It was an intentional conversation about race.
The Camp House was filled Monday night with more than 150 people who were eager to listen to a panel of eight Chattanooga leaders discuss issues of race and diversity within the city.
Franklin McCallie, former educator and a community leader in Chattanooga, stood onstage before the room and urged everyone to work to break down racial barriers.
“Reach out,” he said. “Be intentional. Let’s do this here in Chattanooga.”
McCallie and the other panelists were participating in Chattanooga Speaks 2015, an event hosted by Main Street Innovators. The purpose of the event was to allow networking to take place between community members and local minority businesses owners and for a panel of community leaders and decision-makers to discuss topics of race and community.
J. Marty Lowe, right, introduces James McKissic Monday during a panel discussion on racial diversity and community interests at the Camp House.Panelists
Eleanor McCallie Cooper, community leaderJames Chapman, community leaderFred Fletcher, Chattanooga’s chief of policeMoses Freeman, councilmanFranklin McCallie, community leaderJames McKissic, community leaderMichelle Peterson, local entrepreneurLinda Wiley, community leader
The audience listens Monday during a panel discussion on racial diversity and community interests at the Camp House.For the first hour, the room filled with the buzz of people mingling and shaking hands. Around the outskirts of the room small tables displayed an array of minority-owned businesses, and the owners proudly stood nearby eager to share about what they do in the city.
Mayor Andy Berke introduced the evening’s panel discussion, reminding the room that the South has a history.
“You cannot talk about the history of the southern United States without talking about race,” he told the room. ” In no way are we bound by that past or what it means.”
Berke encouraged the group to be active and work toward a better future for everyone in Chattanooga.
The panel responded to a range of questions throughout the discussion:
What can we do to help ex-offenders find jobs?
How do we stop business owners from practicing racism?
How can we improve public education to better serve and prepare poor students?
Panelists responded with personal stories and opinions, and several challenged Chattanooga’s privileged to work diligently to make this city one that celebrates diversity and doesn’t overlook the poor.
Councilman Moses Freeman talked about the importance of relationships when dealing with issues of race and poverty.
“Making relationships with one person does help,” he said.
Freeman talked about the inequality seen here in schools and how some kids show up with a vocabulary of 4,000 words, and other kids from poor neighborhoods show up only using 400 words.
“We’ve got to fix this,” he said, recommending that advantaged families adopt less-advantaged families and work with the kids on a personal level to guarantee they enter school with a strong vocabulary.
Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher encouraged everyone in the room to leave thinking about tangible actions they can do to make the city better for every citizen.
“We need to wake up every day and think what can we do to move us forward,” he said.
Micki Ann Harris, director of the prayer room at the Chattanooga House of Prayer, said she came to the event to learn how to better pray for the city.
“By coming here we are better informed on how to pray,” she said. ” We try not to be cloistered and look for ways to be involved in the city.”
Jarvis Stewart, a young entrepreneur, said he wants to keep seeing people of all races and backgrounds coming together to meet like this.
“You don’t see that many people like this coming together to talk,” he said. “It’s important.”
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6592.