The Columbus Metropolitan Club

Visionary speakers. Bold conversations. Meaningful connections. The Columbus Metropolitan Club cultivates big conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections that drive the region forward. For nearly 50 years, CMC has hosted weekly forums featuring visionary leaders — including CEOs, members of Congress, college presidents, UN ambassadors, artists, and other changemakers — sharing insights and discussion. Together, we examine issues that matter, exchange diverse perspectives, and forge connections that create a better Columbus. Whether it's a topic that impacts our local community, has global implications, or both, CMC participants leave our forums better educated, informed, and engaged. We invite you to join our community conversations each week. All CMC forums are recorded live in Columbus, Ohio.

Designing a Democracy for the Next 250 Years 08/12/2026

Designing a Democracy for the Next 250 Years 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 explore what the next era of democracy in America may demand, including ethical and corruption-free leadership, responsive institutions, stable and solid democratic norms, civic education, and redesigned systems and processes that better serve the public. Centering Ohio and Columbus as testing grounds, we ask how American communities can move from reflection to renewal—and what responsibility today’s leaders and citizens have to future generations of Americans. Featuring: Robert Alt, President and CEO, The Buckeye Institute Rita McNeil Danish, Interim CEO, The Matriots Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries, College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Associate Professor of History, The Ohio State University The host is Lee Strang, Executive Director, Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society, and Professor of Law, Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University. This forum was sponsored by JPMorgan Chase & Co. CMC's forum partner was 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 Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. CMC’s theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa. If you would like to keep exploring this week’s forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World," by Jeremy Engels (2026) This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on August 12, 2026. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/42413185

Written in Stone: Ohio Women, Public Memory, and the New Statehouse Monument 08/05/2026

Written in Stone: Ohio Women, Public Memory, and the New Statehouse Monument 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 history. Ahead of the unveiling, we explore the story behind this landmark project: the women it honors, the artist bringing it to life, the public-private partnership making it possible, and the larger question of who gets remembered in the civic spaces we all share. As Ohio and the nation mark America’s 250th birthday, we ask what it means to finally place women’s courage, leadership, and fight for equality at the center of Ohio’s public memory. Featuring: Brenda Councill, Ohio Women’s Monument Artist and Sculptor Stephanie Kunze, Chair of the Ohio Women’s Monument Commission, Capitol Square Foundation Board Member, and Former State of Ohio Senator Charley Moses, Capitol Square Foundation Board Chair The moderator is Charlene Brown, Co-Host, WOSU Public Media’s "Columbus Neighborhoods" TV Series. CMC President & CEO Sophia Fifner delivers closing remarks. This forum was sponsored by KeyBank. Our forum partner was 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 Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. CMC’s theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa. If you would like to dive more deeply into this topic, our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "Buckeye Women: the History of Ohio’s Daughters," by Stephanie Elise Booth, 2001. This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on August 5, 2026. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/42269240

Racing to Build a New Midwest 07/29/2026

The Power of Showing Up: A New Case for Engagement 07/22/2026

The Airport Advantage: Building Central Ohio’s Next Economy 07/15/2026

The Airport Advantage: Building Central Ohio’s Next Economy 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 Regional Airport Authority, he arrives at a truly defining moment. John Glenn International is building a new $2 billion terminal, Rickenbacker International continues to play a major and ever-growing role in cargo and economic development, and Columbus travelers are asking the question every growing region faces: where can we fly from here? Meet Daren Griffin as we explore what’s ahead for aviation in our region and how Central Ohio’s growth will depend on bold airport innovations and investment. How will John Glenn’s gleaming new terminal change the passenger experience? What will it take to attract more nonstop flights and stronger global connections? How are new technology, airline economics, cargo logistics, workforce needs, and customer expectations reshaping the future and the experience of air travel? Featuring: Daren Griffin, President & CEO, The Columbus Regional Airport Authority Deborah Scherer, Senior Vice President, Global Trade & Investment, One Columbus Your host is Jerod Smalley, Anchor, WCMH NBC4, and Host, Columbus 2.0. This forum was sponsored by The Columbus Regional Airport Authority. 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'd like to dive more deeply into this topic, our fantastic partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "Building of an Airport: Port Columbus," by Robert F. Kirk (2019). /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/42104810

A Bigger Central Ohio Will Need a Bigger Safety Net 07/08/2026

A Bigger Central Ohio Will Need a Bigger Safety Net 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 and the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County, an all-new Regionomics report examines how population growth and change are likely to reshape housing, poverty, homelessness, health, disability, workforce participation, and more across the 10-county region. With experts, we’ll unpack the study’s most urgent findings and explore what they mean for the future of the region. Where will the greatest strain show up first? Who is most at risk of being left behind? And what must public leaders, service providers, and all of us do now to prepare for the needs of a future Central Ohio? Featuring: Michael Corey, Executive Director, The Human Service Chamber of Franklin County Rhea Cunningham, CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Ohio Melissa Green, Columbus City Councilmember Dr. Bill LaFayette, Owner, Regionomics The host is Jordan Laird, Columbus Government and Politics Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was sponsored by The Bank of America Foundation. 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. To read the complete new Regionomics report, "Columbus in 2025, 2035, and 2050: A Survey of Human Needs Now and in the Future," please visit the website of the . If you would like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Another World is Possible: Lessons for America from Around the Globe, by Natasha Zapata (2025). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on July 8, 2026 /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/41814415

There’s No Casserole for That: Mental Health, Loneliness, and the Courage to Show Up 06/24/2026

