You can make a difference is the takeaway from our first year as a group. While our anniversary gala is set for 6:30 p.m. May 23 in the J.W. “Blind” Boone House on Fourth Street, we actually started on May 7, 2022. And we’ve come a long way and made history.

That first meeting drew about 20 people together, individuals and leaders of various organizations such as the Boone County History & Culture Center, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission and the J.W. “Blind” Boone Heritage Foundation, and the African American Heritage Trail group. It was scary at first. The two people who called the meeting, Dianna Borsi O’Brien and Trevor Harris, wondered if anyone would show up. But they did show up and they showed up angry at the demolitions that had happened and that were slated to take place at the University of Missouri. We all agreed: We needed to put that anger into action, and we soon came up with our rallying cry, we wanted to save our stuff — the places and buildings that contain our history.

Here’s what we’ve accomplished since May 7, 2022:

On April 17, 2023, CoMo Preservation incorporated with the state of Missouri, allowing us to elect a governing Board to make decisions.

On May 3, 2023, the IRS approved our submission to become a 501(c)3. This gives us the ability to take donations that contributors can deduct from their taxes.

Since May 2022, CoMo Preservation has held monthly meetings, free and open to the public, where you can learn about various aspects of our unique architectural history. Speakers have included Nakhle Asmar, the owner of the Niedermeyer Apartments, Gerald Morgan, MU director of Campus Facilities Space Planning & Management, Barbra Horrell of Columbia’s African American Heritage Trail and others.

To get the work done to preserve our historic places and spaces, three working teams meet and work tirelessly: Education, Advocacy, and Restoration and. For information on when these teams meet and how to join a team, email comopreservation@gmail.com.

Education is devoted to increasing Columbia’s awareness and appreciation of the value and importance of historic properties. This team is developing information packets showing the economic, cultural and environmental value of historic preservation of our unique architectural history. This team created the website and maintains it and our social media presence. It meets the third week of the month.

Advocacy focuses on finding alternatives to demolition by providing information to property owners about how to protect their property. This team is exploring how other cities have successfully helped property owners protect their property. Advocacy also works with the city’s Historic Preservation Commission. In the future, Advocacy will monitor building plans at MU, Stephens and Columbia College, create content about what the Columbia Most Notable Properties list and National Register of Historic Places are, and how to get a property listed. This team meets the first week of the month.

Restoration works to support Columbia by providing resources to maintain historic buildings. It has created a list of artisans, craftspeople, and consultants such as carpenters, painters, and engineers who can help property owners maintain their older or historic home. Future plans include hosting maintenance workshops and selling architectural items salvaged from local historic buildings. The Restoration Team meets the second week of the month.

Our gala anniversary, monthly meetings and this website show what people can do when they work together. As one of our members said, we’re better together. Come to the meetings, join a team or donate to take action to preserve Columbia’s unique places and spaces.