Who: City of Columbia Office of Violent Crime Prevention, Columbia Police Department, Be SMART, Calhoun County Public Schools, Fairfield County School District, Richland School District One, and Richland School District Two.
What: A press conference to announce the first annual national SMART Week from August 26–30, 2024. Speakers will include City of Columbia Office of Violent Crime Prevention, Director Dr. Trevon Fordham, Columbia Police Chief William “Skip” Holbrook, Be SMART volunteer, Sarah Venn, Fairfield County School District, Superintendent Dr. Tony Hemingway, Calhoun County Public Schools, Chief Accountability Officer Treda Keith-Nelson, Ed.D., Richland School District One, Superintendent Dr. Craig Witherspoon and Richland School District Two, Director of Strategic Partnerships Maria Owens.
SMART Week is all about educating communities on the simple steps that everyone — gun owners and non-gun owners alike — can take right now to prevent gun violence:
- Secure all guns in homes and vehicles
- Model responsible behavior around guns
- Ask about the presence of unsecured firearms in other homes your child visits and in vehicles they ride
- Recognize the role of guns in suicide
- Tell your peers to Be SMART.
SMART Week is a community-wide effort. Change happens every day through meaningful conversation with friends, family, neighbors, and community leaders. As we go through the school year, let’s consider this as a homework assignment for us parents and adults and normalize conversations about gun safety and spread the Be SMART message far and wide.
For more information about SMART Week, visit besmartforkids.org or email [email protected].
When: Today, Monday, August 26, 2024 at 11 a.m.
Where: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 1737 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201.