Ms. Chandra Dillard: A Woman of Action that brings about Change
Chandra Dillard grew up in Nicholtown, a community filled with hardworking, decent, and honest black folk. This community holds nothing but fond memories for her. She remembers the stories her grandfather told about the people who lived there, and what the community was like in its early and profitable beginnings. Chandra's ties to Nicholtown are like the roots of The Tree of Lebanon, they run deep and strong. In the early 1970's the community began to take on a different type of atmosphere. It was a slow process, but it was a change that sent the neighborhood into a very slow decline. Over the years, Nicholtown's reputation became tarnished. Chandra noticed how Downtown Greenville, which was not very far from the Nicholtown Community, began to flourish, while her own neighborhood was in a floundering state of being. It was time to take action. Chandra offered herself for the County Council, using this position as an avenue to become the city liaison to Greenville Housing Authority. On March 10, 2005, she went to Washington, D.C. to speak with Alfonzo Jackson, the Department of Secretary for HUD. As a result of this courageous effort, 20 million dollars was set aside for the overall redevelopment of the great Nicholtown Community. The first phase of this project will start with the construction of a facility to house the elderly citizens of Greenville County.
Chandra is also a part of the Friends of Richland Cemetery. This cemetery is the African American Cemetery just off Stone Avenue. It is now under the National Historical Register. Friends of Richland Cemetery are a group of citizens who have relatives buried there. They make recommendations to the City Council, and are presently working on having a new entrance put in place. Notable African Americans such as Mrs. Hattie Duckett (founder of Phillis Wheatley), Ms. Ella Mae Logan, Mr. Jessie Bates, Mrs. Massalina Bowens (beloved teacher of Allen Grammar School), the first African American Nurse in Greenville, and many other outstanding teachers of Sterling High are resting in this historical graveyard. Chandra is exceptionally proud to be a part of this prestigious and historical project.
Chandra serves on several boards such as The United Way, The University Center Board of Visitors, The American Red Cross-Upstate Chapter, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (Epsilon Tau Omega Chapter), County Council, and any other position where she can be of service to the community. She is employed at Furman University, where she is Director of Community Relations. Here she acts as the bridge to connect the community with the University and vice-versa.
As an active member of John Wesley United Methodist Church (Reverend James Friday is the Pastor), she is Lay Reader and Nurture Chairperson. In this capacity, she works in the ministry of assuring that the congregation's needs, youth, young adults, elderly, United Methodist Men, United Methodist Women, and any other members of the church are being nurtured in order to make more disciples for the building of God's kingdom. She has been a member of this church for at least 40 years.
Chandra has also been a part of bringing progress and redevelopment to the Greenline/Spartanburg communities as well. Her involvement has gained monies in excess of nine hundred thousand dollars to help with upgrading and renovating these two communities.
It is Chandra's belief that, "When we partners for progress, and are willing to use ourselves as instruments of change, good things can and will happen." Chandra Dillard, a woman of action that brings about change.
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