The Community's Conversation: Recent Episodes
Columbus Metropolitan Club
Founded in 1976 by 13 visionary women leaders in Columbus, Ohio, the Columbus Metropolitan Club connects people and ideas through community conversation.
From its start, CMC has welcomed everyone.
Each week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club hosts a public forum discussion on topics that range from business to policy to social services and beyond. The discussions might feature a diverse panel of experts, or may be a 1:1 interview with a high-level community or business leader.
Every CMC forum provides its audience with an opportunity to ask questions of the speakers.
Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week.
All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.
Public monuments tell us what a community chooses to remember — and who it chooses to see. For generations, the Ohio Statehouse grounds have honored presidents, governors, astronauts, and statesmen — but not actual women.
That will change this fall, when the new Ohio Women's Monument is unveiled on Capitol Square, becoming the first monument on the Statehouse grounds to depict real women and their role in shaping Ohio's history.
Ahead of the unveiling, we explore the story behind this landmark project: the women it honors, the artist bringing it to life, the public-private partnership making it possible, and the larger question of who gets remembered in the civic spaces we all share.
As Ohio and the nation mark America's 250th birthday, we ask what it means to finally place women's courage, leadership, and fight for equality at the center of Ohio's public memory.
Featuring:
Brenda Councill, Ohio Women's Monument Artist and Sculptor
Stephanie Kunze, Chair of the Ohio Women's Monument Commission, Capitol Square Foundation Board Member, and Former State of Ohio Senator
Charley Moses, Capitol Square Foundation Board Chair
The moderator is Charlene Brown, Co-Host, WOSU Public Media's "Columbus Neighborhoods" TV Series. CMC President & CEO Sophia Fifner delivers closing remarks.
This forum was sponsored by KeyBank. Our forum partner was the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
CMC's theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.
If you would like to dive more deeply into this topic, our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "Buckeye Women: the History of Ohio's Daughters," by Stephanie Elise Booth, 2001. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on August 5, 2026.
For generations, the Midwest built the products, industries, and institutions that powered America. Now we're racing to build what comes next: AI companies, advanced manufacturing ventures, health innovations, and more, all with new models of work and ownership. Across the region, founders are launching companies that are going to revolutionize how we manufacture, move, heal, learn, and live. What will this new Midwest look like? How can everyone contribute? How can more people benefit? Can Midwest cities collaborate instead of compete for the same talent and capital?
Featuring:
Brian Brackeen, Managing Partner, Lightship Anchor Fund
Shannon McGhee, CEO, SEED SPOT
Ted Velie, CEO, Midwest House, and Co-Founder, Start Midwest
Your host is Wolf Starr, Founder and CEO, Venture Atlas.
This forum was sponsored by 614 Tech Week. CMC's forum partner was Midwest House.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The Idea Foundry.
CMC's theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Midwest Futures" by Phil Christman (2020).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Idea Foundry in Columbus, Ohio on July 29, 2026.
Community need is growing while many people feel increasingly disconnected—from their neighbors, their workplaces, and even their sense of purpose. What if one solution could begin to address all three? In this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders from philanthropy, business, and the nonprofit sectors explore how volunteering and community engagement strengthen organizations, improve employee culture, and build healthier, more resilient communities.
Featuring:
Matthew Goldstein, CEO, Besa
Carrie Maun-Smith, Assistant Vice President, Inclusive Culture, Change & Community Impact, Grange Insurance, and Foundation President, Grange Enterprise Gives
Kerri Mollard, Founder and CEO, Mollard Consulting
Your host is Janelle Coleman, President, American Electric Power Foundation.
This forum was sponsored by The AEP Ohio Foundation, Besa, GBQ, Grange Insurance, Ian Alexander Photography, Installed Building Products, Mollard Consulting, and Taft Law.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Mastering Community: The Surprising Ways Coming Together Moves Us from Surviving to Thriving," by Christine Porath (2022). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on July 22, 2026.
Columbus' major airports are much more than places to catch a flight. John Glenn International, Rickenbacker International, and Bolton Field are the region's front doors — a first impression for visitors, a critical link for global businesses, and a major piece of the critical infrastructure needed to support Central Ohio's next chapter of growth.
As Daren Griffin takes the helm as the new President & CEO of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, he arrives at a truly defining moment. John Glenn International is building a new $2 billion terminal, Rickenbacker International continues to play a major and ever-growing role in cargo and economic development, and Columbus travelers are asking the question every growing region faces: where can we fly from here?
Meet Daren Griffin as we explore what's ahead for aviation in our region and how Central Ohio's growth will depend on bold airport innovations and investment. How will John Glenn's gleaming new terminal change the passenger experience? What will it take to attract more nonstop flights and stronger global connections? How are new technology, airline economics, cargo logistics, workforce needs, and customer expectations reshaping the future and the experience of air travel?
Featuring:
Daren Griffin, President & CEO, The Columbus Regional Airport Authority
Deborah Scherer, Senior Vice President, Global Trade & Investment, One Columbus
Your host is Jerod Smalley, Anchor, WCMH NBC4, and Host, Columbus 2.0.
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Regional Airport Authority. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you'd like to dive more deeply into this topic, our fantastic partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "Building of an Airport: Port Columbus," by Robert F. Kirk (2019).
Central Ohio's future promises growth, momentum, and opportunity. But as the region adds more people and faces mounting pressure on housing, health care, and human services, a challenging question is emerging: will the systems we rely on be able to keep up? In this forum, we take one of the first public looks at a major new long-range study on human needs in Central Ohio through 2050. Commissioned by Columbus City Council and the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, an all-new Regionomics report examines how population growth and change are likely to reshape housing, poverty, homelessness, health, disability, workforce participation, and more across the 10-county region. With experts, we'll unpack the study's most urgent findings and explore what they mean for the future of the region. Where will the greatest strain show up first? Who is most at risk of being left behind? And what must public leaders, service providers, and all of us do now to prepare for the needs of a future Central Ohio? Featuring: Michael Corey, Executive Director, The Human Service Chamber of Franklin County Rhea Cunningham, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio Melissa Green, Columbus City Councilmember Dr. Bill LaFayette, Owner, Regionomics The host is Jordan Laird, Columbus Government and Politics Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was sponsored by The Bank of America Foundation. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. To read the complete new Regionomics report, "Columbus in 2025, 2035, and 2050: A Survey of Human Needs Now and in the Future," please visit the website of the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Another World is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe, by Natasha Zapata (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on July 8, 2026
There might be more public resources for mental health than ever before — awareness months, crisis lines, wellness apps, and hashtags. But when someone's real life falls apart, many of us still don't know what to say, what to do, or how to show up.
In a deeply personal essay recently published in The Columbus Dispatch, CMC President and CEO Sophia Fifner wrote about grief, depression, coming out, divorce, trauma, and the loneliness that can hide behind leadership and practiced smiles.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bill Butler, now president of Columbus' National Veterans Memorial and Museum, described himself as a "hot mess" struggling with nightmares and guilt following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021.
Their stories raise a larger civic question: What happens when the hardest parts of human experience don't fit neatly into the rituals we already know, like births, weddings, funerals, cards, and yes - casseroles?
How do loneliness, grief, trauma, and isolation shape our ability to live well? What can veterans, parents, nonprofit leaders, and our friends and neighbors teach us about resilience? What are the limits of resilience when people are left to carry too much alone? Can Central Ohio build a stronger culture of care, where people are not expected to disappear politely behind the mask of being "fine"?
Featuring:
Dr. John Ackerman, Suicide Prevention Clinical Manager, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Bill Butler, President, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum
Sophia Fifner, President & CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club Your host is Stacia Naquin, News Anchor, WBNS 10TV.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by The Thanks Be to God Foundation. It was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection by Nicholas Epley (2026).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 24, 2026. If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, please call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 support from trained crisis counselors.
When communities face urgent challenges—from housing instability and food insecurity to family crisis—nonprofits often respond first and stay the longest. Yet many organizations are being asked to do more while navigating outdated funding systems, delayed reimbursements, and growing financial pressures. This week, leaders from philanthropy, government, and the nonprofit sector explore how funding models can evolve to better support the organizations that help communities thrive. What would it look like to fund nonprofit work in ways that are more flexible, responsive, and sustainable? And what role do government, philanthropy, businesses, and community partners play in making a better future possible?
Featuring:
Lindsay Baker, Vice President and Director of Philanthropy and Engagement - Central Ohio, The Huntington National Bank Emmalyn Jerome, CEO, Lower Lights Ministries Hannah Jones, Deputy Director, Department of Development, City of Columbus Phil Washburn, President & CEO, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio
The host is Sheldon K. Johnson, Executive Director, Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT).
The presenting sponsors of this forum are The Columbus Foundation, Huntington Bank, and Nationwide.
This forum is also sponsored by Bath & Body Works, Benefactor Group, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Cramer & Associates, Encova Insurance, Installed Building Products, and Mollard Consulting.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector by Vu Le (2026).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 17, 2026.
Columbus is getting a National Women's Soccer League team—and with it, a powerful new chapter in the region's sports story is beginning. Set to begin play in 2028, the franchise brings major-league momentum, prominent ownership, and growing excitement around the future of women's sports in Central Ohio.
How did Columbus land the bid, and how can the region make the most of the opportunity? How are leaders navigating both the opportunities and tensions surrounding the project? As anticipation builds, we examine not just what it took to win a team—but how Columbus can turn its win into lasting and equitable public value.
Featuring:
Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Linda Logan, CEO & President, The Greater Columbus Sports Commission Mary Shepro, President of Business Operations, Columbus Crew
The host is Kristen McFarland, former professional soccer player and News Reporter, WBNS 10TV.
This forum was sponsored by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and Osborn Engineering.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The Fast Track by Jane McManus (2025).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 10, 2026.
Ohio's Medicaid program covers more than three million people, but major policy and funding changes now underway could reshape how care is delivered across the state. This week, healthcare leaders, policy experts, and lawmakers examine what proposed Medicaid changes could mean for hospitals, providers, and the families who rely on the program every day. From healthcare access and rising costs to the long-term sustainability of Ohio's healthcare system, we unpack one of the most consequential public policy debates facing Ohio today.
Featuring: State Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) John McCarthy, Founding Partner, Speire HealthCare Strategies, and former Director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid Amy Rohling McGee, President, Health Policy Institute of Ohio Dr. Buhari Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer, Heart of Ohio Family Health
The host is Laura A. Bischoff, Ohio Politics and State Government Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was also sponsored by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Your Money or Your Life: Debt Collection in American Medicine, by Luke Messac (2024).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 3, 2026.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine returns to the Columbus Metropolitan Club for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, policy, and Ohio's future. In discussion with veteran Statehouse News Bureau journalist Jo Ingles, Governor DeWine reflects on his long career in public service while exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping Ohio today and tomorrow—from education and literacy to economic development, public safety, technology, and support for children and families.
Featuring: Mike DeWine, Governor, State of Ohio
The host is Jo Ingles, Journalist and Producer, The Statehouse News Bureau.
This forum was sponsored by Ian Alexander Photography, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, The Ohio State University, The Robert Weiler Company, and The United Way of Central Ohio.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Profiles in Achievement: The Gifts, Quirks, and Foibles of Ohio's Best Politicians, by William L. Hershey (2021).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on May 20, 2026.
The AI economy in Central Ohio is creating entirely new businesses. At the same time, it's reshaping nearly every existing business. The key to both these upheavals? Visionary leadership of the human kind. Will Columbus lead, follow, or just watch the AI revolution from the sidelines? Innovative leaders are determined to do just that - lead - and are racing to harness the power of AI to stay ahead of the competition. Can key players team up in Central Ohio to create a fertile business ecosystem that fuels AI innovation and nurtures the next generation of AI thinkers?
Featuring: Shereen Agrawal, Executive Director, Center for Software Innovation, The Ohio State University Alex 'Fro' Frommeyer, Founder and CEO, Stack Health, and Chairman, Beam Benefits Tim Grace, Managing Director, Techstars Columbus
The host is Carrie Ghose, Senior Reporter, Columbus Business First.
This forum was sponsored by Roetzel & Andress.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading AI Startup Strategy by Adhiguna Mahendra (2023).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on May 13, 2026.
As Central Ohio grows, the question isn't just how fast—but who benefits. In this timely conversation, leaders from economics, community development, and education explore what truly drives economic mobility, why generational poverty persists, and what it will take to create more equitable pathways to opportunity. From systemic barriers to promising solutions, we examine how Columbus can ensure prosperity is shared more broadly across the region. Featuring: Dr. Joyce J. Chen, Professor of Economics in Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University Will Crossley, Executive Vice President, The Woodson Center and President, The Piney Woods School Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO, The Columbus Urban League, and Co-Chair, The Equity Now Coalition The host is Rodney Dunigan, Evening Manager and Anchor, WSYX ABC6. This forum was sponsored by The Oakwood Management Company and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc., The National Veterans Memorial and Museum, and by Tom Bolon and Keith Jones. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Poverty, by America," written by Matthew Desmond (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on May 6, 2026.
What if the way we move is shaping the way we live — but not for the better? Join us with the authors of the new national bestselling book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, and the hosts of the acclaimed podcast "The War on Cars" for a bold conversation about how automobiles have transformed cities, communities, and the climate — and what it might take to imagine a future beyond car dependency. Drawing on decades of advocacy, journalism, and urbanist insight, Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon unpack the costs of car culture — from divided neighborhoods and environmental impacts to public health and social inequity.
We'll explore how transportation reform is central to building a more connected and livable society, and share stories of communities already leading the way. Featuring: Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, Co-Hosts, "The War on Cars" Podcast and Co-Authors, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile (Published 2025 by Thesis, An Imprint of Penguin Random House) Devayani Puranik, Mobility Development Program Director, Central Ohio Transit Authority The host is D'Laveance Bert-Sims, Board Member, Transit Columbus. This forum was sponsored by Burgess and Niple, COSI, COTA, Ian Alexander Photography, and REALM Collaborative. CMC's forum partners were The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at The Ohio State University, Columbus Underground, and the 2026 COSI Science Festival. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you finish Sarah and Doug's book Life After Cars, and you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, by Henry Grabar (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 29, 2026.
Central Ohio has become a magnet for data center development, drawing global tech companies and fueling economic growth. But as these massive facilities expand, communities are grappling with big questions about energy demand, land use, infrastructure strain, and environmental impact. Leaders from industry, government, and academia explore the real trade-offs—and what it will take to balance growth with sustainability in one of the region's fastest-growing sectors. Featuring: Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association Dr. Jeffrey Bielicki, Associate Faculty Director of Research, The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute Timothy Chadwick, Area Operations Manager for Ohio, Google Christopher Wyche, Columbus City Councilmember The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau. This forum was sponsored by The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Manufacturers' Association. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The Dark Cloud: The Hidden Costs of the Digital World by Guillaume Pitron (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 22, 2026.
Across Central Ohio, more older adults are facing housing instability as rents outpace fixed incomes and affordable housing falls short. A local experimental program offering just $330 a month in rental support showed striking results—improved financial stability, health, and overall well-being. Can simple, cost-effective solutions like this scale up to prevent homelessness and strengthen Central Ohio communities? Featuring: Shannon Isom, President and CEO, The Community Shelter Board Tiara Ross, Columbus City Councilmember Marisa Sheldon, Director, Age-Friendly Innovation Center, The Ohio State University College of Social Work The host is Katie White, Director, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. This forum was sponsored by Community Shelter Board. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "And Housing for All The Fight to End Homelessness in America," by Maria Foscarinis (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 15, 2026.
It's no secret that Ohio is a fierce—and successful—economic competitor. But the state now faces pressing questions about its ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing national and global landscape.
With slowing population growth, workforce shortages, trade and tariff uncertainty, and the added strain of constricted international immigration, Ohio's economic trajectory is at a crossroads.
We'll unpack the powerful forces shaping the state's economic future—from talent pipelines and demographic shifts to infrastructure demands and the race to secure high‑growth industries—as we take on a trillion‑dollar question: can Ohio stay ahead of the economic pack?
Featuring:
J.P. Nauseef, President and CEO, JobsOhio
Steve Stivers, President and CEO, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce
Your host is Angela An, News Anchor and "Boomtown" Series Host, WBNS 10TV.
The presenting sponsor of this forum was Huntington Bank.
This forum was also sponsored by JPMorganChase, KeyBank, Public Sector Consulting, and Roetzel & Andress.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Abundance" by Ezra Klein (2025).
AI is getting smarter. But are we? What if the future doesn't belong to people who can out-calculate machines—but to people who can out-imagine them? In a world dominated by algorithms and automation, what makes us irreplaceably human?
According to this week's special forum guest, the answer isn't logic—it's something more powerful: imagination, intuition, and emotional resilience.
Featuring: Angus Fletcher, Professor, Department of English and Story Science, The Ohio State University, and Author, "Primal Intelligence" (Penguin Random House, 2025)
Your host is Suraj Hinduja, Managing Director, RTRX.
This forum's promotional partner was The Columbus Futurists.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you finish Angus Fletcher's "Primal Intelligence," and you'd like to keep exploring this week's topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading "The Atomic Human What Makes Us Unique in the Age of AI," by Neil Lawrence (2024).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 1, 2026.
What did the Vietnam War reveal about race, democracy, and the unfinished struggle for equality in America? In this powerful Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, acclaimed journalist, professor, author, and Columbus native Wil Haygood discusses his new best-selling book, The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home, and examines the experiences of Black Americans who fought for freedom overseas while demanding justice at home. Through vivid storytelling and deep historical insight, this conversation connects the legacy of Vietnam to the racial and political reckonings that continue to shape our country today. Featuring: Wil Haygood, Journalist, Professor, and Author, The War Within a War: The Black Struggle in Vietnam and at Home (Penguin Random House, 2026)The host is Algenon L. Marbley, U. S. District Judge, Southern District of Ohio. This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon Wyatt, Larry and Donna James, and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic (and you've already finished Wil Haygood's new book), our friends at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading Until the Last Gun is Silent: A Story of Love, the Vietnam War, and the Fight to Save America's Soul, by Matthew F. Delmont (2026). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on March 25, 2026.
This candid 1:1 conversation features Mitch Menchaca, the newly appointed CEO of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, as he shares his unexpected journey from the stages of Arizona to leading arts policy in Phoenix—to now shaping the creative future of Columbus. Once a visitor who thought there might be "nothing to do" in Columbus, Mitch returns to a transformed city he's fallen in love with, ready to build on GCAC's momentum at a time of challenge and opportunity. With decades of national leadership experience, a passion for public art, and a vision for equitable cultural investment in every neighborhood, we'll explore how the arts can drive Columbus' economic vitality, create community identity, and deepen everyday civic life.
Featuring: Mitch Menchaca, President and CEO, The Greater Columbus Arts Council
The host is Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club.
This forum was made possible by Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund — Celebrating Arts and Culture. It was sponsored by CK Construction and The Columbus Museum of Art.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory," by Brian Eno (2025).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on March 18, 2026.
Behind every report card is a bigger story. For many Central Ohio students, poverty, trauma, food insecurity, housing instability, and citizenship status create barriers to learning that schools can't solve alone. In this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders in education and student support unpack what's driving chronic absenteeism, why it matters for graduation and workforce readiness, and what it takes to keep students connected to school.
Featuring: Valerie Kunze, Chief of Family Engagement and School Partnerships, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Adero Robinson, CEO, Communities in Schools of Ohio Dr. Sharee Wells, Superintendent, Whitehall City Schools
Shaniya Williams, Communities in Schools Alumna and Student, The Ohio State University
The host is Michelle M. Brown, President and CEO, Children's Hunger Alliance.
This forum was sponsored by Battelle, Columbus State Community College, Communities in Schools of Ohio, and The United Way of Central Ohio. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on March 11, 2026.
A new study, Women in the Workplace 2025, reports a troubling reversal: stalled early advancement, declining company commitment, and a new ambition gap as fewer women aspire to promotion than men for the first time in a decade. In a fast growing Central Ohio economy, this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum asks: are women being left behind just as opportunity expands? New research from McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org shows that only 80% of women now aspire to promotion, compared with 86% of men—a reversal of long-standing trends. Yet the data tells a more hopeful story as well: when women receive the same sponsorship, support, and clarity about advancement as their male peers, the ambition gap disappears entirely. The problem, it turns out, may not be women's ambition—but workplaces that make ambition harder to sustain.
Leaders from business and the nonprofit sector discuss what is driving the ambition gap, why it disappears when women receive equal sponsorship and support, and what leaders can do to build workplaces where women can advance.
Featuring: Michelle Bryant, Partner, McKinsey and Company Dr. Pamela Gregory, Owner and CFO, National Center for Urban Solutions Kelley Griesmer, President and CEO, The Women's Fund of Central Ohio Lillian Morales Laster, Executive Director, Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy
The host is Margaret D Finley, President, Central Ohio Belonging Consortium.
This forum was made possible by the Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and was sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, Event Marketing Strategies, and The New Directions Career Center.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our friends at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading This Isn't Working: How Working Women Can Overcome Stress, Guilt, and Overload to Find True Success by Meghan French Dunbar (2025).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus Ohio on March 4, 2026.
Hair is never just hair—it's history, artistry, and identity woven together. Inspired by the upcoming production of Jaja's African Hair Braiding (at the Contemporary Theatre of Ohio, March 5–22, 2026), this forum invites you into a conversation about the cultural, economic, and social significance of African hair braiding and the stories braided into every strand.
Jaja's African Hair Braiding, written by Ohio State University graduate Jocelyn Bioh, follows West African women building lives inside a Harlem salon. African hair braiding is more than a beauty practice; it is a tradition deeply rooted in Black communities, symbolizing heritage, creativity, and belonging.
In Columbus, braiding salons—often owned and operated by Black women—are more than businesses. They're spaces of empowerment, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange, where clients and stylists alike find connection and community.
Community leaders, artists, scholars, and business advocates discuss how beauty culture reflects resilience, creativity, and economic opportunity—and why these community spaces matter now more than ever.
Featuring panelists: Juanita Brent, Representative, Ohio State House District 18 Sarai Brooks, Braid Artist, Author, and Owner of Haven 626 by RaiStyles J. Averi Frost, Executive Director, Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce Dr. Treva B. Lindsey, Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
The host is Lachandra "La" Baker, Founder and Lead Consultant, Lachandra B. Baker Edutainment LLC.
This forum was presented in partnership with The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus Inc and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture," by Emma Dabiri (2020). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on February 25, 2026.
Women's health is at a pivotal moment in Ohio. From maternal care deserts and rising maternal mortality, to oncology advances and long-overdue conversations about menopause and postpartum mental health, this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum explores what our region is getting right—and where the system is still failing Ohio's women.
Featuring Panelists:
Jatu Boikai, Founder and CEO, Central Ohio Postpartum Extended Respite Center
Dr. Kamilah Dixon, Director of the General Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. Shilpa Padia, Co-Medical Director of Oncology, Mount Carmel Health System
Dr. Mona Prasad, System Chief, Maternal Fetal Medicine, OhioHealth Physicians Group
Your host is Tracy Townsend, News Anchor and Medical Correspondent, WBNS 10TV.
The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was also sponsored by Mount Carmel Health System.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "The New Rules of Women's Health: Your Guide to Thriving at Any Age" by Meghan Rabbitt (2026).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
The state of Central Ohio's childcare industry impacts parents, employers, the region's overall economy, and of course, the children who depend on quality childcare facilities and professionals. With so much riding on the state of childcare, we unpack the new 2025 Action for Children's Central Ohio Child Care Provider Survey. This comprehensive survey collects vital information from licensed child care providers about the local landscape of child care, and is the only continuing study of its kind in Ohio. Join CMC as a panel of experts and leaders unpacks this newest data to better understand the current state of childcare and the critical trends that will impact us all.
Featuring panelists:
Dr. Katherine Glenn-Applegate, Director of Child Care and Education Initiatives, Action for Children
Hannah Halbert, Executive Director, Policy Matters Ohio
Kara Wente, Director, The Ohio Department of Children and Youth
Rhonda West, Owner and Administrator, Rhonda's Daycare Service
Opening remarks by Tasha Booker, CEO, Action for Children.
Closing remarks by Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley.
The host is Jennifer Bullock, Anchor, NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by The Care Economy Organizing Project, The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Mollard Consulting, PNC, and The United Way of Central Ohio.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "The Daycare Myth: What We Get Wrong About Early Care and Education (and What We Should Do About It)" by Dan Wuori, 2024.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on February 11, 2026.
Artificial intelligence is transforming cybersecurity at unprecedented speed. From state government to public transit to global business, leaders are confronting new risks while deploying new tools to defend critical systems. This forum examines how AI is changing cyber threats, what organizations can do to stay ahead, and why cybersecurity has become a leadership issue for every sector in Central Ohio.
Featuring:
Kirk Herath, Cybersecurity Strategic Advisor to Governor Mike DeWine and Chair, CyberOhio
Sophia Mohr, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer, COTA
Michael Wyatt, Global Identity Offering Leader, Cyber and Strategic Risk, Deloitte
The host is Padma Sastry, Adjunct Faculty at The Ohio State University College of Engineering.
This forum was sponsored by COTA and Deloitte.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "FAIK: A Practical Guide to Living in a World of Deepfakes, Disinformation, and AI Generated Deceptions," by Perry Carpenter (2025).
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus Ohio on February 4, 2026.
Tucked into neighborhoods across Central Ohio are thousands of Haitian refugees and their families who've built lives, businesses, and communities—many under a federal designation called Temporary Protected Status (TPS). With that protection set to expire on February 3, their futures hang in the balance. This conversation dives into the shifting terrain of U.S. immigration policy and how it's playing out in real time across Central Ohio. We unpack the legal pathways available to immigrants and refugees, the challenges of navigating a system marked by long backlogs and limited resources, and the broader implications for citizenship, deportation, and belonging.
Featuring: Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Councilmember Emily Brown, Immigration Clinic Director, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. Sophia Pierrelus, Entrepreneur and Former Secretary of the Mouvement Patriotique des Haïtiens Conscients (MPHC) Angela Plummer, Executive Director, Community Refugee and Immigration Services.
The host is Danae King, Underserved Communities Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin makes opening remarks. This forum was sponsored by Columbus City Council. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Raiding the Heartland: An American Story of Deportation and Resistance by William D. Lopez (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on January 21, 2026.
What does it mean to be a Black man in Central Ohio in 2026? In Central Ohio, Black men face a unique and often underexamined set of challenges — and opportunities — shaped by generations of systemic inequities and the evolving dynamics of a rapidly growing region. Black men continue to be disproportionately affected by disparities in health, education, income, and incarceration. We explore the realities of navigating mental health stigma, economic exclusion, and more — while spotlighting the resilience, innovation, and leadership that define the community.
Featuring: Jason Jenkins, Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, City of Columbus Duwain Pinder, Partner, McKinsey & Company Marshall Shorts, Founder and Principal, Artfluential, and Creative Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative
The host is Corey Favor, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Orange Barrel Media. This forum was sponsored by Otterbein University and McKinsey & Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power by Courtney B. Vance (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on January 14, 2026.
Queer joy—the radical act of celebrating identity, love, and community—is powerful and political. In the face of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and legislation, joy becomes both a lifeline and a form of resistance. For some, queer joy is possible through financial stability, civic recognition, the support of allies, or safe communities—yet others face isolation, poverty, or exclusion.
This forum brings together LGBTQ+ leaders, advocates, and civic changemakers to explore what defines queer joy, how queer joy is cultivated, who still struggles to access it, and what it will take to make joy—and justice—more widely available to LGBTQ+ community members in Columbus and beyond.
Featuring:
Dr. Melanie Corn, President, The Columbus College of Art & Design
Karen Hewitt, Founder and Principal Consultant, K Hewitt Consulting & The Culture of You, and Co-Founder and COO, The Ohio REST Collective
Dr. Karen Williams, Founder and CEO, The International Institute of Humor and Healing Arts
The host is Ronald Murray, CEO, PEACE OF MIND, Inc., and Community Engagement Liaison, Stonewall Columbus.
This forum was made possible by the Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Inclusion & Equity for the LGBTQ Community and was sponsored by Huckleberry House. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 8, 2025.
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Columbus voters will weigh in on the largest bond package in city history—$1.9 billion to fund neighborhood investments, infrastructure, affordable housing, public safety, and more.
At stake is $250 million for safety, health and infrastructure, $250 million for recreation and parks, $500 million for neighborhood development and affordable housing, $400 million for public service, and $500 million for public utilities.
City leaders say the package will allow Columbus to meet the demands of rapid growth without raising taxes, continuing a legacy of responsible borrowing and long-term planning.
With civic leaders, advocates, and experts as we unpack what’s at stake in the November vote—and what it means for the future of Columbus.
Featuring: Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus
Nick Bankston, Columbus City Councilmember
Carlie Boos, Executive Director, Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio The host is Mark Ferenchik, News Director, WOSU 89.7 NPR News. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 1, 2025.
Rates, regulation, and rapid innovation are reshaping banking—and Columbus is at the center of it. This week, regional banking leaders discuss lending trends, financial inclusion, and how Central Ohio's banks fuel growth from small businesses to major projects. They also share what they’re watching next and how our region's financial trends might affect your wallet. Featuring: Becky Griffin, Head of Home Lending Servicing & Support Operations, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Brian McDonald, Market Executive, Bank of America
Jordan Miller, Chairman & CEO, Adelphi Bank
And Ilaria Rawlins, CEO, Fortuna Bank
The host is Derrick Clay, President and CEO, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
This forum was sponsored by Meaden & Moore, Carlile Patchen & Murphy, JPMorgan Chase & Co., TAFT, and Bank of America.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc., and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on September 24, 2025.
Civic engagement is the backbone of a thriving democracy—but in the era of polarization and stretched resources, no single sector will strengthen it alone. From public media to philanthropy, business to education, Central Ohio’s leading institutions are working together to rebuild trust, expand participation, and connect people to the decisions that shape their lives.
This forward-looking conversation brings together cross-sector leaders forging partnerships that make civic life stronger, more inclusive, and more impactful. What models are working? Where are the gaps? And how can our region’s most influential organizations inspire—and sustain—a deeper culture of civic participation?
Featuring:
Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO of COSI, and Interim CEO of The National Veterans Memorial and Museum
Meghan Cummings, President & CEO, Philanthropy Ohio
Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President, EMH&T
The host is Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club.
This forum was sponsored by Downtown Columbus, Incorporated.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus on September 17, 2025.
Central Ohio residents have spoken: housing, childcare, and better jobs are top priorities. This forum moves from data to action, bringing together leaders in housing finance, early childhood policy, workforce and small-business support, and regional planning to chart what should happen next—and how to measure results residents will actually feel. If you care about where Central Ohio invests, builds, and hires over the next few years, this conversation is your roadmap. Featuring: Lynanne Gutierrez, President & CEO, Groundwork Ohio Ian Labitue, President & CEO, Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County
Sangeeta Lakhani, Executive Director, Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers William Murdock, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. The host is Dr. Harvey Miller, Director, Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA), The Ohio State University. Opening remarks by Padmini Roy-Dixon, Economic Development Director & Regional Innovation Officer, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. This forum was sponsored by The Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, The Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation, and The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on September 10, 2025.
