Simple Civics: Greenville County

Latest Episodes:

Exploring the New Greenville Development Code: Understanding How it Will Impact Your Community, Neighborhood, and Greenville Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Join Sherry Barrett, land policy director with Upstate Forever, and Shannon Lavrin, Assistant City Manager for the City of Greenville, as they delve into the new Greenville Development Code. This vital document describes how the city will develop in the coming years, affecting every resident and business owner. Find out what the code contains, why it's important, and how you can get involved. There will be open houses on February 28th and March 1, so be sure to submit your comments and questions before then. Tune in to understand how the code will shape the city's future and how it will impact you!

Greenville Development Code website: https://www.greenvillesc.gov/182/Greenville-Development-Code

Interactive zoning map: https://grvlsc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/media/index.html?appid=110e8a41d6e342c48aebdbcce1422178

Upstate Forever: https://www.upstateforever.org/

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

The Power of Head Start: A Single Mom's Journey to Success Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we sit down with Paris Hill, a single mom of two whose story demonstrates the power of government programs like Head Start in giving families a stepping stone to prosperity. Paris is a 4.0 student, a cook, an entrepreneur, and serves on the Head Start Policy Council, all thanks to her hard work and determination but also to SHARE Headstart. This federal program provides comprehensive child development services to young children and their families. Listen to Paris's remarkable journey and learn about the Head Start program and how it helps families achieve long-term success.

SHARE Headstart: https://www.sharesc.org/

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Unlocking the Benefits of Greenville Cares: The City's One-Stop Customer Service Center Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Are you curious about the services and programs offered by the City of Greenville? Look no further than Greenville Cares, the city's one-stop customer service center. Today we sit down with Renei Suarez, customer service supervisor with the City of Greenville, to learn all about how Greenville Cares can help you report an issue, submit a service request, or get information about city programs, services, and events. From pothole repairs to business permits and more, Greenville Cares is here to help you navigate all things Greenville.

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Greenville County Council Chairman Dan Tripp on Unifying Council and Priorities for the Coming Year Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

In this episode we talk to the newly elected Chairman of Greenville County Council, Dan Tripp. Dan discusses his role as Chairman, his hopes for County Council, and the Council's priorities for the coming year. He also talks about how Greenville County Council will be more accessible to constituents, making it easier for you than ever to plug into what's going on in your county government.

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Racial displacement in Greenville, SC: historic and current population shifts in the city of Greenville and surrounding Greenville county Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

If you’ve lived in Greenville, SC for even a short period of time, you know that it is changing. Beautiful amenities such as Unity Park and continued development of Main Street have only enhanced Greenville’s appeal to visitors and new residents who are moving into new apartments, condominiums, and single family homes within the city and throughout the county.

There is one group that is leaving the city, though - Black residents. Recently released data compiled by the Shi Institute at Furman University document the decrease in Black households in the city - especially in historically Black neighborhoods. The Furman study explores these population changes in detail and goes back in history to map deeds that explicitly prohibited Black families from certain neighborhoods and homes, which is part of the foundation that makes their displacement and departure a feature of today.

Today’s episode of Simple Civics: Greenville County provides a look into this data. Meliah Bowers Jefferson, Executive Director of the Jolley Foundation, interviews the lead researchers from Furman University: Ken Kolb and Mike Winiski.

On today’s episode page, you can find a link to the current Furman research, which is at communitygvl.org. There you’ll find a variety of interactive data tools and maps, including a place where you can see if your neighborhood includes one of the 12000 deeds in Greenville County that expressly prohibited Blacks and other racial and ethnic minorities from living in your home. You can also find a Furman study that looks at house flipping, located at inclusivegvl.org.

Links:

Greenville's special emphasis neighborhoods

Racial displacement in Greenville, SC

Inclusive Greenvlle: includes data on house flipping

About the Shi Institute at Furman University

About Meliah Bowers Jefferson

Related episodes:

Mata Crawford

Gentrification and affordable housing challenges

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Empowering Small Businesses and First-Time Homebuyers: An Interview with CommunityWorks CEO LaTorrie Geer Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

As a Community Development Financial Institution, CommunityWorks is dedicated to improving the financial well-being of underserved communities in South Carolina. Through affordable housing development loans and small business lending, CommunityWorks helps create stability and wealth in these communities. Additionally, support services such as financial education help empower individuals to grow their financial acumen and achieve their goals. Whether you're a small business owner looking to expand or a resident dreaming of homeownership, a CDFI can be the partner you need to succeed. Listen to learn more.

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program: A Better (and Free) Choice for Your Taxes Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

The VITA program is here to make tax season a breeze! In this episode, we speak with Michelle Lyons, the director of financial stability at the United Way of Greenville County, to learn more about this amazing program that offers free tax preparation services to those who make under $60,000 a year. Find out how to qualify, schedule an appointment, and navigate tax season with ease. VITA is powered by United Way of Greenville County.

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Volunteer tax preparers change lives - and you can do it, too! Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

Tax season is just around the corner, and you are needed to volunteer for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. This amazing program, powered by the United Way of Greenville County, provides free tax preparation services to anyone making 60,000 a year or under, and it is run by volunteers. We would love for you to be one of those. And today, you'll hear from Tiffany Bannister, Vita regional program manager. She'll talk about how you can volunteer for VITA, some of the rewards that you'll get for doing so, and all the ways that it makes a difference in the lives of people in our community.

Learn more at: https://unitedwaygc.org

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution.

Email us: contact@simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org

Community navigation: Ma’ta Crawford on helping neighbors, a changing communities, and more Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

As long as we’ve had neighborhoods, neighbors have been a help to each other. Neighbors used to watch each other’s children, keep an eye out for older adults, run errands for each other, and let each other know of programs and services that could be of help.

But many of our neighborhoods - especially those like West Greenville - have changed dramatically as residents in rental homes have been displaced by development and increasing costs. The former residents may be disconnected from each other and from the help available to them.

That’s where people like Ma’ta Crawford come in. Ma’ta is a community navigator and on this episode shares her personal experiences of a changing Greenville, the ways she serves as a connection between government, nonprofits, and residents.

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.

Where there's a will, there's a way: Wills and Advance Directives Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greenville

If you don't have a will when you die in South Carolina, "essentially you're letting the state legislature decide what happens to your property and who will administer it," says former Greenville County Probate Judge Diane Smock. She talks with Jessica Ferguson of Turner Padget about wills, estates, and advance directives.

You'll learn:

Why it's so important to have a will, health care power of attorney, and power of attorney - even if you don't have a lot of wealth
How not having a will can needlessly tie up your home and property from your heirs, especially your children Why having a will and advance directives in place is a gift you give your family after you die, preventing stress and disagreements during an emotional time
That probate laws are state-specific, so you need your will reviewed if you live in SC but had it created in another state
How to get a will drawn up if you make under 200% of poverty
And much more!

Community Foundation of Greenville

SC Bar

SC Legal Services

Produced by The Greenville Podcast Company.

Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville.