Forward Thinking

We're Moving Forward...

2010-04-20T11:25:00.003-04:00

In an effort to keep the community up to date on the progress of Vision 2025, Greenville Forward and our world, we have updated our blog once again.

Now, it's easier to find. Simply go to www.greenvilleforwardthinki ng.com

Friend us.

Talk with us.

The blog is updated daily with stories, ideas, recaps, information and dreams. You can share too...just comment.

Proterra Vision Event and a Little Recognition

2010-04-16T09:23:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday, Furman University hosted many of Greenville's leaders and visionaries to listen to a presentation on the vision for Proterra's highly anticipated arrival. Greenville Forward was part of this group and we were excited to learn more about what is in store for the automotive research industry. In case you are unfamiliar with Proterra, you can see for yourself here but I will give you the Reader's Digest version that I hope will offer a good summary of why this is so exciting and what it means for Greenville County to welcome this company to our community.

Proterra is a clean energy research and manufacturing company that has developed one of the first alternative fuel transit buses. They have created a prototype bus that has been traveling across the country to share its technology and capabilities with other researchers/scientists who needed to "see it to believe it." While this in itself is fantastic information, Greenville is particularly excited about this company because they have decided to locate themselves in Greenville, South Carolina to build more of these buses and potentially create a simulated light rail transit system in our community.

Proterra will join the CU-ICAR campus and create job opportunities and further establish Greenville as an important automotive research hub. On Tuesday, Greenville Forward got the chance to meet the people behind Proterra and to take a ride in the bus around Furman's campus.

Amid all of this exciting information and sharing a room with some of the Greenville's leaders, we were flattered and honored to receive acclamation from David Shi at the beginning of the presentation. Dr. Shi began his welcome of Proterra with a reminder of how Vision 2025 laid the groundwork for bringing this kind of development to fruition. He read portions of the Vision document that planned for something akin to the Swamp Rabbit Trail before it came into existence, sections that hinted towards a hope for Greenville to become an automotive research hub, and a final section that planned for vast improvements in our mass transit structure in Greenville. He showed the audience that two of these three goals were well on their way to attainment and recognized Greenville Forward and Russell Stall as being the keepers of this vision.

Dr. Shi even said, "Russell Stall is the hub of the wheel of Greenville" and thanked him publicly for his dedication to Greenville and Vision 2025. What great affirmation for Greenville Forward!

Proterra's arrival in Greenville marks another step toward achieving Vision 2025 goals and reminds us again of why our work is so important. Maybe soon we will be able to say that the third vision goal that Dr. Shi mentioned has also been achieved. Welcome, Proterra!

Greenville? ARE YOU READY FOR SOME....HOCKEY!?

2010-04-13T12:17:00.003-04:00

I know. We all remember the Greenville Grrrowl. Wait. How many "r's" were there? Anyway, they were here. We sometimes went. We sometimes didn't. They actually won. Most times. But, regardless, they left. And, since that time, Greenville has been asking the question, "why do we not have another hockey team?"

Well, we do now. Get ready Greenville, because the Greenville (Name and Mascot to be Inserted Later) are here and alive and well at the Bi-Lo Center.

This morning, Kate and I wandered over to the Bi-Lo Center for a press conference to announce plans for a new hockey team. Now, this wasn't super surprising news. All the radio stations had mentioned it. All the hockey fans were talking about it. I even heard someone mention it as we ate lunch at Tsunami last week. But, no one knew anything else.

Well, they still won't. The team has yet to be named. The owners are a business man and a former GM for The Rangers (who has a Stanley Cup win on his resume). The deal is real. And, judging from the press conference, they mean business.

Hopefully, they will take a lesson from The Greenville Drive and realize that Greenville wants to be entertained. We love our sports, we really do. But, we also love to make our sports about a little bit more. At the end of the day it's about entertainment. The overall atmosphere. The ambiance. The wins and losses? They count too, and we hope there will more of the former than the latter. But, we want to be entertained and have fun doing it.

So we congratulate the Bi-Lo Center and the owners of the new Greenville hockey team. I think they could be called the Greenville Forwards, but that's just me.

Check out the new hockey website for more information about upcoming happenings and events. And, most of all, have fun!

Becoming a hero can happen instantly--if you let it.

2010-04-12T10:26:00.002-04:00

Over Easter weekend, my family went to our beach condo in North Carolina as part of our usual holiday tradition. The warm temperatures were extremely welcome and we enjoyed walking on the beach, reading and soaking up the sun. However, a normal afternoon quickly turned into an emergency situation that proved to be a great opportunity for a life lesson.

Though the water was far too cold for any of my family to venture in, there were a couple of folks that took advantage of the warm temperatures outside and decided to brave it. The ocean seemed to be calm but my dad pointed out to me that he thought he was beginning to see a rip tide current form as the tide was going out and the sandbars were shifting. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with what a rip tide is, it is a strong current that often forms between sandbars that pulls the water rapidly straight out without undulating back to shore. (see diagram)

As a swimmer, it is incredibly frightening to be trapped in one and the helpless feeling often leads to panic and exhaustion/drowning. General protocol will tell you to swim parallel to shore instead of trying to swim against the current until you feel you have returned to normal waters.

The two swimmers were sucked into the rip tide and their cries of delight and excitement quickly turned to fear and a call for help. While I watched in disbelief, my cousin took off his hat and glasses and sprinted towards the water without a moment's hesitation. He did not think about the risks, the fact that there were two swimmers and that they were both bigger than him. He just saw people in distress and felt a call to action. Once we realized he was going to help, I called 911, my brother gathered some lifesaving rings and the rescue was in full swing.

Both swimmers were brought to shore with minimal bodily harm and everyone involved with the rescue was also okay. But, I think the thing that I will carry with me from that experience was the way my cousin responded to a call for action. Rarely in life do we respond to situations with such enthusiasm and without hesitation. We have reservations, we have to weigh both sides. But, perhaps this week you can challenge yourself to answer a call to action without hesitation--whether it be supporting a local charity, trying a new experience, or helping someone who is clearly in need.

My cousin's response made him a hero and he helped save two lives. He says it is something he will carry with him forever and I noticed he walked just a little bit taller after it was all over.

Kate's a Farmer...

2010-04-12T09:31:00.003-04:00

So, Kate wrote a blog a few weeks back about an excursion we took to The Happy Cow Creamery. We were so impressed that we decided to take a photo of the sign. But, Kate had to be in it. She's like the Vanna White of organic farming...

Sean Carasso is a Cool Guy...

2010-04-07T10:07:00.009-04:00

About a year ago, Staci and I were talking about conflict in Sudan and other places, and I was asking all sorts of questions, because I didn't really know much about the issues over there. Staci started talking about watching a documentary that was done by some young folks about kids in Sudan who were being kidnapped by militant armies and made to fight. These kids were 5, 6, 7 years old. And, they were being trained to kill, maim, rape and plunder. The ones that hadn't been kidnapped yet were making a multiple mile trek into the city each night to sleep on concrete floors, packed in like sardines. All so they wouldn't run the risk of being kidnapped. This documentary, of course, is Invisible Children.

Staci brought over the DVD, two of them actually, and we watched it. I'm sure I looked like an idiot while I sat there, watching with a look of horror. I had no idea. How did I miss all this? What was I reading? And, when the show was over, I sat there, unable to really speak. I'm not sure if I was moved, shocked, angry or sad. I'm still not sure.

Staci and I talked a lot about it in the following months. I even took one of the DVD's and passed it along to my sister, who, in turn, passed it along to a friend, who passed it along to a friend. That was the point of Staci bringing two (she's a smart girl). Staci, meanwhile, showed some of her students the document

ary and they got organized, wanted to do something to help. It was hard not to watch it and not be motivated to do something. Anything.

I write all this because this past Monday, Staci, Kate and I were able to meet another such person as those who created Invisible Children. A guy who was actually involved with the original "protests". He grew up with the guys. He was there in the beginning. He was making a mark on the world, and he's only in his mid to late 20's.

His name is Sean Carasso.

The Warehouse Theatre folks, Shannon Robert and Paul Savas, contacted us about co-sponsoring an event where Sean could come in and tell his story. Sean is living a gipsy's life these day. Going from town to town to spread the word about his organization and the atrocities that are going on in The Congo. We agreed to help The Warehouse push this event. Why wouldn't we? They are some of our best friends and we love them!

Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I was unprepared to see what I saw. The first thing that happened was

that Kate and I met Sean in the lobby and had a great conversation about Greenville Forward and what we do here. He was psyched. Really psyched. We both thought it was strange that someone from so far away would get so jazzed about our organization that is so centrally focused on our world in Greenville County. But, we found out later why. And, it all made sense.

Sean's story begins in The Congo, where he discovered that the smallest of boys, ones who couldn't carry guns, were made to carry whistles. These whistles were to be blown as the enemy army approached, in hopes of scaring them away. But, there was more to this strategy. These boys also served as a human shield. If the army shot them? They fall. Then they serve as barracades. As places to hide behind. As tools to continue to fight. 8 year old boys. 5 year old boys. Falling because they were forced to fight an enemy they didn't know. Forced to fight for a reason they didn't understand. As Sean puts i

n in his blog, "WITH FALLING WHISTLES, THEIR ONLY CHOICE IS TO FEIGN DEATH OR FACE IT."

Out of this, Falling Whistles was born. And, on Monday night, we were witness to Sean's experience, his vision, his mission. He told his story. To a small crowd at The Warehouse, he told his story and didn't ask us to join him. He just told his story. He didn't ask for a handout. A donati

on. A helping hand. He just told his story. And we listened.

When it was done, we asked what we could do...

Tell Someone.

Plain and simple.

Take some time to look at

the website. Watch the video. Be a whistle blower for peace. Continue the conversation.

Here Comes the Sun, do do do do...

2010-04-05T16:07:00.004-04:00

At long last, the sun has graced Greenville, SC with it's beautiful presence. There is no better time to enjoy Greenville than right now. Just ask the thousands of folks who were downtown this past weekend.

And, guess what???? The Drive's first pitch of the 2010 Season is Thursday...it's a cool time to be a Greenvillian...

Anyone Seen Google Today?...

2010-04-01T09:26:00.003-04:00

Topeka? Really? Must be an April Fool's Joke.

When I Was Your Age...

2010-03-26T11:06:00.002-04:00

So, Russell put this paper on my desk the other day and I briefly looked at it while he was staring at me, waiting for me to read it. So, I read it and I was, honestly, a little surprised. I have read many things talking about how times have changed with social media, and blah, blah, blah.

I read lists of how the 18 year old today is experiencing different things than when I was 18 almost 15 years ago. They've never had to roll down a window. They've always had bottled water. All that. But, this list put some things into perspective....

It showed me that life is connected all over the globe. We can no longer think that what we do in our community does not affect other communities. The steps we take today are documented, blogged about, commented on, facebooked, tweeted, re-tweeted, etc.

So, keep that in mind. When looking at the choices you make as a community, as our community, think about how that can positively or negatively affect those around you.

So, here you go…judge for yourself…hope I don’t get sued for posting this….nah….

· Years to reach 50 million users: Radio 38 years; TV 13 years; Internet 4 years; IPOD 3 years
- Facebook reached 100 million users in less than 9 months
- IPOD applications downloads hit 1 billion in 9 months

· If Facebook were a country it would be the worlds 4^th largest behind China, India and the US.

· There are over 100 million active users on YouTube

· Americans have access to 1,000,000,000,000 web pages; 65,000 iPhone apps; 10,500 radio stations; 5,500 magazines; 200+ cable tv networks.

· More video was uploaded to YouTube in the last 2 months than if ABC, NBC and CBS has been airing new content 24/7/365 since 1948 (when ABC started airing).

· The number of unique visitors ABC, CBS and NBC get every month collectively: 10 million (these businesses have been around for a combined 200 years.)

· The number of unique visitors to MySpace, YouTube and Facebook get ever month collectively: 250 million (none of these existed 6 years ago.)

· 95% of all songs downloaded last year weren’t paid for.

· Wikipedia launched in 2001. It now features over 13 million articles in more than 200 languages.

· Cisco’s Nexus 7000 data switch could move all of Wikipedia in in .001 seconds.

· 2009 US Department of Education Study revealed that on average online students out performed those receiving face – to – face instruction…
- 1 in 6 higher education students are enrolled in online curriculum

· How many text messages does the average American teen send each month?
- 584? 1,150? 1,612? NOPE. 2,272
- Brady James of Los Angeles, sent 217,541 text messages in March 2009

· Right now 93% of US adults own a cell phone

· The mobile device will be the world’s primary connection tool to the internet in 2020

· “The computer in your cell phone today is cheaper and a thousand times more powerful and about a hundred thousand times smaller than the one computer at MIT in 1965. So, what used to fit in a building now fits in your pocket. What fits in your pocket will fit inside a blood cell in 25 years.” - Ray Kurzweil

· Predictions are that by 2013 a super computer will be built that exceeds the computation capability of the human brain.

· The US Department of Labor estimates that today’s learner will have 10-14 jobs…by age 38!

· According to former Secretary of Education Richard Riley…the top 10 jobs that will be in demand in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004

· Well over 1,000,000 books are published worldwide every year

· A Google book search scanner can digitize 1,000 pages every hour

· Newspaper circulation is down 7 million over the last 25 years

· In the last 5 years, unique readers of online newspapers are up 30 million

· 1 our of 8 couples married in the US last year met online

· The first text message was sent in 1982. Today the number of text messages sent and received everyday exceeds the total population of the planet

· The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years…for students starting a 4 year technical degree this means that half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study

I think Bob Dylan was very right…”times they are a changin’.”

Do you know your farmer?

2010-03-25T14:46:00.004-04:00

A couple of months ago, Greenville Forward partnered with The Warehouse Theatre to host a screening of "Food, Inc." Personally, I was challenged and shocked by the things I saw and learned from the documentary. It inspired me to delve deeper into finding out where our food is coming from and to respond appropriately when I learned the scary answers to this question.

As an organization, we be

lieve in starting these important conversations and getting the community together to discuss issues that Greenville County faces. Through our Momentum Series luncheons, we have broached numerous difficult topics and started dialogue on topics that need to be discussed to help Greenville continue to grow and develop positively.

The "Food, Inc." screening was unique in that its impact was more profound than we ever imagined. We sold out tickets to the event and received vast press attention. We also had the unique opportunity to invite some of our local farmers and growers to talk to our audience about how they grow their food and why it is important to support them.

After making these connections, Greenville Forward has continued conversations with these local farmers and we have been working to educate ourselves so that we can carry the momentum from the "Food, Inc." event to fight off Greenville's health problems ranging from obesity to other nutrition-related illnesses. We made visits to Greenbrier Farms and the Happy Cow Creamery and I personally visited Split Creek Farms as well. We talked to the farmers and learned about how they are organic and sustainable, and how they are working to make their products more readily available to the Greenville and upstate communities.

I learned many things, too many to share in just one blog post, but one of the greatest things I carried with me was this---We are a sick nation with more obesity-related illnesses than ever before. We have unhealthy habits and visit doctors more often as a result. We know our doctors by name and our pharmacists. However, for the most part we have no idea who our farmers are. We do not know who made our food and if it is really safe for our bodies.

Think of the difference it would make if everyone knew their farmer by name---they would eat less trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, genetically modified foods, sugar, and fat in general. Now, I know that overall, this kind of diet seems more expensive and is less accessible, but it is something to ponder.

Think about it...do you have any idea where your food came from that you ate today? And, does that scare you just a little bit?

50 Years of Gettin' Wild

2010-03-24T09:13:00.005-04:00

The Greenville Zoo is 50 years old this year. 50. That's a big one. Whew. They will be kicking off a year-long celebration on Thursday at 10:30am when they announce the contest winners of the name of the colobus monkeys. I'm pulling for Brock. Probably

won't get it, though.

They will also feature a special zookeeper talk at the colobus monkey exhibit at 11:30am.

For more information or for season passes, click here.

Creative Recycling

2010-03-23T09:01:00.002-04:00

Today, in our International Task Force meeting, Mey Hasibuan, Founder of Gallery of Indonesia in Greenville, gave a brief presentation on an extremely creative recycling program in Indonesia. In a few small villages, elderly women take old, used toothpaste tubes and recycle the plastic into items like bags, briefcases, purses, shoes, etc.

She shared a video (below) and while watching, I realized that it's not that hard to do. We, as a community, could put programs in place to reduce our waste.

The Day I Put My Cellphone Down...

2010-03-01T11:13:00.006-05:00

We've had a pretty busy couple of months at Greenville Forward. We started 2010 with a bang and haven't really stopped moving since. During January and February it seems like we had an event every other day. In February alone we had 15 events ranging from a public screening of the documentary Food Inc. to a panel on homelessness. Needless to say, things are exciting around here.

This brings me to the point of this post. Because of all of these events, etc, I have been remiss in sitting down to share an experience that I had

with some students from Greenville High School. I can only say the day was, without a doubt, one of the most powerful experiences I have ever been through in my life. That's not saying too much, is it?

A project group of DLI (Diversity Leaders Initiative) at The Riley Institute at Furman University developed a project to bring a program called Challenge Day (www.challengeday.org) to one of the local high schools in

the county. Challenge Day is a program that provides youth and their communities with experiential workshops and programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diver

sity, truth and full expression.

I walked into the gym at the West End Community Center with a feeling of "well this is going to be another diversity training exercise that will last all day". Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy those exercises, but I was not ready for what was in store for me. I drank my coffee and talked to some folks that I knew. None of us were ready.

The students came in shortly thereafter and the day began. Now, let me say that Challenge Day is 100% participants and 150% facilitators. I know that doesn't equal up! Don't judge me. The two facilitators (and that is not an accurate term. more like energetic tag team comedy duo) began the day laying out some groundrules. Respect. That was the word for the day.

Respect those around you. Respect those who have something to say. Respect those who have an opinion. Respect yourself.

We played games most of the morning. Volleyball amongst the students. The adults cheered. We passed out hugs to everyone. All sounds a little silly, sure. But it was leading to somewhere. Right before lunch we broke up into groups. Our "family groups." These were the small groups (typically 5 to 6 folks) we would be coming back to frequently throughout the day.

When we got into these groups we finished the two following statements:

"If you really knew me, then you'd know...."

"If you really, really knew me you'd know..."

The answers to those questions were wide-ranging, and not to be shared. There were some that simply said, "i don't want to share right now" and behind their eyes was pain that anyone could see. But, no one pushed. No one prodded. We just sat there and gave them all the respect in the world.

After lunch we went through and exercise that I was completely unprepared for. On the floor were two long tape lines running the length of the room. They had the whole group stand behind one of the lines and then asked a series of questions. If your personal answer to that question was "yes" then you crossed to the other line and looked back at those that were still there. These questions ranged from, "Have you had someone in your family die from a smoking related illness" to "have you ever been homeless." The people that crossed on any given question was staggering. But, the earth shaking point to me was how many times I crossed and on what questions. Little did I know how much I had in common with those around me. Business leaders whom I had known for years. Students who I just met that day. Tears flowed down the cheeks of most around me. And, as we looked around each time we crossed or didn't cross, we realized how similar we all were. How alike our experiences in life are. We may have different colored skin, or speak a different language, or have a different home life, it didn't matter there. We were all together, speaking the same language. And we saw

that those beside us struggled and wrestled with many of the issues we face daily. And, every time someone crossed, they were hit with all the love in that room.

It was a powerful day. One that I doubt I'll ever experience again. Unless I participate in Challenge Day once more. But, I learned a lot. About myself. About respect. About life. And, I know that those around me, those that I pass, those that I see are not far removed from me. That we have similarities somewhere. And, that sometimes they may just need a little love.

Greenville Forward from the Mind of a Teenager

2010-02-11T20:22:00.009-05:00

Harrison, my 13 year old son, spent the day shadowing me yesterday to learn more about careers. We started the day at our monthly board meeting, worked on the HeadStrong website, and went to a speech by Dr. Baxter Wynn. His paper of what he learned is below. I especially liked his perception about the reality that we get our work done even when joking around. Thanks for spending time with us, Harrison.

