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The New Franklin County Health Map Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Franklin County's new 2025 Health Map is here, offering an updated look at the region's biggest health challenges—and signs of progress. What do the latest numbers tell us about healthcare access, infant mortality, adverse childhood experiences, and more?

Featuring:

Joe Mazzola, Franklin County Health Commissioner

Dr. Mysheika W. Roberts, Health Commissioner, Columbus Public Health

Dr. Andrew Thomas, Chief Clinical Officer, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

The host is Tracy Townsend, Medical Correspondent and Anchor, 10TV News This Morning.

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 sponsored by Mount Carmel Health System, Cardinal Health, and Ian Alexander Photography.

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 June 18, 2025.

High-Tech Careers Mean High-Stakes Education Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Central Ohio's economic future is high-tech—but is our education system ready? With new semiconductor plants, clean energy facilities, and advanced logistics hubs rising across the region, the workforce of tomorrow will need advanced skills today. This week, the Columbus Metropolitan Club welcomes a panel of business and education leaders for a candid discussion on what it will take to prepare Ohio students for careers in STEM, AI, and other fast-evolving industries.

Featuring:

Geena Gamble, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, Worthington Enterprises

Lisa Gray, President, Ohio Excels

Pat Tiberi, President and CEO, Ohio Business Roundtable

The host is Alissa Widman Neese, Reporter, Axios.

This forum was sponsored by Communities in Schools of Ohio and The Girl Scouts of Ohio's Heartland.

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 June 11, 2025.

Unraveling Recovery: How Cutting Medicaid Threatens Ohioans in Crisis Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Optimal Health Series

Is Ohio headed for a crisis in health coverage, especially for mental health and addiction services? More than a decade ago, Ohio's Medicaid expansion was a game changer, extending coverage to over 700,000 Ohioans and providing a lifeline to thousands of Ohioans in need of mental health and addiction treatment services.

Expansion worked: uninsured rates dropped, medical debt decreased, health improved, and emergency room visits went down. In just four years, 630,000 Ohioans received treatment for mental illness or substance use disorder, a victory in the fight against opioid addiction. In 2024, forty percent of adults covered by expansion had a primary mental health and/or substance use disorder diagnosis.

These gains may now be in jeopardy: Governor DeWine's new proposed biennial budget includes a so-called "kill-switch" provision that would automatically end mental health and addiction services provided through the expansion if federal Medicaid funding is reduced.

With key leaders and policy experts, we'll unpack the impact Medicaid has had on health outcomes in Ohio and the consequences facing patients in recovery if the state's landmark care expansion is abandoned.

Featuring: Oyauma Garrison, President & CEO, Maryhaven, Inc. Rachelle Martin; Executive Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness of Franklin County Amy Bush Stevens, Amy Bush Stevens Consulting, LLC, Consultant to the Health Policy Institute of Ohio

The host is Greg Moody, Director of Professional Development, The John Glenn College of Public Affairs, The Ohio State University

The presenting sponsors of the CMC Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

This forum was sponsored by Maryhaven.

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 June 4, 2025.

Tariff Tightrope: Ohio's Balancing Act with Canada May 21, 2025

Show notes

Canada isn't just a neighbor—it's Ohio's number one international trading partner. In this week's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum, we explore what recent U.S.-Canada trade tensions could mean for jobs, industries, and the economic future of Central Ohio. Featuring: Colin Bird, Consul General of Canada in Detroit Allison Russo, Ohio State Representative, District 7, and Statehouse Minority Leader Bala Sathyanarayanan, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Greif The host is Dan Eaton, Senior Reporter, Columbus Business First. This forum was sponsored by The Ohio Manufacturers' Association. The forum partners were The Columbus Council on World Affairs and The League of Women Voters of Metropolitan 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 The Ellis. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on May 21, 2025.

Taxed & Confused: Making Sense of Rising Property Taxes in Ohio May 14, 2025

Show notes

Why are your property taxes going up — and where is that money actually going? This week's CMC forum tackles the property tax questions on everyone's mind, with experts who understand the system inside and out. From home values to school funding, to mills and assessments, our panel helps make sense of it all.

Featuring:

Michael D. Cole, President, Columbus City School Board

Greg Lawson, Research Fellow, The Buckeye Institute

And Michael Stinziano, Franklin County Auditor

The host is Anna Staver, State Government and Politics Reporter for Cleveland.com and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.

This forum was sponsored by Bricker Graydon.

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.

Recorded before a live audience at The Ellis in Columbus' historic Italian Village on May 14, 2025.

