|
Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Policy Priorities Group Educational Tour
In April, SOCM and our allies will be co-hosting the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) Policy Priorities Group Educational Tour.
The tour will make a number of stops in Tennessee, including:
Monday, April 6th at 6:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. ET
Monteagle, DuBose Center, 635 College St
Tuesday, April 7th at 6:00 p.m. CT / 7:00 p.m. ET
Crossville, Common Ground, 405 W. Fourth St
Thursday, April 9th at 6:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. CT
Rocky Top, Community Center, 216 N. Main St
The tour will include educational presentations on AMLs to inform and advise communities across Tennessee about the fund. The tour is supported by the AML Policy Priorities Group, a multi-stakeholder group initially formed to inform the AML Fund research project of two Appalachian Transition Fellows and their host organizations: Kendall Bilbrey through The Alliance for Appalachia and Eric Dixon through Appalachian Citizens' Law Center. The goal of their research is to recommend policy changes through their AML Whitepaper, and what the policy changes are that are necessary for ensuring these funds reach the communities which have un-reclamated mine lands in them.
If you are interested in attending one of the presentations or would like more information, please contact East TN Organizer, Adam Hughes at adam@socm.org or call 865-459-7844.
|
The People's Anti Racism Un Conference
Please join us for " The People's Anti Racism Un Conference," a free two-day event offering workshops, presentations, lectures, panels, and exploration of the intersections of anti-racism and anti-oppression work in Tennessee and the South.
The Un Conference will be held on April 17-18 at Morgan House (UU Nashville), 1808 Woodmont Blvd, Nashville, and is co-sponsored by the Tennessee Antiracist Network, SOCM and other allies.
If you would like more information, please contact our Middle Tennessee Organizer, Mike Cannon at mike@socm.org or call 615-398-1776. |
|
SOCM Members Share Their Expertise
|
| | SOCM member Drocella Mugorewera, speaks at the Neighborhood Conference |
SOCM members love to support their local communities. One of the ways they do this is through speaking at local events, where by sharing their expertise on social, economic, and environmental justice issues, they can encourage community members to take action.
On March 7th, SOCM members and staff attended the second Knoxville Neighborhood Conference. The all-day conference's theme was "Connecting Neighborhoods, Building Community". The conference attracted dozens of community and neighborhood groups, city and county departments and officials, and environmental, social and economic justice groups. Our member Drocella Mugorewera was a speaker in the workshop New Neighbors - New Worlds about integration of new residents (immigrants and refugees) in Knoxville. Immigration is an area in which Drocella is an expert, having immigrated to the US from Rwanda several years ago.
Drocella eloquently spoke about the issue of integration as being one of the challenges we are facing across communities in Tennessee. Learning from and developing trust with new residents, as well as making use of their valuable skills and community values are the keys for sustainable integration. This issue is close to the heart of SOCM members as part of our work in anti-racism transformation.
Additionally, other SOCM members tabled on behalf of SOCM and our allies. We made great new community connections and gained several new members, all of who we look forward to working with on SOCM campaigns and issues.
If you are interested in having a SOCM member speak at your social, economic or environmental justice event, please contact Heather Davis, Communications Coordinator at heather@socm.org or call 865-249-7488.
Submitted by SOCM Knoxville Chapter member and Board representative Drocella Mugorewera
|
|
| | SOCM member Brian Paddock speaks about Cookeville wetlands |
Watching Out for Cookeville Wetlands
On March 9th, SOCM's Roaring River Chapter and our ally the Upper Cumberland Sierra Club section hosted a public presentation by concerned citizens on the proposed retail development on an approximately three acre Exceptional Tennessee Water (ETW) wetland plus additional slope wetland in Cookeville, Putnam County.
The presenters, including SOCM and Sierra Club member Brian Paddock, covered the general lay of the forty acres, including the elimination of surrounding wetlands due to commercial development since the 1990s. They reviewed the permit application procedure used by TDEC and the Army Corps of Engineers, including the opportunities for public comment and hearings, TDEC's rules about anti-degradation ETW and the lack of social and economic justification for destroying the ecosystems presented in the application for an Aquatic Resource Alteration Permit (ARAP).