Job shadowing is a great idea and a great experience for student and the workers. The students get to experience real life (and be out of school for a day) and the business also benefits. There are many different careers in the world and many different options for students who go through school. Job shadowing allows people to see what is going on in the world. Not only does the student benefit from the experience, but also the business does to.

In my case, the business I shadowed benefitted in a different kind of way. My dad, who is the boss of the business, has an intern named Damaris. Damaris’ friend is creating a new website for people of all ages to express themselves. He asked my feedback on what would bring people to the website and I was able to explain to him exactly what needed to be added. Students benefit from going out to a job and seeing what the typical day holds for the workers, sometimes even giving students an idea for a future career.

My shadowing experience was overall a good one. I was able to pinpoint exactly what Greenville Forward does. The main thing that I really liked was how much fun the whole group of people has, making jokes but still getting their work done. I also enjoyed the use of computers in the job because I think that computers are an excellent resource and computers are used a lot at Greenville Forward.

The main thing that I would not enjoy about having this as a career is having to give a bunch of speeches and public lectures to people. I am not a good public speaker and don’t really like talking to a lot of people at one time. I’m also not completely sure I would enjoy all of the meetings, although I did think that the one that I witnessed was interesting. But, I guess meetings kind of go along with every job and career.

You Know What You're Eating?...

2010-01-28T08:50:00.002-05:00

“Food, Inc.” is a thought-provoking, challenging documentary that forces viewers to question where the food they eat every day is coming from.

The film will be screened at The Warehouse Theatre on Feb. 15 at 6:30 pm. Greenville Forward and The Warehouse Theatre partnered with Whole Foods Market and local growers to offer discussion and information on local, sustainable farming practices following the screening.

The film’s tag line suggests, “you’ll never look at food the same way” and was created by Robert Kenner. It features interviews with Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, Michael Pollan, author of An Omnivore’s Dilemma, and Gary Hirshberg, creator of Stonyfield Farms. According to the website, “’Food, Inc.’ lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized hidden underbelly that’s been hidden from the American consumer...”

Shannon Robert, Technical Director for The Warehouse Theatre, felt compelled to host the screening after she watched “Food, Inc.” for the first time. She says, “My immediate reaction was to tell people to watch it and read more about what is in our food supply. I thought about all of the healthy options we have locally and wondered what we could do as a community to promote healthier food.

Robert and Greenville Forward worked to contact local growers and formed collaborations with Upstate Locally Grown, Putney Farms, Greenbriar Farms, Furman University Shi Center for Sustainability, and the presenting sponsor, Whole Foods. Growers and representatives from these organizations will be present at the screening with information and a few samples of the array of options available to the Upstate community.

There will be a facilitated discussion following the screening to brainstorm how our community can better support local growers and pursue a higher degree of health in our everyday lives.

Join Greenville Forward and The Warehouse Theatre as they host a special screening of Food, Inc., and a showcase of local vendors that will discuss how to eat local, sustainable food.

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 15, 6:30pm-9:30pm

WHERE: The Warehouse Theatre; 37 August Street

WHO: Anyone interested in attending

ADMISSION: Reservations are required. $5 donation.

To make reservations, call 864-233-8443 or register online at

foodinc@eventbrite.com.

Welcome Visitor

2010-01-27T16:03:00.002-05:00

The International Education Center at Greenville Technical College, in conjunction with Greenville Forward and Vision 2025, the Greenville Technical Charter High School and the Fulbright Visiting Specialist Program, "Direct Access to the Muslim World" would like to welcome Dr. Yamina El Kirat.

A specialist in Arab and Muslim relations from Morocco, Dr. El Karat will be visiting Greenville Technical College for 6 weeks from early February to mid-March 2010. Dr. Kirat has extensive experience in teaching at the university level and has had great involvement in research at the national and international levels, which have endowed her with a rich background about the history, literature and culture of the Muslim and Arab world.

Dr. El Kirat has experience as Chair of the Department of English at the Faculty of Letters, University Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat in Morocco. She is also the coordinator of the research group, "Culture, Language, Education, Society and Development," the masters program "Cross-cultural studies" and the doctoral program "Studies in Language, Culture and Society." Dr. Kirat holds both a Ph.D and Masters degree from the University of Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat.

In order to schedule or requests for discussions, please contact John Bennett in the International Education Center at Greenville Technical College. The Office is located on the Barton Campus, International Transfer Building (UT104) room 115. His email address is john.bennett@gvltec.edu. He can also be reached at (864) 250-8304

Inclusion in Our Community

2010-01-26T16:43:00.003-05:00

Last week we had our first Momentum Series session of the year. The topic was "Inclusion on Our Community" and focused on what we could do, as citizens, to make Greenville a more inclusive community for the future. What are some dreams we have to make Greenville more inclusive. What does a inclusive Greenville look like? How can we make change?

Take about 10 minutes to check the recap video from the session and then give us a call at 233-8443 to talk about how we can change...

The INN Place...

2010-01-20T10:40:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we took a tour of Fountain Inn. Thanks to our good friend Dan Powell, we were able to see this wonderful community up close with the help of City Administrator, Eddie Case. Initially we spent some time reviewing plans for the revitalization of some areas along Main Street, including a new local history museum, a town center, a farmer's market and beautification efforts along the thruway.

Then, Mr. Case loaded us up in the city bus and took us on a tour of the community. We first stopped at the new

Fountain Inn Civic Center. The Civic Center use

d to be Fountain Inn High School and then Fountain Inn Elementary. It now houses art classes, photography classes, pottery classes as well as F.I.R.E (Fountain Inn Repertory Experience). What an incredible facility this was. Leaders in the community of Fountain Inn had a vision for something spectacular. Something that would enhance the cultural offerings in the community. And, this did just that.

We then drove back down Main to see the construction on the new farmer's market and street scape. When this work is completed, it will be truly remarkable. The city has invested in the future of their community. The believe (and know) that the future of Fountain Inn is bright. It is the 3rd fastest growing area in Greenville County, but they never want to lose their intimate town feel.

If you haven't been out there recently, you should go. Take a walk along Main Street. Stop into the Civic Center. If you choose to do it in May, stop by the open air farmer's market and buy some locally grown fruit or veggies. But, mainly, just enjoy the experience.

http://www.fountaininn.org/

Oh, and it's also the home of Peg Leg Bates. Remember him?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGS7hTQ8UWA

"Let Freedom Ring"

2010-01-18T10:12:00.004-05:00

In looking at today from my office, I can't help but think of how important today is. It is truly a celebration of, not only a man's life, but of a message and a legacy. All around Greenville, people are celebrating that message and honoring that legacy.

I was recently in Washington DC for New Years. We did all of the typical touristy things. We visited the Smithsonian (Air & Space), we walked through the National Gallery. We toured the National Cathedral. We ate lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl. But, the most significant, breath taking moment was a simple one. We had lunch with friends, David and Sylvia Esch (David is Chair of our International Task Force) and then walked around DC taking in the beautiful (but cold day). Toward the evening, we stopped into the wonderful bar at the Willard Hotel for a warm drink and more conversation. Afterward, I walked around the lobby of the Dillard, looking at the beautiful architecture and feeling a bit of the history that was sewn into every step. It was then that I saw something that gave me goosebumps (stopped my breath really). I saw that Martin Luther King, Jr. had finished his "I Have A Dream" speech in that exact hotel. I didn't really know what to feel, but it was awesome. I thought about him finishing that speech and walking to the Lincoln Memorial on that day to make the most famous speech of all time. And, I was there. In the same structure where, on August 28th, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. changed our national landscape in minutes.

So, if you have a chance today, take some time to listen to his speech. American Rhetoric lists it as the #1 speech of all time on their list of the Top 100 Speeches. Click the link and you can listen to it. It's very worth it.
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

New Year. New Goals.

2010-01-12T11:51:00.002-05:00

So, Kate and I just returned from a press conference on Activate Upstate. The collaborative effort between the YMCA, Furman University and The Greenville Hospital system, was just granted $350,000 for 3 years from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to work on decreasing the obesity level in Greenville County. They are going to initially focus on 3 area neighborhoods, Berea, Nicholtown and Sterling. Furman University did a study of childhood obesity a year ago that looked at the levels of obesity of our children in Greenville County. The study found that over 45% of our school children were either overweight or obese. With this significant grant, the hope is that our obesity levels will fall, thus making everyone in Greenville more active, healthier, happier and more vibrant.

I know that I have had a goal to lose weight, personally, for a year or so. I look at this as a personal challenge for, not only myself, but those around me. Friends, family, loved ones, coworkers. Everyone that I consider important to me. So, I think I'll take the Activate Upstate Challenge this year. You should too. Go to The Carolina First Center at 4PM on Tuesday, January 19th to weigh in (don't worry, it's confidential). The process is VERY easy and only takes a small amount of your time. And, if you're one of the first 1,000 folks, you'll get a free, limited-edition, t-shirt. Can't beat that.

So, dust off the running shoes. Get out the workout shorts. Grab an old t-shirt (or get one on Tuesday) and join Greenville Forward in getting healthier. I mean, if we do this each year, we are gonna look FANTASTIC in 2025!

Redefining our Focus for Vision 2025

2009-12-15T09:16:00.004-05:00

About this time of year, most anyone starts thinking about the fresh start coming on January 1. It is a new year with new beginnings and full of potential. The YMCA will inevitably be packed with dedicated resolution-ers for the first two weeks, Whole Foods will probably sell out of fresh produce, and we might see a few new faces during religious services. Whether you make resolutions or not, it is almost impossible to think about the promise that lies in a new calendar year.

Perhaps that is why businesses and other organizations often have retreats during December to mull over the past year and think about the new horizon coming in the next one. For Greenville Forward, our board retreat that occurred a couple of weeks ago was no different. But, we found ourselves coming back to that age-old question that first began when we were created four years ago. How do we get people to understand what we are and why we are important? How can we provide tangible evidence for the work we are doing?

When you are a visionary organization building towards the future, these can be tough questions to answer. But, they are important because we must get the support of the community for our vision to work. Collaboration is one of Greenville Forward's most important methods and it must occur on all levels.

We decided that we must narrow our focus when explaining Greenville Forward so that anyone can grasp even just a glimpse of what we are trying to do. If they are familiar with the Swamp Rabbit trail, then we can explain the role that vision had in making that trail happen. If they know the great transformation that occurred in downtown Greenville, they will understand why vision was necessary to make that change. If they work for BMW or Michelin or I-CAR then they will comprehend why long-term vision was necessary to bring these businesses to our area.

And, if they still need more tangible evidence to build a bridge between planning/dreaming and the actual follow through, we can show them the success of program such as Graduate Greenville and how it has affected dropout statistics in the Greenville County School District. We can show them the trees planted on I-85 by Trees Greenville. Or, we can tell them how we were finally able to create the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday--the last county in the nation to do so.

Though these programs may not have been yielded directly by Greenville Forward, they are all part of a great collaboration among members of our community to make Greenville forward a better place to live for the future. And that is what Greenville Forward is all about.

What Greenville Forward is Thankful For...

2009-11-25T10:00:00.003-05:00

On this Thanksgiving eve, Russell and I were sitting in the Greenville Forward office, thinking about our exciting plans for tomorrow's festivities, when we stopped to consider what we are thankful for as an organization. Obviously a nonprofit like Greenville Forward would not exist without considerable community support, so we would like to embrace the spirit of the season and offer some thanks for twenty-five things that help to make Vision 2025 a reality:

1. Vision

2. Generous Donors

3. Task Force volunteers

4. Community Commitment

5. Collaboration

6. Creativity

7. Passion

8. Community volunteers

9. Other nonprofits

10. Leadership

11. Persistence

12. Heroes Next Door

13. Religious Diversity

14. Inclusion

15. Green people (not martians)

16. Teachers

17. The Community Foundation

18. Greenville's young people

19. Artists

20. Swamp Rabbit Trail

21. Good Coffee (one that should be on everyone's list)

22. Russell's home grown tomatoes

23. Facebook and Twitter (social media, if you will)

24. Dialogue

25. Our new hoodies, you should probably buy one soon

Tomorrow Night: A Green Carpet Success!

2009-11-17T14:33:00.006-05:00

On Thursday, November 5, Greenville Forward hosted its second annual "Tomorrow Night" celebration. This year, the event featured a "green carpet" theme highlighting some of the environmental goals of Vision 2025. To hone in on the theme and to provide a creative entrance to the Huguenot Mill of the Peace Center, we actually created a green carpet with sod donated by Super Sod that was later used to repair the yard in front of Greenville Forward's office.

The evening was an immense success as we transformed two empty rooms with gorgeous rafters, original mill flooring and windows into an elegant but simple celebration of Greenville's history and future. Marie Tanner of Manly Street Design donated creative consultation to help us use sustainable, but beautiful decorations. Saffron's Cafe and Catering also created an entirely local menu with certified South Carolina organic foods. It was incredibly tasty, too!

Shannon Robert from the Warehouse Theatre also created a sculpture for Greenville Forward that was stunning and a great focal point for our guests when they first arrived. It is now gracing our conference room with its presence so feel free to stop by and check it out.

We had 150 guests that came to view our nonprofit showcase of other nonprofits in the area, participate in our Wine Auction and to hear the results of our annual "Heroes Next Door"

award winners. This, to me, was the highlight of the evening as we honored four very deserving individuals with our iconic "bronze hands" award.

And, we will be able to continue to honor these winners with an article describing their service in next month's issue of Greenville Business Magazine. They are Norma Guzzardo of Safe Harbor, Hasker Hudgens of Operation Greenville Outreach, and Lynn and Linda Tompkins of The Triune Mercy Center. We had 50 nominations from various individuals and nonprofits in the area and found these recipients to be very worthy of such recognition.

"Tomorrow Night" offers Greenville Forward the chance to show the Greenville community why a visionary organization forms an essential part of a region's future fabric. We look forward to next year's celebration and honoring three more spectacular individuals for our Heroes Next Door Awards.

We are BUSY!

2009-10-22T09:33:00.004-04:00

For those of you who are on any of Greenville Forward's address lists, follow us on twitter, or who may have read any recent press--you probably have some idea that we have a lot going on down here on Manly Street.

With this business in mind, I thought I would write a post to summarize all of the great things we have planned for the next couple of months so that our readers can find a "one stop shop" for what Greenville Forward is up to.

1. Tomorrow Night- A Green Carpet Affair.

This event is taking place on Nov. 5 from 7-10:30 pm at the Huguenot Mill of the Peace Center. It is the great celebration of everything Greenville Forward has achieved in the past year and also of the collaborations with other groups to achieve landmark goals associated with Vision 2025. This year, the celebration will have a "green" bent and guests will find a menu made up of entirely local ingredients, recyclable party materials and educational information on how to be more environmentally friendly in their everyday life. There will be a nonprofit fair highlighting the work of other agencies in the area, music by The Professors of Soul, catering by Saffrons, a wine bottle auction, the announcement of the 2009 Heroes Next Door award winners and the presentation of the Vision 2025 Five-Year Update. This is Greenville Forward's signature annual event and a chance to hob knob with civic leaders in a beautiful setting. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased by calling 233-8443 or online at www.tomorrownight.eventbrite.com.

2. Heroes Next Door Awards

These annual awards are given by Greenville Forward to recognize three people who selflessly devote time and energy to making Greenville County a better place to live. If you know of someone who deserves a little extra recognition, please submit your nomination and include in 200 words or less a description of why the person deserves this award. Email them to us at kate@greenvilleforward.com. We are taking nominations until Oct. 26th! Winners will be presented with their awards during "Tomorrow Night" on November 5.

3. Eye on Education

Though this is an invitation only event, it is certainly worthy of mention. Eye on Education is taking place on Oct. 27th and it is a day when city, county and state legislative leaders are invited to visit public schools in the area and see firsthand some of the outstanding academic programs our schools offer and our students enjoy. Our legislators rarely get the chance to intimately interact with the schools, teachers and administrators educating the next generation of civic leaders so this is a very special opportunity. Greenville Forward is partnering with the Greenville County School District to make this event meaningful and a great success.

4. Pecha Kucha Night Greenville

Ok, I know what you are thinking--how do you pronounce these two ridiculous-looking words? I will gladly spell it phonetically for you because it took me quite a while to get it right: "Peh-chach-kuh"

This program is a really unique new age of presentation style--It is a creative show & tell where the

presenter has 20 slides and spends only 20 seconds per slide. The event is free and is taking place on Nov. 12.

Go to PKNgreenville.com for details. Greenville Forward is collaborating with several other groups to make this event possible.

5. Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogues

Also happening on Nov. 12, Greenville Forward is partnering with the Interfaith Forum and the NEXUS

Center in this project designed to find common ground between people of diverse faiths. It is taking

place in various homes in Greenville and people from groups of various outlooks will gather to enjoy a

meal and engage in moderated discussion about the role of faith and spirituality in their lives.Visit

amazingfaithsproject.org to learn more or sign up.

So, there are five big things happening in the world of Greenville Forward. If you want any more information

about any of these events, give us a call in the office or drop by. Tickets for "Tomorrow Night" are going

fast so make that your first priority and buy a couple today!

How Does Greenville Define South Carolina?

2009-10-05T14:14:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, I spent some time in Charleston and at the beach, taking in some of the last of the warm weather before fall really does make an appearance beyond the official calendar change in season. And, while I was walking around some of the ancient streets surrounding the Citadel and the College of Charleston, I had a moment of introspection about what it really means to be a South Carolinian.

I have spent a lot of my life in South Carolina. I grew up in the Sandhills, visited the coast a lot growing up, and now have spent the past almost five years in the Upstate. One thing that I have found interesting now that I have seen most of the state is the vast differences that are present here.

I think of the Low Country with its signature Palmetto trees, frogmore stew and historical landmarks. The Pee Dee region with its rolling farm land, charming communities and stock car culture. The Upstate with its place at the foot of the mountains, the mysterious Dark Corner and as the destination for automotive research.

While there are certainly plenty of other things to say about the various regions of our state, the example of these three alone show the diversity of South Carolina.

One thing I often hear about is the competition between regions on who defines South Carolina the most. When people in other states think about South Carolina do they picture Rainbow Row in Charleston or Greenville’s downtown with its signature suspension bridge and twinkle-lighted trees? Or, do they picture tobacco fields and farmers in overalls and bare feet? Do they see rundown schools along what has come to be known as the “Corridor of Shame?” Do they know about the moss-laden oaks lining the streets of our coastal communities or our natural waterfalls and upstate apple orchards?

It is no surprise to anyone that South Carolina has had a struggle with image for quite a while. From our staggering education statistics to our clinging historical baggage associated with racism, we have had a lot to overcome as a state.

So, where does Greenville fit in this effort to improve the image of South Carolina and how does it help define for outsiders what our state is all about?

What do you think? Email me at kate@greenvilleforward.com and share your thoughts.

"Noises Off" and Greenville Forward

2009-09-29T09:19:00.003-04:00

Last Thursday, Greenville Forward was given the opportunity to partner with the Greenville Little Theatre for a fundraising and awareness building evening while enjoying the production of "Noises Off."

It was the first event of its kind for Greenville Forward and was a wonderful chance to celebrate the arts, a major part of Vision 2025, and to spend more time in front of a new audience to convince them why our mission is worthy of their support. Some of the guests of the evening came because they met us at the Upstate Women's Show so it was great to see tangible success from that event.

Though we did not sell as many tickets as we would have liked to fill the house for the hardworking actors and Greenville Little Theatre staff, the intimate group laughed loud enough at the hilarious scenes of the play to make up for it.

Prior to the show, we held a cocktail party that continued on during the two intermissions of the play. This was a valuable time for Russell to share with our guests about our upcoming plans and to give away some of our new Greenville Forward baseball hats and Columbia fleece.

Thanks so much to the Greenville Little Theatre for the gift of this evening and go see "Noises Off" as soon as you can!

