In 1967, when developer James Rouse founded Columbia, the planned community in the heart of Howard County, one of his guiding principles was to create a diverse, integrated and open community. Columbia has now grown to more than 100,000 residents and has attracted tens of thousands of jobs. Rouse planned a city where people of different backgrounds could live and work together, regardless of race or income. And he intentionally worked to make racial integration a reality.

Unfortunately, since Rouse’s passing in 1996, his original vision for Columbia has fallen by the wayside. The result is an increasing trend toward segregated neighborhoods over the past 30 years. Many (if not most) of today’s Columbia residents aren’t aware of Columbia’s unique history and are likely to choose Howard County as their home based on our excellent school system. Additionally, Columbia has become less affordable over the years. To afford any kind of entry-level housing in Columbia, an individual must make about $80,000 annually. Our town has become the kind of “narrowly stratified suburb” that James Rouse spoke out against.

To maintain the racial and socioeconomic integration that is a hallmark of Columbia, the Columbia Housing Center (CHC) promotes the original vision for Columbia, Maryland. We celebrate the quality of life and amenities of Columbia, as we build on the Rouse legacy of racial and ethnic diversity.

By joining our Visionary Circle, you are demonstrating your commitment to the founding values of Columbia.

The Visionary Circle’s support will help us fund exciting new educational projects like our new Columbialiving.org website, which will provide a nuanced, resident-led view of life in and around Columbia. Columbialiving.org will offer prospective residents a better source of information about our community and the experience of living here. The Visionary Circle will also support our efforts to educate our community about the benefits of integration, the current trend toward segregation, and how Columbians can advocate for local and state policies that will support Rouse’s vision for our city.