DYK? Leadership Columbia (the professional development program led by the Columbia Chamber) has been happening since 1973. Yep – it’s 45 years old. The Chamber carefully selects ~60 people for the 10-month program each year – 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 don’t 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:

🦎 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 I’m craving a cronut.) It’s sort of like a scavenger hunt, built for visitors (and locals) to see Main St.’s 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?

Sally Salamander stop five. | photo courtesy Columbia Chamber

Currently, the City of Columbia and students at local school Heathwood Hall are working together to update + revamp the tour. The new tour – featuring 10 new stops, a marketing plan (including a potential new app for the tour) + a children’s book about Sally Salamander – will launch in November.

🚲 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, UofSC’s Horseshoe and Lincoln Tunnel.

The Class of 2018 just announced their project, in which they’ll be working with MIRCI’s Project HEAT to furnish and landscape a new transitional home for young men; holding housewarming parties to collect donations on MIRCI’s registry.

Apply for Leadership Columbia Class of 2019 online until next Friday, March 16. Make it the #BestClassEver. 😉 (And then, when you’re done, we can hang out at LCAA breakfasts at Eggs Up.)

Here's the entire list of projects, since 1983:

1973-1982 Class projects were not a requirement of the program1983Governmental Consolidation Report1984Career day in high schools1985Career seminar for high school sophomores and juniors1986Renovated The Women’s Shelter/ Providence Home1987Renovated Sistercare1988Surveyed industry segments regarding the Midlands “We’re Growing Proud” Campaign1989Economic development survey1990Career fair and scholarship program for at-risk youth1991Main Street Celebrates Education—a venue to highlight students in middle schools1992Habitat for Humanity Home construction1993Construction of storage facility for the Family Shelter1994Consolidation forum aired on SC-ETV and WIS1995Gateway entrance to Riverfront Park1996Constructed a playground at Gonzales Park1997Renovated houses for the elderly in Cayce1998Beautification: planted trees at to Huger & Elmwood (program utilizing local media and school children)1999Dream Team 98: a mentoring program focused on 7th and 8th grades in Richland School District 12000Building Blocks of Leadership: Millennium Community Project2001Get R.E.A.L (Ready to Enter Adult Life)2002Helping Hands: Renovation Free Medical Clinic, Family Connections and Lexington County Children’s Center2003Beyond Miracles - planting and beautification of children’s section in the Cancer Survivors Park2004Mural at the Riverwalk Park2005Mosaic of “Where Friendliness Flows” logo at Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center2006Renovation of the Family Shelter2007Beautification Project: Granby Park river entrance2008Renovation of the Carolina Boys Home2009Sally Salamander Walking Tour2010Hannah House: Renovations, marketing campaign and financial literacy classes2011Renovation at Epworth Children’s Home Doug Gray Cottage2012Free Medical Clinic: Renovated four bathrooms, installed a new HVAC unit, light fixtures, a new covered walkway and bench, collected supplies, and recruited additional volunteers 2013Leading by Reading partnership with the Midlands Reading Consortium and Richland One Schools (including reading room makeovers at Bradley and South Kilbourne Elementary Schools)2014Renovation of a 2 bedroom/1 bathroom cottage and planting of a healing garden on the grounds of The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders2015Shared Street Project (including beautification of Lincoln Tunnel and installation of ‘sharrows’ & bike racks) 2016Renovation at the Autism Academy of South Carolina2017Watermarked – Art and Landscaping of Lincoln Street Tunnel2018MIRCI Youth Supportive Housing Project