january 2024–december 2025 impact report two
everyone can thrive here
Here, we believe every child should enter school with the tools they need to succeed.
We believe every student graduating from high school should have the chance to earn a degree or certification that will advance their career. And we believe the neighborhood you are born in shouldn’t determine the rest of your life.
message from our CEO & board chair
Movement 2030 exists because this community believes in what is possible when we work together. At its heart, this work is about connection—connecting people, ideas, resources, and purpose to expand opportunity for children and families across Spartanburg County. This year’s theme, Tapestry, reflects both how far we have come and how this work is being built.
A tapestry is created thread by thread. Each strand matters. Each strengthens the whole. Through Movement 2030, your investments and leadership are helping knit together education, workforce, health, philanthropy, business, government, and nonprofit partners into a shared effort focused on long-term economic mobility. Guided by community voice, we are aligning systems that once operated separately into a more connected and responsive fabric of opportunity.
This past year marked the second full year of our 7.5-year plan. Building on a community-led vision, we are now fully implementing strategies across three priority areas: early care and education; postsecondary attainment and workforce development; and place-based partnerships. While still early, progress is tangible. New collaborations are forming, data is informing decisions, pilots are launching, and early outcomes are beginning to show what is possible when alignment replaces fragmentation.
This report reflects both momentum and honesty. You will see progress alongside lessons learned, because meaningful systems change requires transparency, patience, and persistence. Collective impact is not a quick fix—it is a commitment to building something that lasts.
None of this work happens without you. Your belief in this vision has catalyzed historic levels of investment and strengthened trust across sectors. As you read this report, we hope you see your role woven throughout—each investment, partnership, and act of leadership contributing to a stronger future for our community.
Because of you, opportunity is expanding. Because of you, everyone can thrive here.
With gratitude,
Russell W. Booker, Ph.D CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement
Phil Feisal
COO, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Board Chair, Spartanburg Academic Movement
accelerate early care and education
2030
goals
65% school readiness
baseline: 49% (2021–22)
550 more children ready for school
tracking our progress
The earliest years of life shape lifelong learning and well-being. Each year, approximately 3,500 babies are born in Spartanburg County. When families lack support during these critical years, children can begin school already behind. Movement 2030 is working to build a communitywide “village” around every child—from prenatal care through high-quality early learning.
In 2024–2025, Spartanburg implemented the Early Development Instrument (EDI) countywide for the first time. While we did not meet our interim target of 54% readiness, results held steady at 48% of children “on track to learn,” representing 56 more children ready for school than the previous cycle.
Given that this cohort was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding steady reflects the strength of Spartanburg’s early childhood ecosystem and reinforces our commitment to reaching 65% school readiness by 2030.
Strengthen and grow prenatal and parent supports
Early prenatal care and strong parent supports improve school readiness by helping families access trusted guidance and coordinated services from pregnancy through early childhood.
MATERNAL & INFANT HEALTH
• 161 mothers served through BirthMatters doula services, with plans to hire an additional doula.
• 128 mothers enrolled in Nurse Family Partnership’s multi-year program.
• 954 postpartum mothers received in-home nurse visits through Family Connects.
• 365 mothers supported through Maternity Management prenatal care coordination.
PARENTING SUPPORTS
• 836 families participated in Triple P parenting programs.
• 206 families received navigation support through the Hello Family hotline.
EARLY LITERACY
• 69,845 books delivered to 6,000 children through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, with expansion planned for 2,000 additional children in 2026.
• 4,341 children served through Reach Out and Read, with 7,480 books distributed through local clinics.
Together, these coordinated efforts reached more than 5,100 children in 2025, exceeding our annual goal of 3,000
Access to high-quality early learning is one of the strongest predictors of school readiness. Children without access can arrive at school as much as 18 months behind their peers.
QUALITY COUNTS EXPANSION
• 43 early learning centers and 23 public school classrooms participating in Quality Counts.
• Nearly 3,000 children enrolled in programs receiving coaching, professional development, and evaluation to strengthen instructional quality.
• Partnerships expanding with Spartanburg School Districts 3 and 7 to support developmentally appropriate 3K and 4K classrooms
Through coaching, workforce supports, and data-driven improvement cycles, Quality Counts is expanding access to high-quality early learning environments across Spartanburg County.
5,100 children reached
“Expanding access to 3K builds the strong academic foundation students need for long-term success—from third-grade reading to graduation and beyond.”
Windy Hodge Chief Academic Officer, Spartanburg School District 3
Hello Family hosts Community Baby Showers for Spartanburg County mothers and families offering support, resources, and essentials.
partner spotlight
reach out and read
When families visit a pediatric clinic, they expect medical guidance. Through Reach Out and Read, they also leave with a book—and a moment of connection that can shape a child’s future.
