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Upstate Class XXVIII, Fall 2019

Upstate Class XXVIII, Fall 2019

View the participants from this class.

(l-r) Jan Collins, Jermaine Taylor, Chris Briddell and Roxanne James, Reclaimed
(l-r) Patrick Springhart and Delia Allen, R3
Megan Dodgens, Director, Diversity Leadership Strategies
Jennifer Moorefield, R3
Front: Maya Pack and Damon Qualls; Back: Jenny Wehrs and Matthew Cabe, Leaders for Literacy
Susan Crowell and Patrick Springhart showing contents of backpack for those released from incarceration, R3
Darren Wright, R3
(l-r) Jennifer Moorefield, Delia Allen and Yahn Heurlin, R3
Clarence Kegler, Upstate Class VI, Fall 2007, asking a question
Darren Wright responding to a question, R3
Paige Stephenson, Bridge to Success
Upstate Class XXVIII, Fall 2019
Becky Callaham, R3
(l-r) Angie Ayers, Doyle Bradford, Jeannie Chapman, Page Rogers and Lakessa Wright, Bridge to Success
Paige Stephenson, Bridge to Success
Fran Moore asking a question, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
Paige Stephenson, Bridge to Success
Juan Johnson
Lakessa Wright receiving a percussion instrument, Bridge to Success, and Darren Wright, R3
(l-r) Allyson Brown, Brandon Madden and Julia Jeter, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
Jeff Crocker and Fran Moore, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
(l-r) Allyson Brown and Julia Jeter, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
Tyler Rex speaking, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
Drumming Up Awareness band director
Drumming Up Awareness performing
John Beckford (c), Upstate Class VII, Fall 2008, joining in with his percussion instrument
Drumming Up Awareness performing
Drumming Up Awareness performing
Drumming Up Awareness performing
Drumming Up Awareness performing
A round of applause for their incredible performance
Megan Mitchell-Hoefer, Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats
(l-r) Chris Briddell, Allison Mertens, Roxanne James and Jerry Blassingame, Executive Director, Soteria Community Development Corporation, Reclaimed
Jerry Blassingame, Executive Director, Soteria Community Development Corporation
(l-r) Gary Clary, Jermaine Taylor, Chris Briddell, Allison Mertens, Roxanne James, Jerry Blassingame, Executive Director, Soteria Community Development Corporation, and Kevin Estep speaking, Reclaimed
Damon Qualls, Leaders for Literacy
Students from Monaview Elementary School’s Men Who Read program, Leaders for Literacy
(l-r) Damon Qualls, Beth Pontari, Maya Pack, Latorrie Geer, Jenny Wehrs, Norma Latta, Eric Jarinko, Matthew Cabe and Annie Yukish, Leaders for Literacy
Students from Monaview Elementary School’s Men Who Read program, Leaders for Literacy
Damon Qualls speaking, Leaders for Literacy
Students from Monaview Elementary School with Cole McLagan, a Furman student soccer player
Jermaine Taylor asking the students a question, Reclaimed
Students from Monaview Elementary School’s Men Who Read program, Leaders for Literacy
Students from Monaview Elementary School’s Men Who Read program, Leaders for Literacy
A standing ovation for the students!
Juan Johnson bringing the program to a close
Don Gordon, executive director of the Riley Institute, making remarks
(l-r) Delia Allen and Patrick Springhart, R3, congratulating Latorrie Geer, Leaders for Literacy
Susan Crowell and Becky Callaham, R3
Jan Collins, Reclaimed, and Susan Crowell, R3
(l-r) Darren Wright, R3, and Damon Qualls, Leaders for Literacy
The R3 team!
Delia Allen, R3, receiving her Riley Fellow certificate from Juan Johnson
Angie Ayers, Bridge to Success, receiving her Riley Fellow certificate from Juan Johnson
Doyle Bradford, Bridge to Success, receiving his Riley Fellow certificate from Juan Johnson
Chris Briddell, Reclaimed, receiving his Riley Fellow certificate from Juan Johnson
The Reclaimed team!
Beth Pontari, Leaders for Literacy
Roxanne James, Reclaimed, and Benny Walker
R3 team members: Row 1 (l-r): Susan Crowell, Jennifer Moorefield, Patrick Springhart, Becky Callaham; Row 2 (l-r): Darren Wright, Delia Allen, Yahn Heurlin
Bridge to Success team members: Row 1 (l-r): Lakessa Wright, Page Rogers, Jeannie Chapman; Row 2 (l-r): Angie Ayers, Doyle Bradford, Paige Stephenson; Not pictured: Michael Brown, Mandy Powers Norrell
Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats team members: Row 1 (l-r): Megan Mitchell-Hoefer, Fran Moore, Julia Jeter, Allyson Brown; Row 2 (l-r): Brandon Madden, Jeff Crocker, Tyler Rex; Not pictured: Amy Linsin
Reclaimed team members: Row 1 (l-r): Andrea Cooper, Roxanne James, Allison Mertens, Chris Briddell; Row 2 (l-r): Gary Clary, Kevin Estep; Row 3 (-r): Jermaine Taylor, Jan Collins, Greg Dover
Leaders for Literacy team members: Row 1 (l-r): Eric Jarinko, Norma Latta, Maya Pack; Row 2 (l-r): Annie Yukish, Beth Pontari, Jenny Wehrs; Row 3 (l-r): Latorrie Geer, Matthew Cabe, Damon Qualls
Congratulations Upstate Class XXVIII Riley Fellows!

R3: Release, Restart, Restore

There are many challenges that immediately face our community members released from incarceration. These challenges are not only basic needs such as food, shelter, and safety, but also include those of inclusivity and dignity. Through a collaboration with Furman University’s Diversity Leadership Initiative along with Greenville Technical College and the Phillis Wheatley Community Center, the R3 team will provide released individuals in Greenville County with a backpack full of essential daily items to meet some of those challenges.

Bridge to Success

Whether it is from being unemployed, incarcerated, dealing with health care costs and challenges, or struggling with financial instability, many individuals in Spartanburg County find themselves in transition and could use help to meet their most immediate needs. One basic necessity is clothing, particularly clothes and coats for cold weather, business clothes for job interviews, and shoes.

Rhythm of Inclusion by T Rex and the Upbeats

Disability affects more than 61 million people in the United States. Disability inclusion challenges all of us to understand fully the relationship between the way people function and how they participate in society. The goal is to make sure that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in all aspects of life including social, health, and recreational activities.

Reclaimed

The Reclaimed capstone project aims to work alongside Soteria Community Development Corporation, headed by DLI alum Jerry Blassingame, and particularly the program of Soteria at Work (SaW). SaW provides opportunities for previously incarcerated and low-income citizens to learn and apply job skills, earn money, and improve long-term job prospects by offering deconstruction and reclamation services. SaW dismantles condemned structures and reclaims and repurposes the materials for furniture, art, and architectural salvage for hotels, restaurants, builders, businesses, and homeowners.

Leaders for Literacy

The Leaders for Literacy joined forces with Monaview Elementary to promote literacy and specifically support the Men Who Read program. Monaview Elementary is a unique school in Greenville County with a minority enrollment of 68% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the South Carolina state average of 49%. Monaview’s Men Who Read, Dress for Success program was created several years ago to bridge the gap between male and female students’ standardized test scores in Reading and English Language Arts.