What's New
Full Circle: PACT names Sheldon Johnson as new Executive Director
Sheldon Johnson has been selected as the new executive director of PACT.
This image was originally posted on Columbus Business First
We are delighted to announce Sheldon Johnson as the new leader of Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT), taking the baton from Councilwoman Shayla Favor. Sheldon's appointment is not just a change in leadership; it is a homecoming to a journey that started almost a decade ago.
Sheldon's connection with PACT began with his Master's Thesis from Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, where he first envisioned his path in community development and nonprofit leadership. This thesis, a pivotal moment in Sheldon's career, marked the start of his professional shift and his enduring relationship with PACT. His journey from a passionate graduate student to our Executive Director is a testament to his dedication and vision for our community.
His impressive resume includes impactful roles at Community Development for All People and the Greater Ohio Policy Center, and most recently, a significant position at Fifth Third Bank where he was the point of contact for managing a $20 million grant from the bank. But it's not just his professional accolades that make Sheldon the ideal leader for PACT. His personal commitment to the Near East Side, his understanding of the community's heart and soul, and his vision for a thriving, mixed-income neighborhood are what truly set him apart.
Sheldon credits his growth and success to many who have supported him along the way, including the African American Leadership Academy, his mentors and friends in the space, and his best friend and life partner, LC Johnson. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in his journey.
As we welcome Sheldon, we also extend our heartfelt thanks to Councilwoman Shayla Favor for her invaluable contributions. Under Sheldon's leadership, we are excited to revisit and revitalize our blueprint for the area around OSU East Hospital. He is keen on developing strategic plans for community-centric development, that regard and envelop the significant history of our community and neighborhood.
Sheldon's arrival is not just a new chapter for PACT but a continuation of a journey that started years ago with a vision and a thesis. His deep-rooted connection to PACT and the Near East Side neighborhoods, combined with his professional expertise, makes him uniquely positioned to lead us into a future of sustainable growth and transformative impact.
Join us in welcoming Sheldon Johnson to the PACT family. Together, let's embark on this exciting journey of community transformation.
PACT Board & Team
PACT Dispatch - Q4 2021
Announcing Our New Executive Director
Photo of Shayla shot by Shellee Fisher photography
The board of directors for Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) welcomes Shayla Favor as the new executive director of the organization. She began her duties on Nov. 22, 2021.
Under Favor’s leadership as the incoming executive director, PACT will advance solutions that achieve its goals to drive redevelopment, impact education, health and safety in the PACT geography and drive community transformation. Favor looks forward to building upon the foundation and executing the plans outlined in the PACT Blueprint Community Investment Plan, which was developed in collaboration with the community in 2013.
“Now more than ever, it’s critical that we work to not only ensure the revitalization of the Near East Side of Columbus through the implementation of PACT’s Blueprint Community Investment plan, but to also protect legacy residents from the effects of gentrification and systemic racism that have contributed to the inequities that we see in education, healthcare, housing and employment,” said Favor.
Favor, a member of Columbus City Council since January of 2019, will continue her duties as a member of city council. Prior to becoming a council member, Favor served as an assistant city attorney in the Columbus City Attorney’s office. Assigned to the Environmental Division, Favor had the opportunity to serve the residents of the Near East side by addressing neighborhood disparity and criminal activity through the abatement of nuisance properties. “Eliminating blight gets to the heart of protecting our public safety and improving the quality of life of our residents,” said Favor. Favor is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Capital University Law School and is a resident of Columbus’ Near East Side neighborhood.
Fifth Third Bank Invests $20M to Support PACT Community
Partners Achieving Community Transformation (PACT) recently announced PACT is one of just nine communities nationwide selected for Fifth Third Bank and Enterprise Community Partners' Fifth Third Neighborhood Investment Program. Fifth Third intends to commit up to $20 million in lending, investments and philanthropic support, including grants from the Fifth Third Foundation to the Near East Side PACT neighborhood. A combination of capital, products and services will be invested into small businesses, mortgages, philanthropic efforts, and neighborhood revitalization loans and investments.
“This investment represents our commitment to holistic community development...”
“This investment represents our commitment to holistic community development,” said Fifth Third Central Ohio Community & Economic Development Manager, Sheldon K. Johnson.
“Through the Neighborhood Investment Program, we are focused on contributing to sustainable solutions that address racial disparities in health and wealth. By collaborating with PACT and Enterprise and other community stakeholders we can build upon the foundation of work that’s already been done and have some transformative impact in this historic community.”
For the past decade, PACT has worked with partners and the community to change the Near East Side. PACT plans to leverage this new infusion of funds from Fifth Third Bank to expand black businesses, support public art creation across the neighborhood, and take our community to new heights.
