In 2019, The Central Carolina Community Foundation rewarded $327,000 worth of grants to 14 local nonprofits. The recipients presented projects that reflected at least one of three key areas – Welcoming Community, Vibrant Social Offerings + Superb Public Spaces. Winners included City of Cayce, The Columbia Museum of Art, River Alliance, The Vista Neighborhood Association + more – click here to see them all.

We were able to catch up with a few of the winners to see what they’ve been up to – and here’s what they said:

EdVenture | Community Enrichment Initiative

Overview:

The EdVenture Children’s Museum’s Pop Up/Outreach program carries the joy of learning from the museum into festivals and events in the Central Carolina Community Foundation’s service area. At every event, we provide young festival-goers opportunities to think and learn while playing, and we make sure their guardians know how to find us in Columbia, Hartsville, and Myrtle Beach.

Progress:

In 2019, we provided pop-up education at 13 festivals and events in the Midlands. In the beginning, we struggled because our equipment showed wear and tear, and we were in trouble if we had more than two events on the same day: Anyone who is trying to schedule an event in the Midlands will discover that many events happen simultaneously throughout the region. The Connected Communities grant helped us pull together four Pop Up/Outreach Kits, which make it efficient and functional for an educator to set up a space at a festival. Each Kit contains a folding table, branded tablecloth, folding chairs, 6.5’ retractable banner, 17” tabletop retractable banner, a branded tent, and give-away/educational packets for visitors. Because of the support from the Community Foundation, we will be able to continue to reach out to children and families who cannot make their way to our Columbia location. Now, we can double-, triple-, and quadruple-book events if need be!

Key Milestones:

EdVenture Pop Up/Outreach participated in 13 local festivals in 2019. Seven of these festivals were in Richland County; six of them were in other counties in the Foundation’s service area: Lexington, Orangeburg, Sumter, Newberry, and twice in Fairfield. In April and May of 2020, we will be revisiting the counties of Orangeburg and Lexington, and we will be making first time visits to Kershaw, Calhoun, Clarendon, Lee, and Saluda.
One of our goals with the grant was to visit at least as many events outside Richland County as we visited in Richland County, making thoughtful choices to impact the other 10 counties in the Foundation’s service area. When we finish in May, we will have been a part of seven Richland County events and double that number in the other 10 counties, visiting each county at least once.

How does the project increase the livability of the Midlands?

Finding events and festivals in Richland County or Lexington County is a dream. Every weekend is filled with opportunities for families in our area to enjoy inexpensive (or even free) fun times. In fact, residents in these two counties can pretty easily find their way to EdVenture’s front door, less than 30 miles away for most residents in Richland and Lexington. On the other hand, many rural counties in the Midlands do not have access to weekend events, and the cost of travel to our door at EdVenture is a barrier for many residents. The Foundation’s funding for the materials now allows us to take a taste of EdVenture on the road. This project increases livability and quality of life for families and their young children in the Midlands — underserved counties in particular — because EdVenture’s educators bring our mission: to inspire children, youth, and the adults who care about them to experience the joy of learning. EdVenture brings joy.

Palmetto Luna Arts | “The Latino Experience”

Overview:

Palmetto Luna Arts’ mission is to foster an understanding of the Hispanic/Latino culture by promoting artistic creation and providing opportunities for cultural expression for the community in South Carolina. The Latino Experience is a cultural, social and educational initiative aimed to provide non-Latino Midlands residents with an in-depth experience that enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Latino community. The Latino Experience is supported by a Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation.

Progress:

The Latino Experience has included 52 artistic participations by Latino artists in events across the Midlands area to date. Events have included the following: The Day of the Dead Celebration, LatinXcelencia at UofSC, Language Buzz's Cinco de Mayo Festival, Sumter's Fall for the Arts, the Palmetto Luna Arts Collection at Richland Library, “Sprung!” — a Latinx benefit showcase, “Ceviche o no Ceviche” at Trustus Theater, Noche de Luna at 701, Pachanga Pa DACA, and the Latino float at the S.C. Pride Parade, among other events.

Key milestones:

To date, we have brought the Latino Experience to 10 different cities across the Midlands area. Our original goal was to have 12 artistic participations, and so far, we have completed 52. We were only able to reach our goal by collaborating with different agencies and organizations such as Tapp’s Arts Center, the S.C. Arts Commission, 701 Whaley, the Columbia Museum of Art, Richland Library, Nickelodeon Theatre, Trustus Theater, Richland School District Two, Sumter County Arts Commission, One Columbia for Arts and Culture, WREN, City of Columbia, University of South Carolina, Fireflies Baseball, Peace Resource Center, MABEC, Richland School District One, the S.C. Pride Parade, among many others.

How does the project increase the livability of the Midlands?

The Latino Experience is a cultural, social and educational initiative aimed to provide non-Latino Midlands residents with an in-depth experience that enhances their knowledge and understanding of the Latino community. By bringing cultures together, we are fostering a more united community where everyone understands the richness of all the cultures that formed our beloved Midlands area.

The Harriet Hancock Center | “Youth Outloud”

Overview:

Youth Outloud is a support group for LGBTQ+ teens in the Midlands, offering group-led outings to local attractions. Youth Outloud is utilizing the Connected Communities grant from Central Carolina Community Foundation to increase the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQIA+ youth in the Columbia and Lexington areas. Community outings provide a space for the youth and the community to engage in informative and relationship-building partnerships that are mutualistic.

Progress:

Since beginning our project, we have supported 11 teens and have established strong working relationships with several community organizations, including the Columbia Museum of Art, the Richland Library, and local LGBTQIA+ program TakeBreakMake. These relationships have given the youth several opportunities for personal and educational growth they haven't had previously.