COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) – More than 50 Columbia residents from various backgrounds gathered Tuesday to share ideas on how to move the Midlands forward.
The event from the South Carolina Forum marked the first of three that will also take place in Greenville and Charleston. Participants tackled the most pressing issues in the community and worked up practical recommendations and solutions.
Conversation topics included growth, infrastructure and roads, responsive elected leaders, rising cost of living and slow wage growth. The topics were narrowed down from over 1,200 submitted to the forum’s website.
Actor Andrew Shue founded One People, the organization behind the forums. He said hearing directly from people in a setting like this is needed now more than ever.
“We all know that we are divided, we all know that our government is dysfunctional, whether that’s school board, city or nationally,” Shue said. “We all owe it to our kids and grandkids to play our part. My part to help build this civic infrastructure. If we build it, they will come and they are coming. I think a country that does something together, stays together.”
Jamion McAllister, who graduated high school last week, participated in the discussion. He is set to minor in political science and said the experience has been eye-opening.
“I don’t think I would have spoken to any of the people at my table outside of this building. I like to stay in my own lane,” McAllister said. “I disagreed with the majority of my table. It’s been an amazing opportunity to speak with people who are against my beliefs.”
Following the forum in Greenville on June 13 and in Charleston on June 23, online discussions will continue through July. A total of 100 participants from all three forums will be selected by lottery system to participate in an assembly on the University of South Carolina campus in October.
In that assembly, they will draft policy proposals to send directly to state legislators.
