Investing in Southside Promise: Advancing Community Change
Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) is proud to announce the recipients of the first Southside Promise Investment Awards—a key component of the federal Promise Neighborhood program which aligns with the Movement 2030 vision to ensure every child and family in Spartanburg County has access to opportunity and life success.
These investments represent more than dollars - they are a promise to support the residents, leaders, and organizations driving meaningful change in Spartanburg’s Southside neighborhood.
“Through these grants, residents will become more aware of resources that are available to them and their children that are beneficial to improve educational outcomes, community safety and that offer ongoing opportunities for the community to participate on a wider scale,” said Evelyn Blakely, a Southside resident and member of the investment committee.
SAM issued a request for grant proposals in July to nonprofit organizations that serve Southside residents. The grant was open for organizations that offer direct services to create positive impact and outcomes by targeting continuing education and skill development from early childhood through adulthood. The grants must also support the neighborhood’s long-term plan.
In this round of awards, 11 community organizations were selected by an investment panel to receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 for innovative projects that strengthen families, foster educational success, and enhance neighborhood vitality.
2025 Southside Promise Investment Award Recipients
Kids Upstate — $10,000
Kids Upstate, an organization offering comprehensive after-school programs to elementary students, will use its grant for the Junior Teachers Up Internship Program, which offers pathways for local youth to explore meaningful careers in education. The program addresses needs by engaging high school students from the Southside as paid inters who support elementary-age students at the Mary H. Wright Kids Club.
Scouting America, Palmetto Council — $10,000
Scouting America will use grant funds to add a part-time specialist to offer a high-quality scouting experience for Southside youth. Over the long-term, Scouting America believes this project will close gaps in school readiness, academic achievement and workforce preparedness by developing traits such as responsibility, perseverance, teamwork and civic engagement.
United T.E.A.M. (Teaching Everyone About Miraculous) Initiatives — $10,000
Through its grant, United T.E.A.M. will serve 25 young men through consistent mentoring, structured programming, and creating safe places designed to help them recognize and pursue their potential for success. United T.E.A.M. will also partner with HALTER to provide equine-assisted learning sessions focused on enhancing communication, clarifying values, regulating emotions and developing problem-solving abilities.
Housing 360 — $10,000
Spartanburg Housing’s Housing 360 initiative is developing comprehensive support systems for families navigating housing instability. The program provides workshops and coaching to strengthen financial literacy and housing security. Through a partnership with Bloom and My Brother’s Keeper of South Carolina, Housing 365 will offer robust mentoring programs for youth living in Camp Croft apartments.
Forest Park Neighborhood Association — $10,000
Forest Park Neighborhood Association will use grant funds for the Express Lane Track & Field Club to participate in four weekly develop training sessions, nine invitational competitions, the SC AAU Championship, the AAU Regional 8 Championships, and the AAU National Club Championship. These funds will be used to offset event entry fees, travel and lodging.
The Roo Crew — $10,000
The Roo Crew’s mission is to assist and support families with children facing significant medical and educational challenges. These funds will be used to support targeted outreach to introduce and promote services in the area, including educational opportunities for parents and teachers. This will allow the Roo Crew to expand its presence in the Southside.
Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty — $5,000
The Faith Initiative to End Child Poverty will use grant funds for a mental wellness program to address mental health challenges through a community-based approach led by Mount Moriah Baptist Church.
James E. Vaughn Foundation — $10,000
The James Vaugn Foundation will focus on Southside students who have the potential to achieve at grade level but need additional support to reach their full academic potential. The grant funds will increase access to books in preschool homes and empower parents to become literacy leaders. The foundation will also focus on accelerating student learning by assessing current performance levels and providing targeted support to promote academic progress.
Southside Sankofa — $10,000
With grant funding, Southside Sankofa will establish a greenhouse at Mary H. Wright Elementary School to provide a hands-on learning environment, enhance STEM education and encourage community involvement. The space will be a resource for students, educators and local advocates to connect through experiential learning and shared sustainability efforts.
BASIC Babies — $10,000
BASIC Babies will host Lab Camp for Southside students to receive hands-on learning experiences in collaboration with medical professionals. This program provides youth with the opportunity to explore careers in healthcare, build meaningful relationships with industry experts and pursue internships aligned with their specific interests.
Katalyst 4 P^3, LLC - $10,000
This project will strengthen Southside families by addressing academic gaps, and emotional well-being through a comprehensive support system. The funding will support staff, materials and facilitation costs for tutoring resources and professional facilitators for therapy.