In This Issue

Connector
Issue 6 • 2nd Quarter 2014
A quarterly publication of the Greenville Chamber’s CAPACITY initiative
In This Issue
Greetings,
Excitement ensues as I write this greeting. The
momentum and engagement is evidence that
the people of Greenville want more from our
community and expect more. More inclusion,
more diversity, more leadership, more business
opportunity, more access, more economic
development, and the list goes on. You must
expect more if you desire to become the most
Vice President of
Diversity and Inclusion, premier business community in the world, which
Greenville Chamber
is why the Chamber has made this its vision.
I just completed Leadership Greenville (LG) Class 40 and what an
incredible experience! That opportunity heightened my desire to want
more for Greenville. As I reflect on my experience, I am reminded
of how great the need is for inclusion in order to make Greenville
better. Much of the prosperity we all desire for Greenville is woven
into our ability to be more inclusive. It is a goal of LG stakeholders to
ensure that the totality of the LG experience sensitizes participants
to the needs of the community creating stronger desire for volunteer
leadership and positive change. The effects of the leadership training
through the curriculum and group capstone projects are designed to
increase participants’ leadership skills and enhance their leadership
effectiveness. Participants of LG see the big picture of the issues
relevant to Greenville, which leads to solutions. LG provides the
opportunity for participants to answer the call of public service. As
a premier citywide leadership program, graduates of LG are better
informed, enthusiastic, and well networked to develop and implement
solutions that positively influence their respective organizations and
community. I am grateful that LG heightened my awareness of the
need for inclusion and affirmed the work of CAPACITY. The Greenville
Chamber will continue to advance the movement of diversity and
inclusion to help give Greenville more of what it deserves.
• Economic Development
• Dream Connectors
• Greenville Tech Internship Program
• HR Law Update - Leah Brown
Keynote Speaker
• NEXT Dream Connectors Sevier
Middle School
• Greenville Women@Work - Ava Smith
• Small Business
• Friday Forum
• Small Business of the Month
• Testimonial
• Nat Irvin Event Recap
• ACE Leadership Symposium Recap
• Upstate International
• Diversity Leadership Pipeline Opportunity
• NETnight - Meet our Connectors
• #HashtagLunchBagGreenvilleSC
Kindest regards,
Nika White
CAPACITY has been made possible
by a three-year commitment of financial
support from these charter investors.
Economic Development
Greenville Chamber’s Economic Development Efforts
A number of efforts have been made to ensure that principles of diversity are addressed in the Economic
Development work of the Greenville Chamber. Over the past few months, significant progress has been made.
Education and Workforce Development - Dream Connectors
The Greenville Chamber’s Education and Workforce
Development Committee is focused on bridging the gap
between business and education in three major areas:
early childhood, K12 and higher education. The business
community can provide resources in each of these areas
to build stronger talent pipelines and promote positive
outcomes. The K12 focus area has initially supported
the Dream Connectors (DC) project, an effort originating
out of the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Initiative.
Dream Connectors develops strong relationships and
linkages between area employers and Title I middle
schools so that students are given an opportunity to
explore potential career paths in occupations they may
have never before considered. Originally connected to
BMW, Greenville Health System and Michelin, Dream
Connectors was expanded through the efforts of the Chamber and Greenville County Schools to include several
additional business partners. Most recently, a number of entrepreneurial firms serviced by the Chamber’s
NEXT economic development platform joined together to partner in Dream Connectors. One of the region’s key
corporate players, GE Power & Water, has recently agreed to partner in this project.
The next phase in this project is to establish a Principal for a Day program which will pair local CEOs with middle
school principals so they can get an in-depth look at the challenges faced by school administrators. The hope is
that these initial relationships will develop into full-fledged Dream Connector relationships. If all middle schools
are going to be served by Dream Connectors, we will need to bring at least 15 additional companies to the table.
Education and Workforce Development - Greenville Tech Internship Program
The Education Committee has also supported higher education by
creating a pilot internship partnership in partnership with an accounting
class at Greenville Tech. Approximately 30 students were paired with
business mentors to assist them with job searching, networking,
interviewing and other critical skills. Several woman and minority-owned
firms participated in this effort. The next step will be to create a model
handbook and processes for some of the interns. After evaluating the
process in early fall, a decision will be made as to whether the Chamber
moves this project forward.
