By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — When the call went out throughout the city of Knoxville to help the homeless during below freeing temperatures, many businesses did what they could to help. As the crisis lifted; realizing going forward, more must be done, Pastors Evan and Ashley Kariuki from Eternal Life Harvest Center have answered the call by creating the first “Warming Center” in the city of Knoxville. The church will work in Partnership with Knoxville Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), whose resources were strained in trying to help the over 1200 known homeless sleeping under the bridge during the polar…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They were obviously not discouraged by Clinton’s loss. Quite the contrary. The women of EMERGE Tennessee class of 2017, along with women across the country, seem to be energized and determined to run for office in the coming election period. The 2018 mid election has seen a growing number democratic women running for office. Emily’s List, The Pew Research Center, even PBS, are predicting 2018 could be the year of the woman. Their studies show more women are paying attention to politics in record numbers and are following the issues very closely. Tennessee is…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Of the 207 women trained by EMERGE America, 151 won their races this past week. The nation has seen an upsurge in the number of women running for office. The Volunteer State has joined the building storm of change. In Tennessee, the EMERGE Tennessee, an affiliate of this program; dedicated to recruiting, training and providing a strong network for democratic women running for office on all levels inaugural class has seen many of the initial 24 graduates throw their hat into the political ring. Several of the alumnae are serving on campaigns as managers and committee members. Several are…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Then there were five…When the hands are raised to be sworn in as the newest city council members in Knoxville Tn next month, four of those hands will belong to women. In the 226 year history of Knoxville, never has there been this number of women elected to serve. Even more historic, the voters elected the first Black Female and the first Indian American, creating the most diverse council to date. Both women received more than 57% of the votes cast. These four women will join another historic trailblazer at the leadership table. Mayor…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE- In the next twenty years, robots will replace many of the duties that humans perform today. Those who are able to build and program this new technology will be the ones who can demand high salaries, have high paying careers and start their own businesses. For the last four years, in the heart of East Knoxville, students at Austin East Magnet High School have been preparing to step into this future of technology and innovation. Robotics, the creation of mechanical devices you can program to follow specific instructions, is also the way to teach science, technology,…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The numbers are scary, 5 million deaths yearly make diabetes the 8th leading cause of death in the world. In addition to the high number of deaths, diabetes accounts for 5% of the world’s blindness. Lions Club International has set an aggressive goal beginning in 2018 to hold events worldwide to raise awareness about avoidance, control and prevention of diabetes to help prevent blindness and improve quality of life. It is estimated one in eleven people in the world have diabetes with 46% undiagnosed. The Knoxville East Lions Club, the largest club in Tennessee,…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Less than the cost of a premium cup of coffee, $3.40, is what it takes to feed a senior a hot meal in Knoxville through the CAC Office on Aging’s Mobile Meal Program. The program currently feeds 950 seniors over 60 and people with disabilities who live alone and cannot cook for themselves and do not have anyone to cook for them. Susan Long, who oversees The Mobile Meals program, explained it is a valuable and lifesaving program as the majority of the seniors served have no human contact during the week except for…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — When you get off I40 east at the Cherry Street exit and come up to the light, you notice the distinctive sign, A tall Black edifice with the name LaFetta’s in the center of the sign. When you pull in the parking lot, the smells of soul food waft out the front door that is constantly opening and closing as the customers file into Knoxville’s newest business. In the heart of the inner city, after decades of little or no growth, David Rico Gillette has poured his heart, soul, and finances into this dining…
By Vivian Underwood Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — There were many reactions and gatherings in response to the gathering of the white supremacy and KKK groups who held a rally in Knoxville Tennessee on Saturday, August 26th. None was as large, or as peaceful and powerful as the citizens of Knoxville who gathered in Krutch Park in the downtown area of Knoxville Tennessee at an event called the KNOXVILLE KINDNESS RALLY. The site was chosen as a safe and supportive place to speak out against hate and violence. There were hundreds of people, all ages, from babies in strollers, to the…
By Vivian Underwood Shipe In sickness and in health are the words couples promise each other in their wedding vows. The words..”Sarcoidosis Uveitis” have not stopped Micheal Shadden, Knoxville developer and entrepreneur, and his children and grandchildren, from walking in those vows as his wife fights to keep her eyesight. An eye disease with a monthly cost of over 4500.00 is what the family is facing as their insurance has declined to pay for these eye injections which, without them she will go blind The family is fighting for Kendra by holding fund raisers in the community and have created…