Tennessee State Representative JoAnne FavorsNASHVILLE - State Rep. JoAnne Favors, D-Chattanooga, today announced the launch of a new group that will seek to encourage low-income and other disadvantaged groups to engage in the political process.
The nonprofit, membership organization is called the Tennessee Intergenerational Political Network Inc. or TIPNET.
Favors said in a news release the group's board includes "talented members drawn from four generations - from creative, energetic millennials to wisdom-saturated retires."
Members include elected officials, students, parents, educators, clergy, business owners, attorneys, health, social and public service professionals as well as technical and service workers.
The group, Favors said, has evolved after four years of reviewing data obtained from national, state, and local research and investigative reports, U.S. Census reports, innumerable hours of individual and other areas.
"The data confirmed the substantial levels of social, economic, health, civic, and educational disparities resonating among certain populations in Chattanooga- Hamilton County," the release says.
The release goes on to say that "although TIPNET acknowledges laudable efforts being implemented by various entities to address some of these disparities, the crucial role of politics as a major determinant has remained in the background for way too long. It is well established that politics impacts every aspect of our lives."
TIPNET's purpose, according to Favors, "is to promote optimal civic engagement, especially among vulnerable groups. This will be accomplished by providing comprehensive political education and increasing opportunities for participation in the political process."
The group plans on holding regularly scheduled forums, conferences, webinars and training session in collaboration with professional associations, civic organizations, professional consultants, institutions of higher learning and representatives from all levels and branches of government.