At every well-child visit from birth to age five, children receive a developmentally appropriate book while clinicians model how parents can talk, read, and play with their child. The program reinforces a simple message: parents are a child’s first and most important teacher.
For Dr. Shana Egge, Director of Pediatrics at ReGenesis Health Care, those moments often reveal how children are developing. As she holds and reads books with young patients, she can observe how children interact, communicate, and respond.
“Reach Out and Read opens the conversation about why literacy is important— even for the youngest babies,” Dr. Egge said. “Parents can build a crucial bond by reading, and that connection supports a child’s well-being and development.”
For many families served by ReGenesis, books may not always be readily available at home. Programs like Reach Out and Read help bridge that gap— ensuring more children have access to books and opportunities to build early language skills.
Through partnership with Movement 2030, the program is expanding to reach more families. Reach Out and Read now serves nine clinics across Spartanburg County, with plans to grow to 13 by 2026, ensuring more children experience positive interactions around books and language from the earliest years of life.
By strengthening caregiver-child relationships and promoting early literacy, Reach Out and Read is helping ensure more children enter school ready to learn—and ready to thrive.
“Reach Out and Read opens the conversation about literacy—even for the youngest babies—and helps parents build powerful bonds through reading.”
Dr. Shana
Egge
Director of Pediatrics, ReGenesis
Health Care
Expand seats and investments ages birth to three
Access to affordable, high-quality childcare remains a major challenge in Spartanburg County. Expanding the supply of high-quality early learning seats is critical for kindergarten readiness and workforce stability.
EXPANDING PUBLIC 3K
• Seven public 3K classrooms across Districts 3 and 7 served 99 three-yearolds in 2025.
• Planning underway to explore additional classrooms in 2026.
HOME VISITING SUPPORT
• District 6 expanded its Parents as Teachers home visiting program.
• 21 children served across spring and fall cohorts, including returning families.
Together, these efforts are expanding high-quality early learning opportunities for Spartanburg’s youngest learners.
“High-quality early care and education creates a nurturing village where children and families find support and hope for the future.”
Haley Grau Executive Director, Middle Tyger Community Center
Increase enrollment in early care and education
Even when high-quality programs exist, families must be able to access and enroll in them. Improving enrollment pathways helps ensure more children participate in early learning experiences that support school readiness.
FAMILY NAVIGATION
• Families connected to Quality Counts centers, Head Start, Early Head Start, First Steps 4K, and public 3K programs through Hello Family navigation support.
SYSTEM COORDINATION
• 40+ partner organizations convened quarterly through the Early Care and Education Network.
• Workgroups developed a Birth–12 Month Toolkit and Hello Baby Resource Guide for new families.
EXPANDING CHILDCARE CAPACITY (A Model Public-Private Partnership)
• The Middle Tyger Education Center will open in August 2026.
• The 44,500-square-foot facility expands early learning capacity from 60 to 285 children, serving ages six weeks through 4K.
• Movement 2030 committed $500,000 toward the project.
These efforts strengthen enrollment pathways and expand access to high-quality early learning programs across Spartanburg County.
Retired educators Blondell Ouzts, Dr. Cindy Pridgen, and Lynn Brady facilitate Parents as Teachers in Spartanburg School District 6, helping families access resources and prepare children for school success.
The new Middle Tyger Education Center, supported by publicprivate investment and Movement 2030, will expand early childhood education and family support services when it opens in August 2026.
increase post secondary attainment
2030 goals
70% postsecondary enrollment
baseline: 61% (2021)
5,000 adults re-engaged in degree or certification programs
tracking our progress
As of December 2025, 60% of Spartanburg County high school seniors enrolled in postsecondary education within one year of graduation, unchanged from recent years and below the Movement 2030 goal of 70% by 2030. Reaching that goal will require stronger alignment across K–12, higher education, and workforce systems.
Progress is evident across other measures. Currently, 1,471 adults have re-engaged in degree or certification programs through Re:Degree, advancing toward the goal of 5,000. Students have earned 3,148 career-ready certifications, surpassing the 2030 goal of 3,000 well ahead of schedule.
1,000 additional degrees completed baseline: 2,700 (2021)
500 additional certifications earned baseline: 2,500 (2021)
Movement 2030 is advancing solutions through Big Mo, Spartanburg’s College Access Program, expanded dual enrollment, strengthened completion supports, and Re:Degree to reconnect adult learners and help more residents earn credentials that lead to sustainable careers.
Align K-12 and postsecondary institutions
1 A student’s transition to postsecondary education depends on a clear and aligned pathway between K–12 and higher education. Movement 2030 continues strengthening this bridge through dual enrollment expansion, credential attainment, and embedded student success supports.
