TownLively: Forming A Creative Collaboration

Columbia Creative Factory, co-founded by Mychal LaVia (right), has found a new home at Kindred Collections, owned by Dena Krebs (left) and Julie Hess.

Mychal LaVia believes in the power of collaboration. The co-founder of Columbia Creative Factory was looking for a new location for his organization when he walked into Kindred Collections at 452 Locust St., Columbia. The business, owned by Dena Krebs and Julie Hess, opened its 10,000-square-foot location in early 2020.

"He came in and said he was looking for a space and I said, 'Well, we definitely have space,'" Krebs recalled. "It sort of felt like it was meant to be."

LaVia plans to hold classes and workshops on-site but will continue Columbia Creative Factory's mission of serving the wider community as well. LaVia co-founded the Columbia Creative Factory with Kevin Leaman in 2016 after successfully volunteering and holding workshops with the Lancaster Creative Factory, which was created by Lehman.