Opportunity SC: 2021 Recap
The Opportunity SC Conference is the largest comprehensive community development convention and forum in South Carolina. Now in its 22nd year, Opportunity SC provides community economic development leaders from around the state and country the chance to come together in fellowship to discuss the current issues facing South Carolina as well as solutions for the future. Take a glance below at summaries and recordings of each session to catch up on anything you have have missed.
The State of the Sector: Where We’ve Been & Where We’re Going in South Carolina
Opportunity SC: 2021 commenced with a report from SCACED President and CEO, Bernie Mazyck, who examined the status of the community economic development industry in South Carolina, the challenges of the pandemic, and the opportunities that lie ahead--such as the American Rescue Plan. We also took a moment to reflect and honor the leaders who laid the groundwork for the South Carolina community economic development industry, championed it, and built it into what it is today. Watch the recording to view the awards ceremony where we honored and presented Lifetime Achievement Awards to Don Phoenix, Regional Vice President of NeighborWorks America, and Sharon Jeffries-Jones, former Executive Vice President and Director of CRA/Commercial Development Management at BB&T Corporation (now Truist).
John hope bryant’s keynote address & scaced awards ceremony
Watch this recording to view best-selling author, philanthropist, and prominent thought leader on economics and business leadership, John Hope Bryant, discuss financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Mr. Bryant is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, Inc., the largest not-for-profit and best-in-class provider of financial literacy, financial inclusion and economic empowerment tools and services in the U.S. We also honored this year’s award winners, including Coastal Community Foundation, who won the 2021 Ike Williams Award for Civic Engagement, and Tony Thomas, Community Engagement Coordinator at Northside Development Group, who won the Mother Emanuel Nine Award for Economic and Social Justice.
What we say and how we say it: why word choice matters
Words have power, and subtle shifts in word choice can make the difference between welcoming others and reinforcing harmful stereotypes about them. Are we taking the time to think about how we speak about diverse communities, especially when it comes to race? People differ, and so do their responses, so crafting better communication isn't as simple as announcing a new policy or producing a handbook. Watch the recording of this breakout session to learn how to think critically about these issues. Panelists explored how we can be more actively conscious of the communities we work in, and how we can represent people more authentically through the words we use.
Moderator: Mike Young, Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Center for Community Alignment and PASOs
Panelists: Kenya Dunn, Owner & CEO, PFW Consulting; Dr. Sudie Nallo, Professor, University of South Carolina College of Social Work; and Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges, Founder & Executive Director, Latino Communications CDC
financial tools for your next community development project
Community development initiatives often face obstacles attracting and employing the financial resources they need to bring a project to life. As a result, organizations are always looking for ways to support the development of their next community project beyond traditional means like debt financing and grant support. Watch this panel discussion where leaders from across the state discussed various development finance tools and offered suggestions for how communities can use them. The conversation focused on using equity in affordable housing development, social-impact investing, and the South Carolina Community Development Tax Credits.
Moderator: Dawn Deck, Executive Director, LISC Upstate South Carolina
Panelists: Jerry Blassingame, Founder & CEO, Soteria CDC; Tess Martin, Director of Impact Investing & Treasury, Coastal Community Foundation; and Don Oglesby, President & CEO, Homes of Hope, Inc.
