Over 200 educators, partners, and advocates gathered at United Way of Greater Knoxville’s (UWGK) Community Schools Champions Breakfast to celebrate the impact of Community Schools across Knox County. These 16 schools, located strategically in underserved neighborhoods, serve as more than learning spaces, they are hubs of opportunity and support that connect students and families with the resources they need to thrive.
The impact of Community Schools tells a powerful story: over 6,200 students supported in the past year, $945,000 in in-kind donations generated, 1,114 volunteers and 314 partners engaged. UWGK interim CEO Chrystal Armstrong Brown recognized the people behind those numbers. “Together, we’ve leveraged nearly one million dollars in in-kind support to help students, schools, and families thrive,” she said. “You are the reason behind this impact. You’re the ones who show up and make this work possible.”
The ripple effect of UWGK Community Schools is powered by collaboration, commitment, and a shared vision. City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon voiced her support: “Community Schools is not just a strategy, it’s a strategy that works,” she said, noting the impact across city neighborhoods. “The City of Knoxville is proud to support this work, and we’ll continue to champion it for as long as we can.”
The Power of Local Partnerships: Insights from the Panel Discussion
During his opening remarks, Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk said, “Real success happens when there is true collaboration,” and that message set the tone for our panel, United, We Can Impact Student Wellbeing. The discussion offered a behind-the-scenes look at collaboration in action. “There is an ecosystem of support that makes this possible,” said Kimberly Pettigrew, Director of Food Systems at UWGK. “Community Schools thrive because we build strategic partnerships that eliminate barriers to learning.”
Panelist Katie Cooper, Site Coordinator at Beaumont Magnet Academy, shared how caregiver surveys revealed food access as a top need. In response, the school partnered with Beardsley Farm and the Rotary Club to add fresh produce to weekend food bags packed by Glen Oak Missionary Baptist Church. Students now help deliver the bags. “When students are part of the solution, they grow into leaders in their own community,” she said.
Charlotte Rodina, Director of Beardsley Farm, spoke about how her team supports student wellbeing through gardening education, farm-fresh produce, and enrichment programming. “This past year, we donated 25,000 pounds of fresh produce to our Community Schools—that’s the kind of impact we create when we work together.”
The Community Schools Champions Breakfast reinforced the power of coming together. When we unite around a shared purpose, we create lasting change for every child, every school, and every neighborhood.
Thank you to our Partners
This work is made possible by the generous support of our partners, whose time, resources, and commitment continue to drive this strategy forward: Knox County, the City of Knoxville, the Boyd Family Foundation, TVA, and Food City.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Click here to learn more about the work of Community Schools and reach out to us at communityschools@unitedwayknox.org to get involved.