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Economic Development
Existing Industry - Human Resources Law Update
Leah Brown,
CEO of A10 Solutions
Leah Brown, CEO of A10 Solutions, a woman and minority-owned clinical research
and health care firm, spoke to more than 225 Human Resources leaders from across
the Upstate Region at the 2014 Human Resources Law Update. Ms. Brown was
featured on the cover of Minority Business Entrepreneur (MBE) magazine in January
2014. During her very dynamic and engaging presentation, Ms. Brown discussed
how the emerging workforce will bring challenges to companies that have not been
dealt with on a significant basis before. Thanks, in part, to extensive exposure to
social media, many of these employees are much less reticent about discussing
personal issues in the workplace. This creates an interesting dynamic as HR leaders
are “given notice” about issues that may have to be reasonably accommodated. The
Human Resources role can and must be seen as a strategic driver for corporations.
The excitement and passion Ms. Brown feels for the HR community was certainly
evident at the Human Resources Law Update.
NEXT Dream Connectors
NEXT Entrepreneurs Inspire 200 Sevier Middle School 7th Graders
In March, nine NEXT CEOs and some of their employees
jumped on the bandwagon to spread the word to 200
seventh graders from Sevier Middle School. The project,
called Dream Connectors, consisted of two main events for
the volunteers.
The first event was a half-day visit to the school to present
to all the 7th grade classes on the different jobs available
when working for a NEXT member company—being an
entrepreneur, a marketing manager, and a programmer.
The second event included all 200 7th graders touring the
NEXT Innovation Center and getting a ‘show and tell’ from
some of the companies.
As one of the volunteers expressed his thoughts on being involved in this project, Jon-Michial Carter,
CEO of Chartspan, “ChartSpan’s involvement in Dream Connectors represents our commitment to
youth career education and awareness. At ChartSpan, we believe the connection between a child and an
accomplished professional can be a transformative event in that youth’s life. It’s a privilege to be involved
in the Dream Connector program.”
Participating companies for the 2014 Dream Connectors included Chartspan, Gnoso, The Iron Yard,
Merge, ProActive Technology, Selah Genomics, Spartanburg Project Hub, TipHive, and Vigilix.
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Greenville Women@Work
Greetings!
The Greenville Chamber is pleased to announce the launch of its new program
for professional and business women – Greenville Women@Work!
This awesome new program will provide support to:
Ava Smith,
Chairperson, Greenville
Women@Work
• Women in Leadership – Open to all professional and business women who
work for and/or lead their employers in any industry.
• Professional Women – Open to business and professional women just
starting out in their careers
and those with established careers.
• Existing Entrepreneurs – Women who currently own a business.
• Emerging Entrepreneurs – Women who plan to start their own companies,
now or in the future.
Greenville Women@Work has a strong pool of experts that are committed to sharing their knowledge
and wisdom about power, leadership, business relationships, career paths, and professional skills.
Greenville Women@Work will provide a platform for professional and career development and will
include:
•
•
•
•
•
High-Impact Speaker Series
Forums for Interactive and Engaging Discussions
Technical Training
Networking Opportunities
Mentoring Opportunities
As you were involved in the Chamber’s previous business and professional women’s initiative, B.W.I.A.,
I am extending a personal invitation to you to join us and support this new venture. We have several
committees in which you can engage, including the following:
• Events Planning – This committee identifies and secures venues to accommodate our events.
• Marketing/ Communications – This committee spreads the word on our events and programs
(social media, radio, TV, other Chamber programs, etc.) to help drive regular attendance.
• Sponsorship – This committee identifies companies and organizations that believe in our mission
and would love to get their information in front of our participants.
• Education – This committee identifies high-impact speakers and experts for our speaker series,
forums, and training programs.
• Volunteers – This committee communicates with existing and prospective volunteers in order to
increase active participation on working committees.
Again, we are so excited about the launch of this new Chamber program for women and hope that you
will be a part of it! Please email me with your committee interest at [email protected] . Please
forward this email to anyone else you know who may have an interest, as well.
