Those of you who read our January KellyGram about Human Trafficking Prevention Month know that the human trafficking industry does not only impact foreign countries and distant states; it is a very real problem here in South Carolina. Because the crime is widely misunderstood, signs of human trafficking too often go unrecognized and unreported. Notwithstanding, last year, the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force recorded a staggering 678 victims in our state alone.

So how can we, as a community, become involved in the efforts to combat human trafficking? We at Mike Kelly Law Group propose that you begin by joining us at Saluda Shoals on February 29th for the 5th Annual Run for Her Life Glow Run presented by Lighthouse for Life—a Midlands-based nonprofit dedicated to educating the community about human trafficking and helping survivors on their journey to physical, spiritual, and emotional wholeness and restoration.

Lighthouse for Life is hosting this event to raise awareness and funds for its outreach program, and it’s a great opportunity to learn more about how the nonprofit serves the community and how you can get involved—all with the added bonus of having fun and getting some fresh air and exercise! The glow run is family-friendly (and pet-friendly!) and open to everyone from serious runners to young children and parents with strollers…so come glow with us! Help cast a light of hope into the dark reality of human exploitation by registering here.

If you can’t make it to this year’s Run for Her Life event, we encourage you to explore the many ways that you can still support Lighthouse for Life in its mission to educate and restore. Whether it’s inviting speakers to your organization, advocating for policy changes, shopping mindfully, or donating time, funds, or prayers—you can make a difference. For more information on ways you can get involved in the fight against human trafficking, go to https://www.lighthouseforlife.org.

This Sunday, people nationwide—and worldwide—will gather together to watch America’s biggest sporting event of the year: Super Bowl LIV. The diehard Gamecock fan in me is especially excited for this year’s match-up between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, and I can’t decide which team to pull for! On the one hand, we have two Gamecocks on the Kansas City roster: Rashad Fenton and Chris Lammons. On the other, former Gamecock and marquee player, Deebo Samuels, will take the field with the 49ers. At least I know that, regardless of which team I root for and which team wins the championship, Sunday will be a win in the books for USC fans like myself!

I have had sports on the brain more so than usual this week, but despite my excitement for the big game, it’s not anticipation of Super Bowl Sunday or who will win that has my mind abuzz. Like many, my thoughts have been consumed by the events of last Sunday and who we lost. The public sorrow following the untimely deaths of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, last weekend, is palpable. Millions are in mourning over the loss of an idol, mentor, and personal hero, and even folks who do not follow basketball feel the impact of this tragedy. Icons like Kobe Bryant seem invincible in the public eye, and his sudden demise is a shock to the system and a reminder of our own human fragility. Even more so, seeing the devastation that Kobe’s wife and three surviving daughters—and Gianna’s mother and sisters—are facing is simply heartbreaking.

The cloud of grief that has stemmed from the death of an American sports legend will undoubtedly be looming over this weekend’s events. But the global response to Kobe’s passing is an undeniable testament to how sports can unite people from all cultures, backgrounds, and belief systems, even in today’s divisive climate. Rather than dwelling on this loss as we gather together for the Super Bowl, we should be reminded of the wonderful occasion for communion and camaraderie that sporting events present, and seize the opportunity to share precious moments and common ground with our friends and family.

I recently read an article in AARP Magazine (yes, I am eligible for AARP!) about Mayor Steve Benjamin and the transformation of the Comet and public transportation under his leadership. Decades ago, SCE&G operated Columbia’s bus system, but it relinquished that responsibility to the City of Columbia in 2002. Without private funding, the quality of our public transit system declined, and route cuts left many citizens without convenient access to transportation. When Mayor Benjamin took office 2010, he fought for a 1% sales tax increase to pay for transportation projects—a fight he lost. The situation deteriorated further until Steve Benjamin and others rolled up their sleeves and sallied forth, and in 2012, the penny tax to fund Columbia’s transportation projects passed!

Though the tax has led to some controversy, one cannot dispute that our investment in the Comet bus system has proven successful. Between 2012 and 2017, the Comet’s ridership grew by 70%, and today the Comet is thriving. Its service has expanded with new routes—including a route to Lexington and Batesburg-Leesville added just yesterday—and new busses equipped with WiFi. The Comet has even partnered with ride-sharing services to provide discounted fares to individuals traveling to and from the supermarket, ensuring that Columbia’s residents have convenient and affordable access to grocery stores. While the Comet is especially invaluable to anyone without a personal vehicle or driving privileges, all Columbians can and should make use of this resource. Given the rising cost of fuel, overcrowded thoroughfares, and shortage of parking downtown, I suggest we all embrace the Comet and commit to further maximizing the potential of Columbia’s public transport!

