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Shift Chattanooga: It’s What Happens to Children That Makes the Difference Thursday, October 20, 2011

Earlier this month, the Times Free Press reported that the National Merit Scholarship Corporation named thirty-three Hamilton County high school seniors as National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists. Of the 1.5 million high school juniors that took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall, only 16,000 place high enough to be named Semi-Finalists, and of those, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation offers, “8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million.”

Of the thirty-three Hamilton County seniors, six attend a Hamilton County Public School (representing Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, Chattanooga State Middle College High School, East Hamilton High School, and Signal Mountain High School).

Parent and local-business owner Sherrie Forest recently said in a Shift Chattanooga Conversation, “In an ideal world our public education system is every bit as good as private schools. There’s no reason for there to be a stigma for public schools.” But how can we not see that the disparity between public and private Hamilton County National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists reflects more challenges for public schools than private schools? If we are going to become a stronger and smarter community, we must provide the opportunity for all of our children to become National Merit Scholars.

It makes sense. Not only because it’s fair, but because increasing the percentage of Hamilton County residents who have graduated from college by just 1%, or 2,271 graduates, would produce a total benefit to the community of $249 million.

“I feel like people who are intelligent care about education because they realize that the children are the future doctors and lawyers and every kind of professional you can imagine…I want my doctor to be a very intelligent well-educated person,” Sherrie Forest says.

SHIFT CONVERSATIONS Edna Varner from ShiftCha on Vimeo.
Shift Chattanooga Conversation: Former Hamilton County teacher and principal and Cornerstone Literacy Director Edna Varner

We should provide the opportunity for all of our children to have the best education, empower them to dream of a greater future. As Edna Varner says, “It’s what happens to our children that makes a difference.”

To learn more about Shift Chattanooga and education in Hamilton County visit our website.

Posted by Dave Walker
Why MakeWork Matters to Me—Allie O’Connell

The city I want to live in is Chattanooga. After returning to Tennessee in recent months, I think the reason I’ve chosen Chattanooga is because I want a place with personality. I want to feel a part of a community that supports me, and to be able to play a role to support that community and feel connected. I want historic charm and innovation. A dynamic city that challenges me to understand and react to new ideas. Somewhere that I want to shape, and that encourages me to grow along with it. To me, this is Chattanooga.

MakeWork has often been a catalyst of that creative innovation over the past four years, providing $655,000 in grants to 85 artists, sponsoring organic creative growth that makes Chattanooga an enchanting place to explore and evolve. I am just recently involved with MakeWork and am elated to have become a part of such an important grants program that directly enables individuals to shape our community and grow the area’s creative economy. By giving to MakeWork, I am helping to build the city I want to live in.

MakeWork is approaching the final days of a Fundraising Challenge to raise $100,000 matched by the Lyndhurst Foundation 2:1. Every dollar raised through October 31st is matched to become three dollars for arts grants in Chattanooga! Potentially, this could mean up to $300,000 in total for local artists.

Please consider a contribution to support creativity in Chattanooga. Learn more about MakeWork impacts, artists and projects at www.createhere.org/projects/makework. Donations can be made online at www.makework.is, by check, or cash in hand.

Posted by Dave Walker in Economy in Culture
The UTC Echo Highlights Take Root’s Citizen Forester Classes Wednesday, October 19, 2011

The UTC Echo has featured Citizen Forester workshops in an article! Check out our press, and sign up for one of the last two workshops October 22 and 29th.

Not sure what tree to plant? How to place trees around your home to save up to 50% in energy used for heating and cut air conditioning needs by 30%? Did you know that planting a tree can increase your home’s property value by $1000 to $10,000 per mature tree?

The $25 course fee covers all reference materials, one of a kind Citizen Forester T-Shirt, and two free trees to plant this fall in your yard, a $100 value! Visit www.takerootchattanooga.com for more information and to sign up.

Posted by Dave Walker in Environment
Groundwork to Launch Regional Growth Planning Process Reaches Milestone Tuesday, October 18, 2011

The following consists of excerpts from a press release by the Chattanooga Regional Growth Planning Group dated October 14, 2011. To read it in its entirety, click here.

