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coco A NEW VOICE FOR CHATTANOOGA WALK THROUGH HISTORY SOUL OF A WOMAN GUILT AND GRIEF VIEWS OF THE BIG NINE WITH TABI UPTON IS IT JUST BLACK WHITE

coco August 2020 Editor In Chief Shane R Morrow Contributors A Woodson Carpenter Benjamin Banks Joseph Freeman J Adams Karista M Jones Kathleen Nolte James McKissic Greg Funderburg Tabi Upton Tahana Coleman

What s Inside 04 06 07 08 09 13 17 18 The Editor s Note Sharing Our Stories Digitally Community Shoutout Walk Through History 26 21 22 23 25 Courageous Compassion In Remembrance Brothers You Need A Time Out Soul Of A Woman

My friends this CoCo Edition features many images and statements reflecting the Black Lives Matter Movement I know there is still skepticism its purpose and the mixed messages you ve heard about it from the editor So much confusion in our community right now So many lives being negatively affected by our overall lack of active and consistent engagement to create change We re dealing with two pandemics COVID19 and racism Neither of these we have any clue of how to completely eradicate from our communities Yet there s that one which I ve been battling all of my life and it continues growing and ravaging my black and brown community s physical mental emotional and spiritual state of being day by day minute by minute Racism Why do we refuse to decipher all of the mixed messages and seek out the truth so we can begin the real healing of our community that we so desperately yearn for Maybe when you get right down to it we just aren t ready to face our truth As a black gay community advocate I m often asked for my input on racial disparities but I ve grown accustomed to providing a limited contribution in fear that I will be penalized or blackballed for openly sharing too much When speaking out directly against systemic racism and injustice how do I cope with my white counterparts who are perceived as brave when they speak while I on the other hand I am viewed as too defensive and or aggressive I was asked recently if I was going to draft and present a statement of equality for our organization I personally decided that I would not because the truth of our equality has been consistently demonstrated through our work since our inception I then brought it up to our board that echoed the same statement I didn t want to engage in sending out to the community mixed messages My friends it s really simple if you break it all down and get to the root of it Let s look at the truth Black Lives Matter Blue Lives Matter All Lives Matter Mixed Messages If these statements are in fact true then why are we still squabbling intensely with one and another trying to get our point across So are we ready to face our truth Or will we continue to send our mixed messages Hey when all else fails silence too is a statement and a choice but for how long I ll leave you with this as you begin to explore this CoCo Edition Truth is powerful and it prevails Sojourner Truth Words to truly live by e Shan Shane R Morrow EDITOR IN CHIEF on its

WE THE PEOPLE IT IS A VERY ELOQUENT BEGINNING BUT WHEN THAT DOCUMENT WAS COMPLETED ON THE SEVENTEENTH OF SEPTEMBER IN 1787 I WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THAT WE THE PEOPLE I FELT SOMEHOW FOR MANY YEARS THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON AND ALEXANDER HAMILTON JUST LEFT ME OUT BY MISTAKE BUT THROUGH THE PROCESS OF AMENDMENT INTERPRETATION AND COURT DECISION I HAVE FINALLY BEEN INCLUDED IN WE THE PEOPLE BARBARA JORDAN

SHARING OUR STORIES DIGITALLY Digital Storytelling is a method of sharing stories or events using digital media production It is the marrying up of traditional storytelling with modern technologies to create content including videos images voice overs soundtracks and animations among other things Now as social media impacts most facets of our lives the ideals and desires of good digital storytelling are larger than ever In our efforts to continue sharing our community s inspiring stories we are extremely excited to introduce our newest TEAM RISE member Benjamin Banks who will be our new Digital Community Storyteller Benjamin is a graduate of Chattanooga State Community College with a degree in Film Media Technology Since 2017 his main focus and area of expertise is community event photography where he s able to capture the essence of the participants and their stories through the power of the lens Since joining TEAM RISE Benjamin has co produced several of our podcast series and was instrumental in assisting with the logistics of the Black Lives Matter Project We welcome Benjamin to our RISE Family and look forward to his ongoing growth and dedication to our whole community

COMMUNITY SHOUTOUT Founded in 2015 The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement is a philanthropic initiative led by African American civic and community leaders who share the common goal of improving the quality of life among African Americans throughout the greater Chattanooga region In celebration of their 5 year anniversary they invested 50 000 in 25 locally black owned businesses which places their overall community contributions to 200 000 since their inception August is National Black Philanthropy Month and we celebrate and honor the work of Sankofa that has greatly impacted our city To contribute and help Sankofa continue their work go to donatenow networkforgood org cfgcgiving

On this excursion we invited our newest TEAM RISE family member Benjamin Banks and local photographer J Adams J is currently the City of Chattanooga Administration s Media Specialist and is working on an upcoming photography project documenting the Chattanooga Black Lives Matter demonstrations called BLAKCHATT The walking tour focused on the downtown MLK Boulevard corridor which was once known as The Big Nine The MLK community reflects over 100 years of African American history and commerce in Chattanooga Tennessee Since 1994 the community has been listed on the National Register as an area of great historical significance MLK Boulevard formerly Ninth Street is one of the only remaining cohesive area historically associated with Chattanooga African Americans The walking tour of the MLK Neighborhood features the cultural and music history historic buildings and public art that makes the neighborhood pop Through this COCO Edition we re featuring the photographic shots of the tour presented by J Adams WALK THROUGH HISTORY On August 1st we hosted our first COVID 19 Walking Tour Before you ask what is that it was our first tour where we asked participants to wear a mask at ALL TIMES during the tour and be mindful of the appropriate distance needed from each other Needless to say it was amazing

GUILT AND GRIEF By A Woodson Carpenter

I recently posted the following musing on Instagram If the primary impetus for your activism and advocacy on behalf of others is guilt then you activism and advocacy on behalf of others contradictorily centers the self and will almost certainly be unsustainable as it is a reactive balm for your own pain rather than a response to shared grief I find this sentiment to be an interesting way to frame and explore mixed messages in the context of social unrest While I believe the above to have broad applications I was and am applying it to the reality of allyship in response to racial injustice and the systemic oppression of Black people in the United States of America This particular mixed reception is a prominent feature on the landscape of conversations between Black folks and white folks on the topic of system and group level racism Many Black folks continue to call for an empathetic grieving over the moral crimes and failures that mar our national identity and we are met instead with an unproductive and unrequested sympathetic guilt While guilt is obviously not inherently problematic a pedestalling of individual guilt in response to systemic and systematic ills is a misstep Moreover it has a stymieing effect on our progress towards racial justice I unpack this mixed message by separating it into two parts 1 the mechanism a k a the communication and 2 the motivation a k a the communicated We have all heard expressed the idea that communication is a two way street The wisdom here is in understanding communication as a bidirectional flow between two points a sender and a receiver Both the flow and the terminals must be held as distinct but inextricably linked components Perhaps this is obvious Perhaps not In considering mixed messages in civil rights struggles the bipolar nature of communication is salient This rings particularly true in the context of difficult or damning subject matter I believe that it is these kinds of filters that do much of the work in turning a call to grieve into what sounds like a demand for guilt Many genuinely well meaning white folks express and harbor guilt when unpacking the realities of white supremacy as a foundational and pervasive element of American society I have seen the guilt unexpressed in my circles and in the world I have had that guilt expressly revealed to me Both Black folks and white folks report white guilt as a main emotional takeaway from difficult raceAlthough opportunity for creating a mixed based conversations I am asserting that it is not message exists at both ends of a conversation I rare I am suggesting also that confronting what have noticed a common inclination to place James Baldwin might call the lie is in fact a fault for a mixed message with the delivery and truly jarring process It is understandably difficult deliverer of the message While this attribution and even shocking for some to hear an may often be appropriate I am skeptical of it as unexpected call to grieve at all let alone a call to the dominant cause for confusion There are an grieve something as grand as America s original abundance of filters pain ignorance sins and the present evils they those sins preconception fear apathy and the like that continue to beget Nonetheless it is grief not can cause even a well delivered and audienceguilt empathy not sympathy that is prioritized specific message to be mixed upon reception among the marginalized

Turning from mechanism to motivation the question of significance remains Why does the motivation matter Why does an inaccurate understanding of the desired motivation matter First it distorts the visioning and posture of Black folks I have yet to encounter any Black people from the most anti White and militaristic Black nationalists to the most peaceable Black hippies seeking guilt from white folks In other words among the myriad positions on addressing an anti Black society few if any of them necessitate white folks developing a highlypersonalized sense of guilt The guilt distortion creates unneeded ambiguity Further this guilt distortion belies the typical posture of Black folks calling for empathetic grieving When white folks express and operationalize this guilt without elaborating on the conversation or encounters that produced that guilt one attempts to imagine what could have led them there Fostering shared grief might look something like Join me in recognizing and laminating a set of big problems that you have some obligation to address because your inaction perpetuates these problems Conversely searching for guilt may sound more like You are a problem and are creating a set of problems and should feel bad about it The two approaches suggest drastically different postures from Black communicators The latter approach or something similar is what one would tend to assume a guilt ridden person encounter It implies a much more condemnatory and adversarial posture than is often present in these conversations This more aggressive attitude is something normatively ascribed to Black folks already as a baseline when we speak on matters of race In addition to warping an individual guilt response to societal issues centers the self and hinders positive change as a result I alluded to the centering of self in the original post Working through guilt and the pain of that guilt often supplants working through and understanding the generational trauma experienced by Black people in this country Again sympathy replaces empathy The guilt becomes a distraction from potentially fruitful solidarity Instead of looking to a shared inheritance and learning with a community how to work toward a better future a guilt response encourages an overlyintrospective and possibly even a self abusive reaction to group level problems More if guilt is the motivator one can relinquish responsibility by releasing guilt Introspection is useful and necessary work for an ally but introspection is foundational work It is not the work Making amends for past failures and offenses is part of the work but it is not the work The work extends over a lifetime We are attempting to dismantle centuries of compounded oppression The motivation must be more sustainable The action like the problem must reflect systems norms and mores An empathetic grief primes one for sharing ownership and action We must understand ourselves as party to something greater and often more nefarious than our individual selves My encouragement is to be aware of the potential for this mixing I leave you without granular solutions because this is a rumination not textbook Unpacking this difference is a journey in and of itself Be patient in the midst of it To white folks struggling with guilt this is not a burden you are expected to carry Explore and embrace grief It is useful It is necessary It is difficult but we grieve together Our responsibilities are not the same but we grieve the same truths The dawn may come but it is still dark out Adjust your eyes so that you might see the world for what it is your neighbors more clearly and find a better way forward

