Arnold Toynbee’s “Cities on the Move” (1970) documents the history of big cities around the world becoming impoverished and insolvent—some never to recover. Many of the patterns he describes apply to New York now.
Real estate contributed roughly $35 billion of the $80 billion in city tax receipts in fiscal 2025, and personal taxes another $18 billion. The financial sector, real estate, construction, tourism and retail trade sectors are the major contributors to these revenues.
This Veterans Day (Tuesday, November 11), Houston’s restaurants are stepping up to say thanks to the heroes who’ve served our country. From free bbq and burgers to half-off promos and discounts on the tab, check out the local spots honoring veterans and active-duty military this holiday:
Axelrad, 1517 Alabama Veterans and active-duty military enjoy 20 percent off their tab on Veterans Day and all year long.
Dog Haus, multiple locations Veterans can enjoy a free Haus Dog at participating locations by showing proof of service at checkout.
In honor of Veterans Day on November 11, Feges BBQ, co-owned by Purple Heart recipient Patrick Feges, is offering free plates with two meats, two sides, a dessert, and a drink for those who’ve served, served at the Greenway location from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Spring Branch location from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Guests can also pay it forward by purchasing Veteran Plates ahead of time to help provide free meals for others. The goal is to have 400 plates purchased by November 10.
Golden Corral is celebrating Veterans Day with a complimentary buffet dinner for all active-duty military, retirees, reservists, guardsmen and veterans, available dine-in only from 4 p.m. to close.
While military service members and veterans always get 15 percent off year-round, Grimaldi’s is upping the deal to 25 percent off for all active, veteran and retired military with ID on November 10–11
All military veterans and active service members receive one complimentary kolache of their choice on Veterans Day with valid military ID.
Molina’s Cantina, multiple locations Service members get half off their bill (excluding alcohol) on Veterans Day with valid military ID. Dine-in only.
The Original Ninfa’s, 1700 Post, 2704 Navigation The Original Ninfa’s honors veterans all year long, offering 50 percent off their bill on Veterans Day and every other day.
Perry’s Steakhouse, multiple locations Veterans can get a free Dinner-Cut Pork Chop with a guest purchase, half-off pork chops if dining with other veterans, or access the Military Menu from 4 p.m. to close with valid military ID.
PINCHO, multiple locations Military members enjoy 25 percent off in-store orders every day with valid ID, including burgers, bowls, kebabs, and milkshakes.
Pizaro’s Pizza, 11177 Katy, 1000 West Gray Veterans enjoy 10 percent off their bill on Veterans Day and throughout the year at Pizaro’s award-winning pizza locations.
Raising Cane’s is honoring those who serve with its Hero Discount Program: active or nonactive military, fire, police, EMTs and their families receive 10 percent off their entire purchase year-round when they mention the program at the register.
Teriyaki Madness, multiple locations Veterans and active-duty military get a free bowl of their choice with valid military ID at participating locations.
On Veterans Day, November 11, all veterans and active U.S. military members can enjoy a free taco and non-alcoholic beverage with valid military ID or proof of service.
Veterans and active-duty service members can enjoy a free lunch from a select menu between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at participating locations with valid military ID.
Via 313, multiple locations Veterans and active-duty service members can get a $5 Cheese Bread for dine-in only on November 11 with valid military ID.
Willie’s Grill & Icehouse, multiple locations Veterans and active military members get a free Bacon Willie with choice of regular side. Military ID required.
Providing food for your family is essential, and when hard times hit, you can be left wondering where to turn. We made this guide to food banks, pantries, and programs in Spartanburg, SC to help families find fast support in our community. If you know any additional resources or updates needed, please let us know!
Food insecurity can feel overwhelming, but don’t be afraid: We live in an area that is rich in community resources and faith-based organizations where you can find support.
Don’t know where to start? Justcontact these resources one at a time, ask if they can help, and if not, ask for ideas on other organizations to try. Keep a log of the places you’ve called and the information they’ve given you. Available resources are constantly changing with community demands, support, and funding, so you just have to be persistent, check back often, and chase down as many new leads as you can.
