You guys are amazing. When Love Your Neighborhood launched we invited you to talk to us. We’re in the discovery phase. We’re trying to find people who are addressing big needs in their towns in unique and creative ways. You’ve sent us some incredible people and places, but we were surprised when someone sent us in the direction of our own backyard just on the other end of the state: Chattanooga, TN.

I know some great people who grew up there (Hi Rylan!). One of my favorite bands came from there (Hi Moonlight Bride!). But I have to admit to you, I never thought of the area as a booming area of creativity and vision - until now. Meet the good people of CreateHere. This is a non-profit that has been working to build Chattanooga’s cultural economy through arts, economic and cultural development initiatives. Last year several volunteers from CreateHere set out to survey the entire community with what would become the world’s largest community visioning survey ever: STAND.

This was no small feat. With only 20% of the responses filled out online, this survey took a lot of time and work. These guys had to hit the streets finding out what people wanted to see happen in their community. It invited everyone to pitch in and make their town better and all they had to do was answer 4 questions.

CreateHere also have a great initiative called MakeWork. This serves to provide grants to artists so they can create beautiful things in Chattanooga. Since 2008 the program has awarded $450,000 to 55 artists and artisans. They see it as an investment to the community that will stimulate cultural and economic development across Chattanooga. Check out this from their website:

We love our city for what it is, has been and could become. But loving a city is no small task.

They also go on to pose this challenging question: How do you love a city? And what does it mean to work for sustainable progress where you live?

Check out CreateHere and see how they’ve responded to the needs in their community to help make it an inspiring, thriving neighborhood. Chattanooga took a situation of poverty, unemployment, pollution and is working to transform it by empowering people. Get inspired.

We invite you to ask the same question they asked: How do you love a city? Share your responses with us. Feel free to email us anytime: hello(at)loveinstereo.com. Let’s see what can happen when we collaborate to all make our neighborhoods better!