The UT Commission for Blacks seeks to bridge the gap between UT’s African American community and the city of Knoxville and is hosting a discussion panel, “Engaging your City: Retention of African Americans in Knoxville.”
The public is invited and lunch will be provided on a first come, first served basis.
Guest panelists include Madeline Rogero, City of Knoxville mayor; Buzz Goss, community developer; Rickey Hall, UT vice chancellor for diversity; and Phyllis Nichols, Knoxville Area Urban League president. WVLT’s Sharee Gilbert will serve as the emcee and moderator.
The panel is at noon on Tuesday, November 12, in the College of Law, Room 135.
African American students at UT tend to have one goal in mind—getting out of Knoxville immediately after graduation. According to a survey by the commission, many students find the culture to be somewhat unwelcoming and with limited job prospects. The city and the commission share a goal of stopping this “brain drain” and fostering a diverse city. Panelists will discuss strides to be taken to retain African Americans.
For more information about the commission, visit its website. For more information about the event, visit the UT Commission for Blacks Facebook page.
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C O N T A C T :
Lili’a Uili Neville (865-974-5434, cfb@utk.edu)