Central Ohio is reimagining crisis response. From the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to a new Crisis Care Center and community-led safety campaigns, Franklin County is building a more effective, compassionate system for people in crisis. This forum brings together city leaders, health providers, and advocates to explore what’s working, what’s still needed, and why these changes matter to every family in the region.
Featuring:
Melissa Green, Columbus City Councilmember
Erika Clark Jones, CEO, The Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH)
Dr. Brian Stroh, CEO & Medical Director, Netcare
Chana Wiley, Co-Chair, Columbus Safety Collective Campaign The host is Samantha Henrickson, Medical Business and Health Care Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series of forums are OhioHealth, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
This forum was supported by The Jeffrey Family Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund - Promoting a Thriving, Equitable and Sustainable Community, and sponsored by The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, Cardinal Health, The Community Shelter Board, Ian Alexander Photography, and Star House. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on August 27, 2025.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Uncertainties around research grants, student visas, and dramatic changes to the country’s DEI climate are only some of the issues that have shaped Ted Carter’s first year and a half on the job as the 17th president of The Ohio State University. But as a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral with 38 years of military service and more than 6,300 flying hours, Carter is no stranger to leadership under trying circumstances. Join us as CMC welcomes President Ted Carter for a look back at his first year and a half on the job, and a look forward at what’s on the horizon for Ohio’s flagship university.
Featuring: Ted Carter, President, The Ohio State University. The host is Sheridan Hendrix, Higher Education Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was made possible by The Joseph and Carol Alutto Civic Engagement Fund - Focusing on Higher Education.
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University, The United Way of Central Ohio, and Columbus Business First. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus on August 20, 2025.
They’ve grown up in an era of student debt, climate anxiety, social media, and political gridlock—and now, they’re shaping the future of Ohio politics. From Gen Z newcomers to younger members of Gen X, a new wave of elected officials is stepping up to the mic. What motivates them to lead—and how are they challenging traditional power structures to create a more inclusive democracy? This candid conversation with rising political leaders spotlights what it means to serve—and shake things up—in today’s political climate. Featuring: Munira Abdullahi (D), Ohio State House Representative, 9th District Shaquille Alexander, Treasurer, City of Whitehall Dani Isaacsohn (D), House Minority Leader and Ohio State House Representative, 24th District Michele Reynolds (R), Ohio State Senator, 3rd District
David Thomas (R), Ohio State House Representative, 65th District The host is Haley BeMiller, State Government & Politics Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority and Frost Brown Todd.
The partners for this CMC forum were The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, The Matriots, and The Columbus Dispatch. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on August 13, 2025.
Artificial intelligence is transforming everything—from how Central Ohioans work to how companies make decisions. But can innovation happen without leaving people behind? This week’s Columbus Metropolitan Club forum explores Central Ohio’s rapidly evolving AI ecosystem with experts who are shaping the future of tech in the region.
Featuring:
Mike Cohn, Vice President of Network Operations, CoverMyMeds
Nathan Craig, Associate Professor, Operations and Business Analytics, The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business
Nicole Jackson, Principal AI Consultant and AI Practice Lead, Optimum Technology
Guru Vasudeva, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Property & Casualty, Nationwide
The host is John Hrusovsky, Managing Director, Synexis Consulting
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University and Improving
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on August 6, 2025.
What happens when the most valuable college athletics program in the country enters the name-image-and-likeness, or NIL, era? At this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, Ohio State University Athletics Director Ross Bjork sits down with NBC4’s Matt Barnes for an inside look at how the Buckeyes are managing massive change—from multimillion-dollar deals to evolving expectations around recruitment, education, and fairness. Featuring: Ross Bjork, Athletics Director, The Ohio State University The host is Matt Barnes, Morning Co-Anchor, NBC4 Today This forum was sponsored by Aloft Columbus University District, Encova Insurance, GBQ, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, and LEARFIELD/Ohio State Sports Properties. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on July 30, 2025.
What kind of downtown do we want to build? Some of Columbus’ iconic downtown buildings are getting a dramatic makeover, transforming from office towers into places to live and gather. This week’s forum dives into the bold moves shaping the future of Downtown Columbus—where people live, work, and connect. Featuring: Greg Davies, CEO, Downtown Columbus, Inc. Brad DeHays, Founder & President, Connect Real Estate and Connect Construction Mindy Justis, Advocacy Chair, Downtown Residents Association of Columbus Michael Stevens, Director of Development, City of Columbus The host is Rodney Dunigan, Evening Managing Editor & Anchor, WSYX ABC 6. This forum was sponsored by Downtown Columbus, Inc., The Edwards Companies, Marker Construction, and MKSK. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis and was recorded in front of a live audience on July 23, 2025.
Is Columbus ready to hit three million residents? Ready or not, it’s a milestone that’s just 25 years away, according to estimates. While the surge brings enormous opportunity—more jobs, greater diversity, and increased investment—it comes with high-stakes questions: Is the region truly prepared for what’s ahead? And what happens if it isn’t?
Columbus is now one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, with its metro population expected to rise by 35% and surpass 3 million by 2050. This growth is fueled by millennial migration, international immigration, and a strong economy attracting both businesses and talent.
This forum tackles the most urgent issues shaping the future of a larger, more complex Columbus: how to build a workforce that meets growing demand, how to expand and modernize public transportation, and how changing demographics will redefine the region’s cultural and civic landscape.
Featuring:
Rob Dorans, President Pro Tem, Columbus City Council;
Monica Tellez-Fowler, President & CEO, COTA;
Michael Wilkos, Vice President of Community Engagement, United Way of Central Ohio.
The host is Jordan Laird, Politics and Government Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by Columbus City Council, COTA, and Downtown Columbus, Inc.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
CMC’s livestream and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on July 16, 2025.
When it comes to fashion, Columbus has the talent. It has the retail giants, the design schools, the logistics, and the creative minds. What it hasn’t had—until now—is the fashion infrastructure to stitch those pieces together.
With the launch of the new Fashion Innovation Center in the heart of Downtown’s Discovery District, Yohannan “Yogi” Terrell and the Columbus Fashion Alliance are betting big on a bold vision: to make Columbus not just a great place for fashion, but a city defined by it.
Could Columbus become the next fashion capital—not just of the Midwest, but of the nation? What does it take to build a thriving cultural and economic district from scratch? And what role can fashion play in shaping a more creative, inclusive, and opportunity-rich city?
Featuring
Yohannan “Yogi” Terrell, CEO, Warhol & WALL ST, and Director, Columbus Fashion Alliance
Erica Crawley, Board President and Commissioner, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Madison Hilson and Valentina Thompson, Co-Founders, SENIQ
The host is Kat DePizzo, President, Justice Design Lab.
This forum was sponsored by the Franklin County Board of Commissioners and Taft.The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on July 9, 2025.
Franklin County’s new 2025 Health Map is here, offering an updated look at the region’s biggest health challenges—and signs of progress. What do the latest numbers tell us about healthcare access, infant mortality, adverse childhood experiences, and more?
Featuring:
Joe Mazzola, Franklin County Health Commissioner
Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts, Health Commissioner, Columbus Public Health
Dr. Andrew Thomas, Chief Clinical Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
The host is Tracy Townsend, Medical Correspondent and Anchor, 10TV News This Morning.
The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
This forum was sponsored by Mount Carmel Health System, Cardinal Health, and Ian Alexander Photography.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on June 18, 2025.
Central Ohio’s economic future is high-tech—but is our education system ready? With new semiconductor plants, clean energy facilities, and advanced logistics hubs rising across the region, the workforce of tomorrow will need advanced skills today. This week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club welcomes a panel of business and education leaders for a candid discussion on what it will take to prepare Ohio students for careers in STEM, AI, and other fast-evolving industries.
Featuring:
Geena Gamble, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Worthington Enterprises
Lisa Gray, President, Ohio Excels
Pat Tiberi, President and CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable
The host is Alissa Widman Neese, Reporter, Axios.
This forum was sponsored by Communities in Schools of Ohio and The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on June 11, 2025.
Optimal Health Series Is Ohio headed for a crisis in health coverage, especially for mental health and addiction services? More than a decade ago, Ohio’s Medicaid expansion was a game changer, extending coverage to over 700,000 Ohioans and providing a lifeline to thousands of Ohioans in need of mental health and addiction treatment services.
Expansion worked: uninsured rates dropped, medical debt decreased, health improved, and emergency room visits went down. In just four years, 630,000 Ohioans received treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder, a victory in the fight against opioid addiction. In 2024, forty percent of adults covered by expansion had a primary mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis.
These gains may now be in jeopardy: Governor DeWine’s new proposed biennial budget includes a so-called “kill-switch” provision that would automatically end mental health and addiction services provided through the expansion if federal Medicaid funding is reduced.
With key leaders and policy experts, we’ll unpack the impact Medicaid has had on health outcomes in Ohio and the consequences facing patients in recovery if the state’s landmark care expansion is abandoned.
Featuring: Oyauma Garrison, President & CEO, Maryhaven, Inc. Rachelle Martin; Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Franklin County Amy Bush Stevens, Amy Bush Stevens Consulting, LLC, Consultant to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio
The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
The presenting sponsors of the CMC Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children’s Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
This forum was sponsored by Maryhaven.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on June 4, 2025.
Canada isn’t just a neighbor—it’s Ohio’s number one international trading partner. In this week’s Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, we explore what recent U.S.-Canada trade tensions could mean for jobs, industries, and the economic future of Central Ohio. Featuring: Colin Bird, Consul General of Canada in Detroit Allison Russo, Ohio State Representative, District 7, and Statehouse Minority Leader Bala Sathyanarayanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Greif The host is Dan Eaton, Senior Reporter, Columbus Business First. This forum was sponsored by The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. The forum partners were The Columbus Council on World Affairs and The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on May 21, 2025.
Why are your property taxes going up — and where is that money actually going? This week’s CMC forum tackles the property tax questions on everyone’s mind, with experts who understand the system inside and out. From home values to school funding, to mills and assessments, our panel helps make sense of it all.
Featuring:
Michael D. Cole, President, Columbus City School Board
Greg Lawson, Research Fellow, The Buckeye Institute
And Michael Stinziano, Franklin County Auditor
The host is Anna Staver, State Government and Politics Reporter for Cleveland.com and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
Recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on May 14, 2025.
Central Ohio is prospering, but economic mobility remains out of reach for many families. This forum explores the stark racial and economic disparities in the Columbus region and asks what new policies and community actions are needed to ensure shared prosperity. Featuring: Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Councilmember Keith Jones, President & CEO, Oakwood Management Duwain Pinder, Partner, Ohio - Columbus, McKinsey & Company Dr. Jason Reece, Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning, Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University The host is Mataryun "Mo" Wright, President & CEO, RAMA Consulting Group. This forum was sponsored by The Crane Group, The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s promotional and livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on May 7, 2025.
Bioscience breakthroughs are transforming lives in Central Ohio. From cutting-edge gene therapies to world-first medical devices, the region’s life sciences sector is booming—and saving lives. This week’s Columbus Metropolitan Club forum brings together scientific leaders and business innovators to explore how research, investment, and clinical development are coming together to power the next generation of healthcare innovation.
Featuring:
Dr. Frank Agbogbo, Vice President of Process Development, Forge Biologics Dr. Erandi De Silva, Investment Partner, Drive Capital Dr. Louise Rodino-Klapac, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, and Chief Scientific Officer, Sarepta
Robin Sears, President and CEO, LENTECHS
The host is Tyler Allchin, Managing Director, Healthcare, JobsOhio This forum was created in partnership with the 2025 COSI Science Festival, and was sponsored by: Armatus Bio, Battelle, Holder Construction, Ohio Life Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Sarepta. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on April 30, 2025.
Jane Scott Legacy in Civic Engagement Forum Celebrating Community Leaders
If “The Columbus Way” were a river, its source might just be The Columbus Partnership. In this one-on-one conversation, the Partnership's new President and CEO Jason Hall shares his vision for the influential coalition of regional CEOs. As Columbus grows, so does the importance of collaborative leadership—and Hall's next steps could help shape the future of Central Ohio’s economy, equity, and civic identity. Featuring:
Jason Hall, President and CEO, The Columbus Partnership The host is Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club
The forum's presenting sponsor was Nationwide.
This forum was also sponsored by The Columbus Landmarks Foundation, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Encova Insurance, The Edwards Companies, Huntington, Smoot Construction, and The United Way of Central Ohio. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
What does the Federal Reserve actually do—and why should it matter to Central Ohioans? Beth Hammack, the new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, sits down with CMC to explain her role, how the Fed operates, and how it impacts your paycheck, your mortgage, and our regional economy. Featuring:
Beth Hammack, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. The host is award-winning news anchor Clay Gordon.
This forum was sponsored by Homeport.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on April 16, 2025.
Columbus appears to be on track to keep an important promise: The Columbus Promise.
The innovative education partnership launched in 2021 with the goal of sending more Columbus City School graduates to college, boosting their own life trajectories and helping Central Ohio supercharge its workforce.
The Columbus Promise lets any graduate of Columbus City Schools attend Columbus State Community College at no cost for six semesters and provides a $500 stipend each semester plus academic support.
Now the Promise is no longer just a pilot. The program’s key partners – the City of Columbus, Columbus City Schools, I Know I Can, and Columbus State – and an array of private backers – have all recently recommitted to launching a new phase of the program, with more than half of a new $25 million goal already raised.
With a panel of leaders, we unpack the Columbus Promise, explore its origins and impact, and get an inside look at what happens next.
Featuring
Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools
Janelle Coleman, Vice President, Community Engagement & Corporate Philanthropy and President, AEP Foundation
Shannon Hardin, President, Columbus City Council
Dr. Desiree Polk-Bland, Senior Vice President for Student Success, Columbus State Community College
The moderator is Colleen Marshall, News Anchor, NBC4, and host of "NBC4's The Spectrum." This presenting sponsor of this forum was The Columbus Foundation. This forum was also sponsored by Cardinal Health and American Electric Power. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on April 9, 2025.
BIG things are happening in Central Ohio! With top leaders, we dig into some of the BIGGEST construction and development projects happening right now in our region, including the new $2B Columbus Airport terminal, the $200M reimagining of the Ohio Expo Center & State Fair, defense contractor Anduril’s just-announced state-of-the-art plant, and the highway and transportation systems that will tie it all together. We explore where big ideas come from, and the partnerships and workforce that’s essential to turn big dreams into tomorrow’s Central Ohio reality.
Featuring:
Pamela Boratyn, Director, The Ohio Department of Transportation
Connor Brogan, Arsenal-1 Project Leader, Anduril
Matt Kunz, Vice President and Columbus General Manager, Turner Construction
And Joseph Nardone, President & CEO, The Columbus Regional Airport Authority
The host is Angela An, News Anchor, WBNS 10TV. This forum was sponsored by Barton Malow, The Columbus Regional Airport Authority, HNTB, Public Sector Consulting, and Turner Construction. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on April 2, 2025.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s new proposed $218 billion two-year state budget promises to completely fund the state’s public education system, to deliver a tax credit for parents with minimum-wage jobs, and provides higher funding for children’s services, including childcare, literacy, and vision programs. With the Governor’s proposal in hand, Ohio lawmakers now have until July 1, 2025 to shape the budget and return it to the Governor’s desk. CMC welcomes Ohio Governor Mike DeWine for an in-depth conversation on his proposed budget and his priorities for the state.
Featuring:
Governor Mike DeWine, State of Ohio
The host is Jo Ingles, Journalist & Producer, Statehouse News Bureau.
This forum was sponsored by The United Way of Central Ohio, The Ohio Farm Bureau, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Public Sector Consulting, Ian Alexander Photography, HNTB, and Smoot Construction.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on March 26, 2025.
Ohio’s energy demand is set to skyrocket with the rise of data centers, electric vehicles, and the shutdown of aging power plants. Can the state’s power generation keep pace, or will electricity shortages hinder Ohio’s growth? Major tech companies are establishing data centers in central Ohio, consuming a growing portion of the state’s power supply to support consumers and power-intensive technologies like AI. Additionally, the retirement of some fossil-fuel power plants and the unpredictability of renewable sources like wind and solar add further pressure to Ohio’s energy system. With industry leaders and experts, we explore the real “power play” essential for the state’s economic growth.
Featuring:
Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers' Association
Kenny McDonald, President & CEO, One Columbus
Janine Migden-Ostrander, Pace University Law School E nergy & Climate Center, and Former Ohio Consumers' Counsel
Todd Snitchler, President & CEO, Electric Power Supply Association
The host is Bryant Petway, Construction Executive, ArchKey Solutions
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Region. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on March 19, 2025.
Columbus is more than lucky: the city is home to a vast array of performing arts organizations that bring vibrancy, expression, and wonder to Ohio’s state capital through theater, dance, ballet, live music performances, and more. Artists, venues, and companies abound, plus scores of associated programs that seek to inspire young people to learn about themselves by exploring the world of performing arts.
While audiences are filling events, funding remains a challenge, with uncertainties around public funding that are driving arts organizations to build innovative partnerships with each other and supporters.
With Central Ohio’s rising population, demand for the performing arts is expected to grow, and new venues to handle the growth are in the works: CAPA is raising $14 million to renovate an historic church on Third Street in downtown into a new multipurpose arts venue, while the Columbus Symphony last year unveiled plans for a breathtaking new 200,000-square-foot venue that would be the city’s first purpose-built concert hall, and Shadowbox’s Up Front Performance Space is also now newly-renovated.
With representatives from key venues and organizations, we take stock of the state of performing arts in Columbus with industry leaders for a look behind the curtains.
Featuring:
Daniel Walshaw, Chief Operating Officer, Columbus Symphony
Chad Whittington, President and CEO, The Columbus Association for the Performing Arts
Stacie Boord, CEO, Shadowbox Live
Regina Ann Campbell, CEO, King Arts Complex
The host is Jami Goldstein, Chief Creative Officer, The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC).
This forum was sponsored by The Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and The Greater Columbus Arts Council.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on March 12, 2025.
In partnership with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, this CMC forum unveils the latest research featuring new data on the critical resources that women in Central Ohio need – and often lack – to build wealth. Women face distinct hurdles in accumulating personal wealth, and the implications are huge: according to the Federal Reserve, closing gender and racial wealth gaps could have expanded Ohio’s GDP by a staggering $67 billion from 2005 to 2019. Despite women’s substantial contribution to Central Ohio’s economy, disaggregated research has been lacking—until now. With a panel of passionate leaders, we discuss these fresh findings and shed light on how women in Central Ohio can overcome barriers to wealth creation.
Featuring:
Keena Smith, CEO, The Women's Center for Economic Opportunity
Shannon Isom, President and CEO, Community Shelter Board
Lisa Gray, Founding President, Ohio Excels
And Alex Dorman, Research Fellow, The Center for Community Solutions
The host is Courtney Falato, Vice President and Program Officer, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
This forum was sponsored by The Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio and Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus’ historic Brewery District on March 5, 2025.
Click here to read the subject of this forum, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio's recent research report, "Making Women Wealthy and Free."
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and The Ohio Chamber of Commerce both help drive Ohio’s economy. How do they collaborate to support businesses, and where do they see opportunities for growth in Central Ohio? This conversation explores the biggest challenges facing Ohio’s business climate and the initiatives and partnerships needed to ensure a strong future for the region's employers, workers, and the broader economy.
Featuring:
Derrick Clay, President & CEO, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce
Steve Stivers, President & CEO, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce
The host is award-winning news anchor Clay Gordon.
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Huntington Bank. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on February 26, 2025.
This CMC forum features a 1:1 conversation with U.S Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, representing Ohio’s Third Congressional District since 2013. We’ll cover Congresswoman Beatty’s legislative priorities and unpack current events in Washington for an in-depth look at the state of federal politics and U.S. democracy.
Featuring:
Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Third Ohio Congressional District, United States House of Representatives
The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Statehouse News Bureau.
This forum was sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on February 19, 2025.
Looming federal budget cuts could mean significant reductions in safety-net services for Central Ohio’s most vulnerable populations, including immigrants and refugees. How will these changes affect our communities, and how are local nonprofit leaders responding? Our expert panel explores what’s at stake and what steps can be taken to mitigate the impact.
Featuring:
Dr. Seleshi Asfaw, President & CEO, Tewahedo Social Services
Elizabeth Brown, President & CEO, YWCA Columbus
Michael Corey, Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County
Shannon Hardin, President, Columbus City Council The host is Dr. Lisa Courtice, President and CEO, The United Way of Central Ohio. This forum was sponsored by Installed Building Products, Mollard Consulting, Nationwide, and The United Way of Central Ohio. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on February 12, 2025.
In Partnership with WOSU Public Media While there’s growing focus on seniors and the care they need, far less attention is being paid to the family members who provide that care. According to AARP, in 2010, there were more than seven potential family caregivers for every person over 80; by 2030, that ratio will drop to 4:1, and by 2050, it will be less than 3:1.
In Ohio alone, people caring for older relatives provide 1.4 billion hours of care each year—that’s $21 billion in unpaid labor. Younger family members, often juggling their own lives, are the ones dispensing medications, preparing meals, driving loved ones to appointments, and sorting out the financial and legal matters of aging parents.
Expanding Medicare to cover in-home care, giving tax credits for caregivers, and setting up a national paid family leave program could all help, but more solutions are needed. In partnership with WOSU Public Media’s “Inside Caregiving” initiative, CMC welcomes a panel of leaders and advocates to explore how we’ll care for the caregivers that older Central Ohioans will depend on.
Featuring:
Jennifer Carlson, State Director, AARP Ohio
Katie White, Director, Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
Dr. Kathy D. Wright, Associate Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Chanda Wingo, Director, Franklin County Office on Aging
The moderartor is Anthony Padgett, General Manager, WOSU Public Media.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on February 5, 2025.
Ohio’s system of higher education is reinventing itself for a new era in the state’s history. Will schools be ready?
Among the challenges, the number of U.S. high school graduates is expected to peak next year at about 3.5 million students before dropping 15% in the next four years, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, with profound implications for institutions of higher education.
Additionally, the needs of key Ohio employers are always accelerating, creating growing pressure on schools to produce workers ready to enter an ever-evolving workforce, especially in technology and healthcare-related professions.
Schools are also creating new ways to ensure students stay housed, fed, and that childcare resources are available to keep students with families enrolled and moving toward graduation.
A college education remains a life-changing asset for graduates, with Axios reporting recent grads in 2023 ages 22-27 earned $24,000 more annually than their peers holding just a high school degree. With the help from our expert panelists, we explore how Ohio’s higher education institutions are innovating to adapt to a changing educational and workforce landscape.
Featuring panelists:
Dr. John Comerford, President of Otterbein University Dr. David Harrison, President of Columbus State Community College Dr. Morakinyo A.O. Kuti, President of Central State University Dr. James Orr, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management at The Ohio State University
The host is Sheridan Hendrix, Higher Education Reporter for The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by Columbus State Community College, Grange Insurance, The Ohio State University, and Otterbein University. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on January 29, 2025.
Optimal Health Series Central Ohio is growing rapidly, and the region’s four major hospital systems are following suit. Each of Columbus’ “Big Four” systems – OhioHealth, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Mount Carmel Health System, and Nationwide Children’s Hospital – are expanding rapidly, constructing new facilities and scrambling to hire legions of qualified healthcare professionals. With the region’s population expected to grow by 30% in the next 25 years, that may translate into 730,000 new residents – all of whom will require access to healthcare. Can Central Ohio’s biggest healthcare players keep pace with demand? This forum features an extraordinary panel featuring the CEOs of all four of the region’s major hospital systems for an in-depth exploration of the present and future of healthcare in Central Ohio.
Featuring panelists:
Dr. Stephen Markovich, President and Chief Executive Officer, OhioHealth
Timothy Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Dr. John Warner, Chief Executive Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Executive Vice President, The Ohio State University Tauana McDonald, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Carmel Health System The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development and the State of Ohio Leadership Institute, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University.
The presenting sponsors of CMC’s long-running Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth, and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
This forum was also sponsored by AstraZeneca, Cardinal Health, Fifth Third Bank, The Healthcare Career Collaborative of Central Ohio Powered by Aspyr, Mount Carmel Health System, and CK Construction. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Vue Columbus. This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus, Ohio's historic Brewery District on January 22, 2025.
What was America’s most popular housing market in 2024, according to Realtor.com?
Look no further than Columbus, Ohio. Homes for sale in Central Ohio were racking up far more online views than the national average, indicating off-the-charts levels of interest in available properties in the region.
If it’s been a few years since you sold a home in Central Ohio, you might be in for a shock the next time you plant a “for sale” sign in your yard, now that new rules have completely reshaped realtor commissions.
If you’re on the buying side, you’ll need to be just as prepared for a housing market that’s undergone profound changes since before the pandemic, with demand outpacing new construction and out-of-state “institutional” buyers with deep pockets outbidding families and snapping up investment properties.
Ths week, we navigate the new realities of buying and selling in Central Ohio’s red-hot housing market.
Featuring:
Josh Barkan, Division Vice President, M/I Homes of Central Ohio Jon Melchi, Executive Director, Building Industry Association of Central Ohio Buffie Patterson, President, Columbus REALTORS® Board of Directors
The host is Bonnie Meibers, Commercial Real Estate Reporter, Columbus Business First. This forum was sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in the Brewery District on January 15, 2025.
The Atlantic Magazine recently awarded the US economy “superstar status” – calling it the “Taylor Swift” of global economies – for its robust sustained performance. Closer to home, Central Ohio’s economy also appears to be roaring along, with the region leading the Buckeye State in growth. What’s in store for Central Ohio’s economy and our region in 2025? Hear what the year ahead looks like for Central Ohio’s economy from a panel of leading experts at CMC’s first program of 2025 and one of the year’s most popular forums.
Featuring:
Dr. Joyce Chen, Professor of Economics in Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
Kathy Bostjancic, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Nationwide Mutual
Dr. Bill LaFayette, Owner, Regionomics
The host is Benjamin Lanka, Business Editor, The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by Smoot Construction, Frost Brown Todd, The Columbus Region, Ian Alexander Photography, and PNC.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in the Brewery District on January 8, 2025.
Can downtown retail make a comeback in Columbus? With a panel of downtown leaders and advocates, this forum explores efforts to re-energize retail downtown and examines what lies ahead for Columbus' urban core.
Featuring:
Nicholas J. Bankston, Columbus City Councilmember
Amy Taylor, President, Downtown Columbus, Inc.
Jim Merkel, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockbridge
The host is Jessica Ralston, Anchor of Good Day Columbus on ABC6 and FOX28. This forum was sponsored by The Harrison Smith Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund, Downtown Columbus, Inc., The Edwards Companies, and Rockbridge.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on December 18, 2024.
Ohio’s labor market remains incredibly tight, but Central Ohio organizations that are building strong cultures of belonging are attracting top talent from diverse backgrounds. Leading employers know from experience that cultivating a strong and authentic sense of belonging among employees can revolutionize recruitment, engagement, retention, productivity, and ROI, even with remote workers.
Recent criticism around DEI in the workplace has sparked concerns that diversity, equity, and inclusion progress could stall, but many employers are not only not abandoning DEI initiatives but deepening them with strategic efforts to build a sense of belonging among employees. They’re also ensuring the definition of diversity remains broad and embraces neurodivergent and physically impaired employees, elevating every voice.
With a panel of passionate leaders, we’ll explore the meaning and value of creating a culture of belonging in the contemporary workplace, and how it’s helping key Central Ohio employees and employers to stay at the top of their games.
Featuring:
Daniel Juday, Founder + Facilitator, Space Creator LLC
Dr. Tina Pierce, Chief of Strategy and Belonging, The Ohio State University Alumni Association
Jennifer Robinson, Chief Human Resources Officer and Deputy Director, Ohio Department of Veterans Services
The moderator is Margaret Finley, Head of DEI and Corporate Affairs, ADS, and President, Board of Directors, Central Ohio Diversity Consortium.
This forum was sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, with additional support from Aspyr and The Central Ohio Workforce Development Network.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on December 11, 2024.
In 2023, Columbus saw nearly 24,000 eviction filings, marking a 12,000-case increase from the previous year. Early 2024 data shows this trend worsening, with evictions reaching a 20-year high in Franklin County.
Across Ohio, landlords initiated almost 108,000 eviction cases in 2023 — the highest since 2015. A major driver behind the surge is sluggish wage growth, which isn’t keeping pace with skyrocketing rents. The “housing wage” — what a worker needs to earn per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment — rose 9% since last year. To afford such a home, full-time workers need an hourly wage of at least $20.81. In Columbus, however, this figure climbs even higher to $25.04 per hour.
With a panel of regional leaders, CMC unpacks why evictions are climbing, the impact on communities when families lose their homes, and the strategies that advocates are leveraging to ensure more Central Ohio families stay housed.
Featuring:
Kate McGarvey, Executive Director, Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio
Shayla D. Favor, Columbus City Council Member and Franklin County Prosecutor-Elect
Gene Edwards, Director of Legal Research and Magistrate, Franklin County Municipal Court,
The moderator is Danae King, Underserved Communities Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by The Community Shelter Board with support from The Columbus Dispatch.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on December 4, 2024.
For the first time since 2019, the all-new Columbus Foundation Community Benchmarking Report has measured how Central Ohio compares to more than 20 peer regions across more than 50 metrics and indices.
Building on a decade of community tracking, this newest research across a range of metrics offers a clear window to understanding how Central Ohio stacks up to comparable metro areas and gives us one of the best snapshots of where our region finds itself on this side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The findings dive deeply into five overall categories – population vitality, economic strength, personal prosperity, lifelong learning, and overall community wellbeing. In this second of two forums, we’ll dive deep into the study’s findings on Personal Prosperity, Lifelong Learning, and Overall Community Wellbeing, and explore what the data says about Central Ohio’s future. The complete new report can be downloaded here.
Featuring:
J. Averi Frost, Freedom Equity Inc. and the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Gina Ginn, CEO, Columbus Early Learning Centers
Matt Martin, Director of Community Research, The Columbus Foundation
The moderator is Autumn Glover, Senior Vice President, Provider + Community Partnerships, AndHealth.
The presenting sponsor of this two-part series was The Columbus Foundation.
This forum was sponsored by The American Electric Power Foundation.
The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus’ historic Italian Village on November 20, 2024.
For the first time since 2019, the all-new Columbus Foundation Community Benchmarking Report has measured how Central Ohio compares to more than 20 peer regions across more than 50 metrics and indices.
Building on more than a decade of community tracking, this newest research across a range of metrics offers a clear window to understanding how Central Ohio stacks up to comparable metro areas and gives us one of the best snapshots of where our region finds itself on this side of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The findings dive deeply into five overall categories – population vitality, economic strength, personal prosperity, lifelong learning, and overall community wellbeing.
