Ben Greer is an author, poet, and educator who was born and raised in Glenn Springs. He graduated from the University of South Carolina and Hollins University. He published his first novel, Slammer, at 26 to rave reviews and went on to publish 4 others. His first book of poetry was published at 59. His latest book of poetry is called Naked Prince: New & Selected Poems.

Ben has also written three plays, including Little Tin Gods, produced by Theatre South in 2008. Having taught at the University of South Carolina for 33 years, he is retired and lives in Columbia.

Join us at the Old Stone Church on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 7:00pm to hear Ben’s stories and memories of growing up in Glenn Springs. This event is free and all are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Furman University Center for Innovative Leadership & Upstate International

Join us on March 7, 2025 in our collaboration with Upstate International and Bridge City Health, as we #AccelerateAction through a morning of connections, inspiration and wellness to celebrate International Women’s Day featuring our keynote speaker, Kathryn Harvey!

From Sesame Street to South Carolina Politics: Authenticity is the key to a successful career.

Kathryn will share strategies learned as the Senior Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy at the Global nonprofit behind Sesame Street and how threading the needle of authenticity through her career has impacted her as a entrepreneur serving the Upstate Community and charting a path in South Carolina politics.

Registration:

In registering, please commit to either bringing a physical donation for Safe Harbor and/or Jasmine Road (items listed below) or a paid donation for our Women’s Leadership Initiative Scholarship Fund (100% of proceeds from this event will go towards our Fall 2025 Scholarship).

Requested Items:

Stamps (Forever)
Gift cards (Walmart/Publix) for groceries and household supplies
Gift cards (Spinx and QT for gas for our program vans to transport residents to appointments)
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Swiffer Wet Jet Pads and Wood Cleaner Refills
Laundry Detergent (both regular and for sensitive skin needs)
Disinfectant Sprays
Kleenex boxes
Disposable Face Masks (in this season of respiratory illnesses)
Hand Sanitizer
Feminine Hygiene Products (pads and tampons of all sizes)
Full size bottles of: Body Wash/Shampoo/Conditioner
Gift cards for clothing for residents (Target, TJ Maxx, Kohls)
$10 – $15 gift cards for restaurants/coffee shops/bookstores, etc., for resident birthdays
Amazon gift cards

About Kathryn Harvey:

A native of Spartanburg, Kathryn is the product of two public school special educators and a graduate of Spartanburg High School. She graduated from New York University and spent nearly a decade supporting the Global nonprofit behind Sesame Street, working with communities around the world to impact some of the most challenging issues facing children here in the US and abroad.

After moving back home in 2017, Kathryn began working with nonprofit organizations in the Upstate, quickly expanding her support throughout South Carolina. She built relationships with advocacy organizations and supported local politics.

She led Census efforts in her community during the Pandemic and is currently the Chair of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party. Kathryn is a proud alumnus of the South Carolina Clyburn Fellowship and a current Fellow with the Riley Diversity Leadership Initiative at Furman.

She is a communications leader who assists local nonprofits with marketing and fundraising efforts, and strategic advocacy initiatives across the state.

Join us for an insightful discussion with Dr. Scott Baier, an expert in international economics, as he analyzes the rising use of tariffs during President Trump’s second term and their far-reaching effects. With new trade restrictions targeting Canada, Mexico, China, Colombia, and the EU, along with sweeping tariffs on steel and aluminum, Dr. Baier will break down the economic rationale behind these policies, their effectiveness, and their impact on businesses and consumers. He will also revisit the tariffs from Trump’s first term and explore how these renewed trade battles may reshape industries in the Upstate and across South Carolina.

South Carolina ETV invites you to Be My Neighbor Day 2025!

This FREE event celebrates early learning and the importance of being a caring neighbor.

When: Saturday, March 15, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: South Carolina Children’s Theatre, 153 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29601
Cost: FREE and open to the public

Meet Beloved Characters
Get ready to meet Daniel Tiger, the star of Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and SCETV’s very own Smart Cat.

Hands-On Crafts and Activities
Kids and families can enjoy engaging hands-on activities that spark creativity and bring smiles to everyone.
* Materials may be limited, and activities are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Storytime, Performances, and Music

Enjoy interactive performances and story times from:
Tell Me A Story Theatre with South Carolina Children’s Theatre
Scales & Tales with Roper Mountain Science Center Science on Wheels
Story Time with Greenville County Library
Water Safety Storytime with Goldfish Swim School
Family Drum Circle with Jeff Holland

Acts of Kindness
Participate in special activities focused on kindness and giving back. Learn how small actions can make a big difference in your community.

