'Moments into momentum': Columbia Values Diversity breakfast honors dance studio, nonprofit leader

Renee Montgomery, co-owner and Vice President of WNBA team Atlanta Dream, in June 2020 decided to turn moments into momentum to focus on social justice reform and step away from her career as a WNBA player.

This "moments into momentum" mentality is what she wanted to share Thursday as keynote speakers with the more than 1,000 community members gathered Thursday for the annual Columbia Values Diversity celebration. The awards recognize local individuals and organizations who exemplify the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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This year's recipients were Jabberwocky Studios for the group award and Dr. Lester Woods Jr. for the individual award.

Jabberwocky started in 2015 offering classes in hip-hop and breakdancing, along with mural painting, and has grown to include programs for science, technology, engineering arts and math. The vision of the organization is to ensure equitable and inclusive access to arts and other educational opportunities through urban arts.

Woods also leads the nonprofit The Summit Source, which is focused on creating a pilot first-mile, last-mile shuttle service program to ensure people have reliable transportation to work, such as along the Paris Road/Route B industrial corridor.

"People do not have to recognize you, but when they do, it means a lot," he said, adding the next meeting of The Source Summit is Feb. 7 at Urban Empowerment Ministries "to continue to address social and economic concerns, and to bring a better quality of life for people in need."

This year marks 30 years since Columbia has held an annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's life, and is the 25th year of giving the recognition awards.

Forever Forward Momentum; 'It starts with me'

The theme of the 2023 Columbia Values Diversity celebration was "Forever Foward." Montgomery related to this theme by referencing back to her "moments into momentum" message from 2020. Her entire life has been about moments that built momentum to move her life forward.

This meant putting the work into those moments, such as the training and practice she had to do to become a three-time high school basketball champion in West Virginia. This led to her time at the University of Connecticut and an NCAA national championship.

She then was selected fourth in the WNBA draft, going on to two championships there, among other accolades. Following her full retirement in 2021, she purchased the Atlanta Dream as a co-owner, the first former WNBA player to become an owner and executive.

She has other platforms to share her message, including podcasts "Montgomery and Co," and "Takeline."

With her decision to step aside as a player and become an owner, Montgomery's intent was to be at the front of generational change for the community, she said.

"We started to look at things differently after 2020. It was bigger than basketball, bigger than sports. It was bigger than me," Montgomery said, adding team ownership was a way to move forward. "It is not about the title, it is about making a difference."

Before Thursday, she also spoke at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta this week, which once was where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. served as pastor. The theme from that service was "It Starts With Me."

"When I thought about that theme ... I was standing for my parent's dreams, my generation's dreams," she said. "Generational change, it starts with me. Generational wealth, it starts with me. Ending generational trauma, it starts with me."

Montgomery recognizes that keeping forward momentum going will take time, celebrating what is underway in Columbia.

"We know we have a long way to go. I'm not naïve to think we are where we need to be. I am excited we are on our way. I'm excited for that momentum. I hope that we all can move forever forward, whether it is hard, there is conflict or there are uncomfortable truths," she said.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Moving foward focus of Columbia Values Diversity celebration