A journey into history: Visiting the Springwood Cemetery

2009-09-22T09:52:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Russell asked me to join him on a tour he was leading of the historic Springwood Cemetery. Though I do not often make a habit of touring cemeteries, Russell assured me that this was more of a history lesson and a way to understand and get to know a little bit more about the people who dedicated their lives to helping Greenville to become what it is today.

Nestled beneath the shelter of huge magnolia trees and cornered by Main Street and Elford, it surprisingly takes little effort to imagine what the cemetery might have looked like in its early days as the Old Village Graveyard in 1829. Though some of Greenville's taller buildings form the backdrop of the immediate horizon, old Confederate markers, ancient symbols and wrought iron gates offer a glimpse of life two centuries ago.

Walking through the cemetery, anyone who has been in Greenville for any manner of time will recognize street and building names on the faces of various tombstones. Furman University has its own section where past presidents and benefactors are buried. There are unknown soldiers' graves for over 80 of the total 120 Confederate soldiers buried in the cemetery. The Southern Baptist Seminary has a plot for faculty members including Toy, Whitsett, Boyce, Broadus, Manly and Pettigru--all with street names dedicated to them, including the street where Greenville Forward is located, Manly Street.

There are lamb sculptures on the graves of babies and children and broken columns to signify a life cut short. World War I veterans are buried here and the cemetery is almost entirely white with a small African American burial site located in a separate part of the property.

And, with any cemetery, there are certain "weird" occurrences that instigate tales of ghosts and folklore, particularly around Halloween. One of my favorite stories about the "people" buried in the cemetery involve the Stevenson family. Their beloved dogs were loved so much that when they passed, they buried them in their family plot, indicating that they were both "sons" to avoid the laws preventing animals from being interred there. Supposedly, when their owner died, there was almost no room to bury him due to the space taken up by the two pets.

Walking the paths through Springwood, it is impossible to flee the history that fills each square foot. Every grave tells a story and the Upcountry History Museum has a wealth of information about the lives that shaped Greenville's future and whose legacy is remembered in the beauty that is the Springwood Cemetery.

For more information or to find out how to go on a walking tour like this one, get in touch with Greenville Walking Tours or just visit the cemetery and pick up an informational pamphlet or map.

The Greenville Forward Road Show

2009-08-31T14:30:00.005-04:00

This past weekend, Greenville Forward took to the road to take our mission to a new audience at the Upstate Women's Show. This was the first time that we have done such intense PR and it was very exciting and definitely a great chance to tell people about what we do. The show lasted from Thursday-Saturday and all of the staff at Greenville Forward pulled together to make sure that our booth looked fantastic and that we communicated the goals of Vision 2025 and Greenville Forward as well as possible.

Over the three days that we manned our booth, I would estimate that we were able to personally talk to at least 500 people, possibly even 800. With the show attracting nearly 10,000 people in itself, you can imagine how heavy the foot traffic was on every aisle. One of the most amazing reflections I had after each day was over was how many people had never heard of us and how they definitely now do after spending a little bit of time learning what we are up to.

We gave away tons of Greenville Forward bumper stickers, copies of our education survey, fliers for the "Noises Off" fundraiser we are doing at the Greenville Little Theatre on Sept. 24, and lots of other Greenville Forward literature. We also had a drawing to win one of our new Greenville Forward hats and a Columbia fleece.

One of the greatest benefits of the show is that talking to so many people who are anxious to be on their way led to the development of our 30 second elevator pitch. Since I have blogged about this before, I thought you might be interested to know what it is. So, here you go:

"Greenville Forward is a nonprofit that was created to implement something called Vision 2025, a plan outlining the goals we hope to achieve as a community by 2025 in Greenville County. It was created after the great success of Vision 2005, the plan developed in the late 80s that led to the eventual revitalization of what is now our beautiful downtown. So, once the bricks and mortar part of the long term vision was completed, our civic leaders came together to meet with various members of the community to determine what the next step should be. From these meetings came Vision 2025, and we work daily to make the vision happen at Greenville Forward."

Though it was exhausting at times to talk to so many people all day for three days, it was truly a rewarding experience and we hope that the people who heard about what we do will support us in future endeavors and spread the word about the mission of Vision 2025.

After the fact--A recap of Opening Doors to Success

2009-08-24T13:36:00.002-04:00

When my alarm clock went off at 7:30 am on Saturday, the temptation was great to just hit snooze and spend a few more hours under the covers. Though not a college student any more, I have had a hard time making myself go to bed at a reasonable time and still tend to sleep late when the chance presents itself. So, it was quite difficult to get up but once I remembered the importance of what we were planning to do that morning, I stumbled out of bed and straight to the coffee maker to start the day.

This being my first experience with Graduate Greenville, I had no idea that so many people from the community and faces I recognized would be there. We met at Greenville High where there was a beautiful spread of breakfast foods and of course, coffee. I saw faces from the SC House of Representatives, United Way, the Greenville County School District, the Alliance for Quality Education, Greenville First, Michelin, and of course, Greenville Forward. There were many other groups represented as well but these were the ones I can remember at the moment.

After a brief training and orientation session, we were broken up into teams and given matching t-shirts and case folders for the students we were planning to visit that morning. I was quite excited to have the principal of Greenville High on my team because I am a little shy at first and figured the man who deals with high school students on a daily basis would be a great addition to our group.

We were given four students to visit who did not show up to school for the first week. Though we were only able to make contact with one, that experience strengthened my belief in the ability of this program to actually make a difference. The story behind this invidivual is confidential but I will provide a short glimpse into what the moment was like without revealing too much about his situation.

After briefing ourselves again on the student's age and information, we hopped out of our car and headed for the front door. I was very nervous and did not know what to expect. We were able to get a response after a few knocks and the student came to the door after a little coaxing from his sister. He was not interested in responding to our questions at first and did not even seem to want to speak to us at all. Shy and a little tongue tied--I watched from afar as the principal of Greenville High offered options for the student to finish his education.

A little while later, his mother also joined us in the conversation. She was very encouraging and supportive of our efforts, which I found to be a welcome surprise. I was worried that they would not want us to be visiting them at home and would be understandably protective of their space. However, her response was incredible and the moment that brought tears to my eyes was when she looked at her son and said, "These people have come to your door personally to help you because they are concerned about you and want you to succeed. You know you aren't going to get anywhere on the streets. It is your future, son. You are the one to make this choice." Her eyes swelled with tears as she looked up at her son and his tough exterior seemed to melt the hardened expression away into one of a young boy who is scared and a little lost.

His simple response of "OK" was enough to make us all want to jump for joy and his mother could not have looked happier. The principal met with him a little while longer to talk about arrangements and then we were on our way to make our next visit.

Though our team was only able to reach one student on Saturday, we were able to make a difference in one life and that in itself is a huge success. Our story was one of several success stories from the day that we hope will continue to stay in school and recognize their potential.

First Day of School, First Day of School!

2009-08-19T09:46:00.003-04:00

On the way to Greenville Forward this morning, I was listening to the morning show djs talk about buying school supplies and the extensive preparations parents often make to get their children ready for the dreaded/beloved first day. Depending on who the kid is, this process is either really exciting or really excruciating.

I must reveal a little bit of my inner nerd here and admit that I was definitely in the "excited" camp every year. Listening to the radio and hearing parents calling in and talking about buying glue sticks and notebook paper brought back waves of excitement that have been there for the past 17 or so years. Oddly, this is the first year since I was two years old that I am not going to school...because I am DONE....(for now, anyway).

But, listening to my teacher friends talk about prepping for today, seeing all the signs for back-to-school deals at local stores, and even hearing the busy moms at my YMCA aerobics class yesterday chatting about their new fall schedules somehow allowed me to get caught up in all of the excitement even though I am not going anywhere.

I am reminded of the part in the fantastic film, "Finding Nemo," when little Nemo chants excitedly, "First day of school, first day of school!" I am certain that there are plenty of kids out there today that had this nervous enthusiasm about starting school for the first time, or getting to move up to middle school, or being old enough to try out for a varsity sports team.

I know, however, that this is not true for every student and that there are many who won't show up for the first day, or the first week, who do not want to be there or who may simply not be able to physically get there due to circumstances beyond their control. Because of this sobering fact, there is an organization in Greenville dedicated to reaching out to these kids. It is Graduate Greenville and this Saturday, they will visit the homes of students who did not show up to see how they can help them get to school.

The program is called "Opening Doors to Success" and it was created in the hopes that a personal visit by someone in the community who really cares about their education wants them to realize that going to school is that important. The program also tries to help families with the obstacles preventing their children from going to school.

Our staff is going to participate this Saturday and I know we are all looking forward to the chance to express how crucial an education is to having a successful future.

Hiking in a Monsoon

2009-08-18T11:47:00.004-04:00

This past weekend, my out of town cousin was visiting from Virginia and I was determined to show her all of the wonderful things Greenville and the Upstate area has to offer. We did the whole downtown thing on Friday night, took advantage of the outlet shopping opportunities nearby on Saturday, and on Sunday afternoon ventured up to Caesars Head to do a little hiking.

Located just 37 miles from Greenville, I have always tried to take advantage of the trails' close proximity but have not been as much as I would like. We stopped at the Caesars Head State Park welcome area and picnic shelter where I proudly showed her the incredible view from the overlook located just a few feet from the parking area.

We went on the fairly simple and popular Raven Cliff Falls trail that offers a view of the falls and a connection to Dismal Trail, a trail that is aptly named due to portions of it that require a great deal of determination and athletic skill at times. Raven Cliff Falls is also the highest waterfall in South Carolina at 400 feet.

However, we started hearing what I thought was just the sound of the waterfall (I was impressed that we could hear it so well from so far away) but what was in actuality the sound of a torrential downpour hitting the ceiling of tree branches above us. And...we knew we were doomed.

Already three quarters of the way into the hike, there was no turning back and we trudged our way through the mud and heavy rain until we finally made it to the sheltered overlook. But, the rain turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as I have never seen the trail so abandoned or the waterfall so beautiful. The fog and steam rising up from the falls and all around us as the rain cleared and the sun came back out was an incredible sight that made me not mind my drenched clothes or squishy shoes.

Though I know now that it was a rookie mistake to not examine the weather forecast more closely before taking off into the woods, the experience was incredible and framed a trail I've been on numerous times in a completely different light. We are so lucky to have access to such beautiful places right at our back door.

Foodie Fest-ivities

2009-08-13T11:13:00.009-04:00

For any of you who might know me personally, you probably know that I absolutely love fine dining. Unfortunately, this love is often unrequited because I often cannot afford the high price of high quality foods. However, I will splurge from time to time to try a new dish at some of my favorite foodie haunts in town.

As seen in this article in the Chicago Sun Times, Greenville is viewed as a "culinary secret" by the rest of the country (and maybe the world). This status is truly remarkable for an often unknown corner of an often underestimated state. Our unique restaurants that line the main thoroughfares in Greenville offer selections that I argue would whet the palate of some of the country's most distinguished food critics.

But, the economic downturn has somewhat slowed the pace of the restaurant business as patrons are now having to strain their wallets instead of their waistlines. Thankfully, and with my unadulterated and completely emphatic blessing, some of Greenville's top culinary leaders have banded together for a week of deals known as "Foodie Fest."

Following the examples of Charlotte and Atlanta, the week features a deal where patrons can choose an appetizer, entre and dessert all for just $30. It lasts until Sunday, August 16 and according to a tweet by a participating restaurant, so many reservations were requested on a usually slow Wednesday night that they had to quit taking any. Clearly, the week-long deal is a "win-win" situation.

But, beyond the benefits of more people getting to participate in the fine dining experience, it shows a particular comaraderie among our competing restaurants in the effort to support our local economy and help customers out where they can. To me, this is an example of what makes our community unique and probably why Greenville was recently chosen as the fifth best place to weather the economic recession in Forbes Magazine.

So, my hat goes off to the Greenville restauranteurs and my deprived "fine-dining palate" is looking forward to reaping the benefits.

A Day Without Social Media...

2009-08-06T14:39:00.003-04:00

When I arrived at work today, I did my usual "checking" -- what once was a simple e-mail check now includes the likes of Twitter, Facebook, Google Reader, gmail, and of course my Outlook account. Trying to keep my passwords and log-in information has become quite tricky. But, I am very much NOT alone as the hip working world has now ventured into a land of social media where news is learned through Twitter's trending topics and people are able to communicate their company's message via what the experts call "a web presence."

However, this morning as I sipped my cup of coffee and opened up my tabbed browsers to read as much as possible at once, I was denied and denied again. No Twitter. No tweetdeck. No facebook. And, if I happened to use LiveJournal, I would have been denied access there, too.

So, what happens when you try to log in to these e-venues and you can't get in? How much communication is lost? How much money is lost from a lull in e-advertising? And, finally, what do you do with your newly acquired free time?

Today, Twitter, Facebook, LiveJournal and a few other similar outlets were inaccessible for most of the morning and afternoon due to a "denial-of-service" attack. I'll admit, I thought it was just my computer at first and was baffled when both Twitter and Facebook were completely non respondent when I tried to log in. Brock thought my theories about a villain mounting a takeover of social media sounded like a conspiracy theory but it turns out I may not have been that far off.

According to the New York Times (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/twitter-overwhelmed-by-web-attack/?src=twt&twt=nytimes), a denial of service attack occurs when, "hackers direct a “botnet,” often made up of thousands of malware-infected home PCs, toward a target site in an effort to flood it with junk traffic. With the site overwhelmed, legitimate visitors cannot access the service."

This is not the first time that these sites have been targeted by malicious attempts to gain access to users' private information. Twitter was recently bombarded by phishing scams attempting to steal private documents from businesses using the site. I myself was a victim and was asked by Twitter to change my password as someone had tried to hack into my account.

So, as we become a nation more linked to the virtual world, what can we do to protect ourselves? Do we depend too much on the security and reliability of Internet websites? What other questions are we not asking that could make a difference?

As various organizations now fill up the gap in tweets with apologetic updates for not posting for multiple hours today, I am kind of thankful that my social media world was cut off for a time...I was actually able to get a whole lot done!

Explaining what we do...

2009-08-04T15:34:00.004-04:00

You can ask any staff member here at Greenville Forward and they will tell you that sometimes it is really hard to explain exactly what we do over here on Manly Street. We constantly work on our "elevator pitch" speech that will try to break down the work of years of visioning and planning into 30 seconds.

The thing is, you really only get some one's attention for that long...think about commercials that seem "so long" when they are usually no more than 30 seconds. As the new Marketing and Communications Director, this has been something I have been struggling to master in my first few months here full time. Every time I explained my new job to a friend or relative, I tried to improve my time and explanation but it probably still takes me about 5 minutes to make the quizzical looks go away in exchange for "Ohhhhhh" and "That's awesome!"

But seriously, we are a nonprofit organization called Greenville Forward dedicated to implementing Vision 2025, a plan detailing the best way for Greenville County to achieve the goals it desires in the years from now until 2025. Sure, that only takes a few seconds to blurt out, right? However, it never quite captures it all. Vision 2025 exists because Vision 2005 did. And Vision 2005 hearkens back to the days of Max Heller and his strong vision for a new Greenville in the late 80's that included the development of our beloved downtown scene and the industry that followed.

A place to live is no greater than the people who create it. Vision 2025 utilized community forums and the sheer intelligence of our civic leaders to determine what else needed to be done in Greenville County to make the quality of life here better and better. They covered every arena they could think of and more has been added along the way.

Greenville Forward exists because someone needed to wake up every day and think about how to move the vision further TODAY and TOMORROW and every day after that. We are focused on providing ways for organizations, volunteers, agencies and other nonprofits to collaborate on vision initiatives and realize the opportunities and resources they have in one another. We produce studies measuring where we are now and setting the bar for change in the future. We facilitate monthly conversations on regional topics that raise awareness for the unknown aspects of our Greenville world.

And, above all else, we seek to support this community that has achieved so much already and is brimming with potential for the future.

Now, how can I cover all of that in just 30 seconds without sounding vague or trite? I might just have to get back to you on that...

Salad Bowl or Melting Pot

2009-07-24T13:17:00.002-04:00

So, Momentum continues to be a great avenue for conversation on topics that pertain to Greenville and the future. We at Greenville Forward get very excited when we hear great conversations. July's Momentum was no exception. Thank you to David Esch, who chairs our International Task Force, for leading this discussion around International - Greenville. Check out the video for a recap.

A Momentous Pecha Kucha

2009-07-21T12:11:00.001-04:00

I’ve been interning at Greenville Forward for about six weeks, and have learned a few things. The first is that there are a lot of really innovative, dynamic people out there. The second is that they don’t all live in Los Angeles or New York.

For example, the Momentum Series has been hosting events gathering people from all around Greenville simply to sit and talk about different topics over lunch. When I first found out about these I assumed they were sparsely attended, and that the few people who did go were the same people I saw coming into the office every day. Boy, was I wrong. The first Momentum, called “Town and Gown”, had big wigs from Furman, Clemson, Greenville Tech, and Bob Jones, including Dr. Shi. Not only did all of these people show up, but each listened to the other and made important contributions to the conversation (including our own Kate Hofler).

A couple of weeks later we started working and collaborating on a very interesting project. Pecha Kucha is a kind of blitz presentation where presenters get twenty slides and are allowed twenty seconds a slide. The idea is to disseminate knowledge as rapidly as possible. After struggling with the various pronunciations and spellings of this event, I found out that these are hosted all over the world, propelling Greenville from our normal comparison towns of Charlotte or Charleston to London and Tokyo.

The common thread that I’ve found between these projects, and between everything I’ve done here is this; Greenville has a lot of incredibly intelligent, motivated people. I think that it is because of these people who come here from all over the world (our second Momentum this summer proved that) that Greenville is such a great place. We have to keep working to maintain and improve upon this, but I feel that if the people I’ve met this summer are any indication we should be alright.

Listen To The Rain....

2009-07-20T13:35:00.002-04:00

On a Monday morning, this makes Greenville Forward sleepy...

Town and Gown Greenville

2009-07-08T14:41:00.008-04:00

Check out this video on our June Momentum Series discussion on building successful university and community collaborations.

Happy Fourth To Greenville and Everyone Else...

2009-07-05T15:17:00.003-04:00

Weight Room Bullies

2009-06-30T10:02:00.002-04:00

To anyone who is a female attempting to increase her fitness beyond elliptical-ing and contortionist yoga, the weight room seems to hold its own glass ceiling. It is the pinnacle of testosterone and manliness--the grunting and agonizing sound of muscles screaming under the weight of 90lb dumbbells says it all.

As a woman interested in developing stronger muscles, I have been quite frustrated by the way I have been treated on a few occasions in the weight room. I would classify myself as a beginner in the weight-lifting arena though I have often tried to get started on a routine at different points in my life. However, I have been stymied many times by feeling embarrassed or as if I am not welcome on the weightlifting mat.

Recently, I was using a bench in this hallowed area, already nervous because I had gone after work during a high volume time and just began my new routine that requires a clipboard and instructions to get it right. As I am steadily trying to control my breathing and maintain a calm speed while doing bicep curls, a man came up to me and asked if I was using the bench. Obviously, if I am on it on one knee, using it to add an extra element of balance control, I am using the bench. Not two minutes later, the same thing happened on the leg press as I was mid-press but with a different man.

If we are a county consciously trying to become healthier, why can't we support each other in such a simple way as this? Many women I have spoken to are greatly intimidated by the weight room because of similar experiences such as mine. But, the benefits of weight training are clear--a proven way to help curb osteoporosis among many other positive results.

I am not trying to point the finger at all men or suggest that I feel discriminated against--I just want to challenge women who read this post to be bold and for men to make an extra effort to be encouraging to the women around them trying to improve their fitness.

Check my Twitter...I just posted something about Arts!

2009-06-16T10:39:00.001-04:00

Adam Landrum stopped by the Greenville Forward Arts Task Force to impart some knowledge about social media's potential impact on the arts scene in Greenville. How can our arts organizations benefit? How can artists? What applications work better than others? Thanks for Adam for his help in answering these questions.

