Knoxville Community Radical Roundup (6/23-6/29)
Dear friends,
Life has not calmed down yet. I’m squeezing newsletter prep in-between a dozen other things. I enjoyed my visit with family over the weekend and I will enjoy my camping trip for work tonight, but I don’t enjoy what all this running around does to my brain.
Please let me know what to include in future editions by commenting or posting in the chat here on Substack or DMing me on Signal with the event date, time, location, cost (if any), sponsoring org. (if any), and other details. Feel free to share this email with trusted folks and pass along their email addresses if they'd like to be added to the list.
Today - Monday, June 23:
Rooted East Volunteer Day
4:00 - 7:00 PM
Meet at the Concrete Garden behind the Holiday Market (2450 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave)
Help Rooted East build ADA accessible garden beds for East Knoxville community members! RSVP HERE
Tuesday, June 24:
Religious Minorities & the Far Right Pt 1: Black & Brown Christian Traditions
Hosted by Americans United for the Separation of Church & State
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual (RSVP HERE for link)
From AU: “Part 1 of AU’s two-part SRF365 series on religious minorities and the far right. This session focuses on Black and Brown Christian traditions, particularly how far-right ideologies have shaped and influenced evangelical movements in communities of color — and how faith leaders are responding. This webinar is designed as a Dynamic Roundtable, with space for historical grounding, current movement insights, and cross-movement reflection. Part 1 will inform Part 2, which shifts focus to Jewish, Muslim, & Hindu communities.”
City Council District 6 Candidate Forum
Hosted by Knox County Democratic Party
6:00 - 7:30 PM
112 Lakeside Street (behind the Buddy's BBQ)
From KCDP: “Five candidates are running to represent the 6th District on City Council, covering East Knoxville, Downtown, and Mechanicsville; all 5 have been invited to attend this forum. Join us for the first forum of the year to learn about your candidates’ values, priorities, and ideas for our community!
Submit your questions HERE
Questions will be vetted and 4-5 will be chosen. However, all submitted questions will be shared with the candidates following the forum to ensure they know what issues matter most to the community - send your questions in and make your voice heard!
Program details:
6:00-6:45pm Moderated Candidate Forum
6:45-7:30pm Candidate Meet and Greet”
Fundamentals of Organizing
Hosted by People’s Action
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Virtual (RSVP HERE for link)
From People’s Action: “People’s Action Institute has launched an ‘Organizing Revival’ to engage hundreds of thousands of people in our movement. A deep investment in the Fundamentals of Organizing is the cornerstone of the revival. The ‘Fundamentals of Organizing’ training is a two-part training that is held quarterly and has an emphasis on building relationships grounded in mutual self-interest that balances an expansive sense of how a multiracial democracy should operate and a long-term vision for the world with the realities of building power in the world as it is today.
FOCUS: Fundamentals of Organizing, focusing on power, self-interest, and one-to-one relational meetings
WHO: This training is tailored for National Volunteers and Leaders, but is open to leaders and staff of People’s Action Institute member orgs, partners, and movement allies.”
Wednesday, June 25:
Fundamentals of Organizing
Hosted by People’s Action
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Virtual (RSVP HERE for link)
From People’s Action: “People’s Action Institute has launched an ‘Organizing Revival’ to engage hundreds of thousands of people in our movement. A deep investment in the Fundamentals of Organizing is the cornerstone of the revival. The ‘Fundamentals of Organizing’ training is a two-part training that is held quarterly and has an emphasis on building relationships grounded in mutual self-interest that balances an expansive sense of how a multiracial democracy should operate and a long-term vision for the world with the realities of building power in the world as it is today.
FOCUS: Fundamentals of Organizing, focusing on power, self-interest, and one-to-one relational meetings
WHO: This training is tailored for National Volunteers and Leaders, but is open to leaders and staff of People’s Action Institute member orgs, partners, and movement allies.”
Pages & Pours
Hosted by Union Ave Books
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Fly By Night
RSVP HERE
From Union Ave: “Pages & Pours is a cozy, quiet, reading-focused happy hour for queer book lovers and friends. 📚 Bring your own book to read or choose a new one from a curated selection we'll have on hand. For June, we're highlighting new releases from queer authors to celebrate Pride Month! 🌈✨ Come grab a drink, settle into a comfy corner, and read something that makes your heart feel full. 💕 No pressure to talk, just be. Come as you are and stay as long as you like. This is a free event and space is limited! Please RSVP so we know to save you a seat.”
