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Chattanooga mourns the loss of trailblazing leader and community advocate Bettyelynn Smith, 81

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Chattanooga mourns the loss of trailblazing leader and community advocate Bettyelynn Smith, 81

Ms. Smith lived a life defined by courage, adventure, excellence, and love. Vibrant, vivacious, and spirited, she embraced life with enthusiasm and determination, always choosing her own path and inspiring others to do the same. Her adventurous nature and unwavering belief in what was possible allowed her to leave a lasting impact on every community she touched, from Chattanooga to Washington, D.C., and beyond.

A gifted strategist, leader, and community advocate, Ms. Smith brought excellence to every role she held. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a graduate degree in management from Biscayne College in Miami, now St. Thomas University.

After returning to Chattanooga in 2000, she joined Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprises, Inc. as Senior Vice President of Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Relations. In 2002, she was selected as Executive Director of Community Impact of Chattanooga, Inc., where her leadership helped transform seven urban neighborhoods through strategic partnerships and resident empowerment initiatives that strengthened communities and improved quality of life.

Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Smith served in senior leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. Her accomplishments included managing the development of the Maclellan Shelter for Families, creating and managing the Inclusion By Design executive leadership program for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, and establishing Black Professionals at the Hunter for the Hunter Museum of American Art. She also held executive positions with private equity and venture capital firms and served as Assistant Secretary of the District of Columbia.

She was widely respected for her intelligence, vision, strategic thinking, and ability to bring people together to achieve meaningful results.

Her commitment to service extended well beyond her professional life. Ms. Smith held leadership roles with numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the City of Chattanooga General Pension Plan; the Investment Committee of the Chattanooga Opportunity Fund; the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Lillian Colby Foundation, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, and the Memorial Healthcare System Foundation; the Bessie Smith Cultural Center; the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga; Chattanooga Symphony & Opera; United Way of Greater Chattanooga; the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga; and many others.

Ms. Smith was also a Golden Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, reflecting her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community.

BettyeLynn Smith lived boldly, led purposefully, and loved deeply. She left the world better than she found it, and her legacy of service, resilience, generosity, and devotion to family will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Public viewing will be held on Thursday, August 20 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home located in Chattanooga at 1101 Dodds Avenue.  A private Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located at 305 W. 7th Street.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.

CHATTANOOGA, TN (August 18, 2026) — BettyeLynn Smith, a distinguished community leader, strategist, and champion of neighborhood revitalization across Chattanooga and beyond, passed away Tuesday, August 11, at the age of 81.

Ms. Smith lived a life defined by courage, adventure, excellence, and love. Vibrant, vivacious, and spirited, she embraced life with enthusiasm and determination, always choosing her own path and inspiring others to do the same. Her adventurous nature and unwavering belief in what was possible allowed her to leave a lasting impact on every community she touched, from Chattanooga to Washington, D.C., and beyond.

A gifted strategist, leader, and community advocate, Ms. Smith brought excellence to every role she held. She earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a graduate degree in management from Biscayne College in Miami, now St. Thomas University.

After returning to Chattanooga in 2000, she joined Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprises, Inc. as Senior Vice President of Neighborhood Revitalization and Community Relations. In 2002, she was selected as Executive Director of Community Impact of Chattanooga, Inc., where her leadership helped transform seven urban neighborhoods through strategic partnerships and resident empowerment initiatives that strengthened communities and improved quality of life.

Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Smith served in senior leadership positions in both the public and private sectors. Her accomplishments included managing the development of the Maclellan Shelter for Families, creating and managing the Inclusion By Design executive leadership program for the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga, and establishing Black Professionals at the Hunter for the Hunter Museum of American Art. She also held executive positions with private equity and venture capital firms and served as Assistant Secretary of the District of Columbia.

She was widely respected for her intelligence, vision, strategic thinking, and ability to bring people together to achieve meaningful results.

Her commitment to service extended well beyond her professional life. Ms. Smith held leadership roles with numerous civic and charitable organizations, including the City of Chattanooga General Pension Plan; the Investment Committee of the Chattanooga Opportunity Fund; the Boards of Directors/Trustees of the Lillian Colby Foundation, the Hunter Museum of American Art, the University of Chattanooga Foundation, and the Memorial Healthcare System Foundation; the Bessie Smith Cultural Center; the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga; Chattanooga Symphony & Opera; United Way of Greater Chattanooga; the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga; and many others.

Ms. Smith was also a Golden Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, reflecting her lifelong commitment to service, leadership, and community.