No one has ever accused me of being a rocket scientist, but as I enter 2020 and review my priorities in decades past, I believe that time has brought me wisdom with respect to resolutions. Like most of us, I’ve taken some time to consider my vision of what 2020 should yield: the things that I want to do and those I do not, what new skills I’d like to learn, how I will stay healthy and in shape, etc. But unlike previous years, the recurring theme that is playing through my head is that whether 2020 will be a successful year is not so much about my measurable accomplishments—it is about the person I choose to be. I must define the person that Mike Kelly should be—the person I want to be—and make strides toward becoming that man. In 2020, success will flow from my relationship with my friends and family and the assistance and kindness that I offer my fellow man.

For perhaps the first time, I feel like I am entering the new year with a clear—or shall I say, 20/20—vision of what true accomplishment looks like! In large part, I thank my long-time friend and fellow attorney, Steve Hamm, for this realization. He and I have been through it all—the delight of watching our children grow into successful adults, the ups and downs of our respective careers, and the personal joys and sorrows that sculpt each of us. On Monday, Steve called to invite me to dinner, having made it his New Year’s resolution to spend more time with friends. His gesture was touching and reminded me to think about what’s truly important, as opposed to how many boxes I check or accolades I receive. Steve Hamm—you’ve inspired me, my friend, and I cannot thank you enough!

With 2020 now in full swing, I hope that each of you is off to a great start and looking forward to what lies ahead this year and in the coming decade. Whatever your resolution may be, stay true to it—you are worth the effort it will take to make your 2020 vision your reality! Happy New Year!

In my 42 years of helping folks around the state with personal injury, workers’ compensation, and disability matters, I have been blessed with meeting thousands of extraordinary South Carolinians. One such man was Deputy Michael Latu of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, who we regrettably lost last week in the line of duty. Michael was a Samoan-American who grew up in Chicago, but he migrated down to the Pee Dee, where he became a deputy in Marion County and one of the finest South Carolinians I’ve had the privilege of representing. I came to know Michael after he was referred to Mike Kelly Law Group by a fellow deputy—and my friend—Jonathan Herring. But although my relationship with Michael started out as an attorney-client one, he was a fun-loving and agreeable man, and we became fast friends.

Michael lived and breathed law enforcement, and he LOVED his job. Deputy Latu was particularly interested in the tactical aspects of being an officer, and he volunteered for virtually any job Sheriff Wallace needed done. He lost his life in a single-car accident while on the way to back up a fellow officer involved in a foot-chase, and I can find some peace in knowing that Michael died doing what he loved best. Still, he will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and Marion County.

Deputy Latu made more of an impact on this earth in his 34 brief years than most people will make in a full lifetime. He worked passionately and pursued the greater good through his position with the Sheriff’s Office. He was reliable, jovial, and—though he’d never boast about it—Michael had a genius-level IQ. He was named both Patrolman of the Year and Deputy of the Year in 2018 for his dedication and service to Marion County. He is a man we can all aspire to be more like.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I hope that we can all take with us a lesson from the life of Michael Latu. May we begin this new chapter with the passion and dedication he had, with his love of helping others, and with his humble and heartfelt demeanor. And may we remember that the moments we have on earth are few and precious, such that we spend more time focusing on the things in life that matter most with gratitude in our hearts.

Thank you for your service, Deputy Latu. You will be missed, but your legacy lives on.

Year after year, the world becomes more complex and complicated with technology, social media, and real-time news alerts; it’s exhausting to keep up, even for a “youthful” senior citizen such as myself. But for millennia, one thing has remained a constant: Christmas is a unique time of celebration and tradition. It’s a joyous season, observed globally by folks of different religious backgrounds, with family, friends, and festivities.

Christmas means many things to many people, but as a fourth-generation Episcopalian, for me, the Advent is a high time of worship. For nearly 40 years, I have been blessed to be a member of St. Martins-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church in Forest Acres, and although I am admittedly biased, I think St. Martins and Reverend Mitch Smith do a particularly excellent job of emphasizing Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a time for renewed dedication to our faith. My favorite night of the year is that of December 24th, when St. Martins holds its 10:30 service. This year, I’ve been honored with reading the first lesson to the congregation, and I cannot convey how much it will mean to me to be part of such a beautiful service.

Whether it is religion, fellowship, gift-giving, or any number of the wonderful things about this season, from the bottom of my heart, I hope you find time to relax and embrace what Christmas means to you in the days to come!