Scenic Roots

The life-sized bronze sculpture of Little Debbie at Little Debbie Park in Collegedale, TN. (Alex Paul Loza) Earlier this summer, Little Debbie Park opened in Collegedale. Among the confected structures in the park: a Cosmic Brownie sculpture you can climb; an Oatmeal Creme Pie sculpture for climbing or sitting; a Christmas Tree Cake statue; and a life-sized bronze sculpture of Little Debbie servin...

Artist Alex Paul Loza on crafting the Little Debbie sculpture. Stratton Tingle of SoundCorps with the latest SoundBites. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Joshua J. Cotten / Unsplash) The language of birds. Forest bathing. Wild ears for interpreting nature. These are among the classes taught by Laura Marsh for an outdoor learning series - in partnership with The Chattery, Reflection Riding Arboretum and Nature Center here in Chattanooga, and the Chattanooga Audubon Society. Laura, a field ornithologist and conservation biologist, is the founder of...

Chattanooga skyline. (The Enterprise Center) It’s a saying attributed to many people, from quantum physicist Niels Bohr to baseball’s Yogi Berra - and it goes something like this, quote: “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.” We still make predictions about tomorrow, anyway - if only to make better sense of today. Federal Focus is a signature event from the Chattanooga...

Divided Washington through the local lens at Federal Focus. Outdoor learning, from Reflection Riding to Audubon Acres. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman (AFP Global) Madam C.J. Walker was the first self-made female millionaire in this country. An African-American entrepreneur who grew the business she founded into a beauty empire, she was also a philanthropist and activist during the era of racial segregation. Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman is the author of her biography: “ Madam C.J. Walker’s Gospel of Giving:  Black Wome...

Dr. Tyrone McKinley Freeman on “The Gifts of Black Folk.” Hitch a ride with “50 Miles Away” at Barking Legs Theater. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Shanna Forrestall at Chateau Orquevaux in 2022. (Shanna Forrestall) Orquevaux is a village in the northeast of France, about three hours east of Paris. It is home to a Chateau that since 2015 has opened its doors to an International Artists and Writers Residency program - welcoming musicians, writers and visual artists from around the world. One creative in the Chattanooga area who visited Chateau...

Part of the “Voices + Visions” exhibit at the downtown Chattanooga Public Library. (Chattanooga Public Library) Inside the downtown Chattanooga Public Library, you’ll find on the first floor an exhibit of words and images that shares the stories of the homeless community in this city. Robin Howe is a local artist who connected with - and compiled the stories from - that community, and the exhibit...

The story behind “Voices + Visions: Chattanooga’s Homeless.” A welcome refuge for creatives at France’s Chateau Orquevaux. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

(Obvious Dad) “Lear” is a play that twists and transcends the tale by William Shakespeare about the old King and his daughters. It’s the finale for this summer’s season from theatre company Obvious Dad in Chattanooga - premiering Friday in the Fine Arts Center here at UTC, recommended for ages 16 and older. Blake Harris is artistic director of Obvious Dad.

Arielle Garcia Hayes, Principal of University High. (UTC) Next week is the start for students at University High - a partnership between Hamilton County Schools and our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Through the collaboration, high school juniors and seniors from Hamilton County Schools will take college-level courses here at UTC - at no cost to them or their families. Arielle...

Arielle Garcia Hayes, Principal of University High here at UTC. Beyond the Bard in Obvious Dad’s “Lear” on the UTC campus. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

James Baldwin - in London, 1969.<br/> His words on the page spanned novels and plays, essays and poems that resonate to this day. His words as an orator and debater pierced the public consciousness of his time - and they pierce ours. James Baldwin, the African-American writer and activist, was born nearly a century ago - on August 2nd, 1924. This month, the James Baldwin Festival of Words ta...

Chattanooga Design Studio’s logo. (Chattanooga Design Studio) Visit the website of Chattanooga Design Studio - and these words banner the top of the homepage, quote: “We believe urban design can improve the quality of life for all Chattanoogans.” These days, the Studio - a community nonprofit that promotes excellence in urban design through education, facilitation and collaboration - is involved i...

(Forsaken Fotos) Chattanooga is home to some 65,000 senior citizens. This weekend, the Mayor’s Council on Livability and Aging presents an event here on our campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Aging with Grace is on Saturday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM in the University Center. Mariko Tinaya chairs the Mayor’s Council. Tom Hirsch is the vice chair. Sylvia Dance is the events chair. (City...

Chelsea Risley (Chelsea Risley) SoLit is a literary arts hub in downtown Chattanooga for this area and the Southeast. The nonprofit - formerly known as Southern Lit Alliance - hosts literature festivals, writing workshops and contests, and book therapy groups. Last year, SoLit celebrated its 70th anniversary - and recently, Chelsea Risley became its new executive director. (SoLit)

Chelsea Risley on her new role at Chattanooga’s SoLit. Aging with Grace from the City of Chattanooga here at UTC. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Charlie and Iantha Newton (ArtsBuild) Artists Charlie and Iantha Newton are the founders of SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop here in Chattanooga. Throughout the year, they offer free arts workshops as a way to mentor youth in this city’s underserved communities. On Saturday, August 19th, SPLASH hosts its annual Summer Arts Festival in Miller Park, from 10 AM to 3 PM. (SPLASH Youth Arts Workshop)

The Housing Fund partnered with the Ontario Project to provide more than $1.1 million to acquire and build affordable condo units in the Nashville area. (The Housing Fund) As home prices and rents soar in Nashville, The Housing Fund is a nonprofit that unlocks opportunities for people of low and moderate income in that city to attain affordable housing and homeownership. In partnership with Metro...

From Nashville to Chattanooga, a key to affordable housing. This year’s SPLASH Summer Arts Festival in Chattanooga. These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly at Chattanooga Fire Station #6 in June 2023. (City of Chattanooga) On Thursday afternoon, live here on WUTC, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly joined us for our monthly conversation. Among the topics: homelessness, electric vehicles and the Mentor Hub.

(Cider Mill Press) We’re talkin’ baseball - and writing about baseball. Richard Winham speaks with Tim Hagerty, author of "Tales from the Dugout." Tim Hagerty (Cider Mill Press)

Unum headquarters in downtown Chattanooga. (Unum) It's a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest employers here in Chattanooga, home to its headquarters. Unum - the insurance provider - is celebrating 175 years in business. The past few months, we’ve shared a few conversations with voices at Unum. For this latest conversation, I spoke with Liz Ahmed - the company’s executive president for peopl...

Unum’s Liz Ahmed on the company’s 175 years in business. Author Tim Hagerty on his book “Tales from the Dugout.” These voices - and more - on this edition of “Scenic Roots.”