Learning...

2009-05-12T15:26:00.001-04:00

Generation Greenville

2009-05-12T15:16:00.001-04:00

Life Moves So Fast...

2009-03-17T14:13:00.003-04:00

A very cool video discovered by our intern, Kate. She rocks!

Check out more at...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LsSPynV4dY

Gotta See A Man About A Bus...

2009-03-16T16:56:00.005-04:00

So, the transportation systems in SC are getting some money from all this stimulus spending. Where does Greenville stand?

By Ashley Fletcher Frampton
SCBIZ Daily Staff
CHARLESTON -- The state’s major metro areas are set to receive nearly $15 million from the federal government in stimulus money that will go directly to regional transportation capital projects.
Transportation authorities in Charleston have already decided to use most of its portion of the money to purchase up to 15 new buses. And while Columbia and Greenville have yet to finalize plans, authorities in both areas also intend to use the money to purchase new vehicles and update old buses, including the addition of satellite tracking systems.

Charleston buses
On Feb. 26, the Charleston Regional Transportation Authority approved the purchase of nine to 15 buses with a portion of the federal stimulus allocation.
A member of the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority board wants the public to ask CARTA leaders to rethink a commitment to use more than $4.5 million of its $6.4 million in federal stimulus money to buy new buses; instead, he wants CARTA to use the allocation toward a project that will create local jobs.
Board member Paul Thurmond said that he’s not opposed to eventually buying new buses but that he thinks the federal money should go toward a project that will create the most local jobs in the shortest amount of time. CARTA has a project that could create up to 500 jobs, but that plan was voted down.
“For me it’s not saying the buses aren’t important. Obviously, that’s the mode of transportation that CARTA uses, and I don’t have the background they do in regards to how often they need to be changed out,” Thurmond said. “To me it gets to the philosophy of what the stimulus is for.”

Columbia buses
The Central Midlands Regional Transportation Authority will receive about $5.4 million from the federal stimulus package for capital purchases, executive director Mitzi Javers said.
Preliminary plans call for the purchase of five to seven new buses to replace older vehicles, updates to the exterior of other buses and installation of a satellite tracking system on all 71 of the agency’s vehicles.
The agency’s board has not finalized those spending plans, Javers said, but will do so by the end of the month.
The buses that would be replaced are nearing the end of their useful lives, Javers said. They would be 9 or 10 years old by the time replacement buses arrive, a process she said typically takes between one and two years.
Painting the exterior of several buses that are 7 years old — not old enough to be eligible for replacement — would help the bus system maintain a positive image in the community, Javers said.
The bus system’s other planned purchase, tracking systems for all buses in the fleet, will help the agency monitor its service. Javers said the devices will allow the system to better ensure buses are arriving on time. They also will improve coordination between fixed-route buses and paratransit vehicles transporting individuals.
Spending plans are based on capital needs that the transportation authority already had identified, Javers said.
“We did not foresee being able to meet those needs for at least three years,” Javers said. “This will put us ahead in terms of getting our capital replacement program going.”
Though the bus system has struggled to find a stable source of operating funds recently and is facing the end of a $3 million annual commitment from SCANA, the federal stimulus money could be used only for capital needs, not operations, Javers said.

Greenville buses
The Greenville Transit Authority will receive $3 million in federal stimulus funds to replace aging Greenlink buses, said James Bourey, city manager.
Bourey expects that the city will replace eight of the fleet’s 20 buses. The money is already allocated and does not require approval from Gov. Mark Sanford or the state Legislature, he said.
The new buses should save maintenance costs down the road, he said.
“In the course of the next few years, hopefully we can get some new funding to replace the rest of the buses,” Bourey said.

Scott Miller and Andy Owens contributed to this report

8 Buses. Man, buses are expensive. Well, let's hope this is a jumping off point to providing some much needed public transportation in Greenville!

What Does Sustainability Mean?...

2009-03-11T17:43:00.003-04:00

Well, Angela Halfacre, Director of Sustainability at Furman University, knows. You can read about her in the new issue of Greenville Magainze.

But, contrary to the title of this here post....I'm going to tell you what it's not. Thank you to Scientific American and Dr. Halfacre for providing this list.

These are the myths related to Sustainability....

Myth 1: Nobody knows what sustainability really means.
That’s not even close to being true. By all accounts, the modern sense of the word entered the lexicon in 1987 with the publication of Our Common Future, by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (also known as the Brundtland commission after its chair, Norwegian diplomat Gro Harlem Brundtland). That report defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Or, in the words of countless kindergarten teachers, “Don’t take more than your share.”

Note that the definition says nothing about protecting the environment, even though the words “sustainable” and “sustainability” issue mostly from the mouths of environmentalists. That point leads to the second myth....

DepartmentsEarth 3.0 Resources in Film and Online
DepartmentsNew Aid for Elephants--Sperm Banks
DepartmentsChestnut Trees Return to the Eastern U.S.

Myth 2: Sustainability is all about the environment.
The sustainability movement itself—not just the word—also dates to the Brundtland commission report. Originally, its focus was on finding ways to let poor nations catch up to richer ones in terms of standard of living. That goal meant giving disadvantaged countries better access to natural resources, including water, energy and food—all of which come, one way or another, from the environment. “The economy,” says Anthony Cortese, founder and president of the sustainability education organization Second Nature, “is a wholly owned subsidiary of the biosphere. The biosphere provides everything that makes life possible, assimilates our waste or converts it back into something we can use.”

If too many of us use resources inefficiently or generate waste too quickly for the environment to absorb and process, future generations obviously won’t be able to meet their needs. Says Paul Hawken, the author (his latest book is Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being, and Why No One Saw it Coming) and entrepreneur (he’s a co-founder of the Smith & Hawken garden tools company) who helped to found the sustainability movement: “We have an economy where we steal the future, sell it in the present, and call it GDP [gross domestic product].”

If people continue to pour carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air, for example, we won’t necessarily exhaust resources (there’s plenty of coal still in the ground), but we will change the climate in ways that could very likely impose huge burdens on future generations. The same, of course, goes for the poisonous by-products other than CO2 from all kinds of human activity, from manufacturing to mining to energy generation to agriculture, that get dumped onto the land and into streams, oceans and the atmosphere.

The nonenvironmental rationales for sustainability get a little squishier when we talk about intangibles, such as the beauty of nature or the value of wilderness. “In wildness is the preservation of the world,” wrote Henry David Thoreau; the national parks movement that began in the U.S. at the end of the 19th century and has since spread internationally springs from that idea. In modern terms, because humans evolved in a nontechnological world, we seem to need some connection to nature to be content. That concept is tough to prove scientifically. Nevertheless, says Nancy Gabriel, program director at the Sustainability Institute in Hartland, Vt., “If you look at Western society, you have huge rates of depression, isolation, [and] people who are disenfranchised. I think that reconnecting to the land is an important way of reestablishing a basic level of happiness.” That kind of intangible connection has led towns, cities and states all over the U.S., but especially in built-up areas, to preserve land for open space.

A related but separate myth is....

Myth 3: “Sustainable” is a synonym for “green.”
Although there’s a fair amount of overlap between the terms, “green” usually suggests a preference for the natural over the artificial. With some six billion people on the planet today, and another three billion expected by the middle of the century, society cannot hope to give them a comfortable standard of living without a heavy dependence on technology. Electric cars, wind turbines and solar cells are the antithesis of natural—but they allow people to get around, warm their houses and cook their food with renewable resources (or at least, a much smaller input of nonrenewables) while emitting fewer noxious chemicals.

It’s probably more difficult to see nuclear power as sustainable. Unlike the other alternative energy sources, it has long been anathema to environmentalists, largely because of the problem of storing radioactive waste. But nuclear reactors are also a highly efficient source of power, emit no pollutant gases and—with some types, anyway—can be designed to generate minimal waste and to be essentially meltdown-proof. That’s why Patrick Moore, a co-founder of Greenpeace, has become a nuclear booster and why many other environmentalists are beginning—sometimes grudgingly—to entertain the idea of embracing nuclear. Calling it green would be a stretch. Calling it sustainable is much less of one.

Myth 4: It’s all about recycling.
“I get that a lot,” says Shana Weber, the manager of sustainability at Princeton University. “For some reason, recycling was the enduring message that came out of the environmental movement in the early 1970s.” And of course, recycling is important: reusing metals, paper, wood and plastics rather than tossing them reduces the need to extract raw materials from the ground, forests and fossil-fuel deposits. More efficient use of pretty much anything is a step in the direction of sustainability. But it is just a piece of the puzzle. “I deal with the people who run the recycling program here,” Weber notes, “but also with purchasing, dining services, the people who clean the buildings. The most important areas by far in terms of sustainability are energy and transportation.” If you think you are living sustainably because you recycle, she says, you need to think again.

Myth 5: Sustainability is too expensive.
If there is an 800-pound gorilla in the room of sustainability, this myth is it. That’s because, as Gabriel observes, “there’s a grain of truth to it.” But only a grain. “It’s only true in the short term in certain circumstances,” Cortese says, “but certainly not in the long term.” The truth lies in the fact that if you already have an unsustainable system in place—a factory or a transportation system, for example, or a furnace in your house, an incandescent lightbulb in your lamp or a Hummer in your driveway—you have to spend some money up front to switch to a more sustainable technology.In general, governments and companies can take that step more easily than individuals can. “Over the past seven years,” Cortese explains, “DuPont has made investments that have reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 72 percent over 1990 levels. They’ve saved $2 billion.” The Pentagon is determined to cut its energy use by a third, both to save money and to reduce its dependence on risky foreign oil supplies.

Myth 6: Sustainability means lowering our standard of living.
Not at all true. It does mean that we have to do more with less, but as Hawken argues, “Once we start to organize ourselves and innovate within that mind-set, the breakthroughs are extraordinary. They will allow us to achieve greatly superior rates of resource productivity, which in turn allow us to be prosperous, fed, clad, secure.” Moreover, he and others maintain that the innovation at the heart of sustainable living will be a powerful economic engine. “Addressing climate change,” he says, “is the biggest job creation program there is.”

Myth 7: Consumer choices and grassroots activism, not government intervention, offer the fastest, most efficient routes to sustainability.
Popular grassroots actions are helpful and ultimately necessary. But progress on some reforms, such as curbing CO2 emissions, can only happen quickly if central authorities commit to making it happen. That is why tax credits, mandatory fuel-efficiency standards and the like are pretty much inevitable. That conclusion drives free-market evangelists crazy, but they operate on the assumption that wasteful use of resources and the destruction of the environment is without cost, which is demonstrably untrue.

To cite just one example, economic devastation is very likely under even the mildest plausible climate change scenarios, in the form of disruptions to agriculture from shifts in rainfall patterns and growing zones; densely populated coastal areas will be rendered unlivable as sea level rises, and so on. Yet the price currently being charged to people who add greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is zero. Putting a per-ton tax on carbon emissions would be wildly unpopular, but it would for the first time account for the real costs of unsustainable energy use.

Free-market purists also argue that with respect to the depletion of natural resources, rising prices will automatically push people into more efficient behavior. True enough—but the transition can be painful and disruptive. The primary reason U.S. automakers are in such trouble is that they have been depending for years on high-profit, gas-guzzling SUVs. When the price of oil shot up last year, the market for big cars plummeted (gas prices have only come down since then in the face of a worldwide recession, which hasn’t helped the auto industry). So car buyers may have changed their behavior, but only at the cost of potential disaster for some of America’s biggest companies and their employees.

Still, rising energy prices have had the effect of again galvanizing research into wind, solar and other alternatives—and if you leave economic disruption aside, we can at least count on car companies to make more efficient vehicles and on utilities to find more sustainable sources of energy. But that outcome may reflect another myth….

Myth 8: New technology is always the answer.
Not necessarily. During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama made the tactical mistake of pointing out that proper tire inflation could save Americans millions of gallons of gasoline through better fuel economy. The Republicans ridiculed him, just as they did President Jimmy Carter for appearing on TV in a sweater during the energy crisis of the late 1970s. Both Carter and Obama were right, however (California’s Republican governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has called for proper tire inflation as well).

In other words, sometimes existing technology can make a huge difference. Sometimes it takes a creative business model. Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agassi, for example, wants to electrify the world’s car fleet—widely acknowledged as a big step toward cutting down carbon emissions—not by inventing a battery that gets 200 miles on a charge but by inventing a better system for letting drivers go as far as they want without recharging. His proposal, which has been adopted on a pilot basis by Israel and Denmark, would create battery exchange stations along highways, analogous to the gas canister exchanges that people now use for barbecue grills. What do you do if you are out on the road and your battery is running low? You pull into a station, your dead battery is swapped for a fully charged one and you’re on the road again in a few minutes.

“He’s delivering distance, not better batteries,” says Mark Lee, CEO of the London consulting firm SustainAbility. “There’s an Italian utility that’s selling its customers hot water, not energy to heat water. It’s a different way of measuring, and it gives the company an incentive to be more efficient so it can be more profitable.”

Myth 9: Sustainability is ultimately a population problem.
This is not a myth, but it represents a false solution. Every environmental problem is ultimately a population problem. If the world’s population were only 100 million people, we would be hard-pressed to generate enough waste to overwhelm nature’s cleanup systems. We could dump all our trash in a landfill in some remote area, and nobody would notice.

Population experts agree that the best way to limit population is to educate women and raise the standard of living generally in developing countries. But that strategy cannot possibly happen quickly enough to put a dent in the population on any useful timescale. The U.N. projects that the planet will have to sustain another 2.6 billion people by 2050. But even at the current population level of 6.5 billion, we’re using up resources at an unsustainable rate. There is no way to reduce the population significantly without trampling egregiously on individual rights (as China has done with its one-child policy), encouraging mass suicide or worse. None of those proposals seems preferable to focusing directly on less wasteful use of resources.

Myth 10: Once you understand the concept, living sustainably is a breeze to figure out.
All too often, a choice that seems sustainable turns out on closer examination to be problematic. Probably the best current example is the rush to produce ethanol for fuel from corn. Corn is a renewable resource—you can harvest it and grow more, roughly indefinitely. So replacing gasoline with corn ethanol seems like a great idea. Until you do a thorough analysis, that is, and see how energy-intensive the cultivation and harvesting of corn and its conversion into ethanol really are.

One might get a bit more energy out of the ethanol than was sunk into making it, which could still make ethanol more sustainable than gasoline in principle, but that’s not the end of the problem. Diverting corn to make ethanol means less corn is left to feed livestock and people, which drives up the cost of food. That consequence leads to turning formerly fallow land—including, in some cases, rain forest in places such as Brazil—into farmland, which in turn releases lots of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Eventually, over many decades, the energy benefit from burning ethanol would make up for that forest loss. But by then, climate change would have progressed so far that it might not help.

You cannot really declare any practice “sustainable” until you have done a complete life-cycle analysis of its environmental costs. Even then, technology and public policy keep evolving, and that evolution can lead to unforeseen and unintended consequences. The admirable goal of living sustainably requires plenty of thought on an ongoing basis.

Let's Dance, Eh?

2009-03-10T16:04:00.001-04:00

CBT proudly presents
¡DIA LATINO!
Passion. Fervor. Excitement.
Latin culture brings this and more to dance.

March 13 - 14, Peace Center
Show times: Friday 7:30pm, Saturday 7:30pm

For ticket information please contact the PeaceCenter at 467.3000, boxoffice@peacecenter.org
www.carolinaballet.org 864.421.0940

Thank you to our sponsors.

South Carolina Ballet • Sae Mickelson Photography
South Carolina Arts Commission • The Sock Basket
Indexx Printing • Metropolitan Arts Council
Ferebee Lane Brand Communications

Poverty of Education

2009-03-10T13:27:00.000-04:00

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090310/NEWS/903100331

A Model Community?...

2009-03-10T07:35:00.006-04:00

Russell is expanding his speech to other parts of the country...

UPDATE*****
Alright, for some reason, the embedded video is not playing, so here's a link to the article and the video...

http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=9956619&nav=menu54_2

What's Going On?

2009-03-03T08:57:00.002-05:00

So, I hear more and more people ask me each day, "what is there to do in Greenville?" My answer is usually "Tons. You have to go out and find it." Well, here's a resource to find out about some more things. Check out http://www.greenvillesc.gov/

Snow Day Fun...

2009-03-02T20:22:00.004-05:00

As countless kids all across the Upstate of South Carolina woke up this morning to the fresh fallen snow that lay outside their windows and the news coming from WYFF, WSPA and WLOS that they had the day off...some others decided it'd be a good time to take some things that didn't belong to them.

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20090302/NEWS06/90302039/-1/IE6SecuritySettings

I just had to share. Some of the smartest thieves since the dudes that robbed banks at night and tried to get away wearing those L.A. Gear shoes that lit up...

Accused drug dealer Alfred Acree bolted from police in Charles City,
Va., in April on a Saturday night and took off in the dark through the
thick woods. However, police tracked him down easily because he was
wearing new L. A. Gear athletic shoes containing small, battery-operated
lights that light up each time the heel is pressed. Said sheriff's
investigator Anthony Anderson, "Every time he took a step, we knew
exactly where he was." [Newport News Daily Press, 4-8-93]

Gotta Fly...

2009-03-01T11:18:00.003-05:00

So, a recent report has ranked our own GSP as one of the "biggest ripoffs" in the country in terms of air fare. Hmmm. You agree?

http://www.forbes.com/2009/02/15/airports-travel-regional-lifestyle-travel_0216_airports.html

Where We Stand...

2009-02-28T15:32:00.001-05:00

Sometimes we have to look from the bottom up...

The Magnificent Obsession

2009-02-19T10:14:00.003-05:00

Though it has been quite a while since my last official post on the Greenville Forward Thinking Blog, rest assured that I have still been thinking and now have some thoughts to share. Now in my last term of my senior year at Furman, I have become quite introspective as my friends and I experience all of our "lasts" together and fret about life post graduation.

However, one of the most interesting things I have thought about lately came from one of my classes I am taking this term. I am enrolled in a film studies course called Stardom and Identity. It is truly one of my favorites in my four years at Furman because it is so different. We screen movies weekly and this week's movie was The Magnificent Obsession featuring Rock Hudson.

For those of you who may have not watched an old movie in a while and could use a dose of 1950s melodrama, this is a great one. But, what I found most inspiring about the film was the message of simplistic self-sacrifice instead of pursuing wealth and over-indulgence. While this may seem trite if you have not watched the film, I found it to be a refreshing reminder of the benefit of helping someone and not wanting something in return.

Though this philosophy may be something simple that is taught to children at a young age as a sort of golden rule mantra, the film changed it into something that could produce power and become an obsession, a magnificent one at that (thus the title). The plot portrays the transformation of a wasteful playboy with too much money for his own good who changes into a man living his life according to a philosophy of helping others without recognition or repayment.

In this day of a struggling economy and heightened poverty, I think the way of describing such a life philosophy as a "magnificent obsession" is incredible. It reminds me of the theory behind Pay it Forward and the way humanity can step up to take care of its own if in the right mindset. Though it may seem shocking to gain a valuable lesson about humanity from Hollywood, the notion of helping others as a lifestyle or dedicated philosophy is a powerful message.

How Could I Fail To Mention...

2009-02-10T08:35:00.002-05:00

Well, it's been some time since I've been here. The past few weeks have been a bit extreme for me and Russell. Each day holds a new challenge and we seem to flying by the seats of our pants at times, but what a thrill, right? One moment, I'm meeting with someone from Greenville County Schools to discuss a program to bridge the gap between our upcoming High School graduates and our local business leaders, and the next moment I'm working on a environmental scorecard for the County.