Ava Smith
Ava Smith, Chairperson
Greenville Women@Work
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Greenville Chamber Small
Business Opportunities & Success
Friday Forum
The Chamber Small Business Department is very excited to highlight and
encourage upstate professionals to attend our flagship program, Friday Forum. The initial gathering kicked off in January and we’ve experienced great success
and feedback each month! The Friday Forum series is a general business event
held on the 4th Friday monthly at The Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference
Center. Its open to all (non-chamber members included) and helps business
professionals “Connect, Learn, and Grow” with networking opportunities and an
educational presentation. Think of it as a mini Chamber Annual meeting each
month. We believe its “the place” to “see and be seen!” Merl Code
Friday Forum has been fortunate to have amazing, iconic speakers share their
stories including Stewart Spinks, Leighton Cubbage, and most recently, Merl Code. Merl presented on April 25. Words cannot describe how moving his message was… upon conclusion, he received a standing ovation from
the crowd of over 200… that says it all! Code entertained and educated our patrons with many stories from his
great career. He emphasized building relationships and stated that was the greatest key to his success. During
the closing question and answer session, he received a question “What do you think Greenville’s focus needs to
be for the future to continue our climb towards being the finest community in the world?” Merl stated he strongly
believed inclusion was of the utmost importance to making Greenville a “shining city upon a hill.” He says we
have the talent here and we need to keep it here. We need to “raise all boats” by making sure everyone gets a
chance. Moving our elite talent from the sidelines and into the game. Encouraging everyone to do business with
one another so opportunities exist for all who choose to strive for great things. A powerful message no doubt! Our community is exceptionally fortunate to have the loyal service of Merl Code. The Chamber encourages
everyone to follow his lead! Testimonials
The Greenville Family Partnership
leveraged the DLP and as a result
invited Marie Majarais Smith to
their Board of Directors. She has
been serving since January 2014.
“The Greenville Chamber provides us with
a great opportunity to network with likeminded business owners. We have increased
our circle of trusted partners to provide our
clients with a valuable resource. Membership
in the Chamber is a must.”
Hardy Auston | Moving Consultant
[email protected]
www.AustonMoving.com
Marie Majarais Smith
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Greenville Chamber Small Business
Opportunities & Success
Small Business of the Month
We’d like to highlight three of our recent Small Business of the Month winners. Recipients of this
award must be nominated by their peers, then submit a detailed application, which is reviewed by a
selection committee composed of past award winners. Applications are graded based on a strict point
system. This is a very prestigious award that brings with it priceless marketing from the Chamber and
word of mouth praise in the community. March 2014… US&S, Inc., CEO Richard Hagins
US&S is a Greenville-based facility maintenance and support
service provider specializing in: Operations & Maintenance, Repairs,
Renovation, Janitorial, Grounds Maintenance, and Staff Augmentation.
They offer an unparalleled level of service for clients and operate at
offices and project sites predominantly throughout the southeast
United States, serving federal, commercial, industrial and institutional
markets. US&S, Inc. is heavily involved in Chamber activities and
programs. According to CEO Rich Hagins, “Being engaged with the
Greenville Chamber comes with significant value for our company, our
employees, and the overall community.” Learn more at http://www.usands.com/
April 2014… Talent Management Solutions, CEO David Mitchell
Talent Management Solutions serves clients with a comprehensive
array of staffing, recruiting and consulting solutions in the areas of
management, engineering, sales and marketing, finance, accounting,
and information technology services. Talent Management Solutions has
been actively involved with the Greenville Chamber since 2005. “The
Greenville Chamber’s networking and business relationship building has
provided Talent Management Solutions with a wealth of resources that
have proven to be a value added benefit to our company.” Learn more
at http://tmsco.net/
May 2014… Synesis International, Inc., President Ricardo Studart
Synesis International, Inc. is a full service business systems
consulting and IT infrastructure support firm. They provide a complete
spectrum of systems planning, analysis and design-to-implementation
for manufacturing, distribution, energy and service industries. Synesis
is a leader in ERP, MES, CRM, Business Intelligence, and SharePointbased web portals. Their company also provides custom programming
services for unique client, web and mobile needs.
Synesis is a certified partner of SAP, Infor and Microsoft. Find out how Synesis can help with your
Business Software, ERP, Custom Development or SharePoint needs at www.synesisintl.com.
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Nat Irvin Event Recap
Face of the Future
By Nika White, Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion
Greenville Chamber
The face of the future is radically changing in America. But what does
it mean to live, work, think and believe, to manage and lead, and finally
to innovate and create in the world of the future? Join the Greenville
Chamber for an opportunity to hear from a futurist who will address
this provocative subject. This topic supports the Greenville Chamber’s
desire to advocate economic development through diversity and inclusion
and helps to foster leadership in futurist thinking. Collaboratively, the
Upcountry History Museum - Furman University and the Greenville
Chamber welcomed Dr. Nat Irvin, II to Greenville in March. Dr. Irvin led
community and business thought leaders in strategic conversations about
the future.
