| Name | Shane |
|---|---|
| Last Name | Morrow |
| Home Address | 108 Woodlawn Drive Chattanooga, TN 37411 United States |
| Organization Name | RISE Chattanooga |
| Describe Your Role In The Organization | Executive Director / Co-Founder |
| Organization Address | PO Box 406 Chattanooga, tn 37401 United States |
| Website | https://www.risecha.org |
| Best Phone Number To Reach You | 423.653.9434 |
| Alternate Phone Number | 423-402-0452 |
| Email Address | Shane@risecha.org |
| Alternate Email Address | info@risecha.org |
| Please Describe Your Project In Detail | QUICK BACKGROUND In December 2020, RISE acquired a former church property -- 2 main facilities with gross area of over 14,000 square feet along with three parcels of land) located in the historic Glass Farms District in East Chattanooga. The cost of the property was $195,000. The immediate neighborhood reflects a mixed-use area with spots of commercial, retail, light industrial, single and multi-family housing surrounding the property. Once known as one of the religious staples in the community, the now abandoned building mirrors the unemployment, divestment, and devaluation of the entire neighborhood. RISE recognized that where others saw no potential, we envisioned this new site as an opportunity to explore how art & culture can be a positive engine for social and community transformation in underserved and majority minority neighborhoods. Thus begins our next chapter of creating a welcoming space, a platform for art and small business incubation, cultural exploration, positive development, and neighborhood transformation. RISE Chattanooga would like to present the following community initiatives that aim to not only address the immediate needs for our underserved communities, but also provide unique educational opportunities for growth and sustainability for moving toward a higher quality of life. The Restore Initiatives: Ancestral Roots Community Garden (vacant lot on property) Inspired by traditional African American yard gardens of the south, Ancestral Roots Community Garden Project, which was converted from an abandoned, junk-filled lot in a low-income community neighborhood of Menlo Park in 2019 and transformed into a welcoming community garden that benefits the entire neighborhood with a safe haven and year-round fresh fruits and vegetables for free. Of the many things the land gives, nourishment is among the most important. In a time where people of color are overrepresented in “food deserts,” having an active relationship with the land and nature in general is as important as ever. These gardens are more than trendy; they can be essential pieces in a healthier and nourished community. Community Teaching Kitchen (Learning Lab and Kitchen Accelerator Program within existing new facility) Originally part of our phase 1 building program and program development, CTK will be a fully equipped catering kitchen that not only offer opportunities for growth of our local and aspiring entrepreneurs/caterers of color, but it will also serve as a educational hub that offers free culinary classes exclusively for low income families and children to gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make healthy, affordable meals, supporting healthier eating habits in our community. Showered with Hope: SOH (Mobile Shower & Hygiene Station - purchase of mobile shower unit) This community outreach pop-up project directly meets the needs of our ever-growing homeless population with dignity, respect, and additional opportunities, hoping to ultimately steer our homeless population into shelters and programs. SOH aims to be a catalyst for poverty alleviation by lovingly addressing the needs of the homeless across the whole person continuum by being one of the first step in personal enrichment for our homeless population. SOH distinguishes itself from other organizations that work to meet basic human needs by going to where homeless find temporary shelter. Showered with Hope will travel to homeless camp locations throughout the city at least five times per week to bring showers to those in need. The outreach team comprised of local social services providers and volunteers that will welcome clients with needed toiletries, hygiene kits and information. Creative Community Residential Program (On vacant property) As mentioned in our opening paragraph, we recently acquired two main building facilities (2901 Taylor Street) along with 3 large parcels of land (2905 & 2907 Taylor Street and 2209 Cushman Street) located in the historic Glass Farms District in East Chattanooga. Thanks to the support of our local foundations and donors, we received funding to begin exploring the potential of our vacant property lots to be extension of our hub of cultural and arts activity embedded in the community, giving voice and opportunity to residents, our creative community, and those that may have been overlooked and underserved. We are now seeking funding for the creation of affordable housing units on the lots to support low-income artists/creative entrepreneurs of color. |
