Removing our Blinders: Confessions of a Small Town Mayor with Bill Barnet
I am approaching my 79th year. Having been raised in upstate New York, I moved to Spartanburg 45 years ago. I was in business for many years, then served as mayor for eight years.
The city of Spartanburg (pop. 39,000) is rather unique, in that its population has historically been, and continues to be, nearly half white and half African American.
For, the past ten years I have been part of a team trying to re-envision a low wealth neighborhood with poor infrastructure, high crime and scant opportunity for upward mobility.
That is my story.
I hope to share with you lessons learned...in private and public life.
To explore with you, in a conversation, the realities of our society in 2021, and the real challenges this society presents for so many of our citizens, particularly those of color.
The lack of opportunity and restrictions on upward mobility brought about by racial inequities will not benefit any of our children. The answer lies in education, but it must be accompanied by a comprehensive, multi-generational effort.
This is my goal for our hour together. I look forward to joining you.
Bill Barnet
Please take a few minutes before our time together to read this article by my friend Dr Russell Booker.
Want to know more about Bill? Read his bio on The Duke Endowment Trustee page.
Sponsored by:
Attendees (135)
Justine Allen
Program & Event Coordinator
Ten at the Top
Laura Allen
Executive Director
Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas
Selena Anderson
Director, Human Resources
Girl Scouts of South Carolina - Mountains to Midlands
Wendi Andrews
Food Bank of Greenwood County
Kim Atchley
Director of Communications
Spartanburg Academic Movement
Tami Barlow
Director of Operations
Charleston Promise Neighborhood
Crishell Bass
Career Counselor
SC Department of Education
Tatjana Beylotte
Executive Director
Charleston Jazz
Mandy Black
Executive Director
Little Steps
Tommy Blackmon
Founder and CEO
Nonprofit Transformation
Ernest Brown
CEO
North Central Family Medicine
Michael Brown
Executive Director
Sustaining Way
Veyounder Brown
Volunteer Outreach Director
Lighthouse Ministries
Lisa Colby
Executive Director
American Red Cross
John Concklin
Associate
Institute for Child Success
Debbie Cooper
Director of Donor Services
Community Foundation of Greenville
Shonette Dargan Richardson
Shelter Director
Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assa
Beth De Santis
CEO
Fact Forward
Susan DeVenny
CEO
Arras Foundation
Dawn Dowden
Chief Operating Officer
Homes of Hope
Paulette Dunn
Chief Operating Officer
United Housing Connections
Sherry Gilliam
Executive Director
Charleston County First Steps to School Readiness
Kaky Grant
Principal
Grant Philanthropic Advisors
Keisha Gray
Program Director, Early Childhood Development
Mary Black Foundation
Jennifer Gregg
Executive Director
USTA South Carolina
Kaela Hammond
Program & Compliance Manager
Coastal Community Foundation of SC
Troy Hanna
CEO
The Spartanburg County Foundation
Jessica Harrell
Senior Director, Programs & Services
USTA South Carolina
Abby Harwell
Communications Specialist VISTA
United Way of the Piedmont
Quinn Hayes
Program & Grants Manager
Harvest Hope Food Bank
Tamara Herring
Executive Director
Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage
Mary Hipp
Board Chair
Feed & Seed
Hannah Horne
VP of Public Policy and Programs
Hilton Head Island Bluffton Chamber
Rachel Hui-Hubbard
Program Coordinator
The Early Learning Partnership of York County
Julie Hussey
CEO
Civic Communications LLC
Lynn Hutto
HR/Management Consultant
Greater Columbia Community Relations Council
Lesa Kastler
Community Foundation of Greenville
Jaclyn Kohlhepp
CEO, JTK Consulting LLC
JTK Consulting LLC
Melissa Ladd
Owner, Facilitator
issaFacilitation
Terri Lottchea
Operations Manger
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Charm Lowe
Administrative Assistant
Spartanburg Community College Foundation
Kimberly Martinez-Ward
CEO
Compass of Carolina
SHAWN MASTO
Grants Coordinator
Spartanburg Community College Foundation
Kati McArdle
Grants Manager
Coastal Conservation League
Yolanda McCray
President & CEO
Black River United Way
Tish McCutchen
Director
Jolley Foundation
Wilma Moore
Highland Community Outreach Advocate
United Way of the Piedmont
Karen Nichols
Stewardship Officer
The Spartanburg County Foundation
Mamie Nicholson
President
The Self Family Foundation
Rhonda Obanion
Manager, Media Relations
Dominion Energy
Maya Pack
Executive Director
South Carolina Institute of Medicine & Public Health
Darlene Paradise
Director of Development
Dickerson Children's Advocacy Center
Kevin Patten
Vice President for Finance & Administration
Central Carolina Community Foundation
Richard Puffer
Fmr. Executive Director
The Byerly Foundation
Holly Raines
Volunteer and Development VISTA
St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic
Carol Reeves
Executive Director
Just Say Something
Megan Reilly
Development Director
Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services
Laura Ringo
Executive Director
Partners for Active Living
Matt Roos
Vice President Investor Relations - Advancement
altroo
Geales Sands
Executive Director
Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation
Susie Shannon
CEO
South Carolina Council on Competitiveness
Brenda Shaw
Chief Development Officer
Lowcountry Food Bank
Minor Mickel Shaw
Chairman
Daniel-Mickel Foundation
Diane Smock
Community volunteer (former elected official)
Community volunteer
Sheila Snoddy
Director of Partnerships and Civic Engagement
Spartanburg County Foundation
Tamela Spann
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives
Hollingsworth Funds
Paige Stephenson
President & CEO
United Way of the Piedmont
Leslie Stroud-Romero - 1
Independent Grant Writer
Leslie Stroud-Romero
Tom Swanciger
Executive Director
Father to Father, Inc.
Pam Temple
Program Director
Arras Foundation
Natalia Valenzuela Swanson
Program Director, Healthy Eating & Active Learning
Mary Black Foundation
Kayleigh Vaughn
Exhibits & Programs Director
Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage
Bea Walters-Smith
Executive Director
Spartanburg Community College Foundation
Ann Warner
CEO
Women's Rights and Empowerment Network
Carmeisha White
Operations Manager
Northside Development Group
Macy Whitener
Communications Coordinator
Arras Foundation
Ashley Whitt
Senior Program Officer
Spartanburg County Foundation
Sue Williams
CEO
Children's Trust of SC
Travis Williams
Founder & Executive Director
African American Prosperity Network
M Williamson
CEO
Northside Development Group
Judy Wilson
Director of Development
Greenville Tech Foundation, Inc.
Heather Witt
Vice President of Community Impact
United Way of the Piedmont
Jordan Wolfe
Executive Director
Hub City Farmers' Market
Gabrielle Yarborough
Development Director
East Cooper Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
Greta Young
Executive Director
The Parenting Place
