Columbia is...VIBRANT

By Photos KIMBERLY P. MITCHELL

February 20, 2005 | 12:00 a.m. CST

Vibrant (vi´brant)

adj. 1. Pulsing or throbbing with energy or activity.

2. Characterized as vigorous, lively and vital.

ACTIVITY: For 13 years, the Cultural Association of India has hosted India Nite, with last year’s celebration taking place Oct. 30 at MU’s Jesse Auditorium. The event allows people to celebrate the diverse cultures, languages and religions of India together in a night combining fanciful intrigue with modern traditions.

3. Exhibiting or characterized by rapid, rhythmic movement back and forth.

4. Relatively high in scale of brightness.

“The smart, innovative, artsy, eclectic, clever, savvy, vibrant, too-dynamic-to-fit-into-a-short-tagline city.”

With this slogan, Columbia’s latest tourism campaign prompted a lot of discussion when it made its debut last year. In this series of photo essays, Missourian photographers look at how the city lives out these characteristics every day.

Next week: DYNAMIC

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VITALITY: Members of the Inspirational Choir at Second Missionary Baptist Church raise their voices to the heavens while ministers and members of the congregation lift their hands during a service Nov. 7. Second Missionary Baptist Church has a three-part-harmony choir that begins every service with praise and worship.