They also reviewed TDEC's rules about avoidance first, minimization next, and as a last resort, mitigation. Separate from the environmental impacts, they discussed the developer's request for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from City and County governments. The variety of expertise among the twenty or so gathered was large, allowing for the sharing of significant information and knowledge. The ARAP has not yet been put on notice for public comment, but SOCM members are ready to respond once it is. Watch this space for forthcoming information.
Submitted by Roaring River SOCM member, Brian Paddock and Deborah Sam.
|
|
Shaping TVA's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)
|
| | SOCM members attend March IRP workshop |
A diverse group of nearly twenty citizen advocates came together on March 24th, to take charge of their energy future. Climate Knoxville partners SOCM, Sierra Club, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, came together to prepare for the upcoming public meeting on April 6th that TVA will have on its Integrated Resource Plan, which maps out TVA's energy future. They discussed how to best target their comments and questions to steer TVA to fulfilling its mission as a public power utility and to make energy efficiency and renewables the way forward.
Join SOCM and its allies at the next TVA IRP public meeting which will be held at TVA's Knoxville offices on Monday April 6th at 7 p.m. (TVA West Tower, Auditorium, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, Knoxville). If you can't make it in person, you can sign up for the webinar.
Comments on the draft IRP must be submitted no later than April 27, 2015. Comments may be submitted online (please note: at the time of publishing, this TVA facility is not working), at the public meetings, or to Charles Nicholson by mail at TVA, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT 11D, Knoxville, TN 37902 (Tel: 865-632-3582) or by email to irp@tva.gov.
You can also contact Adam Hughes, East TN Organizer at adam@socm.org or call 865-249-7488, if you have any questions, would like training on how to submit comments, or for additional information.
Submitted by Knoxville Chapter SOCM member, Louise Gorenflo
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join SOCM!
Your community needs you. |
 |
Abandoned Mine Lands Presentation
Monday, Apr. 6
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.CT
DuBose Conference Center, 635 College Street, Monteagle
Abandoned Mine Lands Presentation
Tuesday, Apr. 7
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.CT
Common Ground, 405 W. Fourth Street, Crossville
Jackson Chapter Meeting
Thursday, Apr. 9
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. CT
Westwood Garden Center, 1 Westwood Garden Drive, Jackson
Abandoned Mine Lands Presentation
Thursday, Apr. 9
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. ET
Rocky Top Community Center, 216 N. Main Street, Rocky Top
Monday, Apr. 13
Washington HIlton Hotel, Washington, DC
(click link for more information)
Cumberland County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Apr. 13
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. CT
Art Circle Library, 3 East Street, Crossville
Maury County Chapter Meeting
Monday, Apr. 13
7:30 -9:00 p.m. CT
St. James Church, 306 Bluegrass Ave., Mt. Pleasant
Green Collar Jobs Conference Call
Wednesday, Apr. 15
8:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. CT
Friday, Apr. 17 - Saturday, Apr. 18 Morgan House at UU Nashville 1808 Woodmont Blvd., Nashville (click on link for details)
Murfreesboro Coal Ash Stories Screening
Knoxville Chapter Meeting
Monday, Apr. 27
6:00 - 7:30 p.m. ET
SOCM Offices, 2507 N. Mineral Springs Ave., Ste. D, Knoxville
Rutherford County Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, Apr. 28
7:30 - 9:00 p.m. CT
Email: mike@socm.org for meeting details
Social Justice Committee Call
Email Dylan at socialjustice@socm.org for call-in details
See our Calendar on www.socm.org for more information about these events.
|
|
Murfreesboro Coal Ash Stories Screening
April 20
Following our Kingston and Gallatin Coal Ash events, on April 20th, SOCM and allies will host our next screening of Coal Ash Stories by our partner Working Films' as part of Earth Day events on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.
Please check out our website for further details when they are available.
|
|
"We rise by lifting others."
Robert Ingersoll
|
|
