The city of Columbia hosted a summit for community leaders from across the state to discuss race relations in South Carolina, as well as relations between young people and their surrounding community. The summit was held at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center.
Richland County Council member Joyce Dickerson attended the summit and expressed her concern with the sense of community in the area.
"When my kids were in school, I mean, there was a village — the teachers, the parents and the community. And now we feel like that is missing," Dickerson said. "So today what we are trying to do is to try to bring some of that back."
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott also made an appearance at the Convention Center, readily available to communicate with the area's youth.
"We need to listen to our kids. We need to have kids involved," Lott said. "And I'm so encouraged to look at an audience today and see some of the young people here. We need to hear their voice."
Young people did attend the event and went into it looking ahead for stronger community relations.
"[I am] looking forward to learn about how to connect with other races and make sure, you know, everybody knows how one race feels, how the other race feels, so we can come together, so the United States will be one," said Ja'Kiya Wilkins, a twelfth grade student at Boiling Springs High School.