The Salvation Army Presents Making a Difference Community Service Pin to Heather Harlan
Jul 17, 2025 | by Yhe Salvation Army
The Salvation Army's Major Merrill Powers presented Columbia's Heather Harlan with the "Making a Difference Community Service Award", given to people who exemplify the spirit of giving back to the community, setting an example to follow.
We provide the information below so Columbia can get to know this amazing person a little better.
Employer: Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services
Position: Health Program Coordinator
Community Activities:
Family Support Group Facilitator for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Columbia; Mo-Tell, Missouri's lead storytelling group; member of The Ponies improv comedy troupe with Talking Horse Productions, Children's Grove, and member of Broadway Christian Church.
1.How would you describe yourself to a new friend?
Extroverted and creative.
2. What is something you would like people to know about you?
I often describe myself as a health geek. I work hard to maintain my personal and physical and mental wellbeing, and care deeply about connecting others with resources to enhance their health.
My personal mission statement is "to inspire, communicate, and educate families to wholeness."
3.What is a community issue you especially care about?
I'm especially passionate about caring for our brains. I noticed long ago the quality of our lives most often depends on the quality of our brains. Protecting brains of any age from external brain injuries in accidents and sports, along with assault on brain function from substance use or mental health challenges grabs my attention.
4.What is something fun on your bucket list that you want to make sure you do?
Visit some National Parks.
5.What are you good at that might surprise people?
I enjoy an artform I might have created. I call it "puddleography." I take photographs of the reflection of puddles (puddlegraphs), then enhance the pictures using photography software and aps. I started the solo hobby as a creative pastime during COVID.
6.What kind of kid were you?
I was active, social, and creative. I loved dogs, and music. My favorite genre was classical. (I was a bit odd in that respect.)
7.Who is a personal hero of yours?
In all honesty, my parents Dorothy and Lane Harlan. My mother was a school librarian and my father an attorney in Boonville, Missouri. The way they lived their lives was in harmony with their values of faith, family, service, and community in times of scarcity and of abundance. My parents weren't saints, but I hit the jackpot with the two people who gave me a great start in life; every single day I remember I didn't get to choose my parents.
8.What is something you would change about Columbia?
I'd like to see us work harder to curb youth access to potentially addictive substances. This would include legal drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, nicotine products, and cannabis. Ninety percent of substance use disorders (addictions) according to the CDC begin before the age of 18.
9.What is a guilty pleasure for you?
I'm a bit of a coffee snob. I even pack my own coffee, french press, and coffee grinder on overnight trips.
10.What do you wish you knew how to do?
Play the banjo. I already play a bit of piano, guitar, uke and harmonica. I HAVE a banjo, but I don't want to learn--I just want to wake up and know how to play. Maybe, I could get a banjo playing computer chip planted on my brain?