SOUTHERN GIRL WITH A PURPOSE Born and raised in Chattanooga Tennessee Karitsa Mosley Jones is your not so average inner city southern girl Growing up in an atypical single parent household Karitsa was exposed to the concept of being raised by a village As a result her village became the catalyst that drove her to create a life trajectory that would propel her to excel In 2003 Karitsa earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice She then earned a Masters of Social Work degree in 2005 both degrees from her illustrious Alma mater Alabama A M University As a Licensed Master Social Worker she has over twelve years of immense experience which provides her an extensive understanding of the socioeconomic barriers that many are facing in her immediate community In the fall of 2018 Karitsa was selected to join a dozen other community leaders nationwide for the inaugural cohort of the Pritzker Fellows Program She is currently employed as a Pritzker Fellow with the City of Chattanooga s Office of Early Learning She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Dept Of Social Work at the University of TN Chattanooga We know you as a wife mother an ACTIVE community education advocate why did you decide to run for Hamilton County school board Years ago as a teenager I learned the infamous quote by Mahatma Gandhi Be the Change that you wish to see in the world From that moment forward I have always sought to do just that I believe the most important change we can make as a community is to improve educational opportunities for our children It is this core belief that has driven me to step forward and commit to making a difference I ran for the office of School Board Member because I wanted to be a genuine advocate for our children s future I wanted to be accessible to the students parents school staff administration and community I wanted to be held accountable and to be able to hold others accountable for our students academic failures and successes I wanted to bring fresh eyes new energy and innovative ideas to the Hamilton County School Board I knew that I possessed an ability to be a leader and a team player in an effort to achieve the necessary goals set before us The goal is to ensure that our children receive the quality equitable education that they deserve It is my prayer that I am being the changemaker I have sought to be You are currently the only black member on the board Are there any challenges being the only person of color if so what Yes there are most definitely a variety of challenges as the only person of color on the board Often times it seems that the biggest challenge for me is getting my board peers to see things through the lenses of authentic equity in our schools and the education system here in Hamilton County We have to invoke true systems change where we possess the ability to do so This is quite a challenge It seems it is difficult at times for some of my peers to accept the benefits of their white privilege and or fragility in efforts to see the areas where the inequities are I have often felt and continue to feel that I carry that weight for every student family teacher administrator faculty and staff member that looks like me and has a shade of melanin skin It is heavy and overwhelming at times but I stay true to my calling in this role and press on in the work I am a woman of strong faith in God and with the support of my family friends colleagues supporters and community I stay the course I know that this battle is not mine I am just a soldier in the work I promised my community that I would be a voice and an advocate I will continue to fulfill that promise even it means getting into good and necessary trouble doing so Our children are worth it

What is your vision for our youth and their education The mission of Hamilton County Schools is to create pathways to bright futures for all students in our community by helping to equip them with the necessary skills knowledge and supports required to realize their full potential I want this to ring true but before this can truly happen I believe that we have to address the socioeconomic disparities of the population of students and families that I serve We have to level the playing field at all system levels We need true equitable economic mobility for everyone in our city and county I would love to see the socioeconomic situations improve in the communities I serve There are so many people young old and in between in our city affected by the lack of upward economic mobility needed to make their lives better When our children gain access to the equitable educational system that they deserve then and only then will they reach their full potential That is my vision True equity in education for ALL STUDENTS Equity and upward mobility are the necessary gamechangers to end systemic disparities including those of our education system When we address the disparity in economic mobility we will change the trajectory to an upward slope for social concerns impeding communities such as crime lack of employment poor healthcare and disparities in public education These issues go hand in hand What can our community do to be part of strengthening supporting our school system The biggest ask I can place upon our community to strengthen and support Hamilton County Schools HCS is to be present and engaged in the work of our education system directly Attend school board meetings adequately and effectively advocate for your students and school community needs Become not only involved but engaged in the upward trajectory of our schools and students education This is a new day for Hamilton County Schools The Board Superintendent Bryan Johnson and his leadership team along with all the HCS faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that Hamilton County Schools will become the fastest improving district in Tennessee We acknowledge that there have been some obstacles in the past but we ask that the community extend grace as there has been a changing of the guard New leadership is changing the educational trajectory for our students I ask that the community become properly informed about what HCS is doing Don t just believe the snippets in the media he say she say and social media opinion Come and see what is really going on in Hamilton County schools for yourself Reach out to myself and the other board members or even Dr Johnson and his team We are here to help We welcome the opportunity to tell you the great things going on in our schools There are many to share We desire that our community be allies of public education and not seek to find an alternative because of the naysayers false narratives and private school competition

