We are the affiliated Knoxville HUB program of @blackgirlenvironmentalist 🌱🪮☀️ Co-Leads: @wesleighwright & @garden_goddess2

bgeknoxhub Official: Instagram | Linktree

EVENTS

Let's go bartering! 

a money-less market? In THIS economy?! Say. Less. 
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(Vendor Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzJo1GB6ESqAhu0_DZ_tP3KerNHylAQ1UdMOtyvHoy07bkBw/viewform?urp=gmail_link) 

Ujamaa Bartering Market [MAY 30]

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Support Shelby!

One of our active members and supporters of BGE Knox Hub, Shelby Ward, was featured in the TNLedger Knoxville Edition!! Learn how 'Attorney Ward' connects her childhood attraction to scrapbooking with the environmental law she practices now. Congratulations Shelby on the feature and thank you for your service, creativity, and brilliance in protecting the environment and livability of Tennesseans! (P.S. Did y'all know Shelby worked on Clear Air Act issues impacting national parks? It's giviiiing, *Black Girl Magic*! Learn more about what that means in "WHAT'S THE SITCH?' below as we want to end the attack on the air we breathe and our Hub member's working legacy!) 
/)_/)
(,,>.<)  <(This is for you, Shelby!)
/ >❤️

Shelby Ward: "Creating a path of her own"

WHO'S HELPING THE BLUE CRAWFISH?

 NFWF Announces $1.1 Million in Grants from Southeast Aquatics Fund

In 2020, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) announced nearly $1.1 million in grants to restore and enhance habitats for native and vulnerable freshwater aquatic species in watersheds in the Southeast. Projects took place within the Conasauga and Locust Fork watersheds, where our little blue friend resides. 

Launched in 2017, the Southeast Aquatics Fund is a competitive grants program that supports watershed-based restoration to improve the health of aquatic systems and secure populations of native freshwater aquatic species. Including this 2020's grants, the program has awarded more than $2.7 million to 18 conservation projects expected to benefit more than 30 miles of stream habitat.


Learn from the Southeast Aquatics Fund's Efforts

Protect The Conasauga Blue Burrower

Earlier this year, volunteers worked with the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority & Keep Dalton Beautiful at a Conasauga River Watershed Cleanup . Known to be in a small range of Whitfield County, GA, Murray County, GA, and Bradley County, TN, volunteers acknowledged this blue friend through helping pick up litter. 

A watershed is the area of land that drains water running off it into the same body of water. Here, that water is the Conasauga River which the Conasauga Blue Burrower relies on. Litter in a watershed will end up in the body of water that the water drains to. The river is home to around two dozen endangered species including the Conasauga Blue Burrower, and trash in the water disrupts their habitats and threatens their survival. 

Helping can be as easy as not littering or participating in clean-ups! 

Learn from the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority's Efforts

WHAT'S THE SITCH?

Elon Musk did WHAT?

Methane-powered gas turbines are lame. Where's the waste reuse plan? Learn how a billionaire, an xAI data center, toxic emissions, and a Memphis community caught in the middle... has raised national alarm and why it matters to pay attention to tech expansion in our region.

Why is this story important? Billionaires' projects are like creepers. They sneak up and explode into your neighborhood. Hear the hiss and read the story! 
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No, we don't want your badly planned data center!

Clean Air Act 101

Y'all need to breathe. Here's everything you need to know about the Clean Air Act and how it protects public health, despite the obstacles it faces.

Why read the story? "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Smog covered cities? Gunk in our rivers? No, thank you! Let's make sure we know all the ways the Clean Air Act made sure we can still find the 'Little Dipper' among the satellites. Here's your flowers for staying informed and anti-smog:

. 🌺🌺           🌺🌺
🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
   🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
 Λ 🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺
( ˘ ᵕ ˘ 🌺🌺🌺
 ヽ  つ＼     ／
    UU   / 🎀 \ 

 

Stop attacking the air. K, thanks.

TAKE ACTION!

