Staying on Top Archives | Page 23 of 65

Renowned White House Photographer, Lawrence Jackson, to Speak at Upcoming Lunch and Learn Virtual Event on May 24th

May 18, 2021 | Press releases, Staying on Top

Greenville, SC | May 18^th, 2021 – On Monday, May 24^th, Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate will host a special Lunch and Learn event from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. This event is open to the public and will feature Lawrence Jackson, an official White House Photographer and author of the book Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President. This virtual lunch & learn is free to join, but advance registration is required and can be completed by clicking here.

Lawrence will talk about his journey from Richmond, Virginia and James Madison University to the White House, where he served as a photographer for President Obama from 2009-2017 and is currently the official White House photographer for Vice President Kamala Harris. He also will share some of his favorite photos and stories from his White House experiences.

“I have known Lawrence for many years and am excited that he will share about his career journey and amazing experiences working as a White House photographer,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. “He has not only witnessed history, but he has preserved it for all-time and it will be great to have him share some of the pictures and stories with an Upstate audience.”

Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow.

“It is famously said, “That a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” and we are thrilled to have this unique opportunity with White House Photographer, Lawrence Jackson,” said Sean Dogan, President and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. “We look forward to hearing and seeing about Lawrence’s experiences over the years, working to capture history first-hand as it has unfolded over time.”

The mission of the Urban League of the Upstate is to advance equity by empowering black and other underserved communities through advocacy, education and economic stability. Under the leadership of the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Reverend Sean Dogan, the Urban League of the Upstate continues to support and advocate for the economic equality for African Americans by building strong and stable communities.

Click here to register for the Lunch & Learn with White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson hosted by Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate on May 24^th.

ABOUT TEN AT THE TOP

Comprised of public, private and civic leaders across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and consensus through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to encourage quality growth and enhance the economic vitality, natural and cultural resources and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. www.tenatthetop.org.

ABOUT THE URBAN LEAGUE

The mission of the Urban League of the Upstate is to advance equity by empowering black and other underserved communities through advocacy, education and economic stability. https://urbanleagueupstate.org

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Upstate Professional Planners – Upstate Comprehensive Plan Review Presentation Recap

May 14, 2021 | Staying on Top, Upstate Professional Planners

We are excited to announce the completion of the Comprehensive Plan Analysis Review by TATT intern Kyle Dool. Kyle is a graduate student in the City and Regional Planning program at Clemson University. This presentation is the results of an effort between Ten at the Top, Upstate planners, and Clemson University to uncover trends and evaluate opportunities for development collaboration across the Upstate region. The basis of the project is the analysis of comprehensive plans from the 10 Upstate counties and the cities of Greenville and Spartanburg, which allowed us to identify key planning themes for each county and the two largest cities in the region.

The comprehensive plan analysis review identifies common themes and key takeaways among the plans of the Upstate.

The presentation can be viewed here.

Q & A

Answered by Kyle Dool unless otherwise noted

Q: Future Land Use maps – What were some of the challenges in normalizing the ten-county region, considering each jurisdiction utilize their own terms?

A: (From Katherine Amidon, Synterra Corporation, who helped with the GIS mapping for the project): Definitely some assumptions had to be made. Once we have Pickens and Spartanburg we will provide context for how we got there. We tried to mimic the 2015 effort as best as possible. Without context for how the previous class performed this analysis we had to make some guesses.

Q: What are some weaknesses that the Upstate can focus on in the next few years?

A: Only the Union county plan talked about the connection between internet access, economic development and community prosperity. We know it is an issue in all counties, but it is something that wasn’t mentioned as much as might have been expected.

Q: Was the growth pattern representative of those reflected in individual comprehensive plans?

A: Yes, most growth is focused along existing transportation networks, and there is much emphasis on bolstering the relationship between land use and transportation.

Q: Is there opportunity moving forward for the Upstate Professional Planners to discuss how they can collaborate to turn some of the plan elements into actual policies within Upstate counties to ensure the plans are followed?

A: Yes, there are many commonalities that could bring inspiration between counties, and a lot of opportunity for planners to collaborate. Cities and counties are interconnected geographically also (eg. Clemson professors live all over the Upstate).

Q: You mentioned some plans discussed alternative funding options for transportation. Did most ideas include Sales Tax? Or were there other ideas we should be exploring?