Dr. Irvin is a futurist, commentator, author, innovator, and teacher
who provided an interactive multimedia experience designed to
provide a stimulating look at the world of 2039 and beyond. Dr. Irvin’s
presentation addressed how social, political, economic, technological, and
environmental trends of today influences the world of tomorrow. Dr. Irvin
challenged imaginations and helped attendees see the future through new
eyes and to better appreciate the emergence of the global mind.
Dr. Nat Irvin, II, is the Woodrow M. Strickler Executive in Residence,
Professor of Management Practice, College of Business, at University
of Louisville where he has taught change management, leadership,
future studies, and team dynamics since 2007. From 1996-2007,
Irvin led Future Focus 2020, a think tank dedicated to providing
leadership in bringing futurist thinking to urban communities. Irvin
has engaged numerous groups and organizations, including leadership
and management teams of several Fortune 100 companies in strategic
conversations focused on the significant social, political, economic,
technological and environmental trends events that will drive the mid to
long term future. In 2005 and 2007, Dr. Irvin spoke at the annual TED
(Technology Entertainment & Design) Conference. The event was held
on March 20, 2014 at the Upcountry History Museum. Attendees were
able to tour the Upcountry History Museum’s “Protest, Prayers, and
Progress: Greenville’s Civil Rights Exhibit.” The next morning Dr. Irvin did
a small group session with the Greenville Chamber’s Minority Business
Accelerator participants where he was able to address the significance of
being innovative as a business leader in order to differentiate and compete
effectively in the marketplace.
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ACE Leadership Symposium Recap
By: Marion Mann, Greenville Chamber Senior Marketing Manager
A sold-out, diverse audience of 400 Greenville Chamber members,
community and business leaders, local college and university students,
and a group of eighth graders from LEAD Academy attended the
Greenville Chamber’s second annual ACE Leadership Symposium.
Designed to promote advancing minority leadership and corporate
board service, the event included workshop presentations on “The
Truth about Coaching and Managing Minorities” and “How Not to Be a Victim and Produce Results” with
facilitators Charles Weathers and Anita Garrett, both with The Weathers Group. Weathers delivered the
keynote lunch presentation “Collaborative Relationships to Advance Minority
Leadership,” after which both facilitators answered questions from the audience.
Key points from the presentation include:
What can you do where you are, with what you have, by yourself?
If you’re going to grow, excel and be effective, you’re going to need to work
with someone else to make it happen. We know that diversity of backgrounds
and thought can provide a major asset to our organizations.
Helping people helps all people.
We need to lose the thinking that helping minorities helps minorities. If we’re
truly working for a greater good, we can put our energy toward a cause that is
larger than us.
The same 20% of minorities serve on our local boards. Who is going to
replace them?
If we want to advance leadership, we must move beyond the usual suspects.
Grooming and mentoring individuals to serve in leadership positions will help
guarantee the success of organizations and our community in the future.
Break down the walls by asking questions.
People have more similarities than differences. If you are a good coach, you can
be a good coach to all.
We fail not because of a lack of skill, but because of a lack of will.
We seem to all think we work together well, but we need to do a better job.
Understand that division serves a purpose for some people – as long as we
subscribe to this, we’ll never realize the success togetherness can deliver.
Working together requires doing the work and holding each other accountable.
For every person who works in your organization, you’ve told the public that
you trust them.
No collaboration or alliance can exist without trust. When trust goes down, speed will also go down and
costs will go up. When trust goes up, speed will also go up and costs will go down. More important than
trust is credibility. Credibility = Competency + Character. Ask yourself daily, Am I demonstrating the
competency and character consistent with the responsibility I hold?
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ACE Leadership Symposium Recap
(continued from page 8)
Organizations don’t have relationships, people do.
Organizations can’t assume that relationships will continue when the people who originated them leave –
yet another reason to help cultivate and groom our future leaders. Weathers stressed the importance of
relationship building with these five I’s:
1. Identification
2. Introduction
3. Interest
4. Involvement
5. Investment
You can’t expect investment until you’ve completed
1-4. People invest in one another other because they’ve
been through some things together and have developed
credibility. Once you’ve completed all five, it’s most important to take the time to share your relationships
and open up your circle of influence in order to advance the conversation.
Age diversity is a big deal today.
Age diversity is common in today’s workplace with some organizations having up to four and five
generations working together. All have something to teach one another, so create an environment that
encourages sharing.
We can hire diverse people if we diversify our circles.
