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coco A NEW VOICE FOR CHATTANOOGA WHAT S IN A NAME LEVITT IS BACK BLACK FARMING FROM JAZZANOOGA TO RISE AND COCO BIGGER AND BETTER FOR ITS THIRD YEAR THE BEAUTY OF A BACKYARD GARDEN
TogetherWeRISE
COCO MAGAZINE WELCOME To the beginning of a new voice for Chattanooga MAILING ADDRESS P O BOX 406 Chattanooga Tennessee 37401 423 402 0452 www risecha org CONTRIBUTORS JOSIAH GOLSON CHRISTIAN J COLLIER JAMES MCKISSIC SHAWANDA MASON DONNA HARRISON Cover Painting I too 2019 by James McKissic www jamesmckissic com What started as a day long festival honoring Jazz History Month in 2011 under the name of Jazzanooga has evolved into an independent and thriving nonprofit community based organization that serves thousands of individuals annually known today as RISE Responsive Initiatives for Social Empowerment It was my personal goal to expand our service offerings to address the lack of diverse arts and cultural programming in the Greater Chattanooga area I wanted to find a creative and meaningful way to bring our community together to honor and celebrate what once was still is and what could be in our diverse cultural landscape I d like to welcome you all to the first issue of Creatives of Color COCO magazine This magazine will serve as an extension of the work of RISE in the community and a way to shine a light on the work of Chattanooga s creatives of color the people who wake up everyday making our city a vibrant place to live work and play All of the articles have been written exclusively for the magazine If you re interested in being a contributor or advertising in the magazine please e mail shane risecha org Can t wait to hear from you Chattanooga TogetherWeRISE RISEChattanooga SHANE MORROW Editor In Chief
RISE Arts Incubator Class Chattanooga Cigar Club
FALL WINTER 2019 6 I DESERVE COCO AND SO DO YOU By Jordan Scruggs 13 A NOTE OF JOY By Christian J Collier 16 FIVE QUESTIONS FOR Davis Wayne s 20 26 WHEN YOU SEE RONDELL By R Josiah Golson A QUICK CHAT WITH Donna Harrison 29 SOW A SEED JOIN US IN THE GARDEN By James McKissic Award Winning Poet Jericho Brown Comes To Chattanooga Page 15
QUICK NOTE FROM THE EDITOR I DESERVE COCO AND SO DO YOU I know I look familiar Behind that mug is a face that is a combination of two people who are Chattanooga natives I myself have spent 98 of my life in this city I call home I ve gone to school here moved all around and worked here for the past 29 years of my life And I m proud of it I m proud of the relationships I ve formed and the work I ve done within the community I hold close to my heart I want more people to get to know parts of my city they might not know exists I can t wait to share stories and beyond with Coco JORDAN SCRUGGS OPERATIONS EDITOR
If there s a book that you want to read but it hasn t been written yet then you must write it Words by Toni Morrison Artwork by Josiah Golson TONI MORRISON FEBRUARY 18 1931 AUGUST 05 2019
Photos taken at 2019 Levitt AMP Chattanooga Music Series by our OUTLOOK students OUTLOOK is an After School Youth Digital Media Production Initiative for H S Students that we created in collaboration with Bridge Community and Dynamo Studios Many thanks to our students Calvin James Zora Thomas Onion Peace Annteria Evans Keionna McCutchen Quinya Watkins Dedrick Bush Terriah Knox and Tiah Knox You all ROCK
COMMUNITY SHOUTOUTS cgrimey423 Connecting the blocks to at then back to the people C Grimey delivers more than mixtapes and albums he the be connects people to people seauxchill girlfriendmanifesto yesha Ophelia runs anifesto a women s guide for inspired juicy living Through consultations retreats and more Ayesha connects to all A Girlfriend M frozenpopstick you off while tasting at is all that Popstick cares about Well that and using local seasonal ingredients to deliver cold vegan treats a reason he s aded to China next month From bars to keys the creative There s he process never sleeps with him Catch him if you can he s international cocoaasante aking delicious to another are made right here in Chattanooga using cocoa beans sourced from Ghana w to the city but acting like a native Brie is always ready to move and connect people to get things done Brie is a mover and a shaker be on the lookout for her ne xt move y Man Beard Essentials is Cooling T Hol gre level these truffles the premiere line in men s grooming Come for the oil ay loyal for the care and wth that comes with it gro feliciapolkjackson Ne briestvnz st cprwrap briestvnz a Polk Jackson is an an innovator she s a life saver Her creation CPR Wrap was born out of the safety of her own child Be on the lookout for her next move Saving animals Felici more th y b normal2016 aking and other forms of community outreach Y B Normal engages with disadvantaged youth to inspire them to strive for greatness Through curriculum spe
