Upper Cumberland Diversity Advocates Want to Celebrate Differences

A group of Upper Cumberland neighbors has incorporated an organization dedicated to educating the community about inclusion, and celebrating each other’s differences.

The Upper Cumberland Diversity Advocates is a non-partisan non-profit that discusses issues surrounding diversity, poverty, and religion. Co-Chair Wilson Jackson said the goal is to bring communities together in celebration of their differences.

“As a new organization, our aim is at nurturing peace and harmony in our community and connecting as many ethnic and cultural groups to recognize, respect, and celebrate our communities,” Jackson said.

UCDA is not just for members of Cumberland County–the group invites all people of the Upper Cumberland to get involved. As the group has grown, Co-Chair James McArthur said so has the scope of their mission and what positive change they wish to bring.

“We rapidly grew beyond just the mission of a single church to a community mission,” McArthur said. “Our discussions have centered around what issues may be facing us in this community that we can have a positive influence on.”

McArthur said he was inspired to start the group after moving to Cumberland County from Blount County and discovered his area didn’t have anything of its nature.

Though starting small in Cumberland County, the group has since grown to 40 plus members across the region. McArthur said they want to help the people of Upper Cumberland improve their work in social justice.