Rickenmann’s proposal asked for $802,800 for three years of funding for the office. If voted into existence as pitched, the office would include a director overseeing a team of “violence interrupters” and partnership coordinators. “We’ve got to do something different, and we’ve got to have somebody who’s a lead coordinator. Right now there’s not a lead coordinator anywhere,” he said.

The Revs. Jackie Utley and Eric Fink with faith-based group MORE Justice said they were cautiously optimistic based on the mayor’s proposal. “We’re excited that at least something positive may be happening,” Fink said.

Conversations about the affordable housing crisis here in Columbia. A podcast with two organizers from MORE Justice Columbia, Co-President Reverend Jackie Utley and Lead Organizer Lizzy Van Harn.

Listen in on the Nehemiah Action Assembly, hosted by More Justice. Learn how powerful an an ally the interfaith community can be in the fight for justice and equity as we discover how More Justice is working to transform the Midlands of South Carolina.

With the cost of living on the rise, some viewers have asked what, if any, options they have if their landlord raises the rent. With feature by MORE Justice spokesperson.

South Carolina Public Radio - In 2018, eight police officers with the City of Columbia were trained in crisis intervention. The interfaith organization MORE Justice credits their work in getting that number close to 200. This April, the group will ask local leaders to act on solving the area's affordable housing and gun violence issues.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Gun violence and affordable housing, two issues that a Midlands faith-based organization says are plaguing the Columbia community. They held a rally Monday evening to prepare for an upcoming conversation with community leaders.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — More than 200 people from different religious backgrounds came together to rally for justice and change, proposing solutions for the affordable housing crisis and reducing incidents of gun violence.

One Monday, May 24, 2021, the MORE Justice organization held a press conference to call for a new approach to combat gun violence in Columbia, SC.

On April 26, 2021, on Zoom, a network of 35 congregations and over 1,100 persons in the Midlands area assembled to discuss best practices and solutions for Mental Health, Affordable Housing, and Gun Violence. While the appropriate community stakeholders were present for Affordable Housing, Sheriff Leon Lott and Police Chief Holbrook were invited on several occasions but refused to attend. The Nehemiah Action is the largest and most diverse community gathering that happens in the Columbia area every year where over 1,100 people gathered who are deeply concerned about community issues.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Data from Richland County law enforcement agencies shows gun violence is on the rise, and a group of faith-based leaders is calling on those agencies to do more about it.

MORE Justice hosted a news conference at Reid Chapel AME Church in Columbia on Monday and called for a formal study of gun violence in the area.

“We show up with a demonstration of people power to get clear commitments from officials,” another speaker said. “Because people in our community need to make choices between paying for rent and paying for groceries because kids are being kicked out of a classroom because people are being gunned down in our streets.”

A Columbia pastor led a brief ceremony Wednesday to remember the 20 Columbia residents who lost their lives to gun violence in 2019, placing roses upon 20 empty chairs and asking people in the crowd to observe a moment of silence for those killed.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Community members gathered at Reid Chapel AME in Columbia on Wednesday for a drive-in vigil to honor victims of gun violence.

The leaders stressed that on September 13 there were five shootings in just one day in Richland County, and the focus of the vigil was to pray for those taken last year by gun violence and to call out to law enforcement to bring greater trust to communities to stop it from happening.

Faith-based community organizations in Columbia and Charleston are urging local leaders to consider establishing an Affordable Housing Trust Fund, a program that provides financial incentives for developers to build more affordable housing in a community.

In Columbia, Midlands Organized Response for Equity (MORE) and Justice draws members from more than 30 diverse religious congregations around the Midlands who meet regularly with each other and with local officials to address the problems of poverty and the need for access to health care and affordable housing.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) —A group of Columbia pastors is encouraging city leaders to implement a more hands-on approach to combating gun violence.