Mar 7, 2022 | Staying on Top
By Teresa Spires, Executive Director, KNOW(2)
With spring in the air, KNOW(2) is working to encourage Cherokee County residents to make healthier choices, be more active, and eat better. On April 2nd, we will host our first annual Cherokee Rock & Ride event at the Lake Whelchel Trail, 358 Pleasant School Road in Gaffney. The day starts with a series of mountain trail bike races around Lake Whelchel on the relatively new trail. Both professional and hobby riders are welcome to sign up and participate. Registration and information is available at www.racedeptinc.com.
The event will also include a community festival with music, children’s activities, a community resource and health fair, and a beer garden. Nonprofits and businesses interested in participating in the resource fair can contact KNOW(2) to register. Admission to the event is free and open to the public. The Cherokee Rock & Ride is sponsored by the Gaffney Board of Public Works, Brown Packing Company, Blakely Funeral Home & Crematory, Piedmont Natural Gas and the Cherokee Medical Center. The bike race starts at 9 am and the community festival kicks off at 11 am. The professional riders will start at 11:30. All activities are expected to end at 4 pm.
KNOW(2) will also celebrate the one-year anniversary of our FoodShare Cherokee hub during the Rock & Ride. FoodShare Cherokee provides a fresh food box of healthy fruits and vegetables to anyone in the community every two weeks for only $15. SNAP recipients pay only 5 SNAP dollars for their box. Since the program is about improving eating habits in the community, it is open to everyone. Each box contains 9-12 different produce items and weighs between 15-25 pounds. Food comes from the state Farmer’s Market and from local farmers (in season), so it is very fresh. Residents wishing to order a box can contact FoodShare Cherokee through our Facebook page or by emailing FoodSharecherokee@gmail.com.
FoodShare Cherokee partners with the Cherokee County School District to provide the program. Boxes are packed by students at the Ola Copeland Community Learning Center when school is in session. During the summer and holidays volunteer adults and families are invited to come and see how the program works by participating in packing boxes. Students at the Learning Center get practical lessons in math, science, following directions, teamwork, and safe food handling. FoodShare Cherokee’s motto is feeding a need in our community.
Wholespire Cherokee, the public health task force of KNOW(2), worked with the South Carolina Office of Rural Health in 2020 and 2021 to study the public health data in the county and discuss ways to encourage people to make healthier choices. Of particular concern is the county’s high obesity rate, which is almost ten percent higher than the state average. Access to grocery stores with healthy options was also of concern as many of our county’s lower income residents lack access to reliable transportation and no public transportation exists in the county. FoodShare Cherokee is the first step that this group is taking to work on the issues. The Wholespire Cherokee task force represents a broad group of stakeholders in the public health and education communities. They meet monthly to share information and continue to work on improving public health in our community.
At the Cherokee Rock & Ride, KNOW(2) will have sample fresh food boxes available and will be raffling several off during the day. We also plan to have cooking demonstrations and other public health activities. To date, FoodShare Cherokee has provided almost 1,800 fresh food boxes, which is over 31,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables into the community.
KNOW(2) is a unique organization focused on making Cherokee County a better place to live, work, learn, and play. We are a connector, facilitator, supporter and advocate for many initiatives in the county. KNOW(2) focuses primarily on education, public health, economic development/entrepreneurship development, and families and youth at-risk. We have a large volunteer base and incorporate 100s of stakeholders into our work each year. Since our work is narrowly focused geographically, but broadly focused functionally, it is often difficult to explain; however, most people know that if something is happening in Cherokee County, KNOW(2) is likely involved in the actual work or in the background supporting the effort.
Mar 3, 2022 | Staying on Top, Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem
UEE Partner Workshop
Show Me the Paper Trail! March 1, 2022 The 2022 Upstate Entrepreneur Ecosystem Partner Workshop Series kicked off today on Zoom with Ana Parra of CommunityWorks Women’s Business Center presenting “Show Me the Paper Trail! Identifying the Important Financial Data.” Ana noted the importance of setting up a financial binder with personal and business documents, and how to transition from one to another. The goal is to get “loan ready” so documents are readily available to help entrepreneurs make decisions regarding starting a business, purchases, hiring, and growth. The binder also tells your story if eventually you want to apply for a loan or any kind of financial assistance. Click here to watch a recording of the workshop and here to view the presentation. The SC Small Business Development Center, the Women’s Business Center of CommunityWorks, and Piedmont SCORE are offering this series to provide tools and tips for you to assess the financial health of your small business. The second and third of the series continue April 5 with Organizing the Numbers, and on May 3 with Translating the Numbers into Financial Goals. Register here for both virtual workshops.
