An Off the Rails Roundup
Sometimes, the things that stir the most debate aren’t sweeping policy changes, but whether or not you have to pay a dollar to park near Brassica.
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Category: Education
Leadership Columbus
Leadership is more than just a title—it’s about influence, impact, and the ability to drive meaningful change. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Kate Bauer, the new Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, to discuss the launch of this year’s Signature Program and the vision for the future of leadership in our city.
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Navigating Transitions with Matt Slaybaugh
Transitions can be transformative, but they’re often filled with uncertainty. In this week’s episode, I sat down with Matt Slaybaugh, an achievement skills coach, playwright, and former artistic director of Available Light Theatre. We explored Matt’s journey from leading a theater company to becoming a coach, helping people navigate change and pursue what matters most.
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Doodles & Digits
Passions can take you on different paths. That’s true for Carolyn Farkas who transformed her passion for teaching into a successful series on PBS. We sat down to discuss her journey, the future of education, the need for engaging and relevant learning experiences, and the importance of better communication and collaboration between parents, teachers, and the community as a whole.
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A City of Doers
As Columbusites, we examine the evolution and identity of the city from a singular point of view. That’s not a bad thing, but an outsider’s perspective is always helpful. Today, we hear from Mark Snyder, a former Columbus resident whose journey through writing and theater has woven a rich tapestry of experiences both in and out of Ohio’s capital city. Mark reflects on the essence of Columbus — the kindness, scrappiness, and the collaborative spirit that defines its culture. He shares his journey of rediscovery in a city that continues to evolve and challenge its own identity.
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Columbus’ Youngest Elected Official, Brandon Simmons
Big cities have big city problems. Columbus’s newest school board member argues that the inequity of our schools shows that we certainly are a big city. Brandon Simmons, also the youngest school board member ever elected, is on a mission to face the challenges of the district head-on. In an interview two days after his first board meeting, we discuss the challenges that the district faces, the power and importance of public education, and how he navigated the city’s political landscape to get into office.
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Columbus Metropolitan Library
Public libraries are a democracy’s best-kept promise and the Columbus Metropolitan Library has boasted that it is “open to all” since its founding in 1873. Chief Executive Officer Patrick Losinski talks this week about the challenges and opportunities facing libraries today, how the system has grown and evolved during his tenure, and how they continue to meet their customers where they are.
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Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley
The role of our elected officials is largely known to us. That is less true for our county commissioners. Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley joins the Confluence Cast this week to discuss what the commissioners’ office does, her background, and how she translates advocacy into her role on the board for the largest county in the state.
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Can’t Stop Columbus
In this time of consistent change and challenge, we look at how the Columbus community is standing up. Can’t Stop Columbus is a community-wide movement that tries to address some of the problems that have arisen due to the COVID-19 crisis. Co-organizer Mackenzie King joins us to discuss how the organization got started, how they’ve scaled up to 56 projects, and the importance of being authentic in their endeavors.
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Real Estate at Ohio State
Much like the rest of our city, the land controlled by and surrounding The Ohio State University is continually evolving. Reporter Brent Warren spoke with Ohio State’s Vice President of Planning, Architecture and Real Estate, Keith Myers, to discuss their framework plan, the importance of connecting the university to the surrounding community, and why consistent leadership and vision are needed for productive change.
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The Overcomer Foundation
In Ohio, single parents pay nearly 44% of their income for an infant in a daycare center and nearly 80% for two children (Child Care Aware of America, 2018). The Overcomer Foundation is trying to address that financial burden. This week, Sarah Perez, co-founder and president of the newly formed non-profit discusses their mission and the importance of companies in Columbus giving back.
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Artist & Educator Charlotte Belland
Honing any craft takes practice. That’s the philosophy of educator, illustrator, and animator Charlotte Belland. In this week’s episode, she discusses her background, her role at the Columbus College of Art & Design, how Columbus gives to its artists, and the importance of forming habits and showing up.
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