Elizabeth Seely, founding board member and current chair of the PACT board of directors, said PACT will use the funds to further advance initiatives from PACT’s Blueprint for Community Investment including safe and affordable housing, health, education, and employment opportunities. Potential investments in the program include funding the development of new black-owned businesses, supporting public art creation, providing down payment support for residents’ middle-income and ladder-up housing opportunities to build generational wealth, expanding access to health services, and creating financial education, literacy, and savings programs for the area’s young people’s future dreams.
“Infusing good development practices and principles interwoven with community engagement, culture, and legacy has been our vision and our dream,” said Seely. “The expertise and investment of Fifth Third – combined with the knowledge base of Enterprise – make this an exceptionally critical moment for our community. And we’re ready-we’re just poised to leverage it,” she continued.
PACT was invited to apply for the program based on its ability to meet specific criteria, including collaborating with the neighborhood’s Black residents, existing civic infrastructure in the neighborhood and its capability to manage equitable investment and wealth-building opportunities. The program’s funds will cultivate investments and resources from additional stakeholders to support the economic mobility of low- to moderate-income residents in the identified neighborhoods.
The Neighborhood Investment Program is part of Fifth Third’s national $2.8 billion commitment that will provide $2.2 billion in lending, $500 million in investments, $60 million in financial accessibility and $40 million in philanthropy from the Fifth Third Foundation as part of Fifth Third’s Accelerating Racial Equality, Equity and Inclusion initiative. The commitment is focused on four strategic pillars that directly impact customers and communities across the country with targeted outcomes enabling the bank to track progress and measure success in the areas of strategic investments, access to capital, financial inclusion and education, and social justice and advocacy. This program also aligns with Enterprise’s new strategic plan and three central goals: to increase housing supply, advance racial equity and build resilience and upward mobility.
Repairing, Restoring and Reviving Residents’ Homes
PACT’s vision is to create a healthy, financially and environmentally sustainable community in which residents have access to safe and affordable housing in the Near East Side. PACT is helping to do that through the Home Exterior Repair Program. The program started in 2014 and has repaired over 31 houses to date. It provides residents with exterior home repair support that enables them to stay in their homes and the Near East Side community. Seven homes will be selected for repairs this year. PACT is looking forward to continuing to provide housing rehabilitation to families living in the PACT community visually transform this community. This program has been made possible with generous funding from Ohio State, United Way of Central Ohio, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and Fifth Third Bank.
Community Highlights
NOBO Sponsorship
PACT announces a partnership with NoBo Arts &Gifts. NoBo Arts & Gifts is a rich fusion of artisans and entrepreneurs presenting their original work and products to the public. NoBo was established in 2012 to empower and support local artists while stimulating economic growth in the community.
Cleaner Columbus
In August, Columbus City Council announced the application for the Cleaner Columbus Youth Grant. Youth organizations across the city had the opportunity to apply for $500 grants to support their unique endeavors in exchange for picking up litter in targeted neighborhoods. If you are interested in learning more about the program and want to support the initiative, please visit the website.
Service Saturday with the Growing and Growth Collective
PACT supports the Growing and Growth Collective’s efforts to champion the Greenway Community Garden. Save the date and join the Growing and Growth Collective on Saturday, November 27th from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. You can RSVP by emailing the Growing and Growth Collective at growingandgrowncollective@gmail.com.
Making A Difference - Q2 2021 Newsletter
PACT and Venture Suite is Making the Difference
A message from our President
Venture Suite (VS) is a shared technology-focused workspace located in the historic King-Lincoln Bronzeville area of the Near East Side. PACT is proud to have been a funding partner in the development of Venture Suite, bringing this opportunity for wealth building into our community.
The goal of the VS offerings is to address some of the systemic challenges that diverse groups often face in technology startups and ventures. More than 80% of venture firms do not have a single black investor, and of the 20% that do have black investors, only 2% of partners – individuals that make investment decisions – are Black. Only 1% of venture-funded startup founders are black,” according to BLCK VC, a nonprofit organization. The number of venture-funded startups for women is even more distressing. Statistically, it amounts to zero. According to the publication Wired, this disparity comes even as black women today comprise the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the US, with over 1.5 million businesses—a 322 percent increase since 1997. These businesses generate over $44 billion a year in revenue. Yet, in the tech world, investors aren’t taking a risk on startups run by black women.
The primary mission of Venture Suite is to connect professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and resources with a broader community of experts, collaborators, mentors, and investors. Amenities include access to small business support from CSCC and CUL, industry events, TEDx programs, corporate training, startup workshops, health and wellness activities, boot camps, and more.