BettyeLynn Smith lived boldly, led purposefully, and loved deeply. She left the world better than she found it, and her legacy of service, resilience, generosity, and devotion to family will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Public viewing will be held on Thursday, August 20 from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home located in Chattanooga at 1101 Dodds Avenue.  A private Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 21 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church located at 305 W. 7th Street.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.

“The Shepherd’s Voice”

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“The Shepherd’s Voice”

The Case for a New Orchard Knob Middle

By Dr. Ernest L. Reid, Jr

There are moments when a decision about a building is really a decision about people. The conversation surrounding Orchard Knob Middle School is one of those moments. This is about more than an aging facility. It is about our children, the future of a historic community, and whether every neighborhood in Hamilton County deserves to benefit from the investments we make.

History teaches us to pay attention when important institutions disappear from a community. Schools are more than buildings. They are anchors that hold memories, relationships, and generations together. When those anchors are removed, communities can be reshaped in ways that do not benefit the people who have called them home for decades.

There is no question that Orchard Knob Middle School needs substantial work. We know what. But before deciding what happens next, we must ask why?

If Orchard Knob has suffered from decades of deferred maintenance, we cannot place the consequences at the feet of the children. They did not neglect the building. Their parents did not neglect it. The community did not make the decisions that allowed repairs and improvements to be postponed year after year.

Our children should not lose their neighborhood school because Hamilton County leadership failed to adequately maintain it.

If Hamilton County can find the resources to construct new schools in other areas and a new baseball field, then surely we can invest in Orchard Knob. Investment should not only follow new development. Sometimes equity requires investment to go where it has been missing for too long. I propose HCDE to build a new Orchard Knob Middle School in the Orchard Knob community.

But a new building alone is not enough. Orchard Knob deserves some of the finest teachers Hamilton County Schools can recruit and retain—educators who understand middle-school children, connect with families, and believe these students can achieve at the highest levels, and most importantly teachers who love them.

If attracting outstanding teachers requires incentives, professional development, counselors, intervention specialists, and stronger instructional support, then let us make those investments. We cannot say every child deserves an excellent education and then hesitate to place excellent resources where they are needed most.

The community must also accept its responsibility. Businesses, fraternities and sororities, neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, alumni, parents, retirees, professionals, and civic leaders should surround Orchard Knob with support. We need mentors, tutors, career exposure, parent engagement, and people showing up for our children. They need to know an entire community is saying, “We see you. We believe in you. We expect something great from you.”

That is bigger than building a school. That is building a future.

We must also ask what happens to the land if Orchard Knob Middle School leaves.

Orchard Knob sits in an area increasingly influenced by development and Chattanooga’s growing medical corridor. Could the property eventually be sold to a developer? Will housing be constructed that longtime residents cannot afford? Could it become part of the medical corridor without creating meaningful economic opportunities for the surrounding community?

Development can be good, but development that displaces people rather than strengthens them is something different. Once publicly controlled land in a historic neighborhood is gone, getting it back is difficult. The community deserves to know the long-term vision for this property before, not after, a decision is made.

There has also been discussion about moving Orchard Knob students to Howard Connect Academy because seats are presently available. But long-term educational planning cannot be based solely on today’s enrollment.

Populations change. Neighborhoods change. Housing patterns change. What happens if Howard’s enrollment rises again? What happens when those available seats are needed five or ten years from now? Where do Orchard Knob’s children go then?

Our children cannot become educational nomads, moved from school to school because we solved today’s problem without preparing for tomorrow. They need a place too. They need stability too. They need to learn too.

This moment requires vision.

Build a new Orchard Knob Middle School. Build it in the community. Fill it with outstanding teachers and strong leadership. Surround it with parents, businesses, mentors, alumni, civic organizations, and neighbors committed to its success.

For generations, Black communities have watched investment arrive only after those who endured years of neglect were no longer positioned to benefit from it. We should not repeat that story in Orchard Knob.

The old building may have reached the end of its useful life. But the end of a building does not have to mean the end of a neighborhood school.

Build the school. Recruit the best teachers. Rally the community. Keep Orchard Knob in Orchard Knob.

Because Orchard Knob matters. The community matters. And most of all, our children matter.

Hands-On Learning with a Visible Impact: ChattState Students Engage in Community Landscape Efforts

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Hands-On Learning with a Visible Impact: ChattState Students Engage in Community Landscape Efforts

From the classroom to the ball field, hands-on learning drives Chattanooga State Community College’s Landscape & Turf Management program.