Tap water taste or look odd?
Call KUB 865-524-2911 

Spills, environmental pollution, or stream contamination? 
Call TDEC 1-888-891-8332 

Volunteer to care for TN State Parks? 
Call the Volunteer Dept. 615-961-7373

Local Waste Concerns (Trash, Pollution, Dumping):
Call the City 3-1-1 or 865-215-4311

Policy Concerns? Talk to your elected officials' offices: 
Sen. Blackburn Office: (202) 224-3344
Sen. Hagerty Office: (202) 224-4944
Rep. Burchett Office: (202) 225-5435

Phone Numbers to Know

We got you, Knoxville!
Senator Blackburn, Marsha: (202) 224-3344
Representative Burchett, Tim: (202) 225-5435
Senator Hagerty, Bill: (202) 224-4944

Don't know what to say? Here's an example call on slowing down big tech's data centers and AI storage projects: Hello! I’m calling to ask Senator [Blackburn/Hagerty/Rep. Burchett] to support the Clean Cloud Act (S.1475 OR H.R. 6179). This bill matters to me because as cloud and data center infrastructure grows in TN, it can strain our energy grid, raise energy bills, and harm our air and public health. Could you please share the Senator’s position on this bill, as well as how they plan to hold Big Tech accountable in TN?

Want our state neighbors to help? Tell your friends and family to visit www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member and type their address into the search box. A list of their representatives and their contact & office location information will appear! Or, they can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Let's yap!

How to call your reps 101

Buy a stamp and mail OR send an email!  www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
Senator Blackburn, Marsha | Address: 357 Dirksen Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 | Email:
https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/ema
l-me
Representative Burchett, Tim | Address: 1122 Longworth House
Office Building Washington, DC
20515 | Email: https://burchett.house.gov/addre
ss_authentication?form=/contact/
email-me
Senator Hagerty, Bill | Address: 251 Russell Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510 | Email: https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/email-
me/
Need help writing? Bet. 

Dear Senator OR Representative, 
I am writing as a constituent from Knoxville, Tennessee to urge you to support the Clean Cloud Act (S.1475 OR H.R. 6179). We want this new, high-tech future to integrate into our local & regional economy while considering our health and high electricity bills. We want policy that keeps Big Tech accountable, responsible, and collaborative with Tennesseans. 
In earnest, 
[Your Name] 

<3

How to mail your reps 101

ECOHOPE NEWS

A good thing happened in 2025!? Thanks SELC!

Settlements come as eight local water utilities sought to increase daily water consumption by 22 million gallons, allowing for a total of 76 million gallons of water to be pumped from the Duck River each day. The massive increase in water withdrawals threatens the health of the river and led to the waterway being named one of America’s ‘most endangered’ rivers. But with this win, agreements now limit the amount of water the utilities can leak into the ground unused and require the utilities to follow an updated drought management plan. Additionally, state officials are committing to working with federal leaders to study the Duck River’s flow and the impact of the added withdrawals. A move that protects water access for generations to come!
/)  /)  
( •-• )  ~ ♡ here's some hope ♡
/づづ 

A TN river on the world's most endangered rivers list had a win last year!🎉

Let's garden!

What would it be like if you could no longer garden in the ways that you used to be able to? Or didn’t think that you could garden anymore due to pain or physical discomfort? For many, gardening in-ground and in traditional, low-to-the-ground raised beds is a challenge or simply not an option anymore. As a result of food and medical apartheid (the intentional, systematic, and racist policies that create extensive barriers to accessing nutritious food and quality medical care) an epidemic of diet-related illnesses persist in East Knoxville leading to chronic health and mobility issues. Recognizing a need from our community, @rootedeastknox began building accessible raised beds in the fall of 2024. These ADA compliant garden beds are raised three feet off the ground in a tabletop style that allows wheelchair access and does not require someone to bend, squat, or sit down to work in it. 
(  •‿• )つ  —̳͟͞͞  🌷 —̳̳͟͟͞͞͞͞🌷—̳̳͟͟͞͞͞͞🌷—̳̳͟͟͞͞͞͞🌷
me        (supporting ADA flowerbeds) 

Rooted East is making gardens accessible for all

STAY IN TOUCH

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