Venture Suite offers a selection of membership-based packages to suit various utilization needs. On the first floor, the physical space includes a 1,500 square foot flexible common area with moveable tables and chairs. The perimeter of the commons includes several lounge chairs and coffee tables, high-top tables with chairs, and multiple televisions/LED screens for presentations or other viewing desires. There are private phone booths and a large conference room. There is a special nook in the southwest corner where two lounge chairs are positioned within a slightly elevated bay window that can be used for fireside chats. Outside of the commons is a kitchenette where there is unlimited coffee and tea for members and guests. The second floor contains a 1,000 square foot educational lab for classes, workshops, and other usages. The first and second floors, including the conference room, are available for rental as event space.
The VS community feels like a collaborative family of diverse and energized talent! Our goal is to engage 300 individual members and 50 startups during the first year. Venture Suite was made possible by support from PACT and Columbus City Council. You can sign up to learn more about this black-owned and operated business on their website: venturesuite.co. Venture Suite is accessible for everyone. The “for all by us” expression speaks to the immense value of inclusive collaboration and innovation. The primary value, “Everybody Eats” embodies the culture that members will experience at Venture Suite.
Autumn Glover,
President
PACT Partners with Growing Growth Collective
The Growing and Growth Collective was founded in June 2020 by a group of individuals who are passionate about the Near East Side, which the Scioto Analysis policy research organization mapped as a neighborhood of concentrated poverty. The initial goal was to leverage one community garden on Greenway Avenue to help amplify the number of local Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in urban agriculture, but just weeks after forming, GGC grew organically into a network of five greenspaces and a team of volunteers that is now part of PACT Columbus.
Overall, our mission is to leverage urban agriculture as a means of social action to help improve health outcomes, deepen community engagement and foster economic empowerment in high-BIPOC neighborhoods. We are striving to accomplish this by facilitating responsive, culturally-relevant and evidence-based programming around our four impact pillars: Agricultural Education in Cities; Food Access & Affordability; Comprehensive Health & Wellness; and Equitable Community Development.
Our 2021 plans included developing the Hildreth garden, hosting a joint arts and agriculture program for youth at the King Arts Complex, building a learning garden also at the King Arts Complex, securing a hoop house for the Mamie Mack community garden and leading introduction to gardening lessons for the community, among other activities.
Also, we produce a monthly newsletter to keep community members informed about the progress on our goals and to highlight other urban agriculture entities in the city. We also host quarterly book chats and programming centered around discussing agriculture as a means of activism, how disenfranchisement within BIPOC communities leads to inequalities with land acquisition and access to healthy foods and the history of BIPOC’s engagement with agriculture. We truly value getting our hands in soil, but also understand that education is an integral part of BIPOC’s role within agriculture.
Acknowledgements
PACT is proud to acknowledges Fred Ransier
Congratulations to Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and Fred Ransier for being recognized for their hard work and dedication to the community at OSU's Commencement. The team here at PACT are very proud of you both. Read More about the Distinguished Service Award
Honoring the Late Otto Beatty
The PACT community celebrates and honors the legacy of the late Otto Beatty Jr., who transitioned to glory on May 14, 2021. Mr. Beatty Jr. was a pioneer, a statesman and known for his civil rights advocacy, for supporting Black businesses, and leading change to make conditions better for Black and Brown people in our community. The former state legislator was father of local business leader Otto Beatty, III and Judge Laurel Beatty Blunt, and the husband of Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
Mr. Beatty Jr. was born and raised in what is now known as the PACT geography – from birth to his college years he lived with his family on Monroe Avenue. He and his family were long-time Columbus business leaders and civil rights activists in Central Ohio. His father, Otto Sr., was the first Black deputy registrar for the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and, along with his mother, Myrna, opened the Novelty Food Bar, which operated from 1942 to 1976, and was the city’s first 24-hour family eating facility open to Black people that was located right here in the PACT community.
His grandmother, Mayme Moore, was a civil-rights activist who stood alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., a founder of the Columbus NAACP and the nation’s oldest black women’s organization, the Colored Women’s Club. Mayme Moore Park is a tribute to his grandmother.
Otto Beatty Jr. served 18 years in the state legislature, representing the Near East Side during his entire legislative tenure. Beatty served as president of the Franklin County Trial Lawyers Association and attorney for Black Elected Democrats of Ohio. He also served as special counsel to the Ohio attorney general, counsel to what would become the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus and chair of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health.
A host of loved ones, current and former central Ohio leaders, local, state and federal legislators attended the May 21, 2021, funeral services. In addition, representatives from the Office of the United States President, including the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Marcia Fudge as well as members of Congress, including Speaker of the U.S. House Nancy Pelosi, Rep. James Clyburn Rep. Maxine Waters and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus gathered to honor the life of Otto Beatty Jr.
