Alyssia Rich, left, trims Terri Greer’s dogs nails during a routine free pet food & supply delivery to a local neighborhood. Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Photo by Noah Camacho)
McKamey Animal Center is ten miles from Alton Park, one of the poorest zip codes in Tennessee. The Center is a thirty-minute drive but without other means of transportation, a three-and-a-half-hour walk, one way.
During MAC C.A.R.E.S grand opening, Heather Hensley, the Community Solutions Manager at McKamey said, “Being at MetMin [Metropolitan Ministries] is such a big relief, we are closer to Alton Park and other populations that are looking for this assistance… We can spread the love so much better by being here with MetMin.”
In late January McKamey Animal Center and Metropolitan Ministries Impact Hub partnered to open MAC C.A.R.E.S Center. Located at 4001 Rossville Blvd., less than two miles from Alton Park.
The grand opening being at noon, staff spent their morning giving pet supplies to people in need.
“More than half of MetMins clients have pets, they were already talking about this,” Hensley said. “As we were unloading food this morning people were coming to us, so we were giving it out.”
Andrea Tankersley demonstrates how to perform an échappé sauté. Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Abby White)
Little feet wrapped in socks and ballet slippers pitter-patter on concrete floors, metal chairs as makeshift barres, a mix between French ballet terms and the Spanish language are used to communicate the beauty of dance to little girls. This is non-profit La Paz Chattanooga ballet, taught by professional ballerina Andrea Tankersley.
Despite fighting through a language barrier within her childhood dance classes, Tankersley found a love for dance she passes down by teaching young Latina girls the art of ballet in their first language.
“It’s important for the classes to be taught in Spanish because it brings a sense of culture,” Tankersley said. “Knowing what your background is and where you come from, it allows you to be more confident and more unique.”
Andrea Tankersley evaluates her students’ form during practice. Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Abby White)
Tankersley was immersed in vigorous dance classes in Mexico from a young age which continued when she moved to the United States at the age of nine through her senior year of high school. She continued her career in Nashville as a professional ballet dancer.
As a native Spanish-speaker, she encountered struggle after struggle when starting her dance journey in the United States. Luckily, ballet terms are universally in French so she was able to keep her head above water until she could understand English.
A language barrier is not the only personal struggle Tankersley overcame growing up in ballet classes. Tankersley was told throughout her dance career that she ‘had the heart of a dancer but not the body’. This is a viewpoint she strives to squash as a health and life coach; instead, she instills a more positive mindset into her students’ minds.
Tankersley received her health and life coach certification in order to improve her personal mindset and mental health, and in turn, is now able to help others with their mental health.
“I try to remind my students that each one of them is valuable. You are enough. You decide what you want to do. You have a voice,” Tankersley said.
To combat the strict and rigid composition of ballet she endured as a child, Tankersley always brings a fun and goofy twist to her classes. She believes that, especially at the age she is teaching, it is important to engage the kids with the fun aspects of dance rather than the cut-and-dry rules of the sport. Grande jetes across the floor turn into cartwheel contests, little laughs echo off the walls, and sweets are occasionally used as motivation.
“I’ve done a lot of class versus the teacher, and then we have cupcake parties if they win. You can have both things. You can have everything. It’s just your perspective and how you look at things,” Tankersley said.
Skateboard instructor Gray Joyce gives a run down of the Outdoor Chattanooga learn to skate clinic held in Chattanooga’s Chatt Town skate park.
Surrounded by ramps, rails, ledges, and skateboards, families gather to spend a couple of hours learning how to skateboard. Alongside trained instructors, beginner skateboarders learn the basics of skateboarding at the Learn to Skate Clinic.
Outdoor Chattanooga hosts a learn-to-skateboard class at the Chatt Town skatepark in downtown Chattanooga. During this class, equipment is provided ranging from helmets to kneepads—and most importantly, skateboards.
The class was led by Gray Joyce and Patrick Sheel, local skateboarders who are highly skilled and have extensive skateboarding knowledge.
According to Joyce, beginners should start the class by having a group stretch, which is crucial in skateboarding as it mostly involves their legs. The skateboarders are then taught how to ride a board properly and how to find their center of gravity.
Learning to push and having good foot positioning during this sport is one of the most important things to learn as a beginner, and one must have a firm understanding of both of these before they can move onto bigger obstacles.
Founder of Chattanooga Culture Matt Cone discusses how he came to start making kombucha and how that impacts his business.
Between the growing bacteria, yeast combination and sweetened tea, kombucha possesses a unique flavor that can sometimes defer potential customers. But according to Matt Cone, founder of Chattanooga Culture, after enough time, kombucha can turn into not only something that benefits consumers, but also something they can enjoy.
“My buddy out in Colorado brewed a lot of kombucha for himself personally, and I always thought it was a very interesting drink. I was turned off by it at first, like everybody is. It’s kind of an acquired taste,” Cone said.
After tasting some of his friend’s kombucha, Cone began doing research on health and wellness. This led him to pursuing further education within that field; Cone ended up getting his degree in Health and Wellness at Life University in Georgia.
“I learned as much as I could in that realm and just kind of figured out how to pull all of these pieces together and build a business out of it, so that’s what Chattanooga Culture is,” Cone said. “It’s not just kombucha. It’s not just fermentation. It’s all of the years of experience.”
Bailey Cole and Kristiana Mallo, two female entrepreneurs, are set to open the doors of their new lounge, BROADS. BROADS will be the first and only female-focused bar in Chattanooga, serving food and beverages obtained from female-owned and female-led businesses. BROADS will be located in the heart of Downtown Chattanooga to be an inclusive space for all.
