February 24, 2019
Ny Taylor Murray, News 2
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina (WCBD) – Meeting Street Schools & Palmetto Community Action Partnership teaming up today to address poverty head-on as hosts to a poverty simulation for teachers.
In the Tri-County, poverty has a lot of different faces and is spread across many zip codes. According to data, the poverty rate here is higher than the national average. Today, educators from Meeting Street Schools put themselves in the shoes of many of the children they teach as they experienced not having enough money to meet basic needs, like food, clothing, and shelter.
The poverty simulation had more than 370 teachers and faculty from Meeting Street Schools participate in role-play of the lives of low-income families.
Dirk Bedford, Principal of Meeting Street Academy- Downtown, Charleston, says, “We want our teachers to be able to step into the shows of our families and understand the pressures and the stress that they face, so that when our kids come back to us next week, we can be better servants for kids and better servants for our families.”
They used play money & pretend identities, but the lessons learned about poverty are very real.
Some of the participants experienced the stress of not being able to pay rent or buy groceries while others had more than enough to last them until their next ‘paycheck’. Palmetto Community Action Partnership tells us that in Charleston County in order to afford a market-rate, 2 bedroom apartment you need to make $19 an hour, but minimum wage here is $7.25. Wealth disparity is an issue across the tri-county.
Chelsie Howard, Community Relations Director of Palmetto Community Action Partnership says, “One of the interesting things about Charleston is that we have great wealth and we also have great poverty. In any given area within our tri-county, you can find someone who is living in abject poverty—we serve people every day who do not have running water or electricity.”
The organizers of the poverty simulation say that the first step in helping someone who is struggling in poverty is to know of the resources available to them. You can find more information here: http://www.palmettocap.org/
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Start Your Career!Meeting Street Schools (MSS) is an innovative non-profit where schools, families, and the community collaborate to create environments where all children can achieve their full potential. With a network of schools across South Carolina, including MSA-Charleston (Charleston, SC), MSA-Spartanburg (Spartanburg, SC), MS-Brentwood (North Charleston, SC), MS-Burns (North Charleston, SC), and MS-Jasper & Beaufort (Jasper, SC), we are committed to providing students with the rigorous education they deserve.
Founded on the principle that every child deserves an excellent education regardless of their socio-economic background, Meeting Street Schools has been a beacon of hope and a testament to what's possible in education. Our schools are driven by a strong focus on student achievement, evidence-based instruction, and relentless support of our students and their families.
While united by our shared mission, each MSS campus, is unique in its character, tapping into the local spirit of the communities they serve. Explore each of our schools and discover how they're creating a brighter future for students in South Carolina.
Nestled in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, MSA Charleston is more than just a school—it’s a hub for innovative learning and community engagement. As part of the Meeting Street Schools network, MSA Charleston embodies a commitment to excellence through its rigorous academic programs, inclusive culture, and focus on developing the whole child. With a curriculum that emphasizes both academic and personal growth, MSA Charleston prepares students to be curious learners and active citizens of their community.
Meeting Street Academy – Spartanburg is as a pillar of educational innovation in the Spartanburg community. The school’s dedicated educators and supportive learning environment ensure that each child receives a high-quality, personalized education with exceptional faculty and teachers. The Academy is distinguished by its emphasis on community partnership, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and success.
Meeting Street – Brentwood is a place where education meets opportunity. Serving the Brentwood area, this neighborhood Public School of Innovation is a testament to the transformative power of education. With a student-centered approach that celebrates diversity and encourages excellence, Meeting Street – Brentwood is dedicated to equipping students with the skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. Meeting Street – Brentwood also serves as a hub for the Brentwood community to access educational and wellness services. The school’s commitment to innovation, coupled with a warm, welcoming environment, makes it a standout in the Meeting Street Schools network.
Located in a community rich with history and culture, Meeting Street – Burns is renowned for its dynamic educational approach that intertwines traditional learning with modern teaching techniques. The school’s focus on experiential learning ensures that students at Meeting Street – Burns are not only recipients of knowledge but also active participants in their educational journey. The school exists to spark an educational revolution for the students and families in the Dorchester-Waylyn Neighborhood in North Charleston. With a commitment to creating a supportive and challenging academic environment, Meeting Street – Burns is forging a new path in public education.
Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort represents Meeting Street Schools’ dedication to community-based education with a global perspective. The school provides a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to explore their potential and cultivate a love for learning. With its diverse programs such as Eureka Math, and Wit and Wisdom, Meeting Street – Jasper & Beaufort puts a major emphasis on character development, specialized learning and equips students to become thoughtful, engaged members of society, reflecting the Meeting Street ethos of empowerment through education.
“We come into work everyday truly believing that our students are capable of achieving anything that is put in front of them. Here at MSS, students are provided the opportunity to achieve success through the facilitation of well-educated teachers, resources, and a responsive classroom school environment.”
“MSA is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in. They said they would follow our kids from K-3 to college and they actually lived up to what they said they would do. Not only did MSA challenge my daughter academically but it also exposed her to new things that she probably wouldn’t have been exposed to at our previous neighborhood school. Our journey at MSA was exciting and rewarding. They actually walk the walk.”