First, we’d like to introduce you to a young man who was inspired to start his own mobile food pantry. Kolby Cox was just a 13-year-old in Boiling Springs, SC when the project began.
While Kolby was volunteering with a group to distribute free meals outside a local business, he met a Spartanburg County local who was experiencing homelessness. The man explained to Kolby that he was living nearby under some bushes with five other people, just trying to make it through each day.
Kolby was inspired to help, and the first of his pop-up food pantries was born. These pantries are placed at high-need locations around the county, where they are accessible to the public 24/7 with no questions asked. Eventually, Kolby’s project grew into One Life Resource, a local organization committed to ending hunger, homelessness, and suicide.
When asked what advice he had for others who are inspired and want to serve their own communities, Kolby said, “Seeing how helpful that pantry is to people was inspiring. Keep trying and don’t give up.”
School Food Service Program
The Summer Food Service Program is part of a national initiative to address childhood food insecurity, and there are multiple meal pickup sites around Spartanburg County every single summer. You do not have to meet any income requirements to feed your child through this program. Any child, aged 18 years old or younger, who lives in a district near a Title I school is eligible for inclusion.
To find out how to enroll in the program or to find your nearest meal pickup site, text the word FOOD to 877-877 or call 1-866-3-HUNGRY.
For more information on the Summer Food Service Program in our area, please check out our article on Free Summer Meal Programs.
Top 12 Resources for Food Access
The following resources for food accessibility are well established in the Spartanburg community and have been recently verified by our team. For the full list of potential resources to assist your family, please scroll down to our larger Food Access Directory.
Bridge at Green Street Location: 317 Green Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303 Phone: 864.583.5419 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Greer Community Ministries Location: 738 South Line Street Extension, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.877.1937 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Group Meals, In-Home Meals
“For food assistance, please visit our office anytime Monday-Friday between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Please bring your ID showing your address in one of the following areas: Greer, Lyman, Taylors, Duncan, Wellford, Startex, Woodruff, Campobello, or Inman. Walk-ins welcome for food assistance. Appointments must be made for clothing assistance. We assist families with food and clothing every 90 days.” -Greer Community Ministries
Greer Soup Kitchen Location: 521 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.968.0323 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Grocery Assistance, Soup Kitchen
Middle Tyger Community Center Location: 84 Groce Road, Lyman, SC 29365 Phone: 603.459.9547 ReportedServices: Food Pantry, Group Meals
Mobile Meals Location: 419 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 Phone: 864.572.7684 ReportedServices: In-Home Meals
Operation Hope, Inc. Location: 108 West Rutherford Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.457.1005 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Spartanburg Soup Kitchen Location: 136 South Forest Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 Phone: 864.585.0022 ReportedServices: Fresh Produce, Group Meals, Soup Kitchen
TOTAL Ministries Location: 976 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 Phone: 864.585.9167 ReportedServices: Food Assistance
“TOTAL Ministries helps with food and utility bills that are facing disconnection. You need to bring in your Photo ID, proof of income, a bill with name and address matching your ID, and Social Security cards for everyone in your household. We are open 9am until noon, Monday through Thursday. It is best to get here around 9am, because we do fill up pretty fast.” -TOTAL Ministries
Upstate Family Resource Center Location: 1850 Old Furnace Road, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Phone: 864.578.1379 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Free Bakery
The following is an organized list with contact information for all the potential food access resources we have located in Spartanburg County.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON OUTDATED RESOURCES: Families in this situation are often given outdated resources, forcing them to waste precious time on leads that go nowhere. In the interest of helping families navigate this obstacle, we are currently keeping outdated resources on this list with a note indicating their last reported status. If you see any resources on our list that need updating, please let us know!
Boiling Springs, SC
Boiling Springs Community Building* Location: 182 Rainbow Lake Road, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Phone: 864.804.5813 ReportedServices: Group Meals *Also listed as Boiling Springs Community Park.
Boiling Springs Community Park* Location: 182 Rainbow Lake Road, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Phone: 864.804.5813 ReportedServices: Group Meals *Also listed as Boiling Springs Community Building.