A stakeholder group consisting of elected, business, and philanthropic leaders from the tri-state region of southeast TN, northwest GA and northeast Alabama which encompasses three metropolitan statistical areas has announced a major milestone in the effort to lay the groundwork to launch a 40-year regional growth planning process. Efforts to identify a team of expert firms to help organize and facilitate the effort have progressed through a request for qualifications, a request for proposals, and reference checks to narrow the field of contenders to three finalist teams.
All of the finalist teams include local firms, and the companies that comprise the teams reflect the depth and breadth of experience necessary to complete a truly comprehensive regional planning process including expertise in community engagement, many different types of planning, financial analysis, data collection, and the establishment of community metrics.
“This is a continuation of the public visioning and community engagement processes that have been transforming Chattanooga and the surrounding region since the early 1980s,” said Chattanooga City Mayor Ron Littlefield. “Our community pioneered this approach, and we know that the key to success is making sure everyone has the opportunity to express their values, priorities, and ideas. This effort depends on empowering citizens to identify common ground solutions that inspire enthusiastic and wide-spread cooperation.”
Bradley County Mayor Gary Davis confirmed that the time is right to broaden planning efforts to promote cooperation in the greater region. “Cities and counties across the area have benefited tremendously from localized planning efforts, but job seekers, dollars and traffic cross state and county lines without a second thought,” said Mayor Davis. “This is an opportunity to coordinate so that we can make the most of our shared opportunities and work together to solve our shared challenges.”
“In my mind, the regional planning process is about job creation,” said Tom Edd Wilson, president and CEO of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. “We’re competing against the whole world to retain and recruit employers. Coming together as a team on economic development will give us a tremendous advantage in making the most of our economic opportunities while preserving the quality of life that makes us so attractive to the companies we already have.”
The stakeholder group will weigh public feedback and other requirements set forth in the selection process to determine which of the finalist teams will coordinate the effort with the aim of starting the process during the first part of 2012.

Counties included in the footprint for the planning process?
Alabama Counties: Dekalb and Jackson; Georgia Counties: Catoosa, Dade, Murray, Walker, Whitfield (anchored by City of Dalton); Tennessee Counties: Bledsoe, Bradley (anchored by City of Cleveland), Hamilton (anchored by City of Chattanooga), Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Polk, Rhea and Sequatchie

What is the value of this process to local governments?
*By giving local governments the ability to cooperatively plan and coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions, the process will help elected officials focus on the greatest impact for the most people with the least expenditure, while reducing duplication of efforts.
*To play a lead role in starting an economic legacy of job creation founded in regional cooperation to ensure continued prosperity for our citizens, our children, and our grandchildren.
*By giving citizens an opportunity to express their values, priorities, and ideas, the planning process will provide local governments with the ability to better steward financial resources in accordance with the priorities of their constituents.
*The process will also serve to inform residents of the challenges their home communities share with those across the region and to engage them in developing solutions with broad support.

What is the value of this process to local citizens?
*A process for effectively managing the accelerated growth the region is already experiencing through unprecedented investments by a number of industries.
*A seat at the table in planning how the region can become more prosperous and generate additional economic opportunities for ourselves and our children.
*A forum for better understanding the “big picture” of the region and expressing their ideas, values, and priorities.
*The opportunity to join with others in preserving and enhancing what makes our communities special.

CreateHere is a part of the stakeholder group that has come together to fund and launch the regional growth planning process, which also consists of strong representation from local government, business, and philanthropy.

Posted by Dave Walker in Economy in Culture
Kaffe Fassett in Chattanooga Monday, October 17, 2011

Possibly the most well-known quilter in the world, Kaffe Fassett will be in Chattanooga this week, providing workshops at several area locations.

On Tuesday, October 18th, Kaffe Fassett will appear for a Slideshow, Talk, and Q&A at the Frierson Auditorium at GPS in Chattanooga. He will share images of his inspirations from around the world, and examples of his inspired creations. This is an evening that will leave you hungering to ignite your own creative juices.

Tickets are $17.50, available online or at the door. Children and Students with School ID are free!

This program is presented by Studio One
Studio One of Big Sur, California is the working studio of California Contemporary Artist, Erin Lee Gafill and her husband, photographer, Tom Birmingham. Together they teach painting and creativity workshops around the world.

On October 24 & 25, Erin Lee Gafill will teach “The Passion of Painting” at Townsend Atelier. Visit their website for more information.

About Kaffe Fassett
Kaffe has been a leader in textile design since publishing his first book in 1983, Glorious Knits. Since that time he has published over 30 books on knitting, needlepoint, mosaic, and patchork quilting.

Kaffe grew up in Big Sur, California, has worked in London, England, and has traveled the world teaching and creating for over 40 years, but his roots are here in Chattanooga. His grandfather was Edward Lee McCallie, whose father founded McCallie School. This is the first time Kaffe has come to his family home of Chattanooga, and we hope that the community will come out to welcome him!

You can read more about Kaffe on his website - www.kaffefassett.com

Of knitting, he says, “Those of you who feel knitting has changed your life, welcome to the club. I can think of no better occupation to reveal your own creativity,” and, “Like so many other crafts, knitting has the potential to create magic in our lives.”

Related Art Events in Chattanooga:
“Kaffe’s Color Method with Erin Lee Gafill” at the Loose Cannon Gallery- October 18, 10 AM – 4 PM
A “Talk and Slide Show” at the Girls Preparatory School - October 18, 7 PM
“Patchwork Design with Kaffe Fassett” at the Loose Cannon Gallery - October 19 & 20 10 am – 4 pm

Posted by Dave Walker in Culture