For April 5 – https://conta.cc/36PfNxG
For May 3 – https://conta.cc/3CcIArD
Feb 21, 2022 | UpstateVibe365
Hello, my name is LaShonn Edmunds and I’m so nervous and excited all at the same time because I’m actually going to expose my medical issue to the world. Scary! However, I hope and pray that my story will help somebody else.
I have a chronic disease called Primary Lymphedema-Tarda. Some of you may ask what in the world is that! I know I asked the same thing! To my surprise, most people never heard of it …not even doctors! Talk about scary! In fact, I was misdiagnosed by several doctors for a couple of years because of their lack of knowledge about the disease. Of course, this is not the doctor’s fault because they only receive about one hour’s worth of lymphatic diseases training during their four years in college. Let me explain how the medical community figured it out that I had this disease.
The doctor’s tried to figure out what was wrong with my by testing me for heart diseases, vein issues, gout, diabetes, cancer, thyroids and they could not come up with anything. The doctor’s final prognosis was I’m overweight and I need to watch my salt intake. He prescribed me some fluid pills and sent me on way. Let’s keep in mind I was 24 years old and just had my 3rd child and weighed about 145lbs! So you can imagine how I felt my doctor just told me I was fat!! Even though I am a strong African-American woman those words from my doctor cut like a knife. My thoughts were “I just had a baby a few years ago and I’ve never been a small woman. Come on… is obesity the real answer to my feet swelling! Don’t argue Shonn just Go Get K.I.M! (Keep It Moving!)” The doctor just gave me a life mission “lose weight to reduce the swelling”. In my mind, I’m now on a mission to get fit! Surely this will fix me and I will be healthy again.
Getting fit didn’t work out too well! New baby, work, and marriage…just too much on my plate. My swelling was there but hey I could still wear my shoes so no big deal. Until one day I was outside and got bit by a bug. I kept picking at the scar and my leg got infected! Next thing I know I passed out at work and was rushed to the hospital. Two blood transfusions and two days in the hospital later they advised that I developed cellulitis! What in the world is that! EXACTLY! No real explanation from anyone but was told to follow-up with my doctor that it was just a bad infection.
I tried to follow-up with my doctor but this particular day he did not have any appointments so they sent me to the nurse practitioner. I say she was an angel sent from heaven! My nurse practitioner explained to me what cellulitis was and also asked me a million questions, reviewed my charts and opened a book and said…I figured out what’s wrong with you…. you have LYMPHEDEMA! I was Excited, Thrilled, Relieved! Yes, I got something and you know how to fix it…give me my medicine and send me on my way! Then the excitement quickly stopped as she pronounced my death sentence….” I’m sorry there is NO CURE! ” This is where my story begins……
Now that I’ve received this horrible fate it came with some horrible lifestyle changes. One big one was that I could no longer wear fashionable shoes. I was so distraught because I absolutely love shoes. I work in a corporate environment where wearing casual or dress shoes is a must. At this point the only thing I could wear were shoes two sizes to big or flip flops. I was so embarrassed and depressed until God gave me a vision! He gave me the idea to become an inventor and create shoes cute comfortable shoes for women with swollen feet. I did exactly that and started my company CAIRS Shoes. Our shoes are comfortable Tru-Stretch shoes that will expand out and up. They are cute and fashionable too.
During my journey of inventing CAIRS Shoes I received a lot of help from various mentors within Greenville, South Carolina. Each mentor helped me in various phases of developing my shoes. I am so extremely grateful for each of them because I could not have made it without them. Below is a quick list of a few of them that support me on the journey:
- Leadership Development – Sr. Pastor Wendall Jones – Wendell Jones Leadership Institute
- Ideation – Bill Little – Engineer mentor
- Design – William Rowe – Rowe Shoe Cobbler
- Prototype – Joey Loman – Synergymill
- Financial Planning – Bill Heitz – Score
- Operations – Beth Veach – Entrepreneur Acumen Consultant
- Medical Advice – Dr. William Long – Upstate Podiatry
- Medical Shoe Expert – Shelly Simmering Esq – Pedorthist
- Startup Business Development – Jeanette Brewster – Village Launch
- Advance Business Development – Bryan Davis – GVL Starts
As you can see my city and community truly supports my vision. Each mentor gave me some unique experience that elevated my progress to be able to reach my goal of ready to sell shoes. We are excited to announce that we are now in final production and as long as COVID doesn’t slow us up, we will begin selling in March!
