Keeping the Columbus Promise

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.