You are about to launch your own podcast series What is it about Yes I am and I am excited and nervous at the same time The irony of that is that I am innately a talker and conversationalist Never in a million years would I have imagined that I would be a podcast host However the year 2020 is providing me with all kinds of new opportunities The name of my podcast is Pearls of Blackness Pearls of wisdom through the lens of black culture It is heavily inspired by my own village and my HBCU experience at Alabama A M particularly my favorite professor It derives from a book shared with me during my matriculation there and how it correlates to the many pieces of wisdom motivation and inspiration I have received on my life journey from all ages and all walks of life Just as we southern girls believe that pearls are an essential piece to have in your jewelry box I believe that metaphorically Pearls of wisdom inspiration and motivation are essential to your daily walk in life The twist is that these pearls are through the lenses of Black culture Hence the name Pearls of Blackness We will talk about a variety of topics from week to week Anything from parenting politics and education to trending topics current issues relationships healthcare fashion boss moves and so on keeping in mind that this will be unapologetically directed to my melanin sisters and brothers Each week listeners will leave with a pearl or two either to share with others or one that was just for what you needed at this moment in time but will have a lasting impact on your life We also heard about another upcoming project You re starting a nonprofit Could you share a little I am so excited about my upcoming project as it has been a long time coming This journey has truly taught me that delay does not mean denial This will be a gamechanger for my district This idea first became a brainchild of mine in the spring of 2015 during my first year on the school board after seeing firsthand the needs of the schools in my district It was officially established in October 2018 after I made a personal investment in a local fundraiser to raise the seed money to start the fund The project is dedicated to enriching enhancing and supporting the students teachers and schools within District 5 Stay tuned for more information about it its official name an launch coming up soon What do you hope your legacy is I want to be remembered as someone who worked diligently to be the change that I sought in my community and in our world It is my desire to leave a legacy that will be an inspiration to young people especially young women that you can be and do whatever you set your heart soul and mind to Your demographics don t determine if and when you IMPACT change true passion mixed with genuine actions does

RTJ4 Album Review by Joseph Freeman Nothing gets me fired up like someone saying what i didn t have the words to say I don t have the vocabulary the experience or the platform to bring and project the messages that Killer Mike and EI P laid down in their latest album together And I think they are saying what is on a lot of folks minds People are angry scared and they want change There are racist cops out killing people The schools test scores predict who ends up in prison The president is a casino owner People are desensitized and sit on the couch and watch hate unfold Killer Mike and EI P wasted no space on this album Every song kills it with either the beat or the message or both Seriously the music itself on this album captures the anger the fear the determination you feel when you stand up against your oppressor and speak I think that is what they wanted us to feel If any of the songs on Run The Jewels 4 stuck with me the most it was Pulling the Pin Ju t Walking in the Snow and A Few Words For the Firing Squad Radiation These are the songs that gave me the strongest emotional reactions Mavis Staples in Pulling the Pin makes me want to cry She brings this sense of old generations pain It is like she reconnects the history of slavery and racism to what is happening now I may be biased but I already love Zach de la Rocha so of course Ju t stuck with me Him yelling Look at all these slave masters is exactly what I expected to hear from him on this album This one also gets me riled up because they tear down this idealized version of reality we live in The one where we think we have more control and options than we really do But how can we think we have power and choice when we cannot stop cops from killing people of color That is what this song left me with Truly powerful music If you have not heard it yet please go listen to Run the Jewels 4 You can listen to and download it for free I think the fact that their main priority is accessibility and not profit should tell you just how serious they are with their music and message This is protest music for sure But it is also art for art s sake I think too many people hear music like this and immediately stop listening because of the ideas and stereotypes in their own heads I will be honest I was guilty of this until I got to college But then I learned to listen Now we all need to listen to the people who live through the worst of our country Until then we will have to keep making music like this

