UNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM IN SOUTH CAROLINA
refers to the relations between (1) particular community groups, and/or (2) between the community as a whole and particular community groups
refers to activities that constructively protect, maintain and enhance key contributors to the quality of community life, including community relations (aligned with the legal and ethical framework that a society uses to govern its affairs)
The Official South Carolina Community Relations and Development system was established via the enactment of the South Carolina Human Affairs Act (1972). The legislation established the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC) as the government agency responsible for executing the requirements of the Act.
In addition to the process of addressing complaints of discrimination and managing affirmative action initiatives within the State Government, the act encouraged the formation of diverse community level groups and initiatives that support the betterment of human relations and affairs within their respective communities.
This gave rise to the Official Community Relations and Development System in South Carolina, and the Community Relations and Development Division (CRDD) within the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SHAC). The CRDD-SHAC is responsible for helping to establish, maintain and expand the official community relations and development system in South Carolina.
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SHAC)
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1972 to encourage fair treatment, eliminate and prevent unlawful discrimination, and foster mutual understanding and respect among all people in the state. Based on the tenets of Title VII of the 1964 federal Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Americans with Disability Act, the South Carolina General Assembly declared that the practice of discrimination within the state because of a person’s race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability to be unlawful, and in conflict with the ideals of the State of South Carolina and the nation.
The South Carolina Human Affairs Commission strives to alleviate these problems of discrimination through the enforcement of the South Carolina Human Affairs Law, the South Carolina Fair Housing Law, and the South Carolina Equal Enjoyment and Privileges to Public Accommodations Law. Additionally, the General Assembly mandated that the Commission would be responsible with the monitoring of South Carolina state government agency Affirmative Action Plans. The Commission also seeks to establish Community Relations and Development Councils throughout the state to foster more effective community relations, goodwill, mutual understanding, and respect among the residents of South Carolina.
The Official Community Relations and Development System in South Carolina
support the betterment of human affairs and foster cooperation, conciliation, goodwill and harmony among diverse groups and elements within the state of South Carolina
establish a diverse, competent and collaborative network of Community Relations and Development Councils (CRD-Councils) and other partners throughout the state of South Carolina
who
bring diverse stakeholders into constructive engagement with one another
that supports constructive processes of
learning about, educating others, examining, advising on and supporting key contributors to the quality of community life, including community relations
Key Characteristics of the Official South Carolina Community Relations and Development System
membership of CRD-Councils is primarily oriented toward diverse community members, stakeholders and decision makers who are capable of making a constructive contribution to learning about, informing others, examining, advising on and supporting the development of key contributors to the quality of community life, including community relations
support processes of enagement, analysis and advising that are generally considered valid and constructive (aligns with the ethical framework and broadly supported practices that a society uses/endorses to govern its affairs)
provide input that is likely to produce insight and learning regarding the quality of community life issue under consideration
seek to both inform and learn, support and challenge, maintain boundaries and be flexible, committed to learning before advising
open to creative methods, perspectives and ideas
provide reasonable representation of a community group (participation has potential to promote constructive community relations)
CRD-Councils are encouraged to form a partnership with key local stakeholder(s) that include County/City Councils, Mayors, local Government, City Managers, local Chambers of Commerce and any other appropriate local partners. This partnership can range from a highly active partner that may chair a CRD-Council (e.g. a City Mayor who actively chairs a council) through to a partner that receives an annual briefing (e.g. the Head of the Local Chamber of Commerce and City Manager who attends an annual meeting to hear advice provided by the Council).
Partnered councils have a partner(s):
- who support the formation of a council, referred to as the partnership entity(ies) (e.g. the President's Office of a local Chamber of Commerce may initiate and/or support the formation of a council)
- whose involvement in the council ranges from (1) leadership (chair of the council), (2) direct/active involvement (e.g. Chamber of Commerce President is a permanent and active member of the management team), and (3) indirect/non active involvement (e.g. attend presentations, provide facilities to support council meetings and events etc..). This is referred to as the level and type of partnership
- who help establish the operational point of contact with the partner(s), referred to as the point of partnership (e.g. the President of a local Chamber of Commerce may delegate the operational participation of the partner to COC operations manager - this role/department becomes the point of partnership)
CRD-Councils can be formed without any formal partnership with County/City Council, local Government and local Chambers of Commerce.
