[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6170784,"mediaKeyId","5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9","parentId",5396252,"title","Task force updates bylaws, launches scholarship and clarifies grant/sponsorship process","audioSeconds",1265,"startMs",4781000,"endMs",6046000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9&start=4781&end=6046","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9/thumbnail_4781000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6170784/Tennessee/Task-force-updates-bylaws-launches-scholarship-and-clarifies-grantsponsorship-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170784-8ed736549726261199cbe7232af633cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056373&Signature=fo60WBOK7yFM6xghuuO9k90mtyDn3ZkPV3VRgrN4-LSlz2eW-o4gf2lInfyw5d64eT9GIjGMZ2L1N9vZ03PB~nIZAZX3w0Du9i~ECk357dDWId9w928ywJwvbcRDvXZgMb9A8ebMU9zOTGMlA9pWBhC-u55mwmx7HX18KXQXwhcdZD2iELMmaMGBiGGDlQzyUWLAbO45VpGXwtlYoxBM5PeZA5gOpPKrDLCRAVTLvvWz6H14MFnz3aFHQLvyLmrBHc3TQvRJ993vXoSgQ5YBAX-m6gCfBUeAFsFvC~82mUtmLmN81crwrKfiZ11XV9Ed-QI90qEaZHCBPM5ldchhBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Knoxville, TN","date","2025-07-16T04:51:15.713Z","article","The African American Equity Restoration Task Force moved on several administrative matters: adopting a proposed calendar of regular meetings for 2026, discussing bylaw amendments to change regular meetings to quarterly, establishing a 75% attendance threshold for members, and launching a scholarship for NAS graduates.
Task force staff presented three bylaw updates for consideration: change regular meetings to quarterly on the second Monday at 5:30 p.m.; remove the assistant secretary office from required officers (keeping chair, vice chair and secretary); and require members to attend at least 75% of scheduled meetings in a calendar year, with the task force able to request removal of members for noncompliance. A task force member moved to accept the proposed 2026 meeting calendar; the motion was seconded and recorded as approved.
Staff also unveiled a scholarship program to support NAS (the task force’s youth program) graduates: applicants must submit a 500-word essay about adversity shaping ambition, a final transcript, proof of 2025 college enrollment, and documentation of financial need. Applications and a flyer will be posted to the task force’s resource page. The task force chair said the scholarship is intended to invest directly in local students and that staff will circulate the finalized application link after minor edits.
On the grants and sponsorship process, members discussed treating sponsorships (ad hoc requests outside the normal grant cycle) differently from the structured grant rounds. The investment committee will return recommendations on sponsorship requests, and staff said sponsorship decisions can take two to three months because of quarterly committee and task force meeting cycles. Committee members and staff agreed that incomplete applications should not be eligible for consideration and that staff will offer pre-deadline feedback for grant applicants when possible.
The task force also approved a few near-term community engagement dates and logistics: \"Shoes for School\" at Smokies Stadium on Aug. 2 (9 a.m.–noon), a City of Knoxville resource fair on Aug. 9 (9 a.m.–1 p.m.), and an Investment Committee meeting on Aug. 11. Staff noted a QR code and resource page will be the primary way to route community partners and organizations to the task force’s information and to a partner-signup form.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","AAERTF 4268 250714","oneSentenceSummary","Members approved a new annual calendar, discussed bylaw amendments requiring quarterly regular meetings and a 75% attendance minimum, launched a scholarship for NAS graduates, and agreed to tighten the sponsorship process so incomplete applications are ineligible.","taxTitle","African American Equity Restoration Task Force Meetings, Knoxville City, Knox County, Tennessee","taxId",69351,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170791,"Stadium developers report near‑30% participation by diverse and small local firms, diversity-only goal not fully met",947,2516000,3463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9&start=2516&end=3463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9/thumbnail_2516000.jpg","/articles/6170791/Tennessee/Stadium-developers-report-near30-participation-by-diverse-and-small-local-firms-diversity-only-goal-not-fully-met","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170791-6854bb07e89b424d9e6520b632bacea6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056373&Signature=Ixn7mklqMLkznWD1JFoulKZkqHfSV79lh20KsKpQHCzXVAYsJfG75w9gz3AjjHIF9dqYnK33cD2dzJmVfghGykuBot0XLOIwcevi95GXy~0uZLOj4Ui0soRsbroRE0LBA52jmvT2hDokuOtvH56Ofrm4f695wb9PLcjQWzu6mytLwj4bGUS~6Jq2O9hJtwJzuACYEAmwP0O4kuZJzlEUlDvjg3nx81pzArbIeYGrNoGAH9I9m2QZG4yzNVwnQNV3CsdEBattzR9JXhPUYzgLLJ2Fb101FFcqP5mBOYMHnJ1uted0Fjb0DsrhKz4zrv3V79NxikR47p-PN0kr16ZBUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Officials involved in the new Smokies Stadium told the task force the project achieved substantial participation by diverse and small businesses during construction but did not fully meet the 17.5% diversity-business target set in the development agreement.
