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The pretenders and the pretentious among us!  (Part One)

Terry Howard
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The pretenders and the pretentious among us!  (Part One)

“Oh-oh, yes I’m the great pretender. Pretending that I’m doing well.
My need is such I pretend too much. I’m lonely but no one can tell.”

 – The Platters

Warning! If you would rather not subject yourself to a brutally honest opinion about something, then you want to avoid my friend “Chris.” Here’s how he recently “burst by bubble”:

ME: I thought that the young lady “Roe” was outstanding and has a brilliant future as a singer. I especially like the way she….

CHRIS: Oh no! Sorry, but she really isn’t that talented. She’s okay but very limited as a singer. Look, I’ve been a professional vocalist all my life and know a great singer when I hear one and she’s not one.

ME: Well, uh, I…

CHRIS: Okay, I hope that I didn’t offend you!

Okay, for the rest of this narrative, I want you to use that exchange with “Chris” as a frame of reference. In the end, I’ll share the impact on my relationship with him.

Admit it or not, if you walk into a room with lot of people, say a wedding, birthday, homecoming, graduation, holiday celebrations, funeral, you name it, you can be sure that there are lots of dynamics at play, “pretending” and “pretentiousness,” among them. Let’s first discuss the pretenders in the room. We’ll examine “pretentiousness” in Part Two.

Now there’s a chance, a good one at that, that several of the following statements will resonate with you. People who….

…. pretend to like certain people but really don’t.

…. pretend to care but really don’t. 

…. pretend to listen but often don’t.

…. pretend to like certain foods but really don’t.

…. pretend to value people from diverse races and cultures but really don’t.

…. pretend not to notice something physically distasteful about someone  

     but do notice it.

…. pretend to like certain kinds of music but really don’t.

…. pretend to believe in a certain religion but really do not.

…. pretend to trust someone but really don’t.

…. pretend to be financially well off but really aren’t.

…. pretend to be happy but really aren’t.

Now if you are intrigued by this list, maybe nodding, “oh yeah, that reminds me of “so and so,” take a look at the person in the mirror and ask him/her which ones describe you? Don’t run! Don’t hide! Don’t deny!

Ah, what pretenders we are. Yes, we all are. We speak and act to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not. As Shakespeare put it in As You Like It: “All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women merely players.”

In many ways our pretenders are our guardrails. We hold tightly to them to keep our true feelings from seeping out to expose the real us. We pretend in order to save face, ours and others, to preserve harmony, embarrassment and disappointment. As a result, we end up saying what we really don’t mean because we think it’s what others want to hear.

Most of our pretending occurs in public places. Said “Walt,” places of employment are replete with people pretending to go along just to get along. “They will show up at meetings, holiday events, and retirement parties wearing fake smiles, issuing hallow congratulations to people they don’t respect with an eye on the clock and exit door.”

Now here’s the unavoidable question. Is pretending a form of lying? To me the critical variable is the “consequences” of both behaviors.

Truth is pretending and lying are acts of deception intended to mislead. Some argue that whereas lying is an immoral act, pretending is harmless with little or no consequences. Pretending is inbuilt and comes from a human need to “put on a face.” Lying, on the other hand, has ulterior motives and often has harmful consequences.

The solution? Although easier said than done, err on the side of just being yourself because authenticity can be liberating in that you no longer have to concern yourself with being found out. Of course, being authentic can be stunning and may result in your losing so-called “friends,” but gaining real friends who value people like “Chris” who “tell it like it is!”

As “Leslie,” a leadership consultant said to me recently, “As we mature, we apologize less and develop a take-it-or-leave-it mindset (less or no pretending). We can tell if someone is pretending when their behavior is inconsistent. They behave or speak differently depending on their surroundings or the people present.”

Oh, yes, back to the aftermath of my relationship with “Chris.” Well, it’s stronger than ever, made moreso by his lesson to me about authenticity.

