Columbia, South Carolina – Columbia residents will have a chance next week to sit down for a focused community conversation about safety, belonging and the work it takes to build stronger neighborhoods.
The City of Columbia Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement and the Harriet Hancock Center will host the event on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Harriet Hancock Center, located at 1108 Woodrow St. Dinner will be provided for attendees, and registration is available online.
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The gathering is being framed as more than a meeting. Organizers are inviting residents into a conversation about several urgent issues that often overlap in real life but are too often discussed separately: gun violence prevention, LGBTQ+ safety, mental health awareness, suicide prevention, allyship and access to community resources.
At its center is a simple idea: safety is not only about what happens after a crisis. It is also about prevention, trust, support systems and whether people feel seen before they are in danger.
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The event comes as communities across South Carolina continue searching for ways to respond to violence, isolation and the strain many families face quietly. For LGBTQ+ residents and allies, the setting also carries added meaning during Pride Month, when celebrations of identity often sit beside deeper conversations about protection, acceptance and public belonging.
Participants will be able to learn about advocacy, local change efforts and practical ways to support a more inclusive future in Columbia and beyond. The discussion is expected to connect residents with resources while also encouraging them to play an active role in shaping safer neighborhoods.
The Harriet Hancock Center has long served as a gathering place for LGBTQ+ community life in the Midlands, while the Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement focuses on strengthening public safety through community-based work. By bringing those missions together, the June 23 event aims to create space for honesty, support and action.
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For organizers, the message is direct: safer communities are built in public, with neighbors at the table. On Tuesday evening, that table will include dinner, conversation and an invitation to help move Columbia toward a future that is more connected, compassionate and prepared to protect all its residents.