BREAKING NEWSOUR ONE ON ONE WITH GREG FUNDERBURG Since July 2013 WTVC NewsChannel 9 morning noon anchor Greg Funderburg has been helping Chattanooga viewers start their day And in that time he has become a viewer favorite due to his vibrant personality and lively approach to storytelling Greg is one of the few black anchors on a morning program in our region and his shows Good Morning Chattanooga on ABC and GMC Fox Edition on Fox continues to rank as one the highest viewer ratings in the area Who was your role model as a black young male who aspired to be in the entertainment television industry I managed to catch the journalism bug my junior year in high school I heard the main anchor of the NBC affiliate in Birmingham Fran Curry speak in the summer of 2000 She is from my home county in Alabama and her speech inspired me so much I ended up reaching out to her months later and she invited me to the station for a job shadowing experience I was so fascinated with the live element of TV news I remember going back to my high school and telling my classmates I wanted to pursue a career in TV news and my teacher told me TV news may not be the career for me My parents always told me I could be whatever I wanted to as long as I put my mind to it I pushed forward even though that teacher didn t have confidence in me and I made my dream become a reality I was grateful for my family friends and Fran Curry for inspiring me Fran has continued to be a mentor for me even though she left the TV biz in 2007 It is because of her speech that s why I reach back and help so many kids and speak in so many schools I was so grateful for her help so I reach back and help others

Who was your most impactful interview with and what effect did it have on you I remember interviewing a mom in 2007 about preparing to move into a Habitat for Humanity home She was a CNA and had two children ages 10 and 16 at the time They were homeless for a few months and she was able to get them into a shelter and able to save up money to purchase their new home through habitat This was just an average interview but impacted me in so many ways It showed me anything is possible through prayer and hard work This mom faced so much adversity but she had a testimony on the other side It really impacted my life in so many ways in my early 20s How has the television industry changed since you have entered it TV has changed so much The digital and social aspect are the biggest changes Facebook Instagram and Twitter are now a big part of the job We used to only connect with viewers through emails or letters Now we have an instant reaction through the power of social media How has technology affected news and the production of it Technology has made the job so much easier We have all seen through Covid 19 We can now do shows from any location where you have a WIFI connection I would have never believed we could do that before Covid but it has shown us we have to adjust I actually love the flexibility It allows our crews to get information on the air quicker and we can get virtual interviews so much easier now What advice do you have for individuals who aspire to have careers in media I would recommend you reaching out to a journalist and job shadowing interning to see if this is really what you would like to do It is a rewarding career that will also you to help so many people What is the best piece of advice that you received that has helped you further your career The best advice has been if you make people the star they will make you the star Also preparation meets opportunity and since you never know when the opportunity will come you ve always got to be prepared

COURAGEOUS COMPASSION by Kathleen Nolte I ve been thinking lately about Mr Rogers Specifically about his kind demeanor and how he was present in the moment with each person so they felt special and heard I think our society admires people like Mr Rogers in an off hand way and places them on a pedestal of unattainable behavior After watching the movie A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood what really stood out to me was not that he was a magical unicorn of a person it was that he worked at it Mr Rogers wasn t naturally the most friendly patient and compassionate person He worked hard every day of his life to communicate his values through his actions consistently in every interaction personal and professional This translated to people understanding innately where he stood there was no hidden meaning No lurking agenda His words and actions were the same The truth is that it is hard work to know ourselves deeply It requires stamina and the willingness to face uncomfortable beliefs that may be buried Each of us must do this work and continue to do this work for our whole lives Not to do so deprives us of living our true selves to the fullest It deprives those around us of seeing our true selves shine And when our words do not match our behaviors it sends mixed messages placing the burden of deciphering what we mean on everyone around us It is exhausting mental work to try to figure out what friends relatives and coworkers not to mention governmental and workplace policies really mean Largely those with less power are saddled with this burden Mr Rogers is beloved because he lived genuine kindness and compassion In order to feel compassion for others we must care about their experience and listen to their story but we also have to know our own Compassion requires relatability So if we believe that Black Lives Matter Love is Love Science is Real No Human is Illegal Women s Rights are Human Rights and Kindness is Everything we must move beyond the slogans and be brave enough to clearly demonstrate these values through our daily actions and behaviors

