Town of Mount Pleasant Completes Readiness for Hurricane Isaias

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ManagerPLEASANT, SC – The Town of Mount Pleasant has prepared for the possible impacts of Hurricane Isaias and urges residents, businesses, and visitors to do the same. Now is the time to review emergency plans, build and replenish emergency supply kits, and discuss evacuation plans. This year, hurricane preparedness includes social distancing and mitigating the impacts of COVID-19.

There are many ways for you to stay up to date on the latest Town emergency alerts, news, and events. Subscribe to our Notify Me module to receive email and text alerts about the subjects most important to you, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to our Alert Center to receive emergency notifications affecting your community.

Visit us online at www.tompsc.com to find more information.

Prepared By Martine Miller, Town of Mount Pleasant Communications

Charleston, SC Based Blackbaud Recognized by Forbes as One of America’s Best Employers for Women

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CHARLESTON, S.C., July 28, 2020/PRNewswire/ — Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, announces today that it has been named to Forbes’ Best Employers for Women 2020 list. Blackbaud, which previously received this prestigious recognition in 2018, was recognized in the IT/Internet software category for excellence in diversity, pay equity, professional development, family support, and more.  

“The diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences of our employees are paramount to all that we do at Blackbaud,” said Blackbaud Chief People Officer Maggie Driscoll. “Our people are critical in driving our mission and vision and ensuring we’re creating and fostering a thriving culture. Recognitions such as being named a Forbes Best Employer for Women are a reflection of the continued commitment and attention we put on creating a world-class work environment that empowers women—and all employees.”

Blackbaud’s diversity program is a focused and continually expanding effort spanning education, awareness, recruitment, empowerment, community involvement, and financial support. Blackbaud has employee-led affinity groups, including Women in Tech, Women in Sales, and Women in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which serve to empower and develop personal and professional growth in female leadership. The technology company prides itself on the equal gender balance of its workforce. And, every year, Blackbaud hosts an Executive Women’s Summit, where top female leaders come together to focus on building relationships and supporting one another. In addition to this recognition, Blackbaud’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has earned it spots on Forbes’ 2019 and 2018 America’s Best Employers for Diversity list, Forbes’ Best Midsize Employers list for four years and AnitaB.org’s list of Top Companies for Women Technologists for the past two years.

Forbes partners with market research company Statista to create its annual ranking of America’s Best Employers for Women. The list is compiled by surveying more than 75,000 U.S. employees—45,000 of whom are women—employed at companies with a minimum of 1,000 employees in the U.S. The survey focused around topics relevant to women in their workplaces and was designed to shed light on their experiences. View the full list of America’s Best Employers for Women here.

Learn more about life at Blackbaud by visiting Blackbaud.com/careers/life-at-blackbaud.  

About Blackbaud
Blackbaud (NASDAQ: BLKB) is the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good. Serving the entire social good community—nonprofits, higher education institutions, K–12 schools, healthcare organizations, faith communities, arts and cultural organizations, foundations, companies, and individual change agents—Blackbaud connects and empowers organizations to increase their impact through cloud software, services, expertise, and data intelligence. The Blackbaud portfolio is tailored to the unique needs of vertical markets, with solutions for fundraising and CRM, marketing, advocacy, peer-to-peer fundraising, corporate social responsibility, school management, ticketing, grantmaking, financial management, payment processing, and analytics. Serving the industry for more than three decades, Blackbaud is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and has operations in the United States, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit  www.blackbaud.com, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

BCDCOG Expands Staff, Outreach Efforts with Key Hire – Morgan Grimes

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NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (July 22, 2020) – Morgan Grimes has joined the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments as a Communications and Outreach specialist focusing on Lowcountry Rapid Transit, South Carolina’s first high-capacity mass transit project.

Grimes will spearhead community relations and outreach along the project corridor as part of an integrated communications effort. She has previous experience with the National Association of Black Journalists and the University of South Carolina Alumni Association. She is a Lowcountry native, born and raised in Summerville, and is a UofSC graduate with a degree in Public Relations.

“Morgan fills an important role for BCDCOG as we seek to engage with future Lowcountry Rapid Transit riders and business owners in the project area,” said BCDCOG Executive Director Ron Mitchum. “Her ability to build relationships will be invaluable as the project continues to develop.”