SEIRES TRECNOC 9102 CISUM PMA TTIVEL AUGUST 22 HAMILTONES With their uplifting groovy style and soothing harmonies the GRAMMY nominated HamilTones deliver a soulful treat for all audiences AUGUST 29 VALERIE JUNE Blending folk soul blues and traditional Appalachian elements Valerie June crafts a refreshing timeless sound that sits outside any particular musical era SEPTEMBER 5 JOSE VALENTINO An EMMY Award winner multi Latin GRAMMY Award winner multi instrumentalist composer educator and expert in Latin jazz and funk fusion Jos Valentino is one of today s most sought after commercial music instrumental artists SEPTEMBER 12 REV SEKOU AND THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS Theologian and activist Reverend Osagyefo Uhuru Sekou The Freedom Fighters storm the heavens with incendiary gospel songs that boldly tackle social issues SEPTEMBER 19 STOUT AND THE REVOLUTION Stout s electrifying persona and fresh house meets neo soul fusion are the product of a lifelong relationship with music THURSDAYS 6 00 9 00 PM LAWN OF BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER 200 EAST M L KING BOULEVARD ALL AGES ARE FREE WELCOME BRING A BLANKET OR CHAIR FIND MORE INFORMATION AT WWW RISECHA ORG CHAMUSIC MUSICMOVES
SEIRES TRECNOC 9102 CISUM PMA TTIVEL SEPTEMBER 26 JYEMO CLUB Jyemo Club is a genre bending culture crossing supergroup on a mission to get audiences dancing and celebrating life OCTOBER 3 B SLADE A three time GRAMMY nominated artist B Slade is known for his unmatched vocal range and unapologetic exploration of genres from gospel to funk to punk OCTOBER 10 LOUIS YORK AND THE SHINDELLAS Louis York is the creation of the multi GRAMMYnominated songwriting and production duo Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony OCTOBER 17 FRANK BUMPASS A native Chattanoogan Frank Bumpass is a skilled saxophonist with local flair OCTOBER 24 ERIC ROBERSON A pioneer of the independent movement in soul and R B Eric Roberson makes waves in an industry dominated by mainstream radio and major labels with timeless boundary pushing music THURSDAYS 6 00 9 00 PM LAWN OF BESSIE SMITH CULTURAL CENTER 200 EAST M L KING BOULEVARD ALL AGES ARE FREE WELCOME BRING A BLANKET OR CHAIR FIND MORE INFORMATION AT WWW RISECHA ORG CHAMUSIC MUSICMOVES
PEOPLE ON THE HORIZON Born and raised in Chattanooga TN Briah is a self taught artist working in a wide range of dynamic media styles and themes Having earned her Associate of Science degree at Chattanooga State and currently studying Marketing at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Gober has developed her craft since childhood creating works on canvas as well as everyday objects that she transforms into works of art Through her travels in the states and abroad Gober has built a powerful experience of artistic collaboration while learning to observe and sense other to create art experiences in which we can BRIAH GOBER expand and evolve Through her travels in the states and abroad Gober has built a powerful experience of artistic collaboration while learning to observe and sense other to create art experiences in which we can expand and evolve Lovely Intoxication and Insanity Overdose are the brands Gober has created and intends on turning into lifestyles Lovely and Insanity were created to demonstrate juxtaposition through the light and dark aspects of the human experience Gober s birth place of Chattanooga inspires her to follow her calling of transforming God s creation through her own Channeling the heritage of African American people through the dramatic and Egyptian looking eyeliner bald head and stretched ears Growing up I ve always had the passion to create something different coming from East Chattanooga Seeing the same things surrounding me all my life led me to live through my imagination I ve always been inspired by the beauty that comes from East Chatt The people and the struggles I see connect me to a higher power that s blessing me beyond words Being able to relate with my neighbor in ways that suburban America might not understand are one of those blessings That s why everything I ve seen and been through motivates me to create in Chattanooga It lets me know that I could be a voice for those that don t have a platform to be heard KOURTNEY BROWN Black Rebel is the product of that reality the lifestyle the art and the passion that expresses my future Anyone that feels other or out the box from their peers can be considered Black Rebel I hope everyone can relate to my visual representation on life but most importantly rebel against what we ve been told is normal Only free thinkers shape the culture we live in so as im on this earth my actions will represent those thoughts and i hope my messages inspire the next big thinker on the rise