In Part Two we’ll turn our attention to “pretentious” people and how to respond to them. Here’s a teaser:

Pretentious people try to make a good impression on others by acting as though they are more important, skilled, or intelligent than they really are. They love to brag, to show off what they know and look for admiration and attention. They like to name drop about the “important” people they know. They rarely talk about the accomplishments of others but are quick to talk about theirs.

After you’ve pondered that teaser, your “homework” assignment is to think about people in your personal or professional life (or both) who immediately come to mind that fit that teaser. And during the meantime, sing along with me…..

“My pretending days are over. Gonna leave acting to the stars in Hollywood.”

                                         -The Dells © Terry Howard is an award-winning trainer, writer, and storyteller. He is a contributing writer with the Chattanooga News Chronicle, The American Diversity Report, The Douglas County Sentinel, Blackmarket.com, co-founder of the “26 Tiny Paint Brushes” writers’ guild, recipient of the 2019 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award, and third place winner of the 2022 Georgia Press Award.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush Introduces Calling for $14 Trillion in Reparations

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U.S. Rep. Cori Bush Introduces Calling for $14 Trillion in Reparations

WASHINGTON, DC — Missouri Democratic Rep. Cori Bush has introduced new legislation calling for $14 trillion in reparations for Black Americans, in an effort to see the federal government atone for the practice of chattel slavery and hundreds of years of racist policies that followed.

“The United States has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of Africans and its lasting harm on the lives of millions of Black people,” Bush said in a Wednesday news conference attended by Reps. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., as well as other stakeholders.

“America must provide reparations if we desire a prosperous future for all,” Bush said.

Her resolution is the latest in a long line of congressional efforts by Democrats to compensate Black Americans for centuries of racial inequity. Similar language about reparations has been introduced in every legislative session since 1989.

“We know that we continue to live under slavery’s vestiges. We know how slavery has perpetuated Jim Crow. We know how slavery’s impacts live on today,” Bush said, citing the racial wealth gap, voter suppression, infant mortality rates and other negative health outcomes for Black people.

“It’s unjust and it wouldn’t happen in a just and fair and equitable society,” she said. “Those are not the natural consequences of human society.”

“They are directly caused by our federal government’s role in the enslavement and exploitation of Africans and Black people throughout our history.”

While the conversation around reparations has picked up traction in recent years, with about a dozen cities and the state of California considering reparation programs, the concept remains broadly unpopular with Americans.

About three-quarters or more of white adults oppose reparations, and so do a majority of Latinos and Asian Americans.

Black Americans overwhelmingly support the proposal, and young people in general are more likely to support cash payments to the descendants of enslaved people than their older counterparts.

But more than 90 percent of Republicans say they oppose it, while Democrats are split nearly 50/50 on whether descendants should receive compensation.

One Key Question Can Help Spot Skin Cancer

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One Key Question Can Help Spot Skin Cancer

When a suspicious skin lesion sends you scurrying to a dermatologist, asking for a full-body skin check could save your life. Dermatologists are twice as likely to find skin cancer with a full-body check, a new study reveals. More than half of the skin cancers discovered were not in the location the patient was concerned about. This is key for Black people whose skin cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage because treatment is difficult when the cancer is at a later stage, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

“If the dermatologist did not check their entire body, these skin cancers would be missed,” lead author Dr. Murad Alam says. He is vice-chair of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago.

His team reviewed the medical records of more than 1,000 patients for the study, which is scheduled for publication in September in the International Journal of The skin cancers discovered during full-body skin exams included basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas and life-threatening melanomas. Melanoma can spread quickly so getting a full-body skin check can be extremely helpful.

“The bottom line is everyone with a risk of skin cancer or a suspicious skin lesion should have a complete skin exam because this is the best way to find skin cancers,” Alam says. “This practice can save many lives.”

Skin cancers, the most common cancers in the United States, can be treated successfully if found early. About 5 million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year.

