Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top (TATT) will be culminating a year-long initiative to identify examples of communities from across South Carolina and the entire United States that have increased the vibrancy within their local community through specific programs and initiatives by hosting a series of four Community Workshops across the region on May 22-23. Workshops will be held in Spartanburg and Greenwood on May 22nd and Clemson and Greenville on May 23rd.
The initiative represents a partnership between the Ten at the Top Community Vibrancy Task Force and Urban Policy & Planning classes at USC Upstate. For two semesters, classes under the direction of Dr. Abe Goldberg identified communities that have created local vibrancy through initiatives focused on their neighborhoods, downtowns, arts & culture, parks & recreation or programs & events. The result of the project is a Community Vibrancy Great Ideas list of nearly 50 examples that include communities of all population sizes.
At the workshops, representatives from nearly a dozen communities highlighted in the Great Ideas list will share insight on how they were able to increase the local vibrancy within their community. Currently, local leaders representing projects in South Carolina, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Texas and California have committed to participate. The workshops will be very interactive as each community leader will give a brief overview of their project and then attendees will have the opportunity to speak one-on-one with those leaders whose project is of particular interest to them.
“Compiling a list of examples is great,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top, “but rather than just reading about what others have done, we felt like it would be more valuable if we could make the great ideas come alive by bringing to the Upstate some of the people who have created successful community programs.
“Regardless of where you are located, chances are you face some of the same challenges and problems when trying to invigorate a local community. We hope by having the chance to talk directly with others who have faced similar challenges, that folks from our local communities, neighborhoods, governments and planning commissions will get a ‘spark’ that helps them perhaps gain an idea or inspiration for something they can do in their own community. By hosting these workshops across the region, rather just in one central location, we hope that interested residents from all Upstate communities will have an opportunity to attend a session and be inspired to make a difference within their own community,” Hybl said.
There is no cost to attend the workshops, but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.tenatthetop.org. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.
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COMMUNITY VIBRANCY WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
May 22 – 9:00-11:00 a.m. – USC Upstate Olin Sansbury Jr. Campus Life Center, 800 University Way, Spartanburg, SC
May 22 – 3:30-5:30 p.m. – Greenwood Arts Center (Reception Hall), 120 Main Street, Greenwood, SC
May 23 – 9:00-11:00 a.m. – Clemson City Hall (City Community Room), 1250 Tiger Boulevard Suite One, Clemson, SC
May 23 – 3:00-5:00 p.m. – The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 424 Westfield Street, Greenville, SC