What If Community Help Worked Like Stairways

Putting phones away for one meal sounds small until you see what it unlocks. We’re joined by Anita Magwood, program manager for Strengthening Families (SFP) with Community Action Partnership, and she breaks down how an evidence-based family skills program can help parents and kids reconnect, communicate, and handle conflict without losing each other in the noise of everyday life. We talk about the weekly flow, why starting with dinner matters, and how family coaches help parents practice skills that stick. 

We also zoom out to the bigger picture of community support across South Carolina’s PEEDEE region. Anita shares what Community Action Partnership (PD CAP) actually does, including Head Start, employment and training, LIHEAP utility assistance, rental help, emergency shelters, and nutrition meal support that reaches far beyond what most people expect. One of the most important takeaways: needing help after a loss of income can happen to anyone, and you shouldn’t miss the chance to reach out when support is available. 

Then we get into outreach that feels like legacy, not just giveaways: a community baby shower packed with education and connections, and a back to school bash built around encouragement, health checks, food, and a “Passport To Leadership” that stamps kids into purpose. We also reflect on the Clementa Pinckney Foundation and what servant leadership looks like on the ground, where the stairways to success are built one step at a time. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave us a review so more families can find these resources.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_02 0:04

Hello everyone, welcome to Native Drums. I'm Jocelia Williams, your hostess uh today. Uh such a pleasure to have you with us. And uh today we have my dear friend Sister Sister Sister, Mrs. Anita Magwood. Uh Anita is uh the program manager for Stripping Families, which is a part of Community Action Partnership, as well as uh the executive assistant. So hello, Anita.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Hello, Mr. Celia. Thank you for inviting me to be here with you today.

SPEAKER_02 0:40

It's wonderful to have you here with me, I tell you, because you know, uh, I met Anita uh when we were working, well, it was here at Savannah Church.

SPEAKER_00 0:50

It was uh that family parents involved in education. Yes. It was a grant um view or organization called Pi. And the purpose of that particular grant was to teach abstinence education to faith organizations. Yes. And Savannah Grove was a grant recipient.

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Yes. That's right. That's right, that's right. That was that I mean, there were oh my goodness, hundreds of children here.

SPEAKER_00 1:22

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

On that particular day, it was a grand, grand event. It was. And that's when I met Anita. And then there was something going on again when you moved to Florence. Well, when you began to work at Communation Partnership. That's right.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Rise above the storm.

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Okay. You had a booth over there.

SPEAKER_00 1:42

I said, Anita, what are you doing here? Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_02 1:45

And it has been uh and uh and it has been uh a racetrack ever since I started saying a roller coaster.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

That's right.

SPEAKER_02 1:52

But a racetrack. We've been running, uh running for the community, and that's what you do, and um, we're ever so glad to be friends with you. Because you know that's what we do. You got to do it for the community. That's right.

What Strengthening Families Does

SPEAKER_02 2:05

So let's talk about strengthening families because that's an awesome program that you're doing. Um, let's talk about that.

SPEAKER_00 2:11

Well, strengthening families is serving families with children ages 7 through 17. We are one of the providers with Children's Trust of South Carolina. There are other affiliate organizations who are providers all across the state. Strengthening Families, if affectionately known as SFP, is an evidence-based program that teaches families family life skills, which is so needed at this time.

SPEAKER_02 2:47

Yes, yes. So um let's talk about the layout of it, of the different components, and because you have a graduation at the end of that. Absolutely. And how many weeks does of this?

SPEAKER_00 3:00

The program lasts 11 weeks. Um, it begins with a meal. We invite families to come in and have a meal with their children every Monday evening from 5:30 to 8 o'clock. Um, our families then divide up into individual sessions, age appropriate, 0 to 5, 6 to 12, 12 to 17, and then we have family coaches who are working with the parents. Um it's a wonderful program. You see the results, um, whether it's conflict resolution, whether it's recognition and bonding, um how to communicate effectively, how to sit down and have a family meeting and discuss what's going on today.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

And one of the things that I love about it is when the families come in, we ask them to put their electronics away.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

Oh, okay. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 4:09

And that's a challenge. Yes. Even for us, to put your phone down and let's give each other our undivided attention. And you would be surprised what is shared during those family meetings.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

I imagine so. I imagine so. One thing you just stated, uh families, the first thing they do is families come in on Monday.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

On Monday.

SPEAKER_02 4:36

And they sit down and eat together. Now that's something that we don't do as we should as a family. So um that that in itself uh is special.

SPEAKER_00 4:52

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 4:52

Yes, yes, and get a chance to have little discussions then as well.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

Yes. And our family coaches also sit down with the families. Um, we encourage them to practice the skills that we're teaching them. Our families receive incentives and rewards every night for participation. One of the components of the program is reward the behavior that you want. So if you are facilitating the program, studying at home, we reward our families for their hard work. And it's actually an investment. So now, how often do they come during the week? One week, one um one night a week. One night a week for 11 weeks. And after those 11 weeks, we have a grand celebration, a graduation, and our parents really look forward to it. As a matter of fact, our families want to come back again and again and again.

SPEAKER_02 5:58

I've witnessed uh a couple of those graduations, and they they're awesome. They're awesome. Yeah, so if someone wanted to become a part of the Strengthening Families program, how would they do that?

How The 11 Week Nights Work

SPEAKER_00 6:10

I would advise them to follow us on social media as well as our website. We have flyers out there. We are um we have commercials on the radio as well, and you can also contact Petey, Community Action. We facilitate the program in Marion and Dillon. Florence has another provider, but Petey Cap is the facilitator in Marion and Dillon.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

Okay, all right. So strengthening families um um is located in different in several counties over South Carolina.

SPEAKER_00 6:47

Almost all of the counties in South Carolina. Okay. I think here in Florence, you probably have Lee County first steps, and you also have Lighthouse Ministries.

SPEAKER_02 7:02

Right.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

And they are great partners. So if you're interested in Florence and you don't want to drive to Marion, contact us and we will refer you to the organizations here in Florence.

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Great, great. That's wonderful.

How To Join And Find Providers

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Now, um, you do work with Community Action Partnership as well.

What Community Action Offers

SPEAKER_02 7:24

So there just tell just tell us the components that are involved in community action partnership because there's Head Start and all those different components that are um in Community Action Partnership.

SPEAKER_00 7:37

When I came in, I said I didn't have a flyer. Oh, I left my phone, so I can't really pull anything up. And I heard the Spirit of the Lord say it's inside of you.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 7:52

And it really is. Um there are many exciting things about community action, whether it's the 16 head starts across Marion, Florence, and Dillon. Of course, we have strengthening families, we have employment and training under community service block grant. And of course, everyone has heard about LAHEAT, and that is the heating and utility and rental assistance. And I'm I might be getting it all mixed up. We also have um two emergency shelters on 411 Gerrett Street, and we also have one in Dillon. Oh, okay. Um daycare homes, ooh, that's a big program. We help facilitate nutritional meals in homes. Um, so we have 249 homes serving nutritional meals across the state of South Carolina, not just in the PD region.

SPEAKER_01 8:58

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Um, it's a wonderful program that most people don't know that PD CAP facilitates. And I could go on and on. Another big component is outreach. Um, we do holiday hope.

SPEAKER_02 9:13

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Um, in three counties, project help, um, back to school bash, which we're getting ready for, the Senator Pinckney Um Back to School Bash Day of Service.

SPEAKER_02 9:27

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:28

Um, community baby showers. We have a community baby shower in Timminsville. And you can follow us again on our Facebook page and our website. But the baby shower is at the Resource Center in Timminsville on Tuesday, July 14th from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock. 10 o'clock to 12 o'clock. We're gonna serve um lunch and we're also gonna serve some education and information um which pregnant moms and um moms with infants, whether it's learning how to buckle up the car seat or learning how um different agencies can help with child care or insurance, just uh just so much information. That's right, you know, um, every time I participate, I'm in awe of what is out there. Why we're so excited is without vision the people perish, and PDCap has vision, and we are giving tools, strategies to promote healthy living.

SPEAKER_02 11:01

Right.

SPEAKER_00 11:01

Healthy living, healthy living equates to strong communities. Um, that's really what it's all about. Our tagline says helping people changing lives, changing lives, that's right. Helping people changing lives. Today I noticed one of my coworkers, and she has taken her own money to purchase fans. So for a lot of us in community action, it's not a job, but it's a call. On the outside, people don't know the commitment that we have about serving the community. I intended today to have a lipstick and to have my hair fried and laid to the side, but unfortunately, I didn't get a chance. And one of my coworkers said, Well, where are you going? Um, did you get finished today? And I said, No, ma'am, we've only just begun. This is the busy time of the season because our babies are going to school.

SPEAKER_02 12:06

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

And the parents need whatever resources that we can provide. So, 803 Fresh, I believe, says Boots on the Ground.

SPEAKER_02 12:18

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:19

Where are your fans at? Well, our fans are hitting the street.

SPEAKER_02 12:23

Right, right, right.

Baby Shower And Back To School Plans

SPEAKER_02 12:25

So, okay, we have the baby shower, the community baby shower on the 14th, yes, correct, in Timmersville. And then the back to school bash.

SPEAKER_00 12:35

It's on the 22nd. Okay, located in Marion at the Shannon Wilkerson Gym. We will probably have some satellite back to school um initiatives, drop-offs.

SPEAKER_01 12:50

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 12:51

Um, probably in Lake City as well as Dillon. Excuse me. It won't be a big event, but we will have book bags available. Um, what we're trying to do at the Back to School Bash is a little bit different. We are going to speak life into our children and into our parents. We have Bishop Terry Mazek, who is going to provide a few minutes of encouragement. All of our children will receive a passport, a passport to leadership, a passport to purpose. So as they visit each booth, they will get a stamp. And when they complete that process, our dignitaries and our faith leaders are going to put a Senator Clemente Peakney seal on their passport. They're going to be official. We have hopes that in years to come, we're going to see a little Obama or a little Maggie Glover say, I got my passport and marrying South Carolina. So we are going to be planting those seeds in those children. When you go back and you look at people who are successful, somebody said it.

SPEAKER_02 14:16

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:17

Somebody said it. Somebody said you were great or you can do better. Or don't do that. So we are going to take that opportunity not just to do a giveaway, but to speak purpose.

SPEAKER_02 14:35

Yes, yes, yes. Plant that seed.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Plant that seed. So come get your passport. For the babies, they will receive a Senator Pinckney coloring book.

SPEAKER_02 14:46

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

We did not, we don't want our children to not know their history.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

That's right. That was my next.

SPEAKER_00 14:56

Because most of our kids, they don't know who Senator Pinky.

SPEAKER_02 15:00

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 15:01

Who he was. And we want them to know not only Senator Pinckney, but the other representatives from the Emmanuel 9.

SPEAKER_02 15:10

Oh, yes.

SPEAKER_00 15:11

We will also have a moment of silence for them as well as the survivors. So I'm excited because it's legacy.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 15:23

It's legacy. This is something that was instilled in us in the tobacco field.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Okay?

SPEAKER_00 15:30

So it didn't just start at community action. I had no idea that I would live in the PD region. No idea.

SPEAKER_02 15:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:43

But here I am off Alligator Road, living on Stevenson Farm. Okay. My grandson is visiting and he's five. And he said, G Ma, you live in the forest. Oh my goodness. He said, you live in the forest. And I asked my husband earlier today, I said, what are y'all doing? And my grandson said, we're going to get a knee high. Now that's uh an inside joke. You have to be old enough to know what a knee high is. But he is five, and we have integrated the country in Jamari.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Oh, everyone needs to integrate the country into the grandbabies. Slow them down some, you know. Take those tablets. That was I was about to say away from the electronics and all the devices and give them a little forestry.

unknown 16:46

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 16:48

And you know, um my cousin recently said, he said, sometimes the escalator to success is out of order. So you can use the stairways. Oh yeah. And the stairways always works. And I was like, whoo, that's a nugget. A preacher would preach, that yes, yes. And at PD CAP, we provide those stairways to success. I can remember trying to utilize the service at community action. That's when I didn't know what community action was.

SPEAKER_02 17:31

Right.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

But when I lost the contract, um I needed some assistance. And a few others I found out what a community action agency was. What I would like to share is community action is for anyone who's have experienced a loss of income over the last 30 days. You don't have to be generational, um, low income. I can be low income tomorrow. So it can happen to anyone.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 18:13

But don't let, don't let, don't miss the opportunity to reach out for help if you need it. Um it's there.