In this first of two forums, we’ll reflect on the results of the last benchmarking study in 2019 before diving deep into the findings of the first two categories: Population Vitality & Economic Strength – to see how Central Ohio measures up to its peers.
The complete new report can be downloaded here.
Featuring:
Matt Martin, Director of Community Research, The Columbus Foundation
Kenny McDonald, President and CEO, One Columbus
Padmini Roy-Dixon, Economic Development Director & Regional Innovation Officer, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
The host is Doug Buchanan, Editor in Chief, Columbus Business First.
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Foundation. The presenting sponsor of CMC's livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was also supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 13, 2024.
This extraordinary and historic forum welcomes The Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu as we gather following the election to reconcile and reflect on the common goal of preserving democracy, upholding justice, and to re-commit to listening to one another in good faith and with open minds and hearts.
The Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, daughter of Archbishop Desmond and Nomalizo Leah Tutu, knew from early in life that the one thing she would never be is a priest. She has always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job” but life had other plans… After years spent as a development consultant, educator and race and gender activist she accepted her call to ordained ministry.
The challenges of growing black and female in apartheid South Africa have been the foundation of Reverend Tutu’s life as an activist for human rights. Those experiences taught her that our whole human family loses when we accept situations of oppression, and how the teaching and preaching of hate and division injure us all.
Featuring The Reverend Nontombi Naomi Tutu, Daughter of Archbishop Desmond and Nomalizo Leah Tutu, and Priest Associate, All Saint’s Episcopal, Atlanta, Georgia, and with moderator Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by Otterbein University and The Health Policy Institute of Ohio. It was supported by Urban Strings Columbus.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 6, 2024.
Optimal Health Series Central Ohio is home to global leaders in healthcare, but access to healthcare remains uneven in the region as it is for much of the country. What are the costs of uneven healthcare coverage to our region, and what are the factors that prevent many from getting the care they need? With a panel of passionate healthcare leaders, we dive into the true costs of uneven access to healthcare in Central Ohio and how the doors to quality healthcare can be opened for all.
Featuring:
Dr. Chyke Doubeni, Chief Health Equity Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Carrie Harris-Muller, Senior Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer, OhioHealth
Amy Rohling McGee, President, Health Policy Institute of Ohio
Kate Tullio, Associate Vice President for Health Equity, CareSource
The moderator is Angela Dawson, Executive Director, Ohio Commission on Minority Health
The presenting sponsors of CMC’s long-running Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth, and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
This forum was also sponsored by AstraZeneca and Cardinal Health.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was also supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on October 23, 2024.
With early voting already underway, Ohio voters are being asked to decide if a new approach to redrawing the state’s electoral districts is necessary. At stake is potentially nothing less than the future control of Ohio’s statewide legislative bodies.
The nonprofit Citizens Not Politicians asserts that Ohio’s current electoral districts are gerrymandered – or drawn unfairly to tilt the electoral playing field – and favors Republicans who currently control both the Ohio House and Senate, while Republican leaders have said no such unfairness exists and that the Democratic failure to secure more of Ohio’s legislative seats is simply an accurate reflection of voter preference.
If the proposed ballot initiative passes, control over drawing Ohio’s electoral districts will pass from politicians to a new 15-member nonpartisan board.
Will the state’s voters agree that gerrymandering is an issue Ohio needs to solve with a fresh approach, or will the status quo win out? We unpack the future of Ohio’s legislative districts and the stark choice the state’s voters face this fall.
Featuring:
Kareem Crayton, Vice President, The Brennan Center for Justice
Keith Faber, Ohio Auditor of State
Maureen O'Connor, Former Chief Justice, The Supreme Court of Ohio
Bradley Smith, The Josiah H. Blackmore II / Shirley M. Nault Professor of Law, Capital University
The moderator is Jessie Balmert, State Government Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch | Gannett | USA Today Network.
This forum was sponsored by The Charles F. Kettering Foundation, The Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and The Ohio Debate Commission. Our forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and marketing partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in the Brewery District on October 16, 2024.
An erosion of LGBTQ+ rights seems to be the latest casualty of America's deepening polarization. This week’s panel takes stock of the trajectory of LGBTQ+ rights and what the future may hold for LGBTQ+ Ohioans and their families.
Featuring:
The Honorable Nickie J. Antonio, Ohio State Senate Democratic Leader
Karen Hewitt, Founder and CEO, K Hewitt Consulting, and Co-Founder and COO, The Ohio REST Collective
Cam Ogden, Policy Manager, Equality Ohio
Ken Schneck, Editor, The Buckeye Flame
The moderator was Ronald Murray, Associate Director of Health Advocacy at Equitas Health, and Community Engagement Liaison, Stonewall Columbus.
This forum was sponsored by the Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Inclusion & Equity for the LGBTQ Community, Huckleberry House, and Encova Insurance.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in the Brewery District on October 9, 2024
Could fresh thinking about philanthropy help save the lives of mothers and babies in Central Ohio? This panel explores how participatory grantmaking, trust-based philanthropy, and low-barrier funding promise to improve the lives of Central Ohio’s mothers and babies.
Featuring:
Isi Ikharebha Green, President, Physicians CareConnection
Kelley Griesmer, President and CEO, The Women's Fund of Central Ohio
Jill Miller, President and CEO, Bethesda Inc. and bi3
Danielle Tong, Executive Director, CelebrateOne
The moderator was Jennifer Bullock, Weekday Anchor, NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus, Ohio's Brewery District on October 2, 2024.
What would Central Ohio's future look like with safe, affordable mixed-income neighborhoods as a part of everyday life? How much healthier, stronger, and more equitable would our region be?
For the most part, this is now just a dream for many central Ohioans. Our region is experiencing a severe housing shortage because we’ve built an average of only 8,000 housing units per year for more than a decade, while 20,000 units per year were needed to balance supply and demand. This caused the price of housing for both renters and buyers to increase by more than three times the increase in median income for both renters and homebuyers.
Today, we examine the links connecting housing, health, and opportunity and spotlight the will to act that could open the gates to healthier outcomes for all.
Featuring panelists:
Merisa Bowers, Council President & Member At-Large, Gahanna City Council
Michael B. Coleman, Former Mayor, City of Columbus, and Partner, Ice Miller
Dr. Craig Pollack, Katey Ayers Endowed Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (including opening remarks)
Kenneth L. Wright, Mayor & Council Member At-Large, City of Westerville
The moderator was Darci Congrove, Managing Director, GBQ.
This forum was sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company and the Thanks Be To God Foundation.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by The Ellis and by Families Flourish.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on September 25, 2024.
Will an innovative new collaboration help Central Ohio attract and build the workforce it needs? The Central Ohio Workforce Development Network is a new large-scale collaborative between thirteen organizations that backers say will open a wide new pipeline funneling eager workers to employers. With a panel of employment advocates and regional leaders, we unpack this newest effort to keep Central Ohio’s talent pool filled to the brim.
Featuring:
Toni Cunningham, President & CEO, Godman Guild
Lisa Divine, Manager, Learning and Development, Worthington Steel
Scott Johnson, Director, Central Ohio Workforce Development Network
The moderator is Bo Chilton, CEO, IMPACT Community Action.
This forum was sponsored by Accenture, Battelle, Otterbein University, Regionomics, and The United Way of Central Ohio.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by The Ellis and Aspyr.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on September 18, 2024.
According to Hunger Ohio, our state has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in the country, with over 400,000 children across the state living in food-insecure households. What would it take to end hunger once and for all in Central Ohio? This forum brings together passionate experts to spotlight hunger in our midst and discuss actionable steps we can take together.
Featuring:
Matt Habash, President & CEO, Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts, Health Commissioner, Columbus Public Health
Dr. Carol Bradford, Dean of The Ohio State University School of Medicine and Vice President of Health Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Adam Troy, Executive Director, Community of Caring Development Foundation
The moderator was Michelle Brown, President & CEO, Children’s Hunger Alliance.
This forum was sponsored by The Jeffrey Family Legacy Fund, Kroger, Nationwide, and The Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on September 11, 2024.
In today’s polarized landscape, can we still have constructive bipartisan dialogue, especially with a contentious election season underway? Are good-faith discussions across divides even possible in America’s white-hot political climate? Our panelists say not only are they possible, they’re essential if our democracy is to survive and thrive. By fostering respect and understanding – and most importantly, by truly listening to one another - we can still bridge gaps, collaborate, and succeed. Join us with an incredible panel of public servants who believe bipartisan dialogue in a democratic society is both possible and indispensable.
Featuring: Lee Fisher, Former Ohio Attorney General, and Dean and Joseph C. Hostetler-BakerHostetler Chair in Law, Cleveland State University College of Law
Betty Montgomery, Former Ohio Attorney General, and Of Counsel, Mac Murray & Shuster
Nancy Rogers, Former Ohio Attorney General, and Former Dean of the Executive Committee for the Divided Community Project, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law
The moderator is Laurel Beatty Blunt, Judge, 10th District Court of Appeals, State of Ohio.
This forum was sponsored by The Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Legacy Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and Porter Wright Morris and Arthur.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus and by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on September 4, 2024.
Central Ohio’s women face unique barriers compared to men in the creation and accumulation of their personal wealth. The cost of the disparity is enormous: the Federal Reserve estimated that closing gender and racial wealth gaps could have increased Ohio's GDP by $67 billion between 2005 and 2019. This week’s forum digs into the challenges Central Ohio women face in the creation of personal wealth and the new data and policies needed to close the disparity.
Featuring:
Courtney Falato, Vice President and Program Officer, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Hannah Halbert, Executive Director, Policy Matters Ohio
Kimberly Minor, President and CEO, Women of Color Retail Alliance
Lillian Morales-Laster, Executive Director, Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy (ELLA)
The moderator was Kelley Griesmer, President and CEO, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio.
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University and The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on August 28, 2024.
The free press and democracy draw strength from each other. When one fails, or is deliberately targeted for destruction, the other is likely to also be a casualty. This week’s forum dives into the importance of a free press and the role journalism plays in keeping democracy vigorous.
Featuring:
Rita McNeil Danish, CEO of Signal Ohio
Dr. Kelly Garrett, Director, School of Communication at The Ohio State University
Michael Shearer, Executive Editor of The Columbus Dispatch
The moderator is Rodney Dunigan, Assistant News Director with ABC 6.
The forum partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded at The Ellis in Columbus Ohio's historic Italian Village on August 21, 2024.
Get ready for retirement, because it’s coming: while not everyone in Central Ohio is ready to clock out for the last time, the region will soon have more residents reaching the age of 65 than starting kindergarten. It’s a situation with enormous implications for employers, school districts, healthcare providers, and taxpayers.
The 65+ age group of Franklin County residents is the fastest growing segment of the county’s population, increasing over 50% between 2010 and 2022. During that time, the number of kindergartners – the 0-4 age group – grew by just 2.4%. According to a Columbus Dispatch article published earlier this year, the median age nationally is now 39 years old, rising steadily from 37.2 in 2010 and 35.2 in 2000. Ohio’s average age is even higher at 39.6 years.
What policy and infrastructure changes are needed now to meet the housing, transit, homecare and healthcare needs of what’s rapidly becoming most of us? It’s a situation with HUGE implications for employers, school districts, healthcare providers, and taxpayers.
Featuring:
Dr. Holly Dabelko-Schoeny, Director of Research for The Age-Friendly Innovation Center, The Ohio State University College of Social Work
Katie White, Director, The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging
Kalitha Williams, Outreach and Advocacy Manager, AARP Ohio
Chanda Wingo, Director, Franklin County Office on Aging
The moderator is Tasha Booker, Caregiver and Senior Vice President for External Engagement, City Year.
This forum was sponsored by AARP Ohio, The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and The Isabelle Ridgeway Foundation. The forum partner was King Business Interiors.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded at The Ellis in Columbus Ohio's historic Italian Village on August 7, 2024.
Columbus, Ohio has been stacking up impressive accolades for some time. The city is home to some of the country’s top attractions, world-class sports, a great restaurant and bar scene, and a growing and diversifying population that’s significantly younger than the statewide average.
Recently, Experience Columbus – the destination marketing organization for Columbus – launched a new campaign to bring attention to the great things Columbus has and is. Its “yes, Columbus” campaign has set its sights on sharing the city’s greatness with potential visitors and residents and draws on findings from a communitywide perception study from 2023 that showed that while those who know Columbus are positive, familiarity with Ohio’s capital city is low outside of Ohio.
What is the new campaign and what will its reach be? What is the Columbus brand? Columbus has long sought to shape a unique identity that’s appealing, aspirational, and authentic to who we are and what we want to become. Can we?
Featuring:
Yohannan "Yogi" Terrell, CEO, Warhol & WALL ST., and Director, Columbus Fashion Initiative
Sarah Townes, Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer, Experience Columbus
Stephanie Spicer, President, Luquire
Steve Susi, Senior Director, Brand Strategy, Northwestern Mutual
The moderator is Jennifer Walton, Chief Brand Officer, Sky Nile Consulting
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation.
The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded at The Ellis in Columbus Ohio's historic Italian Village on July 31, 2024.
More than 1.5 million Ohioans – over 13% of the state’s population – lives in the cities governed by our three July 24 forum panelists. We welcome the current mayors of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Cleveland, Ohio for an extraordinary program as these three dynamic leaders discuss the unique challenges and opportunities facing their 21st century cities. We’ll hear their strategies for economic growth, urban development, transit, community engagement, and much more. Join us for this rare opportunity to hear firsthand from the mayors shaping the future of Ohio’s three largest cities.
Featuring: Andrew Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Justin Bibb, Mayor, City of Cleveland And Aftab Pureval, Mayor, City of Cincinnati
The moderator is Yolanda Harris, News Anchor, WBNS-10TV
This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon, The Columbus Region, The Ohio Mayors Alliance, and Spectrum. The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. It was supported by The Ellis. This forum was recorded at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on July 24, 2024.
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. was appointed as the 17th president of The Ohio State University by its Board of Trustees last August. He began his tenure at Ohio State on January 1 of this year. As president, Carter leads the state’s premier public research university with six campuses in Ohio and a student body of more than 65,000. Carter also served as president of the University of Nebraska System and was the U.S. Naval Academy’s longest continuously serving superintendent since the Civil War. He is a retired U.S. Navy vice admiral with 38 years of service and has logged more than 6,300 flying hours. Carter flew 125 combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross with combat distinction for valor and is a recipient of the Bronze Star. CMC is honored to welcome President Carter for this special 1:1 forum as we explore the future of the state’s flagship university and the vision of its new leader.
Featuring:
Walter “Ted” Carter Jr., President, The Ohio State University
The host is Matt Barnes, NBC4 Anchor
This forum was sponsored by The Joseph & Carol Newcomb-Alutto Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Focusing on Higher Education, The Ohio State University, Huntington, United Way of Central Ohio, Columbus Business First, Moody Nolan, and NBC4 WCMH TV.
The presenting sponsor of CMC's livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by Vue Columbus.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus, Ohio's historic Brewery District on July 17, 2024.
A proposed major overhaul of Columbus’ 70-year-old zoning code will bring big changes to Columbus. If passed, the new code will dramatically reshape parts of the city by unlocking current density and height restrictions, allow more mixed-use developments, and much more. Proponents argue a zoning code overhaul is critical to help Columbus fix its worsening housing crisis, while opponents worry that the proposal could bring about a loss of control over new development in established neighborhoods, or even the loss of historic buildings. The proposed overhaul could allow for 88,000 new housing units along key city corridors, impacting 12,300 parcels. The proposal is currently in a 60-day public review period, with Columbus City Council’s final vote on the proposed changes coming this summer. Draft plans would allow much taller buildings and denser housing along major streets including Broad Street, High Street, and Cleveland Avenue, plus an elimination of parking requirements. While some welcome the increased housing options, others are concerned about potential changes to neighborhood character. With a panel bringing multiple voices to the table, we unpack the way this summer’s proposed zoning overhaul could reshape Columbus.
Featuring:
Rob Dorans, President Pro Tem, Columbus City Council
Leah Evans, President & CEO, Homeport
Dr. Rebecca Kemper, CEO, Columbus Landmarks
Kathy Green, Vice-Chair and Zoning Committee Chair, Columbus Southside Area Commission
The moderator is Mark Ferenchik, News Director, WOSU Public Media.
This forum was sponsored by Crane Group.
The presenting sponsor of CMC's livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on July 10, 2024.
The state of charitable giving has a profound impact on hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout Central Ohio, ranging from mighty arts, healthcare, and higher education institutions to local civic clubs and direct service providers. Trends in giving affect all of them — from the decline of giving among “everyday households,” increasing dependence on high-net-worth donors, trends in corporate giving, and the rise of donor advised funds, this dynamic sector represents more than 12% of Ohio’s workforce – about as many as are employed in manufacturing. Following the June 25 release of Giving USA’s annual report, we host a landmark conversation diving into the state and future of charitable giving.
Featuring:
Erika Gable, President, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Central Ohio Chapter
Rachel Lustig, CEO, Lutheran Social Services
Dr. Una Osili, Associate Dean for Research and International Programs, Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, who also provides opening remarks.
The host is Laura MacDonald, Principal & Founder, Benefactor Group
Opening remarks by Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management, The Columbus Foundation.
The presenting sponsor was The Columbus Foundation.
This forum was also sponsored by The Hodge Group. The forum partner was AFP Central Ohio.
It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on June 26, 2024.
Healthy nonprofit organizations are critical to any community. They address unmet needs, enrich our cultural life, and build social capital. With a panel of passionate leaders and advocates, we unpack the state of Central Ohio nonprofits at one of CMC’s most popular forums of the year.
The panelists are:
Suzan Bradford, Executive Director, The Lincoln Theater
Gabrielle Fields, Executive Director, Franklinton Farms
Matthew Goldstein, CEO, Besa
Kristen Rost, Vice President, Nationwide Foundation
The moderator is Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management, The Columbus Foundation.
The presenting sponsor was Nationwide.
This forum was also sponsored by Benefactor Group, Besa, Carlile Patchen & Murphy, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Cramer & Associates, G2G Consulting, Installed Building Products, and The New Directions Career Center.
It was supported by Vue Columbus.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus, Ohio's historic Brewery District on June 12, 2024.
As our country heads into a pivotal 2024 election, we unpack the creation and the legacy of one of the most significant legislative achievements in American history, the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The 60-year-old Civil Right Act – bold, imperfect at creation, and controversial – demanded a fundamental fairness in American life that today remains an unfinished task.
In June 1963, President John Kennedy urged Congress to enact a comprehensive civil rights bill, driven by widespread resistance to desegregation and the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers. Following Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon Johnson championed the bill, ultimately securing its passage the following year, despite intense resistance that included a 54-day filibuster by opponents.
At the bill’s signing on July 2, 1964, President Johnson was joined by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights crusaders. The Civil Rights Act barred unequal voter registration requirements, banned discrimination on the basis of “race, color, religion, or national origin” in places of public accommodation, in public education and in federally-assisted programs, banned discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” in hiring, and expanded the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
The passage of the Civil Rights Act was a watershed moment in American history. It effectively ended the era of notorious “Jim Crow” laws, previously upheld by the Supreme Court, which permitted racial segregation under the pretext of “separate but equal.” Since 1964, Congress has expanded the Civil Rights Act to strengthen the protection of essential civil liberties.
With an expert panel, we pay respects to the vision of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and take stock of the state of – and threats to – civil liberties in today’s America.
Featuring:
Janet E. Jackson, Former President & CEO, The United Way of Central Ohio, Former City Attorney for the City of Columbus, Former Franklin County Municipal Court Judge
Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, Associate Professor, Department of History, The Ohio State University
Jen Miller, Executive Director, The League of Women Voters of Ohio
The panel moderator is W. Kay Wilson, Associate Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Mahogany Magazine
This forum was sponsored by Homeport, The Robert Weiler Company, and Steptoe & Johnson. The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus. It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on June 5, 2024.
Only five other states are home to more veterans than Ohio. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Buckeye State is home to 729,645 veterans. Only California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas have more veterans than Ohio.
With the state’s unemployment rate well below historic averages, many employers are turning to veterans to fill open positions. While the veteran unemployment rate is nationally lower that the nonveteran unemployment rate, 3% versus 3.8%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, many returning veterans struggle to re-integrate themselves into the civilian workforce after military service.
“Finding the mission again,” or reinventing a new life in the civilian work world, can be hugely challenging for many. The transition can be a time when veterans are at greater risk for depression, homelessness, and increased risk of crisis, according to the veterans’ advocacy organization DAV.
Part of the challenge for veterans is helping civilian employers recognize the key skills they’re seeking in veteran resumes. State officials and leading employers are helping to change this; the state is now home to 2,792 designated “Military Friendly” employers in the state of Ohio, and state-run and corporate programs are seeing marked successes in helping veterans re-integrate into Ohio’s workforce.
With a panel of leaders, we unpack the hidden challenges Ohio veterans face returning to the workforce after military life, and dive into the strategies that are connecting veterans with Ohio employers ready to hire them.
Featuring:
Tony Anzic, U.S. Navy Veteran and Columbus Location Manager, JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Retired US Army Major General Deborah Ashenhurst, Director, Ohio Department of Veterans Services
Marnie Holder, Vice President of Advancement, National Veterans Museum & Memorial
And US Army Veteran A-Jay Orr, Executive Director, Ohio Veterans Collaborative
The host is Stacia Naquin, Anchor, ABC6 & Fox 28 Columbus
This forum was sponsored by Columbus State Community College, Encova Insurance, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on May 22, 2024.
Ohio’s mental healthcare needs are as acute as they’ve ever been, but Ohioans’ struggle with mental health has also achieved a new and higher level of visibility, thanks to the persistent dedication of mental health advocates. Mental health struggles are touching every part of Ohio’s population: children, adults, employers, and employees, and those of any age wrestling with addiction or thoughts of suicide.
Ohio’s leaders in the field have also made clear that mental health issues aren’t merely healthcare issues, they’re workforce development issues: the state’s economy can’t thrive if the mental health needs of its workers and their families aren’t addressed and supported. Tellingly, a state official reported hearing most often from Ohio’s mothers and sheriffs: two groups both dealing daily with the effects of fellow Ohioans struggling with mental health needs.
There is clearly hope: national studies show that 3 of 4 people who experience addiction eventually recover, and up to 33% of people living with serious mental illness and 67% of adults with mild to moderate mental illness experience partial to full recovery over time. And Ohio is talking more about mental health than ever before, with the stigma of mental illness slowly evaporating, thanks to a changing public willingness to talk openly about mental illness. Some 70% of companies have also introduced or enhanced their well-being benefits for their employees.
Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month, so with an expert panel of passionate leaders, we unpack the state of mental health in Ohio with leaders working to create healthier adults, employees, and families.
Featuring:
Erika Clark Jones, CEO, Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County (ADAMH)
LeeAnne Cornyn, Director, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
And Andriel Ugbomeh, CEO, Healing Without Limits Counseling & Consulting
The host is Charleta B. Tavares, Chief Executive Officer, PrimaryOne Health
The presenting sponsors of CMC’s Optimal Health Series are OhioHealth, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
This forum was sponsored by Cardinal Health.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on May 15, 2024.
Please note this CMC forum contains a conversation about suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or addiction, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling 988.
On April 10, 2024, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine delivered his “State of the State” address to a packed Ohio statehouse audience. Now in his second term, the Governor’s remarks were notably focused on key initiatives aimed to benefit the state’s youth, with special emphasis on improving the health and education of Ohio’s children and students. His remarks touched both on recent accomplishments and his hopes for the next steps state lawmakers might take on key issues, including programs intended to improve infant care, create school-based health clinics, and improve access to quality childcare. With veteran Statehouse News Bureau journalist Jo Ingles, we sit down with Ohio’s 70th governor, Mike DeWine, for a wide-ranging conversation unpacking his 2024 “State of the State” address and a look at what Ohio’s future may hold.
Featuring:
Mike DeWine, Governor, State of Ohio
And host Jo Ingles, Journalist & Producer, Statehouse News Bureau
This forum was sponsored by ACT Ohio, Cardinal Health, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, The Ohio State University, Public Sector Consulting, and WOSU Public Media
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
It was supported by The Ellis.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on May 8, 2024.
Imagine what economic growth looks like on a graph and you may picture a line slanting upwards from left to right. Have you ever wondered where the line stops? On a planet – or a region – with finite resources, it has to end somewhere.
This realization is helping a very different model of economic growth to gain traction: the circular economy. Circular, or “doughnut,” economies are sustainable and regenerative, where waste from one process becomes fuel for another. It’s a model being popularized by economists like the U.K.’s Kate Raworth, and it’s taking root around the world and in Central Ohio.
Central Ohio’s economic activity is expected to result in more residential and industrial waste that will threaten the usable lifespan of the region’s landfill. Growth is putting upward pressure on greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. A circular economy can mitigate many of these consequences by recapturing more and more recyclable materials in new ways, sending them back into the production cycle.
Central Ohio has an opportunity to set a national example showcasing the benefits of a circular economy, and key players in our region are working together to bend that growth line back onto itself to form a sustainable circle.
With a panel of regional leaders, we unpack the advantages of thinking about economic growth in an entirely new way and learn how key players in Central Ohio are working together to bring sustainable circular growth to the region.
Featuring panelists:
Scott Barbour, President and Chief Executive Officer, Advanced Drainage Systems
Dr. Elena Irwin, Professor of Environmental Economics, The Ohio State University Sustainability Institute
Tia Johnson, Owner, Compost Clubhouse
And Jeff Snyder, Director of Recycling, Rumpke Waste & Recycling
The host is Tres Carter, Director of Creative Engagement, COSI
This forum was sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, GBQ, The Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Rumpke Waste & Recycling, and SWACO.
The forum partners were The COSI Science Festival, The Columbus Dispatch, and The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on May 1, 2024.
A leading factor behind population growth in Central Ohio are immigrants and refugees; in recent years, of the newcomers moving to Central Ohio from outside the state, half are international immigrants.
The United States is home to the highest number of immigrants in the world. Some 50 million Americans —about 15% of the country’s population, were born in a foreign country. In Columbus, the nation’s 14th largest city, ten percent of the city’s residents are foreign born, a number that’s only expected to rise.
Central Ohio’s reputation for affordable living and abundant employment opportunities, plus the presence of support networks and aid organizations, have long made the region an attractive destination for immigrants. But attitudes toward immigration are shifting yet again in America, and Columbus is no longer as affordable as it was just a decade ago.
Can our region continue to attract immigrants to fill critical jobs and add to Central Ohio’s cultural and economic vitality?
Featuring panelists:
Kim Emch, Founder and Executive Director, Festa
Ukeme Awakessien Jeter, City of Upper Arlington, Council President & Mayor, and Partner, Taft Law
Sudarshan Pyakurel, Executive Director, Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio
And Guadalupe Velasquez, Managing Director, Welcoming City
The host is Peter Gill, Immigration Reporter / Report for America, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by The United Way of Central Ohio and Taft Law. It was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on April 24, 2024.
What are the chronic factors that are keeping so many Columbus families – more than one in ten – locked in a multi-generational cycle of poverty, and what new resources are needed to help these families break free of the poverty cycle once and for all?
Central Ohio is a rapidly growing, vibrant community, generating the lion’s share of Ohio’s overall economic vitality. Yet despite its affluence and prosperity, Columbus is experiencing growing inequality between our neighbors with resources and those who are struggling. Franklin County’s poverty rate is higher than the statewide average, with 14.3% of county residents living in poverty in 2021, versus 13.4% across Ohio. From 2000 and 2020, over half (55%) of the net population growth in Columbus was comprised of people living below 200% percent of the poverty line.
Columbus is among the least-promising places in the nation for low-income children to climb the financial ladder. Personal savings rates have also hit a new low for many families: 68% of Americans are worried about being able to afford living expenses for just one month if they lost their primary income source, and 57% of adults are unable to afford a $1,000 emergency.
We're joined by a panel of passionate experts to better understand the multi-generational cycle of poverty in Central Ohio, and the critical resources, initiatives, and programs that can help our Columbus neighbors escape the poverty cycle forever.
Featuring panelists:
Tony Collins, CEO & President, YMCA of Central Ohio
Lawrence Funderburke, Founder, President, and Certified Financial Planner, Funderburke Institute of Financial Empowerment
Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO, The Columbus Urban League
And Karen Mozenter, CEO, Jewish Family Services
The moderator is Tonisha Johnson, Emmy Award-Winning Multimedia Journalist and Anchor, Spectrum News 1
This forum was sponsored by Kroger. It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on April 17, 2024.
Optimal Health Series
Human beings are wired for social connections, but when those connections are few, our health pays the price. The U.S. is suffering from a loneliness epidemic, and the toll it takes on our health is both enormous and measurable. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness and isolation a “public health emergency,” saying loneliness can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. The Surgeon General’s startling advisory found that poor social connections can raise the risk of heart disease by 29%, increase the risk of stroke by 32%, and increase the risk of developing dementia in older adults by 50%. There is hope: leaders across Ohio are working to combat loneliness, to re-establish connections lost during the pandemic, and create new resources to reduce social isolation. This thought-provoking panel discussion tackles the loneliness epidemic in Ohio and its profound health and societal implications, including actionable strategies to build socially connected communities that can thrive, enjoy better health outcomes, and develop resilience in the face of loneliness.
Featuring panelists:
Dr. Amy Acton, Private Practice, Preventive Medicine, and Former Director, Ohio Department of Health
Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, On Our Sleeves Associate Clinical Director, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Susan DiMickele, CEO, National Church Residences
Dr. Megan Schabbing, Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services, OhioHealth
The host is Tracie McCambridge, Director of Art & Resilience, The Wexner Center for the Arts
The presenting sponsors of CMC’s Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and OhioHealth.
This forum was sponsored by The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation and by National Church Residences. It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on April 10, 2024.
Please note this CMC forum contains a conversation about suicide. If you or someone you love is struggling with mental health or addiction, please contact the Suicide & Crsis Lifeline by calling 988.
Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Women in Society The gender pay gap is unfair, inequitable, and even illegal – paying women less than men for the same work has been against the law in the US since 1963. And yet, based on today’s full-time, year-round wage gap, women entering the workforce stand to lose $398,160 over the course of a 40-year career.
This “lifetime wage gap” exists across the country: in every state, women’s career losses based on today’s wage gap would amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars—and in 12 states women’s career losses would amount to more than half a million dollars. If progress continues at the same glacial rate as it has since 1960, it will take some 30 more years for women workers to reach pay equity with men.
The average Asian American and Native Pacific Islander (AANPI) worker would need until April 3 – the day of our forum – to make as much money as their male counterparts had earned by the end of the previous year. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women working full-time, year-round are paid just 92 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men.
The wage gap within the Asian American community is often overlooked, and it’s far from monolithic. For example, Chinese women earn 83 cents to a white male’s dollar, Indian women earn $1.07, Bhutanese women earn 52 cents, and Nepalese women earn just 48 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Recognizing these disparities is the first step toward achieving true pay equity for Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian women.