Each day over here brings a new and exciting challenge. We get to see generosity as well as see places where we need improvement. Yesterday, I saw both. I was in line at County Square trying to pay my car taxes. I have moved recently, and I hadn't changed my address with the County so I never got my notices. Anyway, the gentleman in front of me was trying to switch a car title, I think. He didn't speak English, or if he did, he didn't speak it very well. This is where the improvement comes in. No one behind the window spoke Spanish. No one. Not even a bit of it. So, he was getting frustrated, the woman behind the window was getting frustrated and the people in the long line that was forming were getting very frustrated. I watched and wondered if anyone in the building spoke Spanish. I knew one person did, but he was all the way down at the Human Relations Commission. I thought about going to get him, but I knew I would lose my place in line and I was next!

It was at that moment that someone behind asked if they could help. So, they walked up to the counter and translated everything back and forth. The issue was resolved quickly and the line moved forward. I say this as an act of generosity. This woman who translated was not in my line. She was not with the County. She did not work there. She was passing by, on her way to something else, and saw the situation and asked if she could help. And, it saved us all a bit of trouble. Just goes to show you that generosity sometimes helps more than those you are intending it to help. And, Greenville does that a lot.

So, in that frame of mind, I wanted to help promote a book written by one of our Task Force members, The Rev. Beth Templeton. Beth has been working long and hard for over a year to write the book below. It currently sits on my desk and each time I pick it up, I find a new perspective that I hadn't thought of before. It's truly inspiring. In this time of economic crisis, we look, many times, to our friends & family for guidance and support. Looking to our neighbors can also help sometimes.

Beth will also be serving as our "Visionary" at our upcoming Momentum Series on February 26th. The topic will be on the Current Economic Crisis in the U.S. and How Greenville is Reacting. We have a new segment in Greenville, commonly referred to as "newly poor." These are individuals and families that are experiencing poverty for the first time. Many of them own houses with mortgages, own cars, have kids in college, etc, and have lost their income due to the times. We are, in some ways, unprepared to handle this new group. We have services in place, but many of them are designed for them. How can we, as a community, reach out to help them so that we can ensure that "every man, woman and child in Greenville has a home?"

Momentum
Featuring: Beth Templeton
February 26th
11:45AM - 1:00PM
County Square, Conference Room B
301 University Ridge
Greenville, SC 29601

Please RSVP to: bkoonce@greenvilleforward.com

Synopsis of Loving Our Neighbor:
Loving Our Neighbor: A Thoughtful Approach to Helping People in Poverty provides guidance and practical advice to help organizations and individuals make wise and thoughtful decisions that will have long-lasting and positive implications when providing financial assistance to those in need. Templeton shares fresh insights, thought-provoking lessons, and timeless wisdom through an organized and compassionate process that includes various approaches designed to help others decide how, when, and whom to help in times of need. Loving Our Neighbor encourages building relationships with those who can benefit from assistance, ultimately enriching their lives in countless ways. This resource:

· Provides an understanding of the Biblical call to help
· Assists others in comprehending a life of poverty
· Advises the different ways to aid those battling financial hardship
· Illustrates how to organize a direct ministry for a church
· Facilitates others in gaining a deeper understanding of the social and economic conditions that lead to poverty.
An early editor said of Loving Our Neighbor: “Though Jim Wallis and Ron Sider are well known, it seems to me that their readers end up well informed and motivated but still asking, “What can I do? [This] book, in effect, comes alongside those hunting for a way to address these problems and helps them find exactly the tools they need.”

Table of Contents for Loving Our Neighbor can be found at www.lovingourneighbor.com.

Purchase the Book through Amazon.com; Cokesbury.com; and iUniverse.com. Our goal is to sell at least 500 copies by June 2009 through these combined sources.

Recent Review of Loving Our Neighbor by Greenville Magazine’s Elizabeth Parrish states: Beth Templeton, an ordained minister and former executive director of United Ministries in Greenville, penned this practical guidebook for schools, churches, businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals interested in pursuing charity—the right way. Divided into three parts, the book covers the Biblical support behind charitable giving; the many ways by which to be charitable (without feeling duped); and the big picture behind the cycle of poverty.
One of the things I found most interesting about the work is the way it addresses real people’s doubts about giving. Giving to the less fortunate seems natural, but to whom should we give? Templeton explains that while we may feel inclined to give to the individual in the street who stops us to tell us his story, passages from the Bible support giving to charitable organizations instead. For example, Matthew 10:16 says: “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” In being wise, Templeton explains, we know that the right thing to do is to give money, but we also know that giving money the wrong way may hurt rather than help. Handing cash to a panhandler may ease our guilt in the short-term, but in all likelihood he or she may use the money for drugs or to avoid pursuing a more long-term form of aid. Handing off that money won’t help raise that person from poverty by finding him a place to live, helping him find a job or by helping him get his GED. Relating a catalogue of experiences, Templeton describes the best types of organizations to which we should give and the best methods for helping those in need.
Another section of the book I found particularly intriguing was a section in which Templeton challenged popular ways of thinking. For example, she postulates: “Anyone can get a job if they want one [...] Of course, I do have transportation, child care, contacts in the community, adequate people skills and good health.” This statement proves an excellent point. Many of us have worked hard in our lives and careers to get to where we are today—and we may wonder why someone else can’t just do as well with just a little initiative. But Templeton lets us see these double standards for what they really are: illogical and unfair ways of thinking.
Templeton says that when people doubt they’re doing the right thing, they often end up doing nothing. This book provides logical and practical answers—along with food for thought—on the ins and out of charitable giving.
So, follow those humane instincts this holiday season and do something about poverty in the Upstate. And check out Loving Our Neighbor if you get a chance. It’s a great read!

Another Local Author Rocks It

2009-01-23T10:58:00.002-05:00

John Jeter has done a lot in this community. He has been adamant in his desire to bring Greenville musical offerings that it does not get. He has, over the years, continued to bring artists here that entertain, enlighten and inspire. The Handlebar has become and institution.

Now, he has moved on to another artistic endeavor. Author. Tonight, from 6PM - 10PM, The Handlebar will host a book launch party for The Plunder Room.

So, come on by. Buy a book. Get it signed. Support another Greenville artist. I hear that the book is very good. I, personally, can't wait to read it.

An Example From Florida...

2009-01-21T11:33:00.006-05:00

So, my cousin, Melissa, got married this weekend in Pensacola, Florida. I left on Friday and drove through the night. When I got to the city, I was worn out.

The reception was held at the Pensacola Museum of Commerce. What a cool place this was. As I walked around, speaking to various family members, I began to look at the exhibits. The museum is set up with various displays that showcase the history of the area. But, these displays are rooms with specific items that highlight the history of the area. The cool thing about this place was the atmosphere it gave off during the reception. It was a great place to have a party.

Even beyond the cool venue was the fact that most of the people I talked to (outside of my family) were very familiar with Greenville and the work we’ve done as community to make Greenville a sustainable, cool community. Many comments were made about how Pensacola needs to follow our lead. Kinda fun, yeah?

A Day in History...

2009-01-20T17:09:00.004-05:00

So I figured I would be one of the thirty-six million bloggers that posts something about our new President Barack Obama. This is a new day. A new time. Regardless of your affiliations, no can can deny the historic significance of this day.

If there was a Vision 2025 for the United States, I do not doubt that something like this would at the top of the project list.

Enjoy this day and this era. We are living, once again, in historical times.

Join In...

2009-01-14T10:28:00.002-05:00

So, I have finally figured out how we can track those of you who read this blog. Thanks to my good friend, Jay Coffman, I have learned of a "Follow This Blog" tool.

So, take a look to the right of this post and find the tool and click on it. I'd love to hear from you and see your feedback.

Also, you can subscribe to Forward Thinking. That should be right under the "Follow" tool.

Technology is so much fun.

Water Blog...

2009-01-06T16:54:00.006-05:00

Sorry for that. But, I need to ask a question. Even though it's really a pain to walk to your car in the downpour we've been going through (especially when you don't have keyless entry), how many of you think this picture is a good sight?...

For those that don't think that all that green coming our way is a good thing...take a scenic drive toward Georgia and look at Lake Hartwell...

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

New Year. One Step Closer to 2025...

2009-01-04T14:59:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year! Wow. It’s already 2009. It seems only like yesterday that I was talking to Russell about this venture of starting Greenville Forward. He had an idea a little over 3 years ago to start a non-profit, from scratch, to make sure that a dynamic plan like Vision 2025 didn’t sit on the shelf. To make sure that there was an organization dedicated to “waking up every morning thinking about the Vision.”

Without this dedicated organization, would the tasks of Vision 2025 become accomplishments for Greenville County? Yes. Many of them would. But, what about the truly challenging line items? Challenging items like, “Greenville County public and private sector leaders and residents welcome and integrate all its residents into a unified community whose diverse members and populations have full equality”, or “Our brightest and most talented young people choose to stay in Greenville, or return after spending time in other parts of the world.” This organizations mission is not to take credit for these successes, but to ensure that someone (or two someone’s) is striving to make sure these items are at the top of the list. That they are important to concentrate on when thinking about how Greenville will look in the future.

These examples encompass over 40 pages, ranging from Families and Social Services to Sense of Place. What if “the availability of safe housing affordability is directly tied to the demographics of Greenville, (for example, if 20% of the population is considered low income, then 20% of the housing stock is affordable to those people)? What if there was a consolidated or re-aligned government in Greenville County?

Greenville is a wonderful place to live, and it has many different organizations that strive, each day, to ensure that our community is taken care of. Greenville Forward is not around to duplicate those efforts, but rather help those organizations accomplish their goals by helping establish connections and being part of the conversation. Greenville Forward’s mission is to see Vision 2025 accomplished. The Vision can only be as successful as the individuals and organizations involved in the process. By conducting community-wide assessments, developing reports and maintaining its Task Forces, Greenville Forward has begun to solidify its place in the community.

In 3 years of Greenville Forward, and 4 years since Vision 2025 was presented, some of the items mentioned have already been completed. That does not mean they have been marked off the list, though.

Public Arts Funded by 1% of Construction Costs. This was approved by the City of Greenville: pending introduction and approval in other municipalities and the County.
Bob Jones Museum & Art Gallery at Heritage Green. Opened in April 2008.
Upstate Shakespeare Festival is a Model for Outdoor Programming. 2009 will be its 15th year, and continually plays to crowds exceeding 1,000 people.
International Arts Festival. Artisphere is going into its 4th year. After only 2 years, it earned a “winner” in Greg Lawler’s Art Fair Sourcebook and was ranked 37th out of 600 festivals.
School Construction Plan. 70 Greenville County schools have been either rebuilt or renovated.
Downtown Baseball Stadium. Over 1,000,000 people have attended games in the Drive’s 3 years.
Funding for County Parks Plan. TRAC (Tourism Recreation Athletics Coalition) Plan passed County Council and is providing 2% hospitality tax. Funding is expected to exceed $6 million each year.
Health Assessment. The third health assessment in ten years was released in October. Results show that although the number of facilities in Greenville has improved, 37% of Greenvillians are medically underserved.

So, where do we go from here? What are the accomplishments we want to write down in 2010? 2011? 2012? 2025? What about some of these?

All gateways into the each city in the County feature significant arts features that clearly define who we are and what we value.
An affordable insurance package is available for all professional artists.
Greenville provides world-class education that includes comprehensive curricula on language, culture, gender equality, global awareness and international exchange programs.
Students learn, via satellite, from professors in foreign counties in the areas of culture and the humanities.
Greenville is the center of regional economy in the Upstate.
Greenville ranks in the top ten regionally in the number or independent, high-growth companies.
Greenville is a learning community.
Every child has an excellent teacher supported by the community.
Greenville is the State leader in environmental stewardship and recognized as a leading sustainable community, where people work and live in close harmony with a clean and healthy environment.
Greenville is the “Greenest Greenville" in the Nation.
There is a vibrant, 24-7 downtown culture, anchored by substantial residential options for people of every economic stratum, and supports local businesses throughout County.
Everyone has a home.
Obesity among all Greenvillians is reduced.
50% of Greenville County’s top 100 employers and 75% of Greenville County High Schools have smoking cessation programs on site.
Greenville has implemented city and county efforts to project an image as an important international community welcoming international trade and investment and possessing a vibrant cultural life celebrating its international trade, investment and culture.
Mill Villages serve as models of smart growth, with mixed use zoning, racially diverse residents and multiple housing options.
Public transportation across the County is available to all citizens.

So, how do we get this done? Continue moving forward. Vision 2025 serves as a plan for the future. Is it set in stone? No. As we grow as a community, the Vision adapts to our needs and goals. It is the job of Greenville Forward to house the Vision and make sure Greenville is on the path toward accomplishment, but it’s the job of the Greenville Community to ensure that the Vision becomes a reality.

Here’s to 2009 and many more successes.

Be the Solution You Seek

2009-01-03T00:39:00.003-05:00

Understanding the Practice of Poverty

The following is an article written by Greenville Forward's Furman intern, Kate Hofler, after participating in Beth Templeton's Poverty Simulation. I hope this will change the way some of us think as we ponder the impact the economic downturn is having on many Greenvillians.

"For an hour, I am an 85-year-old man with crippling arthritis, relying on a retirement check of no more than $550 a month to take care of my needs. I have to make difficult choices between paying for my rent and my prescriptions that are not covered by Medicare. I am forced to lean on my neighbors to help me get from place to place as I am too handicapped to transport myself.

This scenario was adapted from a poverty simulation kit developed by the Missouri Community Action Organization. With the aid of United Way, United Ministries purchased the kit under the leadership of its director Beth Templeton. The program is called “Our Eyes Were Opened” and I participated as part of my internship with Greenville Forward, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping make Greenville a better place through the implementation of Vision 2025.

While an hour spent taking on the persona of an impoverished individual is not sufficient to understand living in poverty, the circumstances emulated were factually based and aimed at stimulating thought and provoking action. The program provides a packet of materials with a background story, financial information, items to pawn, a fake social security number and any checks received during a month’s time. The hour program is broken up into four 15-minute segments representative of a week’s time. It is your responsibility to be sure you and/or your family is fed every week, that your bills are paid and that you deal with any unforeseen circumstances that may come your way.

For many middle to upper class citizens, the understanding of poverty is often limited to a negative view of individuals who should “get a job” and “stop being lazy.” They see the poor as loiterers that hang around the Salvation Army or the Triune Mercy Center’s sidewalks. They are afraid of the homeless and poor because they look dirty, unkempt, and not like them.

While this interpretation is harsh, it is more common than we all would like to think. The reality of poverty is that it can happen to anyone as a result of an event that takes away a foundation of financial security and many are born into their standing with no way out. With escalating gas and food costs, families are seeing the reality of poverty in ways they never expected.

As a community, it is important to be aware that poverty is not as distant as it may seem. These people are no different but have faced a certain hardship that brought them into a cycle that they cannot break.

Prior to the simulation, I sat in on a meeting with Greenville Forward’s Families and Social Services task force and became mildly aware of the complicated applications and approval process that families must endure to receive little help. However, this understanding became real during the last week of our simulated month.

I did not have enough money to buy my groceries and visited the social services vendor to apply for food stamps. After I spent a chunk of the 15-minute week filling out the complicated form, the vendor informed me that they were out of food stamps. Although I was not hungry in reality, the thought of not being able to afford groceries for an entire week was terrifying.

Though the simulation is not able to impart the feeling of such hunger, Templeton suggested that it is a hidden problem in our society. Poverty is a unique circumstance, as it is difficult to truly understand without experiencing it. And, once you are there, there is little hope for change without the help of others. That is why the poverty simulation and efforts of organizations like United Ministries and Greenville Forward are crucial. For participants in the simulation to gain a glimpse into the challenges and realities of poverty such that they may work to contribute to the aid of others is Templeton’s ultimate goal."

For more information on the “Our Eyes Were Opened” poverty simulation program, contact Beth Templeton at btempleton@united-ministries.org.

A Lesson of Thought...

2008-12-15T10:42:00.002-05:00

I was in a meeting this morning to discuss our international community in Greenville. What an exciting place we live. Surrounding us are multiple cultures. Japanese, Phillipine, Polish, African, Turkish, Vietnamese, Swedish, Korean, Hindu, French, German, etc. They all make their home here. They are our neighbors. These groups come together to create quite a salad bowl. A diverse, inclusive community where everyone is able to keep their cultures distinct. How cool, eh?

So, a wonderful person at this meeting read a story that I thought was truly insightful. So, I am going to leave it here for everyone to enjoy.

Two Wolves
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between 2 ' wolves' inside us all.

One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute an then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Happy Turkey Day From Greenville Forward

2008-11-26T11:23:00.002-05:00

Govies!

2008-11-12T19:06:00.005-05:00

So, I spoke to a bunch of Governor's School students on Wednesday night. I was asked to speak to them by my good friend, Anne Tromsness, and to my delight, about 50 of them showed.

Everyone ranging from visual to creative writing to drama to musical to dance were there. And, amazingly enough, they stayed awake! Imagine that. Even through my rambling about my "story" and my history with theatre and my job hopping from one agency to another and the forming of Greenville Forward. They stayed awake. So, hopefully, I wasn't too boring.

The thing I take away everytime I visit a school in Greenville is the immense talent that is housed under our noses. These kids are incredible. I mean, they are 17 on average, and they do what they do. They create life. They mold thier future. They develop the path that lays before them. Truly inspirational.

So, I asked who wanted to come back to Greenville. No hands went up. I asked them who wanted to come back to South Carolina. A couple of hands went up. Then, I asked why...

"Nothing to do. I would stay if I had options...music...something."
"It's not very cool. I mean, it's beautiful, but it lacks something that I want."
"I want a big city. A city that supports artists. A city that supports arts, full fledged. Greenville has a good arts scene, but to make a living here..."

I've heard these comments before. I've said these comments before. So, I asked what we needed to do to make Greenville a place for them to come back...

"More music. More accessible."
"More people like me."
"Diversity."

I especially hung on to the last comment. This is something that the younger generation looks for.

Baby Boomers looked for jobs that paid, and they didn't necessarily care about the city it was in. It was about the job. About the money. The Millenials (1982-2001) are looking for life first. 3 out of 4 young creatives under the age of 28 have said that a cool city is more important that a good job. What a change in dynamic since the 1970's and 80's.

These Govies (that's what they are called) are the future of Greenville. Or, at least, I certainly hope they are. What if they brought their talents back to our community? What if they came here to live, work and play? What if they challenged our way of thinking?

From 1990 - 2004 the United States experienced a decline of 8% in 25-35 year olds. Where did they go? The Greenville News stated, not long ago, that "baby boomers have been the fastest growing age group in Greeenville County since the dawn of the millennium, and adults age 25 to 39 were the slowest growing group."

Where are the young creatives going? It is projected that from 2008 - 2020 Greenville will lose over 7,000 25 - 34 year olds. This means that the current 25-34 years will get older and move into a different age bracket, but the younger people (high school and middle school) will graduate, move away, and not come back.

That concerns me. How can we be the place these kids want to come back to? How can we be a Portland or Austin. D.C. or a Nashville?

All I know is that we are working on it. And, I feel strongly that, if even one of these kids at The Gov. School would come back...we will be much better for it.

My dog is a happy girl...

2008-11-12T11:38:00.005-05:00

So, this weekend I took my dog, Connolly, to Cleveland Park and Falls Park to enjoy the beautiful fall weather we are having. It was gorgeous! Leaves are turning. There is a bit of a chill in the air. And, the smell...

There is just something about that Fall smell, you know? It reminds me that it's football season and really makes me want to be outside doing something. I love it.

Anyway, on my jaunt on Sunday through Cleveland Park, I noticed that the new portion of the trail was open. This new portion is the City's portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail and it runs behind Cleveland Street and the YMCA and 1st Baptist Church. If you've seen the portion that the trail put in about a year and half ago over by the Linky Stone Children's Garden, this is just like that. 8 feet wide asphalt. 4 feet wide rubberized asphalt. It's really great, especially to people like me who suffer from severe shin splints. My dog loved it too. She was a bit apprehensive about the rubberized part, but she soon got used to it.

We walked all the way down to Greenville Tech and back. Then, we stopped by the Dog Park. Of course by that time Connolly was worn out, but what a great way to spend a Sunday afternooon, you know?