Anyone at risk for skin cancer due to fair skin, a history of sun exposure or other risk factors should have routine full-body skin exams, experts say.

“This study shows the importance of a complete skin exam, also called a full-body skin exam, for finding skin cancer,” Alam says.

“Dermatologists need to take the opportunity to look over the patient’s entire body, even when the appointment is just for a suspicious lesion. And patients need to request one in case the doctor doesn’t suggest it.”

You should self-examine yourself. Keep in mind that while areas that are exposed to the sun are most at risk, skin cancer may also form on hidden body parts.

For this reason, it’s important that you regularly examine your legs, arms, face and neck, areas between the toes, underneath nails, palms of the hands and soles of the feet, genitals and even the eyes.

If you notice any new or unusual growths, or changes in the size, shape, or color of an existing spot, you should contact your dermatologist. (Source: BlackDoctor.org by Jason Henderson)

Black fathers celebrated at Black Arts And Ideas Festival

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Black fathers celebrated at Black Arts And Ideas Festival
Nevaeh Johnson

By Nevaeh Johnson, 14

Camp REACH

Black fathers stand at the top of the list when it comes to being involved in their children’s lives, said local organizer Ric Morris, and he wants everyone to know it.

“They may not live with them or be married to their mothers, but statistics show that they are more involved continuously in their (children’s) lives than whites, asians or any other ethnicities,” he said. “By highlighting and showing we have extraordinary fathers, we try to dispel some of those myths, some of those stereotypes.”

Morris spoke referring to a Center for Disease Control and Prevention report that stated, Black fathers are more involved in their children’s lives than their White and Hispanic counterparts.

The founder of the Black Arts And Ideas Festival will host the 4th Annual Black Dads Matter Father’s Day Gospel/Jazz Brunch at 12:30 p.m. June 18 at the Waterhouse Pavilion in Miller Park. A concert to honor fathers starts at 2 p.m. Tickets are $45.

The father’s day gospel brunch is among several events scheduled this month in honor of Juneteenth, a national holiday to celebrate the end of slavery in America.

“I want black fathers to know we appreciate them,” Morris said. “I want them to know that we see them and we see what they’re doing to keep families together.”

Jeff Pinkerton won the first Extraordinary Father of the Year award.

“He had all nine of his kids there and one on the way,” said Morris recalling the year Pinkerton received the recognition. “But when I tell you he really is engaged: He goes to football, basketball, graduation, you name it, and he is there.”

Pinkerton said being present is one of the greatest gifts a father can give his family.

“Coming from a single mother, I didn’t have much to offer monetarily to my kids, so I’ve committed as much time as possible to events, celebrating and extra-curricular activities as bodily able.”

Morris said he wants people to see great fathers doing great things with their children. He wants people to realize that most dads are not deadbeats and be more purposeful about lifting dads up instead of putting them down.

The CDC’s National Health Statistics Reports published in 2013 stated that “Black fathers (70 percent) were most likely to have bathed, dressed, diapered, or helped their children use the toilet every day compared with white (60 percent) and Hispanic fathers (45 percent).

The report also stated that fathers spend more time on child care and homework than they did in years past and that 48 percent of working fathers would rather be with their children at home instead of working.

Chattanooga Mocs edge Jay Person earns first national preseason merit

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Chattanooga Mocs edge Jay Person earns first national preseason merit
Jay Person

It has begun. The first preseason All-America list is out with little surprise as Jay Person claimed his spot on the Athlon Sports FCS squad. Person, who plays the edge position on the outside of the defensive line, was a first team pick in Athlon’s 2022 postseason list.

The Cleveland, Tenn., native tied teammate Devonnsha Maxwell, a defensive tackle, for the Southern Conference lead with 8.0 sacks, while pacing the league in tackles for loss (17.5). He was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, finishing tied for eighth in the final voting with the award recognizing the FCS Defensive Player of the Year.

