East Tennessee Community Design Center

10/15/2026

What a wonderful evening celebrating design and the people who make it matter! 💛

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Celebration of Design. To our guests, sponsors, volunteers, honorees, and talented auction contributors—your generosity and enthusiasm help ETCDC connect communities with design expertise that brings their ideas to life.

We’d love to hear about your experience. Please take a few minutes to complete our feedback survey and help shape next year’s celebration:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C62K8LG

Stay tuned for a full impact update on Monday, including fundraising results and more photos. Thank you for being part of this community!

10/09/2026

Find something you love. Support a community you love. 💛

ETCDC’s Celebration of Design silent auction brings together the incredible talent and generosity of our local creative community—and you’re invited to participate from wherever you are!

Explore the offerings, discover a new favorite, and place a bid that helps make design expertise accessible to nonprofits and communities across East Tennessee.

You do not have to attend the event to bid or win!

🚗 We’ll be happy to make local deliveries of winning items after the event.

Browse and bid: https://etcdc2026.auctria.events

Help us celebrate local talent and make a difference—place your bid and share this invitation with a friend!

10/05/2026

What’s next for Knoxville? YOU can help shape the answer!

The What's Next Knoxville? survey invites you to share your priorities for how our city grows—from housing and neighborhoods to businesses, parks, and community spaces.

At ETCDC, we believe community voices belong at the center of planning and design. Share what matters to you and encourage your neighbors to participate!

👉 Explore the options and take the survey:

10/02/2026

Turn your creativity into community impact! 🌱

The East Tennessee Community Design Center is seeking two Spring 2027 Fellows for paid, hands-on opportunities to help strengthen communities across East Tennessee.

📐 DesignWorks Project Support Fellow
Help community design projects take shape through research, client interviews, site visits, project documentation, and conceptual design.

📷 Annette Anderson Archive & Storytelling Fellow
Capture the stories behind community design through photography, video, interviews, writing, historical research, and archive development.

Both fellowships offer mentorship, professional connections, and meaningful work to build your portfolio.

📅 January 25–April 30, 2027
💵 $15/hour | Up to 20 hours/week
📍 Knoxville-based, with regional travel
⏰ Apply by October 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. Eastern

Email your résumé, a brief statement of interest, relevant work samples if available, and contact information for one academic or professional reference to [email protected].

Learn more: https://communitydc.org/community-design-fellows-program/

Know a student or emerging creative who would be a great fit? Tag them or share this opportunity!

Better Communities By Design

09/30/2026

The Celebration of Design Silent Auction is officially OPEN! 🎉⁠
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From original artwork to unique experiences, this year’s auction has plenty to explore. Browse the full lineup, pick your favorites, and start bidding now ahead of Celebration of Design on October 14.⁠
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There are some especially fun finds in this year’s auction — take a look and see what catches your eye.⁠
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Start bidding here: https://event.auctria.com/0060263a-6082-43e7-abdc-e0f786ee4482/

Bidding closes October 14 at 8:00 PM.
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Art pictured in order: "Live at the Tennessee Theatre" by Bill Bledsoe, "Break in the Clouds" by Lillian Clinard, "Vessel" by Alice Stone Collins, "KNOX Mug" by Alexa Corbett, pair of cotton handwoven placemats by Mark of Appalachian Arts Craft Center, large wheel-thrown ceramic vase by Brooke Chandler, "Bear Full of Feelings" by Laurie K Traks, hand-carved cherry wood bowl by Jon Cheek, "When There is Time" linocut print by Chris McAdoo, and "Death Upon Death VIII" by Michael Watson

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Marti Baker of CareCuts of Knoxville on being named honorary chairwoman of the 2026 NAMIWalks Knoxville & Maryville–Blount County! 💚

CareCuts is a former ETCDC DesignWorks client, and we’re glad to see Marti’s compassion and leadership recognized. Join her in supporting mental health in our communities on Saturday, October 10, at Clayton Homes Trail in Maryville.

Walk. Support. Advocate. Change lives.

Come join us as we walk for ALL with our 2026 Honorary Chair Marti Baker of CareCuts of Knoxville!

09/25/2026

The ETCDC team was proud to attend today’s Legacy Parks Luncheon and celebrate the people and partnerships helping East Tennessee’s communities and natural spaces thrive.

One of ETCDC’s guiding values is Connect for Impact—bringing together people, organizations, and ideas to create stronger, more connected communities. We’re grateful for our partnership with Legacy Parks Foundation and for its leadership in expanding access to parks, trails, and outdoor spaces throughout our region.

Thank you, Legacy Parks Foundation, for a wonderful gathering and for reminding us what’s possible when we work together for the places we call home.

09/22/2026

Your voice can help shape the future of East Hill Avenue!

Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation and the City of Knoxville are gathering community input on the future of the former Public Safety Building site. Whether or not you attended the recent community block party, you’re invited to share your ideas and priorities through this brief online survey.

The survey takes approximately 10 minutes and will remain open through October 2.

Take the survey: https://www.kcdc.org/hillavenueinput/

Thoughtful places begin by listening to the people who know and use them. We encourage our community to participate and help envision what comes next for this important downtown site.

09/21/2026

🎉 Congratulations to ETCDC Board Member Jeremiah Corbett on being named a 40 Under 40 honoree!

We’re proud to see Jeremiah recognized for his leadership, professional accomplishments, and commitment to making our community stronger.

At ETCDC, we know that meaningful community impact happens when talented people choose to invest their time and expertise in the places they call home. We’re grateful to have Jeremiah bring that same leadership and perspective to our Board of Directors.

Please join us in celebrating this well-deserved recognition! 👏

Congratulations to JAI’s own Jeremiah Corbett on being named to Knoxville News Sentinel’s 40 Under 40!

Jeremiah brings so much energy, creativity, and care to every project he touches. Since joining JAI as an intern architect in 2018, he has grown into his role as project architect and made a substantial impact on both our work and the community.

One project that beautifully reflects that impact is the Cherokee Speakers Place in Cherokee, North Carolina. Designed for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the space helps honor and preserve the Tsalagi language and Cherokee heritage.

Outside the office, Jeremiah continues to show up for the community through his service on the East Tennessee Community Design Center board, his involvement with Blount County Young Professionals, and events like Barkitecture, which supports Young-Williams Animal Center.

And he’s doing all of this while embracing life as a new dad. Bravo, Jeremiah!

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/money/business/2026/09/18/knox-news-announces-40-under-40-class-of-2026-young-professionals-shaping-east-tn/91790962007/

09/21/2026

Thank you Inside of Knoxville for covering the 2026 (PARK)ing Day event! We enjoyed transforming our parking space into a mini parklet and community engagement space for the day! What makes a public space feel welcoming and safe to you?