What’s being done to close the gender wage gap in Central Ohio for all women? Among other initiatives – The Columbus Commitment – a voluntary, employer-led pledge dedicated to closing the wage gap and fostering pay equity – has now been signed by over 400 Columbus-area employers to help spotlight equitable pay practices.
With an expert panel, CMC dives into why the gender pay gap has been a persistent feature of the US economy for generations, the importance of a nuanced approach to addressing pay disparities, what it will take to close the gender pay gap in Central Ohio once and for all.
Featuring panelists:
Barb Smoot, President & CEO, Women for Economic and Leadership Development
First Lady Shannon Ginther, Chair, Columbus Women’s Commission
Dr. Joyce Chen, Professor of Economics, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
The host is Tanya Salyers, Director of Advocacy, YWCA Columbus
Columbus City Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla makes opening remarks.
This forum was sponsored by The Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Women in Society, Crane Group, Event Marketing Strategies, The Ohio State University, and The Columbus Women's Commission.
It was supported by The Ellis.
The forum partner was The Women's Fund of Central Ohio.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on April 3, 2024.
This dynamic conversation challenges the conventional understanding of influence, delving into the profound impact of social media influencers on the identity and evolution of Columbus, Ohio. By examining their roles in shaping the cultural and social fabric of Columbus, we’ll uncover the subtle yet powerful ways in which our community is being redefined. We explore the responsibilities that come with this influence, encouraging a dialogue on how diverse voices can drive a more inclusive and connected future for our city.
Featuring Columbus social media influencers:
Alissa Henry, Wife, Mom, TV Personality, Content Creator, Reader, Tunner, Ohio University Alum and AKA @alissahenrytv
Morgan Pelt, Creator, Columbus Living Blog, @columbuslivingblog
And Jenny Zaerr, Brand Builder & Content Creator, Instagram’s @jennysbitesnbooze
The host is Heather Whaling, President & Founder, Geben Communication
This forum was sponsored by Geben Communication and was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on March 27, 2024.
This forum is part of CMC's Optimal Health Series.
Columbus may still be working toward an overall identity as a city, but leaders in healthcare have already put the region on the globe as a worldwide hub for health. Central Ohio is now home to four major hospital systems and a growing number of global leaders in therapeutics and medical technology. With the new heads of The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center and Cardinal Health, we dive into a conversation on what the future holds for advanced healthcare in Central Ohio and around the world.
Featuring:
Jason Hollar, Chief Executive Officer, Cardinal Health
John Warner, MD, Chief Executive Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Executive Vice President, Ohio State
The host is Tracy Townsend, Anchor & Medical Correspondent, WBNS-10TV
The presenting sponsors of CMC’s Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Nationwide Children's Hospital, and OhioHealth.
The sponsors of this forum were The United Way of Central Ohio, Cardinal Health, Ohio Life Sciences, and The Columbus Partnership.
This forum was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on March 20, 2024.
Next November, Columbus voters may be asked to approve a 0.5% sales tax increase to generate $6 billion of the estimated $8 billion cost the massive long-term transit improvement project known as LinkUS.
LinkUS promises to better connect parts of Columbus though significant transit improvements that include new bus rapid transit (BRT) lines and infrastructure improvements for pedestrians that include new trails and sidewalks. BRT is a mass transit alternative that can deliver some of the amenities associated with light rail – dedicated lanes, easy boarding at stations, fast and frequent service – without the higher cost and longer construction time of rail projects.
Three new LinkUS transit corridors are now on the horizon – a West Broad Corridor from Prairie Township to Downtown Columbus, an East Main Corridor from Downtown to past Reynoldsburg close to Etna, and a Northwest Corridor from downtown Columbus along Highway 315 to Bethel Road on a route that includes The Ohio State University and major employers. If voters approve, work would begin on the West Broad Corridor as early as 2025, and it could be operational as soon as 2028.
Will Columbus voters see the value of investing in these corridors to finally give Columbus commuters new mobility options that could serve as models for the entire region?
Featuring introductory remarks by Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus
With panelists:
Shannon Hardin, President, Columbus City Council
William Murdock, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Stevie Pasamonte, Chair, Transit Columbus
Monica Tellez-Fowler, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, COTA
The host is Curtis Jackson, Evening Anchor, Spectrum News 1
The sponsors of this forum were COTA, The Robert Weiler Company, and HNTB.
This forum was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on March 6, 2024.
Developing a Dynamic Downtown Series
Is Columbus ready for its next big transformation? The past two decades have brought transformative change to Downtown Columbus, including a reimagined riverfront, one-of-a-kind cultural attractions and experiences, and new retail and housing offerings. A modern downtown will demand even more to thrive. The Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan aims not only to add structures, but to create a more inclusive and connected experience that hopes to attract 40,000 residents and 120,000 workers by the year 2040. Marc Conte, Executive Director of the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts presents his annual “State of Downtown” report, plus panelists Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and Edwards Companies President and CEO Jeff Edwards discuss the work already underway and what’s yet to come, including a new way to enhance connectivity in the core of our city: the Capital Line, a new multi-mile loop connecting downtown’s key cultural attractions that will be exclusive to pedestrian and bike traffic.
Featuring:
Marc Conte, Executive Director, Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts (opening remarks)
Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus, Ohio
Jeff Edwards, Chairman, CEO, & President, Installed Building Products and Edwards Companies
The host is Stacia Naquin, News Anchor, ABC 6, Fox 28 Columbus
The presenting sponsor of CMC’s "Developing a Dynamic Downtown Series" is The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South, with series sponsor Thompson Hine.
The sponsors of this forum were Huntington, Schneider Downs, The Edwards Companies, The Robert Weiler Company, Installed Building Products, AECOM, Marker Construction, and COSI.
This forum was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on February 28, 2024.
With the November 2023 passage of Issue 2, Ohio became the 24th state – plus the District of Columbia – to legalize recreational marijuana. Pot’s approval means the state’s cannabis industry is poised for major expansion, with predictions that the first year of sales could reach $2B, with annual sales potentially climbing to $4 billion within just a few years, according to industry monitor MJBizDaily.
Ohio is seen as fertile territory for the pot industry to take off, with multiple major companies vying to dominate the Buckeye State’s enormous new and as-yet untapped market for marijuana sales. Yet the State House isn’t yet done making changes to the citizen-initiated statute passed by Ohio voters – with everything from the number of plants home growers can possess, to the tax to be levied on pot sales, to the legal levels of THC permitted in plants and extracts – still to be determined by lawmakers.
One thing is for sure: recreational marijuana is poised to become both incredibly lucrative and pervasive in Ohio. With an expert panel, we unpack the present and future of Ohio’s blooming pot industry.
Featuring:
Gus Burns, Cannabis Industry Reporter, MLive
James Canepa, Superintendent of the Division of Cannabis Control, Ohio Department of Commerce
Ariane Kirkpatrick, CEO, Harvest of Ohio
The host is Kate Siefert, Reporter, ABC 6 and FOX 28 Columbus
This forum was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream presenting sponsor was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on February 21, 2024.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was sworn into the United States Senate on November 15, 2010 to fill the seat left vacant by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. Born and raised in the small coal mining town of Farmington, W.Va., Manchin served as a West Virginia state legislator and Governor of West Virigina before stepping into his current role as the state’s senior U.S. Senator. A centrist Democrat, Manchin announced last November that he would not seek reelection but would instead embark on a national listening tour supported by the nonprofit organization Americans Together and aimed at determining if “there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.” This is his first appearance at the Columbus Metropolitan Club.
The speakers are:
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), United States Senate
The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Statehouse News Bureau
It was supported by The Ellis.
The presenting sponsor of the livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on February 15, 2024.
Just how broken are the economics of childcare? It’s no secret they're preventing Ohio’s childcare providers from meeting the current demand for their services from employers, parents, and families.
A stunning recent report from Action for Children, The Child Care Provider Survey, uncovered critical issues facing child care providers in central Ohio, including concerns about staffing, capacity, and tuition increases. More than half of providers reported that their monthly revenue does not cover expenses.
With the ending of pandemic-era support funding, recent findings by Action for Children emphasize the need for sustained, flexible investment in central Ohio’s childcare centers and Family Child Care programs.
This mixed picture produces a domino effect – not enough staff limits enrollment, which reduces revenue and causes tuition to rise – an unstable reckoning that shortchanges families, employers, and communities.
This CMC forum unpacks the deeply set factors causing central Ohio’s childcare providers to struggle. We’ll look at how the region can chart a path to a more equitable and sustainable future for the childcare that’s ideal for children, parents, and employers together.
Featuring:
Eric Karolak, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Action for Children
Kara Wente, Director, Department of Children and Youth, State of Ohio
Aslyne Rodriguez, Director of Government Affairs, COTA
Carol Haynes, Executive Director, Kiddie Academy
The host is Cierra Johnson, Anchor and Reporter, NBC4
This forum was sponsored by PNC Bank, The Franklin County Board of Commissioners, and Columbus State Community College.
It was supported by The Ellis.
The presenting sponsor of the livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. The livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on February 14, 2024.
Sports betting for adults over age 21 became legal in Ohio on January 1, 2023, and is now a $7 billion industry. Thirty-six states – plus the District of Columbia – now permit legal sports betting. Nearly every sports bet in Ohio – some 97% of bets – are placed online, although in-person bets can now be placed at casinos, stadiums, bars and restaurants.
Overseeing the state’s enormous sports gambling industry is the Ohio Casino Control Commission; with jurisdiction over Ohio gambling, the Commission has already levied fines on the industry for gambling advertisements that don’t comply with the state’s strict rules.
The industry’s explosive growth has come with a human cost too, with calls to one support line for problem gamblers up 150% in the first seven months of 2023, according to WOSU Public Media. With the Super Bowl right around the corner, we dive into the impact of a full year of legal sports betting in Ohio to ask: who’s winning and who’s losing?
Featuring:
Dan Dodd, Vice President of Government Relations, ZHF Consulting LLC
Stacey Frohnapfel-Hasson, Chief, Office of Prevention & Problem Gambling, Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
Oyauma Garrison, President & Chief Executive Officer, Maryhaven, Inc.
Matt Schuler, Executive Director, The Ohio Casino Control Commission
The host is Rob Oller, Sports Reporter & Columnist, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by Maryhaven Inc., The Problem Gambling Network of Ohio, and Taft Law.
It was supported by The Columbus Dispatch and The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic italian Village on February 7, 2024.
Art in its most highly visible public form can serve as a point of pride for residents and a draw for tourists. In the era of Instagram, public art can enliven neighborhoods with color, joy, and inclusiveness, reflecting what a community values and holds dear.
It can be a means for a society to showcase creativity and wonder, but can also be used to send a not-so-subtle signal of cultural, economic, or social dominance. It can be highly controversial (think Columbus’ now-removed statue of Christopher Columbus) or even illegal (think graffiti). What messages should public art in Columbus convey, and who gets to decide whose art becomes public art?
This week we’re joined by a panel of art leaders as we discuss the release of the new State of Public Art Report by the Greater Columbus Arts Council with a passionate conversation on the role, message, and future of public art in Columbus.
The panelists are:
Adam Brouillette, Artist, Muralist, and Public Art Advocate
Celeste Malvar-Stewart, Fashion Designer & Performance-Based Public Artist, and Adjunct Faculty, The Columbus College of Art & Design
Marshall Shorts, Creative-N-Chief, Artfluential, and Creative Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative
Shelbi Toone, Public Art Commissioner, and Project Manager, Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center
The host is Corey Favor, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Talent, & Culture, Orange Barrel Media, and Columbus College of Art & Design Alumni
This forum was sponsored by The Greater Columbus Arts Council and The Columbus Museum of Art. It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 31, 2024.
Central Ohio’s healthcare giants are galloping to keep up with the region’s growth, building new facilities that’ll need to be staffed by legions of trained healthcare professionals that don’t yet exist. As reported in Columbus Business First, Central Ohio's four major hospital systems are right now trying fill more than 2,200 open positions in nursing alone. Rural Ohioans too are suffering from the ill effects of too-few healthcare professionals, with "care deserts" leaving entire Ohio counties without critical specialists. What’s being done to close the huge gap in the ranks of Ohio’s healthcare professionals? That’s the subject of this week’s CMC forum.
This forum’s expert panelists are:
Dr. Todd Ambrosia, President, Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Dr. Karen Rose, Dean, The Ohio State University College of Nursing
Susan Beaudry, Vice President, The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations
Dr. Chynna Smith, Family Medicine Resident, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital
The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series of healthcare-focused forums is presented by Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and OhioHealth. This forum was sponsored by Epstein Becker & Green, Mount Carmel Health System, The Health Policy Institute of Ohio, The Center for Community Solutions, Cardinal Health, The Association of Independent Colleges & Universities of Ohio, and The Central Ohio Health Sector Partnership. It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 24, 2024.
What makes a city beautiful, livable, walkable, and simply a desirable place to call home? And on the other side, what mistakes can destroy a city’s appeal to residents, visitors, and investors? For the last six years, Cal Poly Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning Dave Amos has been exploring answers to these questions through his hugely popular YouTube channel, City Beautiful.
City Beautiful embraces a mantra: that cities are amazing, and then seeks to understand what makes some cities succeed while others stumble. Amos’ inquisitive, fast-paced, and approachable style has earned his channel more than 651,000 subscribers, with his videos about cities and city planning regularly attracting millions of views.
Amos has explored what happened when cities banned cars, why high-rise public housing projects were once thought to be part of the answer to America’s chronic housing projects, and even what urban planning looking like in the former Soviet Union. With an expert panel, we explore the factors that shape the cities we call home.
Featuring Dave Amos, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of City and Regional Planning, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and City Beautiful YouTube channel creator, producer, and narrator; Manuel Santana Palacios, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning, The Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University; and host Belkis Schoenhals, Principal Planner, The City of Columbus.
This forum was sponsored by Moody Nolan and Burgess and Niple.
The forum was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 17, 2024.
What if Columbus committed to becoming the largest US city to completely eliminate homelessness? How much would it cost? What specifically would we do with the money?
As Columbus works to hone a distinctive identity that differentiates it from other American cities, could its unique quality be that no one in Ohio’s capital city lacked a place to call home? We’ll soon know more about the current scope of homelessness in our neighborhoods: every year, a “Point-in-Time Count” of Columbus’ homeless population occurs on a single day in January. The next count will be held on January 25, 2024.
In January 2023, Community Shelter Board’s (CSB) count revealed the single largest increase and an all-time high in the number of people experiencing homelessness at a single point in time in Columbus and Franklin County. That count revealed an overall 22% increase of those who were experiencing homelessness in our community, and that 71% of the people were Black or African American (compared to being 29% of the general population).
According to the CSB, this inequality is the result of discriminatory “redlining” lending practices, restrictive covenants, structural racism, classism, and gender injustice. Predictions by a national research firm, Focus Strategies, show the housing availability crisis Columbus is experiencing locally will drive a decline in program outcomes and increase entries into homelessness, with those earning 30% or less of the area’s median income being the most vulnerable population.
With an expert panel we dive into homelessness in Columbus and ask the big question: what it would take to end homelessness in Central Ohio once and for all?
Featuring Shannon Isom, President & CEO, Community Shelter Board, Sheli Mathias, Director, The Open Shelter, Bob Weiler, Chairman of the Board, The Robert Weiler Company, and Letha Pugh, Co-Founder, Bake Me Happy, with host Ann Bischoff, CEO, Star House.
This forum was sponsored by The American Electric Power Foundation, Bath & Body Works, The Ohio State University, and The Community Shelter Board.
The forum was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 10, 2024.
What’s in store for Central Ohio’s economy in 2024? Inflation seems to be coming under control, and is well off its summer 2022 highs, yet the region’s labor market remains incredibly tight, with just 3.3% unemployment in October 2023. While the local economy appears to be booming from some perspectives, many residents are feeling left behind and left out. Will Central Ohio’s string of economic successes continue, or will the economy succumb to the slower growth and possible recession that many expect? This forum features the 25th annual official release of the Regionomics Columbus Economic Forecast and unpacks what the year ahead looks like for Central Ohio’s economy from a panel of leading experts.
The panelists are: Ben Ayers, Senior Economist, Nationwide Insurance
Joyce Chen, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University
Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., Owner, Regionomics
The host is host Mark Williams, Business Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by Fifth Third Bank, The Robert Weiler Company, The United Way of Central Ohio, Ian Alexander Photography, and The Columbus Partnership.
The forum was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on January 3, 2024.
Developing a Dynamic Downtown Series; Harrison Smith Legacy in Civic Engagement - Recognizing Excellence in Downtown Development; The Downtown Commission's Annual "Smithy" Awards What freeways divided in Columbus, Ohio, freeway caps are attempting to heal — and leaders hope the next few caps will continue positive momentum in revitalizing Downtown. I-71 and I-70 severed Columbus’ Brewery District and German Village from the heart of downtown in the early 1960s. Now, just as Downtown Columbus’ South Side experiences a reawakening, a massive project is underway to reconnect two of the area’s most historic neighborhoods — German Village and the Brewery District — to the heart of the city.
Columbus has done it successfully before. Years ago, I-670 bulldozed a 200-foot-wide corridor through the city’s historic core, separating the Short North and Downtown. In 2004, the “Cap at Union Station” effectively reconnected the Short North back to Downtown with wide sidewalks and restaurants built over the highway below, setting the stage for the neighborhood’s spectacular revitalization.
Next up: German Village and the Brewery District will be rejoined to downtown by three new freeway caps, one each on Third, Fourth, and High Streets. The High Street cap will feature park space on either side of the roadway, with the Third Street cap wide enough to accommodate retail spaces and restaurants like its Short North cousin.
It could be the cherry on top of massive investments in recent years to bring the Brewery District back to its former glory — and even more recent efforts to bring Downtown’s south edge back to life with everything from a new county office to renovated commercial and residential spaces to popular restaurants and cafes.
Join us as we explore Columbus’s massive – not to mention risky and expensive – efforts to rejoin and reconnect its historic neighborhoods together again.
Featuring panelists: Bhakti Bania, CEO, BBCO Design Chris Hermann, Principal, MKSK Thomas Slack, Administrator, Capital Programs, Ohio Department of Transportation Benjamin Perryman, Endangered Properties Fund Director, Columbus Landmarks Foundation Chris Hune, Immediate Past President, German Village Society The host is Mark Ferenchik, Columbus Neighborhoods/Urban Issues Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
CMC’s “Developing a Dynamic Downtown” series is presented by The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South and sponsored by Thompson Hine.
This forum was sponsored by The Harrison Smith Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund - Recognizing Excellence in Downtown Development, Smith and Hale, The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, and MKSK.
The forum was supported by The Ellis and by The Columbus Dispatch. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on December 13, 2023.
Donna James is among Ohio’s most successful and admired executives. Her current challenge may be among the most significant of her accomplished career: helping a storied Ohio-based global fashion and style icon re-imagine and re-invent itself after decades of both astounding growth and calls for change.
As board chair of Victoria’s Secret & Co., James is helping set the VS&Co. ship on a new course toward greater inclusivity while working to win over new generations of younger customers who have their own diverse definitions of beauty.
This CMC forum features an in-depth conversation with Donna James and VS&Co.’s Chief Diversity Officer, Lydia Smith, plus industry expert Kimberly Minor as moderator. We reflect on career journeys and dive into the challenge of setting a globally-recognized brand up for success with a new generation of customers in an ever-changing fashion world.
Featuring Donna James, Board Chair, Victoria’s Secret & Co., and Managing Director, Lardon & Associates LLC, and Lydia Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, Victoria’s Secret & Co., with host Kimberly Minor, CEO, Bumbershoot, LLC.
This CMC forum was sponsored by The United Way of Central Ohio, RAMA Consulting, and Crabbe, Brown, and James, with support from The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on December 6, 2023.
Author Richard Kahlenberg’s new book offers an indictment of America’s housing policy by revealing the social engineering underlying our segregation by economic class, the social and political fallout that result, and what we can do about it.
His new book, Excluded: How Snob Zoning, NIMBYism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don’t See, published in 2023 by PublicAffairs, closely examines America’s “new redlining,” restrictive single-family zoning that carefully controls what types of housing can be built and where.
While ostensibly created to maintain good qualities in neighborhoods, single-family zoning has instead been used to steadily inflate property values and is greatly exacerbating America’s deepening housing crisis and economic inequality. Kahlenberg’s new book shows that housing choice has been socially engineered to the benefit of the affluent, and that the most restrictive zoning is often found in politically liberal cities where racial views are progressive.
We unpack the nationwide implications of single-family zoning and zoom in on Columbus for an exploration of how exclusive zoning in Central Ohio is shutting thousands out from the benefits of home ownership.
Featuring Richard D. Kahlenberg, Non-Resident Scholar, Center on Education and Workforce, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University, Senior Fellow, Progressive Policy Institute, Professorial Lecturer, Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration, George Washington University, and Author, Excluded: How Snob Zoning, NIMBYism, and Class Bias Build the Walls We Don’t See; Shayla Favor, Member, Columbus City Council; Tehani Mesa-Morales, SHRM-CP, Families Flourish Program Graduate, and Human Resources Generalist, ViaQuest, Inc.; and moderator Amy Klaben. President & CEO, Families Flourish.
This forum was sponsored by Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation, The Robert Weiler Company, and Homeport. It was supported by The Ellis.
The forum livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 29, 2023.
An Optimal Health Series Forum It’s the leading cause of cancer death in the United States – and it’s treatable: lung cancer kills some 127,000 people annually in the U.S., but it’s not a hopeless disease, and in fact, can often be treated if detected early.
While treatments continue to improve with breakthrough “targeted” therapies, it’s early detection that could prevent enormous numbers of lung cancer deaths. But screening rates for lung cancers remain significantly lower than for other cancers, and according to a new Stanford Medicine study, they’re disproportionally failing minority populations, including African Americans.
What’s the key to beating lung cancer in the U.S. and around the world? What are the racial disparities in lung cancer detection and treatment, and how can these disparities be addressed?
For Lung Cancer Awareness and National Smoking Cessation Month, we welcome two Ohio-based global leaders in lung cancer research to unpack the causes, examine groundbreaking detection strategies for – and new targeted treatments of – America’s number one cancer killer. Featuring David P. Carbone, MD, PhD, Barbara J. Bonner Chair in Lung Cancer Research, Director, James Thoracic Center, and Co-Leader, Translational Therapeutics Program, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center; Jasleen Pannu, MMBS, Director of Interventional Pulmonary Translational Research at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center; with moderator Cierra Johnson, Anchor and Reporter, WCMH NBC4. CMC's Optimal Health Series is presented by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. This forum was sponsored by AstraZeneca, CareSource, and Cardinal Health.
The forum livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 15, 2023.
Every U.S. election now feels like a litmus test for the health and future of American democracy, and this year is no exception.
On November 7, Ohioans took to the polls by the millions to decide key issues, including overwhelmingly approving both an amendment to the Ohio constitution to enshrine reproductive rights and a statute to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. Columbus voters elected City Councilmembers, retruned an incumbant Mayor to office, and approved funding levies for Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Metropolitan Library.
With a diverse panel of experts, we dive into an analysis of the 2023 election results, look at what the future might hold after Ohio’s voters have spoken, and check in on the health of American democracy. Featuring Haley BeMiller, Political Reporter, USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau; Wendy Smooth, Ph.D. Professor of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies and Senior Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence, The Ohio State University; Meredith Freedhoff, Chairwoman, Franklin County Republican Party; Julie Womack, Head of Organizing, Red, Wine, & Blue; and moderator Julie Carr Smyth, Government & Politics Reporter, The Associated Press.
This forum was sponsored by G2G Consulting. The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, with support from The Columbus Dispatch and The Ellis.
The forum livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 8, 2023.
If it looks like Millennials are everywhere, they are. In fact, Millennials are now America’s largest generation, surpassing the vaunted Baby Boomer generation as far back as 2019 in terms of sheer size, and the gap widens every year. If you know anyone between roughly the ages of 27 and 42 today, you know a Millennial, defined as anyone born generally between 1981 and 1996.
With so many Millennials, you might expect to find more in the halls of power as elected officials, but Baby Boomers have been hard to convince to step down or retire to make way for younger leaders, a fact not lost on many voters. As reported in August by Axios Columbus, Baby Boomers between make up about half of Congressional representatives, even though Boomers now are just 21% of the American population, and the ratio for Ohio’s federal lawmakers is even more lopsided in favor of Boomers.
But there are Millennial lawmakers to be found in Ohio’s State House, and we’re joined by a panel of State House representatives to hear what’s on their minds and how politics – and the country – might change once the Baby Boomers step off America’s political stage.
Featuring Representative Dontavius Jarrells, 1st District, Ohio House of Representatives, Representative Thomas Hall, 45th District, Ohio House of Representatives, Representative Latyna Humphrey, 2nd District, Ohio House of Representatives, and Representative Nick Santucci, 64th District, Ohio House of Representatives, with host Anna Staver, Host, All Sides with Anna Staver, WOSU Public Media.
This forum was sponsored by CivicPoint and WOSU Public Media. The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus. It was supported by The Ellis.
The forum livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on November 1, 2023.
In Ohio, cities that have attempted to enact their own gun control regulations have run up against a brick wall where municipal “home rule” – and their governing authority – ends abruptly. Ohio’s legislature and courts have blocked cities’ local efforts at gun control, citing the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment. Should Ohio cities have the right to take up gun control measures to reduce shootings and address other issues when the State and others see such measures as conflicting with the U.S. Constitution’s right to bear arms?
Municipal home rule has been around in Ohio a long time – since 1912 – when 58% of the state’s voters approved giving cities greater self-control by adding a “home rule” article to the state’s Constitution. It stated:
‘[M]unicipalities shall have authority to exercise all powers of local self-government and to adopt and enforce within their limits such local police, sanitary and other similar regulations, as are not in conflict with general laws.” The Ohio State Constitution, Article XVIII, Section 3 (1912)
But new revisions championed by the State legislature in 2019 and 2022 to Ohio’s Revised Code began to chip away at home rule. The revisions restricted Ohio cities from enacting their own gun control laws – essentially a ban on bans. The revisions have shackled Ohio cities from acting to tackle endemic gun violence. The justification? The U.S. Constitution – plus Ohio’s own – spells out gun rights that cities can’t pre-empt.
The public clearly wants action to curb gun violence: polling data by The Columbus Dispatch shows Ohioans on both sides of the political spectrum overwhelmingly want at least limited statewide gun control measures.
What happens next? If gun control advocates can’t overcome Ohio’s “home rule” barrier and reduce gun violence through local ordinances, will they try for a new statewide constitutional amendment? Did the defeat of a plan to make it harder to amend Ohio’s constitution open the door more widely for new citizen-led statewide gun control efforts? With an expert panel, we ask: in Ohio’s battle over municipal home rule, who gets to decide?
Featuring Zach Klein, Columbus City Attorney, David Tryon, Director of Litigation, The Buckeye Institute, and Thell Robinson III, Founder and CEO, Halt Violence, and Amelia Robinson, Opinion and Community Engagement Editor, The Columbus Dispatch, with Clare Roth, Managing Editor, The Ohio Newsroom.
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio Mayors Alliance and Bricker Graydon LLP. The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, with support from The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was recorded on October 25, 2023 before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village.
The lives of LGBTQ+ Americans are under greater threat in 2023 than at any point in the country’s recent past. This summer, the Human Rights Campaign declared a “state of emergency” for LGBTQ+ people in America. The rights of parents to make gender-confirming decisions for their children, of drag artists to perform and for venues to host drag performances, and bans on school employees from discussing gender and sexuality with students are under currently attack through proposed legislation.
Simultaneously, the flames of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment are being fanned by calls for violence by far-right hate groups. Some Ohio lawmakers are also going on the offensive, recently introducing HB 245, which could charge drag performers with a felony if a juvenile is in attendance of a drag performance or the performance is considered “obscene."
How can anti-LGBTQ+ legislation co-exist with U.S. constitutional rights? Could passage of a Federal Equality Act explicitly prohibiting discrimination against LGBTQ+ people serve to protect lives and rights of the LGBTQ+ community?
Our panelists are:
Khris Goins, President and Founder, Black Transmen of Ohio
J. Bennett Guess, Executive Director, ACLU of Ohio
Amanda Erickson, Director of Education & Outreach, Kaleidoscope Youth Center
Chris Equizi, Creator and Performer of Virginia West, and Show Director for District West
Our host is Ronald Murray, Associate Director of Health Advocacy, Equitas Health
This forum was sponsored by The Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund, which celebrates inclusion and equity for the LGBTQ+ community, The United Way of Central Ohio, and Huckleberry House.
It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio’s historic Italian Village on October 18, 2023.
What’s on the minds of Central Ohio’s Gen Z girls, and where will they take America? Generation Z – the Zoomers – were born after 1996. The oldest of this rising generation has just graduated from college, and the youngest are now entering their teenage years, having been born just as Barack Obama entered the White House.
Their formative years have been shaped by a global pandemic and the tumult of a divided America. Studies have shown that Gen Z embraces strong values rooted in a passion for racial justice, a deep concern for the planet and environmental sustainability, and as consumers, favor access as much as (or more than) ownership.
Zoomers are digital natives, the first generation to grow up from their earliest childhoods with an ever-present Internet and portable digital technology. They’re the fastest-growing segment of the Amercian electorate and the most racially-diverse,with a non-Hispanic white majority of just 52%.
CMC turns its stage over to Central Ohio Gen Z girls for an unfiltered look at how at this rising generation sees the world, themselves, and the future.
The speakers are:
Frankie Madosky, Miss Columbus Teen USA 2023
Lillian Corpening-Morgan, Co-Chair, Black Girl Think Tank, and Honors Senior, Pickerington North High School
Mercy Cala Avila, Undergraduate Student, International Business & Chinese, The Ohio State University
Olivia Graham, High School Student-Athlete, Womanist & Advocate for Representation, Columbus School for Girls,
The host is Camille Seals, Head of School, Columbus School for Girls.
This forum featured opening remarks by Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, Founder and CEO of Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), and closing remarks by Kennedy Watkins, recipient of the highest honor in Girl Scouting, the Gold Award.
This forum was sponsored by The Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Women in Society, Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland, Battelle, and the YWCA Columbus.
It was supported by The Ellis.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village on October 11, 2023.
The Columbus Museum of Art and The Wexner Center for The Arts are two giants on the Columbus arts scene, and both have new leaders at their helms.
Gaëtane Verna is the Wexner Center's new executive director, taking over the institution’s leadership last November. Born in the Republic of Congo, and a Quebecer since age two, she is the first woman of color, and person of color, to lead “The Wex.”
On Broad Street, the 145-year-old Columbus Museum of Art welcomed new leader Brooke Minto in May. Born in New York to Jamaican parents, Minto has worked to inspire people to engage with the arts in New York City, New Orleans, Miami, and Cape Town.
