Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate hosted Upstate Connect at the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce on June 24 to discuss “Tackling Litter in the Upstate.”
Courtney Stonell, Coordinator for Keep Laurens County Beautiful and Amber Nappier, Litter Prevention Coordinator for Greenwood County were topic leaders. Several environmental enforcement officers from Spartanburg and Pickens were in attendance and shared information on litter enforcement programs and systems to prevent litter. Community leaders also shared their work in litter prevention, clean-up, and early.
The Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem met to connect and learn about some of the new resource platforms in the Upstate.
Jennifer Sutton of Bright + Co. shared the recently launched GVLInnovates, a curated ezine with resources for entrepreneurs. Brian Brady and Sam Cooper from the USC Upstate Johnson College of Business and Economics presented the Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s Resource Portal and the many community resources included. Ecomap’s Kevin Carter joined us virtually to train us on enhanced search and filtering features on StartGrowUpstate.com, and how to create profiles and lists of preferred resources. Click here for a recording of Kevin’s tour of the new features.
A Law Enforcement and Community Leader Forum was held on June 14, 2022 at the Blue Ridge Community Center in Seneca in conjunction with Tri-County Technical College
Law enforcement officers were in attendance to share information on police use of technology, general policing policies, community engagement, and police recruiting & training. As we learn time and again, education is key to creating trust. Community leaders shared their concerns about transparency in policing and the importance of cultural competency.
Roper Mountain Science Center (RMSC) plays a vital role in the future of our young people and economic vitality of the Upstate. You can be a part of the excitement over the next few months when you visit our Summer Adventure, Friday Starry Nights, and Laser Days of Summer.
Our economy is growing rapidly, fueled by companies looking for workers trained in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM). Roper Mountain meets that need. By giving young people education, experiences and skills for their careers, their lives are shaped, and our community thrives.
Each year, more than 50,000 students, 4,000 teachers, and 50,000 families and adults visit RMSC. We also impact an additional 30,000 students each year through our various outreach programs. Our students are ethnically diverse and come from 45 different school districts in 23 counties and 3 states. Approximately one-half of them come from families living in poverty.
Roper Mountain Science Center is owned and operated by Greenville County Schools and models a unique public-private partnership with added support generated by the Roper Mountain Science Center Association. At Roper Mountain, we know science is the key to a better life for us all, and that hands-on learning is the best way to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners.
We invite your involvement, advice and generosity as we shape our world together. Learn more at www.ropermountain.org
Nearly 60,000 residents in Greenville County residents are Hispanic or Latino, and in the ten counties of Upstate South Carolina, over 100,000 individuals identified as either Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 US Census. And these numbers are growing! South Carolina is experiencing an exciting period of growth in the Hispanic Community, and the Hispanic Alliance strives to make the Upstate of South Carolina an inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and Hispanic families from many nationalities can thrive, share their culture, and actively elevate the community.
The Hispanic Alliance exists to build bridges toward a better future for everyone in our community. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Hispanic Alliance fosters collaboration and connectivity among people, resources, and cultures to build thriving communities. Started as a grassroots effort of local Hispanic residents in 2005, the Hispanic Alliance (HA) continues to grow and serve the Hispanic citizens of the Upstate with a network of partner agencies, school systems, government organizations, and local businesses united by a common purpose – to give all individuals access to the American Dream.
Community Teams Meetings
The Hispanic Alliance ensures that the Hispanic and Latino community has equitable access to the best resources in the areas of health, education, financial stability, and legal services. In these Four Community Teams, multicultural grassroots volunteers help individuals overcome barriers to vital resources that address the language and cultural needs of our local community. They identify the gaps between needs and resources, avoid duplication of services and build collective capacity to serve the community. These are spaces of inspiration, innovation, and support. If you possess compassionate care for the lives in your proximity, learn how our community teams can magnify your efforts and make a greater difference. More information about community teams meetings can be found at: https://www.hispanicalliancesc.com/teams
The HA Network
Before the Hispanic Alliance was a non-profit organization, it was born as a network of people within and around the Hispanic community with a desire to nurture and protect its members. After more than a decade of evolution, the Hispanic Alliance continues to focus on serving the most vulnerable citizens, nurturing each other, and extending welcome to the entire Upstate community. The HA Network is over 3,000 members strong, but it is also a family. Connect with the HA Network on the 2nd Wednesday of every month to share resources, get connected, and serve your community. To join the HA Network, please visit: https://www.hispanicalliancesc.com/ha-network
Student DREAMers Alliance Leadership Accelerator
The Student DREAMers Alliance (SDA) is an award-winning leadership development program created to empower Hispanic high school students while offering support and guidance as they transition from high school to college and career. Most are the first generation in their families to pursue a college degree. In 2018, Student DREAMers Alliance was one of only six organizations globally to receive the McNulty Catalyst Fund award from the Aspen Institute. The SDA program is designed to empower and magnify the voices of DREAMers, to increase awareness of education inequity, and to advocate for changes in state legislation to achieve equal access to public, post-secondary education for all youth. SDA is the first strategy towards achieving the broader goal of addressing a critical need for diverse leadership that can champion and accelerate access to opportunities for the growing Hispanic population in South Carolina.
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the myriad of cultures within Latin and Spanish-speaking countries and the contributions of those peoples to our community. The United States has the second-largest Spanish-speaking population of any country in the world, smaller only than Mexico. Every year, National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) is observed by Americans across the United States, and between September 15 and October 15, the Hispanic Alliance facilitates a multicultural celebration across the Upstate. More information and a calendar of events will be made available soon! Be sure to check out HispanicHeritageMonth.com for more information!
Roper Mountain Science Center (RMSC) plays a vital role in the future of our young people and economic vitality of the Upstate. You can be a part of the excitement over the next few months when you visit our 
Nearly 60,000 residents in Greenville County residents are Hispanic or Latino, and in the ten counties of Upstate South Carolina, over 100,000 individuals identified as either Hispanic or Latino, according to the 2020 US Census. And these numbers are growing! South Carolina is experiencing an exciting period of growth in the Hispanic Community, and the Hispanic Alliance strives to make the Upstate of South Carolina an inclusive community where diversity is celebrated and Hispanic families from many nationalities can thrive, share their culture, and actively elevate the community.