“I look forward to engaging with the communities and businesses in the project corridor and being able to connect them to LCRT in a meaningful way,” Grimes said

Local businesses and community members interested in learning more about Lowcountry Rapid Transit are encouraged to reach out to Grimes by phone at (843) 529-2119 or by email at morgang@bcdcog.com.

VIDEO: Get to Know Morgan Grimes!

ABOUT BCDCOG:
The BCDCOG is a voluntary association of, by and for local governments, and was established to assist Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester county leaders in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit, and coordinating for sound regional development. BCDCOG’s purpose is to strengthen the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. For the latest on BCDCOG, visit www.bcdcog.com, like us on Facebook, or follow on Twitter at @BDCCoG.

Bank of America Connects Charleston and Myrtle Beach-Area Youth to Workforce Success Through Paid Virtual Summer Leadership Experience

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Student Leaders underlines bank’s ongoing commitment to connect young people to jobs, skills-building and opportunities to strengthen our community

South Carolina – Bank of America today announced that the four Coastal South Carolina high school students selected as Student Leaders (#BofAStudentLeaders) have started their paid summer internship experience of leadership, civic engagement, and workforce skills-building.  In light of the health concerns that remain in local communities, the program has been adapted to a virtual format, through which students had the opportunity to participate in sessions exposing them to the vital role that nonprofits play in advancing community health, the importance of public-private partnerships to advance social change and a focus on building financial acumen. 

The Class of 2020 Coastal South Carolina Bank of America Student Leaders are:

  • Caelan Bailey, Wando, Academic Magnet High School
  • Isabela Cawley, Mount Pleasant, Charleston County School of the Arts
  • Claire Hains, Conway, Horry County Schools Scholars Academy
  • Caroline Morgan, Murrells Inlet, Horry County Schools Scholars Academy
Caelan Bailey
Isabela Cawley
Claire Hains

Caroline Morgan

Coastal South Carolina Student Leaders participated in programming that leverages Bank of America’s national partnerships and expertise and worked closely with the bank’s Charleston and Myrtle Beach leadership and nonprofit partners. They enjoyed a collaborative, mentoring-focused project working closely with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry to work on social media strategies and in the creation of a story bank tool designed to collect stories and anecdotes from Big Brothers Big Sisters participants.  In addition, Student Leaders engaged in conversations focused on social justice, civil rights, and how to build a more diverse and inclusive society and had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of their personal finances through Better Money Habits®, Bank of America’s financial wellness and education platform. 

“As we build our new organization, inspiring our community to get involved is key.  Whether we are recruiting men and mentors of colors to become mentors, or we are inspiring caring neighbors to invest in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry mission, telling our story is critical,” explains the organization’s president and chief executive officer, Merridith Crowe.  “We are so grateful to Bank of America and its young leader volunteers.  Their project to collect best practice examples and create a library of resources for our work moving forward is such a gift, especially since we are a small, but mighty staff.”

Bringing students from across the country together in order to discuss the role of citizenship and how cross-sector collaboration creates community impact is a core component of the Student Leaders program.  This year, 300 students will gather virtually for Young America Together at Home program, delivered by the Close Up Foundation, which will include discussion of finding one’s voice in order to effect change and pressing policy issues such as the economy, healthcare, the environment, and immigration.

“Now more than ever, as we collectively navigate the challenges we face in our communities, we remain committed to supporting youth and young adults of all backgrounds by connecting them to jobs, skills-building, and leadership development,” said Kim Wilkerson, Bank of America’s South Carolina State President. “Creating opportunities for our youth to gain skills and build a network is a powerful investment in the future of our community.”

In the wake of significant job losses nationwide, the ability to earn a paycheck will be essential to many young people whether they are helping to support their families or planning for the future. As part of their Student Leader experience, each student received a $5,000 stipend to recognize them for their community achievements

Recent estimates suggest that the number of disconnected youth – those who aren’t in school and don’t have a job – has likely tripled since last year and could be as high as 18 million. Without access to opportunities that build career skills, many young people may be left behind, leading to high rates of youth unemployment and hindering overall economic progress. In addition to Student Leaders, the bank invests in summer jobs for young people through its partnerships with the Boys and Girls Club of the Grand Strand as well as Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s job shadow program through which high school students gain valuable workforce skills. This summer, Bank of America is connecting approximately 3,000 young adults to summer jobs through partnerships with nonprofits and local mayors and its own Student Leaders® program.

Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer, and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).

The city of Goose Creek mourns the passing of John M. Bryant

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This week we mourn the death of John M. Bryant, a true leader in the history of Goose Creek. Mr. Bryant was a founding member of the Goose Creek Parks and Playgrounds (Recreation) Commission and served as its chairman for many years.

“Mr. Bryant’s contributions to our City cannot be overstated,” Mayor Habib said. “His leadership laid the foundation for Goose Creek Recreation and all it would become. In many ways, felt by many people, Goose Creek was enriched by his service, shaped by his vision, uplifted by his actions, and left better than it was before. We are grateful for his life, and we are saddened by his passing.”

Former Goose Creek Mayor Michael Heitzler called Mr. Bryant a strong advocate for the community.

“He was one of our early philosophical thinkers,” Dr. Heitzler said. “What do we want for Goose Creek? For him, Recreation was always at the top of that list. He was an early part of the movement to develop a Recreation Commission that would later become part of the City.”

Services for Mr. Bryant were held today. Visit https://www.russellfuneralchapel.net/obituary/John-M-Bryant to read more about his life.

New Book by Charleston Author Shelia L. Anderson Celebrates the Life and Gullah Culture of Carolyn E. White

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Charleston, S.C. – July 21, 2020 – Local Gullah storyteller, Carolyn E. White, along with local author, Shelia L. Anderson, has just published her memoir, Jabulile, The Gullah Storyteller: The Stories of My Life.

White, a native of James Island, is an award-winning storyteller who has traveled across the country as “Jabulile,” recalling the stories she heard while growing up with her parents and grandparents on then-rural James Island. The book, like a Gullah gumbo, is seasoned with the words and phrases of the Gullah language.

White is proud of her Gullah heritage and enjoys sharing it wherever she goes. Her travels have taken her to far-flung places such as Bismarck, North Dakota, as well as cultural festivals across the Lowcountry.

While this is White’s first book, Anderson, a former educator, has authored several books, including four children’s books. The book is self-published and is available at Amazon.com.

Summary

Having traveled across the country telling the tales of her beloved Gullah culture, like a recipe for a spicy Carolina Lowcountry gumbo, Carolyn E. White shares her own life’s story and the ingredients that went into the making of “Jabulile,” the quintessential Gullah storyteller! Seasoned with the spices of the Gullah language, White’s memoir will make you laugh and cry, as well as ponder a time gone by and its impact that is felt today. You will come away with your spirit uplifted and a renewed appreciation for life and, perhaps, your own story. You will feel the spirit of “Jabulile!”

Click Here to Purchase

Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates Calls for New Regulations After Needless Death of Carriage Horse

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CHARLESTON, S.C., July 22, 2020,/PRNewswire/ — On Sunday evening as neighbors gathered on sidewalks and on the streets of a local Charleston neighborhood, Ervin the beautiful draft horse careened down Anson and Laurens Streets pulling what appeared to be a half-hitched carriage wagon according to videos taken at the scene.  

The photo shows a bleeding Ervin who suffered a severe injury to his leg and was later euthanized by a veterinarian. Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates mourn the needless death of Ervin.  

As citizens and taxpayers, we can no longer look away and are calling upon Charleston elected officials to take a hard look at protocols and lax regulations regarding the working and living conditions of carriage animals and proceed with a peer-reviewed independent study immediately.

Public Safety must be addressed by the City Council. In the last two and a half (2 ½) years alone, there have been eight (8) runaway wagons and one incident of horses loose on the streets. In heavily congested downtown neighborhoods and with ever-increasing tourist traffic, the threat of public safety becomes urgent.

Statement from PETA

About Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates

The Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates is an animal welfare-based organization established to address the treatment of carriage horses and mules in Charleston, SC.

We are calling on you to support our call for a peer-reviewed, science-based study of Charleston’s horse-drawn carriage industry and legislation that provides for humane working conditions for Charleston’s carriage horses and mules.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ccha.join/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCHA_JOIN 

Contact:
Audrey Coates
828-764-3038
243926@email4pr.com

SOURCE Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates

TD Ameritrade Institutional Names 2020 RIA NextGen Scholarship & Grant Winners – Charleston Southern University Receives Grant

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JERSEY CITY, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–TD Ameritrade Institutional, a champion of registered investment advisors (RIAs) seeking to help the industry attract a new, more diverse generation of talent, today named the recipients of its 2020 RIA NextGen Scholarship and Grants. Now in its eighth year, the program aims to expand the pipeline of future financial planners joining the RIA industry and support the long-term sustainability of the financial planning profession.