DUAL ENROLLMENT
• Dual enrollment participation continues to grow across Spartanburg County. Latest National Student Clearinghouse data shows 30% of the Class of 2025 participated, a 2% increase from the previous year.
• Movement 2030 supports three dual enrollment success coaches at Spartanburg Community College, helping students access resources and navigate enrollment.
CAREER CREDENTIALING
• Students earned 3,148 career-ready certificates this year, surpassing the 2030 goal five years ahead of schedule.
• Through Movement 2030, Daniel Morgan Technology Center leveraged industry partners (BMW and Contec, Inc.) and public investments to modernize equipment and strengthen advanced manufacturing pathways in welding, mechatronics, and machine tooling.
• Career centers and higher education partners continue aligning programs with high-demand workforce sectors and industry-recognized credentials.
These efforts strengthen the bridge between high school and postsecondary institutions while accelerating progress toward enrollment and attainment goals.
3,148 career-ready certificates
Ensure postsecondary access
Many students face barriers to postsecondary enrollment, including financial constraints, limited advising access, and academic challenges. Movement 2030 is advancing a systemic approach that integrates mentorship, navigation, financial aid support, and targeted scholarship strategies.
COLLEGE ACCESS: BIG MO
• Big Mo, Spartanburg’s College Access Program, launched in fall 2025, with 1,300 seniors — 37% of the graduating class — already enrolled.
• The program provides direct communication, FAFSA support, and financial assistance across partner institutions including USC Upstate, Converse University, Spartanburg Community College, and Spartanburg Methodist College.
MENTORSHIP & NAVIGATION
• Movement 2030 continues expanding school- and neighborhood-based navigation supports.
• The college success navigator program now serves juniors and seniors, with about half of participating seniors enrolling in college.
FAFSA & FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT
• Postsecondary institutions have strengthened financial aid outreach and coordination efforts.
• Dozens of school and community events are helping increase FAFSA completion and access to financial aid.
Together, these strategies are lowering financial and informational barriers while building the infrastructure needed to reach 70% postsecondary enrollment by 2030.
“Industry-recognized certifications are more than credentials—they’re currency in today’s market. They show students are ready to contribute on day one.”
Dr. Nikki Honeycutt Director, Daniel Morgan Technology Center
A Swofford Career Center student welds as part of the welding program which provides students with the skills they need to pursue a career in the industry.
program spotlight
STAR Fellowship
Through the Spartanburg Talent and Retention (STAR) Fellowship, high school Career Development Facilitators (CDFs) are helping students connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.
Powered by Movement 2030 and developed in partnership with OneSpartanburg, Inc., the fellowship brings together educators, counselors, and career professionals to strengthen relationships with Spartanburg employers and expand work-based learning opportunities for students.
Earlier this year, Spartanburg hosted its first countywide Internship Fair, bringing high school and college students together with employers across high-demand industries. Students arrived prepared with resumes and questions—and in some cases left with job offers.
For educators like Kris Teal, Career Development Facilitator at Boiling Springs High School, these opportunities are transforming how students think about their futures.
“Through the STAR Fellowship, we’re helping students see what’s possible beyond the classroom,” Teal said. “When they experience real workplaces, their confidence grows.”
“Students don’t have to guess what they want to do anymore— they can experience it.”
Kris Teal Career Development Facilitator, Boiling Springs High School
Career Development Facilitators play a key role in preparing students for those experiences—helping them build resumes, practice interview skills, and connect with employers across Spartanburg County.
Through the STAR Fellowship network, CDFs are expanding partnerships with local businesses and opening doors for internships, career exploration, and postsecondary success.
For many students, internships are becoming a powerful way to explore careers before committing to a path.
“Students don’t have to guess what they want to do anymore—they can experience it,” Teal said.
By strengthening partnerships between schools and employers, the STAR Fellowship is helping Spartanburg build a stronger talent pipeline—ensuring students graduate not only with a plan, but with real-world experience to guide their next steps.
OneSpartanburg, Inc. celebrates 600 work-based learning commitments for Spartanburg students, providing paid internships, job shadowing, and jobs through Movement 2030.
Upward mobility requires not only enrollment in postsecondary programs, but successful completion of degrees and credentials. While enrollment has strengthened, completion remains a critical focus area across Spartanburg’s undergraduate institutions.
STUDENT SUCCESS SUPPORTS
• United Way of the Piedmont’s Higher Education Community Resource Coordinators expanded their reach, serving 230 students in 2025, more than doubling prior impact while addressing economic mobility, mental health, and basic needs barriers.