Doug Kirchhofer, who represents Boyd Sports/Knoxville Smokies, and Edward Henley, founding principal of Fieldwood Development (contracted to lead DBE/outreach efforts), described a multi-year outreach and workforce-development program tied to stadium construction and operation. Henley said the development agreement set an ambitious 17.5% diversity-business participation goal that excluded small businesses, and the implementation team worked to convert that target into actionable outreach, training and matchmaking.
Henley reported a total construction budget near $86 million and said that, when combined, diversity-owned and small businesses performed about $29 million in contract work — roughly 29.1% of the total. He said the subset categorized strictly as diversity businesses reached about 14.7% of the contract value (short of the 17.5% target). Reported counts included 24 businesses categorized as minority-, women- or Latino-owned and another eight defined as small businesses; detailed breakout: four African American/Black-owned, seven Hispanic/Latino-owned, and 13 women‑owned firms among the diversity businesses that performed on the project.
Henley attributed some shortfalls to timing and market constraints, including the post‑COVID construction boom and the long lead times prime contractors faced, which made it hard for smaller local firms to prepare for specific scopes until the schedule firmed up. The team responded by holding dozens of outreach events, readiness workshops, office hours and matchmaking sessions, often hosted by the Urban League, and by directing primes to run their own outreach for subcontracts.
Kirchhofer and Henley said workforce efforts included job fairs in the weeks before the stadium opened in April and other training events, and they described plans to institutionalize the outreach program during the stadium’s operations phase so the facility can continue to be a community asset over the coming decades.
No formal action or funding request was made of the task force; speakers discussed lessons learned for future public‑private projects and invited continued engagement from local stakeholders.","Developers and construction advisers reported that about $30 million of an $86 million stadium budget went to minority-, women- and small-business contractors (roughly 29% overall). The diversity-only participation rate reached about 14.7% against a 17.5% goal in the development agreement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170795,"Emerald Youth Foundation updates task force on Holly Park property negotiations and program plans",335,1526000,1861000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9&start=1526&end=1861","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9/thumbnail_1526000.jpg","/articles/6170795/Tennessee/Emerald-Youth-Foundation-updates-task-force-on-Holly-Park-property-negotiations-and-program-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170795-79acb61b0a8029d000df0a96c68602b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056373&Signature=FhSpc7x9Zq-0dXVd5VBZMAzvAaK0RZe0mW7ofMgBl3qqyLbU4J97nrHPM9sMDXt7YpKxf1hqBQqUtJ1B9NRISnr1cFpLRr9nXFNrA8jdTIq7SZKQX--Tg0mjAIUtfCmnwCCq1Os6ytgDfKN4IEiEmoCVjkBeFfavlnQaZYewW1srDYcv9LOtd3lF97SRFNYyVfF45rWNBSO-qXM0ndob0mSjXjmqt0qowW3j4mwwGHSWUX~7myDPUM63LiOfZdwfgrqjp4dh7f67netXNUwUtN7PbOgG~jKKJWQMchM550WbLm~5gbQUclD2Xvr0oYYmP4SH8KEhHsGeqJDbpeSZHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emerald Youth Foundation staff told the African American Equity Restoration Task Force the nonprofit is in contract negotiations to acquire the Midway property at Holly Park and intends to develop sports fields, community programming and a career center there if approved.
Caitlin Chesley, East Area Director and director of sports for Emerald Youth Foundation, said Emerald was selected as the preferred recipient last fall and that talks on the purchase contract are ongoing. \"Prior to that happening, it still does have to go before City Council,\" Chesley said, adding that the council hearing could be in August but that the timetable depends on both sides' approval of the contract.
Chesley presented a concept drawing based on preliminary surveys showing two full-size multipurpose fields with baseball, soccer and flat football lines, parking for about 142 vehicles, and a third always-available field that would not be rented. The proposed facility would include a double gym, a career center to support college-and-career pathways for high-school students, and space for Emerald’s JustLead after-school program and faith-based activities.
Chesley said Emerald is also discussing a roughly 10,000-square-foot medical-office building on the site with CEOs of major local hospitals; the office would be intended to provide primary care to East Knoxville residents and to address a local health-access gap. She said nothing is finalized and that surveying and final design remain to be done.
