Leadership
SC Progressive Network Education Fund
Executive Committee
The SC Progressive Network’s Executive Committee is elected by the Board, which is comprised of a representative from each member organization, with members serving two-year terms. The Executive Committee meets every other month in person or by conference call. The full Board gathers twice each year for statewide retreats and conferences.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Co-Chair: Rep. Joseph Neal
803-734-2804
(Dist. No. 70, Richland-Sumter Cos.) Minister/VP, New Horizons Systems, Inc.; Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Chester; residing at 1326 Clarkson Rd., Hopkins; b. Aug. 31, 1950; s. Choatte R., Sr. and LaVerne K. Neal; g. Benedict Coll., B.A., 1972; post graduate studies, Colgate Divinity, Pittsburg Theological Seminary; Hon. D.D., Benedict Coll.; Chm., Citizens for Hopkins Comm. Organization; mem.: Moving Forward Comm. Group; NAACP; Kappa Alpha Psi Frat., Inc.; Amer. Soc. Software Engineers; Bd. of Dirs., past mem., S.C. Fair Share; co-founder, CLEAN-Citizens Local Environment Action Network; Bd. mem., S.C. Environmental Watch; founder and Bd. mem., Area Communities in Econ. Dev. (Comm. Dev. Corp.); Sumter Area Econ. Dev.; Bd. mem., Funds for Southern Coms.; Lower Richland Water Authority, Lower Richland Comm. Council; past mem., First Union Bank Comm. Reinvestment Act Adv. Bd.; Rural Sumter Comm. for Econ. Dev.; Chm., Citizens for Hopkins Neighborhood Assns.; Gov.’s Nuclear Waste Task Force; Co-Chm., S.C. Progressive Network; Bd. mem., AAEJAN-The African Amer. Environmental Action Network; Chm., S.C. Legis. Black Caucus, 2000-02; Dep. Dem. Leader; House Ways and Means Com.; prev. serv. in House 1993-08.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Co-Chair: Donna Dewitt
803-798-8300 • scaflcio@bellsouth.net
Donna, an Orangeburg native, has served as President of the SC AFL-CIO since 1996 She is on the executive boards of CASA Family Systems and the Community Mediation Center, is Co-chair of the Labor Party and Chair of the Southeastern Institute for Women in Politics.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Vice-Chair: Melissa Harmon
melissa.harmon@columbiasc.edu
As a jack of all trades Melissa has experienced many different things that have brought her to where she is now: from working as an EMT, time out at sea serving in the United States Navy, and working as the Volunteer Coordinator with South Carolina Equality. She is an upcoming senior at Columbia College, studying Political Science, with sights set on a law degree.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Vice-Chair: James Holloway
jholloway12@earthlink.net
James has been a community organizer for 30 years. He was elected to the Saluda County School Board in 1988, where he still serves. In 2003, James organized the Riverside Community Development Corporation that bought the old and abandoned Riverside School he graduated from 41 years earlier. The school is now the site of vibrant community meetings and after-school programs that run year-round.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Co-Secretary: LaMar Wheeler
715-340-1339 • lamarwheeler@hotmail.com
LaMar has been serving as a volunteer for a variety of community service organizations in the Midlands. Her passion lies in fighting for women’s reproductive rights and protecting children.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Co-Secretary: Erica Carter
843-953-0888 • carterericam@yahoo.com
Erica is a native of Columbia, SC. She currently lives in the Hanahan area of Berkeley County and is the Principal Investigator for the It’s Up To Me (IUTM) initiative at The Citadel. IUTM is a New Morning Foundation grant-funded teen pregnancy prevention program serving the 29403 community. Erica is currently a PhD/ABD student of Political Science at the University of SC -Columbia and her major area of study is social welfare policy development, implementation, and evaluation. Erica is Board Chair for a statewide consumer advocacy organization, SC Fair Share, and she is the vice-chair of a statewide political party, The United Citizens Party. Erica was the former Network representative for the Columbia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Treasurer: James Carpenter
jcarpenter9@gmail.com • 803-467-6998
James Carpenter works as a computer programmer and business analyst in the insurance industry. A native of Georgia, he has lived in Columbia, SC, for the past 20 years. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening, helping community organizations, and learning.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Lowcountry Coordinator: Clayton Seufert
843-552-1322 • seufertc@hotmail.com
Originally from Iowa, Clayton retired from the USAF in 2000 and came to SC in 2002 to take a civil service systems manager position with DoD in North Charleston. He’s an active member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the Charleston Central Labor Council – a Network member organization. In his spare time he likes studying US Constitutional and international law for precedents that support the indictment and trial of high-level Bush Administration officials for the crimes they’ve committed.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Midlands Coordinator: John Dawkins
803-467-1981 • jpdawkins@gmail.com
With an organizing history that dates back to his first year of high school, John has a lifelong commitment to social justice and equality. He has worked on a myriad of issues, including LGBTQ equality, migrant rights, and voter protection/reform. John sits on the board of the SC Pride Movement, is an active volunteer with Sean’s Last Wish Foundation and co-organizer of Impact Columbia. He’s 36, single and currently resides in the Eau CLaire area of Columbia with his dogs, Bacch and Bird, and Ms. Fred, his cat.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Midlands Coordinator: Elijah Frasier
803-413-6510 • efrasier@primerica.com
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Upstate Coordinator: Roger Finch
864-905-6690 • ubitquitus@aol.com
Roger retired from the railroad being a union officer for the last 15 years in that career. Worked on and off as an organizer for Carolina Alliance for Fair Employment (CAFE) and SC Fair Share over the last 10 years. He has served as Executive Committee person representing Greenville County to the State Democratic Party three terms, ran for the State House in 1990, and has been to four Democratic National conventions. He considers himself a Socialist Democrat, environmentalist, Unitarian Universalist, and an advocate for peace and justice.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Member at large: Tom Law
tomlaw@bigsphinx.com
Tom is a network administrator in Lexington, SC, and a long-time member of the SC Progressive Network. In his spare time he is a composer/improviser of electronic music, and a free-lance promoter of avant-rock/jazz/weird-classical concerts. He intends to open a new live music venue in Columbia in the near future, maybe even in cahoots with the Network. Tom welcomes all advice and aid in figuring out and fulfilling his new responsibilities on the Executive Committee.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Staff
Director: Brett Bursey
803-808-3384 • network@scpronet.com
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Communications Director: Becci Robbins
803-808-3384 • becci@scpronet.com
Becci has served as Communications Director for the Network since its creation in 1995. In 2002, she founded the Grimke Sisters, an online feminist community. Other activist interests: animal welfare, environmental protection and documenting grassroots organizing in South Carolina through photography and blogging. She is a graphic designer for Harbinger Publications, and makes art in her home studio in Lexington.