IN REMEMBRANCE JAMES CHISM James Chism was a self taught abstract artist from Chattanooga Tennessee After 23 years his passion for creating art was rekindled in 2017 He strived to create his works of art in a way that is pleasing to the Yoruba concept known as As ahSHAY or so it is As is the power given to make things happen and produce change DEJAH BANKS BLACK She was A Brilliant Performer A Skilled Clothing Designer A Gifted Makeup Artist A Strong Advocate A Creative Genius A Welcoming Spirit A Creative Genius She Was LOVED

BROTHERS YOU NEED A TIME OUT by Tahana Coleman Today going to a spa is more about self care and wellness than it is about beauty After a lot of research and enduring a bad experience at a nail salon Larry Erskine and his wife Nicole a licensed cosmetologist opened The Time Out Chair a male grooming spa located in downtown Chattanooga The Time Out Chair is not a barber shop or ordinary spa It s more like the ultimate man cave including a menu of Manly Cure Services named after sports terms like Fastbreak 1st and 10 or Homerun The most popular services are pedicures hot foam head shaves beard grooming services in which the beard is steamed shaped trimmed and rejuvenated and facials Unlike a nail salon the overwhelming smell of nail polish is not present and there are no fluorescent lights to spotlight customers as they experience manicures and pedicures Instead there is the sound of jazz music in the background two leather sofas and pictures of various sports legends on the walls of the wait area Massage chairs are divided individually with tied back off black colored curtains that can be released to create a private setting during pedicure services if preferred The chairs are designed to massage the back arms and hands providing an invigorating experience especially satisfying to an athlete or someone that may frequent the gym To put it simply these chairs are the definition of time out soothing tightness calming and relaxing upper body muscles In addition each person seated is provided with the remote control to the television directly aligned to their massage chair A complimentary beverage is also provided during the experience The Erskines attribute their business success thus far to their strong desire to fulfill their personal hopes and dreams a diverse clientele and most importantly God They recently celebrated the 1 year anniversary of The Time Out Chair They consider that milestone to be a blessing since it took two years to find a location and then the Covid 19 pandemic hit within their first year in business

Hygiene is a number one priority at this spa The stations are outfitted with plexiglass barriers that separate the customer from the spa employee Cleaning and sanitizing occurs throughout the day and after each and every customer visit The dynamic couple also stressed the importance of education related to care and wellness Nicole takes the time to educate customers that exhibit signs of health conditions like diabetes She has seen many customers with poor circulation concerning conditions related to foot care She encourages such clients to see a podiatrist as soon as possible Although the environment at The Time Out Chair is geared toward men women are welcomed and mostly visit with their significant other as a special gift or a date It s a family cave Larry says Nicole chimes in that Larry is the host The Time Out Chair is very much like relaxing visiting and enjoying family When asked why people should come to The Time Out Chair Nicole answered For the experience Once you come in and experience the initial service the response is usually I m feelin that followed by requests for additional services or to schedule the next appointment So if you re a gentleman that feels the need to destress and relax put yourself inThe Time Out Chair you won t be disappointed The Time Out Chair is located at 423 MLK Blvd Tel 423 826 8463 Visit their website at www thetimeoutchair423 com Follow them on FB at TheTimeOut Chair Men s Grooming Spa Instagram at thetimeoutchair423

