Simple Civics: Greenville County

Discover why giving to local nonprofits matters more than ever. Today we chat with two Greenville County foundation leaders, Meliah Bowers Jefferson of the Jolly Foundation and Andrew Ross of the Hathaway Family Foundation, about the power of individual donors to transform their community. Learn how you can make an impact, whether you have dollars or just time to give. It's not about the size of y...

Money doesn't have to be stressful! Kerri Smith and Michael Gates of Self-Help Credit Union share eye-opening insights on what money really is and provide practical tips to take control of your finances. Learn how to build savings, reduce money anxiety, and use your hard-earned cash as a tool to improve your life. Links: Self-Help Credit Union:  https://self-help.org SC 211:  https://sc211.org Gre...

Downtown revitalization requires a balanced, multi-stakeholder approach to be successful, as evidenced by the thriving downtowns across Greenville County. Today we interview Craig Scharton, an experienced downtown and community revitalization professional, who shares the key elements of the Main Street revitalization framework, roles of different community partners, and examples of downtown renewa...

Dive into Greenville County's 2024 election results! Learn which precincts had the highest (and lowest) turnout, the surge in early voting, and how to explore detailed precinct-level data yourself. Plus, a look ahead at what's next for the podcast. Links: SC Votes stats walkthrough. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter. _ Produced by  Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a pro...

In this episode, we sit down with Juan Castrejon and Hanaa Khan, two Greenville County residents preparing to vote in their first presidential election. They share valuable insights on the importance of civic engagement for young people, the barriers that keep their peers from the polls, and the role schools can play in building a stronger democracy. Links: Interview on "The Great Retention" podca...

Meet Democrat J Fritz Weibel, South Carolina House of Representatives District 28 candidate in the November general election. ALso running is Republican Chris Huff who declined to participate. District 28 covers Conestee and most of Southern Greenville County with the exception of the lowermost southwest corner. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters....

Meet Democrat Stephen Dreyfus and Republican Stephen Frank, South Carolina House of Representatives District 20 candidate in the November general election. District 20 generally covers the Taylors area, straddling highway 29 between the cities of Greenville, Greer, and Travelers Rest. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! P...

Meet Sarah Dulin and Missey Marsh, Area 27 candidates for Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees in the November general election. Area 27 is in the Golden Strip and includes Five Forks, East Georgia Road, Lee Vaughn Road, and Scuffletown Road, with nearly half of it spreading into Laurens County. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote...

Meet Greg Cantrell,  Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, and Jack Logan, Area 25 candidates for Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees in the November general election. Area 25 generally covers the area along Augusta Road including part of Chanticleer, Pleasant Valley, Belle Meade, and Mount Pleasant. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so...

Meet Angie Mosley and Steve Whaley, Area 21 candidates for Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees in the November general election. Area 21 is on Greenville County’s Eastside and includes Boiling Springs Road, Thornblade, the Hartness community, and the Kingsbridge and Kilgore Plantation area. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is s...

Meet Scott Cline, Robert Hamilton, Dan Healy, and Amanda Stone, Area 19 candidates for Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees in the November general election. Area 19 generally covers Northwestern Greenville County to the state line, Travelers Rest, and Berea. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please take a listen...

Meet Carolyn Styles, Area 17 candidate for Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees in the November general election. Area 17 generally covers Northeastern Greenville County to the east of US 25 and down to Old Rutherford and Stallings Road on the South end, encompassing some of the Paris Mountain area. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your v...

As Greenville County begins the response and recovery process from hurricane helene, this short episode provides a few resources for help with the disaster's impacts on your home and belongings and for dealing with challenges such as food, prescriptions, and more. We also share how you can help your neighbors and those in need. Links: FEMA Assistance: https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual Com...

Meet Democrat Taylor Culliver and Republican Ross Turner, South Carolina Senate District 8 candidates in the November general election. District 8 generally covers the neighborhoods of Augusta Street, Gower, Hollingsworth, the west end of Pelham Road, and much of the Golden Strip of Mauldin, Simpsonville and Fountain Inn. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to th...

Meet Democrat Chandra Dillard, South Carolina House of Representatives District 23 candidate in the November general election. Also running is Libertarian James Atkins Jr. who declined to participate. District 23 generally represents downtown Greenville, Nicholtown, West Greenville, and the Mill Communities of Pete Hollis Boulevard and Rutherford Street. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minu...

Meet Democrat John MacCarthy and Republican David Vaughan, South Carolina House of Representatives District 27 candidates in the November general election. District 27 runs along I-385 and includes Southeast Mauldin, most of Simpsonville, and a little bit of northwest Fountain Inn. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Plea...

Meet Democrat Wendell Jones and Republican Tim Kennedy, South Carolina House of Representatives District 25 candidates in the November general election. District 25 generally represents the area along Augusta Road of Pleasant Valley, Belle Meade, Mount Pleasant, and Donaldson. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is so important! Please ta...

Meet Democrat Brann Fowler and Republican Paul Wickensimer, South Carolina House of Representatives District 22 candidates in the November general election. District 22 generally covers North Main Street in Greenville, Botany Woods, East North Street, and the Eastside including some of Pelham Road, Roper Mountain Road, and Garlington Road. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduc...

Meet Republican Bruce Bannister and Democrat Shauna Johnson, South Carolina House of Representatives District 24 candidates in the November general election. District 24 generally represents the Augusta Road, Gower, and Hollingsworth neighborhoods in the City of Greenville and the Miller Road and Knollwood areas of Mauldin. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to...

Meet Constitution Party candidate John Langville and Republican candidate Liz Seman who are both running for Greenville County Council District 24 in the November general election. District 24 generally represents the neighborhoods of Augusta Street, Gower, Hollingsworth, Haywood Road, and Mauldin. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your vote is s...

Meet Democrat Karine Debaty and Republican Frank Farmer, candidates for Greenville County Council District 22 in the November general election. District 22 generally represents North Main, Wade Hampton in and near the city of Greenville, the north side of I-385, and Pelham Road out to Boiling Springs Road. In this episode, each candidate has 10 minutes to introduce themselves to the voters. Your v...

What does it take to build a strong school culture and engage the local community? In this episode, two Greenville County principals, Ashley Wardlaw from Blue Ridge High School and Adrian Mayes from Hughes Academy of Science and Technology, share their experiences and insights. Discover how these school leaders are making a positive impact by fostering authentic relationships, celebrating student...

Have you ever had a concern or issue with your child's school but didn't know where to turn? In this episode, we sit down with Kate Malone and Jason Warren, the district ombudsmen for Greenville County Schools. As former principals, they bring a wealth of experience and unique skill sets to their roles in helping students, parents, and community members navigate concerns and resolve conflicts with...

Pastor Stacey Mills of Mountain View Baptist Church and Emily Poole, staff attorney at the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP), discuss the decades-long efforts for remediation of the contaminated Bramlett Road site near the Greenville community of Newtown in Southernside. Learn about the history of the neighborhood, the impact of coal tar contamination on the wetlands and residents,...

What do summer swim meets and civic engagement have in common? In Greenville County, the answer is SAIL. For 60 years, the Swim Association Invitational League (SAIL) has brought together swimmers, families, and volunteers from across the county for friendly competition and community building. In this episode, we dive into the history and impact of SAIL with Chris Abdella, current SAIL president,...