The Campbell Culture Coalition was awarded a $1,000 grant on Tuesday.
“This may sound kinda trashy, but our grant is going to, we’re creating garbage cans in two of the high schools,” said Manuel Mesa, Campbell Culture Coalition executive director. “And what I want to talk about is that this is going to be our 72nd program that we have done in this community. We don’t charge anybody anything. Obviously, like Sharon [Wilson] was talking about before, the Louie Bluie’s coming up. We’re very proud of that, but we’re also very proud of the programming we do. We don’t charge anybody anything for anything we do, and it’s only because of foundations and contributions like this that we’re able to do 72 programs in this county. So thank you very much.”
Mesa was referring to the Louie Bluie Music & Arts Festival, happening on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Cove Lake State Park in Caryville.
“I want to thank everybody in the community, and it was said before, but this is such an important factor,” Mesa said. “This is coming from the East Tennessee Foundation and the Campbell Enhancement Fund, but this is money that’s been invested from this community and it’s going right back into the community. And that’s one of the reasons I want to, and I do, serve on the board because it’s such an amazing opportunity for everybody, not only in this room but in this whole community to really come together and to be able to show the generosity that Campbell County is amongst ourselves, so thank y’all very much.”
The grant Campbell Culture Coalition received was one of eight Campbell Enhancement Grants given out at the Campbell County Rotary Club meeting at LaFollette Methodist Church on Tuesday.
“Students from four local schools will be tasked with designing and painting two aluminum garbage cans each, totaling eight completed designs and concepts,” according to information provided. “The four schools involved will be CCHS, JHS, Jacksboro Middle and LaFollette Middle. The first set of designs will be geared towards how best to depict their school pride. These will be placed within the school. The second set will depict why the students are proud of their county and community. These will be placed in highly visible government offices in the county.”
Mesa spoke at the Campbell County Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night, as well.
“With that grant, we will now be doing our 72nd program in the schools here,” Mesa said. “So this has been going on for about 12 or 13 years.”
Mesa thanked the school board.
“Thank you for letting us go into your schools and putting these programs together,” Mesa said. “We have several public exhibits throughout the county that the kids in your school system here have done, some of them right out here in the courtroom here. So that’s really my only intention is just to thank you all. Art is such a significant part of our society, of all societies, of all civilizations.”