Experiences from Bamberg, SC: Residential surveys for community development input

Bamberg Jobs Corps Center-Apparently where dropouts go to learn work skills. Looks almost like a juvenile detention center with the fencing. Located in a residential area near where we surveyed.
This is what SCDOT did in downtown Bamberg. They expanded the road, thus removing all onstreet parking and thought that adding the rails would make the pedestrians feel safe. Really makes you want to stop and explore this downtown, right!?! Such a shame because it has potential. Although Harry informed me that a man from the northeast has purchased many of the buildings and is in the process of renovating them. He is anticipating that the new Dubai inland port in Orangeburg will have a significant economic impact in Bamberg!
Base of a flagpole near the downtown that was dedicated to the community in 1981. It sits in the middle of an ashphalt lot.

Remnants of an old mill. The historic preservationists in the area were only able to save the old chimney.

09/25/08: Today I headed to Bamberg with fellow classmates Sarah and Felix to administer surveys to residents. Our class will be working on a Community Development plan for this socially and economically deprived town. The goal of the survey was to obtain residents input on what they perceived the most important issues to be and what ideas or actions they would support.

I would say the experience began once we got off of I-26 and were driving through rural South Carolina. We began discussing what it must be like to be born and raised in a town with seemingly so little to offer (from our perspective). When we arrived in Bamberg it did not feel much like a town. It reminded me of a nondescript exit I might pull off to get gas and a snack while driving through ‘nowhereland’ to get to the next big city.

We met with Clemson Extension Agent Harry Chrissy for a quick lunch where he gave us a brief overview of what to expect, certain safety rules to follow, etc. He informed us that since we were the last group of students administering surveys that we would be in some of the more ‘undesirable’ neighborhoods. Already a little nervous, I was reassured when he said he would be accompanying one of us so that we could survey in groups of two. As we were preparing to leave, he brought up one final point. He said if people stalled for an inordinately long time trying to ‘find their glasses,’ it might be because they could not read. This statement caught me off guard—I know that adult illiteracy is a real problem; however, I had never met an adult that could not read—at least not yet.

I was fortunate to be paired with Harry during surveying because it gave me a chance to learn more about him and his work. As we walked through neighborhood streets to get to our section I noticed many houses in disrepair dotted with a few beautiful older homes. Sidewalks were often lacking and those areas where they did exist were often in poor condition.

When I knocked on my first door, rehearsing what I would say in my head, I opened it to a friendly older white gentleman who was very forthright about his inability to read and write. My first door and I have already found someone who can not read—I wonder what the illiteracy rates are in this area? I offered to read him the survey and he accepted. Through demographic questions I discovered that the highest level of schooling he had received was fourth grade! That really blew me away! Thinking about it now it is logical that someone who can not read most likely did not make it through much of elementary school. I guess I just had never really analyzed illiteracy because I never had to think about it. I could not imagine only being in school through fourth grade! I have spent a great majority of my life in school and think about how much was gained in so many different ways during those numerous years. I also could not imagine how one could truly survive in our society without this most basic skill, or how someone could make it to the age of 67 without ever learning to read!

As I read the questions to this gentleman, I found myself paraphrasing the questions so that he could understand them. Even so, he still asked me what certain words meant or that he did not understand what I was asking. One of the words on the survey that stands out was ‘speculative’. The question was asking if the resident would agree to an increase in property tax in order to pay for a speculative building if it might attract new industry to the area. It made me think that the survey should have been written to a lower reading level. Harry, the survey writer, aware of the illiteracy issues, obviously overlooked this—which I think would be easy to do. But it also makes me wonder if this could compromise the integrity of the answers, due to comprehension issues.

We spent about 4 hours surveying, during that time both Harry and I were able to complete 6 surveys each. Of all the doors we knocked on we each had only 2 individuals that turned us down. One of my residents was on the phone and had to leave for work, the other said she was tired and would rather sleep. I asked if there was any other adult in the house that would be interested in helping with the survey. She said just her friend and that she was sleeping too. It made me wonder if she was illiterate and just not as open as the first man I had interviewed. I came across only one other man who was willing to complete the survey but could not read. So of the people that were upfront about it, rough statistics would show that for this neighborhood, the illiteracy rate is 2/6 or 33%!

