GROW

GROW jazz workshop
2025-05-01 20:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Every 1st and 3rd Thursday, GROW holds a free jazz workshop that is open to all. Join friends for a casual night of live music by some of Columbia’s finest. Got talent? Sit in with the band for a tune or two or take the mic at intermission to share a story or poem.

Deep Dive with Armand Derfner
2025-04-27 16:00 - 18:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Sunday, April 27, 4–6pm
Deeper Dive with Armand Derfner, nationally renowned civil rights attorney
Mr. Derfner, a Charleston resident, will discuss the US Supreme Court’s systemic betrayal of civil rights and the rulings favoring corporations’ rights over individual liberties. Derfner co-authored the recently released book Justice Deferred: Race and the Supreme Court, with distinguished historian Dr. Vernon Burton.
This is a public program that is part of the Modjeska Simkins School’s spring session. Participants may attend online or in-person at GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave. in Columbia. To join on Zoom, register HERE.

Craft Circle
2025-04-26 13:00 - 17:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Craft Circle at GROW, 1–5pm. All are welcome to an afternoon of crafting and creating community.

Progressive Network meeting
2025-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Every 4th Wednesday at 7pm, members and allies of the SC Progressive Network meet online and in-person at GROW to network and share news of upcoming events. All are welcome.
To join on Zoom, register HERE.

United Campus Workers meeting
2025-04-22 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-03-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2025-03-13 18:00 - 19:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
United Campus Workers meets every 2nd and 4th Tuesday at GROW. Join union organizers for a monthly meeting to talk shop and plan actions.

Jazz Workshop
2025-04-17 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-04-03 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-03-06 20:00 - 22:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Join friends for a night of live music every 1st and 3rd Thursday at GROW, the HQ of the SC Progressive Network at 1340 Elmwood Ave. in Columbia. Folks with talent are invited to sit in with the Justus Band for a tune or two. During the 10-minute intermission, audience members can take advantage of the open mic to share a poem or short piece of writing. No cover charge.

Poetry for Palestine: Open Mic
2025-04-15 18:30 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202

Majority Rules screening and panel
2025-04-09 19:00 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Ranked choice voting has been used by millions of Americans. Join allies to watch this documentary and hear about the positive results that this election reform has brought to Alaska and beyond. Then stay with us afterwards to discuss the state of the movement in South Carolina.

This event is organized by Better Ballot South Carolina.

United Campus Workers meeting
2025-04-08 18:00 - 19:30

Modjeska School Deep Dive 3: Fergus Bordewich, author of Klan War
2025-03-30 16:00 - 18:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Deeper Dive with Fergus Bordewich, nationally acclaimed historian and author of Klan War, a 2023 publication detailing the 1877 use of the 14th Amendment’s Insurrection Clause and the arrest of hundreds of white terrorists in South Carolina. Bordewich captures the Klan violence that threatened to overwhelm the entire state. It was so bad that legislators were afraid to leave the capital to return to their homes. Mr. Bordewich will be in-person at GROW. To join on Zoom, register HERE.

SC Progressive Network monthly organizing meeting
2025-03-26 19:00 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
The SC Progressive Network meets every 4th Wednesday online and at GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave. in Columbia to network, talk shop, and share upcoming events. All are welcome. To join on Zoom, register HERE.

Afrikan History, Lecture 2
2025-03-23 18:00 - 20:30
This series is a special online presentation for the Modjeska Simkins School by Dr. Burnett Gallman, who serves on the National Board of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and who has been teaching for 40 years.
The lectures are offered during the spring 2025 session on Sunday evenings 6:30-8pm on Zoom only. It is free and open to the public as a service of the Modjeska Simkins School to promote historical literacy in South Carolina.
To attend Lecture 2 on March 23, register HERE.
To receive notices of these lectures, email info@modjeskaschool.com.

Modjeska School Deep Dive 2: Dr. Justene Hill Edwards
2025-03-23 16:00 - 18:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Deep Dive with UVA professor Dr. Justene Hill-Edwards, author of Origins of Capitalism in Colonial South Carolina and the recently released Savings and Trust: The rise and betrayal of the Freedman’s Bank. Hill-Edwards’ critically acclaimed work offers key context for understanding the economic plight of the formerly enslaved, racial capitalism, the racial wealth gap, and reparations. To join on Zoom, register HERE.

