The Community's Conversation

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.

What will power Central Ohio's economy in 2026—and what's keeping business leaders up at night? With changing tariffs, reduced immigration, and transformative tech like AI reshaping industries, the economic road ahead is anything but clear. Yet Central Ohio continues to outperform much of the Midwest—thanks to population growth, public investment, and a rapidly diversifying economy. What trends will define the year ahead for our region's employers, workers, and entrepreneurs? And what are the risks no one's talking about yet? Featuring the release of the 2026 Regionomics Columbus Economic Forecast, this week's forum aims to help Central Ohio's civic and business leaders understand what's coming next—and how to prepare. Featuring: Kathy Bostjancic, Chief Economist, Nationwide Financial Dr. Aravind Chandrasekaran, Dean, Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University Dr. Bill LaFayette, Owner, Regionomics (who also presents opening remarks) The host is Ben Lanka, Business Editor, The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Partnership, Ian Alexander Photography, PNC, The Robert Weiler Company, and Smoot Construction. The presenting sponsor of our livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our 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 In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work by Kyla Scanlon (2024). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on January 7, 2026.

Downtown Columbus is changing rapidly, and local leaders are working to build a safer, more vibrant, and more connected urban core. We bring together experts from public safety, urban development, and community strategy to explore what it will take to strengthen the heart of the city. From new safety initiatives to long-term planning and partnership models, the conversation highlights how a thriving downtown Columbus drives Central Ohio's regional success. Featuring: Greg Davies, CEO, Downtown Columbus, Inc. Robin Davis, Executive Director, Safer Downtown Smith Weir, Deputy Chief of the Columbus Division of Police The host is Dawn Tyler Lee, former Deputy Chief of Staff with The City of Columbus, and Founder and CEO, Forrest Street Consulting. Amy Taylor, President of Downtown Columbus, Inc., presents opening remarks on the state of downtown. This forum was sponsored by Downtown Columbus, Inc., Event Marketing Strategies, MKSK, 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 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 Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time by Jeff Speck (2022). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on December 17, 2025.

In a rare joint appearance, the mayors of Columbus, Findlay, Lima, and Toledo—Andrew J. Ginther, Christina Muryn, Sharetta Smith, and Wade Kapszukiewicz—take the stage for a powerful conversation on the future of urban leadership in Ohio. Together, these four leaders represent more than a million Ohioans—nearly 10% of the state's population. From economic growth and urban development to transit, public safety, and civic engagement, they share strategies for building stronger, more connected, and more resilient cities. Featuring: Andrew J. Ginther, Mayor, City of Columbus Christina Muryn, Mayor, City of Findlay Sharetta Smith, Mayor, City of Lima Wade Kapszukiewicz, Mayor, City of Toledo Your host is Stacia Naquin, News Anchor, WBNS 10TV. This forum was sponsored by The Ohio State University, The Ohio Mayors Alliance, 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 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 partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Silicon Heartland: Transforming the Midwest from Rust Belt to Tech Belt," by Rebecca A. Fannin (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on December 10, 2025.

The arts are more than inspiration—they're critical infrastructure. Across Central Ohio, cultural organizations are using shared data and collaborative evaluation to show how the arts drive workforce readiness, economic development, public health, and community well-being. This forum spotlights the Central Ohio Arts Impact Initiative and a growing movement to position the arts as essential to the region's social and economic infrastructure. This week, we hear from arts leaders, data experts, and civic partners on how creative work is delivering measurable outcomes that align with Central Ohio's priorities to nurture vibrant urban suburban, and exurban communities. Featuring: Dr. Kimberlee Goodman, Executive Director, The McConnell Arts Center Angela Meleca, Chief Advocate Officer, Meleca Creative Advisors Priscilla R. Tyson, Former Columbus City Councilmember, Founder, Priscilla Tyson Consulting Your host is Sheri Chaney Jones, Co-Founder and CEO, SureImpact. 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're ready to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our friends at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "Run It Like a Business: Strategies for Arts Organizations to Increase Audiences, Remain Relevant, and Multiply Money – Without Losing the Art," by Aubrey Bergauer. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on December 3, 2025.

