Scenic Roots

Today on Tennessee Valley StoryCorps, Lisa Pinckney tells her daughter, Anna Flint, about Anna’s great grandmother. Tennessee Valley StoryCorps brings you conversations from people who went to the StoryCorps recording booth in Chattanooga's Miller Park in the spring of 2019. You can subscribe to the Tennessee Valley StoryCorps podcast on iTunes or Google Play and never miss an episode. This series is produced and edited by Will Davis and made possible, in part, by EPB Fiber Optics.

This fall, Chattanooga Design Studio and The Bessie Smith Cultural Center partnered with architecture students from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The students examined the Bessie and the African-American history of M.L. King Boulevard - developing architectural and urban design solutions for the building and its block, proposing new programs and uses for the site. This evening, an exhibition at the Bessie - from 5 PM to 7 PM - will showcase their work. Eric Myers is executive director

Reimagining Chattanooga's Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Jim Fry & Bruce Shaw, a pair of non-traditional paths at UTC. Pogo stick phenom Zachary Cross aims to reclaim a world record. 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.

If you have seen Zachary Cross around Chattanooga, chances are you have seen him hopping around on a pogo stick. Zachary is a sophomore here at UTC - and two years ago, he set a new world record - completing a mile on pogo in nine minutes, 35 seconds. His feat was beat the next week - but as Zachary told me, he aims to reclaim the title...

Dr. Susan Davidson at UTC’s School of Nursing helped to initiate Project Bloom - a partnership with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Earlier this fall, she stopped by “Scenic Roots” to tell us more...

Jean Marie Lawrence is an emergency management planner here at UTC. She has muscular dystrophy - and not long ago, she was looking for a salon that was wheelchair-friendly. Despite the Americans with Disabilities Act, Jean Marie says not all salons are set up for people who use wheelchairs. But, the owners of a salon on Chattanooga’s North Shore made quite an effort for her - and she told us how…

For decades, Dane Snowden served in one form of the military or another in one place or another. After 9/11, he was mobilized six times - spending four tours of duty overseas as part of the Army National Guard - deployed to Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. Dane’s jobs ranged from personnel to construction and base security to transportation. He encountered mortar and rocket attacks, IED explosions and gunfire - he saw friends die. He suffers from PTSD - and he has been in counseling since he

Dane Snowden on his path in the military and struggling with PTSD. Jean Marie Lawrence on making a salon accessible for wheelchairs. Dr. Susan Davidson on Project Bloom - and pogo phenom Zachary Cross. These UTC 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.

Earlier, we introduced you to Jim Fry , who - at age 53 - is a non-traditional student who recently arrived here at UTC. Bruce Shaw knows what Jim’s experience is like. Now 68, Bruce graduated from here last year with a bachelor’s degree in integrated studies, combining communications and theater...

High above the Chattanooga skyline stands Lookout Mountain. For hikers, it’s a prime destination - as Gina Stafford will tell you. Here on this campus, Gina is Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing - and from time to time, she stops by “Scenic Roots” to tell us about a natural wonder in this area...