Jessica Mathews has achieved great success with her “PlaceMakes” initiative which includes the West Cherry Street project, the 4th Street, Gay Street, and Franklinton Parklets, and Alley Islands project. Within her role at Kauffman, she’s in charge of creating unique gathering spaces that are inviting, memorable, and make people feel happy. She’s currently working on the Gravity Project in the Franklinton neighborhood.

She began Open Streets Columbus, an initiative that temporarily closes streets to cars and brings citizens together to enhance mobility and public space to create more vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities. Mathew is a cycling advocate and was featured at TEDx Columbus.