 “Jay is one of the top defensive players in the nation,” Coach Rusty Wright shared. “It’s right there on his tape. The impact he has on the field for our team put him at the top of the class last year.

 “He makes the rest of our defensive front better. His ability to get to the passer makes the secondary better. He affects every level of our defense.”

 Person is joined by two other Southern Conference performers: QB Michael Hiers (Samford) and WR Devron Harper (Mercer). Person and Harper are two of eight returning All-Americans from 2022. 

He was one of four first team All-America student-athletes for the Mocs in 2022. Maxwell, offensive lineman McClendon Curtis and defensive back Kameron Brown each claimed at least one first team mention. Chattanooga’s four was eclipsed only by national champion South Dakota State’s five. The Mocs 2023 schedule includes five home games along with visits from Kennesaw State, The Citadel, Western Carolina, ETSU and Furman. 

6th Annual Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas: Juneteenth Independence Day

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6th Annual Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas: Juneteenth Independence Day

In its sixth year (2023) the Chattanooga Festival of Black Arts & Ideas: Juneteenth Independence Day will kick off its Juneteenth Celebration with the 2nd Annual RBG Ball. Other events and activities will take place on various dates throughout June in multiple locations throughout the city.

This year you will notice some major changes in our programming. As part of our strategic plan we will begin moving our sub-festivals to their own months. The first being the James Baldwin Festival of Word. While this festival maybe changing dates, it will always maintain its high level of program presentations and quality of artists. 

Schedule of Events 2023

•             Friday, June 9th – Opening Night of A. Wilson’s The Piano Lesson

Time:  Reception at 7:00 PM– Curtain at 8:00 PM

Location:  Chattanooga Theatre Centre Circle Theatre, 400 River St.

Tickets:  $25 – Tickets may be purchased at by calling the CTC  Box Office at 423-267-8534 or boxoffice@theatrecentre.co.  You may also visit our website: BlackArtsAndIdeasFest.com 

Description: The August Wilson Playmakers Festival will host the Opening Night reception of CTC’s production of Piano Lesson. The play tells the story of the Charles family. They are forced to confront the literal and figurative ghosts of their past before they can move into the future.

•             Sunday, June 11th – August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson Lecture

Time:  Play starts at 2:30 PM Lecture to follow around 4:30

Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre Circle Theatre, 400 River St.

Tickets:  $25 – CTC Box Office / TheatreCenter.com

Description: If you missed Opening Night for The Piano Lesson here is another opportunity to enjoy this incredible work. Immediately following the show August Wilson Society Education Director Pedro E. Alvarado joins us once again to enlighten and entertain the audience about this play and the life of Mr. Wilson. You will also get to meet and hear from the cast about their preparation for their roles in the play.

•             Thursday, June 15th – Black In Appalachia Presentation/Lecture

Time: 6:00 PM

Location:  Stove Works, 1250 E 13th Street, Chatt.

               Tickets: FREE – Donations

BIA works to highlight the history & contributions of African Americans in the development of the Mountain South & its culture. They do that through research, local narratives, public engagement & exhibition. Black in Appalachia is a community service for Appalachian residents and families with roots in & through the region.

William Isom II is a 6th generation East Tennessean and Director of Community Outreach at East Tennessee PBS in Knoxville. As the director of the Black in Appalachia Project for PBS, he coordinates the project’s research, community database development, documentary film and photography production, oral history collection and educational events in conjunction with local residents. He is also the proud father of two boys, Devin and Isa. In his role of Director of Community Outreach, he teaches an after-school media training program with Knoxville high school students (PBS Newshour’s Smoky Mountain Youth Media), hosts free community screenings of Independent Lens documentaries, produces and directs short historical films under “Blacks in Appalachia Films.” That documentary series is aimed at preserving and raising up the narratives of Black history and culture in Central Appalachia.

