West Pelzer Mayor Blake Sanders has been selected to participate in the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston to participate in the inaugural class of the Riley Mayors’ Design
Fellowship. The other 2019 Riley Mayors’ Design Fellows are: Mayor Corrin F. Bowers, III of Estill; Mayor Harry Williams of Hardeeville; Mayor Carl Melvin Pennington, IV of Hartsville; Mayor Michael C. Butler of Orangeburg; Mayor Rosa Lee Privette of Patrick; Mayor John P. Gettys, Jr. of Rock Hill; Mayor Brandy Hart Amidon of Travelers Rest.
"The Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship is about seeking excellence and together elevating the municipalities that fuel our state,” said former Charleston mayor, Joseph P. Riley, Jr.
The program equips South Carolina mayors with the tools necessary to implement projects that positively impact the built and/or natural environment in their communities. Preparation and research occurs throughout the fall with support from Clemson’s Master of Resilient Urban Design students. The culmination is in February with a two and a half day design workshop held at the College of Charleston during which each mayor presents the challenges and opportunities of his or her project. From this presentation, mayors receive feedback as well as information on relevant design and planning topics from a group of expert faculty. Each mayor will return home equipped to begin a transformation.
Mayors were selected from a competitive group of nominees based upon demonstrated visionary leadership and the quality of an idea for a physical project to improve community character and drive development.
The Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship, a Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Center for Livable Communities program, works with mayors across the State of South Carolina to build stronger cities and towns. Learn more about Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship at rileyfellowship.org.