Changing the Perception

Vital Stats

Zachary M

Orangeburg, SC

people helped2000
People Doing It 60

The Problem

The Orangeburg South Carolina Community is plagued with having a negative perception. This perception, is due to its high Aids rates (the district encompassing the Orangeburg Community ranked #1 in the state), high crime rates (ranked 9th out 46 in crime in SC), and low voter registration numbers (over 25% of eligible voters, not even registered to vote within the county).

Plan of Action

Right now the organization is in the process of creating a social network, based on community service. It will take what the kids love to do and combine it with what they need to do.

Project Updates

The non- profit organization Changing the Perception Inc. held the 1st Annual Sankofa Show, to raise awareness for various forms of cancer. The show highlighted an array of performers ranging from African (UJIMAA) dancers, spoken word artists, skits, singers, and myriad of other various acts. The show’s purpose was twofold, it was first to unite the neighboring colleges (South Carolina State University and Claflin University) in a common goal. The second was to educate the audience on the different risk factors associated with various forms of cancer. Between each act, the members of Changing the Perception gave 30 second public service announcements on the related cancers. The Plum Grant funds were used primarily to pay for Sankofa Show t-shirts. Other fees in accordance with the show included the security fee for the building, and the supplies needed for the printing of the show’s flyers.
Dosomething.org in conjunction with the Sankofa Show was promoted in the local newspaper. http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2009/03/20/news/doc49c2e520877f53068116...
and on our facebook.com page http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=53146197841&id=1493970436&v...
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24463490337 attached is a copy of the budget and the advertisement that was placed in the Times and Democrat. (Our local newspaper)
All proceeds were donated to the American Cancer Society

The board members of the nonprofit organization entitled Changing the Perception Inc., have come up with a tentative date for the Plum Grant event. That date is scheduled for March the 10, 2009 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium in Orangeburg, SC. The event is intended to provide a multicultural experience to the people of Orangeburg, SC. The event will also serve as a benefit and away to raise awareness for prostate and breast cancer.