Advocate for Chattanooga Community Centers

From a friend of NCNA, Lea Anne Wiles: As both a City CAC (Community Advisory Committee) member and former Neighborhood Association president, I know how deeply neighborhood leaders care about the well-being and connectedness of their communities.

As the City enters budget season this week, there will be important conversations about funding and priorities. Last year’s discussions included proposals that would have reduced funding for Community Development and community centers, so it feels especially important that community voices are part of the conversation this year.

As you all know, community centers are an important part of the fabric of many neighborhoods and an investment in the strength of our city as a whole. In some neighborhoods, they serve as a true lifeline - a place where children and families can rely on consistent support, connection, and a sense of belonging. In some neighborhoods, they act as a vital place where kids and teens can drop in, spend time with friends, and stay engaged in a safe, positive environment. Others still serve as resource hubs. When centers are supported across Chattanooga, they provide safe, welcoming spaces for children and families, create opportunities for connection, and help build stronger, more connected neighborhoods. When that happens, the benefits extend well beyond any one neighborhood and everyone wins.

Over the coming weeks, City Council will be discussing the budget in sessions held prior to their regular Tuesday meetings. Public Comment takes place at the end of the regular meeting, not the budget sessions, typically around 5:00–5:30, and residents may speak for up to 3 minutes.

Timing is important. These budget discussions will take place throughout May and the first week of June as the Council begins shaping priorities, with final votes expected in mid-June. That makes this an especially important window for Council to hear directly from residents during the Public Comment time, while decisions are still being formed, rather than after they’ve already been made.

I encourage you to consider speaking yourself, in support of the Community Center budget, especially those who regularly use and benefit from the centers. Your comments don’t need to be formal, just personal reflections on what their community center has meant to them, their family, or their neighborhood.

Check out this flyer that outlines how to structure a short comment, along with a few sample text messages that may be helpful to share. If anyone is interested and would like guidance, I’m happy to help them think through what they might want to say, I included my number on the flyer.