Scenic Roots

The Sankofa Fund for Civic Engagement funds and supports organizations, projects and efforts that improve the lives of Chattanooga’s communities of color.

Joel Sartore is an award-winning photographer, author and speaker whose lens focuses on endangered species and landscapes around the world.

Singer-songwriter Toby Hewitt shares his stories and his music. Artist Ali Kay on painting and murals in the heart of Chattanooga. These voices - and more - on this encore edition of "Scenic Roots." Ray Bassett is the host of "Scenic Roots" - produced by Haley Solomon, Karley Dodson and Will Davis.

Among the murals in downtown Chattanooga is the little airplane boy. Ali Kay is the artist who painted it as part of the McCallie Walls Mural Project - a collaboration of artists that created the city’s first drive-thru art gallery. Ali stopped by “Scenic Roots”...

Jeffrey Blount worked in network television for more than 30 years, directing “Meet the Press” and other programs at NBC News - winning an Emmy along the way. These days, he is an author and speaker - and on Wednesday night, he will appear here in Chattanooga, as part of the South Bound Lecture Series - presented by Southern Lit Alliance at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, starting at 6 PM. Jeffrey - who lives in Washington, DC - joined us by phone, along with Lynda LeVan of Southern Lit

“Chattanooga Climbs” is a five-year plan for the city’s economic and workplace future. The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce - along with other community groups - launched the strategy last year. Its ideas aim to attract more than a billion dollars of new capital investment and boost the average annual pay in the city - the first steps in a vision for Chattanooga’s future all the way to the year 2040. Christy Gillenwater is the Chamber’s president and CEO - and Charles Wood is the Chamber’s

Christy Gillenwater and Charles Wood on "Chattanooga Climbs." Author Jeffrey Blount coming to the South Bound Lecture Series. Artist Ali Kay on painting and murals in the heart of Chattanooga. These voices - and more - on this edition of "Scenic Roots." Ray Bassett is the host of "Scenic Roots" - produced by Haley Solomon, Karley Dodson and Will Davis.

One day, Kaylin Underwood had an idea to help people with food allergies: an app that would alert them if they are buying grocery items with ingredients they are allergic to. Kaylin is a senior on this campus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - and she calls her app idea, “AllerX.” Back in November, she won the “Hatch It” competition for her idea at UTC’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business. How would her idea work - and what’s next? Kaylin dropped by “Scenic Roots”...

This weekend, it’s Cherokee history revisited at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District in a program titled, “The Want for an Easier Life.” Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present the program at the Gateway Site, starting at 2 PM. Brian Autry is a ranger at the park…

In Soddy-Daisy - on Dayton Pike, beside Food City - is a place that calls itself a “front porch” - providing coffee and social services to people who otherwise would have no easy access to them. The Coffee Community Collective - part of Northside Neighborhood House - includes a coffee shop and offices for agencies such as Children’s Advocacy Center and Consumer Credit Counseling Services. Rachel Gammon and Dakota Gallagher with Northside Neighborhood House tell us more...