SOUL OF A WOMAN As many of you may know RISE has been working to find new ways to serve our community in stressful and uncertain times through mental health programming One product of this is our biweekly Soul of a Woman workshop with counselor writer and media personality Tabi Upton Our Community Arts Strategist Woodson talked to Tabi to get her thoughts about mental health and how she feels Soul of a Woman fits the theme What is your definition of mental health Tabi I believe you have achieved good mental health when you regularly experience feelings of joy contentment and purpose in your life You are working on personal growth building good relationships with those around you and have some sort of spiritual foundation that governs your morality outlook on life and guides you in the Why of your life What are some things we might be missing when it comes to mental health Tabi I think we miss the big idea that mental health is a positive thing not a negative idea It s not something to be afraid of or ashamed of if we need to work on our mental health that is About 20 of Americans will struggle with a mental illness at some point and that is a lot of people Some of that can be improved by the daily effort to maintain good mental health To be active reflective relational and spiritual as a part of your life How do you think Soul of a Woman connects to a healthy mind and spirit What is your motivation behind it Tabi Soul of a Woman uses the art of poetry and musical lyrics to better understand ourselves and our emotions as women But men can join in as well The better aware we are of places of hurt fear or paralysis in ourselves the more powerful we can be in moving to new places that feel better and help us move forward into joyful living And doing that in community is an added bonus It s one thing to listen to poetry and reflect on it quietly and alone But to do so while listening to others various perspectives can really turn the light bulb on The effect is a great feeling of well being I ve been really excited to see this process take shape over the last few weeks and look forward to more

TAKE YOUR TIME BABY LET HIM USE YOU YOU C AN DO IT by James McKissic Just a sampling of the words of encouragement I d hear from the older women and men at Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church on those Sunday mornings when little James struggled through a Christmas or Easter speech Black History Month play or piano recital These smiles nods and affirming words helped you to make it through the poem or piece that you were supposed to have memorized Although I have spent years struggling with my faith and organized religion the older I get the more I realize how my younger years as part of a religious community empowered me and contributed to my foundation A few Saturdays ago I woke up early dressed oiled my Coronafro and drove down to MLK Boulevard where RISE Chattanooga The Artist Seven and ICantBreatheCHA were creating the local Black Lives Matter Mural Due to COVID and the fact that I have every pre existing condition from fat to diabetes for months I d been severely socially distanced Cooped up Working from home ordering food Getting fatter I d loved seeing the BLM street murals being painted all over the country because we all know that the arts and social justice are symbiotic from the Fisk Jubilee Singers to Emory Douglas and the Black Panther Party to Beyonce s Black is King We often hear that it takes a village to raise a child and My soul would not let me rest when I learned a BLM I was blessed with a village family members who lived street mural was being created in Chattanooga I had close by a loving church family Black teachers many to paint some of it I had to be part of this small bit of of them family members uggh peppered my history happening here in my city elementary and high school experiences along with neighbors who had no qualms about reporting absolutely anything untoward they saw me doing to Gene and Margenia McKissic often even before I made it home So many of us have experienced this type of upbringing the type that imbues you with a sense of who you are your history your abilities An upbringing that affirms your goals makes you feel special and teaches you how to navigate the systems that are awaiting you An upbringing that balances the talk with the dream and sends you on your way prepared ready primed

As I painted with each stroke I noticed I was quietly chanting Black LIves Matter Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter The statement the movement is so forward So blatant So clear So affirming Akin to the encouragements I received all those years ago from my community my family my faith community You matter You can do it You ve got this Keep your head up You matter for this generation this era I struggle to imagine how uplifting and affirming it is for a black child today to see people of all backgrounds marching and chanting in the streets painting the streets speaking from the halls of power that their life matters They matter How fulfilling How revolutionary How different from my own experience and the experience of my ancestors when we had to create our own affirming spaces and safe places while building community and preparing the next generations to deal white supremacy How powerful for this generation of Black people to see Black Lives Matter on the front page of newspapers glowing on screens and gadgets painted on major streets in major cities chanted by people who believe in freedom around the world Black LIves Matter My soul jumps at the purity and clarity of the statement You matter You can do it Keep your head up Black Lives Matter Let him use you Black Lives Matter You matter Black Lives Matter I helped paint the green A in Matter

Thank you so much to everyone that came out for our Big Nine Walking Tour We definitely enjoyed your energy and questions Here are some of YOUR photos you sent us via email Many thanks to E Knowles D Beena for sharing this awesome shots

I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way To find a way to get in trouble Good trouble necessary trouble John Lewis February 21 1940 July 17 2020