SPEAKER_02 18:26

Right.

SPEAKER_00 18:27

And most of the people who work there are compassionate, kind, loving, caring. And um I believe in it. You know, people laugh, but I believe in I'm sold out. Um, I'm a cap girl. That's what y'all call it. Cat. Um I'm a I'm a cap girl. I'm official. Um I believe that um I didn't know the title, but I love community base. I think a lot of solutions are solved in the community. I think it's appropriate to teach the community how to be winners for themselves. Um they know their trials and tribulations. Oh, yes. And um I think that they are a great asset when they are trying to um eliminate barriers in their lives.

SPEAKER_02 19:29

Yes, yes, and community action partnership is there.

SPEAKER_00 19:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:33

Is there, and um, it's good to know that they're there in the community for those who and like you said, it could be a 30-day situation.

SPEAKER_00 19:40

Could be.

SPEAKER_02 19:41

Mm-hmm. So it doesn't have to be um an everlasting thing that's happened to you or something duration.

SPEAKER_00 19:49

Instead of saying 30 days, it's temporary.

SPEAKER_02 19:51

Temporary, there you go.

SPEAKER_00 19:52

We all have temporary staff.

SPEAKER_02 19:54

Yes, we do.

SPEAKER_00 19:55

But setbacks are an opportunity to come up, and sometimes getting that little bit of assistance, it's a help, it's a kickstart. Yes, yes, it's a stairway.

SPEAKER_02 20:07

There you go. There you go. Well, that's great, that's

Pinckney Legacy And Servant Leadership

SPEAKER_02 20:10

great. Now, one more question. The Clemente Pinckney Foundation, let's talk about that a little bit and um how the foundation came about. Of course, we know that it was it's named for uh Senator Pinckney, who is your cousin. Yes, yes, dear cousin, your dear cousin. And so let's sort of talk about that and um and what it is that the foundation does and what it stands for.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Well, the Clemente Pinckney Foundation um has several different areas that um that they embrace. It's ran by his beautiful wife, Jennifer Pinckney, and his two daughters, Milana and Eliana. Jennifer's passion and heart is the Low Country because that is the district that Senator Pinckney served. So most of the programs that she sponsors are in the Low Country. However, we are blessed that she is inclusive of the PD.

SPEAKER_02 21:23

Of the PD, yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

And she has been a wonderful asset to PD community action. Um she has opened doors. Our back to school bash is not a typical back to school come pick up a book sack.

SPEAKER_01 21:43

No, it's not.

SPEAKER_00 21:44

It is an experience, whether it's line dancing, um, whether it's getting your blood pressure checked. But I promise you won't leave there the same.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Yes, right.

SPEAKER_00 21:59

Um You will spend time with us, whether it's raffles, and um, I think we may give away a couple of TVs and we will break bread together, we will feed you. And hopefully, Harvest Hope is gonna come through, and we will have fruits and vegetables.

SPEAKER_02 22:18

Wonderful.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

We're praying on that. Um, just waiting on that phone call, Harvest Hope.

SPEAKER_02 22:24

All right.

SPEAKER_00 22:26

But if you work, if you work it, you know, it's not an escalator, but it's lots of stairs.

SPEAKER_02 22:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

And there is something that you learn in between the escalator and the stairways. You know, there are things that you learn. When the Lawrence sent me down the dirt road at grandmama's house, I was like, this is the last place after living in Greenville for eight years, Columbia for 30 plus years.

SPEAKER_02 23:04

Right.

SPEAKER_00 23:04

And then I'm gonna go down the dirt road. But the Lord said, I'm gonna send you down the dirt road so you can go back up the road. Wow. And it's what you learn in the process. So when you get there, you know how to stay there. Whether it's building your character, whether it's um making changes in your finance, whether it's learning about better health. But don't negate the road. Don't negate it. You know, we all want to get there.

SPEAKER_02 23:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:45

But you don't want to get there too soon.

SPEAKER_02 23:47

No, you don't.

SPEAKER_00 23:49

You don't want to get there too soon.

SPEAKER_02 23:51

You want you want to take your time so that it'll be everywhere.

