Profiles of non-profit social service organizations that belong to the South Carolina Progressive Network; essays written by undergraduate students enrolled in Journalism 335, a class on Reporting taught by Prof. Ernest L. Wiggins at the University of South Carolina. Eighteen essays describing twelve non-profit organizations include background, goals, and mission of each group, and profiles of individuals involved, with related statistics and significant events in the history of these groups, many of which represent a local chapter of a larger national organization. Organizations represented: American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) by Cory Burkarth (re labor issues, workers' rights, and unions in Greenville, S.C.); Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Greater Columbia, by Alex Riley (re the organization's CEO and president Julie Tovey and volunteer Vince Gatling); Birthright of Columbia, by Emily Wardlaw (re providing alternatives to abortion); Columbia Family Shelter, by Taylor Smith (re this provider of "temporary emergency housing and supportive services to homeless families"); and Common Cause of South Carolina, by Hank DeHart (re this "ethical watchdog" group that encourages government reform). The Grimke Sisters, by Chelsea Hadaway (re this women's rights organization and efforts to curb domestic violence, improve health care, etc.); Hispanic Outreach of South Carolina, by Felicia Kitzmiller (support for recent immigrants to S.C. who speak Spanish); Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, by Michelle Hamel (Profile of "mother, social activist and attorney" Harriet Hancock, and founder of the PFLAG chapter in Columbia, S.C.); Sistercare, by Jeremy Turnage (re domestic violence support group; comments from Emily Brady, program coordinator of the Rural Domestic Violence Initiative, and Development Director Kathleen Shaw; profile of Libby Campbell, a counselor and coordinator of community group services) South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, by Larry Camp (re victims assistance and advocacy group, quotes from agency staff member Rebecca Williams); South Carolina Fair Share, by Jess Davis (re consumer advocate organization, interview with research director Dr. John Ruoff re efforts to regulate payday lendors; and profile of Earlena Climbingbear); South Carolina Gay and Lesbian Pride Movement, by Michelle Hamel (re Rainbow Radio, the Harriet Hancock Center and background of first Pride march held in Columbia, S.C., in 1990) South Carolina HIV / AIDS Council, by Jill Stephen (overview with testing coordinator Vivian Clark-Armstead, and profile of peer-advocate Deadra Lawson-Smith re this group that assists with navigation through the health care system, and provides emotional support) and South Carolina Independent Living Council, by LaTonya Levy (re support-group promoting independent living for disabled and handicapped people in S.C., providing counseling, training, and peer-support; with comments from executive director, Maris Burton).
