The Chattanooga State Community College Department of Organizational Culture and Engagement and a local nonprofit, Beloved Woman, are teaming to present a lunch-and-learn, “Changing the Narrative for Women in Business,” Wednesday, Sept. 13, noon-1:30 p.m.
This is a free event but an RSVP is required to attend. The lunch and panel will be held in the staff and faculty dining room of the Omniplex Building at Chattanooga State Community College. Make reservations and access parking information at www.belovedwoman.org.
The U.S Census Bureau states that women in Tennessee earn about $9,000 less per year than men and Tennessee ranks 36th in the nation for the share of women in poverty. The poverty rate in Chattanooga is 29.41% higher than the Tennessee average. Women in Chattanooga face challenges of pay inequity, economic mobility and barriers to resources and opportunity.
The lunch-and-learn discussion aims to raise awareness for barriers to resources, opportunities and progress for women in business in Chattanooga while exploring a pathway to hope and change for the future.
The panel will be moderated by Dionne Jenkins, vice president of diversity and inclusion at the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union. Guest panelists will include: Karen Collins, director of supplier diversity for the city of Chattanooga; Kristin Copeland, manager of minority and women owned businesses at EPB, Marcus Cade-Johnson, business lender at TVFCU; Sherry Cothran, founder and president of Beloved Woman; and Nahomi Orti, director of talent management at Chattanooga State.
Beloved Woman is a local nonprofit that helps financially disadvantaged women become self-employed and create a pathway to a living wage.
City launches affordable housing search tool
The city of Chattanooga has launched an affordable housing search tool (cha.city/find-affordable-housing), an interactive, data-driven resource designed to connect housing providers who offer reduced rental fee rates to those who qualify. The tool was created in collaboration with the city and Bloomberg’s City Data Alliance.
The Affordable Housing Search Tool provides prospective tenants with a list of low-cost housing developments and complexes. Shoppers enter their household income and household size and the map and directory will update with housing providers who offer units matching those criteria.
Although the tool lists several dozen providers, these providers might not have units available. The tool serves as a point of reference for potential tenants, who will need to contact the landlords and management teams to find out what they have available.
This tool is not a comprehensive map of all affordable housing in Chattanooga, the city notes in a news release. At this time, it includes only locations that offer subsidized housing through city of Chattanooga grants. Naturally occurring affordable housing options and providers who accept housing vouchers that are not currently in the database and will not appear in the tool.
CPD graduates Crisis Intervention Team
More than three dozen officers from the Chattanooga Police Department and other agencies have received certificates from the Crisis Intervention Team Training School.
CIT training is designed to improve officers’ understanding of mental illnesses and communication skills and help them better manage mental health crises when responding to calls.
Training for the 38 participants included classroom lectures, scenario-based role-play and visits to mental health facilities and group homes, where the participants interacted with people struggling with various types of mental illness. The CPD, the Cleveland Police Department and private donations provided the funding.
The CPD established a crisis co-response unit in 2021 to respond to individuals experiencing mental health who come in contact with law enforcement. In its first year-and-a-half, the CCRU diverted 65 cases from the jail and 92 cases from emergency rooms.
The team currently consists of CIT officer Brandon Watson, co-responder manager Belen Garcia-Rivas and two grant-funded social workers. Watson serves as a leader in the CIT program and in the CIT school.
New dental office coming to Ooltewah
Dr. Jaeyoun Park will soon be offering dental services to the community of Ooltewah at Enclave Dental Care. The new family dental practice is set to open Friday, Sept. 22.
Enclave will be equipped with “the latest products and equipment available in the dental industry, offering Dr. Park and his dental team the opportunity to provide the most up-to-date procedures and services to their patients,” notes a news release from the practice.
“From routine cleanings and simple fillings to more in-depth restorative and cosmetic services, patients can expect individualized care to help them keep their teeth for a lifetime,” says Park. “We also plan to educate patients on the importance of dental care and encourage them to adopt an ongoing preventative care routine.”
Enclave Dental Care is located at 1728 Ooltewah Ringgold Road in Ooltewah. The office is accepting new patients. To make an appointment, call 423 910-9064 or visit EnclaveDentalCare.com.