"God bless the 423 Chain Breakers who are doing the work of Love."

Our Sunday feature on the 423 Chain Breakers and Taco Tuesday really hit home.

"The work of the Chain Breakers and Miss V is so important," one reader said, "and I for one wanted to say a big thank you for giving it a spotlight."

"I cried," said another.

Another wrote what she called a "Sabbath prayer."

God bless the 423 Chain Breakers who are doing the work of Love.

Bless all who support them and every individual young man whose life they touch.

Please open our eyes and minds as a community to the power of Love to transform lives ...

For us as photographers, writers and designers, the story held such power. We wanted to uplift and honor these men, so often overlooked, for their unending work, all rooted, as the prayer said, in Love.

I've known, loved and trusted Troy Rogers – the city's director of public safety who oversees the program – for years, met many of the Chain Breakers in 2023, some earlier than that.

We laugh an awful lot. It is strangely ironic; in the midst of such painful, exacting work, the heart is also somehow uplifted so high, so fully.

Many of you have generously asked: how can we help?

That's a question for them, not me.

I will say this: the Chain Breakers spoke at my English classes at McCallie School this past fall, and without question, the hour was one of the most powerful in my entire career.

Their stories, the ways they engage, the truth-telling matched with invitation to service — it all carried such urgency and love.

Your church, book club, community group, foundation retreat –- if you invite them to come speak, I promise: you will walk away changed.

Partnerships? Additional funding? How to volunteer?

Those are questions for Rogers (trogers@chattanooga.gov) or Chris Sands (ccsands@chattanooga.gov or 423.393.3363).

Sands is the Director of Community Safety and Gun Violence Prevention for City Hall. Also an old friend, Sands, too, is a man among men, vastly generous, wise and loving.

"I'm grateful for the work Troy Rogers and Chain Breakers are making in our community," he said. "We are gearing up to really impact the lives of Chattanoogans from Avondale, downtown, Westside, East Lake and Southside."

A little context and history: under former mayor Ron Littlefield and prosecutor (and current judge) Boyd Patterson, a gang task force was created to respond to the city's growing gang violence.

In 2013, Andy Berke was elected, then introduced the Violence Reduction Initiative based on the work of John Jay College criminologist David Kennedy.

Part of that work included intervention specialists, similar to violence interrupters, a term + model used in anti-violence work across the nation.

The 423 Chain Breakers are a form of violence interruptors. In 2022, Tim Kelly's administration introduced a new "roadmap" to reducing shootings and violence; wisely, Kelly created an Office of Community Health, and equally wise, asked Sands and Dr. Geeta Maharaj to serve there.

Sands oversees Rogers and the Chain Breakers.

"I'm thankful that we have a mayor and administrator that trust the vision and direction we are going in to be one Chattanooga," Sands said.

• A reminder that today is Main Street Farmers' Market; many warm-weather veggies and fruits are arriving.

Bird Fork Farm's tart cherries are delicious.

Circle S Farms still has some kale, arugula and lettuce, not to mention daikon radishes and red and golden beets. (We are thrilled about our upcoming Circle S feature.)

Hernandez Farms has garlic scapes and fava beans – a first for me. Never had fava beans until last week. They are scrumptious. (Also, is it just me, or is the fava bean reputation forever stained by Hannibal Lecter?)

Have a beautiful week, everyone.

All photography by Sarah Unger (sarah@foodasaverb.com)

All design by Alex DeHart

All words by David Cook (david@foodasaverb.com)

Story ideas, questions, feedback? Interested in sponsorship or advertising opportunities? Email us: david@foodasaverb.com and sarah@foodasaverb.com

This story is 100% human generated; no AI chatbot was used in the creation of this content.

Food as a Verb thanks our sustaining partners for their generous support.

Regional Farmers' Markets

• Main St. Farmers' Market

Corner of W. 20th and Chestnut St., near Finley Stadium

Wednesday, 4 - 6pm

• Brainerd Farmers' Market

Grace Episcopal Church, 20 Belvoir Ave, Chattanooga, TN

Saturday, 10am - noon

• Chattanooga Market

1820 Carter Street, Sunday, 11am - 4pm

• Fresh Mess Market

Harton Park, Monteagle, TN. (Rain location: Monteagle Fire Hall.)

Every Thursday, 3pm - 6pm, beg. June 6 - Oct. 3

• Ooltewah Farmers' Market

The Ooltewah Nursery, Thursday, 3 - 6pm

• Signal Mountain Farmers' Market

Pre-order online for Thursday pick-up between 4 - 6pm at Bachman Community Center

• South Cumberland Farmers’ Market

Sewanee Community Center (behind the Sewanee Market on Ball Park Rd.) Tuesdays from 4:15 to 6:00 p.m. (central.) Order online by Monday 10 am (central.)

• St. Albans Farmers' Market

7514 Hixson Pike, Saturday, 9.30am - 12.30pm with a free pancake breakfast every third Saturday  

• Walker County Farmers' Market

Wednesday, 2 - 5 pm, Rock Spring Ag. Center

Saturday, 9 am - 1 pm, downtown Lafayette, Georgia

To include your farmers market, email david@foodasaverb.com