Kanika White Appointed to KCDC Board of Commissioners
Knoxville, TN (January 2020) – Realtor Kanika White has been appointed by Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon to the Board of Commissioners for Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC).
White, who has 15 years of experience in real estate and property management, will fill the unexpired term of the late Gloria Garner, who died Dec. 10, 2019. Garner, 82, a longtime community organizer and retiree of the Knoxville Area Urban League, joined KCDC’s board in 2016 to fill a vacancy and was appointed to a five-year term in 2017.
White will serve on the board until June 30, 2022, at which time she will be eligible for appointment to a full five-year term. White is a member of the Knoxville Area Association of Realtors (KAAR); Tennessee Association of Realtors (TAR); and National Association of Realtors (NAR). White is a native of New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she relocated to Atlanta and worked for Mercy Housing Management Group, which specializes in affordable housing, and then was promoted to senior property manager at the company’s branch in Knoxville. White is Realtor with Coldwell Banker.
Samuel Brown Newest Project GRAD Board Member
Knoxville, TN. (January 2020)- Pastor Samuel Brown has been appointed to the board of Project GRAD Knoxville. Brown is a GRAD alumnus scholar who was served by the program through his entire educational journey, from elementary school through the completion of his degree at Livingstone College where he studied Political Science and Religion.
“We are excited to have Pastor Brown’s perspective as we do this great work. A millennial leader, he also knows firsthand the support of Project GRAD and can offer helpful feedback as we take our work to new levels,” said GRAD executive director Ronni Chandler.
“It’s a distinct honor and privilege to serve an organization that has been so instrumental to my own growth and success,” Brown explained. “Serving on the GRAD Board is really a culmination of my greatest dreams and preparedness.” Brown is a native of Rockford, Tennessee. He completed his secondary education in Knox County Schools at Austin-East Magnet High School as a Project GRAD Scholar. He also has a Certificate in Campaign Management & Fundraising from the Howard Baker School for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee. He currently serves as pastor of the Historic Logan Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Knoxville. He is actively involved in the Knoxville NAACP, Knoxville Interdenominational Christian Ministerial Alliance (KICMA), Knoxville Opera Concert Choir and Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee names Mentors of the Year
KNOXVILLE, TN (December 2019) – In celebration of National Mentoring Month, Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee has named Big Brother Tyler Ladd and Big Sister Dianne Flory as its 2019 Mentors of the Year.
Big Sister Dianne and Little Brother Jake were matched through Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee in September of 2015. Their favorite thing to do together is attending plays. The pair catches a play nearly once a month at Knoxville Children’s Theatre. Dianne says the duo also regularly volunteers in the community because Jake enjoys helping others. She regularly encourages Jake to focus on school. Dianne’s impact is evident — Jake’s grades have improved, as have his relationships with his family and teachers.
Big Brother Tyler and his Little Brother Josh first met more than four years ago. The pair loves being active together — including participating in activities like fishing, bike riding, and even tubing in Townsend. Last year, Tyler and Josh spent time restoring a truck together. Tyler is close to Josh’s family, and even helped recently when they moved to a new home.
InterFaith Health Clinic Receives $965,000 Investment from Humana Foundation
Knoxville, TN -(January 2020) – InterFaith Health Clinic and the Truck2Table program has received an investment of $965,000 from The Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc.
“Thanks to help from The Humana Foundation and innovative technology, we’re able to provide our patients with resources to start making healthy choices and help them overcome health barriers stacked against them,” said Melissa Knight, Executive Director, InterFaith Health Clinic.
This investment will help continue to fund The Truck2Table Pilot Project, a partnership between InterFaith Health Clinic, Catapult 4D and Synergasia Health Technologies that addresses social determinants of health and health equity barriers in Knoxville. This program works to improve the quality of life and health of those who are uninsured and underserved in the area by providing access to healthy food, increased health literacy levels and decreasing loneliness, among other things. With help from Humana, families can make food purchases with EBT and SNAP from area Farmer’s Markets, Truck2Table, and Three Rivers Market, and receive an additional $20 match in fresh produce.
ABOUT: InterFaith Health Clinic was established in 1991 to serve the low-income, working uninsured and underserved members of the Knoxville community. With a small paid staff and a large network of volunteers, InterFaith provides comprehensive access to medical, dental, mental health, and prescription drug services and charges patients according to a sliding fee scale based on household size and income.
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