Homeless, housing topics for FWK Chamber 2025 1st Speaker Series
Moving to a lunch speaker series, Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 2025 Speaker Series: Building Solutions – Tackling Housing & Homelessness Together.
In looking for a topic, the Chamber and its speaker series committee “always want to bring the most critical issues to our businesses and our community,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said.
“We want the public and our businesses to be well-informed about things that are going on in our community and also to know about solutions that are on the horizon and ways they can be a part of those solutions,” she added.
Sometimes “that includes talking about difficult subjects,” Blaylock said. “We know that housing has been a building issue for our county and our region for quite a few years.
“In conjunction with that, so has the issue of housing insecurity and homelessness,” she added.
The event, presented by Tennessee State Bank, will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Cokesbury Church, 9919 Kingston Pike. Lunch will be provided by Classy Caterer.
“Local experts from a variety of sectors will join the conversation to explore how we can work together toward solutions,” Blaylock said.
Emceed by radio personality Hallerin Hilton Hill, the speakers include Tracey Williams, Volunteer Ministry Center CEO; Katie McIlwain, Fig Tree Connection Center director at Cokesbury Church in West Knoxville; Erin Read, executive director for Knoxville-Knox County Office of Housing Stability; Knoxville City Police Officer Jason Culvahouse; and a representative from both Knox County Sheriff’s Office to be determined.
Cost for the event is $35 per person for members, $45 per person for non-members.
Also, participants can sponsor a full table of eight for $500 or choose a half table of four sponsorship for $250.
Full table sponsorships
include reserved seating signage and a pass-through donation, which will be split between Volunteer Ministry Center and Fig Tree Connection Center.
Seating is limited. To purchase tickets, visit farragutchamber.org
