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The Palmetto (Luso-) Latinos?: A Profile of Brazilians in South Carolina
Increasingly, over the past few years, more Brazilians have been making South Carolina home. Unlike their South American peers with which they are often categorized, Brazilians do not typically self-identify as Hispanic/Latinos. Thus, they tend to get lumped together with other racial groups. In this brief, Research Director Dr. Robert P. Fenton explores some of the key socio-economic data points associated with South Carolina’s growing Brazilian community, in the hopes of building bridges and providing recognition of this unique, vibrant, and globally recognized ethnic group. (DOWNLOAD PDF)
South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs and Greater Columbia Community Relations Council to Host Workshop on Facilitating Conversations Around Community Conflict
The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs and the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council have partnered to host a free workshop on Facilitating Conversations Around Community Conflict on Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop will be held at the Central Carolina Community Foundation, 2142 Boyce St. Ste. 402, Columbia, SC 29201.
The one-day training, led by facilitators with the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service, will provide community members with helpful tips and the tools needed to successfully facilitate meetings that address and respond to conflicts in their communities.
Space is limited, and registration is required. To register, visit https://sccma-facilitatingconversations.eventbrite.com.
For more information, call the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs at 803-333-9621.
The Culture Connect: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Mrs. Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges
#HispanicHeritageMonth kicks off September 15th and in recognition of the month, Daniel James II sat down with Mrs. Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges for a new episode of The Culture Connect!
A Latina, a proud wife and mom, Tanya is the Executive Director and Founder of Latino Community Development Corp. – a non-profit meeting the needs of Hispanic and Latin populations in South Carolina. For the past decade, Hodges has offered translation and interpretation services, financial literacy, business development tools, and essential needs for families during times of personal, natural, and global crises. Her passion has been to see minority families build wealth, seize opportunities, and experience the fulness of their possibilities.
The Culture Connect podcast highlights South Carolina’s minority communities with the aim to improve their quality of life, highlight opportunities, and provide resources. Be sure to subscribe or follow us so that you can stay aware of new episodes. #thecultureconnectsc #BuildingBridges #closinggaps
Listen to the episode: Facebook / YouTube / Spotify
Uneven Foundations: The Impact of Urbanization on Household Dynamics in South Carolina
In this comprehensive study, Statistician Max Petushko investigates the profound impact of urbanization on household dynamics in South Carolina using decennial census housing data from 2010 to 2020. By exploring the relationship between urbanization and household growth, the research uncovers a distinctive two-humped pattern that reveals varying effects across different racial and ethnic groups. The findings shed light on the challenges posed by limited housing markets and underscore the need for targeted policies to address disparities affecting affordable housing access. (DOWNLOAD PDF)
Small But Mighty: The Power of Small Business-Lina and Ismael Cordero, Waffle Drop
In the second episode of "Small But Mighty: The Power of Small Business," join us as we indulge in the sweet success of Waffle Drop. Nestled in Hampton Station, Greenville's very own Waffle Drop brings a taste of Hong Kong to South Carolina, courtesy of Lina and Ismael Cordero. This dynamic couple saw an opportunity to blend cultures and introduce the bubble waffle—a beloved Hong Kong treat—to a whole new audience. View the episode on our Facebook or YouTube pages.
The Culture Connect: Celebrating 30 Years at the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs
Season 2 of The Culture Connect Podcast kicks off with Executive Director Dr. Delores Dacosta, Native American Affairs Program Manager Jerry Francis, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Affairs Program Coordinator Christine Currie!
In part one of the two-part episode, host Daniel James II explores the Commission's 30th Anniversary theme, "Building Bridges and Closing Gaps," through the work of the agency's program managers and coordinators and takes a look at what's next for the State's official agency dedicated to the economic prosperity of all ethnic minority citizens of South Carolina. Listen to the part One: Facebook / YouTube / Spotify
In part two of the first episode of The Culture Connect, host Daniel James II continues the discussion on the Commission's 30th Anniversary theme, "Building Bridges and Closing Gaps” with Hispanic Latino Affairs Program Manager Alex Tovar and African American Affairs Program Coordinator Ashley Owens. Listen to the episode: Facebook / YouTube / Spotify
Federal Student Loan Information: Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan
Repayments for federal student loans are set to begin in October. There is a new income-driven student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), that is in effect. SAVE is designed to help lower monthly loan payments for those on income-driven repayment plans. To learn more about SAVE, visit: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan.
Scholarships Available for Students
Looking for scholarships to assist you or your student with college expenses? Check out this list provided by the Marion County Administration.
The Culture Connect Podcast: Mr. Lester Young
On our next episode of The Culture Connect, we talk to Path2Redemption founder Lester Young. Young discusses his "path to redemption" and holistic approaches to assisting formerly incarcerated individuals. The Culture Connect podcast, brought to you by the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs (CMA), highlights South Carolina’s minority communities with the aim of improving their quality of life, highlighting opportunities, and providing resources. Be sure to stay connected with us so that you can stay aware of new episodes. Visit The Culture Connect Podcast page to view past episodes.
30th Anniversary Celebration & Scholarship Gala
The South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs (CMA) celebrated its 30th anniversary on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at the Columbia Convention Center to honor the agency’s community impact and service to the State of South Carolina's ethnic minority communities. If you missed the event, check out photos on our Facebook page.
On the Move: Incoming and Outgoing Minority Prime-Age Populations in South Carolina from 2016 to 2021
As of April 2023, South Carolina has one of the nation’s lowest labor participation rates and one of the most rapidly aging populations. To accommodate these measures, the state has mobilized a significant number of resources to entice corporations to relocate production and processing facilities within its borders. In this brief, Research Director Dr. Robert P. Fenton examines some of the characteristics of prime-age minority populations that have arrived or left the state from 2016 to 2021. (DOWNLOAD PDF)
Small But Mighty: The Power of Small Business Series Premiere Features Uncle Willie's Grocery Story Owner Christa Williams
Located on historic Main Street, Uncle Willie's Grocery Store has become more than just a place to shop; it has become a hub for the community. In the premiere episode of our new series "Small but Mighty: The Power of Small Business, "Christa Williams, the owner of Uncle Willie's Grocery Store, shares her passion for serving the locals, building connections, and creating a space that feels like home. View the episode on our Facebook or YouTube pages.
SC Ports Authority Legal Notices
Are you interested in working with the SC Ports Authority? Visit https://scspa.com/about/legal-notices/ to view available opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs to bid on projects. Note: When visiting links for most Engineering Capital Construction projects, visitors will be redirected to the e-Builder website. Each new project requires the user to register (name, company name and email address). For more information on the SC Ports Authority, visit https://scspa.com/.