(Columbia, SC) – The City of Columbia’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, led by Director Trevon Fordham, announced the “4 Block” Promise initiative at City Hall, 1737 Main St., on Friday, December 6, 2024. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, District II Councilman Edward McDowell Jr, joined Director Fordham and several faith based leaders also spoke of their commitment including Dean Slade, Reformation Lutheran Church, and Pastor James Woodley, Gill Creek Baptist Church.
The “4 Block” Promise is a citywide initiative that focuses on increasing engagement and community outreach through strategic collaborations with our worship and faith-based partners. The purpose of the “4 Block” Promise is to expand our community footprints for safer neighborhoods. The Promise aims to increase engagement and outreach within “4 blocks” around each place of worship. This initiative can produce measureable change to make our city safer, block by block!
The initial plan is to reach out to churches located within our neighborhoods experiencing the highest crime rates, but the initiative is open to all churches and neighborhoods across the City of Columbia. As of Friday, December 6, 2024, five churches have confirmed partnerships including:
- Eau Claire Baptist Church
- Gill Creek Baptist Church
- Temple Zion Baptist Church
- Reformation Lutheran Church
- City of Refuge Church
Collaborative initiatives
Our desire is to plan and implement partnership initiatives that will include:
- Hosting community events
- Create volunteer opportunities
- Collaborating on other safety/engagement efforts
Next Steps
Over the three months, the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement will:
- Meet with faith-based leaders (action planning sessions)
- Conduct asset mapping and environmental scanning
- Devise engagement and outreach plans
- Collaborate on other safety/engagement efforts
For more information about the “4 Block” Promise, please reach out to the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement at [email protected] or (803) 545-3031.
