About Us
Organization Information
CHC was chartered in 1995 as a nonprofit service entity by and for disadvantaged and disenfranchised people in Cocke County seeking to empower themselves to make positive decisions to take control of their lives. Its initial programs included information and arts activity provision, advocacy, counseling, conflict resolution and referrals to existing agencies. In 1997, CHC became a Community Development Corporation and located its offices in the former Tanner School building which served as Newport and Cocke County 's African American educational center from 1924 until the racial integration of schools in the late '60's. This location on Jones Hill, Newport 's historic diverse neighborhood, is shared with HeadStart administrative offices, Senior Citizens & Office on Aging, the county Veterans Services Office and the Neighborhood Center which distributes food commodities, energy assistance and clothing to the needy. Prior to April 1998, when funding for collaborative violence prevention efforts enabled start-up of part-time staff positions, CHC was a completely volunteer-run organization.
The quilting group meets every week at the Tanner Building .
In 1999, arts events, wardrobe and transportation support for women entering the workforce, and teen after-school activities were sponsored by CHC which went on-(ISDN)-line with three computers for the use of staff and community groups. That summer brought a $40,000+ video production project that trained "at risk" youth in recording interviews with local seniors.
During the period 2000-01, with a full-time project director and some contract support, CHC addressed environmental justice issues and established a youth leadership development program while continuing economic empowerment and arts, culture and video efforts. in order to further its mission of establishing and supporting effective projects and sustainable programs designed to secure social, environmental and economic justice in Cocke County.
During 2002, with one part-time and 2 full-time staffers, its bylaws were revised to additionally identify these purposes: provision of decent housing that is affordable to low- and moderate-income people, minorities and the disabled; engagement in income and asset development strategies targeting that population; and provision of supportive educational and counseling programs for low-income/wealth individuals and communities. HUD "pass-through" funds supported the development of organizational capacity to increase the supply of and access to affordable housing in Newport and Cocke County .
Community House Cooperative provides organizational resources for non-profit and community service organization members of the newly established Cocke County Collaborative.
The Cocke County Collaborative was established as a result of CHC "Linkages Initiative" involving educators, health & mental health care providers, public officials, law enforcement, students, church members and community groups in a community-wide multi-sector process of community-building. A planning grant for rural community-based economic development, awarded by the Office of Community Service of DHHS, supports establishment and coordination of micro financial services and referrals including economic literacy, homeowner training and counseling for low- to moderate-income residents. Our 20-station computer lab with high-speed internet connection, open since spring 2002 through the international "PowerUP" program, is a key asset in operation of these programs.
In 2003, in addition to continuation of youth, arts and empowerment activities and coordination of broad-based collaboration for community building strategies, CHC is undertaking a 3-year process of organizational development commencing in February with initiation of development of a strategic plan with short-, mid-, and long-term perspectives.
CHC and Cocke County Collaborative member groups have clearly identified the repair, restoration, remodeling, and expansion of the Tanner Building as fundamental to all its program strategies and to sustainability.
One of two historic Rosenwald Foundation school buildings in the county, Tanner is not only an unrivaled jewel of Newport history and the scene of fascinating chapters in the story of African American Appalachia, it is a priceless asset in the future of community-based family self-sufficiency.
In Cocke County, there are many mighty presences: USDA Forest Service - Cherokee National Forest; US Department of the Interior - Great Smoky Mountains National Park; TVA - Douglas Lake, formed by 3 great rivers, the French Broad, the Big Pigeon and the Nolichucky; TN State Dept. of Forestry - Sundquist Forest; ConAgra Corporation - the county's largest employer; US Bank and several local financial institutions; the University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University, each with several on-going community programs ... we want to see each and all of these major entities attentive to the potential of place-based and people-centered efforts in Cocke County.
CHC and collaborators offer exciting, meaningful and effective opportunities for designing multiple partnerships among local, regional, state, national and global entities to address generations of injustice suffered by Cocke Countians.
These engaged and committed residents have: fended off a major retailer that wanted to purchase and demolish the Tanner Building to further short-sighted marketing plans, opposed politicians, road-builders and tourism proponents by successfully resisting a highway route plan which would have ghettoized the Jones Hill neighborhood, and have become renowned and respected in the region for successfully countering KKK activity by organizing community members and supporters in celebrating diversity and promoting peace in communities. The Tanner computer lab is an extraordinary facility where technological miracles are happening every day for elderly quilters, young "thugs" and aspiring entrepreneurs.
Tanner Building Today
The hoped-for future will entail the preservation of tradition and of historic structures, the positive integration of technology and scientific design models, the development of a sound local economy that produces businesses and jobs worthy of support and dedication, and a community environment that fosters healthy life styles for healthy children and families in communities where people can live in decent, respectable homes and circumstances.
