September 24, 2020 | Community Spotlight: How Athens, TN, is Managing Race Relations | By: Lisa Dotson, Director, Main Street Athens |
The "Better Together" Walk through Downtown Athens. Photo credit: Alan Armstrong (Local freelance photographer)
In the wake of the death of George Floyd, I was led to gather community leaders together—our city manager, chief of police, county mayor, county sheriff, three African American leaders, pastor/leader of the ministerial association, a member of Athens Thrive, and myself—and have a conversation about race relations in our community. This two-hour Zoom conversation led to planning a bigger conversation with our community.
A diverse group of approximately 400 citizens came together on Thursday, June 11 (while practicing physical distancing) to listen and to share for three hours on the grounds of historical J.L. Cook Memorial Park, which is the landmark of the former African American school. Then we walked/marched peacefully from Cook Park to downtown, around the courthouse and back, filling the approximately 1.5 miles with chanting, singing, talking, laughing and believing that our community is “Better Together.”
A Transformational Impact
This ONE peaceful conversation and demonstration is transforming our city! The impact of this conversation brought an awakening to many of our community members about things they were not aware of, and it has encouraged our Black community members to join forces and become more knowledgeable of the opportunities that are available in the community. Together, we are taking a seat at the table to bring about change for the betterment of all.
As a result of the June 11 event, several Black community members met for a brainstorming session in Downtown Athens at Market Park Pavilion on June 22. The purpose of this gathering was to determine how we can become more involved in the community and work peacefully with police officers, city, and county leaders, and become more hands-on so that we can impact the development of our community for generations to come.
We then took it a step further and met with the City of Athens Police Chief, an officer, the city manager, and two city councilmen at J.L. Cook Memorial Park on June 29. This meeting allowed for a more intimate public discussion with approximately 40 citizens. It allowed the community to ask and get answers to tough questions that had been on the hearts and minds of people for years. From this conversation, walls of communication were torn down and an open door was extended from the city officials for citizens to freely walk through if they had a problem or concern that needed to be addressed. At this meeting, we agreed that we don’t have to wait for a group to fight our battle for us. We can be our own advocate and take our personal concerns to city hall and allow them to be reviewed individually.
The community of Athens, Tennessee, meeting at J.L. Cook Memorial Park. Photo credit: Alan Armstrong (Local freelance photographer)
The community advocate group is meeting on a regular basis, and as a result, our first task is to assist with voter’s registration and to encourage the citizens of the community to register and then GO VOTE! Our vote is our voice and we should all use our right to make changes.
We are also working hard to continue to build strong partnerships and strengthen connections between our past and present. For example, our community advocate group, along with the City of Athens Parks & Recreation Department, is working with our THRIVE team—a subcommittee of Main Street Athens—to develop an educational walking tour for J.L. Cook Memorial Park. This will consist of historical markers placed on the walking trail at Cook Park. These markers will explain the history of the school and preserve this information for generations to come. The THRIVE team has an opportunity to connect this tour to the already existing historic walking tour that was created as a partnership of Main Street and a diverse group of local historians. This effort is grant funded and is inclusive of a combination of men, women, and youth of various racial ethnicities.
The collaboration of these two walking tours makes a connection between our downtown art and heritage district which are being established as a result of Main Street Athens' networking with THRIVE Regional Partnership, Tennessee Arts Commission, Southeast Tennessee Development District and the Lyndhurst Foundation.
Additional Efforts to Celebrate and Unite the Community
New mural by artist Sam Welty painted on the side wall of White Street Market, one of Downtown Athens' newly renovated buildings. Photo credit: Main Street Athens
Centennial of Women's Suffrage. On August 20, 2020, we celebrated the unveiling of a beautiful mural that commemorates the 100-year anniversary of women’s suffrage. Harry T. Burn, the gentleman that cast the final vote giving women the right to vote in 1920 was from Athens. This mural was placed on a revitalized building that is located at the entrance of our Main Street district and is seen by many on a daily basis as not only a transformation in our nation but in our community.
Thank You to Police Officers. On August 28, 2020, a private ceremony was held at Athens City Hall to commemorate the 100th year anniversary of the last time a police officer was killed in the line of duty. In a season of unrest, we are taking the time to say “Thank You” to our police officers. For the next 100 days, yard signs and window decals were placed in businesses within the Main Street district and throughout the city that read, “We Support Our Police.” This campaign was sponsored by Main Street Athens and the Council Advisory Committee. Business owners were happy to participate in this campaign.
National Black Business Month. In celebration of Black Business Month, Main Street Athens did a live video recording of the only African American business within the downtown business district. Salon 214 was located in one of the buildings downtown, but had to move in 2019 due to maintenance issues in the building. Because the owner, Marsenia Smith, liked being in the downtown area, she moved to another location within the district. We promoted her reopening on August 31. From this promotion on social media, Salon 214 gained more public awareness, and Marsenia's business has increased.
From this promotion, I realized that we need to be more intentional about supporting our African American community; therefore, Main Street Athens is partnering with our downtown entrepreneurial center—The LITE House—and the Small Business Development Center of Cleveland, Tennessee, to develop programs that are geared towards minorities in business (women, African American, Asian American, etc). Due to COVID-19, these programs will not kick off until January 2021.
My Growth as a Leader
The negativity that has impacted our nation has also impacted my role as a Main Street director, but in a positive way. My day-to-day role is not just working to transform buildings and public spaces, but it is about transforming the heart and mindset of people. In order to have a better community, it starts with the individual. I realize instead of talking about change, I must “BE” the change that I want to see for my community. The motto for Athens is, “The Friendly City,” and my desire is that we become who we say we are.
Recently, a vacant seat became available on our city council, and according to the charter, it had to be filled before the November election. I have never had an interest in serving in a political role. However, my heart shifted within three days of the vacancy, and I became interested in serving in this capacity. Although this interim term is for only four months, I felt in my heart that serving in this role as a city council member would give me the opportunity to learn more about our city government, and in turn, city leaders would learn more about me and my role as the director of an organization that is the driving force for change in the downtown district. I felt it was a win-win. I put my name in the running and was nominated for the position by two of the councilmen and received a unanimous vote from the council. On August 18, 2020, I became the first African American woman to serve on the Athens City Council. I just made history!
In this historical moment, I am still just a citizen, working daily in my various roles to help my community become better in the midst of a chaotic nation.
Better Together
As the Director of Main Street Athens and active in various other positions in the community, and mainly a concerned citizen, my desire is that we walk in love, unity, and respect and bring about change for the ENTIRE community, creating a safe haven for the betterment of ALL races and all ages. I truly believe in my heart that we are better if we work together. I hope we can be a catalyst for positive change, a small spark that lights a fire throughout the nation, and hearts will have a burning desire to be at peace with one another.
Little ole’ Athens, Tennessee, with a population of less than 15,000, is being proactive in this fight against racism and social injustice. ONE conversation is transforming our world. “It started with the one in the mirror!"