She Did

She Did Day 2023 | Celebrating HerStory - Join us for a community Power Hour to celebrate the legacies of undersung women leaders and their contributions to our city!

August 25th, 2023 | 10am-11am

The Architecture of Strength Monument

Northwest Corner of Main & Gervais

Women deserve to be seen and heard in our city. It's our hope that this monumental sculpture motivates the community to learn more about women's historical contributions to our city and inspires a more hopeful and inclusive vision of our future.

More on the Monument

We've come together to share the stories of Columbia's many strong, courageous, and driven women.

Celebrating Women's Achievements

Have you ever noticed that very few cities, streets, and statues are named for women? In Columbia, only 4 percent of our 145 landmarks are specifically named for women. Only one of the 41 streets in downtown Columbia is intended to recognize a woman — Lady Street — yet its name does not reflect the true recipient, Martha Washington. We believe in the power of moving through a city that recognizes women's achievements, which is why we're bringing forward the stories of our city's remarkable women.

Make a Nomination

Share the story of an inspiring woman you'd like to honor on the City of Women map.

Share her Story

Support City of Women

Your support helps us celebrate women and engage our community.

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Columbia City of Women Honorees

Doctor

Bambi Ware Gaddist

Bambi W. Gaddist photographed for a story on the SC HIV/AIDS Council at her home on Oak Street. Image courtesy The State Newspaper Photograph Archive, Richland Library It is our responsibility to deal with the AIDS issue in a straightforward manner. -Bambi W. Gaddist, “DiAna’s Hair Ego,” 1989 Out of 2,967 South Carolinians diagnosed with AIDS since 1981, 1,804 have...
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Our work is inspired by an effort led by Rebecca Solnit that reimagined the New York City subway map with stops named after women.

I can’t imagine how I might have conceived of myself and my possibilities if, in my formative years, I had moved through a city where most things were named after women and many or most of the monuments were of powerful, successful, honored women.

Rebecca Solnit

Co-author, "City of Women"