The Camp House

Public Art Chattanooga has been responsible for some of the largest and most beautiful projects in our city over the past few years. Katelyn Kirnie is the Director of Public Art Chattanooga and in this episode shares some of the exciting projects coming up in the next few weeks including the Creative Placemaking Leadership Summit, the Wilcox Tunnel Mural, and the new sculpture being installed at t...

The APEX (Action Plan for Educational Excellence) Project is the latest initiative of Unifi-Ed that seeks to engage the community and pull everyone into the conversation on public education. Over the past six months they have been engaging and listening to the community and the result is the APEX Policy Platform, a synthesis of the ten most popular solutions to improve our community and our public...

Metro Ideas Project is a local policy think tank that is focused on the challenges of mid-sized cities. Their Executive Director, Joda Thongnopnua, joins us to discuss their latest research project exploring the challenges that communities face when dealing with predatory lenders. As an industry, predatory lending was virtually non-existent thirty years ago, yet today brick-and-mortar payday lende...

Today's episode is a rerelease of one of our first episodes with Christian Rushing, one of the most radiant individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Christian passed away a year ago today, February 1, 2017, and today's rerelease is to honor a man whose life, joy, and wisdom we should never forget. Original episode description: Ask Christian Rushing how he is doing and I can promise you...

A public library is a great resource for a community. But how do libraries respond when the world around them changes? In today's episode we talk with the Chattanooga Public Library's Mary Barnett and explore how our public library is a progressive, responsive institution ready to serve our community in the 21st century. Referenced in this episode: Chattanooga Public Library website - http://chatt...

Entrepreneurship is certainly a term associated with Chattanooga and even a common theme on this podcast. In our interview today guest Kevin Cherrick helps de-mystify entrepreneurship and, being a newcomer to Chattanooga, gives an outsider's perspective on the unique attributes of Chattanooga that make it such a great place for entrepreneurship. Referenced in this episode: Infinite Closet - http:/...

Whiteboard is a digital agency focused on working with purposeful companies and is Chattanooga's only B-Corporation certified company. In this episode we are joined by Whiteboard founders Taylor Jones & Eric Brown to discuss the significance of the certification, the purpose of business, and the ethics of operating a company in our digital 21st century. ~ PART 2 OF 2 ~ Lauri Moyle, creator of...

Whiteboard is a digital agency focused on working with purposeful companies and is Chattanooga's only B-Corporation certified company. In this episode we are joined by Whiteboard founders Taylor Jones & Eric Brown to discuss the significance of the certification, the purpose of business, and the ethics of operating a company in our digital 21st century. ~ PART 1 OF 2 ~ Lauri Moyle, creator of...

This special episode is from our new Theology on Tap Podcast. Dr. Greg Thompson was our guest for Theology on Tap during Chattanooga's 2017 Startup Week. As our city continues to grow an innovation and entrepreneurship economy, what will be the markers of our success? How will we evaluate our success in creating a community in which all of our neighbors are thriving and enjoying this new economy?...

In this episode we have the privilege of introducing you to new Chattanooga Police Chief David Roddy. In many ways this conversation is a continuation of my conversation with his predecessor, former Chief Fred Fletcher. We discuss the process of looking for a new Chief, the department's work to recruit a more diverse force, and continue the conversation on community policing in Chattanooga. Refere...

Marcus Shaw is the new Executive Director of The Company Lab, or as it is more commonly known, the Co Lab. The Co Lab has been at the center of Chattanooga entrepreneurial ecosystem for years now and in this episode we learn more about the role they play within our community. Along the way we get to know new leader Marcus Shaw, discuss the importance of diversity for innovation, and the vision of...

Ed Johnson was the last African American man to be lynched on Walnut Street bridge in 1906. His story is a tragedy and one of the darkest moments in Chattanooga's history. Today, a group of citizens are working to honor his legacy and remember his story by creating a memorial at the south end of the bridge with the hope that it will bring conversation and reconciliation in our community. My guests...