Children's mental health isn't just a family issue—it's a workplace issue. When kids struggle, parents and caregivers face missed work and mounting stress, creating ripple effects across their lives. This week we explore the link between children's mental health and workplace performance, and the roles Central Ohio employers, healthcare leaders, and advocates are playing in breaking the cycle of stress for families. Featuring: Anna Ankenbauer, Senior Director, Global Giving, Engagement, Learning & Development, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Nina Day, Community Mental Health Advocate. Dr. Ariana Hoet, Executive Director, The Kids Mental Health Foundation. The host is Cierra Johnson, Anchor & Reporter, NBC4. This forum was sponsored by Cardinal Health. 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're ready to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Finding Time: The Economics of Work-Life Conflict, by Heather Boushey. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on November 19, 2025.

Small businesses are the backbone of Central Ohio's economy—creating jobs, fueling innovation, and shaping the future of our communities. Despite inflation, labor shortages, and tariffs, many small business owners report feeling optimistic about the future. This week we explore why. Featuring: Stuart Hoffman, Senior Economic Advisor, PNC Financial Services Group Tim Kehoe, Director, Economic and Community Development Institute's Veterans Business Outreach Center of Ohio Ariana Ulloa-Olavarrieta, Small Business Coordinator, City of Columbus Walter Eguez, Founder, Tortilla Street Food The host is Susan Post, Digital Editor, Columbus Business First. This forum was sponsored by PNC. 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're ready to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading The New Builders: Face to Face with the True Future of Business by Seth Levine. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on November 12, 2025.

Columbus has rhythm, talent, and venues—but can it build a music industry that rivals Nashville, Austin, or Chicago? We explore Columbus' $1.3 BILLION local music economy and what it'll take to elevate it to national prominence. From local legends to industry insiders, we stagedive into strategy, investment, and how the city can turn homegrown talent into household names. Featuring: Bruce Garfield, Executive Director, Music Means Business Inc. Amy Holihan, Deputy Director, Music Columbus Natalie Jackson, Co-Founder, Natalie's Grandview Rashad Thomas, CEO, Elev8tor Music The host is Chris DeVille, Managing Editor, Stereogum, and Author of Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion. This forum was sponsored by Music 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 onsite book sales partner for this forum was Gramercy Books. Ready for even more rock reading? Our partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library recommends checking out "Love, Death & Photosynthesis" (2021) by Bela Koe-Krompecher, founder of Anyway Records. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on November 5, 2025.

In a time marked by policy uncertainty, economic volatility, and social fragmentation, the nonprofit sector faces a critical strategic question: will it lead systemic change, or be passively led by external forces? This forum invites a candid, future-focused conversation about the role of nonprofits in navigating — and shaping — what comes next. Drawing on insights from leadership theory, recent research, and provocative findings from the Philanthropy Roundtable, we'll examine if nonprofits can increase their resilience and impact by reducing dependency on government funding and reclaiming greater strategic autonomy. What do nonprofits control? What can they influence? Can the sector mobilize to drive meaningful change rather than react to it? Would less reliance on government grants strengthen nonprofits? Together, we'll explore what it means to lead with courage, build organizational independence, and maintain a steadfast commitment to dignity and equity — even in uncertain times. Featuring: Ann Bischoff, CEO, Star House Elizabeth Brown, President & CEO, YWCA Columbus Rachel Lustig, President & CEO, Lutheran Social Services Densil Porteous, Executive Director, Stonewall Columbus. The host is Brandi AL-Issa, President & CEO, Habitat for Humanity MidOhio. This forum was presented by Nationwide and sponsored by COTA and the YWCA 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. If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest reading Chasing Success: The Challenge for Nonprofits by Judith Van Ginkel (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in downtown Columbus, Ohio on October 29, 2025.

In an era of media consolidation, vanishing local newsrooms, and viral misinformation, the future of trusted journalism is at a crossroads. What happens to a community when its news megaphone splinters—when public media fights for survival, editorial independence is under pressure, and social media algorithms reward outrage over truth? Featuring: Philip Bump, Former National Columnist, The Washington Post, and Author, The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America Michelle Everhart-Sullivan, Chief Audience Officer, Signal Ohio Tareya Palmer, Co-Creator, Columbus Can’t Wait Podcast The moderator is Mike Thompson, Director of Radio, WOSU Public Media. This forum was sponsored by 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. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Ready to continue exploring this week's forum topic? The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommends reading What Works in Community News by Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy (2024). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on October 22, 2025.