The Community's Conversation

Just three years ago, Columbus updated how it elects its City Council members. Under this revised model, Council candidates must live in the district they seek to represent, but their seats are at-large, meaning City Council members don't represent any specific area of the city. What's more, every voter across Columbus gets to vote for any candidate, not just ones who live in their neighborhood.

A growing number of residents say the system still isn't working.

A reform effort to let voters in each district choose their own representative is underway. Two November ballot initiatives, Issues 8 and 9, propose to shake up the system: one will let voters in each of the City's districts choose their own Council representative, giving Columbus a true "ward" system.

A second would install nine district-elected members but also grow City Council to 13 members by adding four at-large council seats. With the most significant changes to city government in decades headed to the ballot, can Columbus agree on what fair Council representation actually looks like?

Featuring:

Nick Bankston, Member, Columbus City Council

Morgan Harper, Executive Director, Columbus Stand Up

Jesse Vogel, Former Columbus City Council Candidate and Community Advocate

Sean Walton, Jr., President, NAACP Columbus Branch 3177

Your host is Walker Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Columbus Underground.

This forum was sponsored by Columbus City Council, with the League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus as CMC's forum partner. 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.

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 "Hyperlocal: Place Governance in a Fragmented World," edited by Jennifer Vey and Nate Storring (2022).

Content Use Notice

This program is produced and recorded by the Columbus Metropolitan Club. CMC publishes recordings of its civic forums to promote informed public dialogue and public access to important community conversations. All video and audio content produced by the Columbus Metropolitan Club is provided for personal viewing and non-commercial use. Educational, media, documentary, broadcast, conference, or commercial reuse of this content requires prior written permission from the Columbus Metropolitan Club. For licensing or permission inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this content for commercial purposes is prohibited.

©Columbus Metropolitan Club

The Ohio State University is much more than a campus in Columbus. It's the state's flagship institution and the focus of statewide pride. As Ohio State's 18th president, Dr. Ravi V. Bellamkonda is helping shape what comes next at OSU.

A biomedical engineer, researcher and higher education leader, Bellamkonda brings a scientist's curiosity and a public university leader's sense of responsibility to a moment of opportunity and challenge.

What does excellence look like at a public university built to serve both its students and the public good? Can Ohio State lead in AI and innovation while keeping students, trust and opportunity at the center? And what should Ohioans expect from their flagship university in the years ahead?

Featuring:

Dr. Ravi Bellamkonda, 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 - Focus on Higher Education. The presenting sponsor was Huntington Bank. This forum was also sponsored by The Aloft Columbus University District, Learfield Ohio State Sports Properties, The Ohio State University, The Robert Weiler Company, and The United Way of Central Ohio.

The presenting sponsor of CMC's livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at The Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch.

CMC's theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.

If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Fulfilling the 21st Century Land-Grant Mission, edited by Stephen Gavazzi (2020).

Recorded before a live audience at the National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio, on October 21, 2026. Content Use Notice This program is produced and recorded by the Columbus Metropolitan Club. CMC publishes recordings of its civic forums to promote informed public dialogue and public access to important community conversations. All video and audio content produced by the Columbus Metropolitan Club is provided for personal viewing and non-commercial use. Educational, media, documentary, broadcast, conference, or commercial reuse of this content requires prior written permission from the Columbus Metropolitan Club. For licensing or permission inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this content for commercial purposes is prohibited. ©Columbus Metropolitan Club

Ohio will elect a new governor this November at a consequential moment for the state and the nation. From jobs, affordability, education, healthcare, and housing, to the relationship between state and local government, Ohio's next governor will face decisions that will shape the state and our communities for years to come.

Featuring:

Vivek Ramaswamy, Candidate for Governor, State of Ohio.

Your host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau. CMC is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse, support, or oppose candidates for public office. As part of its 2026 gubernatorial programming, CMC seeks to host separate, equivalent issue-focused conversations with candidates who meet its Candidate Threshold Criteria, part of CMC's Political Forum Participation Policy. All Ohio gubernatorial candidates meeting CMC's qualifying criteria have been invited to appear. Each participating candidate receives equivalent treatment in format, with the goal of helping Central Ohioans hear directly from those seeking to lead the state. CMC reached out to the Dr. Amy Acton for Governor campaign with an invitation to participate in a forum but did not receive a commitment.