Today, we meet these two new dynamic leaders for a conversation spotlighting what’s “new and next” at CMA, The Wex, and in the Columbus arts world.
The speakers are:
Brooke Minto, Executive Director and CEO, The Columbus Museum of Art
And Gaëtane Verna, Executive Director, Wexner Center for the Arts
The host is Erica Thompson, Features Editor, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Benefactor Group, and CoverMyMeds and was supported by The Ellis. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio’s historic Italian Village on October 4, 2023.
Can “hidden workers” help alleviate Ohio’s current workforce woes? Ohio’s rock-bottom unemployment rate of 3.3% – lower even than the national average of 3.5% – is forcing employers to get creative in finding and hiring a workforce needed to keep the state’s hot economy cooking.
According to a recent Dayton Daily News report, Ohio has an enviable challenge: two job openings for every unemployed worker. So-called “hidden workers” might be part of a solution that’s good for employers and great for workers.
According to the Harvard Business Review, “hidden workers” may be formerly incarcerated individuals looking for a fresh start, workers facing disability challenges, older workers ready to return to the workforce, caregivers whose attention is also needed at home to provide childcare or eldercare, skilled immigrants lacking U.S. credentials, and returning veterans ready to contribute.
They’re a workforce eager to jump into the labor pool, yet many find themselves blocked by balky application processes, inflexible schedules, poor transportation, language struggles, and a host of other barriers.
How can Central Ohio businesses open the employment door to “hidden” workers ready to re-join the state’s workforce?
The speakers are:
Brent Orrell, Senior Fellow, The American Enterprise Institute
And Lisa Patt-McDaniel, CEO, Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio
The host is Archie Williamson, Founder and CEO of Diversified Systems, Inc.
This forum was generously sponsored by JPMorgan Chase, Charter Communications, and The Ohio Chamber of Commerce and was supported by The Ellis. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio’s historic Italian Village on September 27, 2023.
Did you know Columbus has the third largest concentration of fashion designers in the country? Earlier this year, the website Livability.com called Columbus a “surprising hub of the fashion industry.”
But it’s no surprise at all to those in the industry, especially for the thousands of creative people behind the fashion giants that call Central Ohio home, including Justice, Express, Abercrombie & Fitch, DSW, L Brands, VS&Co., and other global leaders that pump millions into Ohio’s economy.
Hardly any aspect of the fashion industry isn’t represented in Central Ohio, including product and store design, packaging, logistics, distribution, and every specialty in between. Central Ohio is both attracting fashion industry talent and growing its own, with The Ohio State University and Columbus College of Art and Design nurturing the next generation of fashion leaders and connecting them with career opportunities that don’t come with New York or LA costs of living.
Key local nonprofits, including the Columbus Fashion Council and the Columbus Fashion Alliance are also helping drive the industry’s growth and fueling the movement to keep emerging fashion talent rooted in Ohio. Just ahead of Fashion Week Columbus, we host industry experts for an inside look at fashion's deep roots in Central Ohio and Columbus’s prominence as global style leader.
The speakers are:
Lubna Najjar, Founder & CEO, IL Moda Brand Development, Creative Director, Her Denim, and Board President, Columbus Fashion Council
Melanie Corn, Ed.D., President, Columbus College of Art & Design
And Katherine DePizzo, President, Justice Design Lab
The host is Maria Seguin, Board Member, Columbus Fashion Council, and Member, OSU Fashion & Retail Industry.
This forum was sponsored by The Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund Celebrating Arts & Culture.
It was supported by The Ellis, L!VE, and King Business Interiors.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus, Ohio's historic Italian Village, on September 20, 2023.
Developing a Dynamic Downtown Series
If it’s been more than a year since you last visited the Franklinton section of Columbus, just west of downtown, you’re in for a shock. Longtime vacant lots and boarded-up houses are gone, replaced by trendy new apartment buildings that look like they’ve been plucked from a hip neighborhood in Copenhagen.
The new developments are more than just places for urbanites to live: they’re complete destinations, stocked with brewpubs, restaurants, coffee shops, and art installations. The living arrangement’s often modern too, with “co-living” apartments now becoming more common: in these “adult dorms,” bedrooms are private, but spaces like living rooms and kitchens are shared for maximum socialization and minimal rent.
No developer in Columbus has been closer to the epicenter of Franklinton’s complete reinvention than visionary Brett Kaufman. His 15-acre Gravity project, “the world’s largest conscious community,” is now almost a city-within-a-city and features apartments, offices, and coming soon – an adult “experience park” featuring pickleball courts, an ice rink (in the winter), and space for food trucks.
Columbus Business First’s Bonnie Meibers sits down with Brett Kaufman for an-in-depth conversation on his vision for Columbus and the city’s unrealized potential as a modern, sustainable, and equitable city.
The speakers are:
Brett Kaufman, Founder, Kaufman Development
With host Bonnie Meibers, Commercial Real Estate Reporter, Columbus Business First
Greg Davies, CEO of Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, provided closing remarks.
This forum is part of CMC’s ongoing Developing a Dynamic Downtown series, presented by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South and sponsored by Thompson Hine.
This forum was also sponsored by REALM and supported by The Ellis. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on September 13, 2023.
As Ohio’s 49th Treasurer of State, Robert Sprague serves as the chief investment officer for the state’s investment and debt portfolios, oversees the daily cash flows of state monies, and serves as custodian of funds and investment assets outside the state treasury. Sprague, a Findlay native, has made a career in Ohio politics, serving in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011 through 2018 before being elected state treasurer. With a reproductive rights constitutional amendment and a statute to legalize marijuana now headed to a November ballot, Ohio politics are headed in an uncertain direction. With Treasurer Robert Sprague as our special guest, we dive into the present and future of Ohio’s political climate with veteran Statehouse News Bureau Chief Karen Kasler.
The speakers are:
Robert Sprague, Ohio Treasurer of State
Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Statehouse News Bureau
This forum was sponsored by Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP and was supported by The Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on September 6, 2023.
In a landmark decision this June, the Supreme Court ruled that affirmative action programs in college admissions violated the Fourteenth Amendment, ending this practice in higher education.
At the same time, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at private companies are coming under fire. What’s next for affirmative action and DEI, especially for employers?
This CMC forum unpacks what the Supreme Court’s decision means for the future of equity in the U.S.
The panelists are:
Erin Butcher, Of Counsel, Bricker Graydon
Margaret Finley, Head of DEI and Corporate Affairs, Advanced Drainage Systems
Dr. Cynthia Turner, Assistant Dean and Chief Diversity Officer, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University
The host is Sherrice Sledge-Thomas, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access, The Columbus Chamber of Commerce
This forum was sponsored by Event Marketing Strategies and The Thanks Be To God Foundation. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
The was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 30, 2023.
Optimal Health Series
In Franklin County, Ohio, and across the U.S., there are long-standing racial disparities in maternal and birth outcomes, particularly between white and Black women. One of the most glaring determinates of inequity in U.S. healthcare can be seen in maternal birth rates. Based on the 2020 report Maternal Mortality Rates in the United States by The Centers for Disease Control, the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black women in 2020 was 55.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.9 times the rate for non-Hispanic white women. It’s an equity gap that appears to be worsening. As highlighted in the award-winning 2022 documentary film Aftershock, Black birthing mothers face three-to-four times the mortality risk compared to their white counterparts. We uncover this epidemic in maternal health and highlight a way forward toward better and more equitable outcomes for all mothers.
This CMC forum features:
Jatu Boikai, Nurse Manager, Maternity Services, Mount Carmel Health System
Shawnee Benton-Gibson, Co-Founder and CEO, Spirit of a Woman Leadership Development Institute, and Co-Founder, ARIAH Foundation
Jessica Roach, CEO, Co-Founder, and Clinical Director, Restoring Our Own Through Transformation
Dorian Wingard, Co-Founder, COO, and Policy Director, Restoring Our Own Through Transformation,
The host is Commissoner Erica Crawley with the Franklin County Board of Commissioners.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series was sponsored by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Childrens' Hospital. This forum was sponsored by Cardinal Health, Mount Carmel Health System, and OhioHealth. The forum partner was The Franklin County Board of Commissioners and it was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 23, 2023.
If ghost kitchens sound scary, they’re not – in fact, the delivery-only restaurants are popping up everywhere in America and Columbus in particular. Fueled by the need to get creative during the pandemic, restaurant operators continue to flock to this innovative business model with its low startup costs.
Among other facilities and restaurants, a 22-kitchen facility is now open in Clintonville, and three Columbus-area Kroger locations now have their own ghost kitchens run by a third party. The keys to this newest innovation in the restaurant industry are smartphone apps that make it easy to order food, fast delivery times, and minimal everything – minimal footprints, minimal staff, and minimal investment capital required of would-be restaurateurs.
The growing practice hasn’t been without critics, with some industry observers noting that what can appear to customers to be a diverse collection of independent restaurants may not live up to a closer look behind the scenes. Yet the kitchens have raised more than $3 billion in venture capital funding since 2020, and entrepreneurs and customers alike appear hungry for more. Join us with industry insiders for a look behind-the-scenes at ghost kitchens in Central Ohio and how this disruptive model is taking over take-out.
The panelists are:
Chris Baggott, Co-Founder and CEO, ClusterTruck
John Barker, President & CEO, The Ohio Restaurant Association
Bennett Goldberg, Partner, Maker Kitchens
Lisa Gutierrez, Founder and CEO, Dos Hermanos Taco Truck, Founder and Food-Based Business Coach, Food Truck Millionaire
The host is Susan Post, Associate Editor, Columbus Underground
This forum was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 16, 2023.
Is a critical collaboration between Ohio leaders to conserve Ohio’s most precious natural resource working? The state’s H2Ohio program united three state agencies to create more wetlands, reduce harmful fertilizer runoff, and ensure access throughout the state to clean drinking water. With a recent study showing that half the country’s tap water contains “forever chemicals” that may cause cancer and other health issues, and drinking water disasters impacting East Palestine, Ohio, Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, are Ohio’s elected officials, farmers, developers, and environmental advocates working together successfully to ensure future access to clean drinking water? For the first time ever, CMC welcomes three current members of Governor Mike DeWine’s cabinet on a single panel.
The panelists are:
Brian Baldridge, Director, Ohio Department of Agriculture
Mary Mertz, Director, Ohio Department of Natural Resources
Anne Vogel, Director, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
The host is Natalie Fahmy, Ohio Statehouse Reporter, NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by Advanced Drainage Systems, Del-Co Water Company, Burgess & Niple, The Green Funds of the Columbus Foundation, and the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District.
It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 9, 2023.
America's primary and secondary educational systems are standing at a post-COVID crossroads, and few school systems are facing more changes than Ohio’s. The state’s recently-approved budget included higher funding for schools, a dramatic shakeup in school oversight that transferred authority from the State Board of Education to the Governor's Office, and a vast expansion of the availability of vouchers parents can use to take their children out of the public education system entirely. With student performance still lagging as a result of pandemic lockdowns, vouchers that will blur the line between public and private education, and school officials caught in the country's culture war crosshairs, what does the future hold for Ohio schools?
The panelists are:
Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent and CEO of Columbus City Schools
Scott DiMauro, President of the Ohio Education Association
And Dr. Susan Tave Zelman, Former Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Co-Author of "The Buying and Selling of American Education.”
Our host is Jackie Walker, Executive Director of SkillsUSA Ohio
This week’s forum was sponsored by JP Morgan Chase, Battelle, and WCBE 90.5 FM and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on August 2, 2023.
Public libraries have long been held up as pillars of free speech. They're also getting caught in the crossfire of America’s culture wars. Initiatives to take controversial books off library shelves aren’t new to Ohio, but recent years have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of titles under fire, according to the American Library Association. This expert panel unpacks efforts to preserve intellectual freedom in America’s public libraries.
The panelists are
Matthew Besser, Principal, Bolek Besser Glesius
Michelle Francis, Executive Director, Ohio Library Council
Patrick Losinski, CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Library
Felton Thomas Jr., Executive Director and CEO, The Cleveland Public Library
The host is David Weaver, Executive Director, Ohioana Library Association.
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Foundation and supported by The Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on July 26, 2023.
De-globalization and the “Made in the U.S.A.” drive is causing a stunning reversal of the long decline of U.S.-based manufacturing. And nowhere is that reversal more visible than here in Central Ohio. The vast scale of the new investment is being called a “manufacturing supercycle.” This week we jump into Ohio’s return to its historic role as a global manufacturing leader and unpack the challenges the state needs to solve to stay there.
The panelists are :
Ryan Augsburger, President, The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association
Dr. Bill LaFayette, Owner, Regionomics
Damon Richardson, SVP of Manufacturing, American Nitrile
Daniela Villaca, Human Resources Director, Acoust-A-Fiber
The host is Doug Buchanan, Editor in Chief, Columbus Business First
This forum was supported by The Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on July 19, 2023.
Do you like the title of this CMC forum? If so, thank ChatGPT. That's the artificial intelligence "chatbot" we asked to title this CMC forum on the subject of itself. With both human and electronic panelists, we explore the mind-boggling world of artificial intelligence and the profound changes to society that easy access to AI is bringing daily.
The panelists are:
ChatGPT, a Chatbot Powered by Artificial Intelligence
Kevin Lloyd, Chief Operations Officer, ColorCoded Labs, and Co-Founder & CEO, MYLE
Dr. Andrew Perrault, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, The Ohio State University
Dr. Padma Sastry, Author and Adjunct Professor, Franklin University
The host is Dr. David Staley, Associate Professor in the Departments of History, Design, and Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, and President of Columbus Futurists
This forum was sponsored by Regionomics and Accenture, with support from The Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on July 12, 2023.
Franklin County, Ohio, nonprofits are being asked to do more with less than ever before, especially the health and human services sector. Central Ohio health and human-service nonprofits are being inundated with demand for their services while serving as a major economic driver for Franklin County, generating an incredible $2 billion economic impact and employing 18,000 people. This annual forum, one of CMC’s most popular, unpacks the current state of Franklin County nonprofits with a panel of passionate leaders.
The panelists are:
Mario Basora, Chief Executive Officer, Future Ready Columbus
Michael Corey, Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County
Courtney Falato, Vice President and Program Officer, Global Philanthropy, JP Morgan Chase
And Shannon Isom, President and CEO, Community Shelter Board
The host is Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management, The Columbus Foundation.
This forum was sponsored by PNC Bank, Grange Insurance, Columbia Gas, Installed Building Products, The Columbus Foundation, Cramer & Associates, and IFF.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on June 28, 2023.
On August 8, 2023, Ohio voters will be asked to go to the polls to decide on whether or not it should be harder to amend the state’s constitution. Currently Ohio’s founding document can be amended with the approval by a simple majority of voters, but if the proposal passes, it will take 60% of voters to amend the state constitution. This CMC forum discusses the potential enormous implications the change could make down the road for Ohio voters to decide what’s in our state constitution and what isn’t.
Featuring Mike Curtin, Associate Publisher Emeritus, The Columbus Dispatch, and Former Representative, 17th District, Ohio House of Representatives, and Rob McColley, State Senator, District 1, with host Rodney Dunigan, Assistant News Director, WSYX ABC 6.
The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, with support from The Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on June 21, 2023.
Downtown Columbus is being reshaped daily, thanks in part to the vision of developers like Jim Merkel, CEO and Co-Founder of Rockbridge, and the Founder of Makeready, Merkel is spearheading the creation of a new 197-room hotel, The Junto, located just west of COSI, which opened Memorial Day weekend. The new project is more than just another new downtown hotel: it’s intended to be a focal point for the burgeoning Penins ula neighborhood, with an 8th-floor bar overlooking the City’s spectacular Dorrian Green park, a restaurant designed to lure local residents, and even a walk-up poutine window for passers-by craving a snack. This 1:1 conversation with downtown visionary Jim Merkel explores the critical role of placemaking as downtown Columbus reinvents itself.
The speaker is:
Jim Merkel, CEO and Co-Founder, Rockbridge, and Founder, Makeready
The host is Eleanor Kennedy, Assistant Managing Editor, Columbus Business First.
CMC’s “Developing a Dynamic Downtown” series of forums is presented by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South. The series sponsor is Thompson Hine.
This forum was sponsored by Schneider Downs, Fahlgren Mortine, and REALM.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on June 14, 2023.
The development of many American cities has been profoundly shaped by “redlining,” a process dating to the 1930s of deliberately dividing urban areas primarily by race. Once a federal policy, redlining produced maps determining which areas of a city were considered “safe” for investment and growth, and which were not, with red lines drawn around those areas deemed to be unsuitable for lending. Redlining was a widely practiced means of ensuring a racially segmented city and placed minorities at a severe disadvantage when trying to obtain banking or insurance services. The effects of the practice led to spiraling urban decay in redlined neighborhoods and are still highly evident in cities like Columbus. Today, the advent of community land trusts, more equitable property tax appraisal practices, and the growth of minority-owned banks are attempting to address the consequences of redlining. Join CMC as we look at the impact of redlining in Columbus and new efforts to heal its deep divisions.
The speakers are:
Jordan A. Miller, Jr., Chairman & CEO, Adelphi Bank
Danielle Sydnor, CEO, Rise Together Innovation Institute
Nicole Sutton, Black Heritage Special Collections Librarian, Columbus Metropolitan Library
Monica Moran, Deputy Chief of Staff, Franklin County Auditor’s Office
The host is Tracy Townsend, Anchor, Wake Up CBUS and Face the State, WBNS 10TV
This forum was sponsored by COTA, The United Way of Central Ohio, and The Robert Weiler Company, and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on June 7, 2023.
You can learn more about redlining in Columbus and how it has impacted Columbus’ neighborhoods by visiting the “Undesign the Redline” interactive exhibit, on display in Columbus through December 31, 2023. Admission is free. Learn more: https://www.ywcacolumbus.org/get-involved/attend-an-event/aanda/undesign-the-redline-exhibit/
Can a spectacular new piece of public art help to revitalize downtown Columbus?
This week, we explore the role of public art in Columbus and how a new addition to the city’s public art scene became reality. “Current,” made from 78 miles of twine and bound together with more than a half-million knots, will be the city’s largest public art installation ever. It’s the work of sculptor Janet Echelman and now hangs over North High Street in downtown Columbus.
The speakers are:
Marshall Shorts, Creative-N-Chief, Artfluential and Founding Board Member, Maroon Arts Group, who delivers opening remarks.
Sculptor Janet Echelman
Jeff Edwards, President of Edwards Companies and President, CEO, and Chairman of Installed Building Products
The host is Tom Katzenmeyer, President & CEO, Greater Columbus Arts Council.
CMC’s "Developing a Dynamic Downtown" series is presented by the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation and Capitol South and sponsored by Thompson Hine. This forum was also sponsored by King Business Interiors and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was supported by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on May 31, 2023.
This week’s special evening program is a farewell to CMC’s longtime CEO Jane Scott, who retires at the end of May 2023 after more than nineteen years leading the nonprofit Columbus Metropolitan Club, and a chance to meet CMC’s next leader, incoming President and CEO Sophia Fifner, and learn about her vision for the future.
The host was Colleen Marshall, anchor with NBC4, and the host of NBC4's The Spectrum. This special forum was supported by King Business Interiors and The Columbus Dispatch, and was hosted by The Columbus Museum of Art. The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded live in Columbus, Ohio on May 24, 2023.
The impact of Intel’s two new massive semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Licking County, Ohio, will go far beyond the $20 billion investment itself. The two new plants – with more likely to follow – will generate tens of thousands of new jobs across Ohio and will in turn draw contractors and other high-profile manufacturers to Central Ohio.
These new employees won’t arrive alone: they’re arrive with families in tow looking to make Central Ohio home. The impact means that Central Ohio’s public infrastructure – transportation, parks, schools, water and sewer lines, and every kind of public service – will need to expand rapidly and to stay ahead of the growth.
Chandler, Arizona, home to another Intel plant, had one high school before Intel moved in. It’s now the second-largest school district in Arizona. Can Central Ohio’s towns keep up with the region’s exciting growth, and even stay ahead? Hear from the mayors of three key regional cities how each is planning for – and embracing – Central Ohio’s high-growth future.
The panelists are:
Donald Barnard, Mayor of Johnstown, OH
Laurie Jadwin, Mayor of Gahanna, OH
Sloan Spalding, Mayor of New Albany, OH
The host is Keary McCarthy, Executive Director of The Ohio Mayors Alliance and The Ohio Mayors Alliance Foundation
This CMC forum was sponsored by GBQ and Otterbein University with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was supported by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on May 17, 2023
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation saw an increase in substance misuse, alcohol consumption, depression, and suicide rates. One in thirteen Ohioans live with addiction, and nearly 1 in 4 struggle with a mental health condition. To help address this crippling issue, Ohio has created the “Beat the Stigma” campaign on behalf of the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance, a public-private partnership focused on raising awareness of addiction and mental health and the need to address both issues through major initiatives. We mark Mental Health Awareness Month with an in-depth conversation about the steps Ohio needs to take to end this second and ongoing pandemic of addiction.
The panelists are:
Lori Criss, Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
Juliet Dorris-Williams, Executive Director, The P.E.E.R. Center
Ariana Hoet, Ph.D., Clinical Director of On Our Sleeves, Pediatric Psychologist, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Chad Jester, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and President, Nationwide Foundation
The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
CMC’s Optimal Health Series is presented by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
This forum was sponsored by the Community Shelter Board, Columbus Business First, and with support from The Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
The livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
The future of personal mobility isn’t yet clear, but it's not likely to be based on privately-owned gas-powered cars forever. Personal mobility will come many future forms: autonomous cars, improved mass transit, high-speed rail, new modes of electric aerial transportation, and urban street infrastructure that prioritizes pedestrians and bikes and makes cities green, walkable, and inviting. This CMC forum features an in-depth discussion about the future of personal mobility that might change the way you think about getting from A to B.
The panelists are:
Ted Angel, Aerospace Affairs Director, The Dayton Development Coalition
Preeti Choudhary, Executive Director, DriveOhio
Harvey J. Miller, Ph.D., Bob and Mary Reusche Chair in Geographic Information Science, and Professor and Director, Department of Geography Center for Urban and Regional Analysis, The Ohio State University
The host is Walker Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Columbus Underground
CMC's partner for this forum was The 2023 COSI Science Festival. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on May 3, 2023.
How can we close the gender and pay gap and fuel Ohio’s workforce growth, particularly in high demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields? Ohio’s high-tech employers will need ever-growing numbers of trained and passionate STEM employees as the state welcomes two Intel semiconductor manufacturing plants and an array of other new tech industries now experiencing rapid growth.
Women make up nearly half of the workforce, yet are drastically underrepresented in key lucrative fields, including STEM careers, where only 18% of leadership roles are held by women. Women are underrepresented in other growing fields, with just 11% of construction jobs filled by women, 15% of engineers and architects, and only 6% of welders.
Contributing to the shortage is a disconnect between school curricula and relevant, practical workplace skills, resulting in a gap between worker capabilities and employer expectations. This CMC forum explores how Central Ohio can close the gender and pay gap for women and open career pathways for girls to high-wage and high-growth STEM jobs.
The speakers are:
Lori Gillett, CEO, Corna Kokosing,
Ayanna Howard, Ph.D., Dean, College of Engineering, The Ohio State University
Tammy Wharton, President & CEO, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland
The host is Sheri Chaney Jones, Founder & CEO, SureImpact, and Founder and President, Measurement Resources Company
This forum is CMC's annual Jeffrey Family Legacy Fund Forum to promote a thriving, equitable, and sustainable community.
This forum was sponsored by Battelle, CK Construction, and The Jeffrey Company. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The livestream was presented by The Center for HumanKindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
David A. Chikvaidze, Ph.D. returns to the CMC stage after five tumultuous years in the world of international relations and diplomacy.
Chikvaidze serves as the Chef de Cabinet to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and has worked in foreign service for more than 34 years. Georgian by birth, Chikvaidze worked in the offices of Soviet President Gorbachev and Russian President Yeltsin, as well as the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C., before leaving to work for the UN.
Before assuming his current position, Chikvaidze was Director of the UN Library at Geneva and Chairman of the UNOG Cultural Activities Committee. He served as Senior Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Chief of the Communications and NGO Partnerships Section in Geneva, and spokesman for the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights and Human Rights Treaty Bodies.
The speaker is David A. Chikvaidze, Ph.D., Chef de Cabinet, Office of the Director-General, The United Nations Office at Geneva
The host is Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4, and host of NBC4's "The Spectrum."
This forum was sponsored by Delta Airlines and was supported by The Columbus Council on World Affairs, NBC4, and The Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The forum livestream was supported by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and The Columbus Dispatch.
It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on April 19, 2023.
As reported by Axios Columbus last year, average annual temperatures in Ohio have increased by almost three degrees since the first Earth Day in April 1970. As Earth Day 2023 approaches on April 22, this week’s CMC forum looks at the impact of climate change in Ohio.
The panelists are:
Ja’net Graham, Senior Manager for Energy Advocacy, IMPACT Community Action
Luke Messinger, Executive Director, The Dawes Arboretum
Alana Shockey, Assistant Director of Sustainability, City of Columbus
And Dr. Aaron Wilson, State Climatologist of Ohio, Assistant Professor, Ag Weather and Climate Field Specialist, The Ohio State University
The host is Marshall McPeek, Chief Meteorologist, ABC 6
This forum was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience on April 14, 2023.
This CMC forum features an in-depth conversation with former Ohio governor Richard F. Celeste, author of the recent book, In the Heart of It All.
Celeste rose from humble beginnings in northeast Ohio to reach the Ohio governor’s residence and beyond. His new book recounts Celeste’s childhood in Lakewood, Ohio, where his politically ambitious father eventually served as mayor. Awarded a scholarship to attend Yale University, Celeste studied history and later became a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford; while living overseas, he met and quickly married his first wife, Dagmar Braun. Upon returning from Oxford, Celeste expected to begin a teaching career but was recruited to serve as a liaison for Peace Corps volunteers in Latin America, and the young couple relocated to Washington, DC, where they became friendly with Chet and Steb Bowles. When President Kennedy appointed Chet Bowles US ambassador to India, he invited Dick to work as his personal assistant. There, under Bowles’s tutelage, Dick began to consider a political career of his own.
Celeste returned to Ohio and successfully ran for the Ohio House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1970. After serving two terms, he was elected lieutenant governor in 1974 but lost the 1978 governor’s race by a slim margin. Celeste worked in DC as director of the Peace Corps while plotting his next move, and in 1982, his gubernatorial campaign resulted in a landslide victory. He served two terms as Ohio’s governor, tackling an epic savings and loan crisis along with mental health reform and job creation. He considered but dismissed a presidential campaign in 1988. He went on to serve as ambassador to India under President Clinton, traveling there with his second wife, Jacqueline Lundquist, and bringing his career full circle.
The panelists are:
Richard F. Celeste, Former Ohio Governor, 1983-1991
Jo Ingles, Journalist/Producer, Statehouse News Bureau
This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University and Event Marketing Strategies. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded in Columbus, Ohio before a live audience on April 5, 2023.
According to a 2021 report, Ohio’s Latino community is comprised of more than a half-million people, accounting for 4.2 percent of the state’s total population. That’s according to a 2021 report released by the Ohio Department of Development. Ohio’s Latino population more than doubled since 2000 and has more than tripled since 1980. Ohio’s Latino community is younger than the state average, faces higher unemployment, but is growing rapidly and now owns some 2,200 businesses in the state. At this CMC forum, we dig into the state of Central Ohio’s Latino community for a discussion on the community’s points of pride and its common challenges. What are the unique challenges Ohio’s Latino business community faces, and also the unique opportunities? What are the connections between immigration policies in the U.S. and Ohio’s collective economic prosperity?
The panelists are:
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Councilmember
Roland Medrano, Managing Director, Regal International LLC, Chief Executive Officer, La Mega Media, Inc., Board Chair, Hispanic Chamber of Columbus
The host is Jackie Orozco, Journalist and Co-Anchor, Good Day Columbus, ABC6 News & FOX 28
The forum partner was the Columbus Council on World Affairs. It was sponsored by the United Way of Central Ohio and Belle Harbour Management of Ohio and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience on March 29, 2023.
This CMC forum digs into the state of Central Ohio banks. As Central Ohio grows, the Columbus banking scene is growing right with it. The city is home to banks large and small, including well-known consumer banking giants and an array of smaller banks, including new minority-owned and women-owned banks now in development. What role do healthy banks play in our economy?
The panelists are:
Jennifer Griffith, Regional President. First Merchants Bank
Francie Henry, Regional President, Fifth Third Bank
Ilaria Rawlins, Proposed CEO, Fortuna Bank (in organization)
Jenny Saunders, President, FC Bank
The host is Don DePerro, President and Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
This forum was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience on March 24, 2023.
In much of the world, a major capital city without passenger trains would be unthinkable, yet that’s been the case in Columbus since 1979. With the last Amtrak train’s departure that year, Central Ohio bet all its transportation chips on cars, buses, and airplanes, and the area’s transit puzzle has been without passenger trains of any kind since then, earning Columbus the dubious distinction of today being the country’s second largest city without any passenger rail service at all.
Amtrak’s return to Central Ohio has been long-discussed and debated: former Governor Ted Strickland felt trains were important to the state’s economic development, but his successor John Kasich, did not, and in 2010, Kasich rejected a $17M annual subsidy to keep passenger trains running in Central Ohio as too expensive.
With the passage of President Biden’s new Federal infrastructure bill in 2022, which included $2.3B to expand Amtrak, plus encouraging signals from the administration of current Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, is the stage finally set for Amtrak’s return to Central Ohio?
The panelists are:
William Murdock, Executive Director, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
Erin Rosiello, Vice Chair, All Aboard Ohio
And Arun Rao, Director of Network Development, Amtrak
The moderator is Elizabeth Blount McCormick, President, Uniglobe Travel Designers.
This forum was sponsored by HNTB and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience on March 15, 2023.
This CMC forum spotlights a pathfinding effort in Columbus to increase social equity and generate entrepreneurial success. Founded in 2018 as a co-working and entrepreneurial incubation space for women of color, Columbus-based Zora’s House recently announced a massive $5M expansion that will see the facility in Weinland Park grow to more than 10,000 square feet. The new space will expand on the non-profit’s mission to help inspire women of color to start, nurture, and grow their own businesses. Named for author Zora Neale Hurston, Zora’s House contains offices, meeting rooms, a library, and a coffee shop is planned for the new facility.
The panelists are:
LC Johnson, Founder and CEO, Zora’s House
Danielle Sydnor, CEO, Rise Together Innovation Institute
The host is Alison Marker, President and CEO, Marker.
This forum was sponsored by CoverMyMeds and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
It was recorded before a live audience on March 8, 2023.