So, check out the trail. If you are in Cleveland Park next to the dog park and are looking across the street, look to the left of the horse stables and you will see the trail. Have fun.

Honor is spelled V.E.T.E.R.A.N.

2008-11-11T11:07:00.001-05:00

Happy Veterans Day to all!

Jones'n...

2008-11-10T14:23:00.003-05:00

So, our PR wizard, Liza Jones, had her baby this morning. Seems like, in our effort to attract, engage and retain Greenville's next leaders, we are starting in the office. Our former Development Director, Mary Hunter, had her baby back in May and now Liza has added a new one to the Jones Clan. Congrats to her, her husband and their son Ty on the wonderful additon of baby Carson to their lives.

Carson Jones

Born: 10:15AM

Weight: 7.9oz

Rock the Vote!

2008-11-03T17:11:00.005-05:00

In case you have been living under a rock for the past year, tomorrow is Election Day. No matter which way it goes, the results are going to make history and the political science major in me wants to be sure to remind you all to become a participant in our democratic process and vote.

Most importantly, do your research and educate yourselves on the issues that are important to you. Do your homework and head out to the polls on what is supposed to be a beautiful day. Though the lines may be long, this is your chance to use your voice.

As part of Vision 2025, we hope to reach the goal of 75% of the electorate voting in a general election. If early turnout holds true, we may edge closer to this goal and it is only 2007!

We'll see you at the polls.

An Artistic Weekend...

2008-10-31T10:28:00.005-04:00

So, Open Studios is this week. You need to check it out. Art studios from all around the county are opening thier doors and letting you in. Most likely you've seen the informatin on billboards, on tv, in the newspaper. You may have even seen brightly painted doors adorning certain locations around town. That's all for Open Studios. So, check it out.

Also, as a special treat, John Villani, author of "The 100 Best Art Towns in America", is here to enjoy the festivities. If we show him what Greenville has to offer, maybe he will be blown away like everyone else and add Greenville to his little publication. Certainly a step in the right direction...

So, check all the festivities....

http://www.greenvillearts.com/programs/open_studios.aspx

If You're Not Prepared To Be Wrong, You Will Never Come Up With Anything Original.

2008-10-29T20:36:00.009-04:00

So, someone passed this along to me and I immediately felt compelled to send it out to those that I knew who cared about two things...
1. Education
2. Creativity
That basically meant that I sent it out to everyone I know. Please take some time to watch. It takes about 20 minutes. I say, 20 minutes very well spent...

How do you eat an elephant?....

2008-10-27T10:44:00.003-04:00

One bite at a time. So, last week was Health Assessment Week. This week is Momentum week. The next couple of weeks are "Tomorrow Night" weeks (actually every week is a "Tomorrow Night" week). We are plugging away at the Vision 2025 thing everyday. Continually updating the plan and making sure we are doing the things that keep this community moving forward. Couldn't ask for a better job. You know?

So, that being said, here is more information on Momentum. If you want to come, call or email me and I'll put you on the list....

Entertainment in Greenville
CONVERSATION LEADER: Gene Krcelic
DATE: October 30th, 2008

As Greenville continues to develop into a vibrant, culturally rich community, the conversation often turns to how planners and county leaders can enhance the area's entertainment options. Whether it's providing more live music venues, increasing public entertainment choices for families or providing a better cross-section of entertainment options, Greenville Forward invites the public to engage in a small-group style discussion about these topics and more at this month's Momentum Series.
The event will feature conversation leader Gene Krcelic, formerly of OMG Music, and be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Innovate Building Conference Center in downtown Greenville.

Space is limited to the first 30 people who register at rsvp@greenvilleforward.com, and a box lunch and beverage is provided for $8.

This month's Momentum Series conversation topics could include:· How does Greenville compare to the rest of the Southeast in its entertainment offerings and venues?· What entertainment options are currently available? Is there enough to suit young professionals, families, etc?· What future plans exist for the development of Greenville's entertainment industry? As Greenville Forward continues its Momentum Series conversations, anyone interested in Greenville's future status as a burgeoning entertainment destination is encouraged to attend.

The Momentum Series emphasizes a different topic each month. Subjects range in scope and are designed to encourage conversation moderated by an expert at the table. Past and future topics include green building, Latino Greenville and arts in education.

WHAT: The Momentum Series' program featuring Gene Krcelic, formerly of OMG Music

WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

WHERE: The Innovate Conference Center, the third floor of the Innovate Building, 148 River St., Greenville, SC 29601

WHO: Anyone interested in learning more and contributing ideas about Greenville's growing entertainment industry

OTHER: $8 includes lunch; payable at the door; no credit cardsTo encourage small group discussion, space for each event is limited to the first 30 people who register. For more information on the event or to register to attend, contact Brock Koonce at (864) 233-8443 or e-mail rsvp@greenvilleforward.com.

Sometimes you just need to think...

2008-10-22T11:50:00.003-04:00

about how much fun you have on a daily basis. I have a pretty cool job. Every now and then, during hectic days of task force meetings, developing reports, reading emails and doing Russell's laundry, I lose sight of that. I get stressed out. I act as if what I do rival's Jack Baur. Well, it doesn't. Even if he is just a fictional television character.

I have fun. I get to write. I get to meeting. I get to talk. I get to experience and learn about things I would never get a chance to if I didn't work for Greenville Forward. Which makes me, in turn, think about the importance of having Greenville Forward around (other than a paycheck for me.)

So, I was sending an email to a friend the other day who asked me how my day was going. This is what I wrote...

"I'm good. Took at tour of the Children's Museum they are building downtown and met with their exec. director, had a meeting with a group of people to discuss creating a poverty center for Greenville County, had a nice one on one meeting with Dr. Shi, president of Furman University, and met with Gene Krcelic to talk about entertainment in Greenville. Now I am getting ready to meet with an environment task force to develop an environment score card for Greenville County and then, I'm going to the school board community forum at the Hughes Library."

Their response was something along the lines of "that sounds very cool."

I had to sit back and agree. So, now when I have days that I feel overwhelmed, I stop for a moment and think about:
1. I am very lucky to have a job, at all.
2.How much more fun could I have at doing what I do?
3.What does tomorrow hold.

I have to sign off now. Russell is about to fill me in on some of his meetings about the future...

Blogs Are Like Sharks...

2008-10-07T19:25:00.013-04:00

If they don't keep moving, they'll die.

Alright, I didn't make that one up. But, it applies to the fact that I haven't posted a thing on this blog in about a month. Actually, longer than that. I think Kate posted something last. Anyway, it's been too long for this blog to sit stale. But there is a good reason. Well, maybe...

The Greenville Forward World Headquarters has been busy. This is nothing really unusual, since we don't really have a "busy season." We pretty much stay that way all the time. But, the past couple of weeks/months/etc. have been full of planning, planning, planning.

Health Assessment...

On October 23rd, at 10AM at The University Center Auditorium in McAlister Square, Greenville Forward, along with The United Way, Bon Secours St. Francis, The Greenville Hospital System, Peidmont Healthcare Foundation and the South Carolina Business Coalition on Health, will release it's findings from the third area health reassessment. The study, conducted over the past year, shows that, despite increased expanding health systems and easier access to health care, the number of medically underserved and underinsured poeple is still growing in Greenville County.

Momentum...
On October 30th, Greenville Forward presents it's 3rd Momentum Series, focusing on Entertainment In Greenville. As Greenville continues to develop into a vibrant, culturally rich community, the conversation often turns to how planners and county leaders can enhance the area's entertainment options. Whether it's providing more live music venues, increasing public entertainment choices for families or providing a better cross-section of entertainment options, Greenville Forward invites the public to engage in a small-group style discussion about these topics and more at this month's Momentum Series.
The event will feature conversation leader Gene Krcelic, formerly of OMG Music, and be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Innovate Building Conference Center in downtown Greenville. Space is limited to the first 30 people who register at rsvp@greenvilleforward.com, and a box lunch and beverage is provided for $8.

Tomorrow Night...

On November 6th, Greenville Forward is hosting TOMORROW NIGHT, a celebration of Greenville's future at the Upcountry History Museum starting at 7:00. Featuring Greenville's hottest new band sensation, Hit Mob 7, and a few other surprises, this event will surely become one of Greenville's "must do" celebrations. We will also celebration the work of some "Heroes Next Door," people in the community who are unselfishly living the ideals of Vision 2025. If you would like to nominate someone, send us an email with their name and a paragraph or two of the work they are doing. If you would like to get an invitation, email us at mailto:bkoonce@greenvilleforward.com. An investment of $60 per person will get you into the extravaganza.

So, as you can see, we've been a bit busy. And, that is just the tip of the iceberg. We are hoping to bring many more things to Greenville, while we make sure that we are all thinking toward 2025...

Sustainable Living--It may not be so hard

2008-09-24T14:31:00.003-04:00

Technology can be frustrating. That being said, my first draft of this post was erased when there was a glitch with the site. There is really nothing more frustrating than losing information you spent time recording. I am no stranger to this feeling—my computer crashed in January and I lost pictures, music and most of the papers/new stories I had written and maintained in a portfolio.

Moral of the story: Always back up everything on your computer with an external hard drive.

Anyway, my original intent was to talk about sustainability from a new outlook I discovered last week. In addition to interning with Greenville Forward and being a Furman student, I am the student editor for Furman’s online news source, FUnet.

My most recent story was a profile of the house manager for Furman’s Southern Living Cliffs Cottage model home. If you are unfamiliar with the purpose of the home, I am providing a link to the website below, but here is a quick summary. As part of Furman’s efforts to be a forerunner in the sustainability movement, the university partnered with Southern Living and numerous other vendors and donors to create a showcase home.

The Cliffs Cottage was fitted with the most innovative and recent developments in green building technology to form a completely sustainable home. Furman and its partners wanted to show the ability to be environmentally conscientious without losing any sense of luxury, comfort or aesthetic appeal. The Cliffs Cottage will be open for touring and visiting for a year before it is retrofitted and transformed to be the new Center of Sustainability. If you are interested in learning more about the house and its partners, or if you would like to sign up for a tour, visit the website: http://www.furmancliffscottage.com/

My interview with Brett Rayl, former Furman student and new house manager, became much more than a discussion of his daily activities. It resonated with me because Rayl expressed his former misconception that seemed to be like one I have struggled with in the past. This idea is that you dramatically have to change your lifestyle to live according to the principles of sustainability. Or, there is the notion that it is incredibly expensive to truly achieve that goal when building a home.

Rayl explained to me that the intent of the Cliffs Cottage is to provide an example of the ultimate ways you can build a home that is completely sustainable. From there, Rayl hopes visitors will take away an understanding of the ideas behind the materials used and modify them to their own lifestyle. For him, this means washing his clothes in cold water, using his leftover water bottles to water his plants and buying locally.

As he was talking, I thought, “I could do this.” That evening when I was taking a shower, I looked at the shower head and was appalled by how many gallons of water per minute I am using. I cannot remember the exact number now, but it definitely has made me adjust my shower time--even just one or two minutes can make a difference.

But, these small changes are what will really matter. It is a gradual process and is much less daunting than many realize. In the end, it is all about being conscious of the energy you are using and finding ways to curb it just a bit. I think we could all do these simple things and would find the impact to be greatly significant.

Artistically Young...

2008-09-18T10:53:00.004-04:00

So, almost a year ago, my mother passed along a report, commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, that set out to examine, study and provide a call to action for generational succession in the arts sector nationwide. All arts organizations and individuals are dealing with the issue of renewing audiences for sustainability and growth. Where are our next patrons coming from? Who will be our audiences? How do we build programs to attract our ever-growing young population?

This is a national question, but one that our own arts community asks itself each and every day. How can we sustain and compete in today’s environment when the competition for young attention grows more and more diverse by the second? This study offers some solutions and, if anything, very interesting reading. As stated in the report:

“As a whole, the nonprofit arts sector faces formidable barriers to bringing more young people into its sphere, most notably its limited financial resources. Budget constraints and revenue stagnation continue to impede the ability of all organizations to compete for young people’s interest and involvement. Given the decline in dedicated public and corporate support for the arts, identifying and securing new sources of income will be difficult. However, perhaps the most significant barrier is a lack of awareness and sense of urgency that the arts need to start moving to address the challenge. Leaders across the field must come to a collective recognition that involvement of young people is critical and that ever organization must make that involvement an immediate priority.”

The report offers recommendations, albeit on a national scale, of ways the nonprofit arts sector can meet this challenge.
· Launch a national dialogue about youth involvement in the arts
· Develop a strategic plan to, 1. Aggressively market the benefits of involvement with the arts to young people, and 2. Create a nationwide, grassroots corps or young activists and advocates for the arts.

I am particularly interested in this section, simply because it speaks directly to the Greenville Forward Arts Task Force. It talks to, not just one organization, but the arts community and addresses issues that concern us all.

As a personal advocate for the arts in Greenville, I see the audiences skewing older with less coming in the back end. How do we cultivate a community of arts patrons? How do we engage our students? Our young professionals? Our children to embrace the arts in our community? What are the pieces that we can put in place to help create a community where the arts are not only appreciated, respected and fully funded, but are a part of our everyday life? A community where artists, of all kinds, can work and play as artists. They can make their living as artists. How that could shape our community.

I invite you to read this report and assess its information. Not everything here is applicable to our community, but much of it is food for thought.

http://www.hewlett.org/Programs/PerformingArts/Publications/YouthReport.htm

A "Fair"ly Excellent Night

2008-09-10T13:19:00.007-04:00

Last Friday, when the Greenville Forward team was feeling the Friday blisters and wanting to head out for the weekend, I got a bee in my bonnet about going to the Upper SC State Fair. I did my research online and became instantly sold...knowing I would get the chance to eat some cotton candy (a personal favorite) and see some local flavor that you can't find anywhere else.

Russell and Brock seemed almost shocked that I would want to go. Why would a Furman senior care to go to local fair? They both could not remember the last time they ventured out to the fairgrounds.

When I first pitched the idea to my friends, some were very excited like myself and a few were less than sure that this was a good idea. Perhaps a little too hung up on our supposed "maturity," it took some arm twisting to get a group to go. However, as often happens when I convince my friends to do something abnormal, they had a great time and thanked me for convincing them to go.

After getting lost along the way, we all started to feel the return of juvenile enthusiasm when we saw the lights of the ferris wheel and the sky exploding with fireworks. As soon as we got out of the car, our senses were overwhelmed by the sights, sounds and smells.

My good friend and talented photographer, Jonathan, immediately got out his camera and began to capture shots that provided an excellent representation of an iconic county fair. I have included a few of his favorite photographs with this blog post. If you want to see more of his work, you can visit his website, http://jonathanandersen.com.

Definitely the highlight of our evening was the scariest fair ride I have encountered...the Fire Ball--12 minutes of pure, unadulterated terror. We saw two people throw up while we waited in line. I think we all wanted to prove to ourselves that we could actually ride this thing that mimics what it must feel like to be inside of a washing machine.

Despite the feeling that my stomach was hovering outside of my body for most of the ride and screaming so much that I was hoarse immediately after, we all laughed so hard watching each other scream and cling to our seatmates out of complete fear.

You may be wondering why this experience was significant. The lesson I think I learned (and my friends, in particular, who did not want to go) is that you are never too old to act a little ridiculous and cling to youth. In fact, I believe that the attitude that you are never "too cool" or "too old" to enjoy a simple pleasure like the fair is what really helps to keep us all young.

So, enjoy the pictures that accompany this post and I encourage you to do something random and fresh the next chance you get. Even if you think you might not enjoy it, just go for it and I guarantee you will feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

How Do They Learn?...

2008-09-04T14:56:00.001-04:00

I recently wrote a blog about my participation in Graduate Greenville’s Opening Doors to Success day. In the blog I discussed my experience as I went out and knocked on the doors of those students that didn’t come back to school. It was a very amazing feeling to help bring one of them back to school. I am really looking forward to keeping up with Matt and tracking his progress.

But, in the interim, I have really wondered what it would take to keep more kids in school. How do kids today learn? I mean, I’m not too far removed from High School. Okay…College days. It wasn’t that long ago that I had to traipse across campus with my books and a desire to learn. But, for the life of me, I can’t remember how I learned. What were the tools I used? What was effective for me?

So, as I asked my question, I searched to see if there were some answers out there. And, I came across a couple of video’s on YouTube.

Enjoy…

Latino Greenville

2008-08-29T13:34:00.002-04:00

Classes started this week at Furman and I shifted to a part-time internship with Greenville Forward so I apologize for the time since my last post. A lot has happened since I last wrote but the thing I most want to share with you just happened in the last five minutes.

Yesterday was the inaugural event of our Momentum Series that we launched after months of planning and visioning. I was sad that I could not go to see the fruit of our labors myself (I was in class) but I heard that it went well and inspired thoughts of what "green" living is really like.

Anyway, our next Momentum series event is focusing on the challenges and opportunities of the Latino community in Greenville...that has grown 750% since 1990. I was sitting at my desk, outlining the press release announcing the event, when we had a knock on the door of our Greenville Forward home.

Liza, our new marketing/PR/event planning guru and official task master, answered the door. Right there on our front stoop was a Latino man working to repair the leaky roof we discovered we had amidst the tropical rainfall that was this week. I heard some mumbling and then Liza said that she didn't speak Spanish and could not help the gentleman.

How interesting, I thought to myself, as I was literally writing down the word "challenges of the Hispanic community" on my jot sheet. Having taken an upper-level Spanish course last spring, my skills were a bit more brushed up than usual and I was able to figure out what our guest needed and help him out.

After he left, I began to think about what his daily life must be like. Having traveled to Mexico and Nicaragua on mission trips, I can remember struggling with the basics and that I never veered from the present tense in all of my conversations. But, I was only there for 10 days each visit and had translators around during the important times when we were traveling or finding food.

The daily challenges of being a Latino in Greenville with few English-speaking skills must be frightening with the additional stigmas that are sadly associated with immigrants today. So, I am looking forward to having Adela Mendoza speak at our next Momentum Series event. I think there is little understanding of the Latino community that has become such a vital part of the Greenville world and this conversation will hopefully be the beginning of many.

My Boy, Matthew...

2008-08-26T10:54:00.008-04:00

I woke up Saturday morning very tired. I mean exhausted. I had spent Friday night running around the stage at The Warehouse Theatre, slamming doors, climbing into chests, repelling down fire escapes and basically sweating off pounds by the second, during our opening night of “The Three Cuckolds.” So, needless to say, when my alarm went off on Saturday morning at 7:30AM, I was not ready to jump out of bed. I hit snooze a couple of times, before I finally poured myself out of bed and hopped into the shower.

I say all this, because I need to explain why I was late. I was late for “Opening Doors to Success Day” at Greenville High School. “Opening Doors to Success” is a program of Graduate Greenville, an organization in our community dedicated to increasing the graduation rate in Greenville County and providing every student with the opportunity to learn. “Opening Doors” is just one piece of the entire organization where community citizens meet on the first Saturday after the school year starts and knock on doors of those students that decided not to come back. This is an effort to show them that the community cares about them and desperately wants them to succeed. I participated in this program last year and it was wonderful. So, I was happy to do it again this year.

But, I wasn’t prepared to be so worn out on Saturday morning. So, the program started at 9. Everyone gathers at the school (Greer, Greenville and Berea were the participating schools this year) and has breakfast and organizes themselves into teams. So, I show up at 9:25. I immediately have people coming up to me saying, “Oh, there you are Brock. We were wondering if you were going to show up”. Russell even came up to me and asked if I owned a watch. I could tell he was joking, but nonetheless.

Well, I found my team and we got organized. Now, remember when I said before how tired I was? Well, that exhaustion immediately dissipated when I met my team. I was fortunate enough to be a part of a very energetic, enthusiastic and successful team. Stephanie, Denise and Meg were ready to roll when I got there. They had already determined that we were going to bring everyone back to school. There was never a question in their minds as to whether or not we would succeed. I tell you, if I had people like these three ladies around me all day, I would be one productive, positive person.