•             Friday, June 16th – Juba Dance Ensemble Performance

Time: 7:00 PM   Performance

                 8:30 PM            Panel Discussion with Dancers

Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River Street

Tickets: $20 Children under 10 Free

Description: This is the inaugural performance of the Juba Dance Ensemble under the direction of Crystal Newson. You will be taken on a journey through the history of dance created by Black people. From African to Hip-hop and everything in between. All the dancers are local artist that have appeared in various performances throughout Chattanooga and Hamilton County. You will be moved and educated to all that is dance and its connections to each other.

•             Saturday, June 17th – 2nd Annual Juneteenth Freedom Run & Walk

Time: 8:00 AM Half Marathon Run – 9:00 AM Walk

Location: Hubert Fry Center – 4301  Amnicola Highway

Tickets: Click Here To Register 

Description: Lindsay Bisset said it best, “Freedom is a journey we take together as a country, and this race is a reminder of our commitment together”.  Juneteenth is a holiday for all Americans and this run is a great way to show our unity.

Opal Lee was called the “grandmother of the movement” to make Juneteenth a federal holiday by Biden, who at one point left the stage and walked over to the 94-year-old to speak with her directly. In 2016, at 89 years old, Lee, a former teacher and lifelong activist, walked from her home in Fort Worth, Texas, to the nation’s capital in an effort to get Juneteenth named a national holiday.

•             Saturday, June 17th – Katherine Dunham Juba Dance Festival Workshops

Times: 10:00 AM African Dance  Click to Register

                  11:30 AM Jazz Dance   Click to Register

                    1:00 PM Hip-Hop Dance               Click to Register

                    2:30 PM Contemporary               Click to Register

Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River Street

Description: These workshops will be taught by professional dancers most of which are members of the Juba Dance Ensemble. The fee for each workshop is $15 and will last 1 hour and 15 minutes. All are welcome to participate.

•             Saturday, June 17th – D. Williams Dance Academy Recital

Time: 3:00 PM

Location: Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River Street

Description: The D. Williams Dance Academy is a dance company that trains all levels of dancers. They offer various classes from Ballet to Acro on a recreational and competitive level to insure we have a place for all types of dancers. They turn interests into passions and take pride in preparing our students for the competitive world of dance as well as the entertainment industry. At DWDA, Dance is Life and Life is Dance. They are located in Chattanooga, TN, Scottsboro, AL and soon Huntsville, AL.

•             Saturday, June 17th – Scratching Your Roots Black Genealogy

Society Open House & New Member Recruitment    

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: The Chattanooga Public Library, 1001 Broad Street

Tickets: FREE

Description: This Black genealogy workshop is designed to provide tools for those of African descent to discover where their ancestors were from. This year we will work to form Our Ancestors Research Society. 

•             Saturday, June 17th – Legacy Music Festival – Featuring Jazz Guitarist

Eric Essix     

Time: 8:00 PM

Location: Miller Park, 910 Market Street

Description: On Saturday, June 17th the Legacy Music Festival will present Eric Essix in concert. Over a period of more than 34 years and now 28 full length album releases, Eric Essix has maintained a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz. Following the success of his Songs From The Deep project, Eric recently released his 28th album entitled STRiDE on his Essential Recordings label, again distributed by Lightyear Entertainment/Virgin Music/UMG.

•             Sunday, June 18th – 4th Annual Black Dads Matter Father’s Day

                                               Gospel/Jazz Brunch             

Time: 12:30 Brunch, 2:00 Concert

Location: Waterhouse Pavilion in Miller Park, 850 Market Street

Tickets: $45 Click Here For Tickets

This year’s concert will be performed by members of the hit musical The Color Purple. They will be performing sings songs from the show and other gospel favorites. The event climaxes with the awarding of the 4th Annual Extraordinary Father of The Year Award.

•             Monday, June 19th – Juneteenth Commemoration Ceremony & Concert –

        Oscar Michaux Black Film Festival.

