DYK? Leadership Columbia (the professional development program led by the Columbia Chamber) has been happening since 1973. Yep â itâs 45 years old. The Chamber carefully selects ~60 people for the 10-month program each year â which meaning ~2,700 people have made connections, given back + gotten to know their city better through Leadership Columbia.
(I was in the class of 2016, and it was a really rewarding experience. Being in the creative industry, I connected with several people in other industries I donât get to mingle much with, and built some great relationships I still maintain now.)
Each year since 1983, the class picks a project to make Columbia better. Some of the coolest projects include:
đŠ Sally Salamander Walking Tour (Class of 2009) | Sally Salamander is a walking tour of downtown Cola featuring numbered, bronze statues of spotted salamanders, our state amphibian. (Who knew we had that? Also, now Iâm craving a cronut.) Itâs sort of like a scavenger hunt, built for visitors (and locals) to see Main St.âs architecture + cultural icons. The tour is now maintained by Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. See the guide online or pickup a map from the Columbia Regional Visitors Center. Sunday plans, anyone?
Currently, the City of Columbia and students at local school Heathwood Hall are working together to update + revamp the tour. The new tour â featuring 10 new stops, a marketing plan (including a potential new app for the tour) + a childrenâs book about Sally Salamander â will launch in November.
đČ Shared Streets Columbia (Class of 2015) | This class worked with the City to fundraise for, plan + install bike racks in a variety of sizes at different locations downtown, like Adluh Mill, Richland Library, UofSCâs Horseshoe and Lincoln Tunnel.
Image via Facebook
The Class of 2018 just announced their project, in which theyâll be working with MIRCIâs Project HEAT to furnish and landscape a new transitional home for young men; holding housewarming parties to collect donations on MIRCIâs registry.
Apply for Leadership Columbia Class of 2019 online until next Friday, March 16. Make it the #BestClassEver. đ (And then, when youâre done, we can hang out at LCAA breakfasts at Eggs Up.)
Hereâs the entire list of projects, since 1983:
| 1973-1982 | Class projects were not a requirement of the program |
| 1983 | Governmental Consolidation Report |
| 1984 | Career day in high schools |
| 1985 | Career seminar for high school sophomores and juniors |
| 1986 | Renovated The Womenâs Shelter/ Providence Home |
| 1987 | Renovated Sistercare |
| 1988 | Surveyed industry segments regarding the Midlands âWeâre Growing Proudâ Campaign |
| 1989 | Economic development survey |
| 1990 | Career fair and scholarship program for at-risk youth |
| 1991 | Main Street Celebrates Educationâa venue to highlight students in middle schools |
| 1992 | Habitat for Humanity Home construction |
| 1993 | Construction of storage facility for the Family Shelter |
| 1994 | Consolidation forum aired on SC-ETV and WIS |
| 1995 | Gateway entrance to Riverfront Park |
| 1996 | Constructed a playground at Gonzales Park |
| 1997 | Renovated houses for the elderly in Cayce |
| 1998 | Beautification: planted trees at to Huger & Elmwood (program utilizing local media and school children) |
| 1999 | Dream Team 98: a mentoring program focused on 7th and 8th grades in Richland School District 1 |
| 2000 | Building Blocks of Leadership: Millennium Community Project |
| 2001 | Get R.E.A.L (Ready to Enter Adult Life) |
| 2002 | Helping Hands: Renovation Free Medical Clinic, Family Connections and Lexington County Childrenâs Center |
| 2003 | Beyond Miracles - planting and beautification of childrenâs section in the Cancer Survivors Park |
| 2004 | Mural at the Riverwalk Park |
| 2005 | Mosaic of âWhere Friendliness Flowsâ logo at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center |
| 2006 | Renovation of the Family Shelter |
| 2007 | Beautification Project: Granby Park river entrance |
| 2008 | Renovation of the Carolina Boys Home |
| 2009 | Sally Salamander Walking Tour |
| 2010 | Hannah House: Renovations, marketing campaign and financial literacy classes |
| 2011 | Renovation at Epworth Childrenâs Home Doug Gray Cottage |
| 2012 | Free Medical Clinic: Renovated four bathrooms, installed a new HVAC unit, light fixtures, a new covered walkway and bench, collected supplies, and recruited additional volunteers |
| 2013 | Leading by Reading partnership with the Midlands Reading Consortium and Richland One Schools (including reading room makeovers at Bradley and South Kilbourne Elementary Schools) |
| 2014 | Renovation of a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom cottage and planting of a healing garden on the grounds of The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders |
| 2015 | Shared Street Project (including beautification of Lincoln Tunnel and installation of âsharrowsâ & bike racks) |
| 2016 | Renovation at the Autism Academy of South Carolina |
| 2017 | Watermarked â Art and Landscaping of Lincoln Street Tunnel |
| 2018 | MIRCI Youth Supportive Housing Project |
