Columbus Metropolitan Club

Call Directions Website

Columbus Metropolitan Club Join in the community conversation. Central Ohio's place to discuss, debate, and learn. The best networking opportunity in the city and everyone's welcome!

10/21/2026

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 a moment of opportunity and challenge.

What does excellence look like at a public university built to serve both its students and the public good? Can Ohio State lead in AI and innovation while keeping students, trust and opportunity at the center? And what should Ohioans expect from their flagship university in the years ahead?

Featuring:

Dr. Ravi V. Bellamkonda, President, The Ohio State University, with moderator Sheridan Hendrix, Higher Education Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch.

If you would like to dive more deeply into this topic, our partners at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "Fulfilling the 21st Century Land-Grant Mission," edited by Stephen Gavazzi (2020).

This forum was made possible by The Joseph and Carol Alutto Civic Engagement Fund.

This forum was sponsored by Huntington Bank, The Aloft Columbus University District, Learfield Ohio State Sports Properties, The Ohio State University, The Robert Weiler Company, 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 and promotional 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.

Content Use Notice

This program is produced and recorded by the Columbus Metropolitan Club. CMC publishes recordings of its civic forums to promote informed public dialogue and public access to important community conversations. All video and audio content produced by the Columbus Metropolitan Club is provided for personal viewing and non-commercial use. Educational, media, documentary, broadcast, conference, or commercial reuse of this content requires prior written permission from the Columbus Metropolitan Club. For licensing or permission inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution of this content for commercial purposes is prohibited.

©Columbus Metropolitan Club

10/14/2026

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 host is Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, The Statehouse News Bureau.

CMC is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization and does not endorse, support, or oppose candidates for public office. As part of its 2026 gubernatorial programming, CMC seeks to host separate, equivalent issue-focused conversations with candidates who meet its Candidate Threshold Criteria, part of CMC’s Political Forum Participation Policy. All Ohio gubernatorial candidates meeting CMC’s qualifying criteria have been invited to appear. Each participating candidate receives equivalent treatment in format, with the goal of helping Central Ohioans hear directly from those seeking to lead the state. CMC reached out to the Dr. Amy Acton for Governor campaign with an invitation to participate in a forum but did not receive a commitment.

This forum is sponsored by Ohio Life Sciences, Public Sector Consulting, Vivek Ramaswamy and Rob McColley for 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 is 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 "Thank You for Voting: The Maddening, Enlightening, Inspiring Truth About Voting in America," by Erin Geiger Smith (2020).

Who Speaks for Your Neighborhood?As Columbus prepares for the November election, questions about representation, account...
10/13/2026

Who Speaks for Your Neighborhood?

As Columbus prepares for the November election, questions about representation, accountability, and the future of City Council are taking center stage.

Who gets to choose our representatives? How should neighborhood voices shape decisions at City Hall? And what could proposed changes mean for the future of our city?

Join the Columbus Metropolitan Club on Wednesday, October 28, for a timely conversation examining the competing proposals and what they could mean for Columbus residents.

Featuring:
* Nicholas J. Bankston, Columbus City Council
* Morgan Harper, Columbus Stand Up!
* Jesse Vogel, Community Advocate
* Sean Walton, Jr., NAACP Columbus Branch
* Moderated by Walker Evans, Columbus Underground

Be part of the conversation where Columbus connects.

Wednesday, October 28 | 12 PM

Ohio will elect a new governor this November, and the decisions made by the next administration will shape the future of...
10/08/2026

Ohio will elect a new governor this November, and the decisions made by the next administration will shape the future of our state for years to come.

Join the Columbus Metropolitan Club for Ohio’s Future: A Conversation with Vivek Ramaswamy, featuring a one-on-one, issue-focused conversation with Vivek Ramaswamy, candidate for Governor of Ohio, and Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief of the Statehouse News Bureau.

From jobs, affordability, education, healthcare, and housing to the relationship between state and local government, the conversation will explore the challenges and opportunities facing Ohio — and what those choices could mean for Central Ohio’s families, businesses, and communities.

As a nonpartisan 501(c)(3), Columbus Metropolitan Club does not endorse candidates. CMC is offering equivalent, issue-focused conversations with qualifying candidates for Governor of Ohio so our community can hear directly from those seeking to lead the state.

Join us next Wednesday for the conversation.

10/07/2026

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 communities – sometimes quietly, but always with meaning and impact.

How can collaboration and a shared commitment to service help Columbus become a stronger, more connected community, and build a reputation as a true City of Service? How do we instill a passion for service in our region’s young people, so it’s second nature by the time they reach adulthood?

With key leaders working in concert to strengthen Columbus through service, we explore how individuals, nonprofits, and community institutions can combine their missions, expertise, audiences and resources to grow a culture of service in Central Ohio.