This summer, ChattState students in the Landscape & Turf Management program were invited to participate in two projects in Chattanooga, demonstrating their skills while learning in real-world environments and meeting industry professionals.

In Alton Park, students helped the City of Chattanooga’s stormwater division with detention and retention ponds, which help preserve fresh water while reducing flooding. Students in the program were also invited by Chattanooga Football Club to help transform Erlanger Park into a soccer pitch for a July 4th game against Inter Miami II.

For instructor Adam James, these opportunities are an important part of the program’s curriculum. 

“You get out here, you put your hands on it, and you talk to other professionals who are in the industry,” James said. “It enhances everything that we do.”

In addition to working with real turf and landscaping, qualified second-semester students can also begin co-op placements two days a week. Meanwhile, third-semester students may work three days a week, gaining industry experience before graduation.

Students can earn a paycheck and apply the experience gained in a co-op toward clock hours and college credit.

Landscape & Turf Management student William Goodwin said working on projects like the Erlanger Park field has helped prepare him for his career goals.

“I want to own my own landscape construction business,” Goodwin said. “This program definitely allowed me to get hands-on work and learn what I will be doing.”

Student Logan Cintron, who entered the program after already working in the industry, said the experience broadened his understanding of the profession.

“I got to be in the community and see how they do the work,” Cintron said. “It gave me a better understanding of what I want to do.”

Cintron also hopes more people recognize the variety of careers available in landscape management.

“A lot of people think that it’s just mowing grass, but it’s not,” Cintron said. “It’s about how you fix certain problems when they pop up. You can also work your way up to management positions.”

James said the program is designed for students who want to enter the workforce quickly while building long-term career opportunities. Graduates earn 23 credits that apply toward an Engineering Systems Technology degree at Chattanooga State, creating a pathway to additional education while preparing students for immediate employment.

“There are so many opportunities in Tennessee with TN Promise and TN Reconnect,” James said. “If you want to get out and go to work, this is the program for you. If you want to keep learning, this is the place to start.”

Parent Academy Coming to Carver Community Center

Camm Ashford
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Parent Academy Coming to Carver Community Center

Parents and caregivers will have an opportunity this fall to gain practical tools and resources designed to help their children succeed academically and personally through a new Parent Academy at the Carver Community Center.

The Parent Academy will be held Mondays from 5:30 to 7 p.m., Sept. 14 through Nov. 2, at the Carver Community Center, 600 North Orchard Knob Avenue.

The free educational initiative is designed to empower parents and caregivers to become active partners in their children’s education. Through workshops, discussions and hands-on resources, participants will learn strategies they can use at home while gaining a better understanding of community resources available to families.

Topics will include supporting children’s learning at home, budgeting basics, homeownership, and accessing community resources and services.

Childcare will be provided, and transportation will be available upon request, making the program accessible to families who might otherwise face barriers to participation.

Parent Academies generally serve as a resource hub for adults rather than a traditional school for children. Programs often address academic support, communication with teachers and schools, understanding report cards and assessments, special education and individualized education programs, social-emotional wellness, early childhood development, digital literacy and parent leadership.

The Carver program also comes at a time when Hamilton County Schools and community organizations continue working to address literacy challenges and disparities among students.

For parents, the academy can provide concrete strategies for reinforcing reading, writing and mathematics skills at home. By helping parents understand and use approaches that complement classroom instruction, the home can become an extension of the learning environment.

Beyond academics, sessions focused on budgeting and homeownership can help families strengthen their financial knowledge and work toward long-term stability. Information about community services can also help parents connect their families with resources that may otherwise be difficult to find.

Registration opened Aug. 14. Parents and caregivers interested in participating can register through the online registration form.

Register for Parent Academy at: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/1dPqZgTZAVVyFr6xbXiDhnTTkEzjW8KBef9b71qQF2hg/viewform?edit_requested=truehttps://docs.google.com/forms/u/0/d/1dPqZgTZAVVyFr6xbXiDhnTTkEzjW8KBef9b71qQF2hg/viewform?edit_requested=true.

For additional information, contact Nspenser@chattanooga.gov or Smoore3@chattanooga.gov.

The Parent Academy represents an opportunity for families to strengthen their ability to support students–not only in the classroom, but at home and throughout the community.

August is Black Business Month–Are Black Small Businesses Growing or Marking Time?

Robin Smith
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August is Black Business Month–Are Black Small Businesses Growing or Marking Time?

August is recognized nationally as Black Business Month. We have an opportunity to encourage all consumers to support Black-owned businesses and spur on new growth.