(Excerpts shared from AP News)
Listen to the WCMH-TV story highlighting his service to the community here https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/former-state-rep-otto-beatty-dies-at-81/
Congratulations Graduates
PACT would like to off our warmest congratulations to all 2021 graduates, and especially those of East High School! Your success is well deserved, and we are delighted that such bright young minds from our community are stepping forward into the world.
We hope that you take time to celebrate this important milestone in your life because you truly earned it. PACT is so proud of your achievements, and we are excited to see where your next adventure takes you.
Updates
Bronzeville Growers Market
Bronzeville Growers Market supports the goal of building a sustainable local food system.
Our theme: Sharing the Wealth refers to the wealth of the land and the community. The Market reserves space for Ohio farmers/growers, as well as cottage food operations and small processors that source ingredients locally and local craft artisans.
The Market encourages the following: developing and niche farmers; farmers/urban gardeners practicing organic farming methods and season extension; producers that source locally; community gardens and producers eager to educate consumers about their products.
Grow with us.
925 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203, United States
Community Care Coach is Back
Did you know that The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center Community Care Coach has s a state-of-the-art health unit on wheels that brings our health care team to you?
The Community Care Coach will see primary care patients on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. at the Columbus Metropolitan Library–Shepard Branch, 850 N. Nelson Rd.
Visit the website to learn more: Community Care Coach | Ohio State Medical Center (osu.edu)
Lift Your Voice - Q1 2021 Newsletter
Message from Autumn Glover, President
Illustration by Marshall Shorts (@mrshortscreates)
During this month, as we honor and recognize the legacy of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I’ve reflected most on his quote that, for me, underscores self-determination:
“If you can’t fly then run; if you can’t run then walk; if you can’t walk, then crawl;
but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”
As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic and reflect on what it is teaching us, I hope you are heeding public health advice and are seeking trusted sources for information on how to consider the vaccine. We’re fortunate to have local leaders and experts, such as Wexner Medical Center, in our community providing relevant information.
I encourage you to join The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center for an upcoming event focusing on COVID-19 hosted by Dr. Darrell Gray, a Black physician, and leader in health equity, who will engage with cross-sector leaders on the impacts of COVID-19 as part of a critical conversation on the historical and present hesitancy around vaccination in minority communities. In addition, each leader will present an action item that will address the community needs posed by this pandemic and help us move forward in getting rid of COVID-19.
As we celebrate 10 years of PACT, we look forward to a 2021 with a focus on equity and excellence! I am so grateful for this place, the people of this community, and the strength of partnerships that have carried us this far. Thank you!
Autumn Glover,
President
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF COMMUNITY IMPACT
On December 11, 2020 PACT officially recognized 10 years of making a difference on the Near East Side. We are proud of the work we have accomplished collectively –our initial work to build a community-led plan around workforce, housing, education, safety, and health, has led to a number of programs and initiatives that build capacity in our community for sustainability and relevance in the future. While we celebrate our milestones, we acknowledge there is much more to do. Watch and listen to voices from the community and our partners in just how far we’ve come in these 10 years.
RECOGNIZING KEY PARTNERS THAT HELP US SUPPORT COMMUNITY
The partnership of so many kept our work relevant and responsive in 2020! We would like to publicly thank a few of our partners for their contributions to the Near East Side last year: Broad Street Presbyterian Church, Catalyst For Columbus, City of Columbus, Civista Bank, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dream Center, Equity Now Coalition, Fifth Third Bank, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Growing Growth Collective, I Know I Can, Kelley Companies, Maroon Arts Group, OSU Social Change, Second Baptist Church, Shiloh Baptist Church, The Columbus Foundation, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and Trinity Baptist Church.
Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to our collaboration in 2021.
Connected Communities
We continue to support our community in closing the digital divide with affordable and effective internet, relevant devices, and literacy that inspires confidence to navigate the internet for life – work, education, telehealth, and social benefit.
YOUR FAMILY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FREE IN-HOME INTERNET IN 2021
PACT is working with Smart Columbus, the City of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Library, National Center for Urban Solutions, The Columbus Foundation and Columbus City Schools to test ways we can make in-home internet access affordable and reliable in our community. We are seeking households with children or family members who are completing distance learning of any kind (K-12, college, training, GED, etc.). Visit www.cbuswifi.com to learn more and sign up!
PACT OFFERING FREE DEVICES FOR 43203 RESIDENTS
It is our hope that access to a device and internet in your home will help your family more fully participate in opportunities for work, education, telehealth and social benefit. PACT is offering free devices for residents of our planning area. Visit www.go.osu.edu/pactsupport to apply today! We will contact you directly when your device arrives for you to pick-up at the PACT Office.