Upstate Family Resource Center Location: 1850 Old Furnace Road, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 Phone: 864.578.1379 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Free Bakery
Chesnee Community Center* Location: 302 East Manning Street, Chesnee, SC 29323 Phone: 864.461.0302 ReportedServices: Food Pantry *Also listed as VSP Club of Senior Centers.
Fosters Grove Baptist Church Location: 899 Fosters Grove Road, Chesnee, SC 29323 Phone: 864.578.4503 ReportedServices: N/A
VSP Club of Senior Centers* Location: 302 East Manning Street, Chesnee, SC 29323 Phone: 864.461.0302 ReportedServices: Food Pantry *Also listed as Chesnee Community Center.
Greer, SC
Brushy Creek First Assembly of God* Location: 3610 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650 Phone: 864.877.0419 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as Helping Hands of Greer and Trinity Fellowship Church.
Daily Bread Ministries* Location: 521 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.968.0323 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Grocery Assistance, Soup Kitchen *Also listed as Greer Soup Kitchen.
Greer Church of God Location: 500 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.877.3610 ReportedServices: N/A
Greer Community Ministries* Location: 738 South Line Street Extension, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.877.1937 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Group Meals, In-Home Meals *This is one of the Top 12 Resources we recommend for food assistance in Spartanburg County!
“For food assistance, please visit our office anytime Monday-Friday between 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Please bring your ID showing your address in one of the following areas: Greer, Lyman, Taylors, Duncan, Wellford, Startex, Woodruff, Campobello, or Inman. Walk-ins welcome for food assistance. Appointments must be made for clothing assistance. We assist families with food and clothing every 90 days.” -Greer Community Ministries
Greer Soup Kitchen* Location: 521 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.968.0323 ReportedServices: Food Bank, Grocery Assistance, Soup Kitchen *Also listed as Daily Bread Ministries.
Helping Hands of Greer* Location: 3610 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650 Phone: 864.877.0419 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as Brushy Creek First Assembly of God and Trinity Fellowship Church.
Needmore Center Location: 203 Canteen Avenue, Greer, SC 29650 Phone: 864.907.0208 ReportedServices: Group Meals
Potter’s House Food Bank* Location: 105 Hunt Street, Suite H, Greer, SC 29650 Phone: 864.508.9487 ReportedServices: N/A *CLOSED (Reported 10/26/2025).
Resurrection Church Location: 900 North Main Street, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.877.2288 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Sharon United Methodist Church Location: 1421 Reidville Sharon Road, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.979.7179 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Trinity Fellowship Church* Location: 3610 Brushy Creek Road, Greer, SC 29650 Phone: 864.877.0419 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as Brushy Creek First Assembly of God and Helping Hands of Greer.
Washington Baptist Church Location: 3500 North Highway 14, Greer, SC 29651 Phone: 864.895.1510 ReportedServices: Food Pantry, Grocery Assistance
Landrum, SC
Anne Regan Aging Well Center* Location: 503 South Randolph Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.327.2123 ReportedServices: Group Meals *Also listed as Landrum Aging Well Center and Landrum Community Center.
First Baptist Landrum Location: 300 East Rutherford Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.457.4118 ReportedServices: N/A
Landrum Aging Well Center* Location: 503 South Randolph Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.327.2123 ReportedServices: Group Meals *Also listed as Anne Regan Aging Well Center and Landrum Community Center.
Landrum Community Center* Location: 503 South Randolph Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.327.2123 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as Anne Regan Aging Well Center and Landrum Aging Well Center.
Landrum United Methodist Church Location: 227 North Howard Avenue, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.457.3984 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Operation Hope, Inc. Location: 108 West Rutherford Street, Landrum, SC 29356 Phone: 864.457.1005 ReportedServices: Food Pantry
Moore, SC
Bethlehem Baptist Church Location: 797 Old Georgia Road, Moore, SC 29369 Phone: 864.576.6355 ReportedServices: N/A
Spartanburg Rescue Mission* Location: 189 North Forest Street, Spartanburg, SC 29301 Phone: 864.583.1628 ReportedServices: Group Meals, Thanksgiving Turkeys *Also listed as Miracle Hill Ministries.