How are Black-owned businesses doing in the Chattanooga area and are there improvements that need to be addressed to cultivate a more thriving environment for Black business owners?

Black-owned businesses in Chattanooga appear to be growing in visibility, support and institutional infrastructure, but they remain underrepresented among businesses large enough to employ people and generate substantial revenue.

Why is that distinction important?

Chattanooga has made progress in helping entrepreneurs start businesses; the harder challenge is helping those businesses scale up and remain sustainable beyond five years.

The clearest local benchmark comes from research summarized by the Benwood Foundation and Urban League of Greater Chattanooga. Although Black residents comprise a significant share of Chattanooga’s population, Black-owned employer firms historically represented only 2.2% of the city’s more than 5,000 employer firms. Those firms accounted for just 0.6% of employment, 0.2% of sales and 0.4% of profits among employer businesses.

For Black entrepreneurs, access to capital remains a particularly important issue. Federal Reserve research continues to show differences in financing experiences among business owners by race, including differences in financing approval and the ability to obtain all the funding requested.

That matters because hiring often requires spending money before additional revenue arrives–purchasing equipment, expanding inventory, leasing space or carrying payroll while the business grows.

But capital is only part of the equation. Chattanooga and Hamilton County collectively spend hundreds of millions of dollars purchasing goods, construction and professional services. Becoming qualified to compete for government contracts or serving as a subcontractor on larger publicly supported projects can provide a small business with something equally valuable: a dependable customer.

Strategic work with local African American officials, community leaders, and the Urban League of Chattanooga can play an important role in moving entrepreneurs beyond startup assistance toward what might be called scale-up assistance:  financing preparation, procurement certification, accounting systems, workforce development, technology adoption, and relationships with larger employers.

Black Business Month provides a reason to celebrate entrepreneurship. Chattanooga has the opportunity to measure something more consequential than the number of businesses opened.

How many Black-owned businesses survive five years? How many obtain significant contracts? How many purchase property for operations? How many hire 1-10 employees in expansion?

A startup creates opportunity for an entrepreneur. But a growing company has potential to create generational wealth and economic stability for more families. Celebrate Black Business month through purchases in August and beyond!

Meet the two underdog candidates winning August 6 upset

Robin Smith
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Meet the two underdog candidates winning August 6 upset

The August 6 elections included two Hamilton County Commission incumbent upsets that will make significant changes to the legislative body beginning in September.

Let’s get to know the newest Hamilton County Commissioners of District 8 and District 11, Democrats Joshua Wichman and Montrell Besley.

Mr. Wichman, a newcomer to elected politics, defeated one-term incumbent Mike Chauncey, the former Vice Mayor of East Ridge 55.2% to 44.8%, no squeaker.

Self-employed and running on a message that resonated in one of the areas with very high growth and insufficient infrastructure needs–East Ridge and East Brainerd–Wichman prevailed declaring, “Growth should strengthen our communities, not strain them.”

With increased development, population, and needs of government-provided services such as schools, roads, and public safety, also come changing demographics and a departure from political loyalties. When families, neighborhoods, and businesses are taxed and vocal about excessive development, yet see no response, voters express their needs loudly and for results.

Joshua Wichman stressed his working-class and small-business background eluding to times he’s lived paycheck to paycheck, dealt with small business debt, and even business failure. His platform spoke to neighborhood representation and growth that benefits all, not some.

Mr. Montrell Besley, a native of the Alton Park neighborhood, upset multi-term incumbent Joe Graham in District 11, which includes Lookout Valley/Tiftonia, St. Elmo, Lookout Mountain, Alton Park, East Lake, and parts of Missionary Ridge.

Mr. Besley earned a Master of Science in Public and Community Health from Austin Peay State University with work in education, youth development, and community engagement, including serving as director of community engagement at Chattanooga Preparatory School, work with the Boys & Girls Club, and Chattanooga Parks and Recreation.

Besley’s votes were equally impressive winning with about 56% compared to 44% for Mr. Graham. This vote span eclipsed the nail-biter against Graham in 2022 losing by only 20 votes.

The self-described husband, father, educator, community advocate and small-business owner ran on the campaign declaration, “It’s our time for change!”

Noting that growth in Lookout Valley and St. Elmo had benefitted families and businesses, while arguing that Alton Park and East Lake looked much the same as when he was a child, Besley’s message resonated. Specifically the call for revitalization along key corridors such as 23rd Street, 38th Street, and Alton Park Boulevard was championed.