COMMUNITY LEADERS SUPPORTING STUDENTS
LEARNING EXTENSION CENTERS
In August 2020, PACT convened neighborhood leaders, including area churches, to discuss how we might work together to support students as they prepared for online learning this academic year. We were fortunate to leverage the commitment and expertise of partners like the Columbus Dream Center, Catalyst for Columbus and Kelley Companies in forming a collaborative to plan for Near East Side Learning Extension Centers (LECs). One LEC site is located at Trinity Baptist Church under the leadership of youth pastor TaVaughn Toney who has shared a reflection of how LECs are helping to keep our kids safe and continue learning. Thank you, Minister Toney and all of our wonderful LEC partners!
“The Learning Extension Center at Trinity Baptist Church is a safe space for middle and high school students to access WiFi, complete their online learning assignments, and receive supervision, tutoring, and homework help from students at The Ohio State University’s Department of Social Change. The LEC is one of thirty four centers located on the Near East Side of Columbus and one of over 140 centers serving the Columbus Metropolitan area. It is sponsored by Catalyst for Columbus, Central College Presbyterian Church, and Trinity Baptist Church. One of the biggest goals of the center is to not only provide a safe space for students to learn but to also provide safe, in person, social interaction. Located in a church, the center also works to be a place where students can experience the love and acceptance of God. Social interaction, mentoring, and the ability to get out of the house during this time are invaluable when it comes to the student’s emotional, spiritual, and mental health. Every morning, students engage in “grounding” activities where they discuss what’s going on in their worlds and participate in morning prayer. In addition to tutoring and homework help, students also receive devotional lessons that are designed to teach biblical and spiritual principles in a way that relates to what the students are currently learning in their virtual classrooms. For example, students received a lesson on theological doctrine of the Trinity that coincided with their math homework on fractions.”
To learn more about the days and times for this and other LEC sites visit: www.forcolumbuskids.com/east or https://www.ccsoh.us/Page/8685
NEIGHBORS ON THE NEAR EAST SIDE
NLA ALUMNI, JERRY VALENTINE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH RENTER MENTOR
Jerry Valentine
Founder & CEO, Renter Mentor
PACT Leadership Academy, Class of 2020
https://www.rentermentor.net/
Jerry Valentine is a social entrepreneur from Cincinnati, Ohio who currently resides on the Near East Side of Columbus. He serves as the Founder and CEO of Renter Mentor, a social enterprise tech company that helps connect people to affordable housing. The company serves as a platform that provides a secure, centralized, and automated way to list, manage, and find affordable housing – while assisting landlords and tenants through housing processes and providing them access to supportive services. Jerry brings extensive affordable housing knowledge and experience to the company from his former employment with the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA). As an active community member and volunteer, Jerry has served on many community boards and commissions. Currently, he serves on the boards of directors of the Central Community House, William H. Thomas Art Gallery, and the Get Out Network. He has also been able to successfully compete in community hackathons and startup accelerator programs such as Give Back Hack Columbus and SEA Change where he jump-started his latest business venture, Renter Mentor. He has been honored and recognized by Ohio University by receiving a Man of Black Excellence Alumni of the Year Award; ComSpark of Central Ohio as a part of the inaugural class of 30 under 30 Power Tech Player honorees; and most recently by PACT as a Near East Side Leadership Academy graduate. Jerry is dedicated to continuing to make community impact through servant leadership and advocacy for affordable housing and digital equity & inclusion.
EQUITY NOW COALITION (ENC)
Building capacity to support the impact of COVID-19 on our community was a driving force that brought several organizations together to help address the disparities highlighted by the pandemic. It resulted in the creation of a multi-sector community leadership and advocacy group focused on improving racial equity outcomes throughout our community – the Equity Now Coalition (ENC). PACT is a participating organization in this important work. It began with a virtual meeting with several government and community organizations on March 18, 2020 with the goal of sharing information to mitigate the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black and Brown people, businesses, and communities. Since that meeting, the coalition has grown to include more than 120 non-profit, social service agencies, government, community, socially-conscious and culturally-centered organizations working together for the sole purpose of addressing social justice issues that impact Black and Brown people and the underserved in Central Ohio. Fully aware that the work of undoing 401 years of structurally racist policies, practices, and procedures to achieve racially equitable outcomes is long-term work, the Equity Now Coalition is working to develop a comprehensive framework to address key issues that have a significant impact on lifting Black and Brown communities.
SHARING YOUR INSIGHTS ON REIMAGINING POLICE REFORM
Columbus City Council continues its commitment to Reimagining Public Safety and has publicly shared its framework to create accountability, build a better Division of Police, establish alternative crisis response, and invest in violence prevention programs as part of its ongoing work. In late June, Columbus City Council passed a four-part legislative package that included limiting no-knock raids, demilitarizing the Division of Police through the purchasing code, and instituting background checks for hate-group affiliation. The legislation also included a ballot measure to establish an Inspector General and create a Civilian Police Review Board, which voters approved in November and is in the process of being seated.
