I recently was given the opportunity to write a little about the innovation that we enjoy in Hartsville, South Carolina for the Department of Commerce blog called Scribble. Thought it might be a good idea to share in this Community Thinking blog.

.https://scribblesc.com/blog/innovation-in-hartsville-in-good-times-and-bad

We are in the midst or at least inside this pandemic and graduations at both the college and high school level are being canceled.  Back in 2017 Coker, where I had worked full time as a professor for 16 years, gave me the privilege of making the Graduation Speech to the Class of 2017 -- a year after I had retired.  That invitation was the greatest highlight of my professional career.  (There is also a major incident story to go along with that speech but for the purposes of this blog, I am going to share the speech.)  The goals of this talk were to welcome the graduating seniors to the brave new world beyond the college bubble and to show them evidence that they were beginning to write their own stories by highlighting the stories of some Coker students whom I had known who doing interesting, constructive things to create their own lives and their own communities.  After my daughter Inga helped me focus my thinking, the hardest part was having to take out so many stories so I could stay in the time limit.  Based on what the graduating class is facing in today's world, I thought I would share this talk for the Class of 2020:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ndte6dN0hA0fVp_z7LfP1kPegZYd4DAc/view?usp=sharing

Keeping connected in our community with Zoom and with people who care

One of the roles that has long been part of The Byerly Foundation in the greater Hartsville community is that of connector.  During the current COVID pandemic crisis the Foundation has been playing that role as the host of a weekly Zoom call bringing together lots of organizations and individuals who are working to mitigate as much as possible the negative impacts from this extended "thing."

The first call list came from people who had made themselves or their organizations known for having a place in the pandemic people solution. Then, those who were on the initial call were asked to identify others whose work would benefit from being connected. Then they were invited. The value of such a call is the connection!

Joe Bittle, who does a great deal of connecting work as part of his community role with Health South mentioned a couple of weeks ago efforts by Care South to establish COVID testing sites. The first of those testing sites opened today (5-5-20) in Society Hill. Care South is working with DHEC and this was the email Joe forwarded to help get the word out:

Hi Joe and Nicole,

Please sent this flyer and information out to the Darlington County Coordinating Council. Thanks, Suzette

COVID-19 Mobile Clinic in Society Hill- Tuesday, May 5, 2020

SCDHEC-Pee Dee Region and CareSouth Carolina are hosting a free COVID-19 Mobile Testing Clinic on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.  The clinic will be held at the St. David's Academy, 116 St. David's Street, Sociey Hill, SC  29593, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Please invite all to come and get screened and tested for free.  See attached flyer. 

 C. Suzette McClellan, MPH, MCHES

Community Systems Director
S.C. Dept. of Health & Environmental Control

Pee Dee Region

105 N. Magnolia Street, Sumter, SC 29150
Office: (803) 934-2878
Mobile: (803) 983-9092

Fax: (803) 773-6366

We expect to hear a little more about the turn out at the testing site during this afternoon's phone call, which will be at 3 p.m. as it has been every Tuesday for the past several weeks.

Connection is crucial as it leads to Cooperation, which is how things get accomplished and problems get handled and most importantly people get helped!