GWC Quarterly Meeting, “Data Matters”, at United Center for Community Care, November 12, 2024
GWC was thrilled to welcome our members, guests, and esteemed presenters from United Way of the Lakelands to our last quarterly meeting of 2024, “Data Matters”, on Tuesday, November 12th at the United Center for Community Care. All in attendance were treated to a unique and enlightening “Data Walk” presented by staff and interns of United Way of the Lakelands.
Everyone was graciously greeted by members of the Membership Committee (Betty Adams, Cindy O’Connor, and Anne Marie Johnson) and the Social Committee ( Courtney Christensen, Holley Coyle, Summer Booker, and Brenda Wulfekotte) and given a number that indicated the station number where they would begin their Data Walk. Special thanks to Bobbie Fulton, Connie Carstens, Cindy Logan, Casey Tompkins, and Vicki Chandler for going the extra mile and surprising us with delicious homemade cookies to enjoy during our stroll around the information stations situated throughout the room.
Rachel Strayer, Vice-Chair of GWC, welcomed members and recognized guests. Special thanks were extended to the Social and Programs & Education Committees. Rachel introduced the theme of the meeting stressing the power of knowledge and the importance of data-driven awareness in decision-making and selecting grant recipients. Rachel introduced Jan Puzar, Co-Chair of the Grants Review and Awards Committee. Jan invited members to volunteer to collaborate with her and the Grants and Rewards Committee on the upcoming GWC Women’s Health Grant cycle which will be awarded in the first quarter of 2025. GWC will be granting approximately $5,000 from a Women’s Health Fund held by Greenwood County Community Foundation to a local organization working to improve women’s health.
Laura Bachinski introduced Marisel Losa, President and CEO of United Way of the Lakelands since 2018. Marisel welcomed us to the United Center for Community Care and spoke of the importance of having all social service agencies centrally located in one building. She described the collective impact data model used as a tool for critical decision-making for Abbeville, Saluda, Greenwood, and McCormick counties. Justo Chalaire, Director of Community Impact and Evaluation of the United Way of the Lakelands, gave framing comments for the Data Walk, informing us that 44% of the households in SC live on the verge of financial instability and struggle to meet their basic needs; that number is 51% of households in the Lakelands. He invited us to begin our Data Walk at our assigned stations.
The five stations, Health Equity, Housing, Mental Health, Healthy Eating, and Education, were alive with questions and, in many cases, surprises. Presenters at each of the stations had eight minutes with each group of 10 – 12 women. All the data presented was thought-provoking and eye-opening! For a look at current information about community indicators and services in Greenwood County, please visit the Lakelands Counts, an easy-to-use platform that supports community improvement work in Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick, and Saluda counties. It contains data, best practices, and resources, and hosts over 235 health and quality of life data indicators. Users may customize maps and reports to visualize and analyze data specific to a particular location.
Laura Bachinski led a discussion and invited all present to share their thoughts and pose questions. During that time, Justo Chalaire noted that there are many local concerns but perhaps most troubling is the level of food insecurity in our communities (95% in one zip code) and the startling differences in health equity.
Helena Wardlaw presented a lovely children’s book, Noticing, authored by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by Elise Hurst. According to Good Reads, “this book is a story about noticing the little things, the grand big things, the imaginary, and sometimes, hidden things. It is about embracing what is possible. And that the incredible is everywhere, and in everything—waiting to be known, discovered, recognized.” What a perfect selection for this particularly important meeting!
Laura Bachinski dismissed us with thanks to United Way for sharing their United Center with us and for providing such an informative program for us. She noted that GWC will accept monetary donations for the books we will donate to the children’s collection of the library in the coming year. She also invited anyone who would be interested in learning more about the data presented to sign up for additional data walk presentations.
All left knowing much, much more about our beloved community and with a greater understanding of where the needs of our communities lay.