• Spartanburg Community College’s SOAR Program supported 45 students in 2025, helping remove financial barriers such as unpaid tuition balances and textbook costs. 77% of participants graduated or remained enrolled.
• USC Upstate strengthened persistence efforts through Academic Life Coaching, moving 130 students out of academic jeopardy while expanding targeted grants and scholarships.
• Converse University advanced its male student retention strategy with a 70% retention goal, implementing targeted programming to exceed the 66% national average.
• Spartanburg Methodist College expanded engagement through Initial X programming, piloted the SPARK initiative for high-risk students, and strengthened advising through the Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) process.
Across campuses, these coordinated investments are strengthening belonging, academic momentum, and long-term completion outcomes in mental health and well-being supports.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING SUPPORT
• Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation serves as lead convener for VITAL Spartanburg, the countywide mental and behavioral health initiative.
• VITAL Spartanburg brings together nonprofits, healthcare systems, municipalities, and philanthropy to strengthen prevention, expand treatment access, and close gaps in behavioral health care.
By integrating mental health, economic mobility supports, and basic needs coordination, this collaborative effort helps ensure students and residents have the support needed to thrive.
Create tighter linkages between education and the workplace
Movement 2030 is helping ensure young people in Spartanburg County have meaningful opportunities to explore careers, gain real-world experience, and connect with local employers.
Through Movement 2030’s investment, OneSpartanburg, Inc. continues expanding work-based learning opportunities across the county.
WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPANSION
• In 2025, OneSpartanburg, Inc. exceeded its goal of 400 placements, providing 747 work-based learning opportunities, including 556 summer placements.
• Students and young adults gained hands-on experience building professional skills, exploring career pathways, and contributing to local organizations.
• Students worked 40,882 hours during the summer.
• Participants earned an average hourly wage of $13.17, generating $339,000 in total economic impact.
EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS
• Employers across Spartanburg County hosted interns and learning intensives, including Spartanburg School Districts, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Kids Upstate, and other community partners.
• These partnerships help strengthen the region’s future talent pipeline.
ALIGNING EDUCATION & CAREER PATHWAYS
• The Spartanburg Talent and Retention (STAR) Fellowship has expanded to include high school counselors and college career services professionals.
• More than 50 educators have participated, strengthening alignment between internships, apprenticeships, mentorships, and career-connected learning.
Building on this momentum, OneSpartanburg, Inc. has set a goal of 600 work-based learning opportunities for Summer 2026, continuing to expand career-connected learning across Spartanburg County.
747 work-based learning placements
40,882 hours worked by students
$339K earned by participants
impact spotlight
meet semaj
(seh-MAH-jay)
Before Semaj Pough ever set foot on a college campus, he stood in a place many students know well—uncertainty.
As a first-generation student, Semaj had the heart, work ethic, and determination to succeed. What he didn’t have was a roadmap.
“I wasn’t sure if college was even right for me,” he recalls. “There were so many things I didn’t know, and it felt like too much to figure out on my own.”
That changed when Semaj connected with Frederick Keenan, Spartanburg Academic Movement’s College Success Navigator funded through Movement 2030. Through the Going to College cohort, Frederick helped Semaj navigate the steps many students find overwhelming—from completing the FAFSA to exploring degree programs that matched his interests and strengths.
Frederick’s approach is rooted in relationships.
“Like many students, he just needed someone in his corner to help him navigate the process,” Keenan said.
For Semaj, that support made all the difference.
Today, Semaj is enrolled at Spartanburg Community College studying mechatronics, a growing field that blends mechanical engineering and electronics.
At home, his two younger siblings are watching closely as he charts a new path—one filled with opportunity and possibility.
Stories like Semaj’s reflect the impact of coordinated support. Last year, Semaj was one of 21 students served by the College Success Navigator.
“Without the program, I wouldn’t have known how to complete FAFSA or what steps to take next.”
Semaj Pough Student, Spartanburg Community College
Re-engage adults to degree and certification programs
Approximately 47,000 Spartanburg residents age 25 and older have some college credit but no degree. Re-engaging these adults is one of the most immediate opportunities to strengthen the workforce, increase household income, and accelerate economic mobility across the county.
ADULT RE-ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM
Re:Degree, launched with catalytic funding from Movement 2030, continues to expand its impact.
• 1,471 adults have reengaged, 241 have reenrolled, and 61 have completed a degree or certification as of 2025.
• Through a partnership with ReUp Education, the program uses advanced data analytics and personalized coaching to identify, reach, and support adult learners through completion.
• Colleges are aligning flexible pathways for nontraditional students, while major employers support outreach efforts encouraging working adults to return and finish what they started.
• The initiative remains on track to connect with 5,000 adult learners by 2030, strengthening Spartanburg’s talent pipeline.
