Caesar Blue

LaVanda Brown Executive Director, YWCA Greater Charleston LaVanda Brown makes a distinct first impression. She’s formidable. You expect substance from a woman whose lofty mission at YWCA Greater Charleston (YWCAGC) is “to eliminate racism and empower women,” as she explained. “Our organization was founded on the empowerment of women, but we learned along the way … Read more

Emily ToweyMath Teacher, Cedarbrook Middle School In 2015, Emily Towey arrived in South Carolina’s Low Country to teach secondary mathematics at Colleton County High School as a Teach For America South Carolina (TFASC) corps member. She entered a tradition. Graduating students gave favorite teachers their senior photos to post in the classroom. At the end … Read more

Danielle ScanlonTeacher, Northwest Middle School Danielle Scanlon was born to be a math teacher. It took a move from busy New Jersey to a rural South Carolina town with one stoplight to figure it out. “The town of Lamar was so different than where I’m from,” Scanlon said. “I was so nervous.” Instead of turning … Read more

Paul Bopp Managing Director and Financial Advisor, Truist Investment Services Paul Bopp could nearly see the future from his childhood home. He grew up in affluent Westchester County outside New York City, a place of privilege. Less than 10 miles distant as the pigeon flies, in the heart of the Bronx, stood Public School 67 … Read more

Lee GillChief Diversity Officer, Clemson University On the first day of first grade, Lee Gill stood sobbing at a classroom window. He watched his mom drive away after dropping him off at his elementary school in South Bend, Indiana. He felt alone and scared to death. “I was with all these folks, many who looked … Read more

Keiada HolmesTeach For America South Carolina 2016Center Director, LOL STEAM Center One morning, a black-robed judge walked into a third-grade classroom in Darlington County. Students couldn’t believe their eyes when a sober figure in full judicial garb stepped to the front of their class. The day’s subject, the speaker announced, would be “voicing opinions.” The … Read more

Samuel Hammer Specialist (E4) U.S. Army National Guard, Teacher Colleton County, South Carolina, spoke to Sam Hammer. He’d seen a lot of the world. Born in India, Hammer grew up in California and Denver. Before college graduation from Biola Universty, he’d traveled to London, Washington, D.C., and the Middle East. In all that globe-trotting, he’d … Read more

Marvin Pendarvis Representative, South Carolina House of Representatives District 113 Associate Attorney, The Peper Law Firm, P.A. Marvin Pendarvis always knew that he wanted to do more for his community than be an attorney – even though law was his childhood dream. “I am a native of North Charleston where many schools were not equipped … Read more

Wanda Ashworth-ValenciaSpecial Education Teacher, Colleton County High School “I’m the least expected person to show up as a Teach For America teacher,” admitted Wanda Ashworth-Valencia. In her mid-50s, Ashworth-Valencia stepped down as the site director of Touching Miami with Love – West Homestead to move closer to her family in South Carolina. Her involvement with … Read more

Mark Richardson Owner and Manager, MAR Real Estate, LLC For Mark Richardson, South Carolina’s public school system is a wise investment. A commercial real estate expert and the former president of the Carolina Panthers, Richardson is a product of the public school system, graduating from Spartanburg High School, Clemson University, and the University of Virginia. … Read more