People come into our lives for a variety of reasons and seasons. In January of 2016 I returned home to Johnson City and over the next year I learned just how much Ralph Davis, President of the Washington County-Johnson City NAACP branch, had given to this community. The loss of his light will be deeply … Read more
Confronted with a Georgetown University report showing that “the uninsured rate for Tennessean women ages 18 to 44 is more than 12%, compared to less than 9% in many states with expanded Medicaid“, local Rep. Micah Van Huss made comments that left many of us with more questions than answers. Instead of addressing Medicaid expansion—which … Read more
Many big ticket items are on the ballot this year. Almost every seat from the US Senate on down to City Commission have candidates running, vying for your vote. And with the nation focused in on Tennessee to see if Democrats can flip the seat, which would flip the US Senate. Lots of money from … Read more
October 11 is a day I didn’t used to notice. I had no idea the significance of it or the significance it would one day hold for me. October 11 is National Coming Out Day. My story is much like others and yet also uniquely my own. I came out in 2007 at the age … Read more
I know this is a long one, but this is what we’re up against. When a confrontation happens, one of the things you have to consider is how much to share with others about the back and forth. Whom you have the exchange with will factor into that consideration, as will whether the confrontation was … Read more
Many in Washington County, Tennessee know Herb Greenlee for his work with the Boys and Girls Club of Johnson City and now for his work at Carver Recreation Center. He worked to establish a memorial scholarship, the Melvin Stevens Scholarship, established in 1991 in memory of the previous director of Carver Rec. Herb has made … Read more
Joy Fulkerson has inspired students to be leaders in their communities through her work at East Tennessee State University. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from ETSU in 1998 in Mass Communications and Public Relations, Joy was hired by ETSU to work with students interested in civic engagement through Volunteer ETSU and Alternative Spring Break as … Read more
Adam Dickson is a local leader who challenges all of us to be our best selves while bettering the community in which we live. Adam serves as an Adjunct Instructor at East Tennessee State University where he is responsible for the development and instruction of the course, Black American Political Thought. Adam now serves as … Read more
Michelle Treece has lived in Northeast Tennessee all of her life and has been involved in our community, working to make a difference every single day. Michelle did this through her work at Science Hill High School as well as at Topper Academy, formerly known as the Alternative Center, in Johnson City. Every single student … Read more
Registering voters is one of the single most important tasks any of us can do to be successful on Election Day. Registering voters and making sure everyone is able and turns out to vote ensures that our democracy is truly representative. If any one voice is missing, everyone misses out. Tennessee has made it even … Read more