FLEXIBLE ADULT PATHWAYS
• Converse University continues expanding online offerings and veteranfocused programming, increasing access for working adults and nontraditional students.
• Spartanburg Methodist College is seeing growth in adult learner applications through its online degree pathways and bachelor’s completion programs designed for flexible routes to graduation.
Through coordinated employer partnerships, flexible academic models, and personalized navigation, Spartanburg is expanding pathways for adults to earn credentials with immediate economic value.
“Educational attainment is critical to attracting and retaining jobs—and it increases earning potential for individuals.”
Dr.
Erin Smith
Director of Adult Degree Reengagement, OneSpartanburg, Inc.
1,471 adult students re-engaged
241 adult students re-enrolled
61 completed a degree or certification
Re:Degree graduate Richard Guinn earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from USC Upstate in Spring 2025.
support focus neighborhoods
tracking our progress
1,500 children served across both neighborhoods 2030 goals
350 children on a path to economic mobility
15–30% improvement in academic milestone outcomes
5–10 more children per age group on a path to economic mobility
In Spartanburg County, where a child grows up can shape the trajectory of their life. The Northside and Highland neighborhoods represent two of the county’s most concentrated areas of poverty, where barriers to opportunity are deeply interconnected.
Movement 2030 is addressing these challenges through a place-based strategy that aligns schools, residents, community organizations, and anchor institutions to strengthen the environments where children grow and learn. The goal is to serve 1,500 children from birth to age 24 across both neighborhoods and ensure 350 are on a path to economic mobility by 2030.
Progress is underway. Third-grade reading proficiency has increased from 21% to 55%, approaching the county average of 61%. High school graduation has risen from 64% to 73%, moving closer to the county’s 89%. School readiness has improved from 33% to 36%.
These gains reflect intentional investment in the conditions that shape opportunity. By focusing on both people and place, Spartanburg is working to ensure every child has a pathway to thrive.
Movement 2030 supports place-based strategies through Northside Development Group. Makelia Montgomery, Academic Success Coach, and Chelle Jones, Family Navigator, serve students and families at Cleveland Academy of Leadership.
northside
Invest in two-generation and academic supports
Grow homeownership and entrepreneurship Sustain Northside Development Group as a local backbone 1 2 3
Research shows where a child lives strongly influences academic success and long-term economic mobility. In Northside—one of Spartanburg’s most concentrated areas of poverty—place-based investments are helping shift outcomes.
Northside students’ third-grade reading scores are now on par with the county average, demonstrating the impact of coordinated school, family, and community supports.
FAMILY ACADEMY MODEL
Through the Northside Development Group’s Family Academy, modeled after Harvard’s EdRedesign Institute Success Planning framework, partners are strengthening two-generation supports that serve both children and adults.
• Students receive individualized academic support while families access navigation and resources to support learning and stability.
• 507 families served through Family Academy
EARLY LEARNING EXPANSION
• A two-teacher model in K–2 classrooms increases individualized instruction and improves student outcomes.
• Two additional 3K classrooms opened through a partnership with Spartanburg School District 7 and the Franklin School, expanding access to highquality early learning.
Together, these coordinated investments are helping ensure every child in the Northside has the opportunity to thrive.
Homeownership is one of the most powerful drivers of generational wealth, yet rising housing costs and limited inventory create barriers for many families.
Northside Development Group (NDG) has expanded its impact—growing homeownership by 325% and accelerating progress toward the goal of 70 new homeowners by 2030.
HOMEOWNERSHIP
• New housing initiatives are stabilizing families, strengthening neighborhood blocks, and anchoring long-term prosperity.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
NDG continues expanding the Start:ME Spartanburg accelerator, a free 14-week business training program for Northside entrepreneurs.
• Business success rates have increased by 64%.
• New small businesses continue launching and growing within the neighborhood.
Investments in homeownership and entrepreneurship are strengthening financial stability and long-term economic opportunity.
Lasting neighborhood transformation requires more than individual programs—it requires a backbone organization that aligns partners and sustains momentum.
COORDINATED COMMUNITY STRATEGY
NDG is advancing a long-term vision for neighborhood transformation through 2030, aligning housing, education, entrepreneurship, early learning, and resident leadership into a unified strategy.
CAPACITY & COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
• $600,000 in City of Spartanburg ARPA funding is strengthening NDG’s organizational capacity.
• NDG is expanding a uniquely branded initiative that will support other communities pursuing residentdriven transformation.
From early childhood partnerships like the Franklin School to expanding homeownership and entrepreneurship pathways, NDG keeps neighborhood investments aligned.
“We walk alongside families—building trust and empowering parents as partners in their child’s success.”
David Summers CEO, Northside Development Group
impact spotlight
meet cherry
Cherry Posey Dukes is a Spartanburg entrepreneur who turned her passion for bringing people together through food into a growing business. Through A Taste of Cherry Charcuterie, she creates custom charcuterie experiences that bring flavor, creativity, and connection to events across the community.
Cherry’s journey began with an idea—and the determination to turn it into a business. Through Inspire:ME and the Start:ME business accelerator, she gained the mentorship, training, and network needed to move from concept to company.
Start:ME is a free, 14-week accelerator that supports early-stage entrepreneurs with business skills, mentorship, and access to capital. Over the past decade, the program has supported more than 100 entrepreneurs across Spartanburg.
With guidance from mentors and fellow entrepreneurs, Cherry strengthened her skills in operations, financial planning, and growth strategy. She refined her concept and launched a mobile charcuterie bar, a signature feature that quickly gained attention at events across Spartanburg.
Today, A Taste of Cherry Charcuterie continues to grow, bringing new customers, new opportunities, and new energy to the community.
Cherry’s story reflects what place-based investment can make possible: when communities invest in people and ideas, businesses grow—and neighborhoods grow stronger.
“Start:ME helped me take something I loved and turn it into a real business.”
Cherry Posey Dukes Founder, A Taste of Cherry Charcuterie
1 2 3
Invest in two-generation and academic supports
Highland aims to reach the county average across key academic milestones, from school readiness through postsecondary completion. Achieving this requires meaningful gains, roughly 5–10 additional students per age group reaching key milestones each year.
Improving academic outcomes is central to expanding opportunity in Highland.
TWO-GENERATION SUPPORTS
Highland is strengthening its two-generation approach, supporting both students and the adults in their lives through coordinated academic and family supports.
• Key roles have been added and refined to align with the Harvard EdRedesign Success Planning framework, ensuring students and families receive personalized, coordinated support.
• Students and families are connected to trusted relationships and resources that support learning from early childhood through graduation.
Together, these supports help ensure every child in Highland is known, supported, and connected to opportunity.
“It’s been a long time coming and we’ve had challenges, but Highland will rise.”
Leroy Jeter 70-year resident of Highland
Improve the built environmentStrengthen anchor community institutions
The Bethlehem Center, a cornerstone of Highland since 1930, is preparing for a transformational redevelopment to better serve the community.
BETHLEHEM CENTER REDEVELOPMENT
• Plans are underway to build a new state-of-theart facility that expands capacity and modernizes early learning, youth, and senior programming.
• The center will provide flexible space for community collaboration, events, family services, and extended early learning.
• $13 million has been raised to date, with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architects and Harper General Contractors leading design and construction.
This redevelopment strengthens Bethlehem Center as a trusted anchor institution while supporting Highland’s long-term neighborhood transformation.
Lasting change requires strong institutions that can align partners, steward resources, and sustain progress over time.
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION
In Highland, anchor institutions are deepening their role as community conveners and capacity builders.
• Through the Highland Neighborhood Leadership Institute, residents are being equipped to lead neighborhood priorities and community initiatives.
• Partnerships focused on public safety, civic engagement, and community development are strengthening collaboration across sectors.
By strengthening anchor institutions, Highland is building the local infrastructure needed to sustain place-based transformation and expand opportunity over the long term.
Community leaders gather during the Highland Community Celebration in August 2025, which officially launched the capital campaign.
connections to other work underway
While Movement 2030 directly advances several priority strategies, other aligned initiatives across Spartanburg are strengthening the same goals for children, families, and community well-being.
FIRSTPLACE PARTNERSHIP
Through a partnership with Dr. Jack Shonkoff (Founder of Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child), SAM is working to bridge research and practice.
This initiative will connect leading research with local partners to apply evidencebased strategies that strengthen child and family well-being across Spartanburg.
CHILDREN’S CABINET
The Spartanburg Children’s Cabinet is a participatory governance structure designed to align youth- and family-serving systems across the City of Spartanburg.
Convening leaders from the public sector, community organizations, and residents, the Cabinet ensures family voice informs decision-making while strengthening coordination across services that support children and families.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Through the VITAL Spartanburg mental and behavioral health action plan, partners across healthcare, philanthropy, education, and government are addressing rising mental health challenges affecting youth and families.
SAM contributes by convening stakeholders and aligning strategies that strengthen maternal mental health and youth well-being.
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS AND NEIGHBORHOOD SUPPORTS
Through the federal Promise Neighborhoods grant, SAM is expanding neighborhood-based supports on the Southside of Spartanburg.
The work strengthens family engagement, improves access to educational resources, and builds community leadership to support children and families.
