As an architect, Heather Mitchell believes deeply in how design shapes communities, not just aesthetically, but economically, environmentally, and socially. It’s this conviction that inspired her Liberty Fellowship venture: the revitalization and expansion of the Riley Mayors’ Design Fellowship (RMDF), a program that equips local mayors to be the chief urban designers in their towns.
Heather was hesitant at first. But she was given strong encouragement from her Liberty Fellowship mentor. “This is where your passion is,” the mentor urged. “This is your skillset—just do it.” That encouragement became the spark Heather needed to take an existing idea and reimagine it into a sustainable, high-impact initiative that equips South Carolina mayors with the tools to improve their communities from the ground up for generations to come.
At the heart of RMDF is a powerful, hands-on workshop housed at the College of Charleston’s Riley Center for Livable Communities. Every spring, mayors from across the state bring real-world projects to a three-day intensive. They are paired with Clemson University urban planning students, who help them tell the story of their place and its potential. Together, they map out ideas, envision possibilities, and present their plans to a panel of resource experts—from real estate developers and landscape architects to engineers and arts professionals. The collaborative atmosphere fosters creative breakthroughs and empowers mayors to return home with tangible strategies and newfound confidence. The mayors also come away with a strong network of peers.
Mayor Nathan Senn of Laurens is one of many mayors transformed by the program. “I came to the job with a vision,” he says, “but I didn’t know what I didn’t know.” The Fellowship gave him the framework and expert guidance to refine his vision and translate it into real projects. One of those projects—Backstreet Park—exemplifies the program’s power to blend beauty with historical and cultural significance. Where a vibrant African American business district once stood, largely erased by the redirection of US221, now stands a public space that honors its legacy.
Through thoughtful design, Mayor Senn and his team created a place of pride and remembrance—planting beauty and history together in the heart of downtown Laurens. A bronze plaque etched with the names of former business owners now invites future generations to know their roots. The Mayor went on to say
The hope, is that some kid in Laurens walks by that plaque and says, ‘That’s my great-grandmother’s store.’ And feels pride—not only in their family but in their town.”
This is exactly what Heather Mitchell envisioned when she was inspired to reimagine the former South Carolina Mayors’ Institute for Community Design as her Liberty Fellowship venture. A program that died in the 2008 recession, Heather built partnerships and together they rebuilt the program, now known as the RMDF, in a way that is both scalable and deeply rooted in place. And the impact is rippling outward. Cities across the state are updating land use regulations, redesigning public spaces, and integrating community voices into long-term planning.
Kendra Stewart, director of the Riley Center for Livable Communities notes, “Our biggest impact is really in the number of cities we’ve touched. But what’s most moving is hearing the stories of citizens whose lives have changed because of this program.”
Todd Glover, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, echoes the sentiment: “This is the only state-centric program in the country that’s solely focused on city and town development. And it wouldn’t be where it is today without Heather and the Liberty Fellowship.”
For Heather, fulfillment comes in lighting a spark that empowers others. “It’s been incredible to watch mayors learn from one another and bring back that knowledge to their hometowns,” she reflects. “That ripple effect—improving communities across South Carolina—is exactly what I hoped to create.”
Heather Mitchell is more than an architect. She’s a Liberty Fellow helping to design a stronger, more vibrant South Carolina—one thriving town at a time.