Feb 21, 2022 | UpstateVibe365
Volunteer registration is now open for the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX.
Tournament Dates: June 9-12 at Thornblade Club and June 9 & 10 at The Carolina Country Club
No experience necessary and you do not have to know anything about golf to participate! Opportunities for everyone 14 and up.
BMW Charity Pro-Am 2021 Thornblade Country Club
It takes over 800 volunteers to make the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX a success and the perks of volunteering make the opportunity one that can’t be missed.
For a cost of $40.00 volunteers will receive the below items, all thanks to our Official Volunteer Sponsor Pelham Medical Center:
- Official OOBE polo
- Cap or visor
- Two Patron Credentials
- 2022 memorable pin
- Breakfast and lunch each day you work
- Daily happy hour
The best part, for every day you work $20.00 is donated to the charity of your choice.
Come join us to raise money and awareness for charities in the Upstate!
Sign up HERE
BMW Charity Pro-Am 2021
BMW CHARITY PRO-AM PRESENTED BY TD SYNNEX.
South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI), the non-profit foundation of the BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX, was created to showcase the beauty of Upstate South Carolina and the hospitality of its citizens to the world; to create an event that brings the Upstate a fun and entertaining week centered around professional athletes and world-renowned celebrities; and raise money and awareness for South Carolina charities. Since 2001, the tournament has distributed $14.3 million to charities in the Upstate, part of the PGA TOUR’s $3 billion raised for charity.
Feb 11, 2022 | Uncategorized
Welcome
David Feild, TATT Chairman
Guest Speaker
Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, CEO, Urban League of the Upstate
View presentation here. View a video recap here.
Resource Update
Teri Gilstrap, Anderson County Economic Development – ACED helps Anderson County to provide outreach and entice new companies to come to Anderson County or current companies to expand. Main focus is to help with availability of workforce. Of the 5 school districts, there are roughly 2,000 students who are actively looking for work. Currently, they’re helping to put employers in front of students to help them learn and show opportunities and workshops that are available to them. They help students figure out what interests them through workshops or work studies. Over the last 5-6 years, they were able to develop the Development Corporation of Anderson County to engage in community activities that promote and support economic development activities in Anderson County. To learn more, please visit https://www.acedsc.org/ .
Susan Anderson, Anderson Interfaith Ministries – AIM’s mission is to connect people with support, resources, and education to empower themselves to be self-sufficient. 5 programs: Pivotal Support, Hunger ministries, Women & Children’s program, Housing Rehabilitation, and financial stability center program. Through incredible partnerships throughout the upstate, AIM is able to create generational change. They also have an AMERICORP program to help bring 10 individuals into the non-profit world and help those around them. Visit www.aimcharity.org for more information.
Adjourn
David Feild
Save the Date!
TATT CHAT March 10, 2022 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Walt Lindsley, Site Director and General Manager for the Lockheed Martin Greenville Facility
Feb 8, 2022 | Uncategorized
THA · Greenville, South Carolina
The Hayes Approach has partnered with Upstate Mobility Alliance (UMA), which is a regional public, private and non-profit partnership following a two-year effort called “Connecting Our Future.” Alliance participants and community partners include transportation organizations in the Upstate, local businesses and community organizations focused on improving mobility and access to transportation choices across the Upstate region.
This regional effort is under the umbrella of Ten at the Top (TATT), a regional organization that works to develop strategic partnerships and enhance the collective capacity across the 10-county Upstate South Carolina region on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life.
Whom We Seek:
The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director will lead a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to improving mobility options in the Upstate region. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, engaging, and able to build connections with a wide range of stakeholders. The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director is an external facing position but will also have responsibility for program and task force management.
