National Night Out Celebration

National Night Out was a huge success with around 300 neighbors united to play, dance, eat, and share information together, affirming a common desire to see their community thrive. Our GHC Community Coordinator, Nikki Lewis, did an excellent job coordinating volunteers to set up a full evening.

DJ Million Dollar Man kept attendees laughing and dancing throughout the evening, and the kids loved playing games with area CPD Officers and Firefighters who brought their trucks for the kids to climb on.

Hot dogs were provided from a generous community donor, and served up by friendly volunteers. Dr. Everlena Holmes offered free brand new backpacks to the first 75 kids to stop by her Affordable Care Act table, and Sam Jaser of Fast Stop sponsored the popular Bounce House play area, while GHC sponsored a face painting station with Mary Ann Twitty.

A hallmark of the evening was the continued sense that it was truly a community owned event sponsored by 7 neighborhood associations and leadership groups including:

East Chattanooga Improvement
Highland Park Neighborhood Association
Wheeler Avenue Neighborhood Watch
Good Neighbor Network
Avondale Neighborhood Association
Battery Heights Neighborhood Association
Glenwood Neighborhood Association
Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association

A collection of community organizations set up information for visitors to learn including:

Cricket
CNE
EMPOWER
East Chattanooga Leadership Advisory Committee
Affordable Care Act
Step One
CPD
Health Department
Habitat For Humanity
Hope for the Inner City

The night also provided an opportunity for our city leaders to visit with community members, experiencing the joy, music and collective spirit of among neighbors coming together to highlight the vibrancy of East Chattanooga. As artist and Highland Park neighbor Olga de Klein expressed when she handed out the “Extra Mile” service award to CPD Officer Zachary Crawford, it truly felt like a night out among friends and partners old and new with a positive common goal.

Visit our NNO Photo Album on our Facebook page by clicking HERE