Spartanburg Soup Kitchen Location: 136 South Forest Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 Phone: 864.585.0022 ReportedServices: Fresh Produce, Group Meals, Soup Kitchen
TK Gregg Community Center Location: 650 Howard Street, Spartanburg, SC 29303 Phone: 864.591.4354 ReportedServices: N/A
TOTAL Ministries* Location: 976 South Pine Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302 Phone: 864.585.9167 ReportedServices: Food Assistance *This is one of the Top 12 Resources we recommend for food assistance in Spartanburg County!
“TOTAL Ministries helps with food and utility bills that are facing disconnection. You need to bring in your Photo ID, proof of income, a bill with name and address matching your ID, and Social Security cards for everyone in your household. We are open 9am until noon, Monday through Thursday. It is best to get here around 9am, because we do fill up pretty fast.” -TOTAL Ministries
Church at The Mill – Lake Cooley Campus* Location: 2691 Ballenger Road, Wellford, SC 29385 Phone: 864.439.6936 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as The Church at Lake Cooley.
The Church at Lake Cooley* Location: 2691 Ballenger Road, Wellford, SC 29385 Phone: 864.439.6936 ReportedServices: N/A *Also listed as Church at The Mill – Lake Cooley Campus.
The local chapter of Harvest of Hope partners with over 100 churches and other organizations in Upstate South Carolina to combat hunger. If you’ve ever participated in Disney on Ice‘s canned food drive that offers free tickets to the show in exchange for donations, then your donations went to Harvest of Hope!
You can search by zip code to find dozens of food assistance sites near you.
Ten At The Top’s Upstate Food Access Map
Ten At The Top created this interactive map in 2020, providing a visual guide for people in search of food assistance across Upstate South Carolina. The map includes food banks, food pantries, group meals, meal delivery services, soup kitchens, and more. Click on the location pins nearest to you for more information on each one!
United Way’s SC211
United Way offers a free statewide resource directory which can be accessed by dialing 211 from any phone in the area or by visiting the SC211 online. To jump straight to SC211’s search results for Food Access in Spartanburg County, click here.
How does your family help those in need in our community? Did we miss a place offering food assistance in our community? Let us know!
You’ll often hear two words come up in advising sessions as students look ahead to college: match and fit. They sound interchangeable, but they’re not.
Match refers to what colleges are looking for from students. It’s mostly determined by admissions requirements such as GPA and test scores, and in some cases, other criteria like auditions, portfolios, or athletic ability. Fit is more of an art than a science; it refers to what the student is looking for in a college, including personal preferences, social and cultural environment, financial factors, and academic offerings. When we talk to students about college fit, it’s an opportunity for them to ask themselves whether they like what a certain institution offers beyond being admitted.
In the college admissions process, both terms matter. A strong match without a good fit can leave a student disengaged and negatively affect their chances of graduating from college. Nearly a quarter of undergraduate freshmen drop out before their second year, and it seems likely to me that a lot of these cases boil down to bad fits. On the other hand, a great fit that isn’t a match could be difficult for admission in the first place, and if a student is admitted anyway, the rigorous coursework they encounter might be more than they’re ready for. To maximize postsecondary success, advisors, families, and students alike should fully understand the difference between match and fit and know how to approach conversations about each of them.
Match: Reach, target, and solid
As I’ve worked with advisors over the years, one of the best ways we’ve found to guide students on match is using the categories of “Reach,” “Target,” and “Solid” schools. We can determine which schools belong to what category using the data that colleges share about the average incoming GPAs and test scores of admitted classes. Typically, they report weighted GPAs and composite test scores from the middle 50 percent of accepted applicants, i.e., from the students who fall anywhere from the 25th to 75th percentile of those admitted.
Reach: These are schools where admission is less likely, either because a student’s test scores and GPA are below the middle 50 percent or because the school traditionally admits only a small percentage of eligible applicants.
