The Community's Conversation

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 agencies are rethinking how government ...

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 of key thought leaders, we exp...

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 role in shaping Ohio's...

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 will this new Midwest look like? H...

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 culture, and build healthier...

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 President & CEO of the Columbus ...

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 by Columbus City Council ...

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, depres...

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 mo...

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 opportu...

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 the long-term s...

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 developm...

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 ahead of the competi...

As Central Ohio grows, the question isn't just how fast...

What if the way we move is shaping the way we live — but not for the better?

Join us with the authors of the new national bestselling book, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile, and the hosts of the acclaimed podcast "The War on Cars" for a bold conversation about how automobiles have transformed cities, communities, and the climate — and what it might take ...

Central Ohio has become a magnet for data center develo...