Time: 12:00 Noon –

Location:  The Walker Theater inside the Memorial Auditorium

Tickets:  FREE 

All of Greater Chattanooga & Hamilton County is invited to join us for the 158th Annual Juneteenth Independence Day Commemoration Ceremony. The ceremony will include the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and the singing of Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice” and other freedom songs.

Immediately following the ceremony will begin our Oscar Michaux Black Film festival. Our film festival highlights films made by local Black film makers. We also feature films, including documentaries, made by national and international Black film makers.

Oscar Micheaux (1884 – 1951) was a pioneering African-American author, filmmaker, and without a doubt the most famous producer of race films. In 1919, he formed his own movie production company and became the first African-American to ever make a film shown in “white” movie theaters. Over his illustrious career, Micheaux wrote, produced and directed forty-four feature-length films and wrote seven novels, one of which was a national bestseller.

Given the times, his accomplishments in publishing and film are both unprecedented and awe-inspiring. He used his art to portray truer narratives of the Black experience and to combat the racism of the times, as captured so neatly in D.W. Griffith’s notorious film, ‘The Birth of a Nation’.

The full schedule of films & panel discussion as well as Special Guest to be announced soon!

•             June 1st – 19th – Princesses & Prince Project

Time: They will make appearances throughout the festival

Locations: All over.

Description:  Last year we introduced three historical African princesses, Warrior Princess Amina, Elizabeth of Toro and Princess Taytu Betul. This year we will introduce their male counterparts, Pharaoh Alara, Shaka Zulu and Mansa Musa. Each actor has learned the history of their character are able to educate the audience as a group or as they speak one on one with festival goers.

All will soon be available for public appearances, birthday parties, school, recreation centers, churches, Black History Month events and more.

Please visit our website for additional information about our event: BlackArtsAndIdeasFest.com

National music organization awards Dr. Roland Carter its highest honor

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National music organization awards Dr. Roland Carter its highest honor

Chorus America, the country’s leading advocacy group for choral music, has given former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga professor Dr. Roland Carter its Distinguished Service Award, the group’s highest honor.

The award recognizes “a member whose long-term service to the choral field significantly furthers Chorus America’s mission ‘to strengthen singing communities with the advocacy, connections, and resources they need to be a vital part of society,’” the group said in its announcement of Carter’s selection.

Dr. Carter, who spent 23 years at UTC as a teacher and administrator, retiring in 2013, said much of his success should be credited to others.

“I am who I am because of the persons on whose shoulders I’ve stood–the tremendous support and encouragement of mentors, colleagues, students, and friends. Indeed, it is in their honor that I acknowledge this most esteemed award. Thank you,” he said.

A native of Chattanooga, Dr. Carter has been an advocate for the musical traditions of African American heritage. He is celebrated internationally for his arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” now described as the “Black national anthem.”

“His work as a composer, conductor, educator, and music publisher has established him as a respected authority on the performance and preservation of African American music, and his extended concert arrangement of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ has been crucial to the prominence and significance of this anthem of the civil rights movement,” Chorus America said in its announcement. “He has prepared generations of music students to continue his work of championing a more equitable and inclusive choral field and society,” the group said.

Chattanooga and Hamilton County partner for Westside development project

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Chattanooga and Hamilton County partner for Westside development project
Jermaine Freeman, a senior economic development advisor for the city of Chattanooga (at podium) discusses a new partnership between the city and Hamilton County that will revitalize 300 acres on Chattanooga’s Westside. Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly is seen on the far left.

(CNC Compiled) The City of Chattanooga will partner with Hamilton County to revitalize the Westside area on the riverfront with two development projects.

A historic agreement unveiled last Friday will revitalize 300 acres of downtown riverfront adjacent to Chattanooga’s core, expand downtown education opportunities, create additional affordable housing for more than 2,000 residents of Chattanooga’s Westside, and enhance public infrastructure along 3,000 linear feet of the Tennessee River.

