The Community's Conversation

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.