Keeping the Green in Greenville: The Civics Lessons of Trees
When Hurricane Helene toppled centuries-old white oaks while sparing seemingly fragile maples, it revealed hidden truths about resilience beneath our feet. As Greenville recovers from two historic environmental disasters, TreesUpstate's Aaron Davis shares a surprising statistic: despite our "green" reputation, Greenville's 36% tree canopy lags behind Atlanta and Charlotte's 45%. Discover how an 1872 newspaper editor united a post-Civil War nation by planting one million trees in a single day - a tradition that predates Earth Day by nearly a century. Between fallen giants and forest fires, learn why meeting your neighbors with shovels in hand might be our most powerful act of civic optimism for generations we'll never meet. Links: TreesUpstate South Carolina Forestry Commission Arbor Day Earth Day _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Get in touch. Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
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17:23
Cities, Towns, Places, and ZIP Codes: Decoding Greenville County's Hidden Boundaries
Your mailbox says "Taylors," your neighbors call it "Greenville," and your GPS has its own opinion entirely. Behind this geographical identity crisis lies a system that determines your tax bill, your services, and whether you can vote in this year's municipal elections. Join Katy and Nathaniel as they decode the invisible boundaries that shape daily life in Greenville County - revealing why Taylors isn't legally a town, why a Greenville address doesn’t mean you get a Greenville city vote, and how these distinctions impact where your tax dollars go. Whether you've lived here for decades or just arrived, discover where you actually live before heading to the polls in 2025. Links: Episode on Municipal Elections: https://simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org/vote-smart-your-ultimate-guide-to-greenvilles-local-elections/ Census-Designated Places in Greenville County: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Census-designated_places_in_Greenville_County,_South_Carolina Map of Greenville County Zip Codes: https://www.gcgis.org/website/Docs/zipcode11x17.pdf Political Boundaries within Greenville County: https://www.greenvillecounty.org/Council/RedistrictingMaps/CountywideRedistricting_Feb1.pdf _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Get in touch. Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
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10:24
Canvas to Career: The Fine Arts Center Turns 50
Celebrating 50 years of excellence, Greenville County Schools Fine Arts Center has generated millions in scholarship offers for its students - yet Director Vee Popat measures success by how each young artist develops as a whole person, whether they become Broadway performers or scientists with creative thinking skills. Step inside this nationally-recognized creative ecosystem where architecture students tackle homelessness solutions and teenagers master professional mindsets alongside their artistic crafts. Links: The Fine Arts Center website: https://www.fineartscenter.net/ Previous episode on Roper Mountain Science Center: https://simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org/from-classroom-to-career-the-power-of-public-private-partnerships-in-education/ The Fine Arts Center's performance calendar/events page: https://www.fineartscenter.net/calendar/ _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Get in touch. Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
In Greenville County, an eviction filing follows you for life like a permanent tattoo - even if you win your case. With 20% of local renters facing eviction (compared to just 8% nationally), this crisis isn't just creating homelessness; it's costing landlords up to $5,000 per case and driving up housing costs for everyone. Experts Tina Belge and Mario Brown reveal why property owners and tenant advocates have surprisingly united around four key reforms that could transform evictions from "a cause of poverty" into an opportunity for community prosperity. The solutions are ready - but is Greenville? Links: Project Website - https://evictioningvlcounty.org/ Tina Belge bio - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-belge-mpa-aicp-b536b567 Mario Brown bio - https://www.affordableupstate.com/team/mario-e-brown "The Eviction Epidemic" Episode - https://simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org/the-eviction-epidemic-unraveling-the-crisis-and-solutions-in-south-carolina/ "Understanding Evictions" Episode - https://simplecivicsgreenvillecounty.org/evictions-understanding-south-carolinas-rental-challenges-and-protecting-your-rights/ _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Get in touch. Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
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23:26
Small Town, Big Impact: Female Leadership in Travelers Rest
In a small town where Burger King's arrival was once celebrated as progress, Travelers Rest now stands as a remarkable anomaly in American governance - with women holding the positions of mayor, city administrator, and majority of the city council. How did this Greenville County community not only transform itself from a "pass-through town" to a coveted destination, but also defy national trends in which women hold just over 20% of chief local government positions? Mayor Brandy Amidon (who began her political journey at age 27) and City Administrator Shannon Herman reveal the surprising role older residents played in championing female leadership, the unexpected mentorship dynamics that shaped their careers, and the leadership principles that have created TR's unique "heartbeat" - a vibrant community where 85% of downtown businesses are now female-owned. Their insights challenge conventional wisdom about who builds thriving communities and how. Links: Brandy Amidon Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandy-amidon-701a7220/ Shannon Herman Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-herman-03a31ba/ International City-County Managers Association on Women in Leadership: https://icma.org/articles/pm-magazine/looking-back-fifty-years-aspirations-women-public-administration?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwY2xjawJNjRxleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVxLAE8zFHn61hg73_zl-cgNJQ8wu6MOCuU5x-IwIYakMHox0Wd2TP5sbw_aem_-LftpE057alspwn62YFECA Center for Women in Politics on Women in Leadership: https://cawp.rutgers.edu/facts/current-numbers _ Produced by Podcast Studio X. Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good Greenville. Get in touch. Support Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contribution. Sign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.
Trash pick up. EMS and 911 service. Roads and sidewalks. Business licenses. School bus routes. These are the things that impact your day-to-day life, and they are all part of local government. But hardly anyone pays attention to local government - until they have a problem. We want to change that. Simple Civics: Greenville County is here to help you learn about and get involved in your local government in Greenville County, South Carolina. Whether you live in downtown Greenville or Possum Kingdom, Marietta or Mauldin, Greer or the Golden Strip, if you care about your community, this podcast is for you. Join us every Tuesday for simple civics lessons on local government in Greenville County, South Carolina.
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