Who Gets to Move Up? Rethinking Economic Mobility in Central Ohio May 07, 2025

Show notes

Central Ohio is prospering, but economic mobility remains out of reach for many families. This forum explores the stark racial and economic disparities in the Columbus region and asks what new policies and community actions are needed to ensure shared prosperity. Featuring: Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Columbus City Councilmember Keith Jones, President & CEO, Oakwood Management Duwain Pinder, Partner, Ohio - Columbus, McKinsey & Company Dr. Jason Reece, Associate Professor, City and Regional Planning, Knowlton School of Architecture, The Ohio State University The host is Mataryun "Mo" Wright, President & CEO, RAMA Consulting Group. This forum was sponsored by The Crane Group, The McKinsey Institute for Economic Mobility, and The Robert Weiler Company. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's promotional and 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 May 7, 2025.

Bioscience Breakthroughs Are Saving Lives in Central Ohio Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

Bioscience breakthroughs are transforming lives in Central Ohio. From cutting-edge gene therapies to world-first medical devices, the region's life sciences sector is booming—and saving lives. This week's Columbus Metropolitan Club forum brings together scientific leaders and business innovators to explore how research, investment, and clinical development are coming together to power the next generation of healthcare innovation.

Featuring:

Dr. Frank Agbogbo, Vice President of Process Development, Forge Biologics Dr. Erandi De Silva, Investment Partner, Drive Capital Dr. Louise Rodino-Klapac, Executive Vice President, Head of R&D, and Chief Scientific Officer, Sarepta

Robin Sears, President and CEO, LENTECHS

The host is Tyler Allchin, Managing Director, Healthcare, JobsOhio This forum was created in partnership with the 2025 COSI Science Festival, and was sponsored by: Armatus Bio, Battelle, Holder Construction, Ohio Life Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Sarepta. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. Our 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 April 30, 2025.

Advancing Together: Meet the Columbus Partnership's New Leader Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

Jane Scott Legacy in Civic Engagement Forum Celebrating Community Leaders

If "The Columbus Way" were a river, its source might just be The Columbus Partnership. In this one-on-one conversation, the Partnership's new President and CEO Jason Hall shares his vision for the influential coalition of regional CEOs. As Columbus grows, so does the importance of collaborative leadership—and Hall's next steps could help shape the future of Central Ohio's economy, equity, and civic identity. Featuring:

Jason Hall, President and CEO, The Columbus Partnership The host is Sophia Fifner, President and CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club

The forum's presenting sponsor was Nationwide.

This forum was also sponsored by The Columbus Landmarks Foundation, The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Encova Insurance, The Edwards Companies, Huntington, Smoot Construction, and The United Way of Central 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 The Ellis.

Why the Federal Reserve Matters to You Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

What does the Federal Reserve actually do—and why should it matter to Central Ohioans? Beth Hammack, the new president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, sits down with CMC to explain her role, how the Fed operates, and how it impacts your paycheck, your mortgage, and our regional economy. Featuring:

Beth Hammack, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. The host is award-winning news anchor Clay Gordon.

This forum was sponsored by Homeport.

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 April 16, 2025.

Keeping the Columbus Promise Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

Columbus appears to be on track to keep an important promise: The Columbus Promise.

The innovative education partnership launched in 2021 with the goal of sending more Columbus City School graduates to college, boosting their own life trajectories and helping Central Ohio supercharge its workforce.

The Columbus Promise lets any graduate of Columbus City Schools attend Columbus State Community College at no cost for six semesters and provides a $500 stipend each semester plus academic support.

Now the Promise is no longer just a pilot. The program's key partners – the City of Columbus, Columbus City Schools, I Know I Can, and Columbus State – and an array of private backers – have all recently recommitted to launching a new phase of the program, with more than half of a new $25 million goal already raised.

With a panel of leaders, we unpack the Columbus Promise, explore its origins and impact, and get an inside look at what happens next.

Featuring

Dr. Angela Chapman, Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools

Janelle Coleman, Vice President, Community Engagement & Corporate Philanthropy and President, AEP Foundation

Shannon Hardin, President, Columbus City Council

Dr. Desiree Polk-Bland, Senior Vice President for Student Success, Columbus State Community College

The moderator is Colleen Marshall, News Anchor, NBC4, and host of "NBC4's The Spectrum." This presenting sponsor of this forum was The Columbus Foundation. This forum was also sponsored by Cardinal Health and American Electric Power. 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 April 9, 2025.

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