Online celebration to honor community development organization

Ten local leaders will be honored during a virtual celebration declaring April 22 Benedict-Allen Community Development Corporation Day in the city of Columbia.

The nonprofit organization promotes residential and commercial revitalization by providing resources for the acquisition and redevelopment of properties. It also helps build affordable housing and combines public and private resources to spur community development in the Waverly, Edgewood-Read and Ridgewood communities.

Its board of directors is made up of local leaders including the presidents of Benedict College and Allen University.

Jaime Harrison, Democratic National committee chair, will give keynote remarks during the online event, which will also include a greeting from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge.

The leaders being honored for contributions to the CDC during its formative years are:

• Nate Barber, retired senior vice president at South State Bank and CDC board member
• Steve Benjamin, mayor of Columbia
• Lady June Cole, former Allen University president and former CDC board member
• E.W. Cromartie, former Columbia city councilman and former CDC board member
• Jocelyn Jennings, retired from Richland County Community Development
• Johnny Ray Noble, CDC board member
• Larry Salley, former CDC executive director
• Joyce L. Seabrook, former CDC executive assistant
• Dalton Tresvant II, field representative in Rep. Jim Clyburn’s office
• Ruby W. Watts, CDC founding board member. 

In addition, David H. Swinton, former Benedict president and founding CDC board chair, will receive the visionary award and Brenda Oliver, board vice chair, will be given the chairman's award.  

The event can be viewed online on Thursday at 3 p.m.