The Community's Conversation

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.