Malcolm Gladwell, author of "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference," (2000), "Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking" (2005), and "Outliers: The Story of Success" (2008) all of which were number one New York Times bestsellers, will be the debut speaker of the 2010 - 2011 George T. Hunter Lecture Series on October 5, 2010.

The lecture will begin at 7pm in the Roland Hayes Concert Hall located inside the Fine Arts Center on the UTC campus. All lectures in the series are free and open to the public. Seating is limited and is on a first-come first-serve basis. Overflow rooms with live streaming video of the lecture will be provided in the Dorothy Hackett Ward Theater in the Fine Arts Center, Grote Hall Room 129, the Benwood Auditorium and the Card Auditorium both in the Engineering, Computer Science and Math Building. + More

 

This year marks the third annual George T. Hunter Lecture Series, which is sponsored by the Benwood Foundation, in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Ochs Center, and CreateHere.

Mr. Gladwell will be the arts and culture speaker for this year's George T. Hunter Lecture Series. The title of his speech is "Overconfidence and the Diseases of Experts." Following Mr. Gladwell's lecture, he will be speaking to UTC students, CreateHere fellows and other community leaders.

 

"We are delighted to bring Malcolm Gladwell to Chattanooga and to UTC," said Corinne Allen, Executive Director of the Benwood Foundation.

 

"Malcolm Gladwell coming to our University will be a great opportunity for students to hear and interact with one of our great modern thinkers." said Dr. Roger Brown, Chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. "This is another great example of the partnership that has brought so many national leaders to our city."

 

By bringing leading national voices like Malcolm Gladwell - and prior speakers such as Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Brooks and Madeleine Albright - to Chattanooga, the Benwood Foundation hopes to promote discussion of important issues to our country and the nation.

 

Following Mr. Gladwell's lecture on October 5, the remaining speakers of the 2010 - 2011 George T. Hunter Lecture series will be Newark Mayor Cory Booker; Geoffrey Canada, CEO of the Harlem Children's Zone; and international environmental scholar, Dr. Vandana Shiva. - Less

Race to the Top 101

How Tennessee Won the National Competition and What Happens Next + More

 

Tennessee has forged a series of nationally recognized education-reform policies and programs that positioned the state to compete in the federal Race to the Top competition to spur education innovation. Some of the policies pre-dated Race to the Top. Other changes were made in part to improve the state's chances in the competition. In this essay, we examine the purpose of Race to the Top, the recent history of education reform efforts in Tennessee, and how certain policy changes factored into the state's successful bid in the competition. For more information click here.

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Story by Melissa Swanson - Chattanooga Magazine
 

While "Something fun for everyone!" is the kind of slogan that can get thrown around lightly, it truly applies to RiverRocks. The new 10-day festival launching this October celebrates the outdoors and encourages people to appreciate nature and enjoy being active, with dozens of events that appeal to different ages and interests. Boomers will especially enjoy the variety of ways to stay active while supporting Chattanooga's community conservation efforts. + More

 

It was a deliberate decision on the part of Mike McGauley, founder of RiverRocks. To ensure the festival had broad and long-lasting appeal, it needed to be accessible to everyone.

 

"It was important to have high level competition, as well as amateur competition for fun, and entry level activities for beginners and especially kids," McGauley says, adding, "The sky's the limit in terms of age." It is also a multi-generational event, so it appeals to extended families.

 

The festival is a collection of activities -- hikes, yoga, races, ziplining, climbing and bouldering, kayaking and canoeing, cycling, hot air balloon rides, as well as entertainment and food -- all hosted by different organizations. There are too many events for any one person to attend, but Sterling takes a look at a few of the RiverRocks activities that are sure to interest festivalgoers of varying experience and activity levels, from those who want to compete in sporting events to those who would rather take a leisurely walk-and everyone in between.

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Outdoor Adventure in Chattanooga

Welcome to the Chattanooga Adventure Guide-your guide to hiking, biking, running, paddling, family friendly, fishing, and dog friendly adventures in Chattanooga, TN including the Cumberland Trail, Prentice Cooper State Forest, Raccoon Mountain, Lookout Mountain, Cherokee National Forest, and more.

 

Snooper's Rock-Cumberland Trail, Prentice Cooper State Forest + More

The Prentice Cooper segment of the Cumberland Trail, which runs from Chattanooga to the Kentucky border, features over 30 miles of hiking trails with beautiful overlooks of the Tennessee River Gorge. For a short day hike, park at the Snooper's Rock parking lot and hike to the Snooper's Rock overlook. Be prepared for a breath taking view.

 

Canoe to Maclellan Island-Riverfront Area
Maclellan Island sits in downtown Chattanooga between Coolidge Park and the Hunter Museum. The island features an enclosed shelter and an observation platform for the viewing of the Great Blue Heron rookery. Start the canoe trip from Coolidge Park for a great view of Chattanooga's Riverfront area. For more information click here - Less

Chattanooga, Tennessee ~ November 14-17, 2010  

 

The American Trails National Symposium is your best opportunity to network with the nationwide trails community and learn state of the art trail planning, development, and management techniques. The Symposium addresses both non-motorized and motorized issues and our vision for trails and greenways nationwide. Dozens of speakers and keynote presenters will join us from the trails community across America, November 14-17, 2010. We also provide great opportunities for Sponsors as well as Exhibitors. Exhibitors can save 5% if they send in their contracts by October 15, 2010.  For more information click here + More

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