This forum was sponsored by Ohio Life Sciences, Public Sector Consulting, and Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for 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.

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 "Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting in America," by Erin Geiger Smith (2020).

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 14, 2026. Content Use Notice This program is produced and recorded by the Columbus Metropolitan Club. CMC publishes recordings of its civic forums to promote informed public dialogue and public access to important community conversations. All video and audio content produced by the Columbus Metropolitan Club is provided for personal viewing and non-commercial use. Educational, media, documentary, broadcast, conference, or commercial reuse of this content requires prior written permission from the Columbus Metropolitan Club. For licensing or permission inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this content for commercial purposes is prohibited. ©Columbus Metropolitan Club

What would it take for Columbus to truly become known as a city of service?

In a city of service, individuals show up. They take the initiative to improve their communities. They readily find allies in other like-minded individuals and organizations ready to lend a hand to help a great idea scale up and grow. Service happens every day, in our schools, libraries, neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities – sometimes quietly, but always with meaning and impact.

How can collaboration and a shared commitment to service help Columbus become a stronger, more connected community, and build a reputation as a true City of Service? How do we instill a passion for service in our region's young people, so it's second nature by the time they reach adulthood?

With key leaders working in concert to strengthen Columbus through service, we explore how individuals, nonprofits, and community institutions can combine their missions, expertise, audiences and resources to grow a culture of service in Central Ohio.

Featuring:

Nancy Day-Achauer, Columbus City Councilmember

Lauren Hagan, CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Mike Koppel, Program Specialist, Honor Flight Columbus

Your host is Dr. Frederic Bertley, President and CEO, COSI, and CEO, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Metropolitan Library.

The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was 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.

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 "Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis," by Nicole Karlis (2025).

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 7, 2026.

James Clear has helped millions of people rethink how meaningful change happens—not through dramatic transformations, but through small choices, better systems, and habits that compound over time. In this Columbus Metropolitan Club conversation, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Atomic Habits and creator of the popular 3-2-1 newsletter explores decision-making, continuous improvement, and practical behavior change. Listen to hear one of the world's most influential voices on habits discuss how small changes can add up to remarkable results.

Featuring:

James Clear, Writer, Speaker, and Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits and the popular 3-2-1 newsletter.

Your host is Sophia Fifner, President & CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club.

This forum was sponsored by Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.

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 keep exploring this week's forum topic, and you've already finished reading Atomic Habits, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend also checking out Rewire: Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change, by Nicole Vignola.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on September 30, 2026.

Hunger in Central Ohio isn't a problem at the margins of our communities. It's a workforce issue, a health issue, an education issue, and a test of whether our growing region can take care of the people who make it work (and the families who depend on them).

As Matt Habash prepares to retire after 42 years leading the Mid-Ohio Food Collective, we explore his civic legacy and the future of hunger relief in Central Ohio. Food banks and pantries are serving more families, seniors, children, and working adults at the same time food costs, public funding uncertainty, and household instability are making the work harder.

What does hunger in Central Ohio look like today? What will the next generation of food-security leadership require? What role do new partnerships and innovative technology play? We mark Hunger Action Month and explore how Central Ohio can move beyond emergency response toward a more resilient and more equitable food system.

Featuring:

Matt Habash, President & CEO, Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Danielle Tong, Executive Director, CelebrateOne

Your host is Jerry Revish, Senior Pastor, Unity Temple, and Retired News Anchor, WBNS-10TV.

If you'd like to dive more deeply into this topic, our fantastic partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "The Painful Truth About Hunger in America," by Marian Chilton (2024)

The presenting sponsor of this forum was Nationwide. This forum was also sponsored by Cardinal Health, Ian Alexander Photography, Installed Building Products, and Kroger.

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.