Featuring:

Nancy Day-Achauer, Columbus City Councilmember

Lauren Hagan, CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Library

Mike Koppel, Program Specialist, Honor Flight Columbus

Your host is Dr. Frederic Bertley, President and CEO, COSI, and CEO, The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

This forum is sponsored by The Columbus Metropolitan Library.

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 is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

CMC’s theme music was composed in Columbus, Ohio 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 "Your Brain on Altruism: The Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis," by Nicole Karlis (2025).

09/30/2026

James Clear has helped millions of people rethink how real change happens through small choices, better systems, and habits that compound over time. As the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller "Atomic Habits," which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, and creator of the hugely popular 3-2-1 Newsletter, Clear is one of the world’s most influential voices on decision-making, continuous improvement, and practical behavior change.

In this special 1:1 conversation with CMC CEO Sophia Fifner, we’ll explore how small shifts can lead to remarkable results—and how individuals, teams, and communities can build the habits that move us toward better lives and stronger futures.

Copies of "Atomic Habits" will be available for sale at the forum courtesy of Gramercy Books of Bexley.

Featuring James Clear, Author, "Atomic Habits," with moderator Sophia Fifner, CEO, The Columbus Metropolitan Club.

This forum is sponsored by Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP.

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.

CMC’s theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.

If you would like to keep exploring this week’s forum topic, and you've already finished "Atomic Habits," our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library also recommend reading "Rewire: Break the Cycle, Alter Your Thoughts and Create Lasting Change," by Nicole Vignola.

09/23/2026

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 relief in Central Ohio. Food banks and pantries are serving more families, seniors, children, and working adults at the same time food costs, public funding uncertainty, and household instability are making the work harder.

What does hunger in Central Ohio look like today? What will the next generation of food-security leadership require? What role do new partnerships and innovative technology play? Join us as we mark Hunger Action Month and explore how Central Ohio can move beyond emergency response toward a more resilient and more equitable food system.

Featuring:

Matt Habash, President & CEO, Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Danielle Tong, Executive Director, CelebrateOne

Your host is Jerry Revish, Senior Pastor, Unity Temple, and Retired News Anchor, WBNS 10TV.

If you would like to dive more deeply into this topic, our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out "The Painful Truth About Hunger in America," by Marian Chilton (2024)

The presenting sponsor of this forum is Nationwide. This forum is also sponsored by Cardinal Health, Ian Alexander Photography, Installed Building Products, and Kroger.

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 is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

CMC’s theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.

09/16/2026

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—one that connects people to opportunity, gives employers the talent they need, and keeps the American Dream within reach for more Central Ohioans.

Featuring:

Dr. David Harrison, President, Columbus State Community College

Kyle Koehler, State Senator, 10th Ohio Senate District

Sandra Rodriguez-Toledo, Vice President of Site Operations, Amgen Ohio

David White, Vice President, Talent Strategy, One Columbus

Your host is Angela An, WBNS-10TV News Anchor and Host of 10TV's “Boomtown" series.

This forum is sponsored by The Columbus Partnership, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ohio Life Sciences, and Roeztel & Andress.

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 is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

CMC’s theme music was composed by Jeffrey Ciampa.

This week we were on stage at the Palace Theater for another SOLD OUT Wednesday forum! We want to once again thank every...
09/04/2026

This week we were on stage at the Palace Theater for another SOLD OUT Wednesday forum! We want to once again thank everyone who came to this very special CMC forum spotlighting the future of the performing arts in Columbus: who it serves, how it’s funded, and whether this city is ready to invest in its next century of creativity.

Be sure to watch this forum on our website and hear from panelists Suzan Bradford, Executive Director, Lincoln Theatre; Julia Noulin-Mérat, General Director & CEO, Opera Columbus; Chad Whittington, President & CEO, CAPA; Remi Wörtmeyer, Artistic Director, BalletMet, with moderator Amy Juravich, Host and Executive Producer of All Sides with Amy Juravich, 89.7 NPR News, WOSU Public Media.

09/02/2026

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 support it, and how the performing arts can continue evolving in Central Ohio. Listen to this special Columbus Metropolitan Club forum recorded onstage at the historic Palace Theatre.

Featuring:

Suzan Bradford, Executive Director, Lincoln Theatre

Julia Noulin-Mérat, General Director & CEO, Opera Columbus

Chad Whittington, President & CEO, CAPA

Remi Wörtmeyer, Artistic Director, BalletMet

Your host is Amy Juravich, Host and Executive Producer of All Sides with Amy Juravich, 89.7 NPR News, WOSU Public Media.

This forum was made possible by Carol A. McGuire Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund — Celebrating Arts and Culture.

This forum was sponsored by The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Opera Columbus, Otterbein University, and WOSU Public Media.

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.

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 "The Secret Life of the American Musical," by Jack Viertel (2016).

Address

1041 Dublin Road, Suite 103
Columbus, OH
43215

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16144643220

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Columbus Metropolitan Club posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share