South Carolina Strong

In 2002 South Carolina officials asked the Delancey Street Foundation to work with a group of people, Friends of Delancey Street-South Carolina, to explore the possibility of replicating the Delancey Street model in South Carolina. Delancey Street is considered one of the nation’s leading self-help residential education centers for ex-convicts and former substance abusers. The Friends group met with Delancey Street representatives over a period of four years and in May 2006, the replication program, South Carolina STRONG, opened its doors in North Charleston, South Carolina. SC STRONG is a South Carolina non-profit corporation with its own Board of Directors. Friends of Delancey Street-South Carolina included legislators, members of the judiciary, city, state and federal officials, representatives of the Department of Corrections, Solicitors, Public Defenders, law enforcement, educational institutions, health and drug and alcohol programs, foundations, faith community, employment services, the business community and other community-based organizations. SC STRONG is a peer-driven model in which the philosophy of “each one, teach one” provides residents with the opportunity to maximize their ability to make a successful transition into society. Prior to graduation, residents earn at least a GED (in collaboration with Trident Literacy) and three marketable skills at no cost to them. SC STRONG training schools such as construction, catering, landscaping, and furniture restoration, generate income that help support our activities. SC STRONG is located on the former Navy base in North Charleston. The Noisette Company graciously agreed to lease space for the program as an integral part of the development at the Navy Yard. Noisette staff have also provided training and employment in restoration work, maintenance, landscaping, and small-scale green construction for SC STRONG residents. SC STRONG residents have renovated two properties at the Navy Yard and are working on a third. The first SC STRONG training school, Light Construction, developed out of the renovation work that was completed and is now a viable social enterprise with an expanding client base and opportunities for further training of residents in the building trades. Residents of SC STRONG commit to a minimum of two years. The first core group consists of 25-30 men and will grow to 70 residents once the third house is renovated. Residents are selected through various means. Some come as an alternative to incarceration through the cooperation of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. Some come directly after being released from prison as their chosen means for reentry. Some come as “walk-ins”, referred by other social service agencies, homeless shelters, or family members. In every case, admission is voluntary (even those coming as an alternative sentence must ask to be admitted). In addition to working and studying residents are encouraged to help others in the community. Our residents offer volunteer services to help organizations such as the Friends of the Library, Lowcountry Orphan Relief, Noisette Foundation, Michaux Water Conservancy, City of North Charleston, Trident Literacy, Crisis Ministries, Star Gospel Mission, Ameri-corps Vista, Parent’s Anonymous, Lowcountry Local First, Union Heights Community Center, Seacoast Community Church Clinic, and the Lowcountry Foodbank. Residents regularly perform Riverfront Park and Noisette Creek clean-up.