Spartanburg Academic Movement

📚✨ Kindergarten readiness is about more than being ready for school. It's about being ready for life.

The early years are critical for developing the social, emotional, language, and cognitive skills children need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. That's why communities across Spartanburg County are working together through Movement 2030 to ensure more children start school prepared for success.

Our shared goal is for 65% of children to enter kindergarten ready to learn by 2030. By supporting families, expanding access to quality early learning opportunities, and investing in our youngest learners, we can help every child build a strong foundation for the future.

Wondering how to help your child get kindergarten-ready? Try these simple tips:
✅ Read together every day
✅ Practice recognizing letters, numbers, colors, and shapes
✅ Encourage independence with tasks like dressing, washing hands, and cleaning up toys
✅ Establish routines for meals, bedtime, and learning
✅ Give children opportunities to play, explore, and interact with others
✅ Talk, sing, and ask questions throughout the day to build language skills

Together, we can create brighter beginnings and stronger outcomes for all children.

Hello Family can help your family navigate this transition and our experts are standing by ready to connect.

www.hellofamilyspartanburg.org

📚 What if your child received books like these every month for FREE?

Imagine opening your mailbox and finding:

🐻 Corduroy
🦬 Buffalo Fluffalo
🦍 Good Night Gorilla
🐛 The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Vegetable Garden
🌳 Our Tree
🚲 A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle
🎸 Coat of Many Colors
🎒 Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!

Right now, 800 children in Spartanburg County can still enroll in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and receive a free book every month from birth until age 5. Powered by Movement 2030, Dolly Parton Imagination Library provides access to books to create confident readers, successful students, and tomorrow's workforce.

📬 Free.
📚 Delivered to your home.
❤️ Building a love of reading one book at a time.

Sign up today: https://imaginationlibrary.com/check-availability/

🎓 Graduated? Still figuring out your next step?

It's not too late to invest in your future.
Whether you're planning for college, training, certification, or career opportunities, Big Mo can help you get started.
Our partner colleges are ready to make college affordable.

Sign up today and take the next step toward a secure future. Powered by Movement 2030, Big Mo breaks down the biggest challenge to college -- cost and provides the support you need to be successful.

www.getbigmo.org

🎉 Exciting news for Spartanburg's children and families!

SAM and the City of Spartanburg, SC have approved the creation of a Children's Cabinet -- a collaborative effort designed to bring together families, community organizations, service providers, and local leaders to help shape policies and systems that impact children and families.

The Children's Cabinet will help strengthen partnerships, elevate community voices, and support coordinated solutions that create better outcomes for children throughout Spartanburg.

This work reflects a shared belief: when communities work together and listen to those closest to the challenges, children have greater opportunities to thrive.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4vqTbK8

SAM + City of Spartanburg Announce New Children’s Cabinet — Spartanburg Academic Movement Community members invited to apply for leadership body focused on improving outcomes for children and families SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), in partnership with the City of Spartanburg, is proud to announce the formation of the Spartanburg Children’s Cabinet, a new col

Today’s the day!

As partners of The EdRedesign Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, we’re excited to remind you that the virtual premiere of DREAM ON’s newest episode on the transformation of Spartanburg, SC’s Northside neighborhood is happening this morning.

This episode tells the story of how residents, local government, school district leaders, a StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member, and a Purpose Built Communities backbone organization came together to:

✔️ Cut violent crime by 77%

➕ Raise 3rd-grade reading proficiency from 6% to 48%

🏠 Build hundreds of units of new housing

🏬 Open a brand-new community center

👶 Launch a state-of-the-art early learning center

📅 Today — Tuesday, June 2, 2026
🕛 10:00–11:00 AM ET
💻 Virtual | Zoom Webinar

You’ll be among the first to see the episode and hear directly from national and local leaders during a live Q&A moderated by Rob Watson (Executive Director, EdRedesign) with:

Jennifer Blatz, President & CEO, StriveTogether

Dr. Russell Booker, CEO, SAM

Carol Naughton, CEO, Purpose Built Communities

David Summers, CEO, Spartanburg Northside Development Group

There’s still time to join us -- the event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

👉 Register and log in at 10:00 AM ET:

DREAM ON: Spartanburg, SC The EdRedesign Lab serves as a catalyst advancing the cradle-to-career field by promoting cross-sector community-based systems of support and opportunity for all children, especially those affected by racism and poverty.

🎬 Premieres Tuesday: See How Spartanburg’s Northside Rewrote Its Story

What does it take to transform a neighborhood?

Join us on Tuesday, June 2, for the virtual premiere of a new episode of DREAM ON, featuring the remarkable transformation of Spartanburg, South Carolina's Northside community.

Through a powerful partnership among residents, local government, schools, nonprofits, and community leaders, Northside has achieved measurable results:

✔️ Violent crime reduced by 77%
✔️ Third-grade reading proficiency increased from 6% to 48%
✔️ Hundreds of new housing units created
✔️ A new community center opened
✔️ A state-of-the-art early learning center established

As partners of EdRedesign at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, we're proud to share this story of what's possible when a community comes together around a shared vision for children and families.

📅 Tuesday, June 2, 2026
⏰ 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET
💻 Virtual | Zoom Webinar

Following the screening, hear directly from the leaders behind this work during a live conversation moderated by Rob Watson, Executive Director of EdRedesign:

• Jennifer Blatz, President & CEO, StriveTogether
• Dr. Russell Booker, CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement
• Carol Naughton, CEO, Purpose Built Communities
• David Summers, CEO, Spartanburg Northside Development Group

This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

👉 Register today: https://edredesign.org/events/dream-spartanburg-sc

Join us to explore how communities can create lasting change through partnership, shared accountability, and investment in children and families.

🎓 Academic excellence and leadership create lasting impact far beyond the classroom.

At SAM, we celebrate the achievements of students whose hard work, dedication, and service reflect the kind of future we are working to build across our community. From educational attainment to leadership development and career readiness, these accomplishments inspire us all. 💙

Today, we’re celebrating Jason Levitt, son of Carmen Levitt, on graduating Summa Cum Laude from Furman University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health! 👏🎉

Jason is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa and served as president of the Native American and Indigenous Peoples Association, demonstrating both academic excellence and a strong commitment to leadership and community.

As he begins the process of applying to medical school, Jason continues a journey centered on service, learning, and making a difference in the lives of others.

Congratulations, Jason!

🎓 Educational achievement creates opportunities that strengthen families, industries, and entire communities.

At SAM, we celebrate milestones that reflect the power of learning, perseverance, and career readiness. From early childhood through advanced degrees and workforce success, every accomplishment helps move our community closer to a stronger future for all. 💙

Today, we’re celebrating Grace Levitt, daughter of Carmen Levitt, on graduating from the University of Virginia Graduate School with a Master of Science in Chemistry! 👏🎉

Grace has also accepted a position with a multinational chemical manufacturing firm in the Upstate, an exciting next step that reflects her hard work, dedication, and bright future ahead.

Her achievement is a reminder of the importance of preparing students not only for graduation, but for meaningful careers that contribute to the growth and success of our region.

Congratulations, Grace!

Spartanburg's future is bright.