Data Centers Explained: What to Know & What to Do

Our November program will offer an overview of data centers, how they vary, and their potential benefits and costs. A panel of knowledgeable speakers will review what's happening with data centers in Hamilton County and the City of Chattanooga as well as the process for approving and building them. They also will touch upon the actions taken by other counties in Tennessee. There will be an opportunity for questions at the end.

This class is presented in partnership with the League of Women Voters Chattanooga and The Chattery.

About the panelists:

John Gardner has spent 24 years building software, leading technical teams, and exploring how technology can expand human capability. Gardner is a Senior AI Developer at Free Law Project, supporting access to legal information and justice. He is the founder of Ardea AI, researching evolutionary ML and systems designed to augment people rather than replace them and founder and organizer of AINooga, bringing AI education and hands-on workshops to the Chattanooga community.

Melody Shekari is currently the Executive Director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Chattanooga. She is also an attorney, community advocate, and proud daughter of immigrants. Raised in Chattanooga, TN, Melody earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Bentley University, a Master in Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a J.D. from the University of Southern California (USC). She returned home to Chattanooga to serve her community, running for political office, defending human rights and participating in local initiatives and community-building. She currently serves on the board of the ACLU of TN, Stoveworks, and Industrial Development Board for the City of Chattanooga. 

Walt Westfield has spent 22 years as a labor organizer with The IBT and the GCIU with experience organizing both private and public sector campaigns such as Waste Management, University of Chicago Medical Center, Compton Unified School District in California that won with eighty-seven percent support. He is responsible for leading teams of organizers on the ground and mapping out and executing a comprehensive strategic campaign plan.

Faith, family, and community have always been the foundation of Raquetta Dotley’s life and leadership. She believes strong communities are built when people are connected to opportunity, neighborhood voices are heard, and leadership is rooted in service and purpose. Raquetta currently serves on the Chattanooga City Council, representing District 7. She has had the honor of breaking barriers in this role as the first woman and the first African American woman to represent District 7 on the City Council. She also made history as the first African American woman to serve as Chairperson of the Chattanooga City Council. These milestones are meaningful not only personally, but also because they reflect the progress of a community that continues to grow in inclusion and opportunity.