After over ten years serving the Chattanooga area with their vegan restaurant endeavor Cashew, Bailey Cole, and Kristiana Mallo are set to open their doors for a new project in the heart of downtown called “BROADS.” Cole and Mallo have dedicated BROADS to being a “Female-Forward” bar.
“I think everybody kind of agrees [broads] had a negative connotation,” Cole said. “To us, [broads] is an empowering word. We’re trying to make it fun; it’s more about a strong woman.”
The inspiration for the name “BROADS” came from one of their friends who frequently uses it in her vocabulary. Overtime, they grew fond of the term in that usage.
“[BROADS] is just something pretty different. I think it’s different even in the country,” Mallo said. “….it’s more of an old-school term, so we want to totally bring it back.”
Bryanna Fuquea from Flintstone, GA discusses her journey in music and her passion for singing and songwriting through local competitions and events.
From the strum of the guitar to the melody her voice carries, 28-year-old Rossville, Ga. local, Bryanna Fuquea writes and produces her own music.
“I just really love doing music,” Fuquea said. “Music speaks to me and to other people in so many ways; people dealing with depression, anxiety, everything.”
To Fuquea, music is a universal love language. No matter the circumstance, situation, or the feelings that come with someone’s day, music speaks to everyone in a thoughtful and vulnerable way.
Throughout her music career, Fuquea has opened up to playing her music on different platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. By using these platforms, she has created a fun-loving, fan base of nearly 18,000 followers.
According to Fuquea, a fan once told her that listening to her music was like being in their own safe space.
Fuquea is known to sing modernized country, but she also sings rock, R&B, contemporary, and a couple hymns. From there she rose to the challenge of writing her own music and learning how to play various instruments including the guitar.
The Lewis Family poses for a portrait on their farm with their Alpacas. Monday, November 13, 2023. (Photo by Sammy Mckenzie)
In Wildwood, Georgia, 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga, sits Rosie Mae’s Alpacas Farm, boutique, and coffee shop all wrapped up into one.
The unique business is owned and operated solely by the Lewis family who embarked on this journey one year ago as of November 4th. The entire property was built by hand by Max Lewis with support from his wife Meagan and daughter Rosie Mae.
“He started on the shop in January of 2021. He did it all himself, so it took a little while to get it done. So we actually didn’t open until November of 2022. Plus, processes were outrageous because of COVID,” Meagan Lewis said.
While it was a slow start to open, as soon as the Lewis family welcomed the public on their property, the business took off and hasn’t slowed down since.
“So we opened the store on November 4th of 2022 and then our daughter Sparrow was born November 29th. So that has been crazy. Then we went viral in April of 2023 and then from there on out we have been just absolutely slammed,” said Lewis.
Brooke McFarlin cleans a surface for one of her clients for her business, College Cleaners. Sunday, December 3, 2023. (Photo by Elizabeth Wynne)
Starting a business is never easy. At a young age, it is even more of a challenge, but it can be done.
Founded by Brooke McFarlin, a sophomore in college at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, College Cleaners is an opportunity for students around the Chattanooga area to pick up a side gig in their busy schedule, while also providing a cleaning service for those looking for an affordable option.
President of FACES, Kim Fox teaches a sculpting class to the greater Chattanooga community at Bud’s Creative Art Center. Fox’s passion for art is one thing that fueled her drive when Bud’s Creative Art Center was built. November 18, 2023 (Photo by Taylor McKinley)
A person’s facial appearance significantly influences their daily interactions, impacting everything from grocery store visits to the formation of friendships. FACES, a Chattanooga based craniofacial nonprofit, brings comfort and acceptance to those in this community.
“We help children and adults get desperately needed craniofacial surgeries,” said Kim Fox, President of FACES. “Not only do these people have to deal with numerous surgeries, but they also have to deal with peer pressure and people being mean to them, and calling them names.”
Class attendee Ean Danon works on a sculpture with the help from president Kim Fox. Danon attended the class at Bud’s Creative Art Center with his mother. November 18, 2023 (Photo by Taylor McKinley)
The work of FACES and Bud’s Creative Art Center go beyond Jewelry Making or Paint classes. Children and adults undergo life changing surgeries that will impact how they carry themselves for the rest of their lives. The community plays a significant role in getting those who suffer from craniofacial anomalies surgeries, while also benefiting their artistic abilities as well.
“Every time you take a class at Bud’s you are helping the children and adults of FACES,” Fox said. “So you’re doing a really good thing for yourself and you’re doing something really good for FACES.”
FACES distinguishes itself by actively raising awareness about laws that protect individuals with facial differences and advocating for face equality as an essential human right.
“Sadly so many people that have a facial difference actually do get discriminated against, “ Fox said. “Sometimes they either don’t get the job they want or they keep them back in the warehouse.”
Editors Note: The following story was written in Spanish and translated to English. The two articles are listed side by side below.
Margarita Vicente arrived from Guatemala to a new world where she did not speak the language in a sea of over 1,000 students. With the help of various teachers at Howard High School she has achieved the skills of reading, writing, and speech in the span of three years.
Margarita Vicente llegó de Guatemala a un nuevo mundo donde no hablaba el idioma en un océano de 1,000 estudiantes. Con la ayuda de varios maestros en Howard High School, ella ha logrado leer, escribir, y hablar inglés durante sus tres años aquí. Continue reading “Un Viaje de Oportunidades (A Journey of Opportunities)”→