There’s No Casserole for That: Mental Health, Loneliness, and the Courage to Show Up 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 , CMC President and CEO Sophia Fifner wrote about grief, depression, coming out, divorce, trauma, and the loneliness that can hide behind leadership and practiced smiles. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Bill Butler, now president of Columbus’ National Veterans Memorial and Museum, described himself as a “hot mess” struggling with nightmares and guilt following the chaotic withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021. Their stories raise a larger civic question: What happens when the hardest parts of human experience don’t fit neatly into the rituals we already know, like births, weddings, funerals, cards, and yes - casseroles? How do loneliness, grief, trauma, and isolation shape our ability to live well? What can veterans, parents, nonprofit leaders, and our friends and neighbors teach us about resilience? What are the limits of resilience when people are left to carry too much alone? Can Central Ohio build a stronger culture of care, where people are not expected to disappear politely behind the mask of being “fine”? Featuring: Dr. John Ackerman, Suicide Prevention Clinical Manager, Center for Suicide Prevention and Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital Bill Butler, President, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum Sophia Fifner, President & CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club Your host is Stacia Naquin, News Anchor, WBNS 10TV. 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 sponsored by The Thanks Be to God Foundation. It 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 fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection by Nicholas Epley (2026). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 24, 2026. If you, or someone you know, is in crisis, please call, text, or chat 988 for free, confidential, 24/7 support from trained crisis counselors. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/41691980

Annual State of Nonprofits: The Future of Funding Good Work 06/17/2026

Annual State of Nonprofits: The Future of Funding Good Work 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 models can evolve to better support the organizations that help communities thrive. What would it look like to fund nonprofit work in ways that are more flexible, responsive, and sustainable? And what role do government, philanthropy, businesses, and community partners play in making a better future possible? Featuring: Lindsay Baker, Vice President and Director of Philanthropy and Engagement - Central Ohio, The Huntington National Bank Emmalyn Jerome, CEO, Lower Lights Ministries Hannah Jones, Deputy Director, Department of Development, City of Columbus Phil Washburn, President & CEO, The Furniture Bank of Central Ohio The host is Sheldon K. Johnson, Executive Director, Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT). The presenting sponsors of this forum are The Columbus Foundation, Huntington Bank, and Nationwide. This forum is also sponsored by Bath & Body Works, Benefactor Group, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Cramer & Associates, Encova Insurance, Installed Building Products, and Mollard Consulting. 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 Reimagining Nonprofits and Philanthropy: Unlocking the Full Potential of a Vital and Complex Sector by Vu Le (2026). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 17, 2026. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/41614665

What Women’s Pro Soccer Means for Columbus 06/10/2026

How Ohio’s Medicaid Squeeze Could Impact Families 06/03/2026

A Conversation with Governor Mike DeWine 05/20/2026

Turning AI Success into Columbus’ Next Advantage 05/13/2026

Who Holds the Keys to Economic Mobility? 05/06/2026

Life After Cars: Redesigning Cities for People 04/29/2026

Life After Cars: Redesigning Cities for People 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 to imagine a future beyond car dependency. Drawing on decades of advocacy, journalism, and urbanist insight, Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon unpack the costs of car culture — from divided neighborhoods and environmental impacts to public health and social inequity. We’ll explore how transportation reform is central to building a more connected and livable society, and share stories of communities already leading the way. Featuring: Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, Co-Hosts, "The War on Cars" Podcast and Co-Authors, Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile (Published 2025 by Thesis, An Imprint of Penguin Random House) Devayani Puranik, Mobility Development Program Director, Central Ohio Transit Authority The host is D'Laveance Bert-Sims, Board Member, Transit Columbus. This forum was sponsored by Burgess and Niple, COSI, COTA, Ian Alexander Photography, and REALM Collaborative. CMC's forum partners were The Center for Urban and Regional Analysis at The Ohio State University, Columbus Underground, and the 2026 COSI Science Festival. 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 Sarah and Doug's book Life After Cars, and you'd like to keep exploring this week’s forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, by Henry Grabar (2023). This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on April 29, 2026. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/41006405

Ohio's Data Center Debate 04/22/2026

Older Adults Are Aging Right Into Homelessness 04/15/2026

The Race for Ohio’s Economic Future 04/08/2026

Primal Intelligence: The Human Edge in an AI World 04/01/2026

The War Within a War: Wil Haygood on Race, Vietnam, and America’s Reckoning 03/25/2026

The Power of the Arts in a Changing City: A Conversation with GCAC's Mitch Menchaca 03/18/2026

When Staying in School Takes More Than School 03/05/2026

The Ambition Gap: Why Women Are Advancing Less—And What Leaders Can Do About It 03/04/2026

The Ambition Gap: Why Women Are Advancing Less—And What Leaders Can Do About It A new study, , 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. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/40297180

Braids, Business, and Belonging: Black Hair and Identity in Columbus 02/25/2026

Braids, Business, and Belonging: Black Hair and Identity in Columbus 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. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/40178655

What We Get Right - and Wrong - About Women's Health 02/19/2026

The State of Child Care 02/11/2026

The State of Child Care 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. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/40019085

Cybersecurity in the Age of AI 02/04/2026

Haitian Refugees and the Future of Immigration in Central Ohio 01/21/2026

Haitian Refugees and the Future of Immigration in Central Ohio 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. /episode/index/show/cbusmetroclub/id/39757460

Black Men in Central Ohio: Realities, Resilience, and the Road Ahead 01/14/2026

Annual Blue Chip Economic Forecast 01/07/2026

Annual State of Downtown: Building a Safer, Stronger Downtown 12/17/2025

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