Target: These are schools where either GPA or test scores fall in the middle 50 percent of admitted students.
Solid: These are schools where students are well within the middle 50 percent for both GPA and test scores.
Building a balanced college list across these categories is essential in the college planning process. Often, I see high-achieving students over-index on too many Reach schools, which may make it hard for them to get accepted anywhere on their list, simply because their preferred schools are ultra-selective. Meanwhile, parents and guardians may focus heavily on fit and overlook whether the student actually meets the college’s admission criteria. Advisors play a key role in keeping these data-informed conversations grounded with the goal of a balanced list of college options for students to pursue.
The importance of early planning
Timing matters. In general, if you meet with students early enough, conversations about fit are productive, but if you’re meeting with students for the first time in their senior year, the utmost priority should be helping them build a balanced list. Ideally, we want to avoid a situation where a student thinks they’re going to get into the most competitive colleges in the country on the strength of their GPA and test scores, only to find out that it’s not that easy. If advisors wait until senior year to address match, students and families may already have unrealistic expectations, leading to difficult conversations when options are limited.
On the other hand, we would stress that although GPA is the factor given the most weight by admissions offices, there are ways to overcome match deficits with other elements of a college application. For instance, if a student worked part-time to support their family or participated in co-curricular activities, colleges using holistic review may see this as part of the student’s story, helping to balance a GPA that falls outside the typical range. These experiences highlight a student’s passions and potential contributions to their chosen major and campus community. We don’t want students to have unrealistic expectations, but we also shouldn’t limit them based on numbers alone.
In any case, advisors should introduce both match and fit concepts as early as 9th grade. If students have a specific college in mind, they need to be aware of the match requirements from the first day of freshman year of high school. This allows students to plan and track academic progress against requirements and lets families begin exploring what kind of environment, resources, and financial realities would make for the right fit.
Fit: A personal process
Once match is established, the next step is making sure students ask: “What do I want in my college experience?” The answers will involve a wide range of factors:
Institutional type: Public or private? Small liberal arts college or large research university?
Academic considerations: What majors are offered? Are there study abroad programs? Internship opportunities?
Student life: What is the student body like? What kind of extracurriculars, sports, and support services are offered? Are there fraternities and sororities? What is the campus culture?
Affordability: What financial aid or scholarships can I expect? What is the true net cost of attendance?
Outcomes: What a student hopes to gain from their postsecondary experience, including specific degrees or credentials, career preparation, financial benefits, personal growth, and skill development.
Fit also requires conversations within families. I’ve found that open communication can reveal misunderstandings that would otherwise falsely limit students’ options. Sometimes students assume their parents want them close to home, when in fact, parents just want them to find the right environment. Other times, families discover affordability looks very different once they use tools like free cost calculators. Ongoing dialogue about these topics between advisors, students, and families during the high school years helps prepare for better decisions in the end.
Bringing it all together
With more than 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. alone, every student can find a college or university that aligns with their goals and abilities. Doing so, however, is both an art and a science. Advisors who help families focus on both dimensions, and start the conversation early, set students up to receive those treasured acceptance letters and to thrive once they arrive on campus.
For school districts developing their proficiency in postsecondary readiness factors, like advising, there is an increasing amount of support available. For one, TexasCCMR.org, has free guidance resources to strengthen advising programs and other aspects of college and career readiness. While Texas-focused, many of the insights and tools on the site can be helpful for districts across the country in building their teams’ capabilities.
Donald Kamentz, Contigo Ed
Donald Kamentz is a skilled facilitator and education consultant utilizing his diverse experiences in both non-profit management and K-12 education to help organizations best serve all student populations. As the Founder and CEO of Contigo Ed, Donald Kamentz brings his over 30+ years of diverse experiences and passion for working in the postsecondary access and success arenas. He has been a member of both the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC) since 1999.
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HOUSTON, Texas — At the start of sunrise, Daniel Hernandez and his father, Martin, start tackling an overgrown lawn. A service that takes them all day. A service that is also free.
Hernandez said they started helping neighbors in need three years ago after encountering a woman who needed to pay for her medication, instead of lawn care.