A NOTE ON JOY BY CHRISTIAN COLLIER I think for most of us we can agree that we are living in interesting times It seems like every week brings its own share of events that challenge the morality understanding and make up of our country as well as our cities towns and even one another Our relationships with social media which for a good number of us are increasingly habitual and engrossing can quickly become abusive and affect us in several ways that linger long after we manage to log out of our given platforms and put our chosen devices down All of us are living in an era where we do not have to glance that far to find things that lead us to believe that terror and negativity are ever present and perhaps they are However those two things are never the only or most dominant things that surround us regardless of how dire things can appear Sometimes the challenge lies in recognizing the good things those things that lift us up in the dark COME CELEBRATE WITH ME THAT EVERYDAY SOMETHING HAS TRIED TO KILL ME AND HAS FAILED LUCILLE CLIFTON WON T YOU CELEBRATE WITH ME
For those that don t know me I identify as an artist which really is just a way of saying that I make things More than half of my life has been dedicated to the arts in one way or another but my home for the past twenty one years has essentially been in writing Over the past year I ve been working on a poetry manuscript that deals with the impacts of trauma Needless to say it isn t the breeziest work to delve into but the issue has been on my mind for about seven years As people we are all obsessed with different things and the funny thing about obsessions is that more often than not they tend to find us not the other way around Up to this point I ve written somewhere around forty poems and have about thirty five more that are in various stages of completion One of my big words for this year has been interrogation and this project has forced me to interrogate parts of myself and my journey that have been really uncomfortable and necessary Bringing this work to fruition has not been an easy process but it has been a process through which I have come to see and experience who I am where I ve been where I m heading and even the world in a different manner One of my favorite artists is named Ian Kamau and he said years ago that for artists it s easy to get so caught up on producing work or cooking so to speak that we often forget we also have to take time to sit down and actually consume the meal While the work on my manuscript has provided numerous benefits and stretched me creatively I realized that I needed to step away from it for a while in order to get fed by something different something with a different flavor something that allowed me to feel a little bit lighter as I moved around in the world especially given the current climate of it It wasn t long after I made the decision to let the work marinate that an interesting question found me What does it look like to actively write into joy in this day and age One of the things I love most in the world is a good horror movie My older brother introduced me to them when I was four or five and after initially being terrified I fell in love Recently I was thinking about a film from the late 80s and thought it would be a funny little joke to throw out the idea of writing a poem about it I made a social media post about it received a few likes and then moved on with my life until lines started coursing through my head and I began capturing them WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO ACTIVELY WRITE INTO JOY IN THIS DAY AND AGE
This was what it looked like for me personally to be writing into both joy and surprise right now Through the lens of something I love that on face value is easily dismissible for a lot of people I m able to use it to pull more serious takes out of it tell different stories and interrogate issues that are prevalent in the world in a unique manner I ve since penned a few more poems in a similar vein and I suppose you could say that this new work that is currently feeding me is permitting me in the midst of these turbulent times to reach into the dark cup my hands and bring out a little pool of light My hope and challenge for each of you is to do the same give yourselves the necessary space to find whatever allows you on a regular basis to stave off the maraud of the things that are working to rob your spirit of its sheen so you can discover rediscover or reclaim whatever it is that grants you the opportunity to walk into a brand new day holding onto joy JERICHO BROWN OCTOBER 5TH FLOOR 5 AT THE EDNEY 1100 MARKET STREET 2P 2PM POETRY WORKSHOP P6O 3E 0T RP MY R E8A D3 I0NPGM NOTE WORKSHOP REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED EVENING READING IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR INFORMATION PLEASE GO TO RISECHA ORG