This town hall series continues the ongoing deliberations of the City's Operating Budget. Any resident seeking to provide written or live testimony via WebEx during the virtual hearing must submit their intention by clicking here. Requests must be entered by 2pm on the day of the town hall. Up to ten speakers will be heard per town hall, with remarks limited to three minutes or less. There will be audience engagement activities during the town hall events. The remaining events are:
Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 5:30pm
Establishing Alternative Public Safety Crisis Response, led by Councilmember Shayla Favor
Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 4pm
Investing in Violence Prevention, led by President Pro Tem Elizabeth Brown
Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 5:30pm
Investing in Accountability and a Better Division of Police, hosted by Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy
Take The Survey
The town hall will be streamed on Council's Facebook page and the City of Columbus YouTube channel.
As part of Columbus City Council’s ongoing outreach to the community, members of Columbus City Council want to hear from you. Please take this survey to share your thoughts on how to reimagine public safety in our city.
Q3 2020 PACT Quarterly Newsletter: BRINGING TECHNOLOGY HOME – ONE STEP AT A TIME
Your quarterly update on what's going on in your neighborhood.
Message from Autumn Glover, President
BRINGING TECHNOLOGY HOME – ONE STEP AT A TIME
COVID-19 has put a spotlight on health disparities, social justice inequalities and more as we continue to maneuver and adjust our daily lives. Another disparity the virus has highlighted is the limited access to technology in our neighborhoods. It is a reality that many families in the PACT geography do not have technology and/or the tools necessary to access online job applications, telemedicine information and appointments, the ability to log online to complete critical schoolwork and more. It became noticeably clear that the digital divide was real and still an issue in our community. This is why PACT established the PACT Connected Communities Fund in March of this year.
Our goal with this fund is to achieve fixed internet that is affordable and effective for every household in the PACT geography and provide families with devices and digital literacy to expand opportunities for work, education, telehealth and social benefit.
We have been deliberate and busy. Partners have responded to our requests to help address this technology gap in our neighborhood. I am thrilled to report recent successes and that we continue our focus.
PACT participated in The Columbus Foundation Big Give and has also received grants from the Foundation – thank you to so many of you who contributed!
PACT has used funds to conduct a community engagement survey to understand both current household provisions and patterns or experiences with technology. We talk to hundreds of you this summer – thank you!
This survey design will be replicated for research to engage additional Near East Side residents and other Columbus pilot communities.
The Columbus Foundation granted PACT a pilot feasibility study to determine possible technologies that could be introduced to increase affordable internet in the PACT area, based on ACS and PACT Community Engagement survey. The study was completed by AECOM a technology engineering firm. And we’re working now with Smart Columbus and the City of Columbus to consider next steps on options for make these opportunities a reality.
PACT has also been awarded a $200,000 Resilience Fund grant from Columbus/Franklin County CARES Act funding that will be used to purchase devices for residents of the PACT planning area.
I am leading a national consortium focused on the Digital Divide for place-based nonprofits that are members of the Purpose Built Communities network.
And I recently shared with Columbus CEO Magazine why digital equity is urgent and must include access to culturally responsive literacy resources, https://www.columbusceo.com/business/20201005/moonshot-idea-closing-digital-divide
Digital exclusion comes at a cost we cannot continue to carry if we want to be a smart, future-thinking community. Every industry relies on the internet. Every small business, household, urban and rural community will require affordable and effective internet for our economic future, schooling and health, making solving this problem unavoidable. As technology continues to evolve, closing the divide will only grow more challenging. PACT will continue our efforts to close the digital divide and bring real solutions to our neighborhood to be a model for how community collaboration and focus can equip families to achieve optimal health and well-being.
Autumn Glover,
President
A MILESTONE FOR THE DECADE – CELEBRATING 10 YEARS AS COMMUNITY QUARTERBACK
Mark your calendars! December 6, 2020 will be the 10th-year anniversary of PACT. We are proud of our ten-year journey and the commitment to this community to address the social determinants of health through place-based program and project investments, made possible through the investment of $10 million from the OSU Jobs Growth Incentive Fund and other funding partners including the City of Columbus and Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. In July 2019, PACT was realigned to be solely funded by Ohio State. Planning for acknowledgment of this milestone underway – so stay tuned for more to come.