Ideal Experience:
As the lead staff member for the Upstate Mobility Alliance, the Director will have an interest in advancing mobility issues and advocating for public policies and investments that positively impact mobility across the Upstate region. Additional requirements include:
- Minimum of five years of experience leading collective impact, coalition, or other similar collaborative community work
- Proven track record of consensus building as well as developing and implementing initiatives that address specific objectives
- Experience introducing or actively supporting legislative or public policy changes that support mobility initiatives
- Experience in public speaking and articulating an organization’s mission and vision
- Ability to manage multiple projects or initiatives simultaneously
- Knowledge of South Carolina’s Upstate region with specific understanding of mobility and transportation in the region being desired, though not required
- Proficiency with computer office suites, such as Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Experience writing briefings, strategy documents, initiative summaries and related materials
- Well organized and detail-oriented
- Bachelor’s Degree
Key Responsibilities:
The Upstate Mobility Alliance Director will be a staff member of Ten at the Top and report to the TATT Executive Director. Responsibilities include:
- Lead day-to-day operations of the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Work with Alliance Leadership Committee and Task Forces to ensure that goals and strategies are in place and action plans are established and implemented to achieve those goals
- Coordinate the efforts of the Alliance Leadership Committee and Task Forces, to include organizing meetings, working with the co-chairs on meeting content, facilitating meetings, and leading follow-up and next steps
- Participate in external mobility meetings and serve as the primary spokesperson representing the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Create visible advocacy, representation on behalf of UMA stakeholder groups
- Conduct presentations and regular updates on the Upstate Mobility Alliance to interested stakeholders across the Upstate
- Develop and implement strategies to increase awareness of and participation in the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Coordinate regional mobility events developed as part of the Upstate Mobility Alliance
- Build relationships with key stakeholders within the mobility network across the Upstate
- Project management of task force initiatives
- Communicate with the Ten at the Top Executive Director and Board of Directors on the progress of the Alliance
- Participate in fundraising activities to support the Alliance as needed
- Write reports, white papers, summaries, and support material
- Provide content for and support the web site and social media platforms
- Track projects and policies that will impact mobility in the Upstate
- Provide UMA partners and stakeholders with Call-to-Action opportunities when support is needed
- Other duties as assigned
Personal Characteristics:
The successful Upstate Mobility Alliance Director candidate should be:
- An individual who believes in working across jurisdictional and stakeholder boundaries to address issues that impact our region
- Eager and able to learn, understand and work on a broad array of issues; reflective, with strong conceptual, critical, and creative thinking abilities
- Approachable, knowledgeable, and able to develop meaningful relationships with diverse stakeholders
- Comfortable receiving input from many sources and able to analyze and formulate disparate information into a sound, well-organized plan
- Professional with a demeanor demonstrating empathy, humility, respect, good judgment, cultural sensitivity and flexibility to represent the Alliance in diverse forums and organizational relationships
- Able to serve as both a “leader” and a “doer” in working with the leadership team and task forces to produce results-oriented outcomes
- Flexibility to travel across the Upstate and participate in occasional evening meetings and events
Compensation:
Ten at the Top offers a competitive salary and benefits package including a health insurance stipend, paid vacation & holidays and a cell phone stipend. The expected salary range for this position is $80,000-110,000 but will be finalized based on the experience of the selected candidate.
Feb 3, 2022 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Dr. Gail Wilson Awan CEO, Urban League of the Upstate
This Black History Month we can also celebrate the 50-year legacy of the Urban League of the Upstate, one of the most impactful and innovative Urban League Affiliates in the country. The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. The Urban League is the oldest and largest community-based organization of its kind and in the nation. In 1970, a small group of citizens from Greenville met in the basement of the Springfield Baptist Church with one goal in mind. To create a community-based organization committee to the principle of equal opportunity for all citizens in housing, education, employment and economic development without regard to race or socioeconomic status.
In 1972, The National Urban League Executive Director, Vernon E. Jordan came to Greenville to meet with community representatives who chartered the new Greenville League; the Urban League received its charter from the National Urban League. In 1997, understanding the needs of the Upstate Region, the name was changed to reflect the population served by the Urban League of the Upstate. Today, more than ever before, we believe firmly in our everyday commitment to our mission and vision through focus on our purpose and Call to Action. The Urban League model of excellence shines through where each day many determined working men and women, scholars, entrepreneurs, homeowners, and advocates participate in a diverse array of classes and resources to meet their goals including college preparatory workshops, mentoring activities, parental enrichment activities, job readiness skills, foreclosure prevention and health screenings.