Weathers noted the all too often remark, There are no diverse people with the skills we need. Where are
they? By cultivating and building necessary relationships, our eyes will open to the wealth of resources
that exist in our community.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the entire event but especially Mr. Weathers. When
working with different cultures we must always remember that we are all
people striving to be the best that we can be. The event left all of us sitting on
the edge of our seats. No one was texting or holding conversations, we were
all in tune with what he brought to the table! Great Job Greenville Chamber of
Commerce!”
-Valisa Smith, Long Branch Baptist Church
“The ACE Leadership Symposium provides a platform where you can be
inspired to learn more, dream more, become more, do more and influence
more to be a leader.”
-VaShaun J. Pickens, Hands of Ent.
“I really enjoyed myself. It was truly a safe haven to discuss REAL community challenges within diversity and
inclusion.”
-Martia Adams, 3M
Follow CAPACITY on Social!
/GreenvilleChamberCapacity
/CAPACITY_gcoc
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/GvlChamberCapacity
Upstate International
The Greenville Chamber’s 22nd annual International Event to celebrate
the investment of International companies was held on Tuesday, March 25
at the Hyatt Regency Greenville. Presenting Sponsor, Haynsworth Sinkler
Boyd, P.A. recognized TD Bank with the 12th annual International Economic
Development Award. The Chamber’s International Event is one of many
events held during Upstate International month to celebrate 100+ cultures
living and working in the Upstate of South Carolina.
DLP Opportunity
In an effort to serve as a resource for connecting organizations with qualified individuals, the Chamber
developed the Diversity Leadership Pipeline (DLP). This online tool allows individuals interested in
serving in leadership capacities to provide their interests and contact information to be considered/
connected when opportunities for volunteer leadership are presented to the Chamber. The DLP is
online at http://www.greenvillechamber.org/diversity-leadership-pipeline.php. For more information
about this and the Chamber’s CAPACITY initiative, contact Nika White at 864-239-3727.
NETnight - Meet Our Connectors
NETnight Connectors are trained to help NETnight attendees meet their networking goals for the night.
They provide introductions, help elevate the conversations, and create connections between guests. Our
NETnight Connectors share networking tips, success stories, and why they believe in CAPACITY and
decided to become Connectors. Attend a NETnight event to meet our Connectors!
Many people think of networking in terms of sales connections; but don’t forget it’s
also an opportunity to spread the word about the nonprofits you support. The more
people you tell about your passions, the more lives you could impact without even
knowing it!
Berri Hicks, Buyer
Greenville Health System
I decided to be a connector because I believe in the process of networking for
results and not sociability. As a connector I can become an active part of the
networking process for those who attend and ensure that their experience is
action-oriented with positive outcomes.
Caroline Caldwell, PhD (ABD), CEO
New Mind Health and Care, Inc.
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NETnight - Meet Our Connectors
My success story involves sharing with others about LatinosUnited, a young Latinos
group started last year with a mission to motivate the Latino Youth in Greenville SC.
Elvia Pacheco, HR Specialist
Fluor Corporation
Know your purpose and capabilities when you walk through the door. Do your
research and know who’s in the room and practice your 30-second pitch prior to
the event to be prepared for your business conversations and how to showcase
your strengths. Be sure you comprehend how a connection can benefit both
parties and can provide a substantial relationship. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
M. Felicia Douglas, CEO , Insurance and Financial Specialist
The Legacy Group
Come to the event with a goal for who you would like to connect with. Have a strategy
for how you are going to connect. Plan in advance.
James Jordon, President
JCC General Contractors
I believe in the CAPACITY program. I believe this program can serve as a catalyst
for a lot of good in terms of Greenville’s economic development for decades to
come. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
John Boyanoski, President
Complete Public Relations
Don’t wait around the edges of the room, waiting for someone to approach you. To
get the conversation started, simply walk up to a person or a group, and say, “May I
join you” or “What brings you to this event?” Then listen intently to their reply, which
will result in it being easier for you to engage in a conversation.
Laurie Rovin, Executive Director
Pendleton Place for Children and Families
NETnight has been a two fold blessing. I have had the opportunity to help others as
well as be helped. I decided to be a Connector because it allows me to play a part
in making meaningful connections.
Lawanna Dendy, Director of Administration
GBS Building Supply, Inc.
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NETnight - Meet Our Connectors
I believe very strongly in the importance of encouraging diversity initiatives,
especially being in the South. By building a community that represents all of
the talent in Greenville (including those who are ethnically, racially, professionally
different), we are becoming more inclusive and developing economic success within
different sectors and demographics of the Upstate. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Maria Majarais Smith, Program Manager, Bilingual Victim Advocate
South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN)
I began serving as a connector with the PULSE Capacity initiative and quickly
realized how diverse and interactive the environment is at NETnights. It is a
highly productive and engaging crowd hungry to interact and develop their
personal and professional carriers. It is important for me to continue to serve as
challenges my interpersonal skills, helps others and aids in the overall economic
development of our community.
