CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Sept. 16, 2025) – The Department of Community
Development will absorb staff from community health, engagement, safety and
gun violence prevention under a new ordinance passed today by the City
Council on first reading.
The city staff re-organization also includes dissolving the Department of
Equity and Community Engagement (ECE) and moving staff over to the Office
of Constituent Services.
“I remain committed to building a community where every Chattanoogan has
access to opportunity,” said Mayor Tim Kelly. “This re-organization
reflects my administration’s efforts to create community resource hubs
across the city. It also allows us to keep talented, dedicated people on
staff in service of the community.”
Earlier this year, Governor Bill Lee signed the ‘Dismantling DEI
Departments Act’ and ‘Dismantling DEI in Employment Act’, respectively. The
city asked legal counsel to research these new laws and were informed that
they do not allow the city government to legally maintain ECE.
The ordinance was developed in partnership with Councilman Dennis Clark,
who chairs the Community Development Committee. It shifts the remaining
legally permissible functions of ECE to other city departments.
“This is a classic case of making lemonade out of lemons,” Clark said. “We
can’t control what the state wants to outlaw, but we can continue
Chattanooga’s commitment to this body of work so that all Chattanoogans can
thrive and prosper.”
As part of the re-organization, Mayor Kelly announced Kelly Valcarce is
serving as the new Director of Community Engagement. She previously led the
Office of New Americans, where she enhanced language access to city
services, launched Chattanooga 101, founded the Bridging Communities
Coalition and organized major events including the Hispanic Heritage
Festival and consular visits.
A board member of the JA Henry YMCA and a current member of Leadership
Chattanooga and Leadership Hamilton County Schools, Valcarce earned her
master’s degree in business administration from the University of Tennessee
at Chattanooga and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lee
University.
Mayor Kelly also announced Miles Huff as Director of the Office of New
Chattanoogans where he is developing and implementing strategies to
welcome, integrate and retain new residents, ensuring they thrive in
Chattanooga and become civically involved. He previously served as the
Executive Coordinator for the Mayor’s Office.
Huff is active in the community and serves on the board of directors for
the Leadership Chattanooga Alumni Association and the executive committee
of the board for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Huff was a part of the
inaugural class of Leadership Hamilton County Schools and completed the
Leadership Tennessee NEXT program. He earned his master’s degree in mental
health counseling and bachelor's degree in psychology from Lee University.