Overall I was touched by the friendliness and willingness of the people that I met in Bamberg. I ended my survey by asking the person for their name and thanking them and telling them that I hoped to see them and as many of their friends and neighbors that they could bring at the public workshop on October 18th. (One of the funnier and sad comments I received was from a young female who asked if we would be giving them money if they came to the meeting) I am really excited to go back to Bamberg next month and hope to see some of the same people I had the pleasure to interview. Being in the town and meeting the survey respondents has made this project more personal and I look forward to being a part of the rest of the process!

September 2nd Class

Today we had our second class—in a bar! It was an interesting dynamic to be sipping cocktails beside your professors while holding discussion about race, the state of the SC educational system and other serious topics. I have to say I rather enjoyed it, although was warned not to get accustomed to it!

Our conversations were based on two different readings (excerpts from J.W. Cash’s The Mind of the South and David Delaney’s Race, Place and the Law 1836-1948), as well as a documentary detailing the conditions of schools along South Carolina’s I-95 corridor entitled Corridor of Shame: The Neglect of South Carolina’s Rural Schools. All were very insightful, especially considering I have spent the majority of my life in the Northeast and was born after the time of Jim Crow laws; however the video left the greatest impact on me. Aside from being more of a visual learner, it was almost unbelievable to me that conditions like this could exist in schools—sewage backups, no heat, collapsing ceilings, etc. In my opinion, the early years of school are difficult enough, let alone with the additional challenges that these students are facing.

As a child, my family moved a fair amount. I was fortunate enough that when we relocated to a new area, my parents would ask the realtor where the best school district was located and only look at houses within that area. Initially, it was hard to understand why the concerned parents (who are probably in the minority of parents in this area, which leads to another entirely different but equally important issue) could not do more for the situation. My initial thought was why not leave? But then you realize there are other circumstances and limitations such as education levels, job availability, skill sets, dependence on family, etc. that are preventing this from being an easy solution. Even if they were fortunate enough to be able to move, what about the children left behind???

Having spent the majority of my years in the north and only the past six years in the south, I do not possess a true southern perspective, but am slowly learning. I would say I had preconceived notions of what it meant to be a ‘southerner’ when I first ventured below the Mason Dixon Line. In my defense, I think both Southerners and Northerners each have preconceived notions about the others culture, lifestyle, etc. Cash’s book had an interesting take on the ‘Grand Ole’ South. In a sense, he deflated some of the romantic notions associated with the south and its great plantations and great southern families. Overall, he gave good insight into reasons that the south is the way it is. Whether they are all accurate or not is debatable, but it is a good start for understanding why life here in the south is different in many respects from the northern life to which I am accustomed.

Lastly, we were introduced to Harry Crissy, a Clemson extension agent in Bamberg County. He is a very passionate and energetic man that has been working to promote economic revitalization within several communities in southwestern SC. We will be working with Harry throughout the semester to make improvements to the Bamberg community through planning and design concepts. Our first step will be conducting door-to-door interviews with its citizens to gain there input. This will be an adventure I am sure. I have not gone door-to-door since I was selling a girl scout selling cookies! Our group will be in the area on September 25th …..more updates later.

My Expectations & Experience

As a 2nd year masters student, this is the first semester in which the program allots for true electives. The first year provided a good general base of knowledge and skill sets for the profession of landscape architecture. Although many of the classes do incorporate elements of real world application, ROE is the first opportunity to receive true hands on experience. This first hand experience is invaluable for reinforcing the information learned in class, as well as promoting skill sets that can not be learned in the classroom.

Several other elements of the class attracted me to it and I am sure there are even more that I will not be able to appreciate fully until the end of the semester. The ability to effectively interact with public officials will be a crucial aspect for most all landscape architects. In addition, the structure of the class allows for interdisciplinary work and I am positive I will be intimately working with planners, architects and other professionals throughout my career. Learning how to successfully work together is important, as are the new perspectives and ideas that different majors will provide. Finally, having the opportunity to collaborate and use our skills to better the lives of others has a satisfaction that can not be achieved through simply earning an “A” on a project.

It is my hope that the experience of this class will provide me with techniques for effective communication and interaction with both the community and public officials. Also, I would like to possess a better understanding of the processes involved in seeing an idea through from conception to implementation within the public realm. Overall, I hope the class will provide me with a positive base that will help reinforce my commitment to civic responsibilities throughout my career.

In addition to my practical skill sets that I have been developing over the past year in school (drawing, Photoshop, etc), I would like to think I bring to the table the ability to work well with people. I have a fair amount of experience and also enjoy interacting with a variety of types and ages of people—from mentoring young children as a ‘Big Sister’ and working as a camp counselor to holding facilitation workshops in college and providing training to colleagues in a prior job.