Jazz Workshop
2025-03-20 20:00 - 22:00

Film screening: Naila and the Uprising
2025-03-18 18:00 - 19:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Join us for the free documentary screening of Naila and the Uprising at GROW (Grass Roots Organizing Workshop), 1340 Elmwood Ave, Columbia, SC 29201.

Synopsis: When a nation-wide uprising breaks out in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, a young woman in Gaza must make a choice between love, family, and freedom. 2017. Running time 1 hour 16 min. Followed by Iftar, the breaking of the Muslim fast during Ramadan. Doors open 5:45PM.

Free and open to the public.

GROW nights hosted by the Carolina Peace Resource Center take place the 3rd Tuesday each month.

Modjeska School Deep Dive 1: SC Native history
2025-03-09 16:00 - 18:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
During its spring session, the Modjeska Simkins School offers Sunday afternoon programs that are a deeper exploration of current and historical topics. The 4-6pm sessions are optional for our students and open to the public, who may join on Zoom or in-person at GROW.
Our first Deep Dive is with Chris Judge and T. Lilly Little Water on SC Native history and the Yemassee War. To join on Zoom, register HERE.

Modjeska Simkins School Classes
2025-03-03 18:30 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
The Modjeska Simkins School meets Mondays 6:30-8:30pm at GROW and on Zoom across the state and at satellite sites in Sumter, Orangeburg, and Penn Center. Classes run from March 3 through June 23, with graduation on June 28.

Modjeska Simkins School orientation
2025-03-01 13:00 - 16:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
The spring session of the 2025 Modjeska Simkins School kicks off with an orientation session at GROW. Students will share a meal, review class protocols, and get to know each other before embarking on their shared journey.

United Campus Workers meeting
2025-02-27 18:00 - 20:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
United Campus Workers meets every 2nd and 4th Thursday 6-8pm at GROW. Join union organizers for a monthly meeting to talk shop and plan actions.

Network monthly organizing meeting
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:30 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Members and allies of the SC Progressive Network meet the 4th Wednesday of each month at 7pm to talk about current and ongoing projects, events, and matters of shared concern. All are welcome to join the meeting, either on Zoom or in-person at GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave. in Columbia.
To join on Zoom, register HERE.

UFO at GROW
2025-02-22 19:00 - 23:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Live, local music series. This month, UFO at GROW features Nightsweat, KTG, and crwnroyal. Doors open at 7; music starts at 8pm. $10 at the door.

GROW jazz workshop
2025-02-20 20:00 - 22:00, 2025-02-06 20:00 - 22:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Join friends for a night of live music every 1st and 3rd Thursday at the GROW, the HQ of the SC Progressive Network at 1340 Elmwood Ave. in Columbia. Folks with talent are invited to sit in with the Justus Band for a tune or two. During the 10-minute intermission, audience members can take advantage of the open mic to share a poem or short piece of writing. No cover charge.

Teach-in on Palestine
2025-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Join Carolina Peace for an evening with Kafia Haile, a strategist who uses visual storytelling and education to try and change U.S. foreign policy. She began her career as a tribes and culture analyst at the Pentagon. In 2008, she was based in Iraq as an expert on reconciliation by integrating former insurgents into the political process. Upon returning to the U.S., Kafia incorporated the arts into her work to broaden her impact. She will lead a discussion on Palestine from an African-American perspective.
To join on Zoom, click HERE

United Campus Workers monthly meeting
2025-02-13 18:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202

Adopt-A-Street Cleanup
2025-02-08 10:00 - 23:00 | GROW, 1340 Elmwood Ave., Columbia, 29202
Looking for a few volunteers! The Modjeka Simkins School participates in the City of Columbia’s Adopt-A-Street program by conducting a quarterly sweep of our neighborhood. We need help picking up trash on Marion Street between Elmwood and Taylor. We provide trash bags, gloves, pickers, and beverages. The sweep lasts about an hour. To volunteer, please email gabbi@scpronet.com.