Dr. Bryan Johnson is the new Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. In this episode we discuss the challenges and opportunities of one of our most critical public institutions and by the end of the conversation it is clear that Dr. Johnson is a leader ready to go to work for the teachers, families, and children of Hamilton County.

The Levitt Amp Concert Series is coming to Chattanooga this fall! The series will begin on August 24th and take place every Thursday through October on the Bessie Smith Lawn. My guest, Shane Morrow, shares the vision behind bringing this series to Chattanooga as well as preview the diverse line up. Referenced in this episode: Levitt Amp Chattanooga website - http://concerts.levittamp.org/chattanoo...

While we have talked about Glass House Collective events on the podcast before, we have never really heard their story. In this episode we sit down with Executive Director Teal Thibaud about how it all began and the important lessons on community development that they have learned along the way. http://www.glasshousecollective.org/

"How can we use creativity to increase civic engagement?" That is the latest Causeway Challenge question! In this episode we sit down with Causeway's Abby Garrison to discuss this challenge as well as their previous challenges and the impact they have had on our community. At the end of the conversation we also discuss a new corner market store that is being planned for the bottom floor...

Our final episode in this special series introducing you to Chattanooga's newly elected City Council members features District 7's Erskine Oglesby. Councilman Oglesby has an extensive professional background across multiple sectors but, in the end, service is the virtuous thread that ties it all together and led him to run for Chattanooga’s City Council. If you have missed any of the previous epis...

In this special episode we take a break from our series on the new Chattanooga City Council members to keep you updated on the Hamilton County budget that will affect the funding of our schools. We began this conversation a few episodes back with HCDE School Board Member Tiffanie Robinson. As of last week, Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger has proposed a budget with no changes or increases for s...

Part three of our series introducing you to Chattanooga's newly elected city council members features District 8's Anthony Byrd. In this episode Anthony shares his experience growing up in east Chattanooga, singing in a boy band with Usher, the influence of his parents in shaping the person he has become, and the incredible diversity of The Amazing 8! Referenced in this episode: Councilman Byrd's...

In this interview, City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod shares her story of growing up in Chattanooga, the path that led her to prison, and the redemption of turning her life around over the past ten years. Now she is a member of our City Council and a story of hope that our city can be proud of. Referenced in this episode: John Kern's Times Free Press article supporting Councilwoman Coonrod - http:...

In this new series we sit down with our newly elected officials to hear their story and their calling to public service. Our series kicks off with District 4's Councilman Darrin Ledford. Councilman Ledford shares his hope to work with everyone on the council to tackle the challenges throughout our city, citing public safety and infrastructure as chief concerns. What may be most impressive about Co...

Last week Hamilton County Department of Education School Board passed a budget to send on to the Hamilton County Commission, but they did so along with a significant request. In this interview with the School Board's Finance Chairwoman Tiffanie Robinson we break down that request as well as discuss a couple other initiatives that will hopefully help move public education forward in Hamilton County...

April is unofficially Chattanooga's Arts & Culture month! In this episode Glass House Collective's Whitni McDonald joins us to preview the Highlight Festival in East Chattanooga. The Festival is a three day event centered around Jen Lewin's The Pool , an interactive art piece that lights up the night, and Gospel on Glass. The event will be Friday through Sunday, April 21-23, in East Chattanoog...

Kristen Pavlik McCallie is the interim Director of the Children's Advocacy Center of Hamilton County, a non-profit organization housed in the new Family Justice Center that serves and protects some of our community's most vulnerable - children who have suffered abuse. April is Child Abuse Awareness and in this episode we discuss the work of the "CAC" and the progressive model by which th...

Part two of our discussion on Chattanooga's music economy with Mary Howard Ade, Candace Davis, and Stratton Tingle. In this episode we focus on the work of SoundCorps, a non-profit organization focused on equipping and educating artists and others involved in the music industry to make Chattanooga a great place to create, play, and love music. Referenced in this episode: CVB Website - http://www.c...