ROAAR KICKS OFF FIRST SERIES WITH A FOCUS ON RACE AND POLICING - JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Register today for The Ohio State University Roundtable on Actions Against Racism (ROAAR) Safe Spaces/Safe Communities conversation - Thursday, October 8 at noon. The first in a series, this virtual town hall brings business, city government, public safety and mental health leaders together to focus on a critical conversation about racism and the role policing plays in creating safe spaces. You will hear from Columbus City Council President, Shannon Hardin; Executive Vice President, Chancellor for Health Affairs, The Ohio State University and Chief Executive Officer, Wexner Medical Center, Harold L. Paz, MD, MS; CEO and President, Columbus Partnership, Alex Fisher, Department of Public Safety Director, The Ohio State University, Monica Moll; and CEO, Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin County Erica Clark Jones.
Moderator will be Darrell Gray, II, MD, MPH, FACG and Associate Professor, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Director, Endoscopy and Gastroenterology Services, Ohio State East Hospital Deputy Director, Center for Cancer Health Equity, OSUCCC The James Cancer Hospital.
Sign up today for this Thursday, October 8, 12 pm To Register: go.osu.edu/ROAAR
OSU EAST EXPANDS WEST WING - OPENS NEW SURGICAL SPACE
Ohio State East Hospital is growing to better serve the Near East Side with the highest quality of care to meet our community's needs. The $26 million, 40,300-square-foot surgery unit includes the renovation of 11,800 square feet of existing surgical space and an additional 28,500 square feet of new space. The west wing expansion features a renovated and expanded outpatient surgery unit with four state-of-the-art operating rooms, including a hybrid operating room to facilitate interventional radiology procedures. Check out the unit through a video tour of this new addition to our neighborhood's healthcare needs.
NOTED ARTIST JENIFER LEWIS HEADLINES 3RD ANNUAL COLUMBUS WOMEN & GIRLS’FEST
Columbus Women&Girls’Fest 2020 invites the entire community to join its free virtual fest on October 17, 2020, noon to 7 p.m. National artist Jenifer Lewis, a multi-award-winning actor, author, activist and performance artist, who currently stars as grandmother, “Ruby,” on the prime time hit TV show Black-ish, will be the festival headliner. Ms. Lewis is intergenerationally known and loved for her viral political song videos, among them: “All Hand On Deck,” “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks,” “ and more. Her 2017 memoir, The Mother of Black Hollywood, details her journey from poverty in Kinloch, Missouri to celebrated Hollywood stardom.
Local artists participating in the fest include: local artists and cultural leaders such as Barbara Fant and The Black Girl Rising Poets, Suzan Bradford and Thiosanne West African Dance Institute, Maylena Marshall (Fort Hayes student gospel singer); Caroline “Inspires” Bennett (soul singer), Children’s Literature workshop with Dr. Carlotta Penn (first 20 registrants who attend receive free book); What it Means to Hold the Line for Black women, girls, femmes with Dr. Shemariah Arki and more.
For the schedule visit cbuswgfest.org for the full schedule. Pre- registration is required, you can sign up here.
FREE FLU SHOTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF OCTOBER
Throughout the month of October, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is offering flu shots close to where you live, work and worship!
· Trinity Baptist Church, 461 St Clair Avenue, Columbus, OH 43203
· Shepard Library, 850 N Nelson Road, Columbus, OH 43219
You must call to make an appointment by calling 614-688-8881. Appointments are required and are available beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Why get a flu shot this year?
To get the valuable protection a flu vaccine offers. It increases your chances of not getting the flu.
It helps protect your loved ones. Your flu shot protects you and anyone you might otherwise have infected if you contracted the flu. Everyone over the age of 6 months, and especially those over 60 or those with chronic conditions, should get the flu shot.
It’s worth the time. A few minutes getting the flu shot could save you weeks of recovering from the flu.
To prevent “coinfection”— The flu shot can significantly decrease your chances of getting a potentially life-threatening co-infection by both the flu and COVID-19.
Deliver Black Dreams
"As long as there is poverty in the world I can never be rich, even if I have a billion dollars. As long as diseases are rampant and millions of people in this world cannot expect to live more than twenty-eight or thirty years, I can never be totally healthy even if I just got a good checkup at Mayo Clinic. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way our world is made. No individual or nation can stand out boasting of being independent. We are interdependent. "
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
If we believe Black Lives Matter then we must commit to #DeliverBlackDreams
Deliver Black Dreams is a fully executed brand to express a winning narrative with an intentionally Black aesthetic. This effort came about with a consortium of activists, practitioners, and organizations spanning the midwest region including Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Deliver Black Dreams is more than a campaign it is a commitment. It is about connecting cultural products such as public art and creative activations to tangible systemic change that reimagines a world where all of us can thrive. Deliver Black Dreams is centered in a Black voice and affirms that Black Lives Matter AND if they do then we must make a commitment to Deliver Black Dreams.
