Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has appointed Esai Navarro as the inaugural director of the city’s Office of New Americans.
Established in October 2021 as part of the mayor’s One Chattanooga plan, the Office of New Americans connects migrants and refugees in Chattanooga with translation services, citizenship application processing and referrals for wraparound services.
As director, Navarro will help to shape the office’s services and programs.
A native of Clarksville, Navarro has served the tens of thousands of residents who make up the Chattanooga immigrant community for over 15 years through the development and implementation of programs, curriculums and policies focused on cultural competency, education, digital equity, civic engagement, small business development, criminal justice and immersion services.
Navarro created the Uno X Uno Immigrant Youth Library Program, one of the Urban Library Council’s Innovative Initiatives in the Anti-Racism, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Division. She also founded ALAS, an education equity-centered nonprofit.
Her leadership experience extends to rapid response and disaster recovery operations, as evidenced by her work during 2020’s Easter tornadoes and COVID-19 response, when she advocated for Chattanooga immigrants.
Before joining the Office of New Americans, Navarro consulted with higher education, grassroots community groups, nonprofit organizations and businesses to assist them in connecting with the Latinx community.
Kelly also has appointed Carmen Davis as director of the city’s new Division of Culture, Arts and Creative Economy, under the Department of Parks and Outdoors.
The new division was created as part of Mayor Kelly’s One Chattanooga Plan to preserve the quality and authenticity of Chattanooga’s public spaces and uphold the city’s longstanding commitment to bring world class public art to every neighborhood. A veteran of the arts and entertainment industry, Davis will develop a comprehensive strategy for the division to accelerate and amplify public art as a vital contributor to community dialogue and engagement.
Davis brings more than two decades of experience in facilitating civic engagement around arts and entertainment, most recently serving as a program management coordinator with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
Davis also served as curator and program director for the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, on the Hamilton County Human Rights Commission under former Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker and on the Entertainment and Attractions Committee for Chattanooga Forward under former Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke.
Hogstrom back home to join CHI
Drs. Jeremy Hogstrom and Jermaine Hogstrom are returning to their hometown to join CHI Memorial Internal Medicine Associates.
After graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the Hogstroms received medical degrees from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Auburn, Alabama.
They completed residencies in internal medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, where they served as co-chief residents.
The doctors joined CHI Memorial as student volunteers while earning their undergraduate degrees and were later hired as phlebotomists before entering medical school.
Known as “Twin.Doctors.J” on TikTok and Instagram, they have more than 3 million followers between the two social channels.
Their practice is located at 3739 Hixson Pike. Call 423 875-0999 to schedule an appointment.