By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The first half of January in Knoxville will be days of spiritual libation ceremonies honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. lasting until the actual holiday which falls on the late civil rights leaders birthday this year. Where the traditional ceremony offers a pouring of grains or a liquid in memory of one who has passed, the 42nd annual celebration held by the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission will be an outpouring of speeches, awards, music, dance, panels, and many other events to be held citywide as the people of Knoxville, choose to…
Author: Vivian Underwood Shipe
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — We Serve. That’s the motto of any member of the International Lions organization. It is especially true of one of the largest Lions clubs in Tennessee. Chartered in 2017, the club has preserved through the COVID years to provide sight services. Especially in 2023 as the world begins to emerge from the pandemic years. After a year of pouring into the community, providing free eye exams and glasses, helping provide needed surgical procedures, doing community projects, and working with the youth of Knoxville, the members of the Knoxville East club took a few hours…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — The Women of Wisdom, (W.O.W.) an organization dedicated to helping African American breast cancer survivors held their annual Christmas dinner at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute and learned first hand the extreme importance of physical activity not only for themselves as cancer survivors, but the importance to the African American community as a whole. Introduced by cancer survivor and retired educator, Dr. Donna Hardy, the presentor for the evening was Dr. Lyndsey Hornbuckle, Associate Professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sport Studies. Dr. Hornbuckle gave an overview…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN —The signs are everywhere: Help wanted: Nurses Needed. It’s a cry for help being heard across the nation. According to the National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, almost one million nurses are planning to exit the medical field by 2027. That’s only four years from now. The reasons vary, among them, bullying, lack of respect, understaffed, stressful work conditions and lack of leadership. The Upsilon Chi Chapter of Chi Eta Phi nursing sorority, has been working to recruit and provide scholarships for nurses for almost 4 decades. Their annual fundraiser, a Christmas luncheon, was…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — Tylan Baker, Sam Beaty, Shania Cherry, Saevyon Cozart, Noah Djenini, Jamia Hackler, Jamya Hackler, Jamya Hollis, Angelina IranKunda, Samya McGhee, Charleston Thomas, and Jaymee Walker. To paraphrase from the opening lines of Star Trek; these are the scholars of the U.T. Flagship program. Their four year mission: to enter and explore a strange new world, to seek out new experiences, to boldly go where they have never been before. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a flagship carries the commanding admirals: the finest and best the fleet has to offer. In early November, the University…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — It’s Saturday Donations Day. Saturday afternoon you can find Martha LaRue Baker picking up items, directing her army of volunteers, and doing short videos letting the public know what will be needed for Sunday service. After they set up, there is bible study in preparation for the Sunday service. Baker will tell you, this is not the Sunday service in the traditional sense. This is the service of being the hands and feet of God. Everything she gathers through the week and especially on Saturday, is used to serve over 300 homeless. This service…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They are two passionate men on a mission to make life changing differences in the lives of those in the communities they serve. Dr. Keith Gray, President of U.T. Medical Center, and Reverend Dr. Charles Lomax CEO and president of the Knoxville Area Urban League, are going the extra mile by removing barriers and taking the resources to the people in the greatest areas of need. Joining together, thousands of dollars of free medical care, testing, and hands on training were offered to the east Knoxville community by the Knoxville Area Urban League in…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — When he took the reins of the Knoxville Area Urban League, the honorable Rev. Charles Lomax knew he had been handed a legacy of great works. In his first year as President and CEO, Lomax has proven he is the right man for the job. With a goal of making the organization, started in 1968, once again a well known household name, the President has reintroduced the Urban League. The visionary and his staff have been very busy. Rev. Lomax has implemented many new programs, brought in additional leadership, and, as was the theme…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — They are survivors who see themselves in a different light. Having gone through their own private cancer battle, they have emerged stronger, bolder, and wiser, willing to share their testimony to help others coming behind them. As they came into the offices of CONNECT Ministries, they introduced themselves, Shelley, 22-year survivor, Diane, 11-year survivor, and the unstoppable Lynn Williams, an African American woman whose been cancer-free for thirty years. In 2023, it has been estimated that over 297,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed before the year ends. On average, every 2…
By Vivian Shipe KNOXVILLE, TN — “The house won’t fall if the bones are good”…these words were part of the stirring remarks made by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Marie Williams at the celebration of the 75th anniversary of The Mental Health Association of East Tennessee this past Friday. A powerful and long time advocate with a passion for helping others, Commissioner Williams, LCSW, is a leader in Behavioral Health Services. In her remarks, Commissioner Williams spoke of the strength and dedication of the agency over the last 75 years. Strong agencies that…