A: Sales tax and exactions with some discussion of federal funding.

Thank you to:

Kyle Dool

Phil Lindler & Michael Forman, co-chairs of the Upstate Professional Planners Group

Comprehensive Plan Review Steering Committee

Katherine Amidon, Synterra

Sherry Barrett, Upstate Forever

Lisa Bollinger, SPATS

Chris Brink, Pickens County Planning

Keith Brockington, GPATS

Tee Coker, Greenville County

Kara Drane, Catawba Regional COG

David Dyrhaug, City of Mauldin

Sherry Dull, SPATS

Lance Estep, ACOG

Michael Forman, GSP International Airport

Rick Green, Upper Savannah COG

Michael Hildebrand, Upstate Mobility Alliance

Maurice McKenzie, Anderson/ANATS

Nina Hallissy, ReWa

Phil Lindler, Greenwood City/County Planning

Natalia Rosario, City of Spartanburg

BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation

May 14, 2021 | Staying on Top

Judson Conwell, Business Development Manager and Kari Snyder, Charity and Volunteer Coordinator, BMW Charity Pro-am presented by SYNNEX Corporation

Please visit bmwcharitygolf.com for tickets and event schedules. See the presentation here for detailed celebrity information. Watch a video recap here.

TATT Announcements

The UPP hosted a workshop this morning; to view the presentation of their Comprehensive Plan Analysis Review, click here: https://tenatthetop.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/TATT-Comprehensive-Plan-Analysis-2.0.pptx

The Upstate Mobility Alliance is hosting a workshop on May 25th at 12pm: Connecting the Dots: How Transportation Creates Community Vibrancy. Sign up here: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ehvewooe82352437&llr=iwqthmdab

Join us at the next TATT CHAT on May 27 at 3pm; Our guest speaker is Robyn Grable, Founder & CEO, Veterans ASCEND/Ability ASCEND; you can register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYofuuhqz8iHdUWk6BBTjyls0ucfffJBe1l

#UPSTATEVIBE365 CALENDAR

County Updates

Jessie Cappello, Marketing & Communications Manager of The Children’s Museum of the Upstate

Original Greenville location for children up to 12 years old

Spartanburg is celebrating its third birthday and is for children six and under

Programming is the heart and STEAM learning/hands-on play is the priority

COVID impact – in 2019 over 260K people visited and in 2020 (Mar to July closed) 91K people visited

Staff of eight prevailed and 2020 ended on a high note with fundraising events

New exhibit “Geo’s Golf; Swinging Through Greenville” built completely in house and geared towards parents playing with kids

Since Jan 2021, 74% of visitors have been from outside of GVL county and 72% of visitors to the Spartanburg’s location since it opened are from outside Spartanburg.

Scholarships are available to give greatly reduced/free access to the museums to people who need it

Tech Centers in Nursing Homes

Apr 30, 2021 | Senior Issues Group, Staying on Top

A window to loved ones donated to assisted living residents through “tech centers”

Bill Vicary, Founder of Just Call Bill, saw a need long before COVID hit to have residents in senior living communities better connected to their families and friends who were far away, or not able to visit as frequently as they would like. Vicary developed an idea for senior tech centers when this lack of communication became exacerbated by the pandemic. Visitors not allowed to nursing homes meant increased isolation, depression, loneliness, stress, and anxiety. Typically, senior living communities do not use technology to help engage and benefit the residents.

About a year ago, Vicary was speaking with Stan Means, President of Elder Source Senior Ministries about various topics and issues facing seniors. They talked about the “digital divide,” that vast chasm between those who have access to computers and the internet, and those who do not. They came up with a solution to get seniors connected to their families and friends. Means obtained funding, and Vicary selected the equipment, a 52” Smart TV on a portable stand, the latest iPad in a durable case, and all the adaptors and cables required to operate on a community’s Wi-Fi system. Each tech center costs approximately $1,100.

The first Tech Center donation and installation was done just before Thanksgiving of 2020 at Shepherd’s Care Assisted Living Center in Greenville. When asked about the Tech Center, Director at Shepherd’s Care, Eric Thompson said, “It’s been wonderful. It has become part of our family when we needed it the most.”

