Southern Protocol

I just heard about this campaign on the radio this morning, and it is a true testament to one person making a difference – I actually arrived at my destination before the segment was over, and stayed in the car to listen to it!

Jimmy Wayne, a thirty-something year old relatively well-known Country singer, had a dark childhood. After an abusive start to his life, he bounced from foster home to foster home, and eventually ended up a homeless teenager. In one of life’s miracles he was taken in by a North Carolina family, and ended up rising to fame with songs like “Stay Gone” and “I Love You This Much.” But just because he’s now secure, loved and with a home doesn’t mean he’s forgotten where he came from, and what it took to get through it.

Which is why he founded the Meet Me Halfway Campaign in January of this year, a one-of-a-kind charity that raises awareness of kids who have “aged out” of foster homes and find themselves with no place to go. As an unbelievably massive kickoff for the organization, Wayne started a cross-country walk – yes, as in, he’s WALKING halfway across America.. my joints get sore just thinking about it – to bring attention to his cause.

His amazing journey began in a Nashville foster home parking lot on New Years Day, and concludes next week in Phoenix, Arizona. As of today, he has walked well over 1500 miles. Bet you can’t beat that on your treadmill! The inspiring country singer has logged every step of his adventure, chronicling the people he has met and the challenges he continues to face. On that radio segment this morning, it said that if he had a scheduled media interview or performance, he would have someone drive him to the airport, wait while he performed, then drive him back to exactly where he left off. Absolutely incredible.

To learn more about the Meet Me Halfway Campaign and everything it does to support these abandoned teenagers, visit the official website. You can track Jimmy’s Twitter updates, watch videos of his journey, and donate when you realize what a great cause it is.

I love this time of year, when it is warm and sunny and people hold events outside! The Upper King “Design District” is holding its annual Spring Design Walk tomorrow night, April 15th, from 5-8 pm in the stores, then 8 til closing in all the restaurants. The list of happenings for the event is miles long, and every single one looks more fun than the last!

Literally there are way too many cool and artsy events to type out here, so below are just a few of the things I find most exciting. Check out the full list of details here!

*Mayor Riley will open the event at the corner of Radcliffe and King around 5:00 pm

*Grand opening of Macaroon Boutique at 45 John Street. A hugely anticipated patisserie…YUM!

*Tommy Dew and Charleston City Slickers will debut their iPad app that gives you a GPS tour of Upper King (sidenote: I am fascinated by iPads)

*Sea Island Habitat for Humanity will present their deconstruction program at King Street Kitchen Company. KSKC will serve sweets from Charleston Cookie Company, display one-of-a-kind florals by Stems (yay Anne!), and exhibit some cars from Baker Motor Company.

*Acclaimed food writer Holly Herrick will sign her new cookbook with delicious Southern recipes at SieMatic

*Franklin Smith will do “Intuitive Guidance Readings” at Seeking Indigo…I’m 99% sure that means the same thing as going to a psychic.

*DJ Sonar and Christophe Chocolatier at Dwelling

That seriously is only a small snippet of the events. If nothing else, go grab a drink outside at Chai’s or Joe Pasta and watch all the commotion!