EXPANDING COLLECTIVE IMPACT
SAM is extending its collective impact approach beyond Spartanburg County, including work in Union County.
Through technical assistance and shared learning, communities are building civic infrastructure and accelerating progress toward shared outcomes.
In October, SAM and the community hosted a 3-day site visit of leaders advancing cradle to career work from across the country. Partners sat with cross-sector leaders to better understand how alignment was moving the needle across Spartanburg County.
The Union Uplifted Community Advisory Board and Leadership Council guide the cradle to career planning and implementation process.
the path forward
launching big mo: building momentum for every senior
In fall 2025, Movement 2030 launched Big Mo—a bold countywide initiative designed to ensure every high school senior in Spartanburg County has a clear and supported path after graduation.
Big Mo connects more than 3,000 seniors across the county’s nine public high schools with the tools, guidance, and financial resources they need to take their next step, whether that means enrolling in college or pursuing a high-level certification.
From FAFSA completion and internship opportunities to application reminders, personalized advising, and milestone tracking, Big Mo ensures no student navigates senior year alone.
Students who enroll in Big Mo become eligible for direct financial awards if they attend USC Upstate, Converse University, Spartanburg Community College, or Spartanburg Methodist College, including up to $4,000 per year toward tuition at USC Upstate and Converse and up to $1,000 per year for fees at SCC or SMC.
Behind the scenes, Big Mo equips counselors with a customized dashboard that tracks key milestones and enables real-time communication with students.
This case-management approach brings greater coordination, accountability, and personalized support to every senior.
Big Mo represents a countywide commitment to postsecondary success. By aligning school districts, higher education partners, and Movement 2030 resources, we are strengthening workforce readiness, expanding opportunity, and building lasting momentum for Spartanburg’s future.
USC Upstate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Services Donette Stewart addresses students during the Big Mo launch in fall 2025, while Jordan Atkins (lower photo) learns how to connect with the college access program.
7000 the number that guides our work
By 2030, we aim to place an additional 7,000 young people on pathways to upward mobility.
This goal is not aspirational—it is grounded in data.
Over a decade ago, Raj Chetty’s research showed that Spartanburg County ranked in the bottom 10% nationally for upward mobility. Children born into low-income households here were projected to earn just $26,000 at age 35, faring worse than their parents.
Today, our community is working to change that trajectory.
Through coordinated cradle-to-career strategies—from early childhood and literacy to postsecondary access, workforce pathways, homeownership, and neighborhood revitalization—we are aligning proven interventions across systems.
In partnership with Blue Meridian and Opportunity Modeling Partners, predictive analytics show that when these strategies remain aligned and sustained, low- and moderate-income children in Spartanburg could reach a projected median income of approximately $40,000 by age 35—representing nearly $250,000 in additional lifetime earnings.
This is what 7,000 represents.
It represents measurable progress toward closing long-standing mobility gaps.
It reflects collaboration across nearly 80 partners and more than $63 million in aligned investment.
It represents a community choosing coordination over competition.
Following our first full year of implementation, Movement 2030 received a High Overall Performance rating from Blue Meridian Partners affirming that the strategy is strong, execution is disciplined, and the foundation for scale is taking shape.
We have now completed Year 2 of a 7-year journey.
The work is complex.
The alignment is intentional.
And the impact is real.
7,000 is not just a number.
It is a shared commitment to ensuring that in Spartanburg, where a child lives no longer determines how far they can go.
spartanburg county: a national model for place-based transformation
In 2025, StriveTogether redesignated Spartanburg Academic Movement as a Systems Transformation Community—the highest recognition in the StriveTogether Network. SAM first earned this distinction in 2023 for consistently improving outcomes across seven school districts. The designation recognizes communities that achieve better results for children and youth through coordinated, data-driven action.
This recognition reflects more than strong programs or individual initiatives. It signals a fundamental shift in how Spartanburg works together to support children and families.
Across the county, schools, nonprofits, government agencies, philanthropy, and community leaders are aligned around shared goals, using data to guide decisions and implementing coordinated strategies that improve outcomes from cradle to career.
Through Movement 2030, our community is strengthening the systems that shape opportunity, policies, practices, relationships, resource flows, and shared accountability, to ensure progress is both measurable and sustainable.
Today, Spartanburg stands among a select group of communities nationwide demonstrating that when a community commits to systems change, lasting transformation is possible when communities align around opportunity for every child.
fund disbursement
Through December 2025, SAM has disbursed $28.1 million to advance Movement 2030, including $19.6 million across 80 grants to community organizations—made possible through your support and in partnership with our community.
