WHY SPARTANBURG COUNTY?

BECAUSE IT IS A MANAGEABLE CHALLENGE. Why not a region-wide “academic movement,” or a state-wide movement? Why Spartanburg County? Because it is within our power to pull it off.

The Power Of Collective Impact

At every turn, Spartanburg County demonstrates its capacity to collaborate. We have been working together to perfect the model of collaborative action for many years.

Consider the “Community Indicators” project launched 20 years ago by citizen John Wardlaw, former trustee of the Spartanburg County Foundation … a project that now engages foundations, governments, and university partners in the on-going assessment of key indicators of well-being across Spartanburg County. SAM is the driver of one of these key indicators: academic achievement.

Consider the “Northside Initiative,” an important area of the City of Spartanburg long in need of significant revitalization. Now with major partners in place and its designation as a national “Purpose Built Community,” the work is underway, noteworthy for the remarkable convening of residents, institutions, organizations, and non-profits that have joined together for a singular purpose … the comprehensive transformation of a neighborhood long beset by poverty and its associated challenges. SAM is closely engaged with the public elementary school at the heart of Northside.

Or consider the “Way to Wellville” … a national challenge sponsored by the HICCup Foundation to develop new and innovative solutions that accelerate community health. Spartanburg is engaged as one of five U.S. communities sponsored by the HICCup Foundation to amplify health outcomes in five focus areas. Improving kindergarten readiness by ensuring that children ages birth through five have access to quality early childhood education – a core objective of SAM – is one of these “health” outcomes.

“My favorite story is how the Spartanburg Academic Movement started with the goal to raise college graduation rates. As they explored the data, they focused on college readiness. They looked some more, and turned to high school readiness. Now they are working on early childhood education! Overall, they do not limit themselves to predefined problems or solutions – and we at HICCup have already learned a lot from working with them.”

Esther Dyson

Founder of the HICCup Foundation and Chair of EDventure Holdings