Mr. Gaskin is the Executive Director for Greenwood County First Steps. He has spearheaded this initiative from an outsourced structure single office to a highly functional and productive “in-house” organization. He initiated an organization effort that combined Greenwood and Abbeville County First Steps and collaborating with a local Mental Health organization (Mental Health America) to link mental health with their education components.
Mr. Gaskin is a certified trainer through the South Carolina Center for Child Care Career Development, has completed the Child Abuse and Neglect Training, is a Certified Master Fatherhood Trainer, and a certified Anger Management Trainer. He is also certified as National Parents-As-Teachers Supervisor, and the former President and current member of the South Carolina Upper State Region Citizen Review Panel.
He is the founder and administrator of the “Real Fathers are Dads” Fatherhood Initiative, and founder of “Real Mothers are Moms” Initiative. Michael co-founded “Dream Builders of Greenwood SC” an initiative to assist in skill development for young men 7 to 18 years of age.
In addition to his executive director duties, he is the President and CEO of The Social Change Initiative — designed to encourage community empowerment by generating programs within their own communities. He has expanded this self-started organization to a four-County operation (Greenwood, Laurens, Abbeville and Newberry).
His life-long dream is to promote unity across South Carolina for social change. This dream was transformed into reality with his vision of the conducting the “Day of Unity” for Social Change on 30 August 2014 in Greenwood (more than 450 gathered). Mr. Gaskin hosted a radio show “Let’s Talk!” with Michael Gaskin on WCZZ Rejoice 1090, and currently provides a morning commentary for the station.
In November 2014, he was elected to the Greenwood County School District 50 School Board as a Trustee. His dedication and motivation has inspired numerous motivational speaking engagements annually across the State.
Mr. Gaskin’s Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration was received from Southern Wesleyan University, Central, SC.