TD Ameritrade Institutional has awarded 12 talented and deserving students with scholarships of $5,000 each, as well as grants of $15,000 each to six universities. These awards are designed to help alleviate a looming shortage of advisors, as more than 100,000 RIAs prepare to retire2, and develop a more robust, more diverse pipeline of talent.

To foster diversity in financial planning, four scholarships were awarded to students from underrepresented demographic groups, including women, Blacks, Latinx, Native Americans, and Asians. The 2020 TD Ameritrade Institutional RIA NextGen Scholarship winners are:

Abigail Adams
Utah Valley University

Valerie Carpenter
Texas Tech University

Claire Covey
Liberty University

Brad Curtis
Utah Valley University

Claire Herrmann
Kansas State University

Natalie Laggy-Coyle
University of Alabama

Garrett Leet
Western Kentucky University

Nelson Robinson
Prairie View A&M University

Anabelle Sanko
Kansas State University

Olivia Stingo
Kansas State University

Logan Sullivan
University of Missouri

Ellen Whall
Utah Valley University

TD Ameritrade Institutional also named its 2020 RIA NextGen Grant winners, schools that have demonstrated a commitment to educate and train the future financial planners. For the first time, the number of grants was expanded to six schools, each receiving a $15,000 grant, increasing the number of schools with new or enhanced degree programs.

And as part of TD Ameritrade’s commitment to fostering diversity, a grant for the first time was earmarked to support the development of financial planning programs at a Historically Black College and University, Hispanic-Serving Institution, or Minority-Serving Institution. The grant winners are:

Central Washington University
Ellensburg, Wash.

Charleston Southern University
Charleston, S.C.

Franklin University
Columbus, Ohio

Rutgers University
New Brunswick, N.J.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Urbana, Ill.

William Paterson University
Paterson, N.J.

“We’re pleased to offer scholarships to students who embody the bright future of our profession. Our industry together must do more to attract new talent to financial planning, a promising career path that’s never been more essential,” said Kate Healy, Managing Director of Generation Next at TD Ameritrade Institutional. “It’s equally important that firms offer opportunity to deserving candidates from outside traditional talent networks. With Black and Latinx planners representing less than 4 percent of CFPs,3 we have much more to do around raising awareness and building programs that can attract, support, and develop professionals of color.”

Since 2013, TD Ameritrade Institutional has awarded 94 scholarships totaling nearly $500,000, as well as $1.2 million in grants to 21 universities. The RIA NextGen Scholarships and Grants program is part of a 10-year, $5 million commitment by TD Ameritrade Institutional to help RIAs attract a new generation by raising awareness of the career opportunities within financial services and helping future advisors fund their studies.

And to help the next generation secure job opportunities in the industry, TD Ameritrade Institutional in June launched RIAConnect® NextGen, an online tool that connects advisors seeking next gen talent with undergraduates and recent graduates interested in joining an advisory firm. Young professionals can create, at no charge, a profile for themselves and learn more about firms that expressed an interest in making hires.

About TD Ameritrade Institutional

TD Ameritrade Institutional empowers more than 7,000 independent registered investment advisors to transform the lives of their clients. It provides powerful technology and resources that help simplify running a business and let advisors spend more time doing what matters most — serving their clients. Through meaningful innovation, steadfast advocacy, and unwavering service, TD Ameritrade Institutional support RIAs as they build businesses that positively impact their clients and communities. TD Ameritrade Institutional is a division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA / SIPC, a brokerage subsidiary of TD Ameritrade Holding Corp.

About TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation

TD Ameritrade provides investing services and education to more than 12 million client accounts totaling approximately $1.2 trillion in assets, and custodial services to more than 7,000 registered investment advisors. We are a leader in U.S. retail trading, executing an average of approximately 2 million trades per day for our clients, more than a quarter of which come from mobile devices. We have a proud history of innovation, dating back to our start in 1975, and today our team of 10,000-strong is committed to carrying it forward. Together, we are leveraging the latest in cutting-edge technologies and one-on-one client care to transform lives, and investing, for the better. Learn more by visiting TD Ameritrade’s newsroom at www.amtd.com.