Chattanooga, TN (Summer 2024)
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Summary of the Program
“The case of Ed Johnson leading to U.S. v Shipp impacted the country by allowing the message to be that the Supreme Court cares and will work to correct injustice, the Constitution is colorblind, and that you cannot disrespect and fail to acknowledge the authority of the Supreme Court…” -Mackenzie Gula, 2024 Hometowns Student
For two weeks, the Chattanooga Hometowns students were immersed in Chattanooga history, state and federal judicial procedures, Constitutional law, and the importance of Rule of Law. They toured their federal courthouse and attended a live court proceeding in Judge Collier’s courtroom. They also visited local sites linked to Chattanooga’s early history as well as the Ed Johnson case.
Student Quotes
“Understand the rarity of this program. There is nothing like it. There is nowhere else that you can meet so many influential people in our government. There is nowhere else where you have the opportunity to engage in conversation with judges and district attorneys. There is nowhere else where you can delve into the judicial branch as deeply as you will here…I’m so grateful for the opportunity to participate in this program. Thank you for starting this, and I truly cannot wait to see how it grows.”
Peighton S.
“I think the most valuable piece of knowledge that I gained was learning about the different levels of court and branches of government.”
Gracie H.
“...I feel like I have grown as a person throughout this experience. I really appreciated my time in this program. Thank you for all of your effort. I truly believe that I, and so many others, are learning and growing and becoming better people as a result of your work.”
Vyra A.
“I would recommend this program to others because it was very interesting, and I think even if you aren’t interested in law you can get a lot out of this program regarding the history of Chattanooga and gaining a better understanding of our court system.”
Hayden C.
“I had no idea about this case [Ed Johnson v. Tennessee and U.S. v. Shipp] before now. I also have expanded my knowledge of the judicial system and our government in general. This program has taught me so much. Very important information that I probably would not have known if I wasn’t in this program. It also gives you so many opportunities to talk to people in this field.”
Kathryn M.
“I think everything I learned about the court system was incredibly valuable because the government is a big part of our lives today. We need to go about the government and the court system to be able to trust it, so learning this was really helpful.”
Amiya P.
“I’ve really loved the capstone project. I’ve really locked and grasped every detail that we’ve worked on because it’s a hands on project.”
Leah F.
“Yes! I would absolutely recommend this program to a friend or classmate! Truly a life changing experience.”
Leah F.
“The most valuable learning experience for me was when we discussed Ida B. Wells. I think the stereotypes, the different ways people rebelled, and the historical background were also really important as it sets why everything happened the way it did. I think Ida B. Wells is a great historical figure and learning about her is significant as she created news articles, boycotted trains, and even was a prominent figure in the movement for blacks and women.”
Arley M.
“...You may be surprised at how what you are learning can apply to today and how interesting everything is. It’s especially important to pay attention as there is a fun project you do at the end of the camp where you make an exhibit and apply all the knowledge you learned.”
McKinna W.
“Knowing how the Supreme Court works is the most important thing to me, because it’s so influential to the largest debates in our country.”
Lola L.
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