We are thrilled to partner with Ten at the Top and share the vision of collaboration, coordination and cooperation. We are truly stronger together. On February 17th, 2022 the Urban League of the Upstate will celebrate our 50 years of service at our Golden Jubilee Gala. This event is an evening designed to recognize individuals and companies that support the work of the ULUS. Together with our partners we will celebrate our achievements to educate and empower the Black and underserved individuals throughout the regions while supporting our commitment to provide education, housing, and workforce development. The gala celebrates the significant accomplishments of local leaders and organizations who embody the agency’s mission to advance equity by empowering the Black community and underserved individuals. This event raises funds to support our empowerment programs that focus on quality education, affordable, safe, and quality housing, job training and an equitable law and justice system.
For more information about the organization and the Whitney M. Young Jr. 50th Anniversary, Golden Jubilee, please visit our website urbanleagueupstate.org By Dr. Gail Wilson Awan, President, Urban League of the Upstate.
Jan 25, 2022 | Staying on Top, UpstateVibe365
Spartanburg’s Home for Arts, Culture, and SO much more!
Chapman Cultural Center is Spartanburg’s one-stop shop for arts and cultural events, performances, exhibits, and educational programming in Spartanburg County. If you’re unfamiliar with the center, it features a variety of independent museums, galleries, and other cultural organizations located inside the three-building campus. From live reptiles at Spartanburg Science Center and the Center for Dance Education at Ballet Spartanburg to performances and thought-provoking exhibits of Spartanburg Little Theatre, Spartanburg Philharmonic, and Spartanburg Art Museum, you can experience it all at Chapman Cultural Center!
This year, we are excited to say that many of the arts and cultural experiences are safely returning for the public to enjoy once again. Below are just a few of the arts and cultural experiences that will be taking place.
Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg will feature another year of monthly local artist exhibitions!
This year the Artists’ Guild of Spartanburg is also proud to offer The Judy and Brant Bynum Art Award for 2022. Thanks to the generosity of Judy and Brant Bynum, the amount of the award has increased from $500 to $1,000! This award is offered annually to rising college juniors majoring in Fine Art (2D or 3D) at a college or university in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Accepting applications beginning February 1, 2022. The deadline to apply is April 29, 2022, at 5 PM. For details, please visit: www.artistsguildspartanburg.org/awards
Ballet Spartanburg will present An Evening with Carlos Agudelo on March 24th and 25th.
Join Ballet Spartanburg for a beautiful evening highlighting ballets from their 2020 collaboration with the Hub City Writers Project. The evening will include champagne, chocolate, and toasts to the visionary excellence that Artistic Director, Carlos Agudelo, has shared through dance with our community and beyond for over 30 years.
Chapman Cultural Center is ecstatic to announce the 8th annual Spartanburg Soaring! International Kite Festival will be on October 8th, 2022! Stay tuned for more details and updates of the festival coming in the Fall!
Spartanburg Art Museum will present their upcoming exhibition, Black Anatomy from February 17th through June 30th. This dynamic exhibition features artists who bring intimate and charged bodies of work that represent their present-day voices while simultaneously keeping a toe dipped in the waters of their collective past experiences. Sculptures, installations, paintings, and drawings illustrate their shared understanding of the Black experience in contemporary culture and reveal work that unfolds in tones of universal truths.
Spartanburg Little Theatre will present The Great Gatsby on March 4 through 13!
Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, passionately pursues the elusive Daisy Buchanan. Nick Carraway, a young newcomer to Long Island, is drawn into their world of obsession, greed, and danger. The breathtaking glamour and decadent excess of the Jazz Age come to the stage in Simon Levy’s adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, approved by the Fitzgerald Estate.
Spartanburg Philharmonic will present Awakened: Classical Music’s Original Influencers on Friday, February 18 at 6:30pm (Happy Hour starts at 5:30pm).
Influencers aren’t just on social media telling people what to buy. In classical music, the original influencers were named Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven and their mastery continues to inspire composers even today. Join us for a musical exploration of new and familiar composers, and the spark that ignited their creativity. Who knows, maybe one piece will inspire your own muse.
Spartanburg Youth Theatre will present Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical on February 11th through 13th.
