Councilwoman Tameika Devine
At-Large
Term: July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2014

1419 Richland Street/ PO Box 1984
Columbia, SC 29201
803-254-8868
tidevine@columbiasc.net
 

City Councilwoman Tameika Devine is a founding partner in the law firm of Jabber & Isaac, PA, where she practices in the areas of real estate, probate and business transactions.  Mrs. Devine is a graduate of Spring Valley High School. She received her undergraduate degree in Business Management from Hampton University and her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Mrs. Devine is the first African-American female to serve on City Council, the first African-American to be elected At-Large and the youngest person ever to serve on Columbia City Council.  She serves on numerous boards, commissions and civic organizations, including a past member of the Board of Visitors for Columbia College and the board of Junior Achievement.  She is also a 2002 graduate of Leadership Columbia, sponsored by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Her contributions to her community are further expressed through her work with her church, Brookland Baptist, and her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She developed and spearheads the City's annual National Youth Violence Prevention Week activities. Mrs. Devine has been a champion of many causes, but the development and empowerment of youth is a cause that touches her on a personal level.  She continues to lead the city's efforts to develop more youth initiatives and works to further the community's commitment to anti-gang programs.  She also oversees the development of the Police Athletic League (PALS) which merges public safety officers into activities in the City’s parks.  Mrs. Devine was also a leading force on City Council in support of the need for a gang study.  She voted to support funding for this critical study which was done by the University of South Carolina and Benedict College.  This study revealed significant information about the existence and practices of gangs in our communities.  This information has been used for the creation of youth programs to keep our youth out of gangs and also training programs for parents to recognize gang activities, signs and graffiti, in order to keep it out of their neighborhoods as well as their homes.

Mrs. Devine has also served as a mentor for youth who have aspirations of becoming a lawyer or pursuing a career in the legal profession.  She has also participated in shadowing programs which allowed youth to shadow her at her law firm.

Devine has also spearheaded the establishment of the City’s Criminal Domestic Violence Task Force.  Out of this initiative came the concept for the Mayor’s Criminal Domestic Violence Walk.  Her idea for the walk was motivated by the need to increase awareness and provide education to citizens during Criminal Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October).  The first walk was held in October 2007, and is now scheduled to be an annual event.

Mrs. Devine is one of the Council representatives who is participating in the Together We Can project, which was initiated between the City of Columbia and Richland One.  It is an educational initiative that was formed to support and enhance student achievement, promote the district's success, and encourage the community to become more involved in Richland One.
 
Councilwoman Devine also recently initiated the Ultimate Summer 2008 City-Wide Wellness Challenge with the staff at the Drew Wellness Center.  This comprehensive 12-week program starts in May and challenges the citizens of Columbia to take charge of their own health, embrace healthy lifestyles, and make significant steps towards changing their lives for the better.  It will encourage individuals to focus on good nutrition and increasing physical activity, through pre and post health assessments, nutrition classes, and group personal training sessions.
 
Mrs. Devine is married to Jamie L. Devine and they are the proud parents of one daughter, Tamia.  The Devines reside in downtown Columbia.