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On Friday, October 17, The Salvation Army of the Midlands celebrated a milestone achievement – becoming only the second organization in South Carolina to earn the ������Ƶ Agency Certification in Trauma-Informed Educational Practices, awarded through the College’s Center for Organization Resilience (COR).

The event marked not only the culmination of a yearlong training partnership with ������Ƶ, but also the official ribbon cutting for the Salvation Army’s Lowe’s Hometowns Project – a transformation of its outdoor space into the Youth Education and Trauma-Informed Courtyard.

As one of only 100 Lowe’s Hometowns grant recipients nationwide, the organization reimagined its courtyard into an outdoor learning and reflection space designed with trauma-informed principles in mind. The area now features native South Carolina plants and is recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat through the South Carolina Wildlife Federation, blending environmental stewardship with opportunities for healing and growth.

Marty Hampton, board member of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation and granddaughter of cofounder Harry Hampton, joined the celebration to honor the project’s conservation impact and the Federation’s partnership in creating an educational environment for local youth.

Throughout the past year, the Salvation Army team worked closely with Dr. Elaine Chavis Swain, Director of the Center for Organization Resilience, and her ������Ƶ colleagues to complete a comprehensive trauma-informed training series. The certification process focused on helping professionals recognize the impact of trauma, respond with empathy, and build resilience both within their organizations and the communities they serve.

“This work is about humanity – connecting with the people we serve and with each other,” said Dr. Swain. “The Salvation Army’s leadership and commitment to growth have been extraordinary. They’ve created a model for compassion and resilience that will continue to shape lives across the Midlands.”

The Salvation Army’s leadership echoed that sentiment, noting how the certification has deepened understanding and strengthened their mission to serve individuals in crisis with dignity and compassion. “We’ve always been dedicated to meeting human needs without discrimination,” one team member shared. “Now, through this certification, we can do that with greater insight and care.”

The celebration concluded with remarks of gratitude, a courtyard tour, and lunch shared among community partners and volunteers – symbolizing the collaboration and heart that made the project possible.

������Ƶ the Center for Organization Resilience

The Center for Organization Resilience at ������Ƶ equips individuals, schools, and organizations with trauma-informed practices that promote empathy, accountability, and well-being in the workplace and beyond. Through professional development, certification programs, and community partnerships, the Center empowers organizations to strengthen communication, reduce burnout, and build systems rooted in compassion and resilience.

Learn more about how your organization can become trauma-informed at COLUMBIASC.edu/COR.