This week’s CMC forum looks at turning corner offices into condos in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Can empty skyscrapers be adapted into residences to help bring downtown Columbus back to life and provide new housing? Some developers are trying to do just that. It’s a transformation loaded with risk but with the potential to turn Columbus skyscrapers into the city’s newest residential neighborhoods.
Marc Conte, Executive Director, Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts, provides introductory remarks on the state of downtown Columbus.
The panelists are:
Philip Aftuck, Director of Investments, The Bernstein Companies
Tracy Hadden Loh, Fellow with The Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking, Brookings Metro
The host is Sam Rosenthal, Principal, CEO, and Architect, Schooley Caldwell
This forum was sponsored by The Capital Crossroads & Discovery Special Improvement Districts, The Edwards Companies, Marker, and The Robert Weiler Company, and was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on March 1, 2023.
We look into the future…Licking County, Ohio’s ideal future as it prepares to welcome two massive Intel semiconductor manufacturing plants - and much more growth. With Intel’s arrival imminent, parts of Licking County, Ohio will be unrecognizable 25 years from now.
Can its planners and leaders provide the right mix of housing…control and manage sprawl…maintain green space…and create transit solutions that go beyond just more pavement for more cars?
With the help of today’s speakers, we envision what Licking County’s “Ideal Intel Future” looks like.
The panelists are:
Jamie Greene, Principal, planning NEXT
Rick Platt, President & CEO, Heath-Newark-Licking County Port Authority
Jennifer Roberts, Executive Director, The Thomas J. Evans Foundation, and FRAMEWORK Convener
The host is Benjamin Lanka, Business Editor, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by Bricker & Eckler, Huntington, and The City of New Albany, and was supported by The Columbus Dispatch and The Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on February 22, 2023.
Ohio State University will soon be home to a ground-based copy of a space laboratory planned for a new commercial space station. The Ohio-based lab will be a replica of the George Washington Carver Science Park, a key science component of the “Starlab” next-generation space station.
The replica laboratory, or “analog,” will allow researchers to test experiments on the ground while identical experiments are conducted aboard Starlab in Earth orbit. The Carver Science Park, established by space tech leaders Voyager Space and Nanoracks, will be a core element of Starlab, the companies’ planned future commercial space station.
The project is now underway with a facility at OSU’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and this year, the partners will break ground on a stand-alone facility on the Ohio State Air Transportation & Aerospace Campus.
This CMC forum takes an in-depth look at how this new facility landed in Ohio and what it promises for the state and for researchers.
The panelists are:
Dr. John M. Horack, The Neil Armstrong Chair in Aerospace Policy, The Ohio State University
Jeffrey Manber, President of International and Space Stations, Voyager Space Holdings; Founder, Nanoracks
Dr. Scott Shearer, Professor and Chair, The Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, The Ohio State University
The host is Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO, COSI
This forum was sponsored by Kroger and AECOM. It was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on February 15, 2023.
According to a study by the Pew Research Center, some 78% of Ohioans identify with a particular religion. With a panel of Columbus religious leaders, we discuss the role of religion in shaping society in Central Ohio, and how religion responded to the pandemic and was changed by it. The forum also examines what happens in a diverse democracy when religion and politics mix.
The speakers are:
Victor M. Davis, DMin, Pastor, Trinity Baptist Church
Earl K. Fernandes, Ph.D., Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Columbus
Hillel Skolnik, Senior Rabbi, Tifereth Israel
Abdurrahman Justin Wood, Youth Director, Noor Islamic Cultural Center
The host is Jerry Revish, Retired Television News Anchor, WBNS-TV, and Pastor and Co-Founder, Unity Temple Church of God in Christ.
This forum was supported by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on February 8, 2023.
Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor completed her term on Ohio’s Supreme Court on December 31, 2022. Her time on the court ended in the middle of Ohio’s ongoing battle over gerrymandered electoral districts. O’Connor holds the record as Ohio’s longest-serving statewide elected woman.
This forum features:
Maureen O'Connor, Retired Chief Justice of The Supreme Court of Ohio.
The host is Yvette McGee Brown, Partner, Jones Day, and Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio
The forum partner is The Matriots, with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on February 1, 2023.
Few events in U.S. history impacted education like the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic erased years of progress,
Recently, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card, revealed losses in educational attainment across the county, with the biggest drop in math scores ever reported. Reading scores fell to their lowest levels since 1992.
This CMC panel explores the damage done by the pandemic to education and the ways we can close the COVID learning gap in Central Ohio.
The panelists are:
Amy Gordon, Executive Director and CEO, Communities in Schools of Ohio
Dr. Stéphane Lavertu, Professor and Director of Doctoral Studies, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University
Cheryl Ward, Vice-President, Success by Third Grade, United Way of Central Ohio
The host is Dr. Eric Karolak, CEO, Action for Children
This forum was sponsored by Columbus State Community College and PNC, with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center. The forum livestream was presented by The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation and by The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on January 25, 2023.
In 2019, Ohio elected officials enacted a law to provide more than $1 billion in bailouts for private nuclear and coal-fired power plants with ratepayer money. Federal Justice Department officials later linked the law to more than $60 million in bribes. Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, who along with others was implicated in the scandal, is expected to stand trial beginning in January 2023 for his alleged role in the scheme.
Meanwhile, House Bill 6 remains on the books in Ohio and sits at the center of the largest corruption case in the state’s history, allegedly fueled primarily by so-called “dark money” from Akron-based electric utility FirstEnergy and current or former affiliates.
This CMC forum untangles the ongoing HB6 scandal in Ohio, unpacks the impact on ratepayers and the environment, and examines what can be done to mitigate the damage done to Ohio’s energy policy by “dark money.” The panelists are:
Ashley Brown, Former Two-Term Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, and Founding Executive Director, Harvard Electricity Policy Group
David DeVillers, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg, and Former U.S. Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney and State Prosecutor
Kathiann Kowalski, Journalist, Eye On Ohio and the Energy News Network
The host is Jo Ingles, Journalist, Producer, Statehouse News Bureau
The forum sponsor was Barnes & Thornburg, with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on January 18, 2023.
We started the Democracy in Crisis series looking at America’s long history of polarization. We continue it by trying to look into the future. Given our current trends what does America look like in ten years? Will we come together, or will we continue on our polarized paths? Will we split into new political parties?
The panelists are:
Kyle Kondik, Author and Managing Editor, Sabato's Crystal Ball
Catherine Turcer, Executive Director, Common Cause Ohio
Dr. Herb Asher, Professor Emeritus, Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University
The host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief with the Statehouse News Bureau.
CMC’s Democracy in Crisis series partner is WOSU Public Media. The forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus with support from the Grange Insurance Audubon Center.
This forum was recorded before a live audience on January 11, 2023.
You can thank Ohio farmers for the beginnings of one of the state’s business powerhouses and one of Columbus’s top philanthropic supporters.
Nationwide Insurance, one of the county’s largest property and casualty insurance companies, was created in 1926 by the Ohio Farm Bureau as the Farm Bureau Mutual Automobile Insurance Company to help the state’s farmers insure their vehicles. By the 1930s, the company’s offerings had expanded to other states and added property and life insurance coverage.
Today, Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company that has helped put Columbus, Ohio on the map, while agriculture remains Ohio’s top industry, supplying one in seven Ohio jobs.
Hear from the current leaders of both the Ohio Farm Bureau and Nationwide Insurance as they share perspectives on Ohio’s economic future and the power of lasting partnerships in a changing world.
The panelists are:
Adam Sharp, Executive Vice President, The Ohio Farm Bureau Federation
Kirt Walker, Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide
The host is Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Partnership and The Ohio State University. It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on December 14, 2022.
CMC unpacks the new Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan with distinguished panel. The City's new plan outlines a vision for a downtown Columbus that’s greener, more liveable, and friendlier to pedestrians. It also calls for less surface parking and more trees. Read more about the plan here.
The panelists are:
Michael B. Coleman, Former Mayor of Columbus; Partner-in-Charge, Government Law Group, Ice Miller; Chairman, Board of Directors, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
Greg Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
Jeff Edwards, Chairman, CEO, and President of Installed Building Products and The Edwards Companies
The host is Jessica Ralston, Anchor, Good Day Columbus, ABC6.
This forum was presented by The Harrison Smith Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund. The forum was sponsored by Smoot Construction Corporation, Keeler & Nadler Family Wealth, Smith & Hale, MKSK, and The Sarah Gormley Gallery. It was recorded before a live audience in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, December 7, 2022.
This week, we unpack recent events in high-profile criminal cases, in Ohio and nationally, and explain how criminal investigations really work. How do FBI agents obtain search warrants? Does “lawyering up” make you look guilty? How do potential defendants learn they are under investigation?
The speakers are:
Christopher Kim, Former FBI Special Agent, and a Senior Managing Director with Guidepost
Algenon Marbley, Chief Judge of the Southern District of Ohio
And Ron O'Brien, Former Franklin County Prosecutor
The host is David Axelrod, Attorney with Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick.This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
Founded in 1871, The Columbus Dispatch remains the only mainstream daily newspaper in Ohio’s capital. Dispatch leaders have witnessed dramatic changes in recent decades to how news in America is gathered, shared, and accessed by readers. We discuss the future of “Ohio’s Greatest Home Newspaper” and journalism itself with today’s guests.
The panelists are:
Edwina Blackwell Clark, Executive Editor, The Columbus Dispatch
Amelia Robinson, Opinion and Community Engagement Editor, The Columbus Dispatch
The hosts are:
Nicole Kraft, Associate Professor with The Ohio State University School of Communication
Jessica Langer, Editor in Chief of The Ohio State University’s Lantern Media Group
Today’s forum is sponsored by The Ohio State University with support from The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
The late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis called states the “laboratories of democracy.” But thanks to gerrymandering and fiercely partisan politics, many Ohioans fear this laboratory is in jeopardy, and the November 2022 elections were run in Ohio with unconstitutional district maps. This CMC forum looks at the results of this year’s election and what they might mean for the future of our democracy.
The panelists are:
Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Statehouse News Bureau
Bradley Smith, Professor, Capital University Law School, and Former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission
Dr. Wendy Smooth, Professor, Department of Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies and the Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director of News and Public Affairs, with “Democracy in Crisis” series partner WOSU Public Media.
The forum sponsor is Hannah News Service. The forum partner is the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, November 9, 2022.
Nannette Maciejunes has steered the Columbus Museum of Art through two decades of growth as its leader, and safely brought the crown jewel of the Columbus art scene through the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Maciejunes retires at the end of 2022, she leaves CMA and Columbus enriched by art and artists. Today’s panel reflects on Maciejunes’ legacy and shares their thoughts on the role of art in society, on Columbus’ burgeoning art scene, and what’s next for art in Columbus.
The panelists are:
Nannette V. Maciejunes, Executive Director and CEO, Columbus Museum of Art
Bryan Moss, Painter and Comic Artist
The host is Tom Katzenmeyer, President and CEO, Greater Columbus Arts Council
This forum was made possible by the Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund, celebrating the contributions made to society by arts and culture.
The forum sponsor was AECOM.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
From New York’s Stonewall Uprising in 1969, through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, to the 2015 Supreme Court decision that declared same-sex marriage legal in every state, LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. have advanced thanks to the tireless work of activists and advocates.
Now a growing backlash is taking aim at these rights in the U.S. and threatening to roll back decades of progress in equality.
Today’s forum looks at both the past and the future of the struggle for equality in Central Ohio through the eyes of four generations of activists.
The panelists are:
Chris Cozad, LGBTQ+ Activist and Owner & President, Alternative Auto Care
Karen Hewitt, Associate Director, Leadership Columbus, and Co-Founder, The Ohio REST Collective
José Rodriguez, Vice President, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions
Joseph Soza, Central Ohio Regional Organizer, Equality Ohio
The host is Ronald Murray, President, Stonewall Columbus Board of Trustees, and MARCH Program Director, Franklin County Municipal Court
This forum was made possible by the Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and was sponsored by Battelle and Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions.
The forum partner was Stonewall Columbus.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
From New York’s Stonewall Uprising in 1969, through the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, to the 2015 Supreme Court decision that declared same-sex marriage legal in every state, LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S. have advanced thanks to the tireless work of activists and advocates.
Now a growing backlash is taking aim at these rights in the U.S. and threatening to roll back decades of progress in equality.
Today’s forum looks at both the past and the future of the struggle for equality in Central Ohio through the eyes of four generations of activists.
The panelists are:
Chris Cozad, LGBTQ+ Activist and Owner & President, Alternative Auto Care
Karen Hewitt, Associate Director, Leadership Columbus, and Co-Founder, The Ohio REST Collective
José Rodriguez, Vice President, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions
Joseph Soza, Central Ohio Regional Organizer, Equality Ohio
The host is Ronald Murray, President, Stonewall Columbus Board of Trustees, and MARCH Program Director, Franklin County Municipal Court
This forum was made possible by the Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and was sponsored by Battelle and Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions.
The forum partner was Stonewall Columbus.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
This week, CMC extended an invitation to both the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2022 Ohio governor’s race to talk on our stage about their visions for Ohio’s future. Republican Mike DeWine didn’t accept our invitation, but Democrat Nan Whaley did.
Today’s speaker is:
Nan Whaley, Former Mayor of Dayton and the 2022 Democratic Candidate for Ohio Governor.
The host is Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4.
CMC’s political series is sponsored by Hannah News Service. The forum partners were King Business Interiors and NBC4.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
This week, CMC extended an invitation to both the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2022 Ohio governor’s race to talk on our stage about their visions for Ohio’s future. Republican Mike DeWine didn’t accept our invitation, but Democrat Nan Whaley did.
Today’s speaker is:
Nan Whaley, Former Mayor of Dayton and the 2022 Democratic Candidate for Ohio Governor.
The host is Colleen Marshall, Anchor, NBC4.
CMC’s political series is sponsored by Hannah News Service. The forum partners were King Business Interiors and NBC4.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 19, 2022.
Franklinton is the oldest part of Columbus, with a mix of residential streets and former industrial areas that are home to parks, art galleries, event spaces, and over 8,000 residents. The current resurgence of Franklinton was made possible by the completion of the Franklinton Floodwall in 2004, which helped Franklinton reinvent itself. Today we’ll explore what’s happening in Franklinton with the help of a panel of passionate leaders.
The speakers are:
Dr. Kim Campbell, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Johnny Riddle, Executive Director, Franklinton Arts District
Trent Smith, Executive Director, Franklinton Board of Trade
Jeffrey Woda, Managing Director and President, Woda Cooper Companies
The host is Deborah Pryce, Former Member of Congress, 1993-2008
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
Franklinton is the oldest part of Columbus, with a mix of residential streets and former industrial areas that are home to parks, art galleries, event spaces, and over 8,000 residents. The current resurgence of Franklinton was made possible by the completion of the Franklinton Floodwall in 2004, which helped Franklinton reinvent itself. Today we’ll explore what’s happening in Franklinton with the help of a panel of passionate leaders.
The speakers are:
Dr. Kim Campbell, Director of Admissions and Recruitment, Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Johnny Riddle, Executive Director, Franklinton Arts District
Trent Smith, Executive Director, Franklinton Board of Trade
Jeffrey Woda, Managing Director and President, Woda Cooper Companies
The host is Deborah Pryce, Former Member of Congress, 1993-2008
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
The first amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom to say almost anything with few restrictions. But when that freedom is abused, do we need new rules? Can truth in media be regulated? CMC’s Democracy in Crisis series continues with an expert panel.
The speakers are:
Andrew Alexander, Scripps Howard Visiting Professional, Ohio University
Dr. Eddith Dashiell, Professor and Director, E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University
Dr. David Stebenne, Professor of History and Law, The Ohio State University
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director of News and Public Affairs, WOSU Public Media.
CMC’s partner in the Democracy in Crisis series is WOSU Public Media
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
The first amendment of the Constitution protects our freedom to say almost anything with few restrictions. But when that freedom is abused, do we need new rules? Can truth in media be regulated? CMC’s Democracy in Crisis series continues with an expert panel.
The speakers are:
Andrew Alexander, Scripps Howard Visiting Professional, Ohio University
Dr. Eddith Dashiell, Professor and Director, E. W. Scripps School of Journalism, Ohio University
Dr. David Stebenne, Professor of History and Law, The Ohio State University
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director of News and Public Affairs, WOSU Public Media.
CMC’s partner in the Democracy in Crisis series is WOSU Public Media
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
We discuss the state of the workforce in Central Ohio and what current trends indicate for the future, plus The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio provides an overview of their “State of the Workforce 2022” report, with new insights on Ohio’s labor participation rate, unemployment rate, and details on specific job sector growth and losses projected through 2028.
The speakers are:
Ryan Burgess, President & CEO of Goodwill Columbus
Nichole Kneedler, Chief Talent Officer with Huntington National Bank
Dr. Tian Lou, Research Scientist with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University
Chance Shannan with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio provides introductory remarks.
The host is Colleen Marshall, Co-Anchor with NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by Improving, Corna Kokosing, and Columbus State Community College.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
We discuss the state of the workforce in Central Ohio and what current trends indicate for the future, plus The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio provides an overview of their “State of the Workforce 2022” report, with new insights on Ohio’s labor participation rate, unemployment rate, and details on specific job sector growth and losses projected through 2028.
The speakers are:
Ryan Burgess, President & CEO of Goodwill Columbus
Nichole Kneedler, Chief Talent Officer with Huntington National Bank
Dr. Tian Lou, Research Scientist with the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University
Chance Shannan with the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio provides introductory remarks.
The host is Colleen Marshall, Co-Anchor with NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by Improving, Corna Kokosing, and Columbus State Community College.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 28, 2022.
The “Columbus Way” is often touted by Ohio leaders as a unique collaborative process between organizations that delivers big economic wins for Central Ohio. Can “The Columbus Way” keep harnessing the power of partnerships to get things done?
The speakers are:
Kenny McDonald, President and CEO, The Columbus Partnership
Kevin Boyce, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Tanny Crane, President and CEO, Crane Group
The host is Doug Buchanan, Editor, Columbus Business First.
The forum sponsors were the American Dairy Association Mid-East and Deloitte.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The “Columbus Way” is often touted by Ohio leaders as a unique collaborative process between organizations that delivers big economic wins for Central Ohio. Can “The Columbus Way” keep harnessing the power of partnerships to get things done?
The speakers are:
Kenny McDonald, President and CEO, The Columbus Partnership
Kevin Boyce, Franklin County Board of Commissioners
Tanny Crane, President and CEO, Crane Group
The host is Doug Buchanan, Editor, Columbus Business First.
The forum sponsors were the American Dairy Association Mid-East and Deloitte.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and this week’s CMC forum features leaders working to raise awareness and to implement a strategy to bring an end to Ohio’s tragic suicide epidemic.
The speakers are:
Dr. John Ackerman, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Tony Coder, Executive Director, The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
fran frazier, Founder, Black Girl Rising
Doug Wolf, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio
The host is Tia Marcel Moretti, President, Ohio Market, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series partners are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. The forum sponsor is Cardinal Health.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and this week’s CMC forum features leaders working to raise awareness and to implement a strategy to bring an end to Ohio’s tragic suicide epidemic.
The speakers are:
Dr. John Ackerman, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, The Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Tony Coder, Executive Director, The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation
fran frazier, Founder, Black Girl Rising
Doug Wolf, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio
The host is Tia Marcel Moretti, President, Ohio Market, Lighthouse Behavioral Health Solutions.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series partners are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital. The forum sponsor is Cardinal Health.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 14, 2022.
Fair and impartial courts are critical to democracy and the rule of law. Can our courts withstand an era when personal attacks on judges and legislative assaults on courts have become frequent? This CMC forum explores the role of courts in preserving American democracy, and the role that civic education can play in protecting a fair and impartial judiciary.
The panelists are:
Mike Curtin, former associate publisher of The Columbus Dispatch, and a former Member of Ohio House of Representatives;
The Honorable Richard Frye, Judge with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas;
Kathleen Trafford, Counsel to the Firm, Porter Wright, and a Fellow with The American College of Trial Lawyers;
And The Honorable Michael Watson, Judge with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio;
The host is Yvette McGee Brown, Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice and currently, a Partner with Jones Day.
CMC’s Democracy in Crisis series partner is WOSU Public Media.
This forum was sponsored by The Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Legacy Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and by Ulmer and Berne.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Fair and impartial courts are critical to democracy and the rule of law. Can our courts withstand an era when personal attacks on judges and legislative assaults on courts have become frequent? This CMC forum explores the role of courts in preserving American democracy, and the role that civic education can play in protecting a fair and impartial judiciary.
The panelists are:
Mike Curtin, former associate publisher of The Columbus Dispatch, and a former Member of Ohio House of Representatives;
The Honorable Richard Frye, Judge with the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas;
Kathleen Trafford, Counsel to the Firm, Porter Wright, and a Fellow with The American College of Trial Lawyers;
And The Honorable Michael Watson, Judge with the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio;
The host is Yvette McGee Brown, Former Ohio Supreme Court Justice and currently, a Partner with Jones Day.
CMC’s Democracy in Crisis series partner is WOSU Public Media.
This forum was sponsored by The Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Legacy Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and by Ulmer and Berne.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, September 7, 2022.
Chances are, heritage tourism is again bringing travel dollars to your part of Ohio.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines cultural heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”
Places like these abound in the Buckeye State, with more than 58 historic sites and museums supported by the Columbus-based Ohio History Connection.
There’s more than just preserving the past at stake: a past study by the Travel Industry Association shows that heritage travelers stay longer at their destinations and spend more money there than other types of travelers.
This CMC forum digs into the impact of heritage tourism in Ohio.
The panelists are:
Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO, The Ohio History Connection
Napoleon Bell, Co-Founder, The Heritage Tours
The host is Tracy Townsend, News Anchor, WBNS-10TV
The forum partner was WBNS-10TV.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
Chances are, heritage tourism is again bringing travel dollars to your part of Ohio.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines cultural heritage tourism as “traveling to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.”
Places like these abound in the Buckeye State, with more than 58 historic sites and museums supported by the Columbus-based Ohio History Connection.
There’s more than just preserving the past at stake: a past study by the Travel Industry Association shows that heritage travelers stay longer at their destinations and spend more money there than other types of travelers.
This CMC forum digs into the impact of heritage tourism in Ohio.
The panelists are:
Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO, The Ohio History Connection
Napoleon Bell, Co-Founder, The Heritage Tours
The host is Tracy Townsend, News Anchor, WBNS-10TV
The forum partner was WBNS-10TV.
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, August 31, 2022.
The Columbus Housing Strategy calls for new investment and policies to help address the deepening housing crisis in Ohio’s capital city. This week’s speakers explore the complex causes of the current housing crisis and an array of interconnected solutions.
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther provides opening remarks.
The panelists are:
Otto Beatty III, President, The Otto Beatty Companies
Patty McClimon, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Erin Prosser, Assistant Director of Housing Strategies, City of Columbus
The host is Bonnie Meibers, Reporter, Columbus Business First.
This forum is sponsored by The Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and Carlile, Patchen, and Murphy. It was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, August 24, 2022.
Recent electric outages have put Ohio’s power grid in the news, but more challenges await Ohio’s power industry as new factories come to our state, more drivers opt for electric cars, and climate change raises global temperatures. This forum unpacks Ohio's electric future from the perspective of American Electric Power, Ohio's largest energy utility.
This forum is sponsored by Accenture, Steptoe & Johnson, and The Columbus Partnership.
The panelists are:
Nick Akins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AEP
Marc Reitter, President and Chief Operating Officer, AEP Ohio
The host is Andy Chow, News Editor, State House News Bureau
This forum was recorded live at The Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.
Many American cities have earned unfortunate reputations for tearing down historic structures once they’re deemed to be standing in the way of progress.
At this week’s CMC forum, we hear from leaders in Columbus who have dedicated their careers to reverse this trend by saving historic buildings and repurposing them for new uses. Their successes include the historic Lincoln Theater and the newly-opened East Market.
This program is CMC’s annual Charles Y. and Frances N. Lazarus Revisiting Columbus History Forum and was sponsored by Moody Nolan.
The panelists are:
Brad DeHays, Founder, Connect Real Estate
Charissa Durst, President and Principal Historic Architect, Hardlines Design Company
Rebecca Kemper, CEO, Columbus Landmarks
The host is David Meleca, Director of Classical Architecture, Moody Nolan
This week, it’s the second forum in the monthly “Democracy in Crisis” series. Today’s forum looks at how democracy is being challenged by extremism and its sources in the U.S. and abroad.
The panelists are:
Dr. Christopher Gelpi, Director of the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and Professor of Political Science, The Ohio State University
Victoria Gurevich, Graduate Student in Political Science, The Ohio State University
Dr. Alam Payind, Former Director of the Middle East Studies Center, The Ohio State University
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director of News and Public Affairs for WOSU Public Media.
CMC’s “Democracy in Crisis” series partner is WOSU Public Media, with support for this forum from The Columbus Council on World Affairs and The League of Women Voters of Metro Columbus.
If you haven’t heard of CodeLaunch, think “Shark Tank” for software developers…CodeLaunch pairs up software developers and their big dreams with venture capitalists who have the ability to fund innovative projects. At stake for the CodeLaunch winner is potentially millions in startup funding, and it’s headed to Columbus in August 2022.
The panelists are:
Falon Donohue, Partner + Investor, Narya
Dr. Navin Goyal, Co-Founder & CEO, LOUD Capital
Steve Lekas, Cofounder & CEO, Branch Insurance
The host is Josh Harrison, President of Improving - Ohio
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last month to reverse its landmark 1973 ruling on abortion is now dramatically restricting access to abortion services in Ohio. This CMC forum reflects on the Court’s decision and unpacks the far-reaching social, legal, and political ramifications.
This forum was recorded live on July 20, 2022.
The panelists are:
Michael Gonidakis, President, Ohio Right to Life
Dan Kobil, Professor, Capital University Law School
Allison Russo, Ohio House of Representatives Minority Leader, House District 24
The host is Jessie Balmert, Reporter, USA Today Network Ohio Bureau
According to an NPR poll early in 2022, 64% of respondents believe American democracy is in crisis and at risk of failing. A Swedish study in 2021 also found that that the number of countries moving in an authoritarian direction in 2020 outnumbered those going in a democratic direction.
This CMC forum begins a new monthly series looking at American democracy in crisis.
The speaker is Michael Tomasky, editor of The New Republic.
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director for News and Public Affairs with WOSU Public Media.
CMC’s “Democracy in Crisis” series partner is WOSU Public Media, with support from The Columbus Dispatch for this program.
This program was recorded live on July 13, 2022.
For a robbery or a car crash, the best way to summon help is by dialing 911 for a police or fire department response. Yet many emergencies, especially those involving drug overdoses and mental health crises, often call for a different kind of emergency response. This week’s CMC forum explores the potential of alternative crisis response to save lives in Columbus.
This CMC forum was recorded live on July 6, 2022.
The panelists are:
Stephen David, Community Organizer, Columbus Safety Collective
Shannon G. Hardin, President of Columbus City Council
Matt Parrish, Captain, Columbus Division of Fire
Marian Stuckey, Section Chief for Neighborhood Social Services, Columbus Public Health
The host is Erika Clark Jones, CEO, Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Board of Franklin County
The forum partner was WBNS 10TV.
Jim Hackett is a native of London, Ohio, and served as President and CEO of the Ford Motor Company until 2020. Under Hackett’s leadership, Ford moved aggressively into the era of electric vehicles and brought a deeper focus on user-centered design methods.
This CMC forum was recorded live on June 29, 2022.
The speaker is:
Jim Hackett, Retired President & CEO of Ford Motor Company, and Retired CEO & President of Steelcase Inc.
The host is Nancy Kramer, Global Chief Evangelist, IBM iX
This forum was sponsored by Ricart Automotive Group.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium isn’t just one of Central Ohio’s most beloved attractions. It’s a fan favorite around the country and even internationally.
However, events in the last several years at the Zoo have included turmoil and controversy, followed by the resignation of top Zoo executives.
This week’s CMC forum looks at how the Columbus Zoo can restore its reputation as the nation’s leader in animal conservation and education.
This CMC forum was recorded live on June 22, 2022.
The speaker is:
Tom Schmid, President and CEO, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
The host is Monica Day, Co-Anchor, NBC4 Today
Central Ohio nonprofits have battled back from the pandemic, only to be met with new challenges, including the steepest inflation in years and a highly competitive labor market. This week, CMC examines the state of Central Ohio nonprofits with an expert panel.
This CMC forum was recorded live on June 15, 2022.
Today’s speakers are:
Michael Corey, Executive Director, The Human Service Chamber of Franklin County
Dr. Lisa Courtice, President and CEO, The United Way of Central Ohio
Leah Evans, President and CEO, Homeport
Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management with The Columbus Foundation
The host is Deborah Aubert Thomas, President and CEO, Philanthropy Ohio
This forum was sponsored by Columbus Business First, The Columbus Foundation, Columbia Gas, Columbus Speech and Hearing Center, Cramer and Associates, Crane Group, Huntington, The Ohio State University, and Schneider Downs.
The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted hospitals to cooperate in new ways. What did Central Ohio’s hospitals learn from the pandemic? How are hospitals preparing to meet tomorrow’s healthcare needs? This week, the Columbus MetropoliTEN Club welcomes an extraordinary panel featuring the CEOs of all four Central Ohio hospital systems.
This CMC forum was recorded live on June 8, 2022.
The speakers are:
Tim Robinson, CEO, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Dr. Andrew Thomas, Interim Co-Leader and Chief Clinical Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Dr. Stephen Markovich, President and CEO, OhioHealth
Lorraine Lutton, President and CEO, Mount Carmel Health System
The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development and the State of Ohio Leadership Institute, The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series is presented by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children's Hospital.
This forum was sponsored by Keeler and Nadler, The Ohio Hospital Association, Mount Carmel Health System, Hospice of Central Ohio, OhioHealth, Phoenix Consulting, and The Robert Weiler Company.
Ohio House Bill 616, introduced by two Republican state lawmakers, would mandate controversial changes to portions of Ohio’s Revised Code that sets standards for public schools.
The bill is similar to Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which banned instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades K-3. That bill was signed into law by Florida’s governor in March 2022.
The bill would ban instruction on “sexual orientation or gender identity” in K-3 public classrooms and would restrict instruction on race in the state’s public schools.
The Columbus Metropolitan Club invited the two sponsors of HB616, Ohio State House Representatives Jean Schmidt and Mike Loychik, to participate in this panel, but did not receive a response to its invitations.
This CMC forum was recorded live on June 1, 2022.
The speakers are:
Maria Bruno, Public Policy Director, Equality Ohio
Scott DiMauro, President, The Ohio Education Association
Bruce Hooley, Host of The Bruce Hooley Show
Densil Porteous, Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus
Troy McIntosh, Executive Director, The Ohio Christian Education Network, The Center for Christian Virtue
The host is Anna Staver, State House Reporter for The Columbus Dispatch/USA Today Gannett Ohio Bureau.
This forum was sponsored by Hannah News Service.
