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C3: Connecting the Community for Change - Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders

June 23, 2025-June 27, 2025

About

C3 offers a transformative, weeklong immersive experience for 25 rising high school sophomores from across Charleston County. These students embark on a journey through South Carolina, visiting significant civil rights landmarks in Charleston, St. Helena Island, Orangeburg, and Columbia. By exploring the often-overlooked stories of the civil rights movement across the Lowcountry and Midlands, C3 fosters connections between students from diverse backgrounds who might not otherwise cross paths.

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C3 is open to High School Freshman (Rising Sophomores)

C3 at KOP

Through an in-depth study of local figures and pivotal moments spanning from the era of enslavement to the civil rights movement, students gain a deeper understanding of how history shapes the present. They also examine the lasting impact of this history on today’s decision-making processes. The program will include a visit to the State House, where students learn firsthand how policies are created and implemented. Beyond that, they are introduced to various methods of advocacy, from participating in elections to using art as a powerful expression of their voices. The program’s highlights include personal stories and testimonials from legislators, community leaders, and individuals who lived through these defining moments in history. This unique opportunity allows students to connect with the past in a way that inspires them to shape the future. By the end of the week, these students transform into a close-knit community, united by their shared history and the tools to advocate for their beliefs. They leave the program more confident, informed, and empowered to create positive change in their communities, carrying forward the legacy of those who came before them.

C3 exists to teach the untold history of the Lowcountry’s civil rights legacy, build bridges and develop relationships between high school freshmen of diverse backgrounds.

Videos

Our Advisory Committee

C3 is grateful to have input from community leaders and for the support of its Advisory Committee.

DeMett Jenkins
Lilly Director of Education and Engagement for Faith Based Communities, International African American Museum
Courtney Howard
Chief Diversity Officer, College of Charleston
Reverend Dr. Marion Platt III
International African American Museum Faith Based Advisory Council
Timothy N. Grant
M.TS., M. Div., Senior Pastor- Greater St. Peter’s Church; Associate Dean/ Chief Diversity Officer, Charleston Southern University
Joan Zaleski
Professor Emerita, Literacy Studies, Hofstra University
CJ Gathers
Women and Youth Programs Director, YWCA Greater Charleston
Chanel Leach
Special Assistant to the President and CEO, Coastal Community Foundation
Dr. Tamara Butler
Executive Director, Avery Research Center for African American History and Culture
Dr. Valerie Frazier
Associate Professor and Director of the 1967 Legacy Program
Dr. Jordan Raguza
Associate Chair of the Political Science Department. Co-Director of The College of Charleston American Politics Research Team and Research Fellow in the Center of Public Choice and Market Process.
Dr. Robert Greene II
Assistant Professor of History, Claflin University and Lead Instructor for the Modjeska Simkins School of Human Rights