Central Ohio is attracting historic levels of investment in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, bioscience, and other rapidly expanding industries. But landing new facilities is just the beginning. Our region's economic future depends on its ability to build and sustain the right workforce. We explore whether Central Ohio can create a workforce development system that's equal to its ambitions—one that connects people to opportunity, gives employers the talent they need, and brings the American Dream within reach for more Central Ohioans.

Featuring:

Dr. David Harrison, President, Columbus State Community College

Kyle Koehler, State Senator, 10th Ohio Senate District

Sandra Rodriguez-Toledo, Vice President of Site Operations, Amgen Ohio

David White, Vice President, Talent Strategy, One Columbus

Your host is Angela An, WBNS-10TV News Anchor and Host of 10TV's "Boomtown" series.

This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Partnership, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ohio Life Sciences, and Roeztel & 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.

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 Trade Up: Why the Future Belongs to Skilled Trades and How Career Education Is Transforming the Workforce, by Jason Altmire (2026).

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on September 16, 2026.

For 50 years, the Columbus Metropolitan Club has brought Central Ohio together through moments of crisis and celebration, disagreement and discovery, grounded in the belief that dialogue matters. As CMC marks its 50th anniversary with this special forum, social psychologist Dr. Kurt Gray turns that tradition toward the future: Why do we fight so fiercely about morality and politics? What can help us find common ground? Drawing on his research into the moral mind, Gray explores why people across the political spectrum may have more in common than they think—and what the science of moral understanding can teach us about the next 50 years of civic dialogue.

Featuring:

Dr. Kurt Gray, Professor of Social Psychology, The Ohio State University, and Author, Outraged: Why We Fight About Morality and Politics and How to Find Common Ground.

CMC Board of Trustees member Carey Schmitt delivers opening remarks celebrating CMC's 50th anniversary, and Elon Sims, Chief of Staff to Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, presents CMC with a proclamation celebrating its 50th anniversary. Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club, makes remarks on CMC's future and interviews Dr. Kurt Gray.

The emcee is Matt Barnes, Morning Co-Anchor of NBC4 Today, and member of the CMC Board of Trustees.

This forum was made possible by: Visionary Sponsors: Mary Lazarus, The Ohio State University

Impact Sponsors: Columbus City Council, The Office of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, The Columbus Foundation & The Center for HumanKindness, The Robert Weiler Company

Community Partners: Lynn Greer, Huntington Bank, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Ambassador: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Advocate: Installed Building Products

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.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on September 9, 2026.

For 100 years, the Palace Theatre has evolved alongside Columbus, bringing generations of performers and audiences together in the heart of downtown. As the city continues to grow, what will it take to sustain a thriving performing arts ecosystem? Leaders from the Lincoln Theatre, Opera Columbus, CAPA, and BalletMet explore the future of Columbus' cultural life, the institutions and stages that support it, and how the performing arts can continue evolving in Central Ohio. Listen to this special Columbus Metropolitan Club forum recorded onstage at the historic Palace Theatre.

Featuring:

Suzan Bradford, Executive Director, Lincoln Theatre

Julia Noulin-Mérat, General Director & CEO, Opera Columbus

Chad Whittington, President & CEO, CAPA

Remi Wörtmeyer, Artistic Director, BalletMet

Your host is Amy Juravich, Host and Executive Producer of All Sides with Amy Juravich, 89.7 NPR News, WOSU Public Media.

This forum was made possible by Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund — Celebrating Arts and Culture.

This forum was sponsored by The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Opera Columbus, Otterbein University, and WOSU Public Media.

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.

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 "The Secret Life of the American Musical," by Jack Viertel (2016).

Featuring:

Trevor Chandler, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Flock Safety

Gary Daniels, Legislative Director, ACLU of Ohio Nick Konves, Assistant Chief, Columbus Division of Police

Emmanuel V. Remy, Columbus City Councilmember

Your host is Anna Lynn Winfrey, Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.

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.

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 We See it All: Liberty and Justice in the Age of Perpetual Surveillance, by Jon Fasman (2021).

This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on August 26, 2026.