| JULY | ARCHIVES |
Mayor Kincannon talks about progress when it comes to affordable housing and invites people to two celebrations in August!
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 Building Hope
Mayor Kincannon and City staffers joined community leaders on Legacy Day at Habitat for Humanity’s Bipartisan Build on July 19.
Just as the sun was peeking through the treetops at Ellen’s Glen subdivision, dozens of familiar faces from City and County Government through the years reunited, sharing stories and laughs outside their normal workdays.
Shortly after 7:30 a.m., Habitat’s COO Anna Englestad greeted the crowd, commending them on their punctuality and reminding crews if they wrapped up early, they could be done before the heat of the day.
Former Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale, former City Mayor Madeline Rogero and Mayor Kincannon all said a few words before crews got down to work.
The Legacy Day crews were tasked with completing the light blue siding on two walls of the home.
The future homeowner, Breanna, told Mayor Kincannon during a tour of her home, she chose blue because it is her son’s favorite color, and she couldn’t wait to show him how the house was coming along! She also shared a personal story about inscribing Bible verses on the framing in every room, so those messages would forever be in the walls of her home.
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Safer Streets (Literally): $8.6 M, 32.7 Miles Paved
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Check Out the New-Look Christenberry Ballfields!
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Urban Wilderness Gateway Park Stepping-Off Point
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KPD Welcomes New Officers
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 Staying Safe & Saving Time in the Digital World
Cybersecurity is increasingly more important and cyber scams are becoming more sophisticated. Our IS team is constantly looking for ways to protect you and to help you navigate the digital age.
First and foremost, cybersecurity training will begin in September. You will receive an email with details. Please take the time to review the materials and complete the training in a timely manner.
Also, be aware that regular phishing tests are happening and many of you are still falling for some common attacks.
Chief Technology Officer Mark Parker highlights this and more in this month’s Need to Know.
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Festival on the 4th was a Blast!
 Festival on the 4th is the largest event the City hosts, and our Special Events team pulled out all the stops this year.
Three stages hosted live entertainment starting at 5 p.m. Lots of families took advantage of the World’s Fair Park fountains to stay cool. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra performed a rousing set of patriotic tunes and featured guests Knoxville Poet Laurate Black Atticus and vocalist Evelyn Jack. And Pyro Shows capped off the night with spectacular fireworks display.
The Special Events team received invaluable support from Public Service, Parks and Rec, and other City departments and staff members.
Progress Continues at First Creek at Austin
 Affordable housing advocates have a lot to celebrate this month with two events marking progress at First Creek at Austin, Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation’s neighborhood development.
The completion of Phase 2 will be celebrated in late August. It adds 180 new units of affordable housing to the 105 units that opened as part of Phase 1 in May 2022.
At that event, Mayor Kincannon said, “It has been incredible to watch this 23-acre site get new life. This mixed-income housing community exemplifies the City’s commitment to provide affordable housing to all Knoxvillians and will soon be home to hundreds of families.”
Mayor and other City officials will break ground on Phase 3 on Aug. 1, marking the beginning of construction of 161 new units, including 50 supportive units for low-income seniors.
 City Partnerships Help Beautify Neighborhoods
Was Communications’ Summer in the City intern Will Ohlig scarred for life by his experience picking up post-gameday litter in the Fort Sanders neighborhood?
Maybe.
But the chilling sight of so many cups, cans and food waste – some of it clogging storm drains – inspired his mission to find out how the City of Knoxville partners with Keep Knoxville Beautiful and many, many volunteers (including him and his Pi Kappa Phi fellows) to help get trash where it belongs and not in our waterways.
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This month’s mystery employee is a lifelong East Tennessee resident and has a family name you might recognize.
Her favorite foods are her mom’s fried fish and fried okra – with some fruit snacks thrown in for good nutritional measure.
In middle school, she modeled for a variety of print publications, including Sunday school books and magazines.
Her most exciting (and terrifying) photo shoot was a white-water rafting trip down the Ocoee River.
Can you guess the identity of your colleague?
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 Happy anniversary to employees hired in the month of July!
Congratulations to the individuals and departments that recently won awards and KUDOS.
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 On Friday, July 26, our amazing group of Summer in the City interns gave their final presentations to a crowd of adoring parents, mentors and colleagues. Many thanks to Youth Engagement Coordinator Emily Norris, who has developed this program into an enriching and fulfilling experience for all involved.
Thanks also to the department mentors who guided their interns through the inner workings of City employment and provided valuable insight into a career in public service. Congrats, interns!
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |