Block leaders in the Glass Farm neighborhood recently coordinated a yard sale to raise funds to jumpstart the initiative. It was a huge success in pairing neighborhood investment with support from the CFGC and Lillian Colby Foundations. Block Leaders coordinator Janette Richie is excited to discuss ideas with her fellow neighbors. “I take pride in my neighborhood just like for us to become one big family.”

Thanks to foundation investment, it looks like we now have the funds to move forward.

Using national models, our Neighborhood Pride campaign plan is to produce banners, house flags, yard signs, and videos using our well-known resident – artist centered protocol.

We’re excited to continue partnering with Habitat’s Neighborhood Revitalization team to implement the residential component of the pride campaign including the yard signage and house banners. Studio Everything will be another crucial partner in designing and building pride signage to help mark and welcome passers-by to the neighborhood.

If you’re a neighbor with more ideas, please get in touch with Nicole Lewis via email or phone (nicole@glasshousecollective.org 423-618-9865) to be added to the campaign contact list and stay informed about future planning sessions.

As usual our local East Chatt YFD Center will be offering sports-based summer camp with the chance to experience some field trips as well. Interested families should not wait to sign up, as the conveniently located camps fill quickly. This year, Cameron Williams (aka C-Grimey) plans to add some more arts and music based elements to the traditional programming. During the recent Chamber of Commerce sponsored job fair, he said “I’ve been hosting these history of hip-hop classes each Wednesday here at the center, so I know the enthusiasm is building.”

Nearby Sterchi Farm trailhead park has received a huge facelift from a joint effort of Public Art Chattanooga and the Trust for Public Land. Artist Adam Kuby’s climbable sculpture installation was unveiled last month with some of our neighbors and board members in attendance. Outdoor Chattanooga also sponsored demonstrations of kayaking and SUP (stand-up paddle board) techniques. One of our board members, architect Jared Hueter attended the April 28th “Clamber, Scramble, Traverse” event with his children. “This is a unique park creating a water and trail connection to the downtown riverwalk system via the South Chickamauga Creek and Greenway– a very cool local resource.”

One of the best ways to enjoy the Sterchi Farm trailhead is via bicycle, and anyone interested can receive advice and bike repair at the Resource Bike Co-Op. They are located right next door to Rondell Crier’s Studio Everything on Glass Street and throughout the summer they’re planning to be open Tuesday and Wed. from 4-9 p.m. and Saturdays from 1-9 p.m. Anyone wanting more info can contact Zac or other co-op members at 423-521-0249.

Just across the street from our GHC offices, Mark Making will host Magic Markers 2018 : a one week work readiness program for EAST CHATTANOOGA teens (14-18) that focuses on citizenship, written word, design and entrepreneurship. Participants will have the opportunity to create, market and distribute wallets of their own design reflecting their ideas on citizenship. The young artists will also be able to receive compensation on a sliding scale depending on demonstrated level of professionalism and the strength of their wallet design. Due to limited space, there are only 24 spots available, so interested teens should hurry to apply via the link above.

If you or another local partner knows of more resources not highlighted here, please send and email to our Community Relations Manager, Nicole Lewis (nicole@glasshousecollective.org) or stop by to share brochures during our regular office hours so we can post and share info.

We hope all of our friends and neighbors will stay safe and have fun this summer!

 

This year Joel Tippens of Grow Hope Urban Farm successfully advocated for his East Chattanooga community garden to be a 2018 Clean and Green special project site. He partnered with the Glass Street neighborhood and volunteers from Cigna to plant hearty herbs like sage that won’t require massive maintenance or water to sustain growth. Joel grew the starts over at Grow Hope Urban farm and donated his plants and time because of his commitment to connect neighbors to healthy sustainable food sources.

After taking advantage of the beautiful bright day to generously donate their time with the Glass Street planter box project the volunteers finished the day by weeding and planting with Joel in his garden. We are so grateful to the organizers of Clean and Green 2018 as well as Joel Tippens and volunteers from Cigna who all made this project possible. See you all again next year!

On Thursday May 31st, we were privileged to join the celebration and unveiling of Life Energy– a collaborative community art beautification project coordinated by local arts non-profit, Mark Making. In partnership with Public Art Chattanooga, Chattanooga Department of Transportation, and Orchard Knob Middle School, Brainerd, Howard, and Hixon High Schools, Mark Making facilitated workshops in which 133 students from East Chattanooga competed to have their designs painted on six traffic cabinets around the neighborhood. The project challenged the students to not only explore how art can beautify the neighborhood but also integrate the knowledge of electrical circuitry into those designs, all while further understanding the power of citizen involvement in the community.

The six winning designers, Sarah Bargerstock, Daisha Draper and Kensha Moore, Sabrina Eldridge, Cody Hutchinson, Jade Sharp, and Xavier Wood, were congratulated by Mayor Andy Burke as their art was officially dedicated as part of the on-going effort to strengthen the community through intentional acts of advocacy and citizen participation. The celebration continued with refreshments at Mark Marking studio.

Jade Sharp, one of the local student winners addressed the crowd of her friends, neighbors, and reporters directly after Katelyn Kirnie and Frances McDonald. Jade reminded us that: “Every community has issues. Making art can also make changes. That’s what I hope to do as a professional artist someday.” Well said Jade, and we agree that each of these students is off to a strong start positively impacting their city and peers.

Keep your eye out for these beautiful student contributions to the greater East Chattanooga neighborhoods!