A house RESOLUTION

To recognize and honor Georgia Mjartan, Executive Director of South Carolina First Steps, to thank her for her tireless work on behalf of South Carolina's Children, and to congratulate her and wish her much success on her next endeavor.

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives has learned that Georgia Mjartan will step down from her role as the executive director of South Carolina First Steps on June 30, 2024, after six-and-a-half years of exceptional leadership; and

Whereas, Ms. Mjartan earned bachelor's degrees in English and political science from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. As one of twelve Americans awarded the George Mitchell Scholarship for graduate study in Ireland, she completed a master's degree in public affairs and political communications at the University of Ulster in the United Kingdom. She is a graduate of the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government's Senior Executives in State and Local Government program; and

Whereas, during her tenure, South Carolina First Steps has helped to create a state where infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and their families can thrive through the organization that now impacts the lives of fifty-five thousand children every year, more than double the reach from five years earlier in the agency that is now permanent; and

Whereas, under Ms. Mjartan's leadership, First Steps 4K became an integral force statewide and continues to expand, giving families the option to enroll their four year olds in a curriculum-driven, full-day program in childcare centers, private schools, and charter schools; and

Whereas, First Steps Local Partnerships have expanded their offerings to include clinic-based programs for parents of young children, targeted support to families engaged with child welfare, and peer-based parenting programs. The impact of this work is being measured and evaluated, both by external researchers and through an organizational commitment to listening to and learning from families and providers; and

Whereas, First Steps has collaborated across state agencies to benefit South Carolina citizens. A model for the nation, South Carolina state government illustrates innovation and responsiveness to the needs and wishes of citizens, creating a first-in-the-nation technology platform called First5SC.org, which streamlines eligibility and enrollment in over forty different public early childhood programs across ten state agencies and seventy-nine school districts. Agency leaders and elected officials from other states around the nation are contacting South Carolina First Steps to learn how to do this; and

Whereas, with Ms. Mjartan's leadership, South Carolina First Steps has gained momentum and continues to put the state's children and their parents first; and

Whereas, she is married to Dominik Mjartan, the president and CEO of Optus Bank. They are foster, adoptive, and birth parents, and together they have three young children; and

Whereas, Ms. Mjartan will begin serving as CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation on July 1, 2024, which serves eleven counties, including Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for Georgia Mjartan's impact on South Carolina First Steps, and the staff of First Steps will miss the camaraderie, wit, intelligence, and passion that she brought to the critical mission of South Carolina First Steps. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Georgia Mjartan, Executive Director of South Carolina First Steps, thank her for her tireless work on behalf of South Carolina's children, and to congratulate her and wish her much success on her next endeavor.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Georgia Mjartan.

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