Events Calendar

European American Chamber of Commerce (EACC) & Upstate International (UI)

We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with EACC, bringing you even more engaging speakers and exciting networking opportunities. About four times a year, we’ll host informal after-work gatherings at Old Europe Coffee at Bridge Way Station in Mauldin. These relaxed events will feature experts discussing current topics, all while you enjoy a coffee or wine.

The goal is to bring together the expat community—who often live in separate environments—and locals, fostering connections between international and American attendees. Whether you’re looking to learn a new language, find new friends or clients, or just have fun, there’s something for everyone.

These events are open to all, providing a fantastic chance to meet new people and exchange ideas. As a member, you can bring up to two guests at the member price. And if you bring two new faces, your entry and a glass of wine are on us!

*Membership Price: $10 (Please Email Tracie Frese ([email protected]), UI’s Executive Director, for UI’s Member Discount Code)

Non-Member Price: $20

We’re also inviting members to become speakers at future “Global Connections” events. First up, Ogletree will discuss the important and timely topic of the visa environment for both employers and employees. If you’re interested in speaking at a future event, feel free to share your ideas with us!

We look forward to seeing you there!

AI is rapidly transforming workplaces, but understanding how to use it effectively and sustainably is essential. This 1-hour online workshop by Nature Investigations covers the basics of integrating AI in environmental education, however, this basic training would be useful for anyone interested in learning the basics of how to use AI. The workshop will include training language models, creating effective prompts, and applying your expertise to refine outputs. After covering the basics, we’ll discuss the environmental implications of using AI.

NOMA Square. 220 North Main Street.

Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Spectrum benefiting Metropolitan Arts Council, kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. FREE ADMISSION. More than 45,000 people attend this event annually. The event serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council. Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. Bands play two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m

NOMA Square. 220 North Main Street.

Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Spectrum benefiting Metropolitan Arts Council, kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. FREE ADMISSION. More than 45,000 people attend this event annually. The event serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council. Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. Bands play two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m

NOMA Square. 220 North Main Street.

Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive presented by Spectrum benefiting Metropolitan Arts Council, kicks off the weekend every Thursday night with music at NOMA Square on Main Street. FREE ADMISSION. More than 45,000 people attend this event annually. The event serves as the single largest fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council. Piedmont Natural Gas Downtown Alive opens at 5:30 p.m. and closes at 8:30 p.m. Bands play two sets at 5:50 p.m. and 7:20 p.m

Introductory Chair Yoga workshop (no experience required!) Saturday April 12th, 1-4pm at Yogaunme Studio in Spartanburg, SC. (virtual option also) designed to help you feel better, reduce stress, and improve flexibility—no matter your lifestyle or physical ability! Whether you’re new to yoga or looking for a more accessible or versatile practice, this workshop is for you!
What to expect:
–The benefits of chair yoga & how to adopt it any lifestyle or physical ability.
–How chair yoga can help you feel better by decreasing stress & stiffness in the body.
–Experience a range of chair yoga poses & exercises for a variety of situations – including sitting, standing, and using the chair as a prop.
–Take home resources & sample practice guides for making chair yoga part of your daily life.
Details:
 Wear comfortable clothes that allow movement.
 Tea & snacks provided. Bring your own water bottle.
Online Participants: Set up a quiet space with a sturdy chair (no wheels or arms) and at least 3 feet of open space around you. You’ll have interactive opportunities with live video or chat.

Don’t miss this chance to explore how chair yoga can transform your well-being. Sign up today!

Register at https://yogaunme.com/event

During this FREE workshop, parents and caregivers will learn new skills to help avoid problems and teach children to behave responsibly during shopping trips.

All in-person participants will receive a free $10 gas gift card. Dinner will be provided.

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Women United, Women Make a Difference Summit and Luncheon on April 29th, 2025. Join United Way of Greenville County for our second Women United Summit—including our annual Women Make a Difference Luncheon featuring bestselling author and speaker Angela Garbes. This inspiring event celebrates the power of women to create change in our community. Join us to connect, learn and empower the next generation of women to lead the way in Greenville County.  In addition to our luncheon with Angela Garbes, our Women United Summit offers powerful, expert-led workshops on a variety of exciting topics and a curated vendor fair featuring women-owned and women-focused organizations and resources. Together, let’s inspire change and celebrate the remarkable influence of Greenville County women.

Event Date: April 29th, 2025

Agenda:

7:30 a.m. | Registration Opens
7:30–8:15 a.m. | Breakfast, Networking & Vendor Exhibition
8:15–9:15 a.m. | Morning Plenary
9:30–10:30 a.m. | Workshop Session #1
10:50–11:50 a.m. | Workshop Session #2
12:15–1:30 p.m. | Lunch Presentation, Keynote and Q&A with Angela Garbes
1:30–2:00 p.m. | Networking & Vendor Exhibition

During the FREE workshop, we will discuss and learn new potty-training strategies to make the process go more smoothly.