“It showed us that there are people out there that need help, and that’s what made us do what we do today,” Hernandez said.
Twice a week, the father-and-son duo drives around the city and looks for neglected yards. Hernandez started recording their work and posting the videos on YouTube. Their page has accumulated nearly 500,000 followers.
Hernandez explains how they select the yards to cut, and also touches on their growing YouTube page in the video above.
Charlotte, NC — The STEM Careers Coalition – an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations partnering with Discovery Education to create equitable access to free STEM content and career connections – today announced it has surpassed the goal of reaching 10 million students by the end of 2025 ahead of schedule. Since 2019, the STEM Careers Coalition has reached over 10.7 million students, including 2.97 million in the 2023-2024 school year alone, 65% of which are from Title I schools.
Student STEM education is critical, as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts STEM jobs will grow by 23% by 2030. Through the STEM Careers Coalition, all K-12 students in the United States and educators are supported with high-quality careers resources, equity of access to key resources, volunteer employee engagement activities, and research.
“Starting this journey in 2019, we knew collaboration was key to inspiring the next generation of the STEM workforce. By bringing diverse industries together in one place for educators, the STEM Careers Coalition allows students to see the breadth of opportunity in STEM and the similarities in critical thinking skillsets that are pertinent across careers,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “We are so thankful to our partners. We are excited for the next evolution of the STEM Careers Coalition in the emission to ensure that all students have what they need to explore STEM jobs.”
The STEM Careers Coalition supports diverse career awareness and exposure. The Coalition works to prepare all students for future jobs in STEM, developing the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college and a career through high-quality classroom resources, career exploration tools, after school activities, digital content, and more. The STEM Careers Coalition features a large network of partners from a variety of industries.
The STEM Careers Coalition frequently provides students and educators new resources aligned to learning standards. Amongst the newest materials is the Mission Possible Virtual Field Trip: Re-powering the Future, premiering on November 21, 2024. In addition, 14 new career bundles introduce K-12 students to careers like a senior data scientist, gnotobiotics training coordinator, fire protection design manager, chemical engineer, and more.
About the STEM Careers Coalition The STEM Careers Coalition solves for critical gaps in diverse representation in the STEM professional workforce. The Coalition is an alliance of industries and non-profit organizations, reaching 10.7 million teachers and students with equitable access to STEM resources and career connections since its launch in 2019. The Coalition will continue to ignite student curiosity and influence a diverse future STEM workforce and reach 10 million teachers and students by the end 2025.
About Discovery Education Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
With Election Day just around the corner on Tuesday, November 5, Houston’s bars and restaurants are eager to celebrate the power of the vote. Check out the local spots rolling out specials and complimentary treats for Houstonians who cast their ballots, from free coffee and pizza to happy hour deals and half-priced burgers.
Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd All five concepts in H Town Restaurant Group – Backstreet Cafe, Hugo’s, Caracol, Xochi and URBE – will treat voters who wear their “I VOTED!” sticker to the restaurant with a Hugorita, a hand-shaken marg made with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse, 4500 Montrose, 2101 Washington From now until the election, the pizza and cocktail bar will be offering happy hour prices anytime of day to anyone who brings in an “I Voted” sticker. That includes $8 choice cocktails, $7 32-ounce milk jugs full of any beer on tap, or $6 glasses of wine.
Caracol, 2200 Post Oak Wear your “I VOTED!” sticker to the restaurant and enjoy a free Hugorita, a hand-shaken marg made with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Home Slice, 3701 Travis Now through Election Day, Texas voters who cast their ballots for the 2024 Presidential Election can head to Home Slice to trade their “I voted” sticker for a free slice of pizza.
Hugo’s,1600 Westheimer Wear your “I VOTED!” sticker to the restaurant and enjoy a free Hugorita, a hand-shaken marg made with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Jethro’s Cocktail Lounge, 95 Tuam Show your “I voted” sticker and get half-priced smash burgers all-day on Election Day.