Vicary installed the equipment and instructed the staff on how to use it. Now most of the staff can easily roll the setup where it is needed, plug the iPad into the TV, and connect residents to their loved ones. Staff members see the joy firsthand when a loved one’s face appears on the screen.

The virtual visit unit has far exceeded what Thompson’s expectations. Residents have met a newborn great-grandchild, virtually toured a granddaughter’s new apartment, celebrated holidays together, and even attended a funeral of a lifelong friend.

Sometimes the staff will roll out the unit for residents to watch “Frenchie Fails on YouTube,” which always brings laughs, especially since the mascot at Shepherd’s Care is a French Bulldog named Mabel.

The Tech Center was a relief for families not being able to visit. The virtual visits gave them a better picture of how their loved ones were doing.

Although visitors are now allowed, Shephard’s Care will continue to use the unit for families who do not live close enough to visit. “There is still a great need to connect seniors and their families, so Stan and I are seeking donations to provide more Tech Centers to deserving senior communities in the upstate,” says Vicary.

If you would like more information about installing a tech center, please contact Bill Vicary at bill@vicarymanagementgroup.com. Bill’s company, Just Call Bill provides technology services to senior adults and their families so they can be better connected. Bill has worked with hundreds of seniors throughout the South Carolina teaching senior adults how to use their technology more effectively and safely, as well as other educational programs.

For more information on Elder Source Senior Ministries, please contact Stan Means at 864.630.2952. Elder Source has the capability to accept grants from those who would be interested in dedicating a tech center to an assisted living center for a loved one.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Teens Today

Apr 30, 2021 | Staying on Top

Gracie Sandidge, Ten at the Top Intern with Launch GVL

My last “normal” day as a high school student was March 13, 2020. My fellow student council members and I were preparing to welcome 800 high school students for the state convention later that day; at 10:00 that morning, the district recommended the state convention be canceled to follow CDC guidelines concerning the quickly growing COVID-19 pandemic. School was canceled for two weeks, which turned into a month, which turned into the rest of the school year. Teachers and students had a massive roadblock: switching to completely online learning with no advance notice.

For the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, most Greenville County School District students began by going to school in person one day a week, and the rest online. I got to witness the complexities of this hybrid schedule from many different perspectives: as a high school senior on the hybrid schedule myself, as a sister of a high school freshman struggling to adjust, and working at a daycare, supervising elementary school students. It was a significant task for students so young to be responsible for logging onto Google Meets on time, completing schoolwork without the assistance of a teacher, and staying on task as they work from home. Students in this day and age have faced a unique challenge and witnessed firsthand the importance of adaptability in an increasingly digital world; WSPA reports that approximately 22,000 Greenville County students chose remote learning for the 2020-2021 school year.

These challenges do not seem to fade with age; high schoolers planning to go to college or the workforce are struggling to compete with students who were able to have a traditional four years of high school. According to the Washington Post, high school students are failing in record numbers since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, over the last few months, my classmates and I have struggled with major feelings of loss. We have missed out on so much: prom and homecoming, high school sports games, a normal Spirit Week, even pep rallies and sitting beside each other at lunch. These seemingly insignificant losses have added up as we attempt to find normalcy any place we can, but it is not easy. The past year has not been easy for anyone, and kids my age have a collective wish for those in our lives to be understanding. Being a teenager during a pandemic has been the most difficult thing I have gone through, and I come from a secure home with reliable resources. I am lucky that my personal situation has given me stability even throughout this crazy year, but some students have had no place to turn, while still being expected to perform at the same level as before the pandemic. If this has been an incredibly difficult year for me, I cannot imagine the difficulty of being a high school student in this day and age without reliable food, water, transportation, internet, or supportive family members.

We high school students are trying our best to maintain optimism and perform well in school, but the added pressure of excelling during a pandemic is too much for many, if not most. As kids, we are living through a very unique experience that nobody other than us will understand, and the challenges faced today will stay with us long into the future. We ask that those around us give us a little more grace to help us through these difficult times, as we keep pushing towards a future influenced by the overcoming of unprecedented obstacles.

Gracie Sandidge, a senior at Wade Hampton High School, will attend Clemson University this fall and study engineering. She recently completed an internship with Ten at the Top as part of the Launch GVL program.