The owner of Chattanooga Rolling Video Games, a mobile entertainment business, Besley is a committed mentor and supporter of youth and children’s issues.

With two men running as unfavored candidates against incumbents in districts with growth that has not been characterized as managed, planned, and sourced with adequate infrastructure and the gentrification of areas that displace those with fixed incomes, there seems to be an obvious message that voters support.

Both Joshua Wichman and Montrell Besley will be sworn in with other Hamilton County elected officials on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Chattanooga Convention Center from 9 to 11 a.m. in a ceremony open to the public.

Let’s watch for the promised change of the campaigns as the Republican majority shrinks from 8-3 to 6-5.

August 6 Election Analysis–Did You Hear the Voters?

Robin Smith
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August 6 Election Analysis–Did You Hear the Voters?

Voting is often equated with one’s voice and freedom to speak. In the August 6 Hamilton County General and State and Federal Primary Elections, a whole lot was said. Let’s compare notes to some statements that politicians and media may dismiss or overlook.

Tennessee statewide voters supported the unmistakably Republican candidates and policies. Hamilton County’s voters told a new path with their votes. Many questions should be asked and studied before being answered swiftly. A lot was said locally.

Data tells the Story (Hamilton County #s listed 1/Tennessee #s listed 2)

•             Statewide governor primary: Democrats elected Jerri Green as their nominee with 65.1%/69.05%; Republicans elected Marsha Blackburn with 48.1%/43.6%.

•             Democrats elected Marquita Bradshaw at 54.8% to face Republican Bill Hagerty (unchallenged) in November.

•             Statewide turnout: Republican participation substantially exceeded Democratic participation with 66.9% Republican (714,800) versus 33.1% Democratic (353,700).

•             Hamilton County turnout: More than 65,000 voters participated, only about 30% of registered voters, with 35,500 GOP ballots cast versus 25,800 Democrats.

•             County mayor: Republican Weston Wamp defeated Democrat Mark Herndon approximately 52.5% – 47.5%, a margin of only about 3,200 votes after trailing most of the evening.

•             County Commission: Democrats Joshua Wichman and Montrell Besley defeated Republican incumbents Mike Chauncey and Joe Graham reducing the Republican advantage from 8-3 to 6-5.

•             School Board: Democrat Katie Perkins captured the open District 8 seat previously held by Republican Larry Grohn.

Statewide, Republican voters remain dominant. Policy and legislative agendas won’t noticeably change if this center-right voting prevails on November 3 regarding protecting Tennessee’s low tax status, the move to give parents more choice and control over their students’ education, and a constant fixation on job creation.

Locally, the results reveal a complicated story that will have a great deal of intraparty commentary and analysis, especially on the center-right, or Republican side. But the clear tale of this election was you only win if you outwork your opponent and have laid the groundwork for months, if not years, before the months leading into the elections.

The newly elected 6-5 County Commission will function differently from an 8-3 commission. A single crossover vote can determine questions regarding taxes, spending, development, zoning, schools, infrastructure, and economic incentives. Each commissioner just became more powerful, and Mayor Weston Wamp will need even greater coalition-building skills during his second term than he should have employed in the first.

Wamp won with an almost 5-point margin that fell much shorter than the 2022 victory’s span. And the concentrated Democrats’ targeting efforts paid off.

Overall, this means that Hamilton County will see a lot of grassroots work on both sides of the political aisles in the next few years. This is a very good thing if voters’ best interests are the priority.

For Tennessee, the story reveals the internal contest to control the Republican Party, as well as the direction of the state via policy. Democrats continue to rebuild.

For Hamilton County, the narrative is taking shape and will surely see a whole lot of rewriting in the days ahead.

CHRONICLE MAKES HISTORY & CELEBRATES AS CHATTANOOGA’S LONGEST-RUNNING BLACK NEWSPAPER

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CHRONICLE MAKES HISTORY & CELEBRATES AS CHATTANOOGA’S LONGEST-RUNNING BLACK NEWSPAPER

As retirement nears, John Edwards hopes Chattanooga’s Black newspaper will
outlive him.

By Yolanda Putnam                                                                 

At 78 years old, John Edwards is thinking about the future of the newspaper he has spent nearly four decades building.

The founder of the Chattanooga News Chronicle says he plans to retire within the next year or two, leaving the publication in the hands of his son, Adrian, and daughter, Nikita. Before stepping away, however, Edwards wants the community to understand why he started the newspaper—and why he believes its mission is more important than ever.

