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South Carolina Institute on Poverty and Deprivation

P.O. Box 86

2219 Two Notch Road

Columbia, South Carolina 29202

Phone: (803)256-7219 Fax: (803)256-8076

drlrichardson@mindspring.com

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About Us

History

The South Carolina Institute on Poverty and Deprivation was founded as a 501(c)3 entity in 1984 through a joint sponsorship of the South Carolina Department of Social Services and the College of Social Work at the University of South Carolina. The Institute provides research, policy analysis and legislative initiatives regarding poverty in South Carolina.

Mission

To educate the community about the nature and extent of poverty in South Carolina
To develop and implement programs to assist the poor towards greater self-sufficiency
To recruit and develop community partners to address issues affecting the poor
To research and analyze policy to facilitate systemic changes that will reduce and/or eliminate poverty in South Carolina

The mission of the Institute is carried out through formal and informal presentations, collaboration, public awareness, public and private partnerships and advocacy activities.

Goals

The goals of the Institute are:

To gain a commitment among persons in the influential sectors to work towards the elimination of systemic poverty as cited in the 'influential sectors' proposal.
To minimize the negative impact of welfare reform on recipients through initiatives such as the faith-based mentoring program.
To develop support for a living wage for every full-time employee based on the findings in the living wage study.
To increase public understanding of poverty-related issues through the implementation of "Understanding Poverty: A Course on Poverty" being taught in several colleges and universities in South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama.
To build the capacity of rural churches to address social concerns through a faith-based consortium.

Board of Directors

Stuart Andrews

Attorney at Law

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Bruce Bondo

Director, Planning & Education Services

SC Dept. of Health and Human Services

Robert Brown

Former Executive Assistant Superintendent

Newark, NJ Public Schools

Dr. Colgate Darden, III

Frank Garcia

Executive Director

SC Rural Economic Development Council

Dr. Mary Catherine Norwood

Assistant Superintendent

Kershaw County Public Schools

Dr. Frank B. Raymond, III

Director of International Programs

College of Social Work

University of South Carolina

Ms. Lenora Bush Reese

Executive Assistant to the Director

SC Department of Social Services

Dr. James H. Rex

Fred Sheheen

Senior Fellow

Institute for Public Service & Policy Research

University of South Carolina

Dr. James L. Solomon, Jr.

Dr. James H. Walker

South Carolina State University

Staff

Leo Richardson, PhD.

Executive Director

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This page was last updated on 04/23/2004