She celebrated Easter in Fort Wood
When Rachel Leonard Kennedy moved into her historic home in Chattanooga back in June 2024 she did not know anyone and had to put her relationship building skills to the test.
She notes, “I have over 15 years of marketing experience under my belt, and now work as an image consultant. I specialize in helping people turn small talk into big opportunities and find their tribe so they can finally feel like they belong, and I had to practice what I preach in this situation.
“My biggest tip when moving to a new town or city, is to look into community and volunteer opportunities, and that is exactly what I did. Moving, and starting over can be a really scary and daunting event in one’s life, and creating a new support system around you is key. It is also much harder to make friends these days.”
Ms. Kennedy ended up seamlessly integrating into her community by hosting and participating in neighborhood events, helping neighbors with various projects (like planting roses at 8 p.m. at night), and went as far as being elected the vice president of the Fort Wood Historic District (two-year term) by a landslide. She has also been working on getting the arboretum status updated as the district has the largest collection of tree species in the city.
She said, “A neighbor walked up to me a few weeks ago while I was walking my dog and said, ‘I nominated you for VP of the neighborhood association.’ I was completely shocked. I’d only been on the board as a member for two months at that point. Finding out my neighbors saw me in this leadership role made me realize that it’s not about the length of time you are friends with someone, but the quality of the time you spend with them. As the new VP I plan to create a neighborhood website so we have a central information hub for people to gather digitally, as well as host quarterly events to bring people together in real life, and work on a plan to preserve our 100+ year old trees so they can be enjoyed for years to come.”
Additionally, she is using her marketing and communication skills for a consulting project for Preserve Chattanooga, for which she is helping create and launch a podcast series to highlight stories of notable history and architecture in the Scenic City.
She said, “With the help of local radio personality Ray Bassett of WUTC's Scenic Roots, we are starting off by repurposing audio content with Preserve Chattanooga, and repackaging it to launch this July 4th weekend. Then we will record new episodes to drop in early 2026. This podcast – Hidden Corners: Preserving Chattanooga's Architecture – will be your go-to Summer walk and poolside binge obsession. The stories about Chattanooga are astounding, and as someone who recently moved here, and loves history, I picked up so much fascinating information.”
Mr. Bassett said, "It's a delight to work with Rachel and Todd Morgan of Preserve Chattanooga on this project. Chattanooga's landscape is home to architects, buildings and designs whose stories have shaped the city we know today. Hidden Corners brings those stories to light for everyone to learn, enjoy and share. Whether you're a native of - or a newbie to - Chattanooga, once you dive into these stories, you'll take them with you.”
Ms. Kennedy’s prowess for relationship building, writing and creating an authentic public image that someone can feel confident in stems from her own upbringing and life’s journey.
She said, “Growing up in a Southern household where traditional roles and femininity are highlighted, with three brothers, meant I had a lot of exposure to seeing how men think. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, but also very entrepreneurial and because of this dynamic, I have a very feminine approach to business. My late husband also had a job that moved us around constantly, and being married at such a young age I wasn’t even finished with my first degree. Out of necessity I turned to the Internet for ideas on how to make money and discovered blogging. I started to learn how the power of story telling could help me connect with people, and help people connect with new ideas, experiences, and products that could solve a problem or bring them closer together.”
Her networking, marketing and lifestyle tips have featured on numerous podcasts and talk shows as well as in magazines such as Vogue, Forbes, Business Insider, Homes & Gardens and The New York Times. “Being quoted in the New York Times was a special moment for me when I discovered Adolph S. Ochs, the owner of the Times in 1896, lived in Chattanooga. Seeing my name next to my new home location gave me a deeper sense of pride and appreciation for being a Chattanoogan.”
Ms. Kennedy is a three time eBook author and is currently writing her first published book, which will be distributed by Simon & Schuster. This book dives deep into the art of connection, vulnerability, and building genuine relationships.
She said, “I always integrate my own experiences into my writing, alongside studies and insight from experts. My journey of integrating into the wonderful community of Chattanooga definitely inspires my writing and while I cannot wait to share it with the world, it will be really special to have my neighbors read it as they have been instrumental in inspiring me to put this resource out.”
Connect with Rachel Leonard Kennedy on her website or Instagram and join her email list to be the first to know the details of her new book and receive access to her eBooks.
Rachel Leonard Kennedy