The Upstate Update: October 2022

The Upstate Update is a digital newsletter curated and shared each month that offers insights into Upstate Forever's recent work, highlights upcoming events and volunteer opportunities, and shares other conservation and advocacy news.

We post the Upstate Update here on the Upstate Forever blog each month. If you would like to receive the Upstate Update directly in your email inbox, please sign up for the mailing list.

Historic Soapstone Baptist Church and grounds protected

Soapstone Baptist Church was established more than 150 years ago in Liberia, a small community in Pickens County settled by formerly enslaved African Americans and their families looking to start new lives in freedom after the Civil War. On its namesake soapstone outcropping and perched atop a ridge looking toward fields, forests, and the Blue Ridge Escarpment, the church has since served the community as a place of worship, fellowship, and education.

Together with sixth-generation steward and matriarch of the church Mable Owens Clarke, Pastor Chet Trower, South Carolina Conservation Bank, Upstate Land Conservation Fund, and integral partners and community members, our Land Conservation team is honored to have recently completed the protection of Soapstone Church through a conservation easement.

Learn more about Soapstone

Read this month's Upstate Update

Also in this month's newsletter:

• Hiring: Land Policy Manager
  If you'd like to advance UF's goals related to land policy including protecting urban tree canopy and green spaces, expanding housing and mobility choices, protecting natural resources, and more, please apply by Sunday, October 30. Apply now

• It's been a busy month — catch up on recent events!
  In addition to the work our team does day in and day out to protect the Upstate's special places and advocate for a greener, healthier future, October has been jam-packed with fun events and opportunities to connect with friends new and old. Read more in the UU

• Staff anniversaries
  Congratulations to Executive Director Andrea Cooper and Deputy Director Lisa Hallo, who each celebrate anniversaries on the UF team this month! Andrea joined our team as Executive Director in 2015. Lisa joined in 2007 as Project Associate for the Clean Water Program. After several years in that position, Lisa became Land Policy Director, before finally assuming her current role as Deputy Director.

And more! 

Click here to read this month's Upstate Update, and visit upstateforever.org/email to sign up and receive our monthly newsletter directly in your inbox.