South Carolina forum brings residents together on wages, cost of living
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A cross-partisan, citizen-led initiative called the South Carolina Forum is bringing residents together to discuss issues affecting the state.
Over nine months, the forum gathered input from 100,000 participants, compiling a list of community discussions on key issues in South Carolina. Hundreds of topics were narrowed down to two: slow wage growth and the rising cost of living.
The forum selected 100 of the total participants for a civic assembly.
Andrew Shue is the founder of One People, the organization behind the initiative. He is also a Hollywood actor. He’s trading those acting skills in for people skills.
“They feel like they’re in a conundrum where they don’t have enough jobs for all the people coming into the state and they don’t have enough pay for people to own a home and live the kind of life they want,” Shue said. “When you get citizens from all different backgrounds in a room together, they create something smart and they deliver real consensus.”
Niel Flamm, a Mount Pleasant resident, said the process works to find answers.
“What if a plant closes, technology takes over, if there’s a catastrophe in the family, if something is not viable anymore, what’s someone going to do to make a living to provide for their family and live comfortably,” Flamm said.
Malcolm Nowlan, a Florence resident, said the experience has been enlightening.
“We should all expect we can give input on the changes that happen in our state,” Nowlan said. “I hope we give something that helps some people.”
Shue said the forum will need 70% support from legislators for any potential bills it puts forward.
Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.
Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.