Meet Your Local Helpers
Discover the organizations and individuals who help make your neighborhood special. From first responders to community groups, connect with the people who make your world a better place.

Bring your family and friends for a grr-ific day of fun, learning, and connection.

We can’t wait to see 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.

This event is a discussion, not an in-character performance. Hughes Main Library and Online

In Retracing the Keowee Trail, Stuart Taylor tells the story of the Cherokee Path that connected the low country of colonial Carolina with the mountain homeland of the Cherokee Nation. The Keowee Trail was a busy trading route for a burgeoning deerskin trade. Along this same path, epidemic disease made its way inexorably from the colony toward Cherokee society, reducing their population by more than half. Along this path, warfare was waged in both directions, by Cherokee war parties determined to defend their homeland and by settlers like the author’s Scots Irish ancestors, evermore hungry for land. That ancestral history is an entry point into this larger narrative. A “deep map” approach to the Keowee Trail will hold together multiple lines of perspective, including memoir, family history, migration patterns, religious history, Indigenous wisdom, trauma theory, ghost stories, mythology, archeology, geography, the watersheds, and the flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachians.

Lunchbox Learning is free for UHM Members and included with general admission for all other guests.

Chapman Cultural Center, West Wing Conference Room

Presented by: Dr. John Williams and South Carolina Humanities.

Join us to learn about the Folklore and oral traditions from the mill villages, which are rapidly changing as the they go the way of the coal camps in the mountains.

Dr. Williams has collected stories from mill workers in the Upstate and recreates life in the villages through children’s games and nursery rhymes along with foodways and workers’ tales.

Lunch and Learn is sponsored by the Chapman Cultural Center

There are a limited number of seats, be sure to register in advance (even members!)

Admission: $5 for non-members / Free for SCHA members.

Don’t forget to bring your lunch!

All the best resources for homeschooling in the upstate in one place, on one night.

Gather resources for your homeschool.
Get answers.
Find your tribe!
The is our annual local homeschool resources expo. All about what you need to homeschool in the upstate: co-ops, homeschool associations, sports, community groups, field trips, arts, classes, education support, clubs, local educational tools, curriculum through local sources, etc.

And THIS YEAR: Learn about homeschooling in breakout sessions, & experience Discover Stations as a family.

Sessions include: How to manage teaching multiple age groups, What to do when we’re struggling with homeschooling, Excellence in homeschooling, Freedom in homeschooling, & MORE.

Discovery Stations include: creating paper plate marble mazes, bamboo crafts, painting, “Music & Movement,” skeletal system activity, & more.

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If you’re new to homeschooling, this will be huge for getting started, learning about what’s available for the coming years, and connecting to community.
If you’re more experienced, this is the one time of year that we get so many of these resources in one place to talk to them, and explore new avenues for our kids.

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COST
$6.00 per adult.
$3.00 per child (ages 5-17)
FREE per child (ages 4 & under)

Join us as we welcome Colonel Richard G. “Duke” Woodhull, Jr., a distinguished U.S. Air Force pilot with a 30-year career in high-stakes aviation, reconnaissance, and international intelligence. With over 6,500 military flight hours, Colonel Woodhull’s career spanned from flying U-2 spy planes over Vietnam to serving as Defense & Air Attaché in the Philippines, where he provided critical intelligence during a volatile era.

Whether flying the high-altitude U-2 spy plane, meeting Communist guerillas in the hills of Luzon, narrowly avoiding a fatal bullet in Argentina, or nearly being deported from a diplomatic post twice, Colonel Woodhull has lived a life of adventure, resilience, and service—always blessed with good fortune and fortuitous circumstances.

A Distinguished Graduate of the Air War College, his assignments took him across the globe, from strategic air refueling missions to diplomatic posts and international aircraft sales. Decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, multiple Air Medals, and the Legion of Merit, Colonel Woodhull’s life is a testament to dedication and courage.

And through it all, his lifelong partner in adventure, Anne, has been by his side every step of the way.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from a true aviation legend!

