The importance of creating a balanced economy in the 21st century was the common thread throughout Lead the Way's economic empowerment forum Tuesday night. Experts in business development and government officials addressed a range of topics related to economic empowerment, from entrepreneurship to the importance of quality education to a strong economy.
State Senator Brad Hutto was one of the event's four panelists. The Orangeburg Democrat emphasized the connection between educational opportunities and business success, especially among at-risk and rural populations.
"When a company doesn't pay a living wage then you've got a lot of the families of that worker who fall back onto society," he said. "If you don't pay a living wage then it's not just that person that doesn't have enough money to go around. They still have needs that are going to fall right back on us as a society."
Hutto was joined by representatives from the Department of Commerce's Diversity and Inclusion Council, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness.
Attendees were also able to get advice on entering the world of business and learning more about the economy during a Q & A session with the audience.
Lead the Way still has three more forums planned on topics such as women in politics, national security and the relationship between media and politics. The series is part of a voter education push by the non-partisan voter registration organization ahead of the 2016 election. In past weeks they have brought in panelists to discuss environmental issues and human and civil rights.