Based on the novel Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers and the Disney films, when a super-organized mother and her spontaneous teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to figure out how to break the spell and switch back. By spending a day in each other’s shoes, Katherine and Ellie come to appreciate one another in a way they never could have imagined. Based on the beloved 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the hit Disney Channel Original movie, this heartfelt and hilarious new musical explores the true power of love and the strength of the bond between a mother and daughter.
However, Chapman Cultural Center is more than a destination, the organization serves as Spartanburg County’s leading Local Arts Agency, as we advocate for the arts to ensure they are relevant and supported in the public and private sector. We provide support for both organizations and artists so Spartanburg County can continue to enjoy high-quality cultural experiences.
As a grantor, we typically provide more than $500,000 in annual General Operating Support grants to arts, science, and humanities-based non-profit organizations. In addition, we provide quarterly grants up to $5,000 to Spartanburg County creatives and non-profits to expand arts and cultural experiences to broader audiences.
Chapman Cultural Center also facilitates community vibrancy by encouraging diverse offerings, growing audience engagement, and measuring support for the arts. Our cultural leadership extends to the oversight of the Spartanburg Downtown Cultural District, by providing street music and public art programming that enhances the vibrant downtown experience. It also fosters and celebrates the arts in the unique neighborhoods and towns in Spartanburg County.
One of our most recent initiatives includes the Southern Studies Fellowship in Arts and Letters in conjunction with the Hub City Writers Project and the Watson Brown Foundation. The Southern Studies Fellowship is a first-of-its-kind program that brings one early-career artist and one early-career writer to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a nine-month fellowship of research, creativity, teaching, and travel, culminating in a collaborative project informed by the South. Fellows Ben Winans and Morgan Thomas’ final presentation on May 12th, from 6 to 9pm, will consist of a multimedia presentation of their research. Using the ritual of baptism as a device to explore Southern evangelical Christianity, ecological toxicity, and gender fluidity.
Finally, we are excited to continue our work and especially look forward to welcoming our new President and CEO, Dan Mayer. Mayer brings over 20 years of leadership experience in various roles in the arts and cultural sector including his work as an attorney through the country’s largest pro bono art and entertainment law organization in New York City. Additionally, he has served in numerous executive and advisory roles across the nation including the Spectrum Dance Theater, Photographic Center Northwest, and Seattle Jewish Film Festival. We look forward to his leadership as he progresses the future of arts and cultural experiences in Spartanburg County.
We hope you will take a trip to Spartanburg soon and experience all that the Chapman Cultural Center has to offer. See what other experiences you can enjoy at chapmanculturalcenter.org.
Jan 21, 2022 | Staying on Top, Uncategorized, UpstateVibe365
The Spartanburg Art Museum is a regional institution focused on inspiring and engaging people of all ages through contemporary art exhibitions, affordable education, and more! From free admission and affordable art classes to professional development programs and public art projects, SAM is committed to making art accessible for every member of our community. SAM is also the only art museum in the Upstate that exclusively shows contemporary art. We change out our exhibits four to five times a year so there will always be something fresh on view when you visit the museum!
Our current exhibit, Tina Freeman: Lamentations (on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art), contains a powerful series of photographs taken over a period of 7 years. The photographer, Tina Freeman, traveled between the wetlands of Louisiana and the glacial landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica to capture these breathtaking images. Paired together as diptychs, Freeman’s photographs reveal a haunting connectedness between spaces that are 5,000 miles apart. This exhibit will only be on view until Saturday, February 5, 2022 so be sure to come visit us before then!
Just looking at a work of art has been proven to increase blood flow to the brain by as much as 10% – the equivalent of seeing someone you love. And even if you don’t like or understand the piece you’re looking at, your critical thinking skills are subconsciously at work, searching for a common thread; searching for meaning. In fact, it’s been rumored that looking at works of art can help cure writer’s block. So if you ever find yourself in a creative rut or simply need to boost your mood, swing by SAM and find inspiration in our gallery. We’re open to the public 5 days a week and admission is always free!
Similarly, creative expression also has a positive effect on the mind. Making art has been shown to enhance brain function, raise serotonin levels, and reduce stress. It has also been found to promote self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment in both children and adults. At our museum, we believe all humans need an outlet for their creativity, which is why the Art School at SAM offers a range of classes from ceramics, painting, and drawing to lectures, self-care programs, and more.