CRD-Councils are self-organizing and managing (within the framework provided and supported by the CRDD-SCHAC), and are encouraged to:
(1) secure diverse and representative members that are capable of making a constructive contribution to the activities of the council
(2) actively seek out local and relevant partners (e.g. City/County Council, local Government, local Chambers of Commerce etc.)
(3) develop a statement of their mission, vision and values that reasonably aligns with the overall mission, vision and values of the Official South Carolina Community Relations and Development System
(4) develop a general service provision model from the choices embedded within the flexible/accordion style service provision model developed, offered and supported by the CRDD (or any other model that appropriately achieves the mission of the official CRD system)
(5) use an organized system of decision making that respects fundamental outcome and process ethics (Roberts Rules is suggested)
(6) set goals, develop plans for achieving those goals, and manage the execution of their plans within their chosen service provision model (with assistance from the CRDD-SCHAC and others where necessary)
(7) keep a reasonable record of their mission, vision, values, membership and activities
(8) work collaboratively with CRDD-SCHAC, and commit to making a reasonable effort to conduct their affairs in accordance with the spirit and provisions of the South Carolina Human Affairs act (1972)
(9) attempt to send representatives to the annual South Carolina Community Relations and Development Conference
In acknowledgement of and respect for the volunteer basis of most councils and other partners, and the varying resources available to these groups, the CRDD-SCHAC has developed a flexible accordion style service provision model that can expand and contract based on the interests, needs and resources of particular councils. The service provision model chosen by a council can range from a single simple element of the suggested model (e.g. maintain an informative website) to multiple and potentially all of the proposed elements
The suggested elements of the flexible/accordion style service provision model includes the following (each item is an active link):
• General Meet, Greet and Discuss
• Expedited Community Review
• Information Management System (Web Site)
• Events Management
• Supporting the local Issues Management Process
• Group Relations Management
• Social/Community Crisis Management
Each CRD-Council is encouraged to work with representatives of the CRDD-SCHAC to identify what components of the service provision model they wish to include within their particular service provision system. The CRDD-SHAC will provide support for the execution of the various suggested elements of the service provision system (e.g. provide a web site, template, easy-to-use web site editor and guidelines for establishing and managing a CRD-Council website)
A permanent CRD-Council is established with the objective of functioning on an ongoing basis. Under appropriate circumstances, the CRDD-SCHAC may support the establishment of a temporary council that is established and functions in accordance with the guidelines, principles and values of the Official SC Community Relations and Development System. For example, a local sponsor may approach the CRDD-SCHAC to establish a temporary group of diverse community members and relevant stakeholders in order to execute an element of the suggested accordian style/flexible service provision model (e.g. a local, competent and constructive sponsor may approach CRDD-SCHAC to set up and conduct an expedited community review regarding a particular contributor to the quality of community life, including community relations)
The various elements of the suggested flexible/accordion style service provision system have been designed to support execution of the primary activities of the community relations and development system
The service provision system is based upon a foundation of individual, relational and group level competencies. These competencies support the process of translating diversity into greater social and economic value in the 21st century. These competencies are embedded within an integrated and progressive ladder of competencies referred to as the CLOC system
(click here to review)
Constructively Leading Oneself and Collaboration in the 21st Century
The CLOC is ticking, let's take action!
Primary activies of the Community Relations and Development System
Community Relations and Development Councils provide local sponsors from various sectors (elected entities, public sector, private sector, non-profit sector, general community etc.) with the opportunity to make use of a state supported system to bring diverse stakeholders into constructive processes of engagement, learning, analysis and advising on the quality of community life, including community relations
1026 Sumter Street
Columbia, SC, 29201
Email: saundra@schac.sc.gov
Phone: (803) 737-7800