Latest news with #ReneeKesler
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
US agency targeted for elimination provided vital funding to Beck Center, Zoo Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A recent executive order is seeking to eliminate several federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). As one of the only federal agencies dedicated to funding library and museum services, many organizations in Knoxville received grant funding from the institution. The University of Tennessee, Zoo Knoxville, and the Beck Cultural Exchange Center are all examples of organizations that have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant funding from the IMLS. According to the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, they received over a $100,000 from IMLS back in 2018. End of USDA funding for fresh local produce hits Grainger County Schools 'That grant was the foundation for getting us to where we are today, getting our collection digitized,' said Beck Cultural Exchange Center President Renee Kesler. 'But there are other grants that we're using as well as making it available to the community and getting oral histories.' While they received the funding up until 2020, Kesler said it propelled their program to what it is today. 'There are more people in Knoxville, and indeed throughout the country, who know about urban renewal in Knoxville than ever before,' she said. 'More people are interested in learning more about it, more research has been done, more students have done essay papers on it in research, academia, all kinds of things.' With the urban renewal being a primary reason the Beck Cultural Exchange Center was created, she said the impact from earning the grant is still felt today. Kesler said the community's involvement and partnerships are crucial. How prescribed burns in East Tennessee help mitigate wildfires, protect ecosystem 'This work is so important. History has not stopped, it's continuing. Research is continuing, and so I think it's going to propel all of us to think strategically about how can we really involve each other and maybe how we can we collaborate and partner in ways that we've never done before, so that we support each other because it is critical,' said Kesler. Regardless of receiving federal funding or not, Kesler said their work will carry on. 'Beck's going to be for another 50 years and beyond, so I'm excited about the future, irrespective of the challenges that lay ahead,' she said. 'It's still going to be good because we're still committed to this work, and we believe Knoxville is the beloved community that also believes in it.' In a statement Zoo Knoxville said they have received over $750,000 from IMLS throughout the years. Most of that funding supported STEM-focused learning opportunities in their Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Campus. ▶ See more top stories on While both the Beck Cultural Exchange Center and Zoo Knoxville have said IMLS grants have been foundational in progressing their work, they did add they try to diversify where their funding comes from. However, the cut in federal funding could prohibit them from applying for future grants. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘We want to make our community proud' Beck Cultural Exchange Center celebrating 50 years
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Beck Cultural Exchange Center on Dandridge Avenue has been serving East Tennessee since 1975. The center houses hundreds of years of history from yearbooks to newspaper clippings. 'During our 50th anniversary, we can really show you some of the artifacts that we have, original artifacts and different memorabilia that really speaks to history in its authentic form,' President of the Beck Cultural Exchange Center Rev. Renee Kesler said. 'That's always exciting to share with you that you may have never seen before. Beck has over 50,000 artifacts that speak to Black History and culture, so being able to share those and put those on exhibition is always an exciting time.' 'Roots of Resilience' documentary supports fight food insecurity against in East Knoxville According to Kesler, the Beck Center is the only designated black history center in East Tennessee. 'To recognize that you are one of the only, the one and only East Tennessee community representative for African American history and culture,' Kesler said. 'There's no other repository for Black History and culture in East Tennessee other than the Beck Cultural Exchange Center as designated by the state of Tennessee. It's an honor to share this history, to preserve this history and to open it up for all of our community to enjoy.' How to watch WATE's 2025 Honoring Black History special For the Beck Center's 50 year anniversary, there will be events throughout the year for people to enjoy and learn more about black history in East Tennessee. At this time the Beck Center is working to finish up a big project. 'Right now, we are excited in this 50th year to talk about the Delaney Museum. We are trying to finish up the remaining funds we need to raise for that project so that we can finish that up as well,' Kesler said. 'We have some lofty goals but here's what we want, we want to make our community proud, we want to be a community where people look at us and say wow, how did Knoxville do it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