Become one with nature this Spring during our Sketching in the Garden class or discover strange new facts when you attend our lecture The Weird History of Soap Carving. You can also mold your sculpting skills with our Ceramics and Wheel Throwing classes or spend Saturday getting creative at SAM during our monthly Family Fundays. If you’d rather make art from the comfort of your own home, our to-go kits have got you covered! The Art School at SAM is proud to provide local learners of all ages and skill levels with a space to express their creativity.
SAM’s recently-announced Professional Development program is just another way our museum enriches the local community. This program helps regional educators stay up-to-date on trends in the ever-evolving world of art education, equipping them with the tools to keep their students creative and engaged. From exploring new technologies and research to discussing recent methodologies and materials, SAM’s Professional Development program instills confidence in its participants, empowering them to educate a generation.
In 2020, we as a culture were radically altered. Our narrative of who we are as a community continues to change, strengthened by our individual and collective experiences. SAM’s latest public art project, Go Figure, is inspired by current events and the desire to connect safely with each other again – without COVID-19, without racial injustices, and without exclusion. Our goal for Go Figure is to create a project that expresses how we want to re-emerge together as a community: united.
The Spartanburg Art Museum’s public art projects foster local pride, boost tourism, and connect members of the local community. In fact, studies have found that the health and well-being of a community is deeply connected to the ability of its individuals to come together to work towards a common goal. Public art projects like Go Figure can act as this common goal, promoting cooperation, collaboration, and communication as well as demonstrating a town’s commitment to growth, development, and unity.
SAM is also excited to be offering memberships that come with some truly incredible perks! Every new member receives a t-shirt designed by local artist and SAM board member Adrian Meadows, exclusive access to four members-only events throughout the year, 10% off our online gift shop, and reciprocal membership access to 150+ museums across the Southeast through SEMC’s Southeastern Reciprocal Membership program.
This means that when you become a member at SAM, you also get free access to amazing institutions such as Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville, TN, the Columbia Museum of Art, the Miami Institute of Contemporary Art, and more. Plus, a membership to SAM is 100% tax-deductible (as applicable by law)! Want to learn more about the Spartanburg Art Museum? Visit our website at spartanburgartmuseum.org, reach out to us on social media @spartanburgartmuseum, or email museum@spartanarts.org!
Jan 13, 2022 | Staying on Top, Uncategorized
Welcome
David Feild, TATT Chairman
Economic Update – Video recap linked here | Presentation linked here 
Scott Baier, Professor and Department Chair of the John E. Walker Department of Economics within the Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business at Clemson University Questions:
- Do you have stats on DTC Retail vs brick & mortar sales? – Stronger growth in DTC with brick & mortar slower to rebound.
- Is that also stimulated by inheritance – funds from deceased family?
- Is this unemployment national or state? – Answered in presentation
- Are those 3 MM lost jobs the ones that people have left the labor force completely? Are these a certain sector of people? Are some just retiring? – Answered in presentation
- If we seem to see so many companies advertising for workers, why does the employment number not rebound back toward the 131k number? – Answered in presentation
- Any metrics/categories come to mind where SC trends differ from the national trends? Either good or bad? – SC is trending with national numbers, and in some cases, SC is a bit ahead. Before the pandemic, SC numbers were better than the national average. Scott says it’s a continuation of SC being a place people want to be.
- Does this analysis show that the idea of a universal basic income that has been proposed by Andrew Yang and others, would likely hurt GDP growth and be inherently inflationary? – “Devil is always in the details.” It all depends on how it’s introduced: as a substitute for another entitlement programs, it would possibly help GDP. If it’s in addition to those programs, it would be more inflationary.
Resource Update
Rhonda Rawlings, Village Launch – Village Launch is an enterprise under Mill Village ministries to equip under-resourced entrepreneurs to help get word out about their business. There is a 10-week academy, 3-week get started workshops, 3rd Thursday market for women and minority owned businesses to build clientele. The VL mentorship program is to have 1 mentor per entrepreneur. Mentors attend the 10-week academy as well. Please contact for opportunities: Rhonda Rawlings (rhonda@millcommunity.org or 914-325-2187).
Larry Block, SCORE – SCORE is a group of mentors, with varying skill sets, to help entrepreneurs or relatively new business owners navigate the business world. Currently, the Upstate SCORE chapter does not have minority or female mentors. Please contact for opportunities: https://piedmont.score.org/ . Adjourn
David Feild
