Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the United Way will hold a mentoring fair and panel on Thursday, Aug. 23 at Waterhouse Pavilion, 850 Market St. from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The fair and panel is in correlation with “Lanterns: A Memoir of Mentors,” by Marian Wright Edelman -- the second selection in the Mayor’s “Books with Berke” citywide book club program., Lanterns pays tribute to the mentors who helped light Ms. Edelman’s way, including Martin Luther King, Jr., Robert F.
Kennedy, Fannie Lou Hamer and her parents. Ms. Edelman, an activist and social justice advocate, is the founder and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund.
“Mentors have played a huge role in shaping who I am today,” Mayor Berke said. “Because of their generosity and commitment, I’ve found joy in returning that and being a mentor as well. This event will be a way for more members of our community to draw inspiration from Ms. Edelman’s stories and learn about how they can give back in this way. ”
The mentor fair will kickoff at 11:30 a.m., with organizations onsite like United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga and Father to the Fatherless to discuss their programs and help attendees find the right volunteer or mentorship opportunities for themselves.
A panel discussing “Lanterns” and the mentorship will kickoff at noon and will include: Mayor Berke; Jermaine Freeman, economic development officer at the City of Chattanooga; Troy Rogers, public safety coordinator at the City of Chattanooga; Dr. Edna Varner of PEF Chattanooga; Dr. Elaine Swafford of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy and Chattanooga Preparatory School; and will be moderated by Smita Donthamsetty of United Way of Chattanooga.
Attendees can RSVP for the event
here.