Thursday, June 26:
Religious Minorities & the Far Right Pt 2: Jewish, Muslim, & Hindu Voices
Hosted by Americans United for the Separation of Church & State
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual (RSVP HERE for link)
From AU: “Part 2 of AU’s two-part SRF365 series exploring how Christian nationalism influences and intersects with multiple religious communities. This session focuses on Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu voices, highlighting how these groups are impacted by far-right movements and how religious identity is used or co-opted in political spaces. Like Part 1, this webinar will follow a Dynamic Roundtable format, centering multi-faith perspectives, movement analysis, and audience engagement.”
Weather or Not: Disaster Preparedness & Campaigns Call
Hosted by Southerners On New Ground (SONG)
7:00 - 8:30 PM
Virtual (RSVP HERE for link)
From SONG: “For the past three months, SONG members, member leaders, supporters, and staff have stepped away from our screens, out of our houses, and into the streets to get to know our neighbors through two Won’t You Be My Gaybor Organizing Drives. We have had front-yard ice cream parties, listened to our neighbors’ fears and concerns, identified corporations and leaders who make our lives harder, and made plans to connect again. This simple act is a survival strategy, and it is only the beginning of what we must do.
As hurricane season approaches, we know that the South will continue to be hardest hit with minimal government support. Yet, knowing our neighbors, speaking on the street, and helping each other out are a part of our traditions as Southerners. We must continue to break our isolation to support one another and to build the people power we will need to wage campaigns.
Join us on Thursday, June 26th at 7 pm EST/ 6 pm CST as we hear from some of our Gaybor door knockers, talk disaster prep for ourselves and our community, and identify potential campaign targets where we live.”
Friday, June 27:
In Our Hands: Policy Changes and Biodiversity
Hosted by Conservation Fisheries, Inc.
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Remedy Coffee (800 Tyson St.)
Free
From CFI: “Join us for a free panel discussing recent policy changes & their impacts on our biodiversity. Hosted by our Director Bo Baxter, we’ll be joined by Sam Evans from Southern Environmental Law Center, Sara Gottlieb from The Nature Conservancy, and Tierra Curry from the Center for Biological Diversity.
The panel starts at 6:15 and is followed by a Q&A. Community building time will end the evening and then we’ll be heading to Schulz Brau if you’d like to join us.”
Saturday, June 28:
Rooted East Volunteer Day
12:00 - 3:00 PM
Meet at the Concrete Garden behind the Holiday Market (2450 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave)
Help Rooted East build ADA accessible garden beds for East Knoxville community members! RSVP HERE
Three Rivers Market 4th Annual Member Picnic
2:00 - 5:00 PM
Racheff Gardens and Arboretum (1943 Tennessee Ave)
RSVP HERE
From TRM: “The Board invites you to the Fourth Annual Member Picnic, which is coming up quickly! This event will be family-friendly and have activities for all ages. You will have time to network with other like-minded co-op co-owners, you can tour the beautiful gardens, and there will be time for you to engage with Board members if you would like. We look forward to seeing you there!”
For co-op members who are interested in advocating for policy changes at Three Rivers, this is a good opportunity to meet other members and engage with the board informally.
Sunday, June 29:
Rooted East Volunteer Day
1:00 - 4:00 PM
Meet at the Concrete Garden behind the Holiday Market (2450 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave)
Help Rooted East build ADA accessible garden beds for East Knoxville community members! RSVP HERE
Community Potluck
3:00 - 6:30 PM
St. James Episcopal Church (1101 N. Broadway)
Last week, we celebrated Mahmoud Khalil reuniting with his family after three months in ICE detention for his words and actions advocating for Palestine. At the same time, Israel and the U.S. have attacked Iran, focusing on nuclear sites but with much broader consequences for the people of Iran and the world as a whole. If these events make you feel uncertain, feel scared, or feel anything at all, we invite you to gather in community with Knoxvillians and East Tennesseeans who are actively resisting the occupation of Palestine and all manifestations of U.S. imperialism.