The forum partners were WBNS 10TV and The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus, with support from The Columbus Dispatch.
A Columbia University publication authored by Saba Rawjani called America’s childcare crisis a barrier to human development, collective wellbeing, and the future of the United States.
This week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club explores asks what’s caused the childcare crisis, what’s keeping it going, and how Ohio can fix it.
This CMC forum was recorded live on May 25, 2022.
The speakers are:
Joy Bivens, Deputy Franklin County Administrator, Health and Human Services
Elizabeth Brown, President Pro Tempore, Columbus City Council
Tony Collins, President and CEO, YMCA of Central Ohio
The host is Micah Walker, Trending Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum is sponsored by PNC Bank and The United Way of Central Ohio.
The forum partners are WBNS 10TV and The Columbus Dispatch.
Can a new project in Columbus provide hope and housing for the homeless by building a community that fosters employment and independent living?
Vista Village is an affordable housing project aiming to do just that. Central to the Vista Village model are more than 40 tiny houses, a community center and garden, a park, and green space.
This CMC forum was recorded live on May 18, 2022.
Today’s speakers are:
Sandy Doyle-Ahern, President, EMH&T
Sandy Stephenson, Chief Healthcare Officer for Southeast Healthcare
And John Perez, Attorney with Perez and Morris
The host is Kerry Charles, Weeknight Anchor with NBC4.
This forum was sponsored by The Edwards Companies, Homeport, NBC4, The Robert Weiler Company and Steiner and Associates.
Columbus is welcoming, progressive, and growing. But is it age-friendly? Is Columbus the kind of city that will take care of its older residents and be attractive to new ones? Franklin County’s population of adults aged 60 and over is expected to double between 2010 and 2050. This week’s forum explores the hallmarks of age-friendly communities to see how Columbus – and Ohio - stacks up.
This CMC forum was recorded live on May 11, 2022.
The speakers are:
Holly Holtzen, State Director of AARP Ohio
Katie White, Director, Age-Friendly Innovation Center, The Ohio State University College of Social Work
The host is Ursel J. McElroy, Director, Ohio Department of Aging
This forum was sponsored by Home Care Assistance.
Has science literacy ever been more important to Ohio than now?
Science literacy is critical to a healthy and growing Ohio economy. It’s even a social determinant of health: consider the value of being able to read and understand a drug label or take basic measures to protect one’s health.
Companies like Intel will be relying on Ohio to turn out legions of young people excited about science. The 2022 return of the in-person COSI Science Festival is also showcasing Ohio’s current commitment to science literacy through an array of public and private partners.
This CMC forum explores the very high stakes of science literacy and education in Ohio.
This CMC forum was recorded live on May 4, 2022.
The speakers are:
Dr. Frederic Bertley, President and CEO, COSI
**Lou Von Thaer**, President and CEO, Battelle
Joanna M. Pinkerton, President/CEO, COTA
The host is Angela An, News Anchor, WBNS 10TV
This forum was sponsored by The Tom E. Dailey Foundation and The Robert Weiler Company.
Good health is about more than good medicine. Even communities with the latest in medical technology may struggle to improve the overall health of their nearby populations. That’s because other factors are at work in determining health care outcomes. This week’s CMC forum unpacks the “social determinants of good health.”
This CMC forum was recorded live on April 27, 2022.
The speakers are:
Perry Gregory, Senior Vice President for the National Center for Urban Solutions
Amy Headings, Director of Research and Nutrition for the Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Mike Premo, Director of Engagement with Community Development for All People
Jesse Reed, Director of CareSource-Life Services Ohio
The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development and the State of Ohio Leadership Institute at the Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs.
The presenters of CMC’s Optimal Health Series are The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
CMC welcomes the Democratic candidates running for Ohio governor, who will face each other in the Democratic primary on May 3, 2022. The winner will appear on the November 2022 ballot alongside a Republican opponent.
This forum is sponsored by Hannah News Service. The forum partners are The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus and NBC4.
This CMC forum was recorded live on April 20, 2022.
The speakers are:
John Cranley, Former Mayor of Cincinnati
Nan Whaley, Former Mayor of Dayton
The host is Colleen Marshall, NBC4 Anchor
The pandemic took its toll on Columbus’ favorite activities, and no activity was more impacted than dining out in the city’s restaurants. If there’s one thing Columbus residents love, it’s the vibrant “Cbus” food scene. While takeout kept many restaurants busy and let patrons support their favorite spots during the pandemic, Columbus restaurants now seemed poised for a major comeback.
This CMC forum was recorded live on April 13, 2022.
The speakers are:
Rich Terapak and Steve Stover, Co-hosts of All Sides Weekend: Chefs in the City on 89.7 NPR News,
Jim Budros, Restaurateur, and Founder, Budros, Ruhlin & Roe
The host is Ann Fisher, Executive Producer and Host of WOSU Public Media's "All Sides with Ann Fisher.”
Once regarded as one of the most statistically average cities in America, Columbus has stepped on the accelerator in the last decade. Almost every year Columbus adds the equivalent in population of a new Bexley, and in the last ten years, nearly every Franklin County census tract became more diverse. This week’s CMC forum will unpack Columbus’ population growth and its growing diversity.
This CMC forum was recorded live on April 6, 2022.
The speaker is:
Michael Wilkos, Senior Vice President of Community Impact, The United Way of Central Ohio
The host is Autumn Glover, Senior Director, Community Health Partnerships, OhioHealth
The forum is sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company and Regionomics.
Experts say there’s never been a labor market like the one we’re seeing now. Following a pandemic that upended the working world, Ohio’s current labor market is filled with openings for high-tech jobs, low-tech jobs, and everything in between.
This week’s CMC forum explores the connections between Ohio’s workforce and the state’s chances for future prosperity.
This CMC forum was recorded live on March 23, 2022.
The panelists are:
Ola Snow, Chief Human Resources Officer for Cardinal Health
Steve Stivers, President and CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce
The host is Lisa Patt-McDaniel, President and CEO of the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce provided special support for this forum.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is reshaping the international world order in real time. It has also created a life-threatening crisis for the Ukrainian people. What are the short-term and long-term implications of this costly conflict? This week’s CMC forum will examine the causes and impact of this ongoing conflict with an expert panel.
This CMC forum was recorded live on March 18, 2022.
The panelists, all from The Ohio State University, are:
Christopher Gelpi, Ph.D., Director and Chair of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution with the Mershon Center for International Security Studies, and a Professor of Political Science
Philip Kopatz, graduate student at The Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
Myroslava Mudrak, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus with the Department of History of Art
Mykyta Tyshchenko, graduate student in the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures
Our host is Angela Brintlinger, Ph.D., Director of The Center for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies
The forum’s presenting partner was the Columbus Council on World Affairs and was sponsored by The Ohio State University.
This week’s CMC forum looks at the race to develop multi-million-dollar cell and gene therapies in Central Ohio.
Central Ohio is rapidly becoming a key player in cell and gene therapy, promising to turn the state into a Silicon Valley for this cutting-edge medical technology.
Cell and gene therapy are related fields that share the goal of modifying genetic material to fight diseases or to improve the way the body functions. The potential is enormous, both in patient outcomes and investor profit.
This CMC forum was recorded live on March 16, 2022.
The panelists are:
Samantha M. Jaglowski, MD, Physician and Associate Professor-Clinical in Leukemia Research, The James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University
Timothy J. Miller, Ph.D., CEO, President, and Co-Founder, Forge Biologics
Eli Phillips Jr., PharmD, Vice President for Specialty Solutions, Cardinal Health
The host is Eddie Pauline, President and CEO of BioOhio.
CMC’s Optimal Health Series is presented by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and by Nationwide Children's Hospital. This forum was sponsored by Cardinal Health, BioOhio, Armatus Bio, Andelyn Biosciences, and by JobsOhio
Experts say diversity is the presence of differences that may include ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, political perspective, and other factors.
This week’s CMC forum explores what diversity – plus equity and inclusion - means for organizations and companies that are interested in understanding the true meaning and value of DEI and in doing the right thing.
This CMC forum was recorded live on March 9, 2022.
The panelists are:
Angela Bretz, SVP and Chief Diversity Equity and Inclusion Officer, Nationwide
Tanny Crane, President and CEO of Crane Group
Jona Hilario, Ph.D., Statewide Co-Director, OPAWL – Building AAPI Feminist Leadership
Anthony Wilson, Ph.D., Chief Diversity Officer, Columbus Metropolitan Library
The host is Ralph Smithers, Jr., AVP, Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Community Relations, Encova Insurance
Today’s forum is sponsored by Barnes and Thornburg, CoverMyMeds, Crane Group, and Encova Insurance, with support from WBNS 10TV.
This week’s CMC forum unpacks a new report focused on Ohio’s post pandemic economy that’s built around questions for the next Ohio governor. Our panelists will discuss the profound changes the state has faced since the last report in 2018 and what the future holds for a post-pandemic Ohio.
This CMC forum was recorded live on March 2, 2022.
The panelists are:
William Shkurti, Distinguished Adjunct Professor with The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Fran Stewart, Ph.D., Researcher and Writer with The Ohio Manufacturing Institute and The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs
The host is Tom Suddes, Assistant Professor of Instruction at Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, and a Member of the Editorial Board at The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com.
CMC’s Political Series is presented by The Ohio Farm Bureau and sponsored by Hannah News Service.
Today’s forum partner was The League of Women Voters of Metro Columbus.
Downtown Columbus is our region’s largest employment center with ninety thousand jobs, a number steadily growing prior to the pandemic.
Now, work-from-home trends threaten to undermine downtown’s vibrancy. This CMC forum maps out the future trajectory of downtown Columbus with a panel of experts.
This CMC forum was recorded live on February 23, 2022.
The panelists are:
Marc Conte, Executive Director, Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts
Michael Coleman, Partner, Public Affairs and Government Law Group, Ice Miller, and Former Mayor of the City of Columbus
Jeff Edwards, President and CEO, Edwards Companies
The host is Mark Ferenchik, Columbus Neighborhoods/Urban Issues Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company, Installed Building Products, and by Marker, Inc.
Ohioans aren’t used to bare store shelves, apart from occasional pre-snowstorm emergencies. And while most U.S. stores are far from empty, some items have become noticeably harder to find during the pandemic. At play in this crisis of the world’s supply chains are many interlocked circumstances.
At this week’s CMC forum we’ll untangle the global supply chain crisis and explore the ways Ohio is helping to fix it.
This CMC forum was recorded live on February 16, 2022.
The panelists are:
Ken Ackerman, Founder and Lead Consultant, K. B. Ackerman Company
Dr. Keely Croxton, Professor of Logistics, Department of Marketing and Logistics at the Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business
Charles Goodwin, Director of Operations and Aviation Business Services for the Columbus Regional Airport Authority
The host is Eleanor Kennedy, Assistant Managing Editor of Columbus Business First
This forum was sponsored by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.
American students have gone from one-room schoolhouses to keeping up with a global economy moving at the speed of light.
While technology advances faster and faster, America’s educational institutions move at the rate at which students can learn and the two are often out of synch. Across America, wide gaps also exist between students in the educational opportunities around them.
This week’s CMC forum explores the promise of equitable education and its importance to a stable democracy.
This CMC forum was recorded live on February 9, 2022.
The speakers are:
Rebecca Kemper, Ph.D., Researcher with The Center for Research and Evaluation at COSI
Kyra Schloenbach, Chief Academic Officer, Columbus City Schools
Dr. La’Tonia Stiner-Jones, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Associate Professor of Practice, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University College of Engineering
The host is David DeWitt, Executive Editor of The Ohio Capital Journal.
This forum was sponsored by Communities in Schools of Ohio.
Title IX, part of a landmark civil rights law passed in 1972, changed the sports world forever. Title IX barred discrimination based on sex in education programs that receive federal aid.
Today, we explore the results of fifty years of Title IX with a panel of experts who unpack the changes from this landmark law on the world of sports.
This CMC forum was recorded live on February 2, 2022.
The speakers are:
Janine Oman, Senior Deputy Director of Athletics, The Ohio State University
Dr. Kimberlee Kiehl, Chief Operating Officer, Ohio High School Athletic Association
Dawn Stewart, Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics, Otterbein University
Linda Logan, Executive Director, Greater Columbus Sports Commission
The host is Michael Arace, Sports Columnist, The Columbus Dispatch
This forum was sponsored by Porter Wright Morris & Arthur and by The Ohio State University.
Columbus, Ohio is home to nonprofits and social enterprises that embody a laser-focused approach to solving social challenges with initiatives that produce results backed by data.
When working to solve social issues, the pitfalls to well-meaning organizations can be many, including “mission creep” and the temptation to analyze results through rose-colored lenses.
For organizations that manage to stay laser-focused – and that bluntly self-assess their impact – genuine social change, even a global scale, is possible.
Today, we’ll explore the determination needed to drive social change, and the lessons learned by Central Ohio experts whose efforts are making Columbus – and the world - a better place.
This CMC forum was recorded live on January 26, 2022.
The speakers are:
Ann Bischoff, CEO, Star House
Greg Bixler, Co-Founder and CEO, Design Outreach
Vicki Bowen Hewes, CEO, SocialVentures
The host is Laura Smith, Vice President of Programs & Learning with Philanthropy Ohio.
This forum was sponsored by CareSource and by Grange Insurance.
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped office life like no other event in memory. While workers in many professions remain tied to place-based work, millions of office workers have been set free by technology to work anywhere in the world.
But has team cohesion and morale suffered as a result? Should the pandemic’s changes be the “new normal” for office workers, or will a hybrid work environment be the ideal future that delivers teamwork and flexibility?
Today, we’ll explore the future of the office in Columbus with a panel of leading experts.
This CMC forum was recorded live on January 19, 2022.
The speakers are:
Diane Flinders, Vice President of Sales, King Business Interiors
Ira Sharfin, CEO, Continental Office
David White, Director of Workforce and Talent Solutions, One Columbus
The host is Bonnie Meibers, Reporter, Columbus Business First.
What are the challenges facing today’s young people, how do they see themselves, and how can the adults in their lives best help them to succeed in life? How can young people be placed “at promise” as opposed to “at risk”?
Researching these critical questions – and working to find and promote the right answers – is the pioneering 501(C)3 nonprofit Black Girl Rising.
Headed by fran frazier (who spells her name in lower case), Black Girl Rising is working to steer Black girls in Ohio ages 11 to 18 to success through a multipronged approach that involves research, advocacy, community-based work, and inclusive and honest conversation.
This CMC forum was recorded live on January 12, 2022.
The speakers are:
fran frazier, Principal Investigator of Black Girl Rising
Camille R. Quinn, Ph.D., Assistant Professor with the College of Social Work at The Ohio State University
Aliya Horton, a Charter Member of the Rise Sister Rise Black Girl Think Tank, and 3rd-Year Pre-Law Student at The Ohio State University
The host is Tonisha Johnson, Anchor and Reporter for Spectrum News 1 Ohio
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Foundation and by PNC.
2021 was tumultuous for Central Ohio’s economy, so just what will the new year bring? At this week’s CMC forum, we’ll hear what 2022 might like for the Columbus economy from a panel of leading experts. This CMC forum was recorded live on January 5, 2022.
The speakers are:
Bill LaFayette, Owner of Regionomics
Doug Buchanan, Editor in Chief of Columbus Business First
Fadhel Kaboub, Associate Professor of Economics with Denison University, and President of the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity
The host is Mark Williams, Business Reporter for The Columbus Dispatch.
This forum was sponsored by BDO, Fifth Third Bank, The Robert Weiler Company, and by Keeler & Nadler Family Wealth.
The forum’s partner was The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio with support from The Columbus Dispatch.
Today’s forum, recorded live on December 15, 2021, examines the decline of many American malls and the forces shaping the country’s changing retail climate. Once a staple of both the suburban and urban scene, the American shopping mall has suffered a visible decline in recent years.
While many high-end malls continue to expand, others have closed.
Conventional wisdom blames the rise of online retail, the declining popularity of department stores, and COVID lockdowns, but a significant factor is the shrinking American middle class.
Today we’ll hear about the forces shaping retail from:
Yaromir Steiner, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Steiner and Associates.
The host is Matt Barnes, Morning Co-Anchor with NBC4 Today.
This forum was sponsored by The Easton Community Foundation and GBQ.
Columbus developers are betting big on the long-term appeal of downtown, with a massive new project on the Scioto Peninsula, a state-of-the-art soccer stadium for the Columbus Crew now open to fans, and office and residential projects rising in and around downtown.
We'll hear what the future holds in store for downtown Columbus from leading developer Bob White, Jr.
This forum was sponsored by The Robert Weiler Company and Smith and Hale LLC. It was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House on December 8, 2021.
The speaker is:
Bob White, Jr., CEO of The Daimler Group.
The host is NBC4 Anchor Colleen Marshall.
This week’s CMC forum welcomes former and current editors of The Columbus Dispatch for an in-depth discussion about the past, present, and future of journalism.
This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Partnership with support from The Columbus Dispatch. It was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House on December 1, 2021.
The speakers are:
Mike Curtin, Former Editor and Former Associate Publisher of The Columbus Dispatch
Luke Feck, Former Editor of The Columbus Dispatch
Ben Marrison, Former Editor of The Columbus Dispatch and current Chief of Staff for the Ohio Attorney General
Alan D. Miller, current Executive Editor of The Columbus Dispatch and Regional Editor for Gannett Ohio
The host is Ann Fisher, a former Columbus Dispatch columnist, state editor, editorial writer, and reporter, and since 2009, the executive producer and host of WOSU Public Media’s All Sides with Ann Fisher. Fisher also covered the Statehouse for nine years for The Toledo Blade.
The Supreme Court of Ohio decides the state’s most difficult legal cases. This week’s extraordinary CMC forum welcomes four former and current Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio for a behind-the-curtains look at Ohio’s highest court.
This forum was sponsored by The Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer Legacy Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association, Ice Miller LLP, Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP, and by The Robert Weiler Company.
This program is CMC’s annual Steve and Vanessa Marks Legacy in Civic Engagement Forum. It was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House on November 17, 2021.
The speakers are:
Former Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio Yvette McGee Brown, Herbert Brown, and Mary DeGenaro.
The host is current Justice of the Supreme Court of Ohio Patrick Fischer.
Columbus, Ohio will soon welcome some 350 Afghan refugees, just part of the many thousands coming to the United States following with withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021. Hear from leaders working to help these refugees create new homes in Columbus.
This CMC forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on November 10, 2021.
This forum was sponsored by The United Way of Central Ohio. The forum partner was The Columbus Council on World Affairs.
The speakers are:
Noorgul Dada, President, Hidayah Institute, and Senior Engineer, PJM Interconnection
Nicol Ghazi, Executive Director, Muslim Family Services of Ohio
Nadia Kasvin, Co-Founder and Director, US Together, Inc.
Angela Plummer, Executive Director, Community Refugee and Immigration Services (CRIS)
The host is Yilun Cheng, Immigration Reporter for the Columbus Dispatch
America’s small business creation rate has been dropping for decades. The country’s entrepreneurial spirit seems alive and well, so what’s discouraging entrepreneurs from starting new small businesses?
With a panel of experts, this CMC forum explores what the future holds for small business entrepreneurs in Central Ohio and unpacks what the region is doing to help entrepreneurs and small businesses start, grow, and thrive.
This CMC forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on November 3, 2021.
This forum was sponsored by Steptoe & Johnson. The forum partner was the Central Ohio African American Chamber of Commerce.
The speakers are:
Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., Owner of Regionomics® LLC
Steve Fireman, President and General Counsel for the Economic and Community Development Institute
Cheryl Turnbull, Senior Director of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship at The Ohio State University
The host is Susan Post, Editor of TheMetropreneur.com and Associate Editor of ColumbusUnderground.com
With the results of the latest U.S. census in hand, lawmakers across the country are now redrawing the lines of 429 House districts and over seven thousand legislative districts.
This CMC forum explores the implications of redistricting on elections in Ohio, and what redrawn legislative maps will mean to Ohio voters.
This forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on October 27, 2021 and was sponsored by Hannah News Service. The forum partner was the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus
The speakers are:
Kyle Kondik, Author of The Long Red Thread: How Democratic Dominance Gave Way to Republican Advantage in US House Elections, and Managing Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball
Jen Miller, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio
Sam Gresham, Owner and Principal of Samuel Gresham International (SGI), and Chairman of Common Cause Ohio
Terry Casey, Republican Consultant and former Ohio election official
The host is Jessie Balmert, Reporter with USA Today’s Network Ohio Bureau
This week, CMC features Columbus native Wil Haygood. His new book, Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World, examines 100 years of Black movies—from Gone with the Wind to Blaxploitation films to Black Panther—using the struggles and triumphs of the artists and their films as a prism to explore Black culture, civil rights, and racism in America.
This CMC forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on October 20, 2021 and was sponsored by Crabbe, Brown, and James, LLP and RAMA Consulting Group
The speakers are:
Wil Haygood, Author of Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World
David Filipi, Director of Film/Video, Wexner Center for the Arts
The host is Ray Paprocki, Publisher and General Manager, Dispatch Magazines
Stonewall Columbus was founded in 1981 to increase the visibility and acceptance of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community in Columbus. Today’s forum explores Stonewall’s 40-year history and discusses what the future holds for Central Ohio’s LGBTQ+ community.
CMC’s annual Lynn Greer Legacy in Civic Engagement Forum, which celebrates inclusion and equity for the LGBTQ+ community, was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on October 13, 2021.
This forum was sponsored by AARP Ohio and Ulmer & Berne LLP. The forum partner was PFLAG Columbus.
Please note this forum includes a use of a term that some listeners may find offensive.
The speakers are:
LeeAnn Massucci, Owner and Principal of Massucci Law Group
Densil Porteous, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus
Jose Rodriguez, Director of Community Relations with Equitas Health
The host is Megan Kilgore, Auditor for the City of Columbus.
Tom Dailey, Chair of the Tom Dailey Foundation and Member of the Columbus Metropolitan Club Board of Trustees, delivered the forum's concluding remarks.
After a nationwide search, Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announced the selection of Elaine Bryant as the City’s new chief of police on June 2, 2021. Chief Bryant has made history as Columbus’ first chief from outside the division of police and its first African American female Chief.
This forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on October 6, 2021 and was supported by The Columbus Dispatch.
The speakers are:
Elaine Bryant, Chief of Police for the City of Columbus
The host is Kelly Lecker, Managing Editor with The Columbus Dispatch.
How can inclusive housing strengthen Columbus? Hear from an expert panel about the myriad ways housing affects a community - from the quality of life, ease of transportation, employment, health care, and access to good schools.
This CMC forum was sponsored by AARP Ohio, the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation, the Columbus Foundation, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Move to PROSPER, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, and the United Way of Central Ohio.
This forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on September 29, 2021.
The speakers are:
Richard Kahlenberg, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation
Lori Ann Feibel, Council President, City of Bexley
Calvin Cooper, CEO and Co-Founder of Rhove
The host is Dr. Kim M. Campbell, Director of Enrollment Management at the Mount Carmel College of Nursing
Construction cranes continue to dominate downtown Columbus. Much of this progress is the work of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, a private non-profit with a mission to lead development in the heart of Ohio’s capital. We’ll hear about CDDC’s current projects and learn what lies ahead for downtown Columbus.
Today’s CMC forum, “Columbus Downtown Development Corporation Review,” was sponsored by GBQ, ICE Miller, and MKSK. This forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on September 22, 2021.
The speakers are:
Greg Davies, CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
Michael Stevens, Director of the City of Columbus Department of Development
Amy Taylor, President of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation
The host is Doug Buchanan, Editor in Chief of Columbus Business First
In fewer than three decades, Central Ohio is projected to be home to three million people. Covering just 40 square miles in 1950, the City of Columbus now stretches over 225 square miles. Just how all these residents will move through this vast space is just part of the challenge facing the LinkUS mobility initiative, the topic of today’s CMC forum.
“The LinkUS Columbus Mobility Initiative” was sponsored by HNTB and by AARP Ohio. This forum was recorded before a live audience following COVID protocols at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on September 15, 2021.
The speakers are:
Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus
Christie Angel, President and Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Columbus
Shannon G. Hardin, President of Columbus City Council
Monica Jones, Chief Equity Officer with the Central Ohio Transit Authority
William Murdock, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission
The host is Mike Thompson, Chief Content Director of News and Public Affairs with WOSU Public Media
We all remember where we were on September 11, 2001, and probably find it difficult to believe it was 20 years ago. Today’s panelists were in places we heard about on the news: New York, the Pentagon, and stranded on a plane outside the country. Today we’ll hear their compelling personal accounts of September 11, 2001. This forum was recorded before a live audience at the Boat House in Columbus, Ohio on September 8, 2021.
The speakers are:
Scott Light, Journalist and owner of Scott Light Consulting
Shirley Brooks-Jones, Delta Flight 15 Passenger
Special Guest Joe Comartin, Canada’s Consul General to Ohio
And our host, Jerry Revish, Retired Television News Anchor, WBNS-10TV
While the uncertainty of the past 18 months has challenged us, some things remained constant. One of those, thankfully, has been the Columbus Metropolitan Club Wednesday forums. Throughout the time of COVID restrictions, CMC presented newsworthy, relevant, and current programs every week via livestreaming to thousands of viewers and in house whenever possible.
We’re grateful for the hundreds of people who willingly came to the CMC stage at the Boat House to share their stories, their insights, their expertise, and their unique and varied perspectives.
As a community, we are indebted to the 13 women leaders whose minds conceptualized an organization that welcomed everyone to the conversation. Their vision created the Columbus Metropolitan Club, which held its first forum on September 10, 1976.
We are happy to celebrate their achievement and recognize 45 years of community conversations! The September 1 CMC lunch forum celebrates co-founders Sally Bloomfield and Mary Lazarus as they reminisce about the past decades and explore the future with a new generation of CMC leaders, represented by CMC Board of Trustees members and forum co-hosts Josh Harrison and Toni Bell.
Featuring
Sally Bloomfield, Co-Founder Columbus Metropolitan Club, and Partner, Bricker & Eckler
Mary Lazarus, Co-Founder, Columbus Metropolitan Club
Toni Bell, CEO and Lead for Learning Development, Phoenix Consulting Company, LLC., and Member, CMC Board of Trustees
Josh Harrison, President, Improving – Columbus, and Member, CMC Board of Trustees
Working at a job that keeps your family comfortable enough to own a home, pursue education and have reliable transportation and healthcare were once attainable goals of the middle class. But as we look around at the country today, we see more and more Americans being squeezed by the rising costs of the same things that once felt rightfully within reach.
After recovering from the Great Recession in 2007-2009 the U.S. has enjoyed 10 years of a bull-market economy, but the median income of middle-class households in 2016 is about the same as it was in 2000. Any financial gains that have been experienced have been modest in comparison to higher-income households, creating an ever-widening disparity between the groups.
With the stagnating wages and growing income disparity, policy makers struggle on how to define, or redefine, the American middle class. Growing struggles with eviction and restrictive building codes, a lack of point-to-point transit amid an urban sprawl, and high health insurance deductibles and surprise billing prompt new discussions about what it takes to stay ‘middle class’ in the 21st century.
Featuring
Jennifer Carlson, Associate VP External Relations & Advocacy OSU Wexner Medical Center and Health Science Colleges
Michael Pires, Project Manager, John Glenn College of Public Affairs
Laura Koprowski, Executive Director, Ohio Public Transit Association
Hosted by Edward [Ned] Hill, Ph.D., Professor of Economic Development at The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs and the College of Engineering’s Ohio Manufacturing Institute
The Ohio State University is top tier in both men’s and women’s athletics competition across many sports. College sports are a $13 billion dollar industry with Ohio State 2018 sports revenue bringing in more than $205 million with $110 million in revenue from football alone. Should athletes be paid?
There are myriad reasons against paying athletes, not the least of which are the elimination of amateur status and the prioritization of athletics over academics. On the other hand, you have thousands of young people who sacrifice their time and bodies for what is essentially entertainment. While there is a lot of revenue in college sports, most programs aren’t profitable, begging the question of where salary money would come from and how would it be equitably paid between schools and players. Would only the biggest stars get paid?
Coming off a banner year for the football team, we welcome Gene Smith, Athletic Director, The Ohio State University. Maria Durant, Reporter, WSYX ABC 6, will interview.
On Aug. 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting American women the right to vote. As our nation celebrates 100 years of women’s suffrage, we look back at the push for women – including minority segments of African American and Native American women – to not only have their voices heard and counted among the public, but also among our country’s leadership.
While 50.8 percent of the U.S. population is female, only 23.2 percent of the House of Representatives and 26 percent of the Senate is female. At the state level in Ohio, only 28.9 percent of legislators and 29.3 percent of elected officials are female. And to this day, our country has yet to elect a woman to the Oval Office.
It was once said by Madeleine Albright that women in power “can be counted on to raise issues that others overlook, to support ideas that others oppose, and to seek an end to abuses that others accept.” In this forum, our panelists will look at the women’s suffrage movement in the context of the political landscape we see today and explore why women do not have more of a presence in today’s politics.
Featuring Megan Wood, Director, Cultural Resources Division, Ohio History Connection, Jen Miller, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Ohio, and Treva Lindsey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Women’s Gender and Sexuality Studies, The Ohio State University. Hosted by Ann Fisher, host of All Sides with Ann Fisher at WOSU Public Media.
With more than 8,000 nonprofit organizations employing more than 75,000 people in Franklin County alone, board governance is a critical element of our community’s health.
Nonprofit organizations are woven throughout the fabric of our society from hospitals, universities, and museums to food pantries, youth sports leagues, and civic associations. With nonprofits’ vast appeal, nearly all aspects of American life are impacted by board governance.
The panel will discuss what’s working and what’s not in terms of board roles and responsibilities; board composition including diversity, equity, and inclusion practices; board engagement; and the partnership between board and staff. Best practices at the national and local levels will be discussed so that guests learn new ideas and insights.
Featuring Andy Davis, Senior Director, Education and Outreach, BoardSource, Kerri Mollard, Founder and CEO, Mollard Consulting, Deborah Aubert Thomas, President & CEO, Philanthropy Ohio, and host Michael Bongiorno, AIA, Managing Principal & Design Director, Columbus Regional Office, AECOM.
Going by data alone, the US economy is thriving. The national GDP is growing at 2% and Ohio’s is growing at 1.3%. Job growth and employment numbers are strong but wage growth is slim to none. The effects of punitive tariffs and trade disputes are creating uncertainties in manufacturing and agriculture but the new USMCA appears to be well received. Ask the average American and their personal story may paint a different picture.
Join CMC for our annual first forum of the New Year featuring Bill LaFayette, Ph.D., Founder, Regionomics, as he releases his 2020 Columbus Economic Forecast. LaFayette will be joined by George Mokrzan, Ph.D., Director of Economics, Huntington National Bank, and host Mark Williams, reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.
