An initiative designed to foster integrity and forge stronger bonds of communication and cooperation in Orangeburg County is being eyed by one of South Carolina’s largest cities.

The Orangeburg County Community of Character initiative was launched in 2000 through a partnership between the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Orangeburg Revitalization Association, the Orangeburg County Development Commission and The Times and Democrat.

Based on a similar program in the city of Aiken, the initiative was set up as part of the county’s ambitious approach of going county-wide with a focus on building positive character traits among residents.

The idea has caught on.

Spartanburg is now eyeing the implementation of a Community of Character to begin in Spartanburg School District 7 before taking it citywide. Orangeburg County was tapped to serve as an example of the program’s success.

A caravan of representatives traveled to Spartanburg on Wednesday to highlight what the executive director says had made a difference in the community.

“I think it’s one of the best things that’s happened to Orangeburg County. We have so much support from the entire county. Everywhere you go, you’ll see the Community of Character flag flying from flag poles at businesses in town, or on their marquee with the character trait of the month. The schools are also tremendously involved,” said Don Tribble, executive director of the Orangeburg County Community of Character.

The county delivered a Power-Point presentation at the Spartanburg’s administration building, where officials such as the mayor, city manager, Spartanburg School District 7 officials and other community agency representatives gathered.

Spartanburg High School Principal Rodney Graves said the visit by Orangeburg County representatives “meant a lot to us.”

“Just seeing the entire group of Orangeburg community leaders take the time to come to Spartanburg to tell us about your program meant a lot to us. We got to see firsthand the partnerships that have been developed there, all with the goal to help young people. That was evident that that was the goal,” Graves said.

Tribble spoke at the presentation, along with Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller; Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce President David Coleman; Dr. Darrell Johnson, superintendent of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 4; the Rev. Nate McMillan, chaplain of the Orangeburg County Community of Character Board of Directors; Hazel Rickenbacker, guidance coordinator in OCSD 5 and Orangeburg author Barbara Clark.

“To talk about character education, it just shows that the community is really rallying around its young people, and Spartanburg is doing a lot of the same thing. This seems like a great opportunity for us to model,” Graves said.

“They asked quite a few questions. They’re very excited about this. They’ve asked if we’ll come back, and we’ll probably be going back up there. I was contacted by Audrey Grant, administrative assistant for the school district. She asked if we would come up. We felt like we needed to because we had help getting ours started from the mayor of Aiken,” Tribble said.

“I’m happy that some people ... were able to make the trip to Spartanburg and share their experience with the people there as the citizens of Aiken initially did with us back in 1999 to help us get started,” said Cathy Hughes, president of the Orangeburg Community of Character Board of Directors.

Hughes said it was an honor to be chosen from among other cities with Community of Character programs.

The program has reaped benefits in the Orangeburg County community, where there’s a character trait Kid of the Month from every school, Tribble said.

“There are 11 schools with eighth-graders that we give sweatshirts with the Community of Character logo on them and a hood. They really like them,” said Tribble, noting that the students are also taken on educational field trips.

He said Clark has also authored bright, colorfully-illustrated books for children, “Community of Character K.I.D.S.,” a comic book which teaches character traits for children up to fourth-grade, and “Jump Start,” which is written for preschool children and is also translated in Spanish.

“I’ve just reordered 7,500 of these, so we’ll be able to give the four-year-olds these books for quite a few years. We’re going to start giving three-year-olds these, too. We haven’t gotten the program going as heavily as we want in the high school, but that will come,” Tribble said.

The Community of Character Initiative also highlights community individuals who are nominated for best exhibiting the character trait of the month, with a committee choosing an overall winner to be profiled in the newspaper.

“We’re getting nominations from people that’s never been recognized, and these are just citizens out there that are doing something to help the community. I think it’s just wonderful to do that,” said Tribble, noting that his office fields calls from schools and churches wanting presentations on the Community of Character initiative.

Coleman, former superintendent of OCSD 4, said he enjoyed meeting old friends from his former days in education, but was especially proud to be among his colleagues who “presented their messages very clearly.”

“I’m especially pleased with the books that we’ve done for students. That was particularly gratifying because it’s something concrete that we’ve got that’s been distributed in the hands of 5,000 children,” said Coleman, noting that the Community of Character initiative has made a local impact.

“I think one of the things Spartanburg is looking for is something that can unify the cooperative efforts in their community. They’re making a lot of connections between organizations, and it will provide that focal point,” Coleman.

“That’s what the Community of Character has done in Orangeburg County,” he said. “It’s provided a mechanism for the Chamber and other organizations to partner with the schools and the faith community to bring a better quality of life.”

-- T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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