The Palmetto Project, a group that meets once a month at various locations in Georgetown County, brings people together from a variety of backgrounds and promotes racial harmony.

The group is now a mixture of ages and races, but they always welcome new faces to their informal meetings that include food, lively discussion and a variety of speakers.

“The Palmetto Project is about open sharing of ideas and talking about black and white issues,” said Ruthann Howard, a member of the group for six years.

“I’d like to see more people involved because it promotes camaraderie in our community.”

Another long-time member, Bob Miller, said after spending 30 years serving in the military, he is always trying to improve race relations.

“My ultimate goal is for people everywhere to sit down at a table and talk about racial problems,” Miller said.

“This group has a long history. We have talked openly about cross burnings in the Maryville section of Georgetown to the desecration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Pawleys Island.”

With a variety of speakers, the group also learns about aspects of the community.

Some of the speakers have included current Georgetown Mayor Jack Scoville, Tom Rubillo, the former mayor, Dr. Randy Dozier, superintendent of Georgetown County schools, and a Georgetown County Sheriff’s deputy.

They have also visited and heard from people with CASA, Safe Families, AMI Kids, Tara Hall Home for Boys, The Village Group, and more.

Palmetto Project member Norma Grant said she joined the group to learn about her community.

“I became interested in the Palmetto Project group because it was formed to help us become more informed about things happening in our community,” Grant said.

The conversation at the most recent meeting on Thursday, January 26, at the Georgetown Active Adult Daycare turned to politics.

Minnie Kennedy, Georgetown resident and former Civil Rights activist and teacher, said she doesn’t understand why more people don’t vote.

“I talk to people not from America and they ask, ‘Didn’t you vote? How did they get in?’” Kennedy said.

“I know 3-year-olds who could do better than some of the top-level leaders in our country. If they don’t do the job, we should get out and vote them out.”

The Palmetto Project meets on the last Thursday of each month. For details about the next meeting, call Ruthann Howard at (843) 907-1219 or Steve Tansey at (843) 241-3849.

By Clayton Stairs

cstairs@gtowntimes.com