Lunch and Learn Series   

For nearly 50 years, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg has connected neighbors with neighbors through the simple act of delivering a meal. Serving frail, homebound and isolated residents across Spartanburg County, the organization provides nutritious meals, daily wellness checks and meaningful human connection. This session will explore the history, mission and impact of Mobile Meals, while highlighting the vital role volunteers and community supporters play in sustaining this work. Learn how a meal delivery becomes a lifeline—and how you can help ensure that no neighbor is forgotten. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

Crime, addiction and recidivism remain some of society’s greatest challenges. Conventional approaches often emphasize punishment, yet research increasingly points to the power of combining accountability with compassion. Join Dr. Cary Sanders, CEO of JUMPSTART SC, for an engaging discussion on how justice and mercy can work together to reduce crime, address addiction, restore lives and strengthen communities. Drawing from research, personal experience and JUMPSTART’s work with formerly incarcerated men and women, this lecture explores a hopeful and practical framework for creating safer communities while honoring the dignity and potential of every person. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

 

Join Upstate Editor Mathew Hemsley to take a brief look at understanding local news, and why it is what it is today. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

Spartanburg is on the move — and growing fast. Join us for a conversation with Spartanburg Mayor Jerome Rice as he shares his perspective on the city’s momentum, his role in guiding that progress and the many opportunities ahead for our community. Come hear what’s shaping Spartanburg today and what’s possible for tomorrow. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

This Lunch & Learn will provide a brief overview of what a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is and the vital role it plays in responding to child abuse. Participants will learn how CACs bring together law enforcement, child protective services, medical professionals, mental health providers, and prosecutors to provide a coordinated, child-focused response. The session will also highlight how CACs support children and families through investigation, treatment, and healing while working to reduce trauma and improve outcomes for child victims. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

The most critical phase of any jury trial is jury selection. If a lawyer doesn't get a good jury for his/her case, the case will be lost before it's even presnted. Yet many lawyers don't know what they are doing when it comes to jury selection. Majorie Sommer, with Focus Litigation Solutions, discusses the wrong and right way to go about picking a jury and the benefits of pre-trial jury research to facilitate the process. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

What does a typical day look like as a franchise owner? Join Switi Thakkar, local owner of several McDonald's franchises and past owner of Dunkin Donuts and Taco Bell, to hear about the expected and unexpected things that happen day to day and what it takes to start up and run a restaurant franchise. While many people view fast-food restaurants as businesses centered on the food they serve, Switi may offer a different perspective. Hear Switi's take on what their business is really all about and the successes it breeds for future generations. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration. 

 

Dr. Bopp, who is a psychology professor at Wofford will have her students in "Adult Development & Aging" share what they have learned about "successful aging" and seek feedback on their theories for a lively discussion. A healthy boxed lunch from Simply the Best will be provided with your registration.