Community members, local leaders and partners on Monday evening (May 18) marked the launch of Charleston Thrives, a community-led initiative supported by SonEdna Foundation designed to connect people, align efforts and build on progress already taking shape across Charleston.
Charleston Thrives centers on five focus areas: Government & Civic Engagement, Education, Economic Opportunity, Health & Well-Being, and Culture & Arts. The effort brings visibility to work already underway and creates opportunities for collaboration that strengthen and expand that progress over time.
“Charleston Thrives reflects the strength of this community and the work already happening across it,” said Charleston Mayor Sedrick Smith Sr. “By coming together around what is working, we can continue to build momentum and expand opportunity for everyone.”
The initiative is grounded in a shared vision and values that guide how the community works together, supported by a “guiding team” and “working groups” leading efforts across each priority area.
“SonEdna Foundation is committed to supporting communities as they build on progress already happening,” said foundation Chief Vision Officer Morgana Freeman. “Charleston Thrives reflects our role as a backbone supporter, helping to align efforts, strengthen connections and expand opportunity over time.”
To learn more about the Foundation, visit https://www.sonedna.com/foundation.
A complementary example of this collaborative approach is the Tallahatchie Early Learning Alliance (TELA), a community-led early childhood initiative and SonEdna Foundation effort focused on ensuring every child in Tallahatchie County can “Thrive By Third” grade.
TELA extends the foundation’s commitment by aligning families, educators and community partners to strengthen early learning from birth through third grade. To learn more about TELA, visit https://wearetela.org.
“Our work continues to grow through the people who are part of it,” said SonEdna Director of Community Engagement Cheryl Swoopes. “We are grateful to the community members that participate in our guiding team and working groups who are helping lead Charleston Thrives and invite the broader community to take part in building what comes next.”
Charleston Thrives introduces a shared message that encourages community members to mobilize conversations around progress. Participants are invited to carry forward the prompt: “Ask Me About Making Progress Together: Charleston Thrives,” helping to shift conversations toward what is working to continuously improve the city of Charleston and how momentum can continue to grow.
To stay connected and continue the conversation, community members are encouraged to follow SonEdna Foundation on social media, sign up for the foundation mailing list (https://sonedna.com/foundation/join), and read the weekly Charleston Thrives column in The Sun-Sentinel’s print edition, on the website and social starting this week (Page 12A).
Follow the foundation on social media: Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/sonedna; Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/sonednafoundation/; and via networking on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/sonedna-foundation/.
