Scenic Roots

Tricia Mims of National Park Partners on Moccasin Bend. Jennifer Daniels on her work as a teaching artist for ABC @ UTC. Opeletia Helton - Roy Morris, Jr. - and Roe Anderson. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots."

On this week’s “Talking Writing,” Richard Winham speaks with Benjamin Lorr, author of “The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket. (benjaminlorr.net)

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) Each week online, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in Chattanooga features community members reading children’s books - to spur dialogue on race relations. The digital series is called “Bessie’s Front Porch” - and last week, Varion Walton read “All Kinds of People,” by Shari Safran. Watch the entire readings from “Bessie’s Front Porch” on the Facebook page - and...

(Jefferson County Memorial Project) In Alabama, the Jefferson County Memorial Project - based in Birmingham - remembers the Black men and women killed in racially motivated violence by white mobs in the county during the Jim Crow era. The project’s new executive director is Joi Brown. Recently, I spoke with her about the project’s mission of research, education, advocacy and memorialization - and...

(UTC) Last month, the City of Chattanooga - and our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - started to offer a comprehensive training in manufacturing, known as the Manufacturer’s Excellence Program. Greg Harwood is the city’s director of workforce development - and John Freeze is director of UTC’s Center for Professional Education.

A training program in Chattanooga for manufacturing jobs. Joi Brown of Alabama’s Jefferson County Memorial Project. Bessie’s Front Porch - and this week’s Talking Writing. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(CTC) Richard Winham shares the first part of a virtual performance by Ghanaian drummer Kofi Mawuko and his Ogya World Music Band from Chattanooga’s Barking Legs Theater for a concert by UTC’s Office of Multicultural Affairs as part of their International Night celebration.  

(Common House) Next year, Common House will open in the historic former YMCA building in Chattanooga’s Southside. It calls itself as a social club designed for connection. Rob Praino is with Common House.

(visitchattanooga.com) In a few weeks, Here Come the Mummies will come back to Chattanooga and perform from the mound of AT&T Field.  Friends of the Festival says the concert on Saturday, October 17th will be the first physically distanced live show of this size in this city since the spring. Mickey McCamish is executive director of Friends of the Festival - and he talks about how the event co...

Mickey McCamish of Chattanooga’s Friends of the Festival. Rob Praino of Common House, coming to Chattanooga. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps - and Barking Legs Theater. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(StoryCorps / WUTC) Today on Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, Shea Brill and Frances McDonald of Mark Making. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps brings you conversations from people who went to the StoryCorps recording booth in Chattanooga's Miller Park in the spring of 2019. You can subscribe to the Tennessee Valley StoryCorps podcast wherever you get your podcasts. This series is produced and edited by Wil...

(chriscarrollsongs.com) Richard Winham shares a virtual performance by Americana singer-songwriters Adam and Chris Carroll from the Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series for the Isis Music Hall in Asheville, North Carolina. 

(PEF Chattanooga) Who better to give insight to men of color about succeeding in college than those who have walked that same path? That’s how the Public Education Fund Chattanooga describes a virtual discussion that it will host - on Thursday starting at 5:30 PM - titled: “Men of Color Changing the Narrative: What Does it Mean to Be a Man?”   Among the panelists: Dr. Moise Baptiste, college advan...

(River City Company) Emily Mack is the new president and CEO of River City Company, the economic development nonprofit here in Chattanooga. She succeeded Kim White, who stepped down from that role after more than a decade - and who is now running for Mayor. Emily comes to Chattanooga from Indianapolis - where for the past four years, she has served as the director for its Department of Metropolita...

Emily Mack and Amy Donahue of River City Company. PEF Chattanooga’s “Men of Color” virtual discussion. Mountain Spirit Acoustic Series: Adam & Chris Carroll. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(National Park Service) This year’s Moccasin Bend Lecture Series takes place this month as three virtual events. It’s the 15th year for the fall series - which hosts thought leaders and experts to share their stories and experiences about the National Parks, conservation, history, Native American culture - and more.   Tricia Mims is executive director of National Park Partners.   

(CSO) Because of COVID-19, the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera reformatted its season, now presenting new performances with fewer instruments and reduced audience sizes to keep everybody safe.   Samantha Teter is executive director of the CSO.

(MOHHC) Next week, the Charles H. Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center here in Chattanooga will host a Celebration of Valor. The virtual event will raise funds for the center, which first opened its doors to the public just before the pandemic hit. Keith Hardison is the center’s executive director.

(Women Repair Zone) This weekend, a live, online and hands-on workshop will teach women about gardening and carpentry. Saturday’s workshop will be presented by two women-owned businesses: Women Repair Zone here in Chattanooga and Gardenuity in Texas. Bea Lurie is owner and founder of Women Repair Zone.

(The UTC Echo) “Mocs Go Vote” is an effort on our campus - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - to increase student voter turnout in November’s elections. Chris Acuff is an assistant professor in public administration in UTC’s Department of Political Science and Public Service.

UTC Political Science Prof. Chris Acuff on “Mocs Go Vote.” Tricia Mims on a virtual Moccasin Bend Fall Lecture Series. Women Repair Zone, A Celebration Of Valor - and the CSO. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Richard Winham speaks with Sharon Cameron, author of “The Light In Hidden Places” - based on the true story of a 16-year-old Catholic girl in Poland who took care of her younger sister, and hid 13 Jewish people in her apartment attic, during the Holocaust in World War II.  

(Bessie Smith Cultural Center) Each week online, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center here in Chattanooga features community members reading children’s books - to spur dialogue on race relations. The digital series is called “Bessie’s Front Porch” - and last week, Savanna Wilkes read “The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist” - written by Cynthia Levinson...

(Tech Goes Home Chattanooga) Here in Chattanooga, the Mayor’s Council Against Hate is now partnering with Unlearn Everything And Live to provide a four-part training on anti-racism.   Last week, I spoke with Lakweshia Ewing, the CEO and lead principal of Unlearn Everything And Live. Joining her: Michael Dzik, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga.

Lakweshia Ewing and Michael Dzik on anti-racism training. Talking Writing: Sharon Cameron’s “The Light In Hidden Places.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”