Our friends with First Aid Collective Knoxville (FACK) will also be hosting their monthly free store in the parking lot from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. Bring what you can and take what you need!
Interfaith Action for Palestine
June 29 - July 1
In-person in DC and online (RSVP HERE)
I’m not sure what online participation will look like, but I’ve signed up and hopefully we will receive more info soon!
Ongoing:
Support the Bottom’s “Sew It, Sell It” Youth Craft & Entrepreneurship Program
July 1-26
From The Bottom: “Sew It Sell It is almost here, and we need YOUR help to make it amazing! We’re calling for volunteers to join us for the program and sponsor snacks/meals for our young entrepreneurs.
We also welcome supply and monetary donations to help ensure our students are working with the best materials we can get. Click HERE to learn more about how to donate to the program. Click HERE to volunteer.”
Donate to Knox Pride Free Pantry
From Knox Pride: “At Knox Pride Community & Resource Center, we strive to support our community by providing essential resources. However, our pantries are running low, and we need your help to continue serving those in need.
Personal Care Pantry Needs
Our personal care pantry is in urgent need of supplies such as tampons, pads, razors, shaving cream, q-tips, hand sanitizer, chapstick, and soap. These personal care items are vital for maintaining dignity and hygiene.
Food Pantry Alert
With funding cuts from Second Harvest, our food pantry is almost empty. We assist 75-100 individuals daily, and your food donations can make a significant difference.
How to Donate
Online: Visit knoxpride.com/donate to make a monetary contribution.
In-Person: Drop off donations at our Center from Tuesday to Saturday, 11 AM to 4 PM.
Amazon Wishlist HERE
Your support is crucial to keeping our pantries stocked and helping those in need. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference in the lives of our community members. Thank you for standing with Knox Pride. Together, we can continue to nourish and support our community.”
Cook Dinner for Knox Needs
From Knox Needs: “Knox Needs is seeking additional volunteers to help cook/serve our daily community meals! Cooking is done independently, in the comfort of your own kitchen, on the day(s) you choose, and Knox Needs can supply you with the ingredients if there is a financial barrier to volunteering. There’s no long-term commitment required, and the volunteer training takes less than an hour - plus, it’s fully online! For more info and to submit your volunteer application, check out KnoxNeeds.com/volunteer! 💚”
Native Plant Rescue Squad Volunteer Days
Tuesdays from 4:00 - 6:00 PM
Knoxville Botanical Gardens (2743 Wimpole Ave)
Volunteering tasks include repotting and labeling rescued native plants.
From NPRS: “If this is your first time joining us, we are located at the Knoxville Botanical Gardens & Arboretum in east Knoxville, 2743 Wimpole Ave. For a shorter walk, park across from the Martha Ashe Garden on Wimpole. You’ll see a sign directing you to NPRS where the the Pollinator Pods are situated. We are the Stone Greenhouse on the map (#7)If you have trouble finding us please call or text Joy 731-610-6984.”
Women in Black Vigils
Wednesdays from 12:00 - 12:45 PM
Krutch Park (corner of Union Ave. & Market St.)
“Women in Black is a world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and violence.” Women in Black Knoxville has hosted weekly vigils for decades. People of all genders and backgrounds are welcome.
Salsa Nights at Ebony & Ivory
Wednesdays from 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Ebony & Ivory Brewing (2300 N. Central St.)
Free
Beginner salsa from 7:00 - 8:00 and beginner casino rueda from 8:00 - 9:00.
Acro Jam
Sundays from 5:00 - 8:00 PM
World's Fair Park
Free
From event announcement: "No partner or experience needed! Arrive whenever, have fun & build community!"
Knox Honkers & Bangers Are Recruiting!
From the Honkers & Bangers: "Knoxville's community marching band and dance crew wants YOU! All skill levels welcome. Come learn a new instrument or dance! Spread joy through art!"
Open rehearsals are every Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 PM. More info HERE
Final Thoughts:
It’s hot outside! Stay cool, drink water, and be safe! Love to all of you at the start of what looks to be a long, hot, and chaotic summer.
💞 Julie
YAYYYYYY WOOOOOOOO