Hello Friday.
October 04 2024
Ok, so we aren’t technically bringing it back — but the Chattanooga Design studio is, and the first lecture series of 2021 kicked off with a bang last night.
The CIVIQ lecture series is back | Photo via NOOGAtoday, graphic via the Chattanooga Design Studio
✏️ What is CIVIQ?
CIVIQ is a local speaker series focused on topics surrounding urban design that began in 2018. Past series included discussions on infrastructure, transit, and more, all of which you can listen to online.
Last night, 2 women behind the local Westside Community Evolves project — Rhae Parks of EJP consulting, the planning organization working on the project, and local artist Erika Roberts — took the stage to discuss how community engagement and involvement + art are important facets in neighborhood redevelopment.
Rhae Parks discussed the principles her company finds important when planning neighborhood redevelopment | Photo via NOOGAtoday
✏️ Principles used in the project
- Understand the baseline: past + present | Understanding the community’s history
- Start with strengths + assets | Don’t originally focus on what needs to be fixed, but what is strong about the community
- Be clear about opportunities for influence V. decision making | Be honest about the difference between community input + community decision making
- Listen actively, be transparent, be consistent | Intentionally listen to the community, and stay transparent throughout the project’s stages
- Recruit allies, collaborate; Leverage community assets, partners, and momentum | Community allies, partners + collaboration are important
- Find early wins, especially those that are resident-led | In years-long projects, show that you are listening to the community by providing early-stage tangible successes — ie, bus stops, sidewalk paving, etc.
- Invest time + resources | Invest in elements like surveys and technical studies, community conversations + diverse communication mechanisms
✏️ The importance of art
Local artist Erika Roberts discussed how her 98-year-old grandmother has lived in the Westside community since Erika was a child, and how the community is important to her.
She wanted to preserve the community + history of Westside through art. She outlined the necessary elements of a successful process that works through art:
- An organization
- Artist(s)
- Community
- Intentionality
The unveiling of the Westside Evolves final plan + the artwork that accompanies it will take place tomorrow in the Westside community.
Use the buttons below to share this story with someone who should attend the next CIVIQ event (or who just loves anything involving urban design + community engagement).
Show
- Jennifer Daniels | Fri., July 23 | 6-9 p.m. | Arts Avenue, 1800A Rossville Blvd. | $12 | Jennifer is native to Lookout Mountain + her music ranges from alt-country to folk-rock. 🎵
- Nevermind: A Nirvana Tribute | Fri., July 23 | 8 p.m. | The Signal | $20+ | These near replicas of Nirvana feature all the hits + the underground tunes too — this show is 18+.
TryThis
- Nightfall Music Series | Fri., July 23 | 7 p.m. | Miller Plaza | Free | Enjoy live music, food, drinks, and more — tonight will feature Joanna Connor + Rye Baby.
- Harlem Globetrotters | Fri., July 23 | 7 p.m. | UTC McKenzie Arena | $20+ | Watch this fun basketball team play the game + put on a show. 🏀
WaterCooler
Saturday
- Q ‘n Brew at the Zoo | Sat., July 24 | 6-9 p.m. | Chattanooga Zoo | $10+ | At this barbecue + beer event, expect local food, live bluegrass music, drinks, and animal encounters. 🍺
- Rumba Night | Sat., July 24 | 5-9 p.m. | Cooper’s Alley | Free | Celebrate Latin culture through food + dancing — salsa lessons included. 💃
- Back to School Bash | Sat., July 24 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | 1200 Dodson Ave. | Free | Erlanger Community Health Centers is hosting this event to help families prepare for the new school year by providing health services to children.
Sunday
This content was created in partnership with CLIENT Ⓟ
Weather
- 94° | Mostly sunny | 9% chance of rain 🌤️
Development
- Chattanooga-born country music artist Kane Brown partnered with Lowe’s to provide renovations to the East Lake Boys & Girls Club. The East Lake club is receiving a new library and computer lab + a lounge — expected to be completed by the end of August. (NewsChannel 9)
State
- There are plans for electric car charging station installations at all 56 Tennessee State Parks, thanks to a partnership between the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation + the automotive technology company Rivian. Installation could begin as early as this fall. 🔋 (The Pulse)
Coronavirus
- Mayor Tim Kelly ordered the temporary closures of the Washington Hills Community Center and the Frances B. Wyatt Community Center following the confirmation of COVID-19 cases at the facilities. The closures will allow for quarantining + cleaning and sanitation efforts. (The Pulse)
Community
- Unum + the Chattanooga Police Department collaborated to create the “Cops Care” program, which helps children find comfort in traumatic situations with police presence. The program provides kits filled with several items that range from a blanket to coloring books. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Arts
- ArtsBuild recently announced its annual round of Mission Support grants. This year, ArtsBuild awarded $525,000 in grants to 19 local arts organizations. This group of organizations includes the Bessie Smith Cultural Center + Songbirds Foundation — a first-time grant recipient.
TryThis
- After being canceled in 2020, The Great Smoky Mountains Hot Air Balloon Festival in Townsend is back on Aug. 21 from 4-10 p.m. The balloon glow is the highlight of the event, but local food vendors, kid-friendly activities + live entertainment are featured as well. (The Pulse)
Cause
- UnitedHealthcare donated $300,000 in Empowering Health grants to several community-based organizations in Tennessee to expand access to care + address the social determinants of health in underserved communities. Among these nonprofits is the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
- Chattanooga-based nonprofit Love Without Reason is hosting the 5KRun4Love on Sept. 11 to honor both the fallen and the nonprofit’s inspiration, Philip Mathews, who died at the age of 19. The organization’s work focuses on addressing human trafficking + providing free cleft surgeries abroad.
Edu
- The Mechatronics Academy — a high school program that prepares students for industrial and technical career paths — recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary. It was also announced that its partnership with Volkswagen would be renewed for 5 more years.
Health
- Walmart is hosting Walmart Wellness Day on July 24 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. At the event, customers can receive free health screenings, wellness resources + immunizations. You can take part locally at the Gunbarrel Road, Signal Mountain Road, and Brainerd Road locations, among other local Walmarts.
Watch
- From caulking + weatherstripping to air filters to insulation, this helpful video series from EPB Energy Pros can walk you through basic home projects to improve your energy efficiency. 🏠 Ⓟ
Deal
- Ready to start traveling again, and this time, actually understand the language? Babbel — the no. 1 selling language learning app in the world — is now offering our readers up to 55% off subscriptions to learn a new language in just 3 weeks. 🌏 Ⓟ
This photo of a kayak on these calm Sale Creek waters have us appreciating warm summer days on the water.
If you, like us, want to take part in some watercraft adventures but don’t own a canoe or kayak, Outdoor Chattanooga has you covered.
This Saturday, the organization is offering a guided + equipped kayak tour on Sale Creek. And there’s a lot more where that came from — Outdoor Chattanooga also offers periodic bat cave canoe tours, whitewater kayaking 101 classes, and pedal and paddle sunset tours.
Paddle faster, I hear banjos… 🛶
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Answered: In yesterday’s newsletter about the Olympics, we hit you guys with a quiz question — which sport was NOT added to the Olympics this year?
57.8% of voters got the answer right. Out of sports climbing, surfing, pickleball, and baseball, pickleball was the 1 sport that wasn’t added to the Olympic lineup.
Wondering what pickleball is + where you can play locally? Check out our article on the new fad sport that’s becoming a pretty big dill. 🎾
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