| Please explain how your project meets the requirements of the American Rescue Plan | All four components of our project initiative meet the following requirements of the American Rescue Plan Ancestral Roots Community Garden (Negative Economic Impact - Assistance to Households - Food assistance and food banks) Community Teaching Kitchen (Negative Economic Impact - Disproportionately Impacted Small Businesses - Technical assistance, business incubators / Grants for startup or expansion costs) Showered with Hope: SOH (Mobile Shower & Hygiene Station) (Negative Economic Impact - Disproportionately Impacted Households - Address health disparities through primary care, hospitals, or other services /Capital Expenditures - Capital expenditures that respond to the public health and negative economic impacts of the pandemic) Creative Community Residential Program (Negative Economic Impact - Assistance to Households - Development of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing / Negative Economic Impact - Disproportionately Impacted Households - Improvements to vacant and abandoned properties, Remediation of environmental contaminants, Conversion of vacant lots to affordable housing) Negative Economic Impact - Assistance to household / Disproportionately Impacted Households Investments in neighborhoods to promote improved health outcomes Improvements to vacant and abandoned properties Food assistance and food banks Conversion of vacant lots to affordable housing |
| Where would your project take place? | Chattanooga, Tennessee primarily within the East Chattanooga Sector |
| How much will your project cost in total? | 425000 |
| Do you have any matching funding sources from other local governments, private entities, non-profits, or philanthropic entities for your project? | Yes |
| Please describe the source and list amounts of any other funding. | Lyndhurst Foundation grant : $125k for creative development housing & Community Kitchen Lab/Creative Entrepreneur/caterers of color Accelerator Program |
| What portion of the project are you asking the city to fund? | Seeking $300k for the remainder of our project initiative |
| If funded, when would your project start? | May 1, 2022 |
| How long would your project take to complete? | 10-12 months from official announcement of payment |
| What milestones would you use to measure your project’s progress? | Ancestral Roots Community Garden # of community members enrolled for master gardening classes / # of garden use for community gatherings (goal is 100 per quarter) Community Teaching Kitchen (Learning Lab and Kitchen Accelerator Program within existing new facility) # of local caterers/entrepreneurs of color enrolled (goal is 10-15 per quarter) # of usage of kitchen (goal is 30 per quarter for entrepreneurship program) # of participants enrolled for the free culinary arts classes for healthy meals programming (Goal is 10 families per quarter) Showered with Hope: SOH (Mobile Shower & Hygiene Station - purchase of mobile shower unit) # of direct shower& hygiene services (goal is 30 - 45 individuals per week during 1st quarter) # of info packets given out and fully explained to participants (goal is 30-45 individuals per week during 1st quarter) |
| How would you ensure accountability and transparency throughout the project lifecycle? | All of our programs (past, current and upcoming) undergo in 90 day depth review with of our board and staff to ensure that we not only meeting our measurable outcomes but continue to make sure that our original plan for impact continues to be met. We believe that our 90 day review of our programs allows us to make changes, if needed, to continue our quest toward providing high quality services to our targeted community members. |
| If successful, how would your project benefit the community? | If successful, all of our needed components will provide our community that much needed safety net and opportunity to not only strengthen their foundation for growth, the initiative presented will allow our targeted communities to redefine and elevate their sense of hope and stability to be a productive agent of change and members within the Greater Chattanooga area. Throughout our years, we have experienced that most of our community isn't looking for a "hand out" rather they embrace a "step up." |
| How will you attract community buy-in for your project? | We will heavily promote our initiative throughout our extensive network on social media as well as conducting local street outreach with informational packets on the initiative. WE also plan to host monthly info sessions at our facility for the public at large. |
| Is there anything else you would like us to know about your project? | I am open for any additional questions about the project initiative presented and welcome the opportunity to address anything that may seem unclear to the committee members. |