SPEAKER_00 23:53

Slow and steady, rock steady. That's right. And um, it's just so many things that um you learn. I've learned a lot about the Lord and the call on my life as well. Um one of the things that Senator Pinckney believed in was servant. Yes, servant leadership. Um there was no little man in his eyesight. And when he passed, I thought I was the best cousin. My daughter said, Mama, get in line. Because he treated everyone the same. He treated everyone the same. Yes. But I can remember um facilitating classes at a shelter in Greenville, and it would be Tuesdays at 7 o'clock, and every Tuesday at 7 o'clock, he'd call me. He said, Let me speak to the ladies. And he would say something positive to them. I can remember a time that he bought two VIP tables at a gala, and he said, Gigi, which is my nickname, yeah. He says, make sure one of those tables are the ladies at the shelter.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 25:14

That's the type of man. And as we um embark on sharing his legacy, right, faith, education, servant leadership, um, love. What's love got to do with it? Everything.

SPEAKER_02 25:38

Everything. It's the greatest. Everything's the greatest of these.

SPEAKER_00 25:42

It's the greatest of these. And I'm, as you can tell, I said I was tired, but you got me on fire. And and I said I didn't have anything to read.

SPEAKER_02 25:54

I knew you would handle it though.

SPEAKER_00 25:56

But I don't know. I feel like the best is yet to come. Even though you get tired sometimes, don't get weary and well doing, don't faint yet. And um, we have work to do, don't we?

SPEAKER_02 26:14

We have work to do.

SPEAKER_00 26:15

We have work to do. It's so wonderful being at Savannah

Final Reflections And Closing Thanks

SPEAKER_00 26:20

Grove, and you see all the noise. Isn't that a blessing?

SPEAKER_02 26:28

The noise of children.

SPEAKER_00 26:29

You see kids everywhere. The parking lot is filled. The park, check this out. The parking lot is filled, and the day is Thursday.

SPEAKER_02 26:39

Yes, the city.

SPEAKER_00 26:40

Isn't that life?

SPEAKER_02 26:42

Yes, that's life.

SPEAKER_00 26:43

That's life. And sometimes it's outside of the wall. So these are children probably from everywhere.

SPEAKER_02 26:49

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 26:49

Do they all attend church here?

SPEAKER_02 26:51

No. No? They're from everywhere. Children that attend church here, children from other churches, children who don't go to church. Mm-hmm. Well, so yeah, it's it's a it's a great outreach opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 27:07

It is. Yes, it is. It is. Um, I appreciate you for having um Anita GG Magwood and just having a few minutes to laugh. You know I love you much. Yes, yes, and um at work, they said, why do you have on your preacher wife dress? And I said, Well, Miss Josiah, you wants me to do something. And they said, That's your girlfriend. When you call, when you call, Joseph comes. So you better hurry up to Savannah Grove. So here I am.

SPEAKER_02 27:41

Oh, and you're such a blessing, Anita. Thank you ever so much.

SPEAKER_00 27:44

Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_02 27:45

Because you're a walking, walking uh, they used to say encyclopedia, but you're a walking iPad or walking iPad. You you just you have a plethora of information, and um, I've always um admired how it pours out of you. You don't even realize uh, you know, the work the wealth of knowledge that you have with inside of you. I love to watch you, even when you're dealing with children's trust, and I just watch how you uh uh the talk and how with your presentations and what have you. You're a wonderful, you're a great person.

SPEAKER_01 28:23

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 28:25

And I am ever so um thankful that God has uh allowed me to be uh your friend.

SPEAKER_01 28:34

My sister friends.

SPEAKER_02 28:36

Ah, definitely. Well, thank you ever so much for for um coming and sharing with us, and the door swing open for you to come back again because you have well, I can just throw a subject matter out and you'll just go right up. Isn't that right, Cash? Ah, yes, yes, Cash is a witness to that. So um we just uh you're a resource. That that was the word I was looking for. You're a magnificent resource, so thank you ever so much. Thank you for coming to be with us on Native Drums. All right, everyone. Thank you ever so much for viewing today, and uh, we'll be back on next Sunday with more wonderful guests from the PD. And uh we're going to uh be getting some people from across the state as well, so you stay tuned for that. Have a great Sunday afternoon. Evening, excuse me. Thank you. That's so long.

SPEAKER_00 29:27

So long