So, we set out on our quest. Our first house was over toward Berea, near the San Souci area. We pulled up and noticed that there was not a car in the driveway. I immediately felt like this was going to be a no answer situation, due to my experience the year prior. But, the girls hopped out of the car, ready to convince someone to come back to school. We knocked on the door. No answer. We knocked again. No answer. We went around to the side of the house and knocked. No answer. So, I went up to the door to hang a door hanger with information about the program on the door, when we saw someone peek out of the curtain. Well, with new life, we began to knock again.

Now, let me tell you, we were all dressed the same. We had matching t-shirts and khaki pants. I mean, we looked like a back to school singing group. So, this is what they saw when they peeked out. 4 energetic people dressed the same, smiling and asking if they could see a boy named Matthew, a 17 year old 9th grader, or Matthew’s parents. They must have thought we were crazy.

Eventually, Matthew came to the door and I explained what we were doing there. I asked him if there was a reason why he didn’t come back to GHS. He said that he went to jail last May. We then asked him if he knew that school had started back this week. He didn’t really answer. I asked him what he wanted to do about his education. He said he was thinking about going to Greenville Tech or something. Well, that opened the door. I told him that we had many people back at Greenville High that day that could help him figure out how to make that happen. We told him that we could get a car to his house to pick him up and take him to the school. He agreed and asked if we could wait for him to get ready. Was he kidding? Of course we would.

During our time waiting outside for the transportation to get there, we all talked about how excited we were. We had a success. Just getting him to the school was a success. It showed a desire. Recognition that education is important. Some of us may have shed a tear. I’m not going to say whom, though.

I write all this simply to set up this moment. When Matthew came out, ready to go, we were still waiting on the transportation to arrive. So, we had a moment to chat with him. He told us that he went to jail in May and that’s why he didn’t finish out last year. We didn’t ask why. We didn’t need to. And, he said that he just didn’t feel like he could go back, so he didn’t. I asked him if he played sports and what he liked to do. He said he really wanted to play football and that he was trying to get a job at Furman, working in the dining hall. We talked about his family and what they were like. He told us that he has 13 brothers and sisters, ranging from 32 to 6. And, then he said something that made me want to hug him as hard as I could.

We stood there talking to Matthew about opportunities available to him. Opportunities like continuing education programs at Greenville Tech or The Sullivan Center. We told him that no mistake is unredeemable. And, he talked about his mistakes and where he’s been. Then, he said it. He looked at all of us. Denis, Stephanie, me and Meg and said, “I ain’t fallen all the way off yet.” And, he smiled.

“I ain’t fallen all the way off yet.” This means he has a desire to continue. That he wants to learn. That he knows that he is a good kid and no matter what he’s done, he can come back. He can make up for mistakes. He can better himself. He can achieve whatever he wants. He knew that. And, he wanted us to know that too. I think, at that moment, we all fell in love with Matthew and wanted to do everything we could to help him succeed.

Eventually, his mother came out to meet us. She is a wonderful woman, charged with the task of raising 14 children (9 boys, WHEW!) on her own. Her husband passed away a few years ago. She loves her children. She wants them to succeed too. She went with Matthew to the school. We watched them as they rode off and all of us breathed a sigh of wonderful relief. Matthew was waiting on a push, we felt. He was waiting to go to Tech. He was waiting to move forward with his life. He was waiting for tomorrow. Well, on that Saturday, I guess he was waiting on us. We helped give him that push.

On a beautiful Saturday morning we became inspired. We became enlightened. We became educated. I’m sure we’ll all think of Matthew every now and then and wonder how he is doing. I’m sure many of us will pray for him to succeed. We told him that we were going to keep track of him. I’m not sure he believed us. But, I do know that we were privileged to meet him and thankful that he made the decision to go back. So, here is to Matthew and his continued success.

Whew...What a Weekend

2008-08-25T09:59:00.003-04:00

So, we had a really busy weekend over here at Greenville Forward. Russell and I participated in "Opening Doors To Success" day for Graduate Greenville, Kate prepared for school starting this week and students moving back in (Kate actually holds the key), I opened a play, "The Three Cuckolds" at The Warehouse Theater and Russell discovered the shear joy of being a Mac user.

But, for right now, I am knees deep in planning for an event we have here tonight to share some of the great things our Task Forces have been doing. Making lists, moving furniture, crafting chairs out of cardboard and bubble gum. Should be an exciting night.

I just wanted to let all of you out there know that we are still around. I will posting a blog about the Graduate Greenville event tomorrow. Maybe tonight. We'll see.

Til then....

The New Word of Mouth

2008-08-14T16:19:00.006-04:00

Do you Facebook? Myspace? Or even...Twitter? If so you are privy to the new, futuristic and virtual version of word of mouth. You are familiar with the lingo of “tweets” and “pokes” and probably mourned the tragic downfall of Scrabulous. You know that facebook can be a verb or a noun and that “stalking” no longer carries the negative connotation it used to. You also are probably more connected to the people in your sphere of influence and may even know what they have had for dinner for the past week thanks to the updates they sent out.

If you have never heard of these strange words before and you only know that Webster did not think of them…you may want to pay attention to the following few paragraphs.

In the last 20 years or so, systems of communication have changed dramatically. We have catapulted into an ever tightening web of interconnection and constant contact. I must admit, I sometimes find it suffocating. We stay plugged in 24 hours a day, often only disconnecting for sleep—but even then, being reached is only a vibration or annoying ringtone away.

While I could sit here and argue the pros and cons of the information age-- all in all, it is good. I read a book in one of my classes at Furman on globalization that I would recommend to anyone. It is called The Lexus and the Olive Tree and is by Tom Friedman. Check it out if you ever want to read a good, fleshed out exploration of globalization’s glories and downfalls.

What is a key current in the book and why people remain believers is that communication is the porthole to the future success of a global economy. That being said, I must tell you about a seminar Brock and I attended yesterday. Sponsored by the Greenville Spartanburg Anderson Technology Council (GATC), the seminar focused on the benefits of Word of Mouth marketing. Keynote speaker was Geno Church, “Word of Mouth Guru” of Brains on Fire, a local identity company that puts a fresh and creative spin on traditional marketing techniques.

To be honest, I had not heard of the program Twitter until the past couple of weeks…perhaps it is taking a little bit of time to filter down to the college kids, but Geno talked a lot about it in his presentation. The overall idea is that the old ways of getting people to talk about your products and ideas are out. The new world of marketing exists heavily online through various techniques that utilize programs like Twitter, Facebook, Blogspot, and a multitude of others to get people “talking” with their fingers online.

It is a new way of getting brands out there and in the “blogosphere.” That being said, fellow bloggers, I would like to invite you to join our Greenville Forward team and help us spread the word about who we are and what we are doing. If you are on Facebook, join our Greenville Forward Cause. Tell your friends. Blog about it. Send a tweet.

Thanks in advance for joining in our cyber-adventures but be sure you don't spend too much time glued to your blackberry, get outside a little, too.

Picking Up The Torch...

2008-08-13T10:20:00.010-04:00

Just last week I read an article in The Greenville News about how Greenville is "growing grayer." It seems like the baby boomers, who make up 10 percent more of the population now than they did in 2000, are the fastest growing segment of the Greenville population. Now, I don't think that this is a bad thing. I actually think that is a positive thing, but when matched with the fact that the 25-39 age group is 11 percent LESS than it was in 2000, I begin to worry.

I have been back in Greenville since 2000 and I have seen the streets, businesses and lifestyle become younger and younger on a daily basis. But how, if I see younger people around, can we be falling at such a rapid pace? We need the 25 - 39 year olds to take the torch that has been carried by the leaders of today. We need more of them to come and help lead Greenville to the future.

While reading this article, I started thinking about a blog I wrote a long time ago for another organization. Although I hate to recylcle old blog posts, I think this one may be necessary. Read and let me know what you think...

A week ago I was privileged enough to attend the University Center of Greenville’s Board of Visitors meeting where Carol Coletta was the keynote speaker. I heard Carol Colletta speak about 4 years ago as the keynote speaker for the unveiling of Vision 2025, a long term, community-wide vision for Greenville County. It just so happens that 4 years later, I am the program director for the non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to make sure that Vision 2025 continues to dream for our community, Greenville Forward.

First I will provide a brief explanation of who Carol Coletta is. She is currently the President and CEO of CEOs for Cities (http://www.ceosforcities.org/home/index.php), whose mission is to “act as an idea lab for cities.” They “discover the trends that will affect cities for better or worse, decipher what can be done to respond and develop new innovations to put to work in cities.” The organization produces various reports and findings on what trends are out there that affect cities and their growth. They also serve as “experts” in how creative communities can grow and prosper in the environment that exists today.

So, I went to the early morning meeting very intrigued by what I was about to hear. I know that Coletta has a storied interest in helping our cities grow through the attraction, engagement and retention of our young professionals. My work at Greenville Forward carries me to this ideal as well. With the ever changing face of our community, the need to engage our young people is crucial. Greenville has been blessed in the past with courageous leaders who have developed visions for our community to make sure that we are able to keep up with the future. Visions for Greenville date back over 100 years, providing us with many of the amenities we enjoy today.

Now is time for us to find those Greenvillians who are going to make sure that we continue on this path. We need to identify those young people who continually challenge themselves and those around them to move beyond the standard way of thinking and view our community from a broader sense. Who are going to be those future leaders that are going to take the reins on inclusion and diversity in our community? Who are those future leaders that are going to help ensure that our arts community is vibrant, strong and fully funded? Who are those future leaders that are going to grow our school system holistically so that every man, woman and child has the opportunity for strong, viable education from birth to death? Who are the future leaders that are going to help us make sure that everyone around us is cared for? Who is going to work with the current leaders to reach out to students at Furman, Clemson, Greenville Tech and The University Center to keep our talent here?

This is what Coletta talked about. But, as I listened to her speak, I did find one thing to be a bit negative about. As I looked around the room, I quickly noticed that I was the youngest person there by at least 10 years. I was pretty sure that I was the only person under the age of 35. There is a possibility that I was the only person under the age of 40, but I cannot confirm that, nor do I want to offend anyone that was there. This was a discussion that our young people needed to hear. We needed to understand that our communities need us to be engaged and thinking about the future. We need to understand that the young people in our community need to reach out to take the torch that is being passed from the leaders of today.

Coletta talked a lot about the need to grow our young population and how that relates to economic development. Yes, that word that we hear all the time now in Greenville. You hear it from businesses, you hear it from The Chamber, and you hear it from the CVB and others. How can we continue to grow Greenville? Well, communities that continue to grow and maintain substantial economic development have succeeded in four basic areas.

1. They are good at developing and retaining talent.
2. They excel in enabling connections through the community.
3. They embrace distinctiveness and uniqueness.
4. The foster innovation.

While we have a good handle on all of these areas, we are still not keep up with our peer cities, Coletta says. And, much of this can be wrapped around the idea of the first one. We need to do a better job at attracting, engaging and retaining our young talent. 16 out of the 50 major metro areas gained young professionals (25-34) in 2007. Hey, gaining yp’s is good, right? Well, not if you think that 34 of those same areas LOST their young professionals.

As a native to Greenville, I have seen a significant influx of young people to this area. When I left in 1995, with no intention of coming back, we certainly were not competing with Charleston, Charlotte, Atlanta and other cities for our young people. When I came back in 2001, I saw a change. I heard from young people that chose Greenville OVER Charleston. Chose Greenville OVER Atlanta or Charlotte. Why? Much of it centered around quality of life.

In our ever changing world, young people continue to change the rules. They do not look at moving to specific city or community for a job. The trend now is that they are looking at the community first and then looking for a job. Young people are doing their research on communities that fit their passions. They actively search for communities that embrace the following:

1. Clean
2. Tolerant
3. Safe
4. Green
5. Housing that they want that is affordable (this does not necessarily mean affordable housing)
6. Fits their needs

So, what can we do as a community to ensure that we are successful in attracting and retaining these young people? We can reference the list that Coletta gave us and work on those areas. Especially the one about enabling connections throughout the community. We can work with our local colleges and universities to establish programs for the students already in our community. We can work with the school district to engage our youth earlier. We can listen to our young people and work with them to implement their ideas. They are the ones who are going to lead us in the future anyway, right? And, one thing that we can do immediately? Fix our transit system. All communities that succeed in attracting young talent have successful, viable transit systems that are used by all citizens. That’s all I will say about that.

So, where do we go from here? We need to listen to Carol Coletta and her organization. Read the studies. Do the research. But, most of all, reach out to those young people that work for you. Those young people that you see at lunch. Those young people that are interning with your organization. Certainly serve as a mentor to someone young. But, help identify who those future leaders are. And, send me their names. Figure out ways to get them engaged. Find out what their passions are. Establish connections in getting them engaged.

I mean, I have a dream for Greenville. In 2020, I want to see 100’s of Greenvillians my age preparing to develop Vision 2050 for Greenville. Won’t that be nice?

An Olympic Show of Patriotism

2008-08-04T11:12:00.008-04:00

This morning, as I sipped my usual cup of joe and prepared for the day with my Today Show fix, I became overcome with emotion while watching the segment featuring our Olympic athletes gearing up to compete in Beijing. As a little girl, I used to think my dad was strange when he teared up as our national anthem was played after one of our own won a hard-fought medal during the Olympic games. Now, I think I finally understand.

The Olympics are big in my family. Before my brother and I left for college, we used to spend many an evening with the tv trays, glued to our television set as we watched the winter and summer games. Since most of my family were athletes at one time or another, there is a certain vicarious feeling we have in watching an American superstar swim ahead to reach the wall first, or stick the landing off of the balance beam.

For those of us who have no family members fighting for our country or who have little real experience with war, there is no greater feeling of pride and patriotism than watching one of our own standing on the award podium, hand over heart as they raise our flag and play our anthem. It brings chills to me now just thinking about it.

For the first time since I can remember, I spent the Independence Day holiday apart from my family. With two grandfathers having served during World War II, it is usually a special day for us as we honor them and celebrate the freedom we have thanks to their sacrifice. They always say that my generation has no real sense of patriotism and this thought makes me sad.

For me, the biggest sense of unity I ever felt occurred in the days following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. My small town mourned for those lost in the attacks and celebrated their memory and our resilience with a barrage of car flags. Driving down the major thoroughfares of our community, you could not find a car without one or two of these little American flags attached to the windows. I remember feeling my heart swell and my throat thicken when I felt the emotion and camaraderie we had, even as strangers.

It is moments like those where we forget the things that make us individuals but remember the same flag that pulls us all together. This morning, as I listened to a montage of patriotic tunes that served as the backdrop for the images capturing monumental Olympic moments in history, I felt a glimmer of the patriotism that I wish I had all the time.

Sadly, I think my grandparents may be right. I think we could all spend a little more time reflecting on what it means to be an American and fly a few more flags on our front porches. As the Olympic games commence on Friday, I hope you all will watch and share in the support for our athletes and our country.

I Did Not Know That...

2008-07-31T10:33:00.007-04:00

I love lists. I admit it. Sometimes, I find myself looking at lists for hours at a time while I sit in Coffee Underground or at my apartment. I especially like fun lists that are specifically opinion based. Entertainment Weekly online always has great lists. They have everything from the top 25 Rock Albums to 50 of the Greatest Movie Villians. I love it. Many times I disagree, but it is still a treat to read.

Every now and then a list comes around that is not opinion based, but quite factual. And, believe me, those are fun too. Especially if they are little known facts. So, I share this list with you. Enjoy it. I shared some already with Russell and Kate. We had some very interesting conversations. A particular one centered around #8...

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW BUT PROBABLY DON'T
1. Money isn't made out of paper, it's made out of cotton.
2. The Declaration of Independence was written on hemp (marijuana) paper.
3. The dot over the letter 'i' is called a 'tittle'.
4. A raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.
5. 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.
6. 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.
7. The 'spot' on 7UP comes from its inventor, who had red eyes. He was albino.
8. On average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents, daily.
9. Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous system; a few ounces will kill a small sized dog.
10. Orcas (killer whales) kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark's stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.
11. Most lipstick contains fish scales.
12. Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.
13. Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as medicine.
14. Upper and lower case letters are named 'upper' and 'lower' because in the time when all original print had to be set in individual letters, the upper case' letters were stored in the case on top of the case that stored the smaller, 'lower case' letters.
15. Leonardo Da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the same time, hence, multi-tasking was invented.
16. Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of wood.
17. There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.
18. The name Wendy was made up for the book Peter Pan; there was never a recorded Wendy before!
19. There are no words in the dictionary that rhyme with: orange, purple, and silver!
20. Leonardo Da Vinci invented scissors. Also, it took him 10 years to paint Mona Lisa's lips.
21. A tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion will make it instantly go mad and sting itself to death.
22. The mask used by Michael Myers in the original 'Halloween' was a Captain Kirk's mask painted white.
23. If you have three quarters, four dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.
24. By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink in quicksand.
25. The phrase 'rule of thumb' is derived from an old English law, which stated that you couldn't beat your wife with anything wider than your thumb.
26. The first product Motorola started to develop was a record player for automobiles. At that time, the most known player on the market was the Victrola, so they called themselves Motorola.
27. Celery has negative calories! It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. It's the same with apples.
28. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying!
29. The glue on Israeli postage stamps is certified kosher..
30. Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries.
31. Astronauts are not allowed to eat beans before they go into space because passing wind in a space suit damages it.

Age before Beauty

2008-07-30T09:33:00.003-04:00

I normally hate cliches. Since I dabble in the field of journalism, cliches often aggravate me as they are taboo when vying for limited space on a page. However, when thinking about the topic of which I am about to expound, the saying "age before beauty" came to mind but in an interesting way.

I don't think that we live according to that saying at all. In fact, I think we pay less attention to the elderly sector of society than we have in the past and that we have become terrified of getting old. I began to think about this after the loss of a dear Furman staffmember this past week.

Ms. Nena was an iconic elderly lady. Petite and endearing, she worked in our dining hall and swiped our meal cards upon entry. She spent the past 25 years of her life sitting on her stool with her crochet sweaters, greeting college students and absorbing their youth and vibrance.

Ms. Nena was loved by many Furman students and there was something comforting about seeing this grandmother-esque figure everyday when acclimating for the first time to life without the support system of a family.

But, as I thought more about what a lovely lady she was, I realized that I knew very little about her life. Did she work so long because she loved it or because she had to? I hope that she did it because she loved being around young people who enjoyed spending time with her. However, I had a chilling fear that came to mind after the poverty simulation I did a few weeks ago.

In the simulation put on by United Ministries, I took on the role of an 85-year-old man with terrible arthritis. He could not afford his prescriptions and had no transportation of his own. He had to rely on public transportation and could barely afford to cover his expenses and buy groceries.

When I think about either of my grandparents in this situation, it is horrifying. I keep hearing in the news that the declining economy is causing our aging baby boomers to dip into funds saved for retirement to make ends meet. Many more people seem to be in jeopardy of falling into a situation similar to the one I encountered in the poverty simulation.

So, I asked Russell and Brock what agencies in Greenville are focused on caring for our senior citizens. There is a group in Greenville called Senior Action that is devoted to providing resources for our aging community but also to nurturing the mind and spirit. You should check out their website and, if perhaps you feel inspired by an experience similar to mine, volunteer there or someplace similar. Check them out at http://www.senioraction.org/.

Perhaps we should revert back to the old saying and place our senior citizens on a much higher pedestal, respecting them for their wisdom and honoring their lives by helping to take care of them when they face difficulties that prevent them from taking care of themselves.

If it is on a screen, is it still reading?...

