The Community's Conversation

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.