Westside Evolves is a $1 billion effort that will build new affordable housing to replace obsolete housing units one-for-one, while also building a mix of new housing types to spark new vibrancy, commercial activity and economic opportunity across the Chattanooga Housing Authority’s 115-acre footprint. The plan was developed with input from 82 percent of Westside’s more than 2,000 residents. 

Jermaine Freeman, a senior economic development advisor for Chattanooga, said, “My theory as an economic developer is that you can’t have too much economic development.”

Beyond the direct public benefits, the One Westside plan envisions more than 1 million square feet of commercial space, thousands of new homes, and 14 acres of new green space, including 9 acres for a new Riverfront park on what is now known as the Bend. Of the new homes, at least 10 percent of all rental units in the Bend footprint will be reserved for residents making 80 percent or less of the area median income.

Through Urban Story Ventures’ private development of the under-utilized industrial site formerly occupied by Combustion Engineering, Alstom and GE, the new Tax increment financing (TIF)  district and Westside Evolves are expected to conservatively unlock a minimum of $800 million in new development over the next 10 years, which will support the construction of public infrastructure, educational opportunities, and new affordable housing.

A new project will create downtown education opportunities, affordable housing, and new green spaces as part of the development of 1 million square feet of commercial space and thousands of new homes.

“This agreement represents a new approach to economic development in which the priorities of the citizens of Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga are aligned closely with the developers,” said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. “Jimmy White and his team at Urban Story Ventures are visionaries who care deeply about our community, and I’m grateful they understand the importance of public education to the future of our local economy.”

TIF is a common funding tool used by cities and counties to revitalize blighted and under-utilized properties. As the improvement and development of these blighted properties increases their taxable value, local government sets aside a portion of the increase in property taxes to help fund public improvements in the area, improvements that also further catalyze the development.

TIFs are enacted for a limited number of years, in this case 20 years per parcel. During this time, all existing property taxes will continue to be collected as usual. Of the new revenue collected as a result of new development, every dollar allocated to Hamilton County for school operations will still be collected. Only a portion of new revenues paid by property owners are set aside to help fund approved projects. After the TIF expires, all existing and all new tax revenues are collected and distributed as usual.

“For nearly a year, we’ve worked alongside Mayor Wamp and Urban Story Ventures to get the best possible deal for the residents of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, while ensuring that this transformative development will be something that will make us all proud. This plan is the culmination of that robust, collaborative and candid process,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “This trajectory-altering approach will provide a long-term lift to every resident’s quality of life and will go the distance toward addressing our residents’ housing, education and employment needs for decades to come. This project essentially adds a whole new neighborhood to Chattanooga, and transforms another, so it’s not a stretch to call this a generational opportunity.”

All funding that would normally be set aside for public schools will be protected. As part of this TIF structure, additional funding from the new revenues will be set aside to create new downtown education opportunities, through a partnership between Hamilton County, the City of Chattanooga, and Hamilton County Department of Education.  

“We are grateful for the support the City, County and Bend are offering in allocating TIF proceeds to the transformation of the Westside,” said Betsy McCright, executive director of the Chattanooga Housing Authority. “Working together, we will be able to make transformative change and in many instances, end generational poverty. The return on investment of these dollars will resonate for generations.”

The new One Westside partnership, which includes the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga Housing Authority, and Urban Story Ventures, will leverage TIF to create and capture new tax revenue emerging from the redevelopment of brownfields to fuel public services, infrastructure, education, and affordable housing.

“This community-focused partnership will allow us to revitalize the Westside–an area once known as an epicenter for business and prosperity,” said Jimmy White, president and general partner of Urban Story Ventures. “Without the TIF, this transformation would not be possible. It’s key to building out the substantial public infrastructure needed to support these 120 acres while simultaneously supporting affordable housing, education, and community services.”