2008-07-28T10:47:00.005-04:00

So, I grew up in a household where EVERYONE read. My dad, my step-mother, both of my sisters. All day. If there was a free moment in their day, they were reading. And, these people were busy. They were movtivated to be outside. To be working on something in the house. To continually challenge thier creative side. But, they always found time time read. And, I mean, big books. And, most of them read multiple books at a time. I would come home from baseball practice in High School and found the house eeirely quiet. I would walk through every room, wondering where everyone had gone. Then, I would find them in the living room, reading. All of them. Quiet as mice. Reading books. I mean, don't even get me started about the silence when the Harry Potter books would come out.

Now, I say this because I have never been a reader. I mean, I read, but just not non-stop. If I ever really got into a book (To Kill A Mockingbird or anything by Pat Conroy) I would read it whenever I got a chance. But, when I was done with it, I couldn't pick up another book for a while. I had a sense of loss within me. I missed those characters. I wanted to know more. It was kind of like a break up. I couldn't just move on immediately. I had to "take time" to heal.

Still, to this day, I don't read as much as I should. I have a stack of books at my apartment that I have pulled from various bookshelves with the sole intention of reading all of them. I mean, it's summer-time. I can sit by the pool and read, right? Well, so far, I've read one. One down, about 13 to go. I've still got the end of July and August, right?

Every now and then I feel guilty because I don't feel I read enough. I know that I should try to take the time to read good books. Heck, I should take time to read "okay" books, too. I know that I don't read enough and I should make more of an effort. Then, I realize that I do read a lot. It's just not out of books. I spend a lot of time reading electronically. With the invention of blogs, online books, etc. I have realized that I am reading a lot more than I usually do. I spend time reading the newspaper, checking reviews, reading plays, gathering general information from the internet. Now, I'm not using this as an excuse or a "defensive argument" to my folks when they tell me I should read more. I'm just bring a point up.

Younger people these days are as technilogically savvy as any of us. They gather information from sources many of us don't know about. Many times, you won't find them in coffee shops curled up with a book or a newspaper. You will find them curled up with a laptop (if it is possible to curl up with a laptop). Is this a bad thing? Is this destroying a part of our culture? Does the fact that our children are reading off of a screen, rather than reading off of paper provide the proof of why scores on standardized reading tests are declining?

Honestly? I have no answer. And, I seek to provide no answer. The attached article provides and interesting insight into the debate. Read this.

Enjoy the article. Debate the questions at coffee houses, schools, PTA meetings, in the park, at theatre, over lunch, in the gym and any other place you find. In the meantime, I'm going to go curl up with a copy of "Into The Wild" and get lost for a little bit.

Brock killed the zen

2008-07-25T10:51:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, Brock knocked over Russell's sand pendulum, scattering the fine powder all over the floor and into his face and mouth. We all shuddered as we saw the mesmerizing office distraction fall to the floor, knowing how difficult it would be to clean up.

After nonchalantly attempting last week to achieve the perfect circle in the sand during a planning meeting, I personally was sad to see the sand scatter. However, Russell and Brock quickly got on their hands and knees to return the sand to its basin.

The sand pendulum is one of many office playground items designed to offer freedom from the pressures of work and to achieve momentary "zen." Perhaps Russell and Brock were so anxious to return the zen-producing object to its complete form because "zen" has been a common theme in past weeks.

Recently, Russell and Brock have been reading a book by Garr Reynolds called Presentation Zen. Being an organization that thrives on the conveyed PowerPoint message, the thought of a clean, simple presentation that is both attractive and informative has become very appealing and it is something we are currently pursuing.

Overall, we have become so bogged down with complicated presentations that the heart of the matter is not conveyed with purity and simplicity. A little zen seems to make a big impression.

And, in case you were wondering, the sand pendulum has been restored, minus the bit of sand Brock ate...

Games for Change

2008-07-25T10:22:00.017-04:00

So, yesterday, toward the end of the day, I hear strange beeping and bomping noises coming out of Russell's office. My office is on the other side of the house as his and I can't see him from my desk. But, I can sure hear him. Many times, we like to yell back and forth. When one of us gets and idea, we tend to shout it across the floor, almost like we are scientists who have just come up with a new formula that will change the world.
This, I can only assume, annoys anyone within ear shot. Because, most of the time I yell, "WHAT?" repeatedly until I have to get up, walk out of my office and talk to Russell face to face to find out what wonderful idea has sprung from his creative mind. These days it's Kate who has to suffer the brunt of our mountain top communication. But, she enjoys it, (don't you Kate) and most of the time has to translate, mid-way, the message to the recipient.
Well, yesterday Kate had already left for the day and Russell and I were alone in the office. He in his office. I in mine. When I heard the noises, I figured that he was possibly playing the Playstation we keep in the conference room. We keep it there to help us rejuvenate our forward thinking ways, ha. Sometimes staring at a computer screen can make your eyes go crossed, so we like to stare at computer game images on a television instead. Make sense?
Anyway, I called to Russell and asked him what he was doing. No answer. So, I called again. Still no answer. But, the beeping and the bomping kept coming. Now, it was accompanied by sounds from Russell. "Aw..." "Oh yeah." "Whoops." "Uh Oh." started to echo in the emptiness of the first floor on Manly Street. Well, now my interest was up. So, I walked out and saw Russell intently working on something on his computer. He looked up and said, "Man, this is cool. You gotta try....", but his sentence faded out as he went back to the thing on his screen.
Eventually, he stopped and told me about this article he read that talked about kids designing online games with Game Lab, a NYC-based game development company. Students at South Shore High School developed Ayiti: The Cost of Life , detailing a family, living in Haiti, struggling with poverty. You live as this family for 4 years and have make choices as to where you work, how you work, whether your children go to school, how many go to school, what to do when someone gets sick, etc. You are also faced with challenges like Hurricane Season and Dry Season. My family made it to Year 4 when I lost the son to Cholera and the father to Diphtheria. Once the father was gone, the game was over. The oldest daughter could not care for her younger sister alone. Especially, when she was so sick from working as a Rum Distiller for so long, just to help feed her family.
Other games have been developed by other teens, including Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City and Starlight Starbright's Asthma Game. So far, these games have been played more than 1.5 million times since their launch.
So, if you have some time, check these sites out. It's nice to see games out there that teach us something. That help us learn a bit about our surroundings and put some perspective on the trials and tribulations that others may go through. Get online in your spare time and play. Or, just come over to Manly Street and hang out with me, Kate and Russell. One of us will probably be playing at some point.

To check out article in The NonProfit Times, go to http://www.nptimes.com/ and look for "Building vs. Blowing Up. Games aimed to change kids' idea of nonprofits."
And, check out these websites:

Ayiti: the Cost of Life

http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/rights/explore_3142.html

Hurrican Katrina

http://tempestincrescentcity.ning.com/

Starlight Starbright Asthma Game

http://asthma.starlightprograms.org/homepage.htm

Games for Change

http://www.gamesforchange.org/play

Enjoy!

I'd do it if you paid me...

2008-07-23T11:20:00.004-04:00

I have recently been helping Russell with a report he has been writing on a new program we are trying to get off the ground to promote the value of learning in Greenville. Tagging along to meetings involving careful planning and brainstorming, I have grown to develop a lot of faith in the program's potential and am excited to see it come to fruition in the coming months.

One of my favorite things so far has been the focus groups of students Russell has gathered to figure out how to create a learning campaign, what concerns they have about education in Greenville and what would be "cool" to them. Russell always records the sessions to keep things casual and so that he doesn't have to take notes.

As I have been listening to the recordings and transcribing quotes and ideas that we are using in our report, I was struck today by a saddening thought. Some of the students we talked to said the best way to motivate them to want to learn would be money. Pay them to learn things and they will gleefully do so, they said.

This notion struck me as a common struggle we have with our youth today. Everything seems to be for an instant purpose that has concrete results. Kids today are volunteering because they want to look good for colleges. Good grades and leadership aren't enough these days...you also have to have an animal shelter named after you in recognition of your countless hours of dedication to be competitive. Sure, little Johnny would love to cut the elderly widow's grass...but for a small fee of $20. He is saving up for an I-pod.

Perhaps I am just being cynical, but I fear that today's kids do not understand the value of learning and experiences beyond what they can get out of it. It is with this information in mind that we are creating this learning campaign. We want to make learning fun again...and not because it yields something immediate, but because the enrichment of the mind and body are invaluable and inexchangeable.

Man On The Street

2008-07-23T09:51:00.003-04:00

So, Kate and I just watched a cool video that Russell put together a couple of years ago that contained interviews from random Greenvillians about what they like and don't like about living in Greenville. The answers are wide ranging. Everything from the amenities we have here to the problem with transportation (and, it's still raging).

So, I think, soon Kate and I might hit the street again to talk to you again. This could be an interesting experiment. We can see what perceptions have changed in the last couple of years or so. Where do people stand now on the transportation issue? How do they feel about the state of Greenville? What does Greenville need to do to move in the right direction? What is the definition of the "right direction"?

Last week we released a study that was done in partnership with The City of Greenville. This study was a survey of City of Greenville residents about quality of life issues. It was done as part of the City's Comprehensive Plan initiative, and is an effort to involve the citizens in the planning process. The interest was high and the participation was extraordinary.

The results of the study were very positive, but there are still issues we face in our community that need to be addressed. Overall, the majority of respondents feel that the quality of life in Greenville has vastly improved over the last five years.

So, moving forward, we need to appreciate our surroundings and relish where we have come from, but we also must not ever stop looking forward to what we can be. We should, continually, ask ourselves the tough questions, challenge ourselves to make things better and work toward an inclusive, vibrant community for all. Greenville is moving toward this and with the enthusiasm of her citizens we will get there faster than most.

Check out the results from the study on our website: http://www.greenvilleforward.com/
Enjoy and have a great day.

My Park Bench

2008-07-22T14:43:00.007-04:00

I love being outside. Though my fair complexion often betrays me, my ideal day would be spent in the sun, playing sand volleyball, hiking around trails and getting some fresh air. I must say, the whole working thing sometimes cramps my style. My desk sits behind two huge windows and I often find myself lost in a gaze outward, jealous of the walkers and bikers taking advantage of a beautiful day just feet from my perch beneath artificial light.

Thus, I relish my lunch outing--and not for the reasons you might think. While I do make a mean peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I enjoy my lunch break because I have found the perfect park bench.

For a while, I spent each day testing different benches. I first tried a bench by the steps past High Cotton and Starbucks. That day was marked with an unusual event. While I was gabbing with a friend en route to my destination, I thought I heard someone yelling my name. Unfortunately, "Kate" sounds a lot like "Hey" at really high volumes so I ignored it, doubting I would know anyone who would yell at me on the street and assuming the cries were meant for someone else.

I continued on and sat down, eating my lunch and chatting on the cell. A few minutes passed and a man I had never seen before looked me straight in the eye and said, "Kate, I think someone wants you up there." At this point, I began to feel a little freaked. Was I in some alternate dimension where everybody knows my name? I still wondered if maybe I had heard wrong.

A few minutes later I received a text message and realized that it was a good friend of mine who is hostessing at High Cotton and saw me walk by but could not get my attention fast enough. Despite her best intentions to just say hello, I have stayed away from that park bench due to the uneasy feelings I encountered when a stranger called me by name.

After numerous attempts, I found other benches in highly congested areas that offered plenty of chances for people watching but did not provide the rejuvenation I sought. Finally, after much searching, I have found my bench. I won't tell you where it is because it is too perfect to share. Nestled beneath a tree that provides enough shade to keep it cool but not too much that it blocks all of the sun is my little oasis.

The bit of respite and refreshment I receive from this spot serves as a constant reminder to me of how important it is to value the environment. If not for its beauty, for the rest we receive from being amidst nature. I would encourage you all to take a couple of days out of your week during lunch and try to find your own bench...it will do more good than you know.

Moving Forward...

2008-07-22T14:20:00.006-04:00

So, we are trying one more experiment here. We are going to start one more blog and see how it goes. This blog will encompass the meanderings of all the employees of Greenville Forward. We may post only once a day. But, we may post more than once a day.

I've already included some entries from other GF blogs. As the days go by, the look of this site will change. We will begin to add pictures. More information on our profile. Information about events we have coming up. Stories, tall tales, legends, jibber-jabber, etc.
So, stay tuned and see what we do every day...

A Look That Changed Perspective

2008-07-21T17:00:00.004-04:00

I've begun to write this blog entry many times, but somehow found it difficult to write. As my hands move across the keyboard as I write this story, I find myself shuttering with a feeling of hopelessness. My hands start to shake ever so slightly and my heart begins to ache in a way that I have never known before. I have tried to push through and write, but it just gets too hard. This is a blog that I wanted to write before Christmas. But, my best friend convinced me that I didn't need to. The Holidays are a beautiful time and I didn't need to bring such reality to this blog which has such a positive message. I mean, how could I follow up my Stevie Wonder blog with a post about real life and the struggles that many people in our community go through every day? It turns out that I couldn't do it.

What I was writing about was something that shook me to my bones. In my job, I see and talk about the struggles and issues that face our community. I learn and talk about childhood poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, lack of healthcare to those that need it, lack of viable education options for some, the ever present need for improved safe and timely transportation options for those that need it. We have Task Forces that address these very issues. I've been on the poverty tour led by Bruce Forbes and have seen some of the neediest places in Greenville. Places where our neighbors are living on cardboard. Living under bridges. Living in transition and doubt.

But, through all this, I still live a life of privilege. A life where I know where my next meal is coming from. A life where I know where I will sleep tonight. A life where my family and friends are supportive, strong and loving. A life that has allowed me to move forward on a path of success and has given me the tools to ensure that I do not stray too far from that path. A life where my challenges and struggles center around getting to work on time, making sure my dog is well fed and making up for mistakes that I make with friends and family. All pretty minor in the great scheme of things.

About a month ago, I was walking back to my car after a meeting downtown. It was a cold day, and I was hurrying to get back to my car to feel some heat. While I walked back to my car, I was running lines for a play I was doing out loud. Now, I don't normally do this in public, but for some reason, on that particular afternoon, I did. When I got to my car door, I pulled out my keys to open the lock (unfortunately, I don't have a cool keyless entry mechanism. It's really unfortunate when it's raining.) As I turned the lock on my door, I felt something to my left. Now, what I felt, was not supernatural or surreal, but very real. It was a feeling of emptiness and loss. I hadn't felt it before. It was strange and strong.

As, I turned to my left, I noticed that I was looking at an empty lot. It looks like there was a house there at one time, but it was gone now. I surveyed the lot and noticed that there was debris on the back end of the lot, closest to me. And, then I saw it. In the corner of the lot was a dilapidated dog house. It was leaning to one side, basically caving in from the top. As I looked at the house I saw a face staring at me from the doorway. It was a homeless man, huddled in the broken, falling down dog house. He just stared at me. His eyes were glassy and cold. He didn't look mad. He didn't look mean. He just looked. That's all. He looked at me and through me. I just stood there and looked back. I couldn't move. We both just stared at each other for what seemed like hours. I don't think either of us blinked. After a moment, I opened my door, climbed in my car, started the engine and drove away. The whole time, I never broke his gaze. He never broke mine. And, I still haven't broken that gaze.

As I drove back to my office I was awed. I don't even remember taking a left and a right. I don't remember pulling into the parking lot. I don't remember walking in and saying hello to Russell and Mary Hunter. I don't remember sitting at my desk and checking my email. But, I do remember the tears. I remember feeling so helpless at what I just saw. I remember feeling like I had taken everything in my life for granted. I remember feeling that this man was every homeless person that I had ever passed and felt nothing for. He was every homeless person that I thought could fix their situation if they just “got a job." He was my guilt for not paying attention earlier.

So, I floated through my Holiday season and thought of him. That man that I saw staring through me from the doorway of a dog house, trying to escape the cold the best way he knew how. As hard as it is to think about, I hope I don't forget that look. I hope I can remind myself of that man whenever I take things for granted. I hope I can find some way to use that moment as a push to motivate me to help Bruce Forbes and Beth Templeton and others in the struggle to eradicate homelessness and poverty from our community.

Many of us don't see poverty. We don't know the face of poverty. Sure, we see it on the streets, but we don't know what it looks like. We don't experience it every day. Well, sometimes facts work in ways that nothing else can. So, in the bear with this length of this entry and read some of these statistics that I received from Beth Templeton with “Our Eyes Were Opened"…

Sobering Facts 2007Assembled by Beth Templeton, Director of Our Eyes Were Opened(Primary sources of data: our Community's Impact Agenda, June 2003 and Out of Reach 2006, nlihc and Bureau of Economic Analysis, 4/06)
IncomeThe 2007 federal poverty level for a family of 4 in South Carolina is $20,650 and is $10,210 for one individual.The area median income in 2006 was $56,500.
In 2004 the per capital income in Greenville County was $28,531 which is 86% of the US per capita income of $33,050.
RentA minimum wage earner ($5.15 an hour) can afford monthly rent of no more than $268. The fair market rent for a one-bedroom unit in Greenville County is $560.
A SSI recipient (receiving $623 monthly) can afford monthly rent of no more than $181.
A unit is considered affordable if it costs no more than 30% of the renter's income.
The percentage of households not making enough money to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at fair market value ($623) is calculated to be 39%. (Income required is $24,920)
Rate of Poverty13.2% of all residents in 2003 in Greenville County live at or below established federal poverty levels.
Almost 1 in 4 African Americans and more than 1 in 4 Hispanic individuals live in poverty.
In Greenville County, 1 in 5 families makes less than $25,000 a year and 1 in 10 makes less than $15,000 a year.
41% of households living in the downtown 29601 zip code make less than $20,000 per year.
LiteracyIn 1990 Greenville County had 48% of its adults age 16+ who were functionally illiterate by national standards.
WagesThe Renter Wage in Greenville County is $11.06. This is the amount a full time (40 hours a week) worker must earn per hour in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent.
The average hourly wage in Greenville for service occupations is $9.55, with an average work week of 35 hours a week. For jobs categorized as handlers, equipment cleaners, helpers and laborers, the average hourly wage is $10.76 with an average work week of 38.5 hours a week. These jobs represent approximately a quarter of our workforce.
TransportationAccording to the 2000 census, 11,300 households in Greenville County are without a car.

If you've read this far, thank you. It means you care about what is going on in our community. Take some time to think about what you can do. Call the agencies that are working on this problem. Or, email me at bkoonce@greenvilleforward.com and ask me how you can help. I can point you in the right direction. It's as easy as sending an email or making a phone call. For me, it just took one look.

It Takes How Much To Fill My Tank?...

2008-07-18T11:53:00.001-04:00

Quick observation. I'm sure many of you out there have thought the same thing...
As I was driving to work yesterday, passing by all the various gas stations on Laurens Road and then Washington, I thought a few things. My first thought was, "how long can I actually drive my car before I have to spend the 70 bucks it takes to fill it up. I have a trip to Virginia on Sunday, and if I can hold out that long, maybe I can save some dough." Certainly logic at it's best, right?
My second thought was that I should really take advantage of the bike that I had collecting dust in my office. Currently it has the wrong pedals for me to really ride it effectively with regular shoes, so I need to work on that a bit. But, once I have those new, shiny pedals on there, look out.
My last thought was, with this ridiculous increase in gas prices (almost 4 beans now), it has certainly put a pinch on many people who depend on transportation to get us around. There are a lot of people in our community who are able to drive to work, but barely. They live on shoe-string budgets and any increase or minor catastrophe can send thier day to day existence into a negative spiral. This has happened with the gas prices. I have met a couple of people who can no longer afford the gas it takes to put in their cars. This means they can't drive themselves to work. They have to depend on friends, co-workers, their feet, etc. In some circumstances, they can use the Greenville Transit line (now GreenLink), but we all know that it is a tad bruised and broken and currently being revamped. So, these Greenville citizens are forced to miss work and stress about providing for their families.
If for no other reason, should be the final wake up call that our transporation situation in Greenville County needs to be fixed. Our neighbors can't get where they need to go. We have a mounting gas crisis in this country and we are all having to pinch pennies a little bit more. If I could honestly hop on GreenLink and get to work effectively and efficiently from where I live, I'd do it. And, then I'd be able to spoil those around me with all the money I saved from not buying gas.