Can Columbus Become a City of Service?

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.

Meaningful community impact rarely happens through the work of one individual or organization alone. At a time when nonprofit resources are stretched, funding is increasingly competitive, and donors, investors and supporters are looking for opportunities to create broader community impact, partnerships between service-focused organizations are essential.

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’ll 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 Columbus City Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, Lauren Hagan, CEO, Columbus Metropolitan Library; Mike Koppel, Program Specialist, Honor Flight Columbus, and with moderator Dr. Frederic Bertley, President & CEO, COSI and CEO National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

If you would like to dive more deeply into this topic, our friends at the Columbus Metropolitan Library suggest checking out Your Brain on Altruism: the Power of Connection and Community During Times of Crisis, by Nicole Karlis, 2025.