| Program: | Imagine South Carolina, Charleston, SC | | Contact(s): | Steve Skardon, Lead Agent: (803) 577-4122 | | Purpose: | To create and implement a statewide plan of action to improve community dialogue around matters of race, and to provide community leaders and residents with the proper skills for addressing race-related issues | | Background Imagine South Carolina is a six-year statewide effort created in 1996 in response to the growing number of hate crimes in South Carolina, as well as to increase public dialogue on the issue of race. In January 1996, the Palmetto Project and the South Carolina Coalition of Black Church Leaders convened a statewide "Citizens Summit." The 600 participants represented a broad cross section of state leaders, including business, government, civic organizations, media, education and communities of faith. The summit yielded a wide range of innovative race-related ideas that were incorporated into a single comprehensive six-year plan called Imagine South Carolina. Under the direction of the Palmetto Project, a 13-year-old nonprofit organization, the Imagine South Carolina plan emphasizes community leadership-building skills, networking and communication. Program Operations
Imagine South Carolina established several community efforts to address the goals in its six-year plan. Some of these efforts include the LINKS project, a statewide support network of 80 organizations committed to improving race relations, and Building Cultural Bridges, a statewide partnership that organizes race unity task forces in every high school and trains teachers in a culturally diverse curriculum especially designed for South Carolina. Outcomes and Significant Accomplishments In 1997, the state granted $50,000 to Imagine South Carolina to implement its action plan. |