Join us at the Greenville Convention Center for the Christian Learning Center Annual Friends and Fundraising Banquet on April 22nd, 2025, with special guest speaker Steven Kendrick. Stephen Kendrick, producer of films such as Courageous, War Room, and The Forge, will serve as keynote speaker for this fundraising event.

This event is a discussion, not an in-character performance. Hughes Main Library and Online

Join Dr. Gugu Selela, a lecturer in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Clemson, for a thought-provoking discussion on Africa’s evolving role in the global economy. This talk will explore the continent’s vast economic potential, the structural challenges it faces, and the transformative opportunities on the horizon. Dr. Selela will examine the historical and contemporary forces shaping Africa’s economic landscape—from colonial legacies and trade imbalances to the complexities of foreign investment.

A special focus will be given to the pivotal role of African women in economic development, highlighting how gender-inclusive policies can drive sustainable growth. The discussion will conclude with an exploration of African-led solutions, emphasizing the need for policies that prioritize equity, innovation, and long-term prosperity.

The Johnson Collection presents Art of the Athlete at TJC Gallery, located at 154 West Main Street in downtown Spartanburg. TJC Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 to 4 PM, with free admission. This exhibition celebrates the twin expressions of human excellence—art and athletics—each requiring creativity, elegance, and mastery of form. Just as art can reflect as well as shape the culture around it, sports provide powerful community bonds and a sense of identity. Art of the Athlete highlights the artistry inherent in athleticism and showcases the many dynamic connections between art and sport.
On display are artworks showing the remarkable breadth of the world of sport, spanning not only familiar professional forms such as baseball and football but also fishing, hunting, and racing. In certain cases, the connection between art and athletics can be quite personal and literal, as in the case of Ernie Barnes, who not only played in the National Football League himself, but became the official artist of both the NFL and the 1984 Olympic Games.

The Johnson Collection presents Art of the Athlete at TJC Gallery, located at 154 West Main Street in downtown Spartanburg. TJC Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 to 4 PM, with free admission. This exhibition celebrates the twin expressions of human excellence—art and athletics—each requiring creativity, elegance, and mastery of form. Just as art can reflect as well as shape the culture around it, sports provide powerful community bonds and a sense of identity. Art of the Athlete highlights the artistry inherent in athleticism and showcases the many dynamic connections between art and sport.
On display are artworks showing the remarkable breadth of the world of sport, spanning not only familiar professional forms such as baseball and football but also fishing, hunting, and racing. In certain cases, the connection between art and athletics can be quite personal and literal, as in the case of Ernie Barnes, who not only played in the National Football League himself, but became the official artist of both the NFL and the 1984 Olympic Games.

The Johnson Collection presents Art of the Athlete at TJC Gallery, located at 154 West Main Street in downtown Spartanburg. TJC Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, 12 to 4 PM, with free admission. This exhibition celebrates the twin expressions of human excellence—art and athletics—each requiring creativity, elegance, and mastery of form. Just as art can reflect as well as shape the culture around it, sports provide powerful community bonds and a sense of identity. Art of the Athlete highlights the artistry inherent in athleticism and showcases the many dynamic connections between art and sport.
On display are artworks showing the remarkable breadth of the world of sport, spanning not only familiar professional forms such as baseball and football but also fishing, hunting, and racing. In certain cases, the connection between art and athletics can be quite personal and literal, as in the case of Ernie Barnes, who not only played in the National Football League himself, but became the official artist of both the NFL and the 1984 Olympic Games.

Converse will hold its fourth RISE (Research, Internship, and ArtSExperiential Learning) Symposium. Open to all undergraduates, graduates and Converse II students, the RISE symposium empowers students to share their ideas, discoveries and artistic work with our campus and local community within a professional setting.

Converse’s RISE symposium features internships and research studies in Visual and Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Data Science, Humanities, Languages and Cultures, and Behavioral and Social Sciences.

The 2025 symposium will run from April 28 through May 1, 2025, with all student projects displayed throughout campus.

Converse will hold its fourth RISE (Research, Internship, and ArtSExperiential Learning) Symposium. Open to all undergraduates, graduates and Converse II students, the RISE symposium empowers students to share their ideas, discoveries and artistic work with our campus and local community within a professional setting.

Converse’s RISE symposium features internships and research studies in Visual and Performing Arts, Creative Writing, Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Data Science, Humanities, Languages and Cultures, and Behavioral and Social Sciences.

The 2025 symposium will run from April 28 through May 1, 2025, with all student projects displayed throughout campus.