The proposed agreement will be reviewed for completion by Chattanooga’s Industrial Development Board at its next public meeting. It will then be referred to the City Council and County Commission for a resolution of intent at their public meetings.  Visit OneWestside.infoOneWestside.info for more information and updates as the project progresses.

DELAYED FREEDOM because of DENIED LITERACY

Robin Smith
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DELAYED FREEDOM because of DENIED LITERACY

Juneteenth is now a federal, state, county, and city holiday.

The commemoration of June 19th annually is recognized as the day the slaves were completely freed. Amazingly, despite President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation which took effect on January 1, 1863, announcing that “all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State… shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” Texas did not free slaves from captivity until Union Forces entered the state.

On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Executive Order by President Lincoln, slaves were freed.

How in the world? How could a state ignore such a law that corrected the horror of treating another human as property?

Political opponents of President Lincoln, who sought wealth by using African American individuals as beasts of burden, ignored the law and many moved to Texas.  The distance from the Union soldiers’ reach who were tasked to enforce laws and the Reconstruction Amendments that resulted from the Lincoln Era, such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th Constitutional Amendments outlawing slavery, recognizing men and women born in America as citizens, and giving free men the right to vote regardless of their race or previous involuntary servitude allowed the application of the laws of Liberty.

Geography wasn’t the singular reason that this was unfortunately a factor that permitted the delay in freeing enslaved individuals. The lack of communications beyond newspapers and pamphlets of the day that served as the method of informing the public beyond word of mouth.

And the fact that this critical information was available in written form for more than two years, which resulted in the liberation of about three million enslaved individuals exposes another contributing factor to the delay.

Slaves were denied access to educational freedom. Most African Americans were not able to read or write. Only about 10% of the entire African American population was literate prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, according to The Journal of the Civil War. According to the Smithsonian, states opposing President Lincoln even had laws in place against teaching slaves to read. Tennessee was not among those states.

The tragedy of illiteracy kept available information about the current events of the days and times from those in Texas enslaved for more than two years longer.

Literacy is part of freedom because of the empowerment given to an individual to take the God-given talents, skills, potential, and add the determination of hard work to consume information, make individual decisions, have the ability to earn and save wealth, and create a generational legacy for one’s own family.

As Juneteenth approaches, the history of Texas slave owners being able to keep individuals as property for over two years longer than the law permitted will be the reason for the commemoration. Don’t miss the fact that it was freedom delayed because literacy was denied.

Make this the Juneteenth that kicks off a commitment to read, write, and empower one’s own potential by pursuing educational, financial, and personal freedom through literacy.

FOOD CITY donates $50,000 to Happy Shoes Project

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FOOD CITY donates $50,000 to Happy Shoes Project

Representatives of FOOD CITY continued their ongoing support of the Happy Shoes Project by making a $50,000 donation on Thursday, May 25 at Erlanger Hospital in conjunction with the launch of the Happy Shoes Kids Division.

HAPPY SHOES was born in the heart of Sandi Sammons through her life process of overcoming colon cancer.  

After being diagnosed with Stage 4 Adenocarcinoma (colon cancer) on August 26, 2015, Sandi began the process of walking out her healing. Throughout the process of treatment and emersion in the Word of God, her HAPPY SHOES inspirational post was birthed. Sandi always loved nice shoes. One day while sitting in her treatment chair, she was inspired to write about the shoes (red and white leather tennis shoes) she was wearing. She took a picture of them and wrote her first post and captioned it, “My Happy shoes for the day!” 

This was the beginning of what is now the HAPPY SHOES PROJECT.  Sandi transitioned to heaven on April 27, 2017, and today we carry on The HAPPY SHOES Project to honor her life and legacy. We hope you are inspired each day with hope, peace, joy and strength to put on your HAPPY SHOES and keep walking.  The HAPPY SHOES Project inspires cancer patients to keep walking with encouragement, support, and inspiration distributing totes filled with items to make cancer treatment more comfortable and positive.

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