“The top reason that I started the paper was to highlight the achievements of African Americans and give them information that would help them move forward,” Edwards said.

That mission has remained unchanged since he founded the publication, then known as the Chattanooga Courier, in 1989. This year, the newspaper became Chattanooga’s longest-running Black-owned newspaper, surpassing the record previously held by The Chattanooga Observer.

Edwards said the Chronicle was born from a belief that Chattanooga’s Black community deserved a publication dedicated to telling its own stories.

“Blacks were one-third of Chattanooga’s population at one time,” he said. “We had a lot of history in Chattanooga and its beginnings. I thought there was enough content that a Black newspaper would help serve the Black community. That’s still my hope.”

As he prepares for retirement, Edwards worries less about himself than about the future of Black-owned newspapers across the country.

“African American newspapers are struggling all over the country,” he said. “Several major Black newspapers have shut down because they can’t get support from their own community.”

He hopes Chattanooga will choose a different path.

“Our life depends on the community,” Edwards said. “We want to build on what we’ve started, and we want the community to help us build on it.”

He especially hopes to see more support from Black-owned businesses and churches, which have long served as the newspaper’s primary distribution network.

“Historically, churches have been the center of our leadership,” Edwards said. “Just about every economic level of Black people attends church, so by placing papers there, we can reach the entire community.”

Despite financial challenges, Edwards said giving up has never been an option.

“Even though the support isn’t there, we know there’s still a need for it,” he said. “I’m just not a quitter. I’m going to give everything I’ve got before I quit something.”

He believes Black-owned newspapers continue to play a vital role by preserving history, providing reliable information and ensuring communities can tell their own stories.

“We’ve got to have a voice,” Edwards said. “Our community needs to be educated. Information is the best weapon you can have.”

His son, Adrian Edwards, who serves as co-publisher, said that mission remains as relevant today as it was when the nation’s first Black-owned newspaper was founded in 1827.

“While social media gives everyone a platform, the Chronicle remains a unified voice that informs the community and helps focus its political and economic interests,” Adrian Edwards said.

The newspaper’s future is already becoming a family legacy. Son, Adrian Edwards, Co-Publisher, has helped modernize the publication with advances in technology; daughter, Nikita Edwards-Brown, Chief Financial Officer, oversees its finances and daily operations; and wife, Faith Edwards, Executive Editor, is responsible for the paper’s content and quality control.

“When my son came back from college, I still had a typewriter,” Edwards recalled with a laugh. “He came right on time.”

He said both of his children are well prepared to carry the newspaper forward.

“They have more skills than I do,” he said.

Throughout his career, Edwards has been recognized for his contributions to journalism and entrepreneurship, receiving Minority Business of the Year honors from the Urban League and the Chattanooga Area Minority Business Association, as well as the 2025 NAACP James R. Mapp Citizen of the Year Award recognizing the newspaper’s impact on the community.

A Vietnam veteran, Edwards received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal for his military service. He said those experiences shaped his determination to make the most of the time he has.

“I’m going to do what I can while I’m here,” he said.

The Chattanooga News Chronicle will celebrate its 37th publishing milestone at 6 p.m. Sept. 18 at Greater Tucker Baptist Church. Tickets are $75 a person. Retired healthcare executive Ruth Williams Brinkley will deliver the keynote address, dinner will be served, and award-winning vocalist Karen Collins will perform.

For Edwards, however, the celebration is about more than longevity.

“I want people to know what we’re trying to accomplish,” he said. “Not to take publications like ours for granted. They have a purpose. They have a history.”

He paused before offering one final thought.

“We’re standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,” Edwards said. “I just hope the paper has longevity and that the people who come after me will continue the work.”

With son, Adrian Edwards and daughter, Nikita Edwards-Brown preparing to lead the next chapter, that work—and the voice John Edwards set out to preserve nearly four decades ago— appears poised to continue.

Ruth Brinkley keynotes Chattanooga New Chronicle Celebration

The Chattanooga News Chronicle gives voice and identity to Chattanooga’s Black community, said Ruth Williams Brinkley, retired president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States.

“News is crowded, and the media landscape is crowded,” Brinkley said. “Sometimes uplifting stories and encouraging stories get left out. The Chronicle takes a step back and tells stories about the contributions of Black citizens, reminding all of us, not just Black people, but the entire community, of the impact Black Chattanoogans have made on this city and the surrounding area.”

Brinkley will be the keynote speaker at the Chattanooga News Chronicle’s 37th Milestone Celebration at 6 p.m. on Sept. 18 at Greater Tucker Baptist Church.

