About Tierney Bates

I am from Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in what we called at one point in American history a melting pot society or as I like to call it a good tossed salad community of Shaker Heights. We were the first African-American family on my street, the community consisted of Italians, Jewish, and Hungarians. I attended catholic schools and participated in Catholic Youth Sports as a child.  I was part of a generation of latch key kids growing up when both mom and dad worked and we took care of ourselves after being taught values of hard work and self-motivation. As the son of a smart business entrepreneur there where morals and values that to this day I live with and have been with me since birth and consist of keep God first, gain knowledge and education, respect for mankind, treat others like you want to be treated, be humble, take responsibility, learn from mistakes, dream the impossible and be the man you want to be. My family was one that was very involved in our church and community. I watched, as my dad was Vice President of the Holy Name Society and how he stood for the churches involvement in the community. I watched a man grow a business that supported not only my family, but also other families and the neighborhood. I watched as a woman led the PTA and neighborhoods functions for our block. From day one, my parents instilled in me the opportunity to have the American Dream and that education, exposure, and experience will take you to new heights.

It was that sense of family and community as I grew up and the involvement in sports and going to college that enabled me to see the world from many views and build my cultural capital. Cultural capital is the opportunity to build your wealth of knowledge on issues, people, cultures, food, and anything you want that makes you a more well rounded person who at the end of the day cares about civic engagement, understands society, and stands for what is right. I always said there are more that people have in common then differences and those things that always brings us together through out time have been music and food. No matter where you are from music and food has united nations, people, cultures, and started movements.

As your candidate for city council, we all share in what I call a cultural capital piece that is our “Vol Heritage” we are all volunteers in our own right and truly care for our community! So I ask are you ready to “Build a Better Community through Partnerships” making sure our volunteer spirit unites us at a time when we must establish a New American Dream in a great City that will lead the future for all of our country to follow. It is my duty and responsibility to make sure my community is one in which our cultural capital enriches what we value and how we set the future for this to be the BEST place for all. Will you be the change you want to see?

Born: Cleveland, Ohio

Bachelors of Arts in Mass Media Communications – The University of Akron
Masters in Education – Higher Education Administration – The University of Akron

Professional

WHBC Radio – 2000-2001
Baldwin-Wallace College 2001-2002
Bowling Green State University 2002-2005
University of Tennessee – 2005-present

Community

Freedom Fellowship Church Member
Knoxville Area Urban League Board Member
Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals, President
Project Inspire Participant – Pellissippi State
Leadership Knoxville Class 2009
Nucleus Knoxville
Top 40 under 40 Knoxville Business Journal 2008
UT Chancellor Citation Award for Extraordinary Community Service 2008
Dean of Students Programming Award recipient 2007
Unsung Hero Award winner by Alpha Phi Alpha, MU Iota 2007
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc – Member