Kazzan Ramen, 191 Heights Swing by the new ramen spot in the Heights on November 5 to show your “I Voted” sticker and enjoy a free mochi ice cream.
Lazy Dog Restaurants, multiple locations Guests who show their “I Voted” sticker will receive a free handcrafted nonalcoholic beverage with any entrée purchase. Options include lemonades, twisted sodas, sparkling refreshers and pick-me-ups, including the Huckleberry Lemonade, Cucumber Lemon Sparkling Refresher and Twisted Orange Fanta with Vanilla Bean Cream.
MAVEN Coffee & Cocktails, 1717 Allen, 1501 Silver Get voting and enjoy a free cup of drip coffee by showing your “I Voted” sticker. The offer is available now through November 5 at the MAVEN at Thompson location, as well as the brand’s new, full-service neighborhood restaurant, MAVEN at Sawyer Yards.
Piola, 3201 Louisiana, 1415 South Voss On Tuesday, November 5, Piola will be dishing out free margherita pizzas at both Houston locations to customers able to show they voted through an “I Voted” sticker or other proof. The giveaway applies to dine-in customers only.
Roma, 2347 University This Election Day, Roma is offering a complimentary glass of prosecco to guests who show their “I Voted” sticker.
Star Sailor, 1710 West 18th ENjoy a free Smashburger when you show your “I Voted” sticker at the bar from now through Election Day.
URBE, 1101 Uptown Park Wear your “I VOTED!” sticker to the restaurant and enjoy a free Hugorita, a hand-shaken marg made with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Xochi, 1777 Walker Wear your “I VOTED!” sticker to the restaurant and enjoy a free Hugorita, a hand-shaken marg made with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec.
Responding to a critical gap in technology education, CompTIA Spark has launched free technology curriculum specifically for middle grade classrooms, grades 5-8. It aims to support teachers so that they can teach the critical skills students need to succeed in whatever path they choose. The nonprofit organization worked with educators across the country to develop the curriculum.
“World Teachers’ Day celebrates how important teachers are,” says Randi Parker, chief of staff and vice president of CompTIA Spark. “And we know that middle school teachers in particular play such an important role in a student’s journey which is why they are the key to bringing technology education to more schools. We could not have developed this curriculum without them, and we can’t reach students without them.”
For about the past year, school districts as well as individual teachers have been implementing the CompTIA Spark curriculum in middle grade classrooms and providing feedback that allowed for a testing and development period prior to the full-scale launch. The schools that participated in this phase ranged from award-winning STEM schools to less-resourced ones, with all types of schools reporting the curriculum was a success and that students were engaged and excited to learn.
Getting students excited about technology and growing their confidence with hands-on learning is critical at the middle school level. Without access to quality technology education, students fall behind before they reach high school which means they do not have the digital fluency needed to succeed in school and in life. Filling this critical gap is the mission of CompTIA Spark.
With the new free curriculum, teachers can guide middle grade students through engaging project-based lessons that build capability using common applications and 21st century skills. Students gain a solid foundation in key technology concepts to prepare them for future opportunities — in high school and beyond.
Delivered through an online learning platform, the curriculum sparks interest in technology and how it is used in a wide variety of careers. For example, the Tech Exploration units have interactive lessons that show how tech skills are used in roles like product design, market research, accounting, marketing and more. Meanwhile, the Emerging Tech units focus on artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and smart home technology. Full access to the curriculum is available to middle grade educators absolutely free — to empower more teachers to teach the subject, even if they have not taught it previously.
“Because of the way the curriculum is intentionally designed, we are able to take the burden off the teacher by providing high-quality technology curriculum that middle grade teachers can use in their classroom regardless of their past experience with the subject,” says Parker. “Getting this free resource into the hands of teachers can help close the gap in technology education that currently exists at the middle school level. CompTIA Spark curriculum is free, and always will be free, because it is a gift from the tech industry to future generations.”
Districts, schools and individual teachers are invited to explore the curriculum and get started at comptiaspark.org.
Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with more than 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print, and face to face. He is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially education technology. You can reach Kevin at KevinHogan@eschoolnews.com