Deliver Black Dreams Columbus came about in partnership with Maroon Arts Group, Greater Columbus Arts Council and Columbus City Council in an effort to create public art acknowledging that Black Lives Matter. Our goal in the short-term is to activate Black creatives in Columbus in creating public art centering our core narrative 'Deliver Black Dreams.' Our long-term goal is to change the culture. We are encouraging people from all sectors to get involved from arts & culture, healthcare, education, political, and residents to reimagine and design a city where ALL OF US can live abundantly. These short and long-term goals are inextricably linked because people in our community are suffering and discouraged by the injustices we see and need the form to follow functional change in our city. We don’t want the murals to be just window dressing to cover up the systemic issues our city has. We deliver Black dreams by making sure that the most vulnerable amongst us are heard and can thrive in this city.
By activating a shared brand no matter what particular campaign we’re conducting, we reinforce our overarching narrative and our shared values. As a choir, we want to repeat the same notes to be heard through the political noise.
Press Release
Columbus Commits to Deliver Black Dreams, a New Aspirational Racial Equity Campaign
Maroon Arts Group and Greater Columbus Arts Council Partner with the City of Columbus on Major Black Lives Matter Public Art Project
A new multifaceted racial equity campaign called Deliver Black Dreams is getting under way this fall in Columbus. Deliver Black Dreams will use public art as a launch point for a sustained and future oriented approach to achieving racial equity in Columbus, one that helps the community reimagine and design a city where everyone can live abundantly.
Created by Marshall Shorts, designer, principal at Artfluential and co-creator of Creative Control Fest, Deliver Black Dreams is a campaign OF, BY and FOR Black people. It is a campaign that seeks long-term change in the culture, and a future where Black people and those who love them are free to choose their destiny, free from oppression.
“Deliver Black Dreams is about creating a city for ALL of US, where ALL can live abundantly,” said Marshall Shorts. “Deliver Black Dreams is more than a campaign. It is a commitment. It is about connecting cultural products such as public art to tangible systemic change that reimagines a world where all of us can thrive. Deliver Black Dreams is centered in a Black voice and affirms that Black Lives Matter AND if they do then we must make a commitment to Deliver Black Dreams.”
The first phase of the campaign is based in visual expression and will employ Black artists to create public art and encourage mentorship of young people and new artists around the central narrative of “Deliver Black Dreams” in three to six large-scale murals this fall and in spring 2021.
The other major visual expression components for Deliver Black Dreams are:
Free, outdoor exhibitions in neighborhoods throughout Columbus of the Art Unites Cbus temporary murals created after the June protests—locations to be installed in late October include Coleman’s Point on Civic Center Dr., Easton, Huntington Center, King Arts Complex, Lincoln Theatre, Maroon Arts Group Box Park, McConnell Arts Center, Ohio History Connection and the Short North at Greenwood Park at 4th and High. See related release.
Cash awards to Black filmmakers and photographers to tell the story of the protests in their own voice. See announcement of award recipients.
Privately funded murals such as April Sunami’s new mural Black Women Matter at 859 E. Long St. in King Lincoln/Bronzeville.
Additional components that involve mentorship of young artists are being developed.
“Columbus should be a place free of racism and oppression--a place where all our residents can thrive, not just a few. The city of Columbus believes in investing in public art by African Americans that will inspire our community now and in the future,” said Mayor Andrew J. Ginther. “The installations of public art for Deliver Black Dreams will lift up the hopes and aspirations of our minority residents and challenge our broader population and city leaders to commit to equity in all walks of life. There is no greater calling than bending the curve of history, and the future, to justice and equality. Now, more than ever, Columbus strives to be a city where we can and will Deliver Black Dreams.”
“I am proud to support the work of Delivering Black Dreams, and cannot think of a time better than the present to uplift and empower our community,” said Councilmember Shayla Favor, who led the funding effort at Columbus City Council. “This project is about more than just public art. It is about recommitting ourselves to achieving true racial equity so that future generations can all have the same opportunities to fulfill their biggest and wildest dreams.”
Deliver Black Dreams seeks to develop community partnerships, programming, outreach and mentorship that can have a long-term impact in not just the cultural sector but education, health, safety and economic sectors as well.
“The short-term goals—public art—and long-term goals—changing the culture—of Deliver Black Dreams are inextricably linked,” explains Shorts. “People in our community are suffering and discouraged by the injustices we see. We need form to follow functional change in our city. We deliver Black dreams by making sure that the most vulnerable amongst us are heard and can thrive in this city.”
Funding for the public art and visual expression components of Deliver Black Dreams is provided by the City of Columbus, American Electric Power Foundation, Huntington and Grange, with additional support from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and the Art Unites Cbus project and Orange Barrel Media.
Maroon Arts Group mission: to develop and provide a platform for conscious art centered around the preservation and promotion of cultures of African descent. maroonartsgroup.com
Greater Columbus Arts Council mission: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org. The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council.