All in-person participants will receive a free $10 gas gift card. Doughnuts and juice will be provided.

During this FREE workshop, learn new strategies to teach kids how to clean up and keep a consistent schedule. Discuss ways to reward good behavior and use assertive discipline for misbehavior.

All in-person participants will receive a free $10 gas gift card. Dinner will be provided.

In a world where data flows faster than ever, cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue—it’s personal. From your phone to your finances, the risks are real and increasingly global. But what can you do to protect yourself and your community?

Join us for the second session of our new Global Connections series: Global Threats, Local Risks – Protecting Your Data in a Connected World, led by Michael Sylvester, Chief Strategy Officer at AT-NET. With decades of experience at the intersection of technology and security, Michael will break down today’s digital threats in a way that’s clear, actionable, and relevant to your everyday life.

Following the successful kickoff of this quarterly series, this session continues our mission to explore complex global issues in a welcoming, down-to-earth setting. Hosted by Upstate International and the European American Chamber of Commerce, Global Connections brings together expats and locals for expert-led conversations—paired with a glass of wine or a cup of artisan coffee at Old Europe Coffee in Simpsonville.

Whether you’re concerned about cybercrime, curious about how international threats affect your own backyard, or just looking to connect with globally minded neighbors, this event is for you. Come for the insights, stay for the community.

Let’s turn complex global issues into meaningful local conversations—one cup at a time.

Building Connections, Building Your Network!

The 6th annual NASPA-SC Drive-In conference will be Thursday, May 22, 2025, at the University of South Carolina-Upstate located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Our conference theme will be “Building Connections, Building Your Network!”. Our aim is to offer a conference filled with resourceful breakout sessions, guest speakers and engagement opportunities for higher education professionals to discover resources and insights that can be beneficial now as well as in the future.

Join us on May 28th, 2025, for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Form x Function Wellness, Chiropractic and Nutrition! The celebration kicks off at noon with a ribbon cutting, followed by a drop-in event until 3 PM featuring office tours, giveaways, and a chance to meet our team. We’re proud to serve our community—especially first responders and postpartum moms—with personalized chiropractic and wellness care

Date: Sunday, July 13, 2025
Location: Croft State Park SHELTER #1
Address: 450 Croft State Park Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29302
Time: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM (this time frame is extended to allow everyone to complete a basket. You may finish much earlier based on your skill set).
Note: Camp Croft State Park’s Shelter #1 has tire swings, an open area for exploring and restrooms within walking distance.
Cost: $50 per participant (recommended ages 8+)
Purchase your tickets here: https://carolinabamboo.org/product/tickets-basket-weaving-workshop-bamboo-kudzu-kuboo-baskets-july-13-2025/?preview=true

Get wild and “embrace the invase” in this kudzu/bamboo= “KuBoo” Basket Weaving class! Get to know split bamboo and kudzu as weaving materials. Learn how to harvest and strip a kudzu vine. Engage with refined, hand-crafted split bamboo. Weave the Kudzu and Bamboo together to create your own personalized and unique KuBoo basket!

We will provide baubles and decorations for you to choose from to make your basket unique. Many of these embellishments will be made of bamboo, including beads and buttons made from canes and rhizomes.
We will also provide all weaving materials, including split bamboo that has been “defanged”, meaning: The edges of all split bamboo materials will be processed beforehand using the traditional Japanese habatori, mentori and senbiki methods. These techniques remove the sharp edges and splinters from split bamboo. Our refined split bamboo will make weaving with bamboo more enjoyable, manageable and easier on the hands. Watch our YouTube video for a quick visual overview of these three processes here: https://youtu.be/omEk3KkTLFk

While we weave, Aaron will be available for a Q&A session about bamboo. Bamboo is a mysterious plant to many. Ask Aaron questions to learn more about bamboo while you weave.

What to bring:
A water bottle
A “Can-do” attitude!

We will provide:
Electric industrial fans
All crafting and weaving materials and tools

Camp Croft State Park’s Shelter #1 has tire swings, an open area for exploring and restrooms within walking distance.

Additional Cost: Croft State Park is over 7000 acres and offers everything from a playground to hiking and biking trails. As a state park, there is an admission fee: $3 for adults over the age of 15, $1.50 for seniors, $1 for kids ages 6-15, and free for children age 5 and under. This admission fee is NOT included in your ticket price and must be paid separately upon entry into Croft State Park. Note: You may choose to avoid this fee by requesting a SC State Parks Passport from your local library. If you choose this option, we recommend making a request for this item a few weeks in advance before the class, due to possible high demand and low availability.