Recorded on 01/08/2020 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
From doorbells to refrigerators and pet food dispensers it seems like technology is everywhere! And, when it comes to gifts, the tech gadgets and toys category provides an endless array of choices. From gaming to VR we’ve invited some of our favorite techie experts to choose and review their favorites in a lighthearted discussion on what they think are the coolest, techiest and most practical gifts and gadgets for the holidays. Plus, come a little early (11 a.m.) to try out virtual reality demos and other fun items on display.
Featuring Kristy Campbell, COO, Rev1 Ventures, Will Burrus, Chief Technology Officer, Lower.com, Justin Kogge, Owner, Game Arena, and host Alex Bandar, Founder & Chief Mischief Maker, Idea Foundry.
This is the entire event description verbatim from the website. Paste the following paragraph at the end: Recorded on December 4, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s no secret that Columbus City Schools have struggled for many years. The attendance scrubbing scandal of several years ago, continued poor grades on the statewide evaluations, the threat of a state takeover and an awkward 14-month long process to find a new superintendent after Dan Good’s retirement have left voters, parents, the business community wondering what can be done.
March 2019, enter new Superintendent Talisa Dixon. In the few short months since, what is her evaluation of the city’s schools? What initiatives has she put in place and what are her plans to improve performance and community support? What is her vision for the future of our schools?
Featuring Talisa Dixon, Ed.D., Columbus City Schools Superintendent, interviewed by Alan Miller, Editor of The Columbus Dispatch
Recorded on November 6, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
There are currently 698 LGBTQ elected officials in the US, a 25% increase over 2018. However, that is only .13% of all elected officials, countered against an LGBTQ population of approximate 4.5%.
To discuss the strides made and what it's like to be an LGBTQ person in political office, we welcome Annise Parker, President & CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Institute and former Mayor of Houston; Shannon Hardin, Columbus City Council President; Megan Kilgore, Columbus City Auditor; and host Mary Jo Hudson, Partner at Squire Patton Boggs.
Recorded on October 18, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
There's no question that the rise of the internet, and eventually e-readers and smartphones, had an immense impact on the very purpose of brick and mortar libraries. Doomsayers predicted the end of print media in general and books and specific, and that, coupled with the Great Recession, saw staff layoffs and big changes in how libraries were used by the public.
If large spaces in libraries weren't needed anymore, how could they better use that space to serve their communities? If easy access to books wasn't what people needed as much anymore, what did they need to get ahead?
Libraries started collaborating more with schools to help students achieve better kindergarten readiness, stronger reading skills, and better grades through tutoring, help centers, and in-home guidance. Adult populations were suddenly going to libraries for support with finding jobs, starting businesses, and literacy training to help the 14% of the US population who still can't read. And of course, the physical spaces needed to adapt and change to meet these new needs.
Ohio is extremely fortunate to have strong, innovative libraries. To discuss how libraries have changed and continue to adapt, we welcome Patrick Losinski (CEO of the Columbus Metropolitan Library), Tim Kambitsch (Executive Director of the Dayton Metro Library), Jonathan Moody (President and Architectural Designer at Moody Nolan), and host Michelle Francis (Executive Director of the Ohio Library Council).
Recorded on October 9, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Dayton has had a challenging year. In May, it was a controversial KKK rally in that garnered national coverage for its drama as much as the community's anti-hate response. Just a few days later, it was the tornadoes the wreaked havoc in area, causing widespread destruction, injuries, and even deaths. And then came August 4th. Nine lives ended, a community in shock, and suddenly Dayton, in tandem with El Paso, was being discussed the world over. Was it finally the tipping point for gun violence in America?
In the two months since the shootings, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley has been thrust into the forefront as not only an advocate for massive changes to gun laws, but a model of leadership and the kind of old school, community-focused mayor that seems fairly absent in modern times.
She's been profiled in the Washington Post, interviewed by countless news outlets, and now CMC is pleased to welcome Mayor Whaley to our stage to discuss her reflections on the past year, what change she hopes to see as a result, and what the future holds for Dayton. Jerry Revish (Co-Anchor at WBNS 10TV) will host.
Recorded on October 2, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The National Democratic Institute's Chair Madeleine Albright says that women in power "can be counted on to raise issues that others overlook, to support ideas that others oppose, and to seek an end to abuses that others accept."
Yet, while 50.8% of the US population is female, only 23.7% of Congress is female. At the state level, only 28.9% of the legislators and 29.3% of elected executive officials are female.
CMC presents a diverse panel to discuss women in political office, featuring Kate Black (Author of REPRESENT: The Woman’s Guide to Running for Office and Changing the World and a policy advisor in the federal government), Betty Montgomery (Of Counsel Attorney to Mac Murray & Shuster and former Attorney General of Ohio), Priscilla Tyson (Columbus City Councilwoman), and host Jo Ingles (Reporter at the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau).
Recorded on September 25, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio
Many children in Franklin County are born into complex circumstances and work hard to navigate life absent of consistent and thoughtful guidance from a community of caring and engaged adults. The result is "Opportunity Youth", 18-24-year-olds who are unstably housed, not on track to graduate high school or further educational programs, and not earning a sustainable wage.
Building on previous research from two previous reports, the Children's Defense Fund has provided a fresh look at Franklin County Opportunity Youth. To reinforce the findings of this report, a diverse cross-section of community partners have come together to ensure that all youth enter adulthood prepared to pursue opportunities to live well.
To discuss Opportunity Youth and what's being done to support them, we welcome Tracy Nájera, Ph.D. (Executive Director of Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio), Ann Bischoff (CEO of Star House), and host Tonisha Johnson (Reporter at Spectrum News 1).
Recorded on September 18, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Discussions and arguments on gun policy have become a part of every day political discourse. Unfortunately, so have mass shootings. A hot-button topic for many of Ohio's elected officials, the recent mass murder in Dayton has propelled it to the forefront.
On August 6, Governor Mike DeWine released his 17-point gun policy that includes items such as expanded background checks and red flag laws. After the initial fanfare faded, many concerned citizens are left wondering if the State Legislature is going to act, as they have been reluctant to do up to this point.
Enter the Ohio Mayor's Alliance (OMA), a bi-partisan group of mayors from 20 of Ohio's largest cities. The group was formed to use their collective voices of Ohio's urban and rural populations to inform and influence the state's sometimes slow-moving legislature. OMA had already scheduled a visit to the Statehouse on September 18 to discuss the red-flag laws before the Dayton shootings took place. Now, their passion for change is even greater.
On September 11, we welcome Christina Muryn (Mayor of Findlay), David Scheffler (Mayor of Lancaster), and Ben Kessler (Mayor of Bexley) as they join host Andy Chow (Journalist at Ohio Statehouse News Bureau) to discuss their ideas on gun policy.
Recorded on September 11, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
A lot has changed since Honda's early days in Ohio when they were producing motorcycles with just 64 workers. As trends and technologies have advanced, so have the models being produced at their Marysville plant and the types of workers producing them.
With the rise of artificial intelligence, how have skills and jobs changed? How are they attracting and keeping qualified talent? And, of course, how are the automobiles themselves changing?
To discuss Honda's 40 years in Ohio and the economic and technological impact they've had, we welcome Tom Shoupe (Executive Vice President of Honda of America Mfg., Inc.), Scot McLemore (Manager of Talent Acquisition and Deployment at Honda North America, Inc.), Lewis Gleason (Equipment Service Technician at Honda North America), and host Dan Eaton (Business Reporter at Columbus Business First).
Recorded on September 4, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
A lot has happened in the years since Bob Taft (1999-2007) and Ted Strickland (2007-2011) left the office of Governor of the State of Ohio.
Join Governors Taft and Strickland as they recount their years in office and reflect on current affairs with Colleen Marshall (Co-Anchor at WCMH NBC4) at our CMC Annual Meeting and Summer Celebration.
Recorded on August 28, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
These days, it seems like there is an Amazon Prime box on every other doorstep, and even brick and mortar stores are pushing their online platforms because of greater selection and quick delivery. But is e-commerce really dominating the industry like we believe?
So what's the reality? More physical retail stores are opening than closing. Brands that are adapting and evolving are leading the pack, whereas some big box stores (like Sears and JCPenney) or big square footage flagship stores (like Barney's and Saks Fifth Avenue) are filing bankruptcy.
Featuring Roger Blackwell, Ph.D. (Retired Marketing Professor), Lee Peterson (Executive Vice President of Thought Leadership & Marketing at WD Partners), Jeni Britton Bauer (Founder of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams), and Mark Williams (Reporter at The Columbus Dispatch).
Recorded on August 21, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio native John Dean became a household name in the 1970s as the White House Counsel who participated in the infamous Watergate scandal that rocked the United States. Dean served as a witness for the prosecutors of the break-in and cover-up and ultimately testified before the Senate Watergate Committee, after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice charges.
In his post-White House career, Dean became an investment banker and author, writing eleven books about Watergate and Republican politics including Worse than Watergate and Conservatives without Conscience.
Dean’s name has been in the news a great deal in 2019, culminating in June with his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee where he testified about the implications of the Mueller Report.
John Dean, along with collaborator James Robenalt (Partner at Thompson Hine LLP and author of January 1973: Watergate, Roe V. Wade, Vietnam, and the Month That Changed America Forever), will talk about the legacy of Watergate and share his perspective on current events.
In September 2017, it was announced that the Pittsburgh-Columbus-Chicago route was named one of the 10 finalists in the Hyperloop One Global Challenge. Since then, MORPC has partnered with Virgin Hyperloop One to create the Rapid Speed Transportation Initiative.
A lot of developments have occurred since we held a forum on Hyperloop One last summer, so we’re excited to welcome Virgin Hyperloop One CEO Jay Walder and host Frederic Bertley, Ph.D. (CEO of COSI) to hear more!
Recorded on August 7, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
When we think of human trafficking we often imagine migrants crammed in ships or trucks struggling to gain entry into a different country. But the reality of trafficking is much different.
Ohio has the fourth-worst record for human trafficking in the country. A study released by the University of Cincinnati in March of this year identified 1,032 trafficking victims between 2014 and 2016. An additional 4,209 people were at risk of being trafficked. But sadly, those numbers are believed to be much higher. Only a small percentage of victims are properly identified by law enforcement and social service agencies.
What’s more shocking is that 86% of these were minors, largely female. Domestic abuse, homelessness, truancy, and drug uses are some of the more common gateways to the world of trafficking which can include sex work and manual labor.
To discuss this troublesome topic, we welcome Esther Flores (CEO of 1DivineLine2Health), Melissa Rienhard (Commercial Services Director at CleanTurn), and host JoAnne Viviano (Health and Medicine Reporter at The Columbus Dispatch).
Recorded on July 31, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
You may have heard one (or hundreds) of StoryCorps' iconic episodes on NPR at some point in the last 16 years. The 3-4 minute, deeply personal, first-person stories tell the tales of America. And now, they're coming to Columbus.
StoryCorps is partnering with WOSU to record and share the stories of Columbus throughout the month of July as a part of their Mobile Tour. StoryCorps is a non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and share humanity's stories in order to build connections between people and create a more just and compassionate world. They partner with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio to ensure these stores are shared with the nation.
Our panel will feature Ava Ahmadbeigi (Site Manager of StoryCorps Mobile Tour), Ruth Milligan (Founder and Managing Director of Articulation), Tom Rieland (General Manager of WOSU Public Media), and host Ann Fisher (Host of All Sides with Ann Fisher on WOSU).
Recorded on July 24, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Ohio’s Sherrod Brown has served in several key positions at both the state and federal level, starting his political career in 1974. Now a U.S. Senator, Brown shares the political spotlight with his daughter, Elizabeth, who launched her political service as a Columbus City Councilmember in 2015 and serves as its President Pro Tempore.
Scott Light (Anchor at WBNS 10TV) will discuss with the Browns what it’s like to be a multi-generational political family and why they believe public service is so important to every American.
Recorded on July 19, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
E. Gordon Gee, Ph.D., has one of the most storied careers in academic leadership, having held more university presidencies than any other American. Most notably, he served as the president of The Ohio State University from 1990 to 1998 and 2007 to 2013, and currently, he serves as the President of West Virginia University.
We’re pleased to welcome Dr. Gee for what will no doubt be a colorful conversation with host and biographer Herb Asher, Ph.D., (Professor Emeritus of Political Science at The Ohio State University).
Recorded on July 17, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Rickenbacker is home to a cargo-only airport, a rail inter-modal yard, and over 75 million square feet of industrial and distribution space that employs over 24,000 people. It’s also host to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, which is home to the Air Force 121st Air Refueling Wing and an Ohio Army National Guard support facility, as well as Navy and Marine Corps Reserve units.
MORPC and its partners recently released the Rickenbacker Area Study, a community-driven study that provides recommendations to position the area as a complete community, as well as a successful international logistics hub. The study considers economic development factors, workforce mobility, housing affordability, and energy requirements.
Thea Walsh (Transportation and Infrastructure Director at MORPC) will present the findings of the study and will lead the panel discussion featuring Jeff Green (Assistant Administrator at the City of Groveport), James Schimmer (Director of Economic Development and Planning at Franklin County), and Shannetta Griffin (Chief Commercial Officer at the Columbus Regional Airport Authority).
Recorded on July 10, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
On May 3, the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio ruled that Ohio’s congressional districts, signed into law in 2011, constitute an “unconstitutional partisan gerrymander under the First and Fourteenth Amendments.”
The ruling required that the state must redraw district lines by June 14, but that order has been delayed. Ohio is one of several states to have its districts ruled unconstitutional while the US Supreme Court considers similar Maryland and North Carolina cases. (Opinions in these cases are due in June!)
Redistricting Ohio’s congressional maps has enormous political consequences and we are staying ahead of this breaking news with our panel which features Freda Levenson (Legal Director of the ACLU of Ohio), Daniel P. Tokaji (Associate Dean for Faculty and Ebersold Professor of Constitutional Law at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law), Terry Casey (Republican Strategist and Commentator), and host Mike Thompson (Chief Content Officer at WOSU).
Recorded on June 26, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Sports gambling is hugely popular throughout the world with an estimated $250 billion in bets made annually. The US already accounts for $40 billion of that, up from $20 billion in 2009, and is on pace to grow $10 billion annually.
However, it was only legal in the US in the state of Nevada - until May 2018 when the US Supreme Court made it permissible for individual states to pass their own laws surrounding sports gambling. Seven states took advantage of this change and instituted sports betting before the close of 2018, including West Virginia and Pennsylvania. (Indiana instituted it in 2019).
With the proposal of House Bill 194 and Senate Bill 111 Ohio became one of 29 states with pending legislation to permit sports betting. While the economic potential is enormous (consider the tax revenue), there are many concerns. Gambling addiction, regulatory questions, and the effect it has on teams, individual players (professional and amateur), and sports leagues leaves some people wondering if it's all too good to be true.
Featuring Nicole Metzgar-Schall (Corporate Counsel at Sportradar), Bruce Jones (Gambling Counselor at Maryhaven). Kevin Braig (Partner at Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP), and host Doug Buchanan (Editor in Chief at Columbus Business First).
Recorded on June 19, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Studies indicate that organizations with diverse leadership and staff are more innovative and successful. Central Ohio has a rapidly increasing, diverse population so business, government and nonprofits should adapt appropriately.
How can we build a thriving civic culture where varied perspectives come together to empower a shared community and, how do we thoughtfully become more inclusive of groups who have not traditionally had a seat at the table?
Featuring AJ Casey (Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus), Jackie Merkle (Supervisor of Equity and Inclusion at Olentangy Local Schools), Kevin Boyce (Franklin County Commissioner), and Nichole Barnes Marshall (Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at L Brands).
Recorded on June 12, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Prison populations are exploding. Overcrowded prisons lead to concerns about safety and human rights, not to mention the tremendous financial burden. Alongside this, we see an increase in drug-related incarcerations, especially those fueled by the opioid epidemic, which raises the perpetual discussion of the values of incarceration versus treatment. And of course, there is the age-old question about rehabilitation, post-prison life, and reintegration into society.
We are splitting this important topic into two separate forums. On May 22, we explored criminal sentence reform from the legal perspective. On June 5, the view will be from the community angle.
Our panel will feature Denise Robinson (President CEO of Alvis Inc.), Carter Stewart (Managing Director of the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation), Jodi Thomas (Franklin County Municipal Judge), and host Karen Kasler (Bureau Chief of Statehouse News).
Recorded on June 5, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
It’s a fact, there is an end of life for all of us.
And, of course, we all want to ensure that we, and our loved ones, die in the most dignified, humane, and comfortable circumstances. For most people in developed countries, palliative care and hospice ensure that these goals are achieved.
But, when you strip away these desires, concerns can be raised. The incredible expense. The lingering, sometimes protracted, decline. The emotional and psychological strain on the dying and their family members.
And then there are the sensitive questions of "how long should you keep someone going?" and "what about euthanasia?"
To discuss the myriad options and indeed challenges surrounding death, we welcome Ryan Nash, MD, MA (Director of The Ohio State University Center for Bioethics and Director of Division of Bioethics, Department of Biomedical Education and Anatomy), Robert Rivas (General Counsel for the Final Exit Network), and host Jo Ingles (Reporter at The Statehouse News Bureau).
Recorded on May 29, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Prison populations are exploding. Overcrowded prisons lead to concerns about safety and human rights, not to mention the tremendous financial burden. Alongside this, we see an increase in drug-related incarcerations, especially those fueled by the opioid epidemic, which raises the perpetual discussion of the values of incarceration versus treatment. And of course, there is the age-old question about rehabilitation, post-prison life, and reintegration into society. We dive into the deep end of this discussion by inviting three people who have made it a professional priority to reform criminal sentencing.
We are splitting this important topic into two separate forums. On May 22, we will explore criminal sentence reform from the legal perspective. On June 5, the view will be from the community angle.
We dive into the deep end of this discussion by inviting three people who have made it a professional priority to reform criminal sentencing: Larry Obhof (State Senator for District 22 and President of the Senate), Ron O'Brien (Franklin County Prosecutor), Zach Klein (Columbus City Attorney), and host Karen Kasler (Bureau Chief of the Statehouse News Bureau).
Recorded on May 22, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The Ohio State University has significant impact on the region and the state – from economic and workforce development to business partnerships and community engagement to driving breakthrough research solutions.
Approaching its 150th anniversary, Ohio State continues to look ahead and move forward. The students, jobs, industry, and technology of today are not the students, jobs, industry, and technology of tomorrow.
Ohio State President Michael V. Drake, M.D. will discuss what the university is doing now to define the future. Stacia Naquin (Co-Anchor at WSYX ABC 6) will interview.
Recorded on May 15, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
It is an accepted fact that school funding in the State of Ohio is as debated as it is confounding. Questions surrounding its equity, not to mention is constitutionality, have been plaguing the state for almost two decades.
Up until last week, it seemed that a new bipartisan approach was going to be implemented, but has now been held up for further refinement.
To understand the murky waters of educational funding, we welcome Howard Fleeter (Owner of Fleeter & Associates), Melissa Cropper (President of the Ohio Federation Of Teachers), Tracy Nájera (Executive Director of the Children’s Defense Fund), and host Jim Seigel (Ohio Statehouse reporter at The Columbus Dispatch).
Recorded on May 8, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The future of mobility in Ohio is at an interesting point with the state government considering increased funding for public transportation and the recently passed gas tax to maintain infrastructure.
We welcomed Jack Marchbanks, Ph.D., the new Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation. Marchbanks discussed the most pressing transportation needs and opportunities facing the state, including first and last mile mobility, infrastructure issues, and on-going funding. Colleen Marshall (Co-Anchor of WCMH NBC4) interviewed.
Recorded on May 1, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The gender wealth gap goes far beyond wage inequality and is a much more comprehensive framework for understanding a women's financial security over her lifetime. Wealth, the value of assets minus debts, enables women to be economically empowered. While building wealth can be a lifelong process, women, especially women of color, generally have fewer opportunities than men to accumulate wealth.
Our panel discussed the gender and racial wealth gap and community solutions to move towards economic empowerment for women, girls, and families. The conversation centered around findings from the recently commissioned report by The Institute for Women's Policy Research "Assets for Equity: Building Wealth for Women in Central Ohio", the first to look at the gender and racial wealth gap at a local level in Ohio.
We welcomed Christie Angel (President and CEO of YWCA Columbus), Suparna Bhaskaran, Ph.D. (Senior Researcher at The Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society), Darrick Hamilton (Executive Director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity), and host Kelley Griesmer (President and CEO of The Women's Fund of Central Ohio).
Recorded on April 24, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
We need only imagine for a moment what Columbus would be like if not for CAPA. A downtown void of music plays and performance, lifeless streets in the evenings, ghosts of historic and palatial theater spaces long gone. Thankfully, the vision and passion of a few stubborn visionaries have both preserved and persevered to allow a flourishing arts community to thrive. The future is bright as our cultural heritage marks time while surging forward.
To discuss CAPA's 50 years in Columbus, we welcome Chad Whittington (President and CEO at CAPA), Michael Coleman (Former Mayor of Columbus), Larry Fisher (CAPA Co-Founder), and host Mary Yost (Editorial Page Editor at The Columbus Dispatch).
Recorded on April 17, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Since Appalachia was unlocked for shale production it's become one of the most productive areas in the nation. Meanwhile, solar and wind projects are popping up across the state, and there is a proposed bailout of the state’s existing nuclear plants.
Regardless of the energy source there are on-going complications. Building project hit roadblocks, stakeholders have different goals, and regulations can slow down the process. Not to mention maintaining consistent, transparent communication among the government, businesses, and community... collaboration is the word!
To tackle where Ohio energy is headed, we welcome Allen Fore (Vice President of Public Affairs at Kinder Morgan), Dale Arnold (Director of Energy, Utility and Local Government Policy at the Ohio Farm Bureau), David Wilhelm (Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Hecate Energy LLC), and host Tristan Navera (Journalist at Columbus Business First).
Recorded on April 10, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) will be releasing its 2019 Health Value Dashboard on April 4th, a tool to track Ohio’s progress toward health value.
A better health value ranking indicates good health outcomes and lower healthcare spending relative to other states. Both components are equally important: we cannot maintain population health improvements if the costs are unsustainable and we shouldn’t strive for lower current spending at the expense of poor long-term population health.
In 2017, Ohio ranked 46th in health value, meaning Ohioans are living less healthy lives and spending more on health care than people in most other states.
Amy Rohling McGee (President of HPIO) will lead a panel discussion about the findings of the 2019 Health Value Dashboard with Allison Russo (State Representative of District 24 and Policy Research Director at Kennell and Associates, Inc.), Angela Dawson (Executive Director at the Ohio Commission on Minority Health), and Joe Mazzola, MPA (Franklin County Public Health Commissioner).
Recorded on April 3, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The concept of cloud computing has been in our midst since the late 2000s and quickly became part of our day-to-day lives. Anyone with a Google or iCloud account, Office 365, or a smart phone is now familiar with it, whether they want to be or not.
IT professionals love what cloud computing brings to the table: large-scale data storage without direct management or physical hardware, easy access around the world from myriad devices, and so much more. But many end users hate the idea of their information being stored "out there in the cloud" and fear the associated lack of control and security risks.
Featuring John Hrusovsky (President of JJH Consulting, LLC), Susan Gueli (Senior Vice President of CIO Infrastructure and Operations at Nationwide), David L. White (CIO at Battelle), and Branndon Kelley (VP and CIO at American Municipal Power).
Recorded on March 27, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
As the BIA announced at a CMC forum in January, Central Ohio has a massive shortage of affordable housing. To meet the coming need, there should be 14,000 housing units added per year instead of the 8,000 that are actually being built. And the housing that is available is skyrocketing in price due to supply and demand.
The causes of this shortage aren't simple ones. A dearth in skilled labor plus increases in material costs (largely due to tariffs) are hampering the construction business. And the lot size requirements and zoning rules in the various municipalities are two other huge problems.
To define and discuss Central Ohio's on-going issues with affordable housing, we welcome Curt Moody (CEO of Moody Nolan), Steven Schoeny (Director of the Department of Development at the City of Columbus), Leah Evans (Vice President of Real Estate Development at Homeport), and host Andy Chow (Journalist with the Ohio Statehouse News Bureau).
Recorded on March 20, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
News, especially the printed kind, faces strong headwinds. Fewer customers means declining revenues, and the "new media" and "social media" that is replacing traditional news sources are not beholden to time honored journalistic traditions of truth and integrity. Call "fake news" what it is, propaganda, a powerful tool for despots and dictators. We have a lot to talk about.
Featuring Michael Perry (Senior News Director for Content at The Cincinnati Enquirer), Alan D. Miller (Editor of The Columbus Dispatch), Chris Quinn, (President and Editor, Advance Ohio/Cleveland.com), and host Mike Curtin (retired journalist and former legislator).
Recorded on March 13, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The US Surgeon General first announced the grave health risks of tobacco use in 1964. 55 years later, Ohio has an above average rate of smokers among adults and more troubling, high schoolers.
The introduction of e-cigarettes in the early 2000s was heralded as a quasi-solution to the problem. E-cigarettes allow smokers to enjoy a puff without the tar or ash, but still delivers the nicotine they crave (or, to which they are addicted).
Turns out teens love vaping for its trendiness and fun flavors and it's becoming an epidemic. 37% of high school seniors say they have tried vaping, and evidence shows that consequently, they are much more likely to switch to traditional tobacco products.
To tackle this troubling matter, we welcome Robert Crane, M.D. (Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University and President of Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation), Mysheika W. Roberts, MD, MPH (Health Commissioner at Columbus Public Health), Micah Berman, J.D. (Associate Professor of Public Health and Law at The Ohio State University’s College of Public Health and Michael E. Moritz College of Law), and Thomas P. Houston, M.D. (Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at The Ohio State University).
Recorded on March 6, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
In a herculean effort that included grassroots and top leaders, the Columbus community rallied to save the Crew, MLS’ inaugural team. Hear new Co-Owners Peter Edwards, Jr., M.D., Dee Haslam, and Alex Fischer (President and CEO of the Columbus Partnership), about what's in store for the team, the stadium and the Columbus community in the future.
Recorded on February 27, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
On February 20, CMC hosted our third annual State of Downtown, a popular forum where key downtown stakeholders discuss what's coming into the area, what's being built, and what might be the Next Big Thing downtown.
Marc Conte (Deputy Director of Research, Planning and Facilities at Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts) presented findings from the organization's State of Downtown Report, which provides spotlights and data about major investments, housing, employment and office markets, hospitality, and transportation.
Led by moderator Cleve Ricksecker (Executive Director of Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts), our panel featured Melanie Corn, Ed.D. (President of Columbus College of Art and Design), Jessica Mathews (Placemaker/Street Disruptor at Kaufman Development), and Joel Pizzuti (President of The Pizzuti Companies).
Recorded on February 20, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Organized Africentric education has been an emerging discipline since the 1960s. Columbus City Schools made it a focus in the late 1990s. Now that it has a foothold in communities why is Africentric education so often considered the exclusive domain of the African American community and not a part of mainstream education?
How has the discipline emerged and why is it important for other areas of study and the larger community? What role do public school systems have in supporting Africentric education, especially at an early age? How have programs like the burgeoning connection between Columbus Afrocentric Early College and Columbus State Community College worked to strengthen on-going education? How does study within Africa and the African Diaspora contribute to these goals?
Featuring Simone Drake, Ph.D. (Hazel C. Youngberg Trustees Distinguished Professor and chair of the Department of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University), Todd Walker, Ph.D. (Director of Columbus Africentric Early College), Robyn Lyons-Robinson, Ph.D. (Chair of the English Department at Columbus State Community College), and moderated by Marshall Shorts (Founder of Artfluential).
Recorded on February 13, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
With the federal government currently in the spotlight, the complexities and politics of government funding and budgets has never been more evident.
The state budget is no joke, either. What gets funded, what gets cut, and what goes into these decisions? Where do local funds come into play? And in Ohio, with its oft argued “inequation” of educational funding, how do we solve that lingering problem?
Our panel discussion will feature author and Ohio budget expert Terry Thomas, Greg Lawson (Research Fellow at The Buckeye Institute), Tracy Nájera(Executive Director of the Children s Defense Fund, Ohio) and Karen Kasler(Bureau Chief of Ohio Public Radio and TV Statehouse).
Recorded on February 6, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
The transportation sphere is ever-changing, with new technologies appearing all the time. But when the buzz dies down, are the needs of the human element really being met?
Considering the emerging markets like aging Baby Boomers and Millennials who either don't want to or can't afford to own a vehicle, who is catering to them most effectively? How are we bridging the gap?
And of course, how are we paying for it all? Is a rise in the gas tax on the horizon?
Featuring Doug Arseneault (Public Affairs Administrator at COTA), Rick Ricart(President and Director of Sales and Marketing at Ricart Automotive Group), Ryan McManus (CEO and Co-Founder of SHARE), and host Carrie Ghose(Reporter at Columbus Business First).
Recorded on January 30, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Even in the fast-moving 21st century, animals, and the industries built around them, heavily affect our daily lives as well as our economy.
We tackled this discussion from all angles: animals as servants, pets, and food sources.
How has the emotional dynamic changed, specifically the importance of the animal-human bond in relation to our mental and physical well-being?
How and why has society's outlook on animals and livestock changed in the past several decades? How have these changes in attitude affected farming and how has the market shifted?
Our panel discussion featured Rustin Moore, DVM, PhD (Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University), Meghan E. Herron, DVM (Associate Professor of Clinical Behavioral Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University), John Foltz, PhD (Chair of the Department of Animal Sciences, the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Science at The Ohio State University), and Megan Koester(Executive Director of Canine Companions for Independence).
Recorded on January 23, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
Always a perennial favorite, CMC again hosted its annual State of Nonprofits forum, this year featuring a new report on the topic from the United Way of Central Ohio, presented by Michael Wilkos (Senior Vice President of Community Impact).
Following the presentation, the panel will discuss nuances like the economic impact of nonprofit employers and the low pay of their employees compared to the private/public sector. They’ll also explore the changing landscape, including all the new nonprofit “start-ups” that have emerged and the jobs and opportunities they bring.
The panel will feature Ernest Perry Jr. (President and CEO of HandsOn Central Ohio), Beth Gifford (President and CEO of Columbus Works Inc.) Duane Casares (CEO of Directions for Youth & Families), and Peggy Anderson (COO of Equitas Health).
Recorded on January 16, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.
After a tumultuous 2018, both politically and economically, what’s in store for Central Ohio and the region in 2019?
CMC hosted its annual first forum of the New Year featuring Bill LaFayette, Ph.D. (owner of Regionomics), as he released his 2019 Columbus Economic Forecast. LaFayette will be joined by Ian Sheldon, Ph.D. (Professor and Anderson Chair of Agricultural Marketing, Policy and Trade, College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Science at The Ohio State University) and host Mark Williams (Business Reporter at The Columbus Dispatch).
Recorded on January 9, 2019 at the Boat House at Confluence Park in Columbus, Ohio.