The Community's Conversation

The day after Ohio voters choose a new governor, decide a nationally-consequential U.S. Senate race, and weigh candidates for Congress, the Statehouse, county offices, and the courts, we bring together experts to unpack what just happened—and why. Who turned out, which messages broke through, which polls and pundits got it wrong, and what can we expect the winners to deliver? We move beyond the sp...

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...

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...

  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 h...

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 comm...

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, an...

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 r...

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—...

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...

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 su...

Flock Safety's automated license plate readers are becoming a common sight across Central Ohio, helping police locate missing children, recover stolen vehicles, and solve crimes. But when does a public-safety tool become mass surveillance? With millions of ordinary drivers captured in these databases, how much privacy should Central Ohioans surrender for public safety? Can strong rules on warrants...

People can order groceries, deposit checks, and manage their healthcare from a smartphone. So why does dealing with government still sometimes require paperwork, phone trees, waits, and multiple websites? Across Ohio and Central Ohio, that's changing. From the Ohio BMV's digital upgrades to COTA's "Tap to Pay" fare technology, local broadband efforts, and AI-enabled traffic management, public agen...

America's experiment in democracy was designed and launched 250 years ago—and it hasn't stopped evolving since. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we reframe America's semiquincentennial not as a momentary celebration, but as a democratic handoff with a commitment to the future. Can the age-old promise of American democracy be refined, improved, nurtured, and preserved? With a panel o...

Public monuments tell us what a community chooses to remember — and who it chooses to see. For generations, the Ohio Statehouse grounds have honored presidents, governors, astronauts, and statesmen — but not actual women. That will change this fall, when the new Ohio Women's Monument is unveiled on Capitol Square, becoming the first monument on the Statehouse grounds to depict real women and their...

For generations, the Midwest built the products, industries, and institutions that powered America. Now we're racing to build what comes next: AI companies, advanced manufacturing ventures, health innovations, and more, all with new models of work and ownership. Across the region, founders are launching companies that are going to revolutionize how we manufacture, move, heal, learn, and live. What...

Community need is growing while many people feel increasingly disconnected—from their neighbors, their workplaces, and even their sense of purpose. What if one solution could begin to address all three? In this Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, leaders from philanthropy, business, and the nonprofit sectors explore how volunteering and community engagement strengthen organizations, improve employee...

Columbus' major airports are much more than places to catch a flight. John Glenn International, Rickenbacker International, and Bolton Field are the region's front doors — a first impression for visitors, a critical link for global businesses, and a major piece of the critical infrastructure needed to support Central Ohio's next chapter of growth. As Daren Griffin takes the helm as the new Preside...

Central Ohio's future promises growth, momentum, and opportunity. But as the region adds more people and faces mounting pressure on housing, health care, and human services, a challenging question is emerging: will the systems we rely on be able to keep up? In this forum, we take one of the first public looks at a major new long-range study on human needs in Central Ohio through 2050. Commissioned...

There might be more public resources for mental health than ever before — awareness months, crisis lines, wellness apps, and hashtags. But when someone's real life falls apart, many of us still don't know what to say, what to do, or how to show up. In a deeply personal  essay recently published in The Columbus Dispatch , CMC President and CEO Sophia Fifner wrote about grief, depression, coming out...

When communities face urgent challenges—from housing instability and food insecurity to family crisis—nonprofits often respond first and stay the longest. Yet many organizations are being asked to do more while navigating outdated funding systems, delayed reimbursements, and growing financial pressures. This week, leaders from philanthropy, government, and the nonprofit sector explore how funding...

Columbus is getting a National Women's Soccer League team—and with it, a powerful new chapter in the region's sports story is beginning. Set to begin play in 2028, the franchise brings major-league momentum, prominent ownership, and growing excitement around the future of women's sports in Central Ohio. How did Columbus land the bid, and how can the region make the most of the opportunity? How are...

Ohio's Medicaid program covers more than three million people, but major policy and funding changes now underway could reshape how care is delivered across the state. This week, healthcare leaders, policy experts, and lawmakers examine what proposed Medicaid changes could mean for hospitals, providers, and the families who rely on the program every day. From healthcare access and rising costs to t...

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine returns to the Columbus Metropolitan Club for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, policy, and Ohio's future. In discussion with veteran Statehouse News Bureau journalist Jo Ingles, Governor DeWine reflects on his long career in public service while exploring the challenges and opportunities shaping Ohio today and tomorrow—from education and literacy to economic...

The AI economy in Central Ohio is creating entirely new businesses. At the same time, it's reshaping nearly every existing business. The key to both these upheavals? Visionary leadership of the human kind.  Will Columbus lead, follow, or just watch the AI revolution from the sidelines? Innovative leaders are determined to do just that - lead - and are racing to harness the power of AI to stay ahea...

As Central Ohio grows, the question isn't just how fast—but who benefits. In this timely conversation, leaders from economics, community development, and education explore what truly drives economic mobility, why generational poverty persists, and what it will take to create more equitable pathways to opportunity. From systemic barriers to promising solutions, we examine how Columbus can ensure pr...