FIVE QUESTIONS FOR CYNTHIA ANTONIA OF DAVIS WAYNE S There are some great restaurants in Chattanooga but one of the best is Davis Wayne s Located at 9454 Bradmore Lane in Ooltewah Cambridge Square and known for delectable soul food and mouth watering desserts Davis Wayne s is the perfect spot for a filling lunch or a romantic dinner What is the significance of the name Davis Wayne s Davis Wayne s is named after Cynthia s Fathers Davis is her Step Father s last name and Wayne was her Birth Father s name Cynthia was fortunate enough to have two great Dads so it was fitting to combine their names What makes Davis Wayne s food taste so good At Davis Wayne s we make food from scratch combining the freshest ingredients with our house blend of seasonings to create signature dishes that we feel our customer base will appreciate The formula for what we do is simple Forethought Time Love Incredible Food
Jerk Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Habanero Sauce with Brussel Sprouts Sweet Potatoes Broccoli Cheese served with a complimentary side of cornbread Which of your menu items is your favorite to prepare Why The menu items we serve are fan favorites that we perfected over the years spent in the catering business with our parent company Dipped Fresh It is almost impossible to choose a favorite A current favorite thing to prepare is actually items that are not on our regular menu but instead what we call our Chef Specials That s when we get inspired and create dishes that are only around for that day or until we run out Our customers enjoy coming in and being surprised by something different You never know when you might get to enjoy lobster and scallop macaroni cheese meatloaf or braised chicken It s those moments when our muse is moving that make for an exciting evening in the restaurant
way in which you prepare food the How is Black culture important to the The order of ingredients the timing of things restaurant s mission decor and menu and the passion required to do it the right are paramount to the end dish set Davis Wayne s is a testament love letter to way our guest Grandmother and our ancestors At Davis Wayne s we stand before didn t have pots cooking on the on the shoulders of those who came before Granddad all day for no reason It s the us Everything we do is steeped in family stove tradition love and the pursuit of excellence formula that makes all the difference thing that we take pride in is the Our decor is classy cool with an intentional Another that we don t deep fry any food and contrast between the deep toned trim and fact is no meat used to prepare any of the open area wall space This contrast there vegetables We believe that people provided a canvas to display photos of our our eat well eat healthy enjoy food that loved ones on the walls in the restaurant can great and not have to regularly eat Our walls are adorned with a rich history of tastes that has been proven to cause family friends and mentors We enjoy telling food the stories of the people who have been health concerns for so many instrumental in our lives and growth As far as our menu is concerned we have taken traditions that have been passed down through generations and put our own twist on things Neither of us Antonia or Cynthia is formally trained in culinary arts but we have a lifetime of food preparation experience learning from some of the best cooks ever Grandparents parents uncles and aunties that taught respect for ingredients and the importance of understanding the science of food What is next for Davis Wayne s The immediate plans for Davis Wayne s are to continue providing top notch food fare and service to our ever expanding customer base Our near future plans include the process of vetting potential partners for the expanse of Davis Wayne s into other markets Locations in metro areas near Nashville Knoxville Atlanta and Huntsville are the starting points for expansion
ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE Books filled her home so she could never be alone Encyclopedias and dictionaries are a gathering of her friends words She met poetry in a fifth grade class The discipline of the art made her want to pass it on and just write but her teacher saw talent despite her closed off nature The teacher kept exposing the stanzas As the young became older she found her poetic voice No longer lost but now a purposeful journey sometimes rocky the stage was close But life happened Her kids She continued to write with a different muse a new inspiration letting the words soar like a kite As she returned to the stage she performed everywhere even in places she dare not say Restaurants and lounges Homes with great porches Forever lifting her words like torches a beacon to the others Creating a safe place by hosting shows on that legendary black stage Erika Roberts a mother a poet and Erika is one of the rotating hosts for creator has become a humble part of The FLOOR is YOURS She is a the performing community in successful workshop creator and Chattanooga by creating shows to facilitator under her production highlight the creatives She has company Velvet Poetry Productions performed at Barking Legs Theater She currently has a monthly show Bessie Smith Hall The Hunter Museum under her series Poetry After Dark The The Camp House Lincoln Park and Midnight Sessions at The Palace Mercy Junction Theater She can be found on Facebook velvetpoetryproductions or Instgram VelvetPoetry