Movement 2030 funds are held and administered through the Spartanburg County Foundation (Fund #2333)
care and education
• Strengthen and grow prenatal and parent supports
• Improve quality of early learning
• Expand seats and investment in ages birth to three
• Increase enrollment in early care and education
• Align K-12 and postsecondary institutions
• Ensure postsecondary access
• Address barriers that hinder completion
• Create tighter linkages between the education and workplace
• Re-engage adults to degree and certification programs
total disbursed funds $28,126,307
• Invest in two-generation and academic supports
• Improve the built, social and economic environment
• Strengthen anchor community institutions
• Grants for other neighborhoods, community-based organizations, and leadership/resident participation
• SAM
• Strategic Spartanburg
• Spartanburg County Foundation
because of you, everyone can thrive here
movement 2030 investors
National Anchor Partner ($50M)
Blue Meridian Partners
Regional Anchor Partner ($25M)
The Duke Endowment
State Anchor Partner ($5M)
BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina
Local Anchor Partner ($5M+)
Mary Black Foundation
Catalyst Partners ($2M–$4.9M)
Bill and Valerie Barnet
Contec
Leon Levine Foundation
David & Saunders McCollum
Milliken & Company
Strategy Partners ($1M–$1.9M)
Jay & Ali Beeson, Laura Henthorn and Mark III Properties
BlackRock Foundation
Susan Bridges
Beth & Ravenel Curry Foundation
Spartanburg Regional Healthcare
System Foundation
StriveTogether
Vision Partners ($250K–$999K)
Anonymous
Kathleen & Andrew Babb
BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC.
Marsha & Jimmy Gibbs
Ballmer Group
Nancy Milliken, M.D.
Spartanburg County Foundation
Mission Partners ($100K–$249K)
Duke Energy Foundation
The Falatok Foundation
Keurig Dr. Pepper
Phifer Johnson Foundation
Jim & Elaine Smith
United Way of the Piedmont
Nelly Zimmerli
Community Partners (Up to $99K)
AFL
Marcia Andrews
Ingo Angermeier
Anonymous
Dr. Kofi and Marjorie Appiah
Arkwright Foundation
LK Aylor
Bank of America
Tom and Joan Barnet
William Barnet & Son, LLC
Mr. & Mrs. H. Walter Barre
David Beyer
Dr. & Mrs. James C. Black
Dr. Russell & Sheryl Booker Family Fund
Judy Bradshaw Children’s Foundation
Reed & Suzanne Brown
Terry L. Cash
Dorothy Chapman Josey
Cherokee Masonry, Inc.
Nancy & Paul Coté
Star Douglas
Ray and Kathy Dunleavy
Mr. & Mrs. Malloy Evans
Shaunté Evans
Sloan and Mary Elizabeth Evans
Faison Enterprises, Inc. Fund
John and Lisa Featherston
Phil and Katrina Feisal
First Horizon Foundation
First Presbyterian Church
Steve and Clare Ford
The Freeman Family
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Habisreutinger
Craig & Johana Haydamack
Dr. Eric Hayler
Dr. Araceli Hernandez-Laroche
Rick and Mary Higgins
Mr. & Mrs. Erwin Holbein
Alexis Howlett
Peter Kobes
Stephanie & Trent Lancaster
Joe and Ruth Lesesne Donor Advised Fund
Scottie Lummus
Ginny and Rhett Mabry
Bill and Sandra Mayrose
Marlene McClerklin
McMillan Pazdan Smith
Mental Fitness
Timothy R. Metz & Molly Talbot-Metz
Milo’s Tea Company
John Milliken
Molina Healthcare of South Carolina
Ogles Family
OneSpartanburg, Inc. Foundation
Park National Bank
Stan and Vicky Parker
Lydia Patterson Memorial
Frances Poe
Mary Francis Price
Dr. Kim Purdy
PwC Charitable Foundation
Dr. Kira Reaves
Jonathan Russell
Meka Sales
Betsy Sikma
Jenni & Allen Smith
South State Bank
Spartanburg County Public Libraries
Spartanburg Gives, Inc.
Paige Stephenson
Todd & Julie Stephens
Drs. John C. Stockwell & Diane C. Vecchio
Summit Hills Retirement
Jaime & Benjamin Wall
Linda Sangster West
White Oak Pharmacy
Dione Williams
Margaret Wilson
Bob and Carolyn Wynn
Public Sector/Institutional Partners*
City of Spartanburg
Converse University
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sherman College of Chiropractic
Spartanburg Community College
Spartanburg County
Spartanburg Methodist College
University of South Carolina Upstate
Wofford College
Spartanburg School District 1
Spartanburg School District 2
Spartanburg School District 3
Spartanburg School District 4
Spartanburg School District 5
Spartanburg School District 6
Spartanburg School District 7