Uniting West Ashley

West Ashley United, a local nonprofit, will host its first public event Saturday, April 23 at Citadel Mall in hopes of improving their part of town.
Mayor John Tecklenburg will speak at the event, which will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and there will be local vendors, food trucks, raffles, and other local civic leaders. County Council deemed Saturday “West Ashley United Day” in a recent proclamation.
Last week the founders Teresa Tidestrom, Carlton Swift, and Mark Shannon received notice that West Ashley United had been granted nonprofit status.
“I never thought in a million years that an idea to give West Ashley an informed voice would come this far but it’s the right thing to do and needed,” said Tidestrom.
West Ashley United was originally started as a Facebook page by Tidestrom and fellow West Ashley resident Joanne Fronabarger as a West Ashley Mayoral Forum for its sister group You KNOW You’re From West Ashley. But Tridestrom says that after the election it was apparent to her that many residents were unaware of which district they were even in and in some cases, unsure if they were City or County. So after many conversations with Shannon and Swift, WAU was born.
“Our first and primary goal is to create an informed voice for West Ashley through education of our government processes and to create district groups to discuss issues in those areas,” said Tidestrom. “As we are now ‘uniting,’ this is creating a sense of pride and ownership that has been missing for far too long in some areas.”
Swift said he and the other two founders all have very different worldviews, but the thing that linked them together was a love for West Ashley, where they all live.
“I know, it sounds like a soccer team,” said Swift, with a laugh. “But, surprisingly, the genesis of West Ashley United grew out of a failed attempt to host a West Ashley Christmas parade.”
The failed parade effort grew into a realization that they all felt more needed to be done to promote West Ashley, and to give its residents and businesses as much help getting them in touch with politicians and others who could affect positive change.
Swift said they hope to host networking events, like luncheons, where locals can introduce what he calls their “unicorn” ideas.
“Look, I know how awfully corporate that sounds,” said Swift. “But sometimes when you think you have a crazy idea that seems unattainable, yet in 20 years you realize you’re there.”
The group, which already has 1,450 followers on its Facebook page, will focus on improving relations between neighborhood groups, increasing programs for senior citizens, beautification projects, livability concerns, and others. According to Swift, the group is putting the finishing touches on a West Ashley United website in preparation for West Ashley United Day.
West Ashley United Day will be held Saturday, April 23 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Citadel Mall. For more information, visit www.WestAshleyUnited.org.