ARTISTS ON ARTISTS WHEN YOU SEE RONDELL BY JOSIAH GOLSON If you ve been in Chattanooga for any time within the past decade chances are that you have in some way experienced the work of Rondell Crier Perhaps you ve seen the curves in his paintings and murals of iconic global and local musicians You might have shared space with his monolithic metallic sculptures as they ve graced the streets throughout the city inviting us to dance and dialogue It is possible you ve even witnessed or received his graceful interaction as he works tirelessly on project after project including commissions workshops and engagement with countless collaborators and audiences But if a picture is worth a thousand words how many more words do we attribute to the value of a person And if we fall short in seeing the fullness of a picture within a frame can we really say that we see Rondell simply through the power and impact of his work alone Josiah Golson b 1986 Tuscaloosa AL is an artist lawyer and writer from Chattanooga Tennessee He is the founder of the 800 Collective a diverse group of artists using art as a means of civic engagement and public discourse Josiah s work comprises of creative workshops public art projects and community development
Crier s work doesn t begin and end in the studio and it hasn t for some time He arrived to Chattanooga in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Before the storm Rondell practiced as an artist and one of the leaders of YAYA Young Aspirations Young Artists Inc a New Orleans based organization focused on helping creative young people become successful adults for the past 30 years In making Chattanooga his new home Crier engaged the artist community taking up new skills shared his dynamic work with audiences at art festivals and events and committed to Chattanooga s communities as he supported led and inspired projects that focused on serving people through design creativity and inspired agency Now after over 10 years of his work in Chattanooga and with the experience wisdom and perspective that comes with that Crier sees a depth calling and mission in his work that we as a community have yet to comprehend from his artistic endeavors
Inner Connected Series 2012 by Rondell Crier
People are more than the only thing you see them doing Crier says He says this inspired by the words of lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson People are more than the worst thing they ve ever done Crier finding himself ever more dedicated to use his talents for the community often faces the challenges of transcending the limited perspectives we have on the abilities understanding and potential of community based artists to transform our communities with the same level of impact attributed to lawyers educators and policymakers From mentoring young creatives at his Studio Everything space on Glass Street to guiding community dialogue on public issues and policy throughout the city to teaching art with fellow artist Olga de Klein and visiting collaborators to young people at the Hamilton County Juvenile Detention Center Crier shows up as an advocate for the community in every imaginable way Yet he runs into limits when the typical measurable outcomes statistics and potential for scale often required of the non profit landscape do not allow us to realize the power of his work People are more than the worst thing they ve ever done
FOOD DRINK TROPICAL PALOMA Just because we re waving goodbye to summer doesn t mean we have to get rid of all of it Get ready to fall in love with these fantastic yet simple cocktails INGREDIENTS PROCEDURE Thyme Orange Simple Syrup To make the simple syrup 1 4 cup raw sugar 1 4 cup water Thyme 1 Add the sugar and water to a small pot and set over low heat Stir frequently until the sugar has dissolved Add thyme sprigs and Orange zest about half of an orange orange zest and remove from the heat Allow to cool and steep for 15 minutes Strain the Tropical Paloma 1 oz pineapple juice syrup into a small jar until ready to use Can be stored in the fridge for a week 1 oz orange juice 1 tsp thyme orange simple syrup 1 tbsp fresh lime juice about 1 2 a lime To make the cocktail 1 In a cocktail shaker add in the pineapple juice orange juice simple syrup lime juice 1 4 cup tequila tequila and salt Shake ice Pinch of sea salt 1 2 oz club soda 2 Pour into your serving glass top with ice and club soda 3 Top up with garnishes of your choice orange slice thyme lime slices etc Recipe created by Shawanda Mason Originally posted on www eatdrinkfrolic com
