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Community Action Projects

UNITE South Carolina - Celebrating 10 Years of DLI

UNITE South Carolina – Celebrating Ten Years of the Diversity Leaders Initiative

As part of the DLI program, participants work in small groups to identify, analyze and develop real solutions for real community issues. Some of these community action projects are the focus of UNITE South Carolina. This special edition publication features 10 DLI community action projects that are helping build better communities throughout the state.

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UNITE South Carolina

1DERS: Diverse Energy for Reaching Solutions

Diverse non-profit community groups need assistance in meeting their goals. Other groups have the time and talent to assist them with their needs. Frequently, these groups are unaware of each other. With its Capstone Project, the DLI Group “1DERS” has developed a self-sustaining online conceptual vehicle – Partners For Promise – to act as a clearing house through which non-profit entities can come together to match needs and resources for the betterment of all segments of the community.

A Mother's Voice

Child Trends released a report citing that more than five million U.S. children have had a resident parent incarcerated at one point or another. While men make up 99 percent of the U.S. prison population, the number of women and mothers involved in the criminal justice system has grown significantly over the last 20 years.

Since 1991, the numbers of mothers in state and federal prisons has more than doubled, to an estimated 120,000. The majority of women are incarcerated for non-violent related offenses, like drug, property, or public-order offenses. 

The A Team

Celebrate Diversity Activity Book

Celebrate Diversity is an eight-page activity book for elementary age youth focusing on diversity, culture, and respecting differences. Students participate in facilitator-led group discussions and dyads, followed by time to color and complete activities.

All — In

The team members of All-In worked with the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council (GCCRC), which promotes positive relationships within the community, equal opportunity and fairness for all members of the community and awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity. The GCCRC has existed for over 50 years in Columbia, but a recent survey taken showed that the community at large is not aware of the GCCRC or its significant contribution to the community.

All In

Uniting with Project Hope Foundation, Team All In, will assist in securing the renovation for a new and critical addition to their mission. Project HOPE Foundation has access to a residential house located adjacent to the Hope Reach Clinic in Woodruff, SC. 

This house will serve as a “real life” setting for teaching important life skills to individuals that will promote independence and a sense of contribution to those with autism. Skills taught in this home include the processes involved in bed making, cooking, laundry, grooming and self-care. 

Altoids

Question: Does diversity tension affect student performance in our public schools? Process: selected Lake Forest Elementary School due to student diversity; studied school data; identified diversity mixtures; evaluated school motto/mission, and requirements; conducted interviews.

Anderson: Bulldogs for Business

The focus of Bulldogs for Business will be on the special needs, self-contained population of students at the middle and high school level – approximately the 20-30 students who are on the ‘certificate only’ track (i.e. not eligible to earn a High School diploma). The goal is to help prepare these students for life beyond school. Bulldogs for Business will provide classes on etiquette, resume building, and plan to host job fairs that include companies where this population could work successfully.

Armonía

Armonía -- Spanish for "harmony" -- is a two-pronged project to create a music room for the homeless parishioners of Triune Mercy Center and to arrange for much-needed office space for the Hispanic American Women's Association.

Ask4HD (Ask for Human Diversity)

ASK4HD is committed to cultivating an experience of artistic expression for children who may seem different but are also very similar, and encouraging a celebration of this diversity through a process of co-creation. The group will build on a previous capstone project – “Mix It Up” – by the DLI Twenty Sixers (see: http://riley.furman.edu/diversity/group/2138).