Pastor and community leader Stacey Mills has been appointed executive director over Greenville’s Racial Equity and Economic Mobility (REEM) Commission, officials announced April 12.
Mills’ connection to Greenville and his reputation for bringing together diverse groups were the deciding factors in the choice, REEM co-chair Merl Code said, adding the group received more than 100 applicants for the role.What solidified Mills’ candidacy was his work in the Greenville community, he said. Mills will start the full-time, paid position May 2.
“He knows that access to opportunities can change individuals’ lives and the lives of families and communities, too,” Code said.
Mills has been the senior pastor of Mountain View Baptist Church — only the third senior pastor in the church’s 113-year history — for 25 years. In addition to being the pastor and REEM executive director, he serves as:
- Chair of Citizens’ Advisory Panel on public safety for the city of Greenville
- Chair of the board of trustees for Greenville Health Authority
- Southern region trustee for National Urban League board of trustees
- Board chair of Urban League of the Upstate
- Executive director of University of South Carolina Upstate Greenville campus
- USC Upstate’s assistant vice chancellor of regional engagement
“We have a wonderful community with world-class amenities and opportunities, but we need world-class systems to guarantee access for those children born in poverty in our community,” Mills said, adding he is overwhelmed with support from the community.
TD Bank South Carolina market President David Lominack, who is also a REEM co-chair, shared sobering statistics from a United Way survey showing Greenville County lags behind almost every county in the nation for helping poor and minority children out of poverty and up the economic mobility ladder.
“These are difficult conversations,” Lominack said.
Since the organization was created in 2020 in the wake of national unrest following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, the organization has identified five areas of focus:
- Income and wealth
- Criminal justice
- Health and wellness
- Education and workforce development
- Community-wide learning
“He really understands the needs in this community,” said Meghan Barp, president and CEO of United Way of Greenville County. She said Mills has a “superpower” in bringing people together from all walks of life to address major issues.
“I’m honored to step into this role to help make prosperity an attainable reality for Greenville’s Black community,” Mills said.
Source: greenvillejournal.com
