New program to strengthen Chattanooga neighborhoods

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Chattanooga’s Department of Economic and Community Development is hosting an event for leaders in all communities to strengthen their leadership and community building skills.

Neighborhood University is a free program set up for anyone looking to be active in their area.

“We have opened it up to larger communities, more civic leaders, more people who maybe are in nonprofit groups, not just neighborhood association leaders”

Leaders from all walks of life and industries learn how to improve their neighborhoods in workshops on community organization, planning, and coalition building.

The event is an initiative to implement Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke’s proposal on strengthening neighborhoods.

Jonathan Butler with Neighborhood Services and Development says, “We hope that we forward the Mayor’s initiative of strengthening neighborhoods. What we’d like to do ideally is we’d like to see neighborhoods become much more integral in determining their own futures. So, if you have some neighborhoods that are distressed that have challenges, we’d like to give them some tools to be able to go back to their communities and organize and find effective ways to solve problems.”

Berke along with city council members approved the funding for this event.