Charleston Promise Neighborhood

Mike Meacham

The main component of CPN’s KidsWell Health and Wellness initiative is the creation of a School Based Health Clinic in each of the four CPN elementary schools. Although they are staffed on a limited basis by Dr. Randazzo of MUSC, we have a wonderful, dedicated strategic volunteer, Mike Meacham who is helping us to create a more sustainable long-term model. Mike is an Associate Professor with MUSC in the Department of Healthcare Leadership and Management. His students have collected and analyzed data from our clinics’ first few months of operations. All were surprised at the needs of high-poverty, high-potential schools, the complexities of Medicaid, and the barriers of care due to complexity of reimbursement.

Here are some of the students’ comments regarding this project:

“…never really knew that children hadn’t seen a doctor before…”

“There is an enormous need for children’s healthcare in the Charleston area.”

“This has been an amazing, eye opening opportunity; too often we fail to look at the community around us and I, like most students, had fallen victim. This project has really opened my eyes to the community around us and its demographics. Call me naive, but I failed to realize that we were right in the middle of such a large underserved population …”

“I am proud to have worked on this project, and I hope to continue contributing to the community in the future.”

Thank you to the MUSC students for all of your hard work, and a huge thank you to their professor, our strategic volunteer Mike Meacham!

So far this year, CPN’s Community Engagement Council (CEC) has designed and implemented two programs that are encouraging leadership for both students and adults.

In January, a leadership pilot program (YouthPromise) was started on Saturdays for Sanders-Clyde Middle School students.  Twelve students enrolled in the monthly program and are engaged in topics such as effective communication, etiquette, and recognizing good leadership qualities in the adults and students they see every day.

The Community Leadership Institute (CLI) started on March 2nd.  Eight Neighborhood residents are currently enrolled and the course will culminate with a community project decided upon by the Neighborhood residents.  If you would like more information on the Community Leadership Institute, please see the Community Leadership Institute Brochure.  You can also sign up  with the online CLI Application.

Both programs are stewarded by the leadership of CEC members Yvette Lambright and Aj Davis along with the support of all the CEC members and community partners.  Many thanks to this dedicated group of Neighborhood residents.  See more photos from these programs on our Facebook page.  And while you’re there, don’t forget to “Like” us!

Check out the students from Sanders-Clyde Elementary/Middle School reciting the College Bound Creed. It’s never too early for great expectations!

Our futures are bright.
We keep our goals in sight.
Sanders-Clyde helps us to see all that we can be.
We will go to college. We will succeed.
This is our promise. This is our Creed!