Mike Pennington, Owner Operator
Funnelicious/Rhino Concessions
Networking with an objective in mind. However, I would recommend meeting as
many people as possible because you never know how you may be able to help them
or vice versa. It could be a conversation that you can deepen your knowledge about
a subject or you may be able to share something that may help someone in a job
search, business opportunity, etc. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Nicole Andrews, Regional Senior Human Resources Generalist
Dixon Hughes Goodman
Serving as a Connector feeds my natural ability to want to help others. I feel that
there is a ton of potential in our city. As a Connector I can help individuals channel
their energy appropriately and effectively, to ensure that their NETnight experience
is a success.
Samantha N. Rousey, Health Educator/Counselor
The Pheonix Center/GHS Internal Medicine Clinic
We all have different network connections (friends, organizations, resources, etc).
Being in the nonprofit sector, I enjoy connecting the resources I have with others.
Stella Hill-McBee, Client Development Specialist
Community Works
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NETnight - Meet Our Connectors
Do research and gain information before attending the event. Build great rapport
and develop relationships with the individuals that you are networking with.
Stephanie Ballenger, Debt Specialist II
TD Bank
I believe in the value of listening to others, as well as, the value od being listened
to - both of which are achieved through NETnight. In addition to a way to meet
and connect with other professionals, netowrking is a form of self-education and I
highly value self-education.
­­­­­­­
Stinson W. Ferguson
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
The greatest success is knowing that you’ve helped others achieve their
networking goals.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Sylvia Hunt, Vice President-Market Leader
BB&T
My primary goal of networking is to assist others. I live by the philosophy of ‘when
two business minded individuals are connected, the collaborative resources are
usually unlimited.’
Tia Foster, HR Generalist, Southeast Region
Gordon Food Service
I had lived in Greenville for about 6 months when I attended the inaugural NETnight.
NETnight created a platform for me to be exposed to a number of people in various
industries I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise, especially with such a short
period of residency in the city.
A. Toni Green, Senior Sales Manager
Hyatt Regency Greenville
KISS = Keep It Simple Sweetie! Just be YOU. I’ve found after many years of getting
it wrong just meeting people on a more personal platform open doors to many
opportunities… both business and professional.
Valerie B. Chatman, Supplier Diversity Representative/Procurement Professional
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
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#HashtagLunchBagGreenvilleSC
Brought to you by the Greenville Chamber CAPACITY Initiative:
Economic Development Through Diversity and Inclusion
#HashtagLunchBag
is a national movement dedicated to bringing together diverse groups of people in
communities across the country to join in addressing hunger. #HashtagLunchBagGreenvilleSC is the grassroots effort
to address hunger throughout the city of Greenville, SC, and execute an act of kindness to those in need. Using social
media and other marketing techniques to bring awareness, the Greenville Chamber’s role as convener is to inspire
diverse populations to join in the endeavor to address hunger one person at a time.
How we make this happen:
1. Recruit a group of volunteers to help facilitate the local movement
pulling from diverse populations, as well as the business and nonprofit sectors. This is where YOU come in. Register to volunteer at
www.greenvillechamber.org or by sending an email to:
[email protected]
2. Collect monetary and in-kind donations for lunches and supplies
from sponsors for the #HashtagLunchBagGreenvilleSC event. To
donate send an email to [email protected].
3. Gather on August 2nd at 8am at the Greenville Chamber to
assemble lunches and write an inspirational note of encouragement
to include in the bag lunches.
4. Hit the streets visiting pre-identified areas in Greenville with a high
number of homeless people or areas that are poverty-stricken, and
find a person in need of a meal.
Join the movement!
5. Watch people smile by your act of kindness and then share your
experience across social media using:
#HashtagLunchBagGreenvilleSC
#HTLBGreenvilleSC
Small acts of kindness + a lot of people = BIG CHANGE!
HashtaglunchbagGreenvilleSC
Project Chairpersons:
Nika White
Greenville Chamber, VP of Diversity & Inclusion
HTLBGreenvilleSC
Brittany J. Galloway
Greenville Chamber #HashtagLunchBagGreenville Volunteer Leader
www.GreenvilleChamber.com
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