The new Abney Seafood Event Hall, located at 6315 N Main St. in Columbia was the site of the Friday Chat Community Forum on Feb 2, 2024. The Chat Forum will occur every Friday at noon at Abney Seafood and is sponsored by North of Main Association (NOMA).
NOMA, established in March 2008 by the current founder and Executive Director Sabrina Odom Edwards, provides information and support for the businesses in the North Columbia area. NOMA provides professional networking, workshops and resources for the North Columbia Businesses and also serves to connect with the neighborhood residents.
The guest speaker for this Friday Forum was Commissioner Jaime Devine, who was accompanied by Commissioner Angela Clyburn. Both serve on the Board of Richland County Schools.
Commissioner Devine started the informal session by detailing some of the current projects that are being discussed by the Board and
are of special interest to this community. He was also prepared to answer
questions from the crowd of about 20. The audience included retired and currently employed educators, parents and concerned citizens.
Topics discussed
included the following:
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Details about the proposed Early Child Learning Centers (funding, how many in the future, the locations) The aim is to ensure that every child is prepared. 3K – 2nd Grade
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Teacher Retention and Employment. What is the plan to staff the new centers? Research indicates that there is currently a shortage of qualified instructors.
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College and Career Readiness. Encourage more students to enroll in the “Call ME MISTER” Program.
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Testing. Is all of this testing in schools really necessary?
According to Commissioner Devine, many children have fallen behind since COVID and some schools are dealing with chronic absenteeism.
Some suggestions offered by the parents included checking out the Hyatt Park Summer Programs, encouraging schools to offer more Life Skill subjects and asking more employers to create internship positions for students enrolled in The Urban League Summer Program.
The speaker for the next Friday Chat Forum will be Commissioner Barbara Weston.
Senator Fanning, with years of experience in education, recognized the significance of comprehensive support for students, creating an environment where they feel supported, connected, and ready to embrace the opportunities of the digital world.
The laptop distribution event exemplifies the commitment of these organizations in making a lasting difference in the lives of students, empowering them with the resources needed to thrive now and in the future.