Brinkley has spent decades leading major healthcare organizations while remaining committed to community service. She served as president and chief executive officer of Memorial Hospital (now part of CommonSpirit Health) from 2002 to 2008. She later became president of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, where she oversaw one of the nation’s largest integrated healthcare systems.

The dinner celebration will also feature award-winning vocalist Karen Collins and will commemorate the newspaper’s distinction as Chattanooga’s longest-running Black-owned newspaper. Tickets for the Milestone Celebration are $75 per person and $600 for a table of 8.  Tickets may be purchased at Radiant Salon, 603 M. L. King Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37403.  For information on tickets or sponsorships, see information below..

For decades, The Chattanooga Observer held that distinction after publishing for 35 years. Then came John Edwards who started The Chronicle in 1989 as the Chattanooga Courier. Renamed the Chattanooga News Chronicle, the publication is celebrating 37 years of continuous service to the community this year.

Come join us for the 37th milestone celebration on Friday, September 18, 2026!

TICKETS are $75 per person and can be purchased at RADIANT SALON, located at 603 E. M. L. King Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37403, 423/475-6122.

For purchase of tables, (Table of 8 is $600.00) multiple tickets of 4 or more, and/or for delivery, call Ms. Faith at 423/308-9969.

For sponsorship opportunities, contact Nikita Edwards-Brown at edwards.nikita@gmail.com

For general information, call the Chronicle office at 423/267-2313.

BlueCross Healthy Place Riverfront Announcement

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BlueCross Healthy Place Riverfront Announcement

BlueCross Healthy Place at Ross’s Landing Planned for Riverfront Parks NEXT Revitalization Effort

$10 million commitment will enhance downtown riverfront as part of ongoing revitalization plan

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (August 3, 2026)— Representatives from River City Company, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County and the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation recently gathered to announce the development of the BlueCross Healthy Place at Ross’s Landing.

The latest BlueCross Healthy Place project will be completed as part of the ongoing Riverfront Parks NEXT plan to revitalize downtown Chattanooga’s connection to the Tennessee River. With this $10 million commitment, the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation has become the campaign’s leading private funder.

The revitalized space will bring a variety of new amenities to the Ross’s Landing area, including:

•             Sports courts underneath the Olgiati Bridge (Highway 27 bridge)

•             Nature-themed, ADA-compliant playscape

•             Installations along the Chattanooga Pier

•             Gathering spaces, seating and walking trails

With its design, the space will focus on incorporating local landscapes, nature and art, as well as fulfilling the core mission of the BlueCross Healthy Place program — bringing communities together.

“The riverfront area is one of the most important public spaces in Chattanooga, a city BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has called home for more than 80 years,” said JD Hickey, president and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. “We’re proud to join River City Company, the City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County in imagining downtown’s next chapter — and in providing a space along the Tennessee River for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations.”

Program partners added:

“Thanks to the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation and the other generous private and public funding partners, our community’s dream for an iconic waterfront parks district is going to come true. This remarkable gift will directly lead to healthier lifestyles and a stronger sense of community by allowing us to build something truly visionary.” – Emily Mack, President & CEO, River City Company

“The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to the health and vitality of Chattanoogans. Through their much-loved BlueCross Healthy Place program, this gift takes their generosity to the next level. I want to express my deep appreciation to them for helping to create an iconic public space that is unique, welcoming and accessible for visitors and Chattanooga residents alike.”- Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly

“On behalf of the tens of thousands of families, including my own, who will enjoy our revitalized riverfront parks, I want to thank the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation for continuing to invest so significantly in our community. Ross’s Landing was once a hub of activity and gathering in our region, and this investment will help make it that way again.”- Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp

“BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee continues to raise the bar in terms of corporate philanthropy in Southeast Tennessee. This generous investment in Chattanooga’s Riverfront Parks will directly improve the quality of life of our residents for generations to come, and I commend them on their exceptional gift.”- Tennessee State Senator Bo Watson

“While our community is home to many exceptionally generous companies, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has long been emblematic of what it means to be a good corporate citizen in Chattanooga. The private and public sectors in our community have a long and proud history of coming together to make big investments in our future, so I am grateful to BlueCross for making yet another historic investment downtown.”- Former U.S. Senator Bob Corker

The Ross’s Landing project is the fifth BlueCross Healthy Place in the Chattanooga area, following Highland Park, St. Elmo and the Chattanooga Airport and Pavilion Park spaces, which are currently under construction. To date, the BlueCross Foundation has invested $89 million in projects across Tennessee. There are 31 BlueCross Healthy Place projects open or in progress statewide with more on the way.

