🌱 Men And Women Empowerment Conference + IAAM Announces Grand Opening

Hey, everybody! It's Monday in Charleston and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in the community.

But first, today's weather:

Rain and drizzle in the a.m.. High: 69 Low: 42.

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Here are the top three stories in Charleston today:

1. State lawmaker and attorney Marvin Pendarvis announced he will not be running for N. Charleston mayor. The House District 113 representative announced earlier this year he was considering making a run. Pendarvis says he is grateful for the reaction that the announcement received, but will continue serving at the State House. (Live 5 News WCSC)
2. Charleston residents joined together Saturday in a Men and Women Empowerment Conference to discuss common problems in the area. At the conference, hosted by Positive Vibes Ronjanae Smith, dozens of North Charleston residents talked about issues within the community, such as the school district, gun safety, violence, and keeping children safe. The conference was the first of its kind and the group plans to host another in the fall. (Live 5 News WCSC)
3. The International African American Museum (IAAM) is set to debut Tuesday, June 27. Originally scheduled for Jan. 21, the museum’s grand opening was delayed to stabilize humidity and temperature levels within the new building. Through programming and authentic storytelling, the IAAM will work to honor the untold stories of the African American journey. IAAM will host several in-person programs for the community to attend, and the opening festivities will feature a number of community events in the days leading up to the launch, including an opening ceremony on June 24. (Moultrie News)

Today in Charleston:

• Super Jam (Open Mic) At Fatty's Beer Works (6:00 PM)
• Monday Downtown House Concert At The Kuhn Residence (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Cario Middle School received a STEM curriculum donation from Charleston Steel and Metal (CSM). "This partnership presents a unique curriculum to not only spread the recycling message to youth, but also to inspire America’s students to think about careers in the scrap and recycling industry," Barry Wolff, CSM executive vice president and general manager, said in a statement. (ABC NEWS 4)
• A galactic-themed hot dog restaurant is returning to James Island after a decade! Learn more at the link. (Charleston Scene via Facebook)
• The Charleston Show will take place at Festival Hall in downtown Charleston Mar. 17-19. Formerly known as the Charleston Spring Antiques Show, the show reveals archaeological finds within layers of soil and history. (Charleston Scene via Facebook)

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• Taxes in Retirement Seminar at James Island Town Hall (March 15)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Kaytlyn Mroz

About me: Kaytlyn Mroz is a copywriter at Lightning Media Partners – a content creation agency. She is a Rowan University graduate where she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and a master's degree in writing. Outside of work, Kaytlyn is a dog mom to a boglen terrier named Finn and a golden retriever named Willow.