College Of Charleston Partners With The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission, Denny's, The RiverDogs And Charleston Southern University For "Advancing The Conversation" Event

CHARLESTON, S.C., June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The College of Charleston and partners of the "Community Enhancement Coalition" - which includes, the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC), Denny's, the Charleston RiverDogs, and Charleston Southern University - are pleased to host "Advancing the Conversation," an event created to assist in the development of the "Quality of Community Life Initiative" in South Carolina.

The unique initiative brings together diverse leaders and citizens at both the state and county level to establish a culture of collaboration and help shape key contributors to the quality of community life. Key focus is on advancing diversity and inclusion and translating them into social and economic value. The initiative hopes to make progress in these areas by presenting four annual conference events, each representing a different step in the issues-management process.

"The College of Charleston is proud of our new Institute of Community Development and the work they are doing in creating this unique collaboration to enhance this community's quality of life," said President Glenn McConnell. "Bringing leaders from all over the state to learn the issues-management process will create a trickle-down process that will add immeasurable value to our community."

At the state level, the Community Enhancement Coalition is hosting "Advancing the Conversation," the next step in the initiative's issues management process. The event, which will take place at the RiverDogs stadium on Saturday, June 11 at 10 a.m., will consist of brief presentations, discussion groups and activities that examine and acknowledge the challenges and opportunities of being a diverse society. The program coincides with the RiverDogs' annual celebration of the Negro Leagues and salute to Hall of Famer Larry Doby. Following the event, attendees are invited to a pre-game social function which includes lunch sponsored by Denny's.

"As America's Diner, Denny's is dedicated to embracing the many different cultures and communities that unite us, not just within our state but across the country in every community in which we serve," said John Miller, Denny's president and chief executive officer. "As one of the founding partners of this initiative we played an integral role in its development, and we're thrilled to be involved and help lead the way for diversity and inclusion in our society."

"College of Charleston is proud of our new Institute of Community Development and the work they are doing in creating this unique collaboration to enhance this community's quality of life," said President Glenn McConnell.  "Bringing leaders from all over the state to learn the issues-management process will create a trickle-down process that will have immeasurable effect on our community."

State Agency Head, Commissioner Raymond Buxton II of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission said, "this partnership is one huge step in the direction of promoting effective community relations, goodwill and respect among the residents of South Carolina so that all citizens can come to appreciate the human differences in each of us. We are delighted to partner with these forward thinking organizations."

"The RiverDogs are proud to participate and host this innovative, social awareness initiative," said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. "There have always been discussions regarding 'what needs to be done in our community,' however this gathering of local, state and national executives will absolutely advance the conversation and become truly groundbreaking in the effort to improve the quality of community life."

"Charleston Southern is proud to collaborate with the Riverdogs to enhance our quality of life in our community," said CSU President Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr. "Our hope is this initiative will educate and inspire our leaders to respond to our community needs."

For additional information, visit the Institute for Community Development's Website or please contact Dr. Graeme Coetzer at 843/953-5688 or [email protected].

About the College of Charleston
Located in the heart of historic Charleston, South Carolina, the College of Charleston is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university. Founded in 1770, the College is among the nation's top universities for quality education, student life and affordability. Its beautiful and historic campus, combined with contemporary facilities and cutting-edge programs, attracts students from across the U.S. and around the world. Over 10,000 undergraduates and approximately 1,000 graduate students at the College enjoy a small-college feel blended with the advantages and diversity of a mid-sized, urban university. They work closely with a committed faculty, made up of more than 500 distinguished teacher-scholars. And the city of Charleston – world-renowned for its history, architecture, culture and coastal environment – serves as a living and learning laboratory for experiences in business, science, technology, teaching, the humanities, languages and the arts.

About the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1972 to encourage fair treatment, eliminate and prevent unlawful discrimination, and foster mutual understanding and respect among all people in this state. The Mission of the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission is to eliminate and prevent unlawful discrimination in: employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, and disability; housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and disability; and public accommodations on the basis of race, color, national origin, and religion.

About Denny's Corp.
Denny's is one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains, currently operating 1,700 franchised, licensed and company-owned restaurants across the United States,  Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Curaçao, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Chile, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. For further information on Denny's, including news releases, please visit the Denny's website at www.dennys.com or the brand's social channels via Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram or YouTube. 

About the Charleston Riverdogs
The Charleston RiverDogs, the Class A affiliate of the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees, are the Lowcountry's leader in affordable sports entertainment. With a "Fun is Good" mentality, Charleston has impressed off the field with zany promotions and consistently are one of the top drawing teams in the South Atlantic League. The RiverDogs develop the next major league stars for the Yankees at one of the finest ballparks in Minor League Baseball, Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park and are celebrating their 20^th season in the storied venue. The RiverDogs had a record-setting year in 2015, filling the stands and having even more fun along the way, drawing more than 292,000 fans to 68 home games.

About Charleston Southern University
Charleston Southern University is a private, four-year liberal arts college. CSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The University's vision is to be a Christian university nationally recognized for integrating faith in learning, leading and serving.

SOURCE College of Charleston

Related Links

https://www.cofc.edu