Members of the community are invited to join in Congregation Beth Israel’s event to honor one of its members, Michele Brinn, Dec. 3 at Larkin’s The L.
Kicking off at 1 p.m., the event will serve as an opportunity to share photos and tributes of Brinn’s work as a community leader and volunteer.
Brinn’s community involvement began after her family moved to Greenville in 1990. Shortly after arriving, she joined Greenville Technical College as an adjunct math instructor and also volunteered at her children’s school, Brushy Creek Elementary School. Her volunteer work led to political advocacy regarding public education.
“I found myself speaking to the (school) board, going to every meeting and getting quite involved as far as the political budget arguments for the districts,” Brinn said.
Working with the Greenville Chamber
Brinn also found herself on a couple of statewide education committees and her volunteerism grabbed the attention of individuals with the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. She worked there for 17 years in roles such as education manager and vice president of education and workforce development.
During her tenure at the chamber, Brinn worked to develop and implement a business plan for the Carolina First Center for Excellence. The initiative trains educators in a system where goals are clearly defined to allow students to track their progress and work to become responsible and empowered learners.
In 2002, the program launched at four pilot schools, and it eventually grew to serve 47 schools with 1,700 educators serving 18,000 students in Greenville and around South Carolina.
Life after the chamber
Brinn left the chamber in 2011 to work in career services at Brown Mackie College and ECPI University.
“I did what every Jewish woman would like to do,” Brinn said. “I got paid to be a matchmaker, but I helped students with resumes, job interview skills, and matched them up to employers and jobs.”
Brinn retired from ECPI in 2020 and currently volunteers with organizations such as Upstate Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs for Veterans.
Admission to the tribute honoring Brinn is $54 per person. All proceeds will benefit Congregation Beth Israel.
For more information, visit bethisraelsc.org/general-8.
Brinn’s boards, committees and commissions list
- Goodwill of the Upstate and Midlands — former board chair
- Greenville County School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee — served 2021-22
- City of Greenville Strategic Planning group — GVL 2040 member
- Izzie’s Pond wildlife and rescue organization — served 2019-21
- Congregation Beth Israel — president and board member
- Greenville Professional Women’s Forum — member and former president
- Greenville County Workforce Development Board
- Governors’ Math/Science – created under Gov. David Beasley
- South Carolina Department of Education committees
- SC Equality — board member
