Trailblazers

Team Members: Mark Aycock, Hope Blackley, Liberty Canzater, Ramon Galinanes, Katherine O’Neill, Will Rothschild, Richard Simons, Chris Steed, Andrew Waldo, Rochelle Williams

The Mary Black Rail Trail is a multi- use trail that runs through Spartanburg County. The group plans to utilize the Mary Black Rail Trail in order to build community and celebrate diversity. The goal is to celebrate some of the positive things that are already happening in Spartanburg – successes, history and where the community is going. Thirty percent of people who use the Rail Trail are minorities. The focus will be on this area because the trail brings people of different backgrounds together. Through the project Trailblazers will enhance the trail by putting up signage along the trail that celebrates the diversity in our community.

The team met with local historians to study the history of the area and decide what would be valuable to have on these signs. The plan is to have 6-8 signs over a two mile stretch, each celebrating diversity and successes in the community. QR codes will also be included on the signs to enable people to read the sign in a different language and/or to be able to read more about the topic highlighted on the sign.