FOOD DRINK RECLAIMING MY THYME INGREDIENTS 1 oz gin 2 oz lemonade Thyme lemongrass simple syrup Lemon elderflower soda PROCEDURE To make the simple syrup 1 Combine all ingredients over low eat stir until the sugar has dissolved 2 Remove from heat and allow the herbs to steep and the syrup to cool Thyme for garnish To make the simple syrup Water Sugar Thyme fresh To make the cocktail 1 In a cocktail shaker combine gin simple syrup and lemonade 2 Strain into a glass then top with soda 3 Garnish with thyme Lemongrass fresh Note For the simple syrup fresh lemongrass is best but if you re unable to find it you can certainly use dried lemongrass But beware dried lemongrass is more concentrated in flavor and is a little woody You won t need a ton of dried lemongrass for the syrup If you cannot find lemon elderflower soda try it with club soda or a flavored sparkling water Recipe created by Shawanda Mason Originally posted on www eatdrinkfrolic com
A QUICK CHAT WITH Donna Elle Harrison We re so excited about your new role at the Convention and Visitors Bureau Can you tell us what you ll be doing there Initially the role at the Convention and Visitors Bureau started as a Music Marketing Manager with the goal to enhance the music scene CVB actually worked in collaboration with foundations RISE and community partners to bring and launch the Levitt Music Series in Chattanooga As Chattanooga s Cultural Heritage and Arts scene grew my role came to fruition I am the Director of Cultural Tourism for CVB and I am beyond excited Ultimately the Cultural Tourism position is to highlight and bring more visibility to the dynamic emerging Cultural Heritage and Arts assets in Chattanooga My goal is to inform and engage the community with all of the great things happening inspire people to visit and bring more cultural events to our beautiful city in the near future You ve been in the media for many years how did your previous jobs prepare you for your new role From the work I ve done at Brewer media WRCB and Iheart Radio I have learned the importance of engaging the community and marketing and branding events locally and regionally I ve also learned the ins and outs of the entertainment industry how to work best with performers and embrace the history and diverse culture of my hometown Most importantly I ve been fortunate to be able to connect with so many amazing people I have always known this city is a jewel and I am excited about having this platform to share it with the world and provide them meaningful reasons to come visit
What do you think is special about Chattanooga s music and cultural scene In my position my focus is Culture Heritage and Arts CHA Since I was young my mom always had me involved in plays recitals and singing performances and I continued that through my adult years Being a native I believe Chattanooga s CHA scene is special We are a melting pot of evolving talent with never ending opportunity Gone are the days where it is just one type of artistry in demand We now celebrate bluegrass R B hip hop country rock and the rise of diverse visual and performing artists The way we are emerging is special and people are traveling to be a part of it What are you listening to now It s morning so now a little praise and worship from Tasha Cobbs By noon it will change to 90 s 2000 s rap with a mix of Whitney Houston Beyonc Bruno Mars Sam Smith Frankie Beverly and Maze H E R and a touch of Maxwell I love all kinds of music but I am definitely an old school Hip Hop and R B girl at heart BEAUTIFUL YOUNG WOMAN YOU CAN DO THIS What advice do you have for the up and coming Donna Elle s The young women who aspire to careers in media and marketing Beautiful young woman you can do this If you have a dream of being in marketing or media please take yourself out of the equation and be willing to be bold be you Be willing to build others and connect with people outside of social media with a smile Relationships are important Every aspect of the communication field is about branding outside of you My mentor Keith Landecker once told me If you make the people the stars in turn people will support you I have used this in every aspect of my career and it continues to evolve Also don t wait on a job to come to you before you start working in your field start working towards it to see what you love and be willing to evolve with passion energy and a positive attitude Don t allow the work to drive you you drive your career I already believe in you GO GET IT
I ve learned that people will forget what you said people will forget what you did but people will never forget how you made them feel Maya angelou
SOW A SEED JOIN US IN THE GARDEN A LOOK INTO THE ANCESTRAL ROOTS COMMUNITY GARDEN IN CHATTANOOGA S MENLO PARK NEIGHBORHOOD BY JAMES MCKISSIC
What is it about a beautiful garden that eases our minds and helps our souls to find solace Research continues to show that spending time in nature has health and psychological benefits and growing vegetables especially in neighborhoods affected by food apartheid is good for the health and wellness of community Members as well There are so many benefits to working in learning about and living near a community garden The culinary historian Michael Twitty has written clearly and plainly about the benefits and importance of gardening to African American history and culture Michael W Twitty authors food blog Afroculinaria a dive into blending the food culture of the American South while honoring the parent traditions of Africa He can be found on Twitter at Koshersoul and Instagram at thecookinggene
ACCORDING TO TWITTY WE BENEFIT FROM GARDENING URBAN FARMING SAYING THAT IT puts our people back in touch with nature gives us good exercise teaches delayed gratification to our young people encourages patient loving and unconditional inter generational learning between age groups most saliently the elderly and the middle and high school aged youth gives us access to our own selfprovided part of the food supply gives us stewardship over treasured cultural heirlooms herbs and ingredients we need to define our historic and contemporary role in influencing American and global food culture Gives a fuller and better life to those who work and eat in concert with the seasons absorb nature s natural blessings and can eat in sustainable ways that are good for the balance of nature It is in this spirit that the Ancestral Roots Community Garden was established in Chattanooga s Menlo Park Neighborhood The garden plantings and design are inspired by traditional Southern African American yards and home gardens Greens beans okra muscadine herbs corn watermelons and squash are all growing in the garden Also included are a row of fruit trees and flowering plants
The garden is a partnership of a local organization RISE and the neighborhood association The garden was built by Whole Earth Gardens and is tended by community members and visiting groups of school children The Ancestral Roots Garden is located at the corner of Gillespie Street and Shallowford Road in Chattanooga Tennessee Thanks to a generous gift from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee RISE is able to provide educational programming in the garden throughout the year Now sow a good seed and join us in the garden For more information about the Ancestral Roots Community Garden or to get involved contact RISE at 423 402 0452
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS SUPPORTERS COLLABORATORS OUR WORK ART PASSION AND FUTURE ARE BECAUSE OF YOU The City of Chattanooga COC Youth and Family Development COC The Office of Multicultural Affairs COC Open Spaces Division COC Department of Public Works COC The Bessie Smith Cultural Center Benwood Foundation The Enterprise Center River City Company Downtown Public Library Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee The Camp House Unum Group Sing It or Wing It Davis Wayne s Chattanooga Cigar Club Urban League of Chattanooga Chattanooga Visitors Bureau Lyndhurst Foundation WTCI Summitt Pianos East Lake Neighborhood Association Menlo Park Neighborhood Association City of Ringgold GA Everything Studio Footprint Foundation MacPro Sounds Metrotune Harmonic Productions TechTown National Endowment of The Arts City Bridge Community Church Center for Creative Arts High School East Lake Expression Engine Art 120 100 Black Women of Greater Chattanooga Palace Theater National Endowment of Humanities
2011 This STARTED IN HONORING JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH is who 15 EVENTS we 35 SENIORS are EVENTS IN 2018 WE HAD 76 LOCAL ARTISTS 20 PERFORMANCES 10 NATIONAL MUSICAL HEADLINERS 3 NATIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS KEYS FOR LIFE PROGRAM 35IN 2019 60 EDUCATIONAL HOURS TogetherWeRISE RISEChattanooga FROM POP UP ART GALLERIES MUSIC CLASSES TO A SPEAKER SERIES FEATURING NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ARTS CULTURE LEADERS
WE PAID 128 LOCAL ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS FOR THEIR TIME AND TALENT 11 000 PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE HISTORIC MLK DISTRICT IN THREE YEARS OF HOSTING THE LEVITT AMP MUSIC SERIES WE BUILT AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY GARDEN BASED ON TRADITIONS FOUND IN REVENUE HAS INCREASED BY 93 AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE to 367 000 ORGANIZED AND HOSTED ROOTED IN COLOR WITH FEATURED GUEST SPEAKER TIFFANY LATRICE CHATTANOOGA S FIRST CONFERENCE ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING AFRICAN AMERICAN ART AND CULTURE THIS GROWTH IS THE RESULT OF ORGANIZATION LEADERSHIP DIVERSIFYING FUNDING SOURCES PURSUING MORE GRANTS FROM NATIONAL FUNDING ENTITIES Join us in our growth today TogetherWeRISE RISEChattanooga
Save the Date February 21 2020 Rooted in Color II A Conference on Collecting and Preserving African American Art and Culture