Let me tell you about a day in Knoxville

So, I still haven't really gone into detail about what I do on my internship. Thankfully, Emily has given updates on specific things, but I figured I need to step up to the challenge and do the same. So, here's a few things I do in Knoxville:
1. Type up notes - well, first I have to write notes... although Emily and I have done a few listening conversations (interviews) ourselves, it is preferred if the Alliance members lead the interviews while we note-take for them. Last week, I got to take notes for a high school coach, a Western Heights resident (I did this one over the phone. It was totally unexpected. I called for the wife, but the husband picked up and wanted to know why I couldn't just ask him the questions...so I did. Very loudly I might add), a Knox Police Department Officer, a husband and wife who provide a traveling Sunday School program to all of the low-income housing projects, a lady who works for a non-profit based out of its home church, and a man who used to live in Western Heights
2. Random events - last Saturday I got to go to Beardsley Farms. It's a farm where they grow fresh vegetables and flowers, etc. They also have a few chickens and a park for kids to play on. They provide 30 plots every year to volunteers who can commit a certain amount of time each week for helping out at the Farm. A few of the Western Heights residents take up this opportunity. They love it there, as do their kids, and get to get community service hours (which they need to stay in Western Heights) and get to learn about growing vegetables (which I know nothing about). Oh there's also a butterfly garden there. This last Thursday they were having a festival with some local artists, entertainment, and food. I got my face painted like a butterfly.
3. VBS - First Baptist Concord, where I have my cubicle, has one of the biggest VBS programs ever. I saw 1 1/2 of their skits and it was amazing and very professionally performed! If you can imagine mixing a Broadway musical with a rock concert, that would be their skits. The only thing I did to help out with the VBS is hold up signs, help kids out of their cars, etc. but I got free lunches pretty much every day that week and two free VBS t-shirts!
4. Another VBS - this time in Western Heights. First Baptist Concord is joining with I think two other churches to do an all summer long VBS program in Western Heights. I helped some other college kids pass out some flyers in WH last Saturday and then attended the kick-off party yesterday (Sunday). While we were at the party, we were able to get some more quick interviews done.
5. Resident's Association- there are a good handful of Western Heights residents who are on fire in getting a Resident's Association started in their community, which would be a HUGE resource for them, finally giving them a voice to get things done. I got to attend the first half of their first meeting last week and helped pass out flyers for their next meeting while we were passing out flyers for VBS. Three of the "on fire" ladies helped us pass the flyers out.
So, that's a brief look at my life in Knoxville. This is the start of our 6th week here! Hard to believe we're half way done!
I have to go now, my host brother has been waiting for us to play basketball and I told him I'd be out there like 5 minutes ago!!!!

-Anna