Mayor Rogero announced today that Jackie Clay is being promoted to manage the city's Save Our Sons program and that Indya Kincannon has been appointed to take over Clay's former post in an expanded role as special projects manager. More details in the press release after the break...

MAYOR ROGERO ANNOUNCES STAFF CHANGES:
JACKIE CLAY PROMOTED, INDYA KINCANNON APPOINTED

Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero today announced the promotion of Jackie Clay to manage a newly-funded Save Our Sons program, and the appointment of Indya Kincannon to Clay’s former position in an expanded role of special projects manager.

Jackie Clay, a project manager in the Mayor’s Office since December 2011, will manage a community crime reduction program targeted to two specific Project Safe Neighborhoods with the aim to reduce violence and create opportunities for boys and young men of color from the ages of 15 to 24. Clay starts in her new role today, Oct. 1.

“Jackie brings a social worker’s heart and an organizer’s laser focus to address one of the biggest challenges in our city,” said Mayor Rogero. “She has been an asset in the Mayor’s Office these past four years and is the right choice to manage this new targeted effort to create opportunities for success for our young men and boys of color.”

An outgrowth of the mayor’s Save Our Sons initiative, Clay will build a broad community coalition to develop strategies for reducing crime in the targeted zones. The program is funded by a three-year grant through the Tennessee Office of Criminal Justice Programs’ Targeted Community Crime Reduction Program (TCCRP).

Clay, who lives in the Parkridge community, has been a community organizer and an instructor at the University of Tennessee College of Social Work.

She serves on the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Commission, as board chair of Girl Talk Inc., as the nominating committee chair for HomeSource East Tennessee, and as vice president of the Freedman Mission Historic Cemetery Committee.

Clay holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in social work. Her concentration was management, leadership and community practice.

Indya Kincannon, former chair of the Knox County Board of Education, will join Mayor Rogero’s staff on Oct. 5. As special projects manager, she will be responsible for community agency grants and appointments to City boards and commissions, as well as managing a variety of special projects for the Mayor, including serving as the Mayor’s liaison to the school system.

“Indya brings a wealth of experience, leadership and talent to the mayor’s office,” said Mayor Rogero. “Her 10 years of outstanding public service on the school board and strong record of community service make her an ideal addition to my staff. She understands our city and the importance of building strong community partnerships. We are fortunate to have her join us.”

Kincannon served as a school board member from 2004 to 2014 before teaching writing, history, Spanish and drama to international students in Slovenia in 2014 and 2015.

She’s served as Beaumont Magnet Academy PTA president, a Fourth and Gill neighborhood leader, a Habitat for Humanity group leader and Mayan Families Project volunteer in Guatemala, and a volunteer AYSO soccer and Baby Falcon basketball coach.

Kincannon graduated with honors with a bachelor’s degree in history from Haverford College, then earned her master’s degree in public affairs and urban and regional planning from Princeton University.