Diversity Action Committee — Why Move to Columbia?

The purpose of this document is to provide potential applications with information on what makes Columbia, MO such a special place to live. Our hope is that applicants will realize that Columbia, MO is a vibrant community and that working at MU merits serious consideration. While we hope to see an increase in the number of applicants per academic search, we especially hope to see an increase in the diversity within each search, i.e., candidates who would self-identify with a minority status group would realize a sense of inclusiveness exists already in Columbia, MO.

Yearly Festival and Events

• Roots & Blues BBQ Festival (http://www.rootsnbluesnbbq.com/)
• True/False Film Festival (http://truefalse.org/)
• Citizen Jane Film Festival (http://www.stephens.edu/news/stephensevents/citizenjane/index.php)
• First Night New Year’s Festival (http://firstnightcolumbia.org/)
• Artrageous Fridays (http://www.artrageousfridays.com/index.html)
• Art in the Park (http://www.cal.missouri.org/artinthepark.html)
• Boone County Fair (http://www.boonecountyfairgrounds.com/)
• Earth Day Festival
• J.W. Boone Ragtime Celebration
• Heritage Festival and Craft Show
• Parades

MUSIC

• We Always Swing Jazz Series (http://wealwaysswing.org/)
• The Blue Note (http://www.thebluenote.com/)
• Music Venues (http://www.comomusic.com/venues.php)

FILM & THEATRE

• The University Concert Series (http://www.concertseries.org/)
• Macklanburg Playhouse (http://www.stephens.edu/news/stephensevents/performingarts/index.php)
• Ragtag Cinema (http://www.ragtagfilm.com/)
• Missouri Theatre (http://www.motheatre.org/)
• Maplewood Barn Theatre (http://www.maplewoodbarn.com/)
• Columbia Entertainment Company Community Theatre (http://www.cectheatre.org/)

ART & MUSEUMS

• Museum of Art and Archaeology (http://museum.research.missouri.edu/)
• Museum of Anthropology (http://anthromuseum.missouri.edu/default.shtm)
• Youzeum (http://www.youzeum.org/)
• Cherry Street Artisan (http://www.cherrystreetartisan.com/artisan4.html)
• Columbia Art League (http://cal.missouri.org/)
• Davis Art Gallery (http://www.stephens.edu/news/stephensevents/finearts/)
• Artrageous Fridays (http://www.artrageousfridays.com/index.html)
• Orr Street Studios (http://orrstreetstudios.blogspot.com/)

SPORTS

• Sports at MU (www.mutigers.com)
• Columbia was named #56 (of 399) best sports cities in the country by Sporting News. (St. Louis was 30th, & Kansas City #49) http://alumniemail.missouri.edu/dp.asp?dsid=16950273&pid=7898&key=320320341186157

DINING & FOOD

• Columbia Farmer’s Market (http://www.columbiafarmersmarket.org/)
• Boone county Farmer’s Market (http://www.boonecountyfarmers.com/vendors.htm)
• Restaurants (http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/web/things_to_do/dining.php)
• Inside Columbia Dining Guide (page 153) (http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?i=23193&p=1)
• Grocery Stores (http://columbiamo.usl.myareaguide.com/ypcyellow/grocery+stores.html?activeSort=TOP_PICKS|ASC&city=Columbia&offset=1&&state=MO)
   

TRAVEL

• Columbia Airport (http://www.flymidmo.com/)
• Mo-X (https://www.moexpress.com/tac/default.aspx)

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

• Parks and Recreation (http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/ParksandRec/)
• Missouri Department of Conservation (http://mdc.mo.gov/areas/central/)
• State Parks and Historic Sites (http://www.mostateparks.com/centralregion.htm)
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources (http://www.dnr.mo.gov/)
• Katy Trail (http://www.bikekatytrail.com/)

WHY COLUMBIA?

• Low cost of Living (http://www.bestplaces.net/col/)
• Estimated length of travel to/from work during rush hour: 20 minutes.
• Close to major cities like St. Louis, Kansas city, and Springfield. Less than a tank of gas away.
• Mid-size population around 100,000. A small town feel with big city opportunities.
• Strong Public School system. (http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/)
• A plethora of cultural activities.
• Bicycle friendly community. (http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/communities/)
• Community resources: http://diversity.missouri.edu/get-involved/communityorgs.php
• Places of worship: http://diversity.missouri.edu/get-involved/religion/worship.php
• Ethnic markets & salons: http://diversity.missouri.edu/get-involved/markets-salons.php

DIVERSITY AT MIZZOU

• ADA friendly school (http://www.insidecollege.com/reno/Colleges-with-a-Physically-DisabledFriendly-Environment/403/list.do)
• Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative (http://diversity.missouri.edu/)
• Multi-cultural Center
• Black Culture Center (http://bcc.missouri.edu/)
• Asian Affairs Center (http://asia.missouri.edu/)
• LGBTQ Resource Center (http://web.missouri.edu/~umcstudentlifelgbt/)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• University of Missouri-Columbia (http://www.missouri.edu/visitors/)
• City of Columbia (http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/) and (http://visitcolumbiamo.com/)
• Religious Centers (http://www.visitcolumbiamo.com/web/welcome/community/worship.php)
• Office of cultural Affairs (http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Arts/)
• Map of downtown Columbia (http://www.discoverthedistrict.com/pdf/thedistrictmap.pdf)
• U.S. Census information (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/29/2915670.html)