From Ideas to Action

Over 950 South Carolina leaders attended the 2011 Liberty Fellowship Summit in Columbia on November 30, an event focused on improving South Carolina. The theme – Transcending Tribalism – was about moving past barriers that have been holding South Carolina back for too long. Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of the Steve Jobs biography, opened the event with a keynote address. Following remarks from national thought leaders, Summit attendees spent the afternoon working! Participants brainstormed ideas to address specific challenges facing South Carolina, with an eye toward action. Below is a summary of their action plans. Click on each one to read more details or to sign-up to participate in an Action Group working on one of the topics.

Liberty Fellowship maintains a diversity of perspectives, a core value of the program, and is non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-dogmatic. While Liberty Fellowship will provide project management tools for use by the action groups, the groups will be independent. Involvement and leadership of each group will determine the future positions of that group. Consider sharing your talents and enthusiasm for a challenge area by joining one of the action groups!

Economic Development What can an action group do? Develop a statewide strategic matrix for economic development. Initiate a statewide public/private economic development alliance as a central point of coordination/collaboration for South Carolina’s economic development efforts. Develop a single, statewide website for industry/academic partnerships. Develop a statewide marketing effort to promote economic development in South Carolina. Public Policy What can an action group do? Raise awareness in South Carolina to increase the number of women in elected positions, improve wage disparities between women and men in the workforce, and increase the number of women holding leadership positions in the workforce. Examine the options for a greater balance of power in the three branches of government in South Carolina Health What can an action group do? Reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in South Carolina through early testing and education Reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in South Carolina through awareness and access to wellness programs

Environment What can an action group do? Create a one-stop energy conservation portal for access to programs, resources, education, incentives, vendors and best practices relative to residential energy conservation. Develop and implement a statewide residential home energy efficiency rating system. Education What can an action group do? Establish a public/private pilot program to recruit and partner industries with schools in rural, impoverished areas in South Carolina Establish an advocacy campaign to raise awareness of challenges and reform needed in South Carolina education

Thank you to our 2011 Summit sponsors