BlueCross Healthy Place projects are funded through the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Foundation’s endowment, not from the company’s current business operations. For more on the BlueCross Healthy Place program, see BlueCrossHealthyPlacesTN.com. For additional information about the full Riverfront Parks NEXT project, visit RiverfrontParksCHA.com.

Christopher Stokes receives UT System President’s Award for embracing differences

Camm Ashford
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Christopher Stokes receives UT System President’s Award for embracing differences

A University of Tennessee at Chattanooga staff member whose career has focused on helping students find belonging and connection has been named a recipient of the 2026 UT System President’s Awards, the highest honor a faculty or staff member can receive from the University of Tennessee System.

Christopher Stokes, assistant director for fraternity and sorority life in UTC’s Center for Student Leadership, Engagement and Community, was selected for the President’s Award in the “Embrace Differences” category.

The announcement was made by UT System President Randy Boyd.

“These awards honor the exceptional talent, service and leadership of faculty and staff systemwide,” Boyd said in the UT System announcement. “Through their work, each honoree strengthens communities and creates lasting impact in Tennessee and beyond. They have earned this distinction and are helping define the greatest decade in UT history.”

A first-generation college graduate, Stokes earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology from UTC in 2003 and began his university career the following year as a resident director with University Residence Life.

Over more than two decades at UTC, Stokes has served in Residence Life, TRIO programs, Multicultural Affairs and Fraternity and Sorority Life, developing programs and partnerships designed to strengthen student success, leadership development and a sense of belonging.

For Stokes, the recognition reflects a lifelong commitment to understanding people’s experiences and helping others overcome barriers.

“Embracing differences has been my life story,” Stokes said. “From every facet of my life, I have had to navigate significant barriers and challenges. Through each of them, I learned to appreciate the struggle and how to overcome it in mostly healthy, creative and meaningful ways that not only added to my understanding of my identity but also helped me appreciate–through empathy–the stories of others, their journeys and our collective journeys.”

Throughout his career at UTC, Stokes has helped establish initiatives including the Multicultural Ambassador Program and the Multicultural Presidents Council while supporting retention and mentorship programs such as GUIDE, BMOCS and TRIO.

He also has worked with faculty, staff, alumni and community organizations to create opportunities for dialogue, collaboration and student engagement. His efforts also helped advance the creation of the UTC Divine Nine Heritage Park, a project that connected campus priorities with cultural recognition and alumni engagement.

Stokes has developed partnerships with more than 20 multicultural student organizations, fraternities and sororities, and community partners. He has facilitated workshops, training sessions and events focused on cultural responsiveness, risk management and leadership development while serving on committees addressing hazing prevention, retention and campus climate.

“Christopher Stokes embodies what it means to embrace differences through leadership that builds community, creates belonging and empowers students to succeed,” said UTC Chancellor Steve Angle. “UTC is stronger because of his service.”

Stokes said the award carries personal meaning because of his belief that every individual contributes to a larger community.

“I envision humanity as a tapestry, with each thread, each hue, woven with intention,” he said. “Even if one is removed, it impacts the overall masterpiece.”

He said the message of Maya Angelou’s poem “Human Family” has influenced his approach to working with students, particularly its reminder that people share more similarities than differences.

“I maintain an active archive of times I or others have felt unseen and when I have potentially overshadowed others,” Stokes said. “This awareness keeps me learning and astute, not jaded. It is a living frame of reference that helps me build or discover paths to help others navigate barriers so they do not have to walk alone.”

Stokes said his goal is to create an environment where students, faculty and staff feel comfortable sharing their experiences and recognizing their own potential.

“My conversations change each year, but the core message remains the same,” he said. “I want everyone to know they belong to something bigger, even when they may feel small. Two key beliefs guide my work and I actively share them: You are meant to be here, and you are not on this journey alone.”

Established in 2016, the UT System President’s Awards recognize faculty and staff members whose work advances the University’s Be One UT values: Bold and Impactful, Embrace Differences, Optimistic and Visionary, Nimble and Innovative, Excel in All We Do, United and Connected, and Transparent and Trusted.

Recipients are selected from a system-wide pool of nominees submitted by campus and institute leaders. Each honoree receives a commemorative plaque and a $3,000 award and will be recognized by Boyd, university chancellors and vice presidents during a special luncheon in August.

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