magnet and…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — In two years, America will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of womens right to vote. There are two pieces of history that many may not know about the history of how women got the right to vote; one is the fact that the deciding vote was cast in Tennessee by Harry Burns and two, he voted in favor of the votes for women on the advice of his mother Febb Burns who sent him a telegram hours before the vote admonishing him to do the right thing. On Saturday, June 9th, after years of…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — This summer East Knoxville will serve over 100 scholars in grades first thru eighth in a free summer enrichment program thru the Freedom Schools Project. The city of Knoxville will also host the largest “train the trainer “week with over 2500 college students and college graduates from across the nation on the University of Tennessee campus. Freedom Schools are one of four programs produced by the Children’s Defense Fund. Under the guidance of founder and president, Marion Wright Edelman, for 40 years the CDF has worked tirelessly to level the playing field for children. The…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It seemed like a dream that would never come true ; many had tried but to no avail, but the efforts by District 15 State Representative Rick Staples to see Knoxville College, one of the oldest HBCU schools in the nation reopened prevailed and the dream is finally a reality. May 17th, the Tennessee Higher Education Commission voted YES to give KC back it’s accreditation. The college built by slaves in 1875 was given permission to begin receiving students this fall. The initial classes will begin online with a goal of students returning to…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — We are a country of high technology with two generations that have cut their teeth on the newest innovations. Babies as young as 3 years old can ace many phones, tablets, and newly developed gadgets with ease. However, all across the nation, these generations are lacking life skills and leadership qualities needed to exist in every day life outside of the virtual world in which they exist. Many do not have leadership, team working ability, or social skills. Many are not physically fit, cannot cook for themselves or even have the knowledge to address the front…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Once one of the top HBCU’s in the country, Knoxville College, has been silenced. The college sets on 22 acres of prime land and has some of the most spectacular views of Knoxville. It is one of the oldest black colleges and was formed in 1875. It was the first African American college in East Tennessee and many of the buildings were built by the first students to attend; many of them former slaves. Over the years there have been many attempts to restore the college and get it reaccredited so that it can…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It took three packed board meetings to show they meant business and the message that they were going to KEEP coming back, but in the end, the citizens of Knoxville prevailed. Before a packed assembly of over 700 people including state legislature, city council and commissioners and over 20 of clergy in the affected district; the Knox County school board, which had initially planned to totally remove Project Grad and all funds for magnet school programs at Sarah Moore Green and Green Magnet Academy, voted to keep the programs in the budget. This change…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Fifty years ago the Knoxville Area Urban League opened it’s doors. In the last five decades, many organizations with good intentions to help the African American community have come and gone. Not so KAUL. With a mission to see people thrive, earn, own, and prosper, since 1968 the Urban League, an affiliate of the National Urban League; has consistently and successfully promoted equality and employment opportunities for African Americans. In it’s fifty years, there have only been five directors. Since 2009 the Urban League has been led by Phyllis Y. Nichols. Under her leadership,…