Chesley reviewed program access and cost details reported from Emerald’s existing Lonsdale facility: after-school programming costs $65 per child per semester (field trips included), recreational sports are typically $35, and travel/club sports range higher (examples cited up to $105 for volleyball because of dual governing-body requirements). Emerald said it prioritizes neighborhood residents for 80% of slots and tries to hire staff from the neighborhood; AmeriCorps funding previously used for part-time positions was cut, and Emerald moved to a part-time hiring model while awaiting possible AmeriCorps program restoration.
Task force members asked about access, fencing (only along Magnolia side to stop balls), rental rules, and whether faith-based programming would force religion on attendees; Chesley said services would still be offered to people who do not participate in faith activities and that the organization would not force religion on families. No city council or city funding decision was made at the meeting; Emerald representatives requested continued task force support and said they would return with updates.","Emerald Youth representatives said they are in contract negotiations to acquire the Midway property at Holly Park for a multi-use youth and community center; the purchase still requires city council approval and programming, sports fields, and a potential medical clinic remain under discussion.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6170800,"Local nonprofit details decade-long effort to restore East Knoxville African American cemeteries",1080,260000,1340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9&start=260&end=1340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5396252-1a84f60fa8289e1c88cf9e033cdbc5b9/thumbnail_260000.jpg","/articles/6170800/Tennessee/Local-nonprofit-details-decade-long-effort-to-restore-East-Knoxville-African-American-cemeteries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6170800-c3f0c237a4f6596d63f35556b9dc94e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771056373&Signature=LwPYOZLjn5IcrsncadhTVvNiuF4MZZxe5K9GzHwcHUkaWOGNm2KjQE~5UBvThPhFqV63Cter9HuX1iW~KTjDVV8jlW2XELGvhN1xs3ga~OpER3oJD2Ojoh0g8fIhLgsYACSC-yIJZRycwSaGH6NDRNM-Q~l7cUU5qsMfiJYq~mffE1yTWHUubkQxGQZbbx5meMqbuom2Trw83oHLfAM6b8q9UEzpEqM~NylmNPPv9aFSyW9Wcxs30paCyqujCk8Wj4QFuzEwlshVtibtNM47LckKXmecW-tcybSqhH7iklTfaWicIGicYe39fUmx15rkFAG-zpcfm99Nh2h1ibV5mQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Knox Reanimation Coalition leaders told the African American Equity Restoration Task Force they have spent more than a decade restoring historic African American burial sites in East Knoxville and need ongoing funding and local volunteers to continue the work.
The coalition, represented at the July meeting by George Kemp, president, and board member Andre Canty, described three main initiatives: restoration work at the Odd Fellows (Odd Fellows) Cemetery on Bethel Avenue, work at Citizen (sometimes called Good Citizen or East Fort) Cemetery, and the Iffel Scholars education program that teaches writing, research and digital storytelling to middle and high school students.
The work matters because the cemeteries hold unmarked graves and the remains of notable local figures, and fallen headstones accelerate erasure of those interred. \"Once a headstone has fallen, the erasure of the person begins unless the headstone is upright,\" Kemp said. He told the task force that Odd Fellows covers about six acres and is believed to be the final resting place of roughly 6,000 African American citizens; the coalition currently finds fewer than 500 standing headstones there.
Kemp described community-driven land-art projects, a \"Community Pause\" memorial and a program that wraps and decomposes selected tree limbs into painted discs to honor the cut material. He said the group formed as a nonprofit in 2009 after local residents and University of Tennessee staff advised founders Steven Scruggs and Clyde Dorsey on next steps.
Canty framed the coalition’s mission as building generational wealth by preserving and sharing history. He highlighted the Iffel Scholars program that began with a small cohort in 2010 and has produced student publications and a student film that later won the Knoxville Film Festival high-school division.
Coalition leaders said their work is volunteer-run, and they reported volunteer engagement figures: since February 2009 they have had roughly 4,851 volunteers donate about 14,070 hours. Kemp asked the task force to share grant-cycle information; task force staff said their next grant cycle opens in November.
The presentation included a mix of historical detail and operational needs: which headstones the coalition hopes to upright, the volunteer labor involved, and the group's reliance on donations and grants. No formal action or funding award was taken during the meeting; coalition representatives were given information about the task force’s grant cycle and offered to follow up on potential applications.
Task force members thanked the coalition and encouraged continued community involvement and youth engagement as part of preservation work.","Knox Reanimation Coalition outlined volunteer-led restoration, youth programming and funding needs to upright headstones and preserve burial sites in East Knoxville, noting thousands of volunteer hours and a continuing need for grants and local engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Task force updates bylaws, launches scholarship and clarifies grant/sponsorship process

Stadium developers report near‑30% participation by diverse and small local firms, diversity-only goal not fully met

Emerald Youth Foundation updates task force on Holly Park property negotiations and program plans

Local nonprofit details decade-long effort to restore East Knoxville African American cemeteries