The Buzz: Louisville KY
March 28-31, 2017

In 2016, a group of 25 Chattanoogans went on a bus trip, named The Buzz, to Asheville, NC to study the roles of food, craft, and culture on the city's strong sense of place. In 2017, we repeated the trip but went somewhere new—with a very different topic of conversation.

We often hear about Chattanooga being at a remarkable point in its history—creating new opportunities in technology, entrepreneurship, education and more for our friends and neighbors.

But is this true? Are all of our neighbors benefiting from living here? Are opportunities being created for everyone… and if not, where are the gaps?

To help us consider how the answer to these questions, The Buzz headed to Louisville KY to meet with Kentuckians who are working to address the opportunity divide that we see in so many Southern cities. A tale of two cities, each with multiple cities inside its borders—some of which have great opportunities with rich resources, and some of which don’t.

We met with people in Louisville who are working for greater inclusivity and diversity among populations that are often overlooked and underserved. Who are using creative thinking to create progress and hope. Who are already working to connect those who have opportunity and those who don’t.

These Chattanoogans accepted our invitation to get on the buzz for this “residency on wheels” that included site visits, meetings with culturemakers—and since we took a bus, we engaged in collaborative exercises on the trip up and the trip back.

BUZZERS

  • Kendi Anderson, Times Free Press

  • Eric Asboe, City of Chattanooga

  • Jonas Barierre, UnifiEd

  • Donivan Brown, green|spaces

  • Charlotte Caldwell, Arts Administrator

  • Chelsea Conrad, Causeway

  • Sasha Hasanbegovic, Guesthouse Creative

  • Ternae Jordan, Mount Canaan Church

  • Nikki Lewis, Glass House Collective

  • James McKissic, City of Chattanooga

  • Angel Moore, Community Health Center

  • Ric Morris, AVA

  • Lauri Moyle, Thankful Gleaner

  • Christian Patino, LaPaz

  • Daniela Peterson, Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise

  • Lori Quillen, Benwood Foundation

  • Stacy Richardson, City of Chattanooga

  • Troy Rodgers, City of Chattanooga

  • Ryan Sandwick, Chattanooga Design Studio

  • Melanie Silva, UNfoundation

  • Rebecca Suttles, Community Foundation

  • Elizabeth Tallman, United Way

  • Donna Williams, City of Chattanooga

  • Alexis Willis, Launch

  • Erik Zilen, Neidlovs

FOOTPRINT REPRESENTATIVES

  • Jeff Cannon, Buzz Project Consultant

  • Rondell Crier, Buzz Project Consultant

  • Lisa P. Flint, Footprint Foundation

  • Martina Guilfoil, Buzz Project Partner

  • Laura Margaret Jones, Buzz Project Coordinator

  • Caleb Ludwick, Buzz Project Consultant

  • Kristina Montague, Footprint Foundation trustee

  • Jaime Smialek, Buzz Photographer

  • Alfred Smith, Footprint Foundation trustee

  • Alice Smith, Footprint Foundation trustee