Community Need
The resilient and resourceful townsfolk of Newport and the hardy mountain people of the high reaches of Cocke County live, and somehow thrive, amidst persistent poverty and pervasive pollution. 2000 US Census figures reveal that 22.5% of families in Cocke County are living in poverty as compared with 14.1% in Tennessee and 11.8% in the nation. Unemployment of 8.8% contrasts with 5.8% in the state and 5.4% in the US as a whole. Nearly 1/3 of Cocke County children are living in poverty compared to 25.1% in Tennessee and 18.4% in the US .
During the year 2000, total capital investment in Cocke County amounted to $112 per resident, while the average for the 4 adjoining counties was $1785. Numerous contaminated sites have received "Superfund" designation from the EPA and the county's Big Pigeon River has been used as an industrial sewer for dioxin-laden paper mill waste since 1906. Cocke records indicate alarming cancer mortality, extremely low teacher pay, elevated rates of placement of children in state custody and an intransigent tradition of teen motherhood. 13% of households are headed by females while those rates in adjoining counties are 9-10%.
Percentages of housing units without complete plumbing facilities are 3 times the state figures and median rooms (5.0) are recorded at the lowest level of any county in the state. Highland feuds, isolation from mainstream society and the moonshine economy have fostered a common acceptance of violence as a primary method of solving problems and settling scores.
Importance of Collaboration
CHC utilizes a holistic approach that fosters interdisciplinary participation in COLLABORATION for community improvement in Newport and Cocke County . Since the progress of any individual, household or group involves a great range of economic, social, political, ecological and personal factors, the work for justice in Cocke County must be both place-based and people-centered. CHC 3-pronged strategy consists of: (1) identifying, coordinating and supplementing existing local programs and community organizations that support families; (2) establishing and maintaining partnerships, affiliations and working relationships with regional & national organizations, agencies, corporations and funders in order to maximize local opportunities to secure technical, informational, and financial resources for Cocke County; and (3) developing organizational capacity to implement, continue, expand and sustain successful efforts.
Recent successes include:
* convening discussion sessions involving the Tanner Committee, high school students, faith community members, law enforcement, etc. which resulted in the 2002 Diversity Festival, attended by over 1,000 people, held to counter the January KKK rally;
* supporting the JustUs Troupe, a youth-driven activist performance company --reaching audiences numbering about 2,500-- with publicity, arrangements for scheduling and transportation, and gathering of topical material on justice issues to inspire and inform their creative work;
* obtaining Humanities Council funding for hiring a preservation architect to advise a project to relocate a rare historic structure;
* serving as an essential link between citizens and service entities to channel resources for the needy. such as coordinating the 2002 USDA Summer Lunch program preparing about 12,000 nutritious lunches at an unused Head Start kitchen for a dozen child care and public housing locations, and accepting donations of vehicles and clothing (valued at about $7,500) for individuals selected by DHS caseworkers for assistance as they attempt to enter the workforce;
* using arts funding to bring musicians and performing poets to Health Fairs (attended by over 800 people) conducted by local health care providers and the regional university;
* providing use of high speed computers, copiers, paper stock, etc. to churches, informal neighborhood groups, young people who want to inform, gather or rally citizens in response to a special opportunity or perceived threat such as the residents of the Rock Hill Community who were experiencing severe health problems which they believed were caused by air and groundwater contamination from an old chemical plant;
* arranging for dozens of individuals to attend (as participants and presenters) regional and national conferences and trainings on leadership development, the global economy, rural economic development, dismantling racism, collaboration for violence prevention, affordable housing development, homeowner counseling certification, energy efficient building design, etc.
* undertaking a 3-year organizational development effort beginning in February with strategic planning retreat.
Developing Capacity
Development Director Bob Seay, Office Manager Karen Neef, Treasurer Sandra Nuttall and collaborator Dianne Levy (SafeSpace Sustainability Project Director) have attended numerous trainings and conferences held by NDC, HAC, THDA and others as CHC increases its capacity to provide, rehab and preserve affordable housing in Cocke County . Project Director Camille Carter brings almost 20 years' experience in working with county non-profit organizations and 7 years of specialty training in primary violence prevention and community building. Staff, board and local partners have long personal histories of sitting at tables and standing at gravesides together. resulting in effective team functioning, profound trust and extensive networks. Representatives are eager to be further trained and to follow expert advice from technical assistance providers.
Evaluation
The College of Applied Human Sciences at East Tennessee State University will assist in the development of appropriate measures and data collection methods in order to assure that documentation of project outcomes is objective and factual, that a continuum of research, action and evaluation constantly informs local work, and that lessons learned can be expeditiously disseminated.