Columbia Housing, MTC Launch Education and Workforce Development Agreement

November 25, 2022 | For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Hardy | chardy@columbiahousingsc.org | (803) 447-3770 mobile

Columbia, SC – A new agreement between Columbia Housing and Midlands Technical College provides education and career development opportunities for Columbia Housing residents. The official Memorandum of Understanding will be signed at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29th at Columbia Housing's Wall of Fame Garden at 2211 Read Street (next door to the Oak Read High Rise).
 
The collaboration will help people like Cecille McDaniel, who has dreamed of opening her own early childhood development center.

“I have a heart for working with children and throughout the years I’ve always looked for jobs to work with youth,” said McDaniel. “I know for me to eventually open an early childhood development center—I’ve got to get some credentials behind my name and that’s what I’m working on now.”

McDaniel is one of several Columbia Housing residents already taking advantage the new partnership between Columbia Housing and MTC. The program eliminates barriers to accessing higher education with the goal of helping individuals transition to self-sufficiency.

“The core function of our college is to teach people and develop their skills while honing their innate talents," said MTC President Dr. Ron Rhames. "Through education, we help people find occupations they love, and they are transformed into individuals who are ready for life-long success in family-sustaining careers.”
 
“This agreement allows us to collaborate on education and workforce development initiatives to better serve our families,” says Columbia Housing CEO Yvonda Bean. We look forward to working together to address impediments to economic self-sufficiency by providing new resources for residents offered by the college,” concludes Bean.

McDaniel says since she has gone back to school, her adult daughter has expressed interest in going back to school, too.

“Seeing me go to class each day has gotten her excited about completing her own education. That makes me one proud Mom.”

About Midlands Technical College
Midlands Technical College (MTC) is a six-campus, two-year comprehensive community college serving Richland, Lexington, and Fairfield counties in South Carolina.
 
About Columbia Housing
Established in 1934, the Housing Authority of the City of Columbia is the largest housing authority in South Carolina serving more than 16,000 residents in its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs.