About Columbus Forward
Nine Voices, One Vision: A Better Life for Every Resident
Our region is expected to gain nearly a million new residents by 2050. How we manage that growth over the next few years will determine what kind of city we become. Will we be a place where only some people can afford to live? Where small businesses get pushed out by development? Where neighborhoods lose their character as they grow?
Columbus Forward says no. We believe rapid growth and quality of life aren't competing goals — they're complementary ones. When we build housing that families can afford, strengthen small businesses, ensure fair wages, and create vibrant communities, we don't just manage growth — we harness it to build a better city for everyone.
our approach
Columbus is a city on the move — growing, evolving, and full of possibility. As our neighborhoods expand, our economy strengthens, and new residents arrive every day, Columbus City Council is stepping forward with a bold, coordinated response to ensure that our city's growth benefits everyone.
Diverse Expertise, Shared Goals
Each councilmember brings a unique professional background and community connections to the table. From business development to education and environmental sustainability to public safety, our coalition spans the full spectrum of what makes a city work. This diversity isn't just representation — it's strategy. Complex challenges require diverse solutions.
Lived Experience Drives Policy
Great policy starts with understanding real life. Our councilmembers don't just represent different districts — they represent different experiences as parents, small business owners, immigrants, longtime residents, and community advocates. When policy is grounded in actual experience, it works better for the people it's meant to serve.
Making Growth Work for Us
Too often, city growth happens to residents rather than with them. Columbus Forward takes a different approach. Every initiative is designed with clear outcomes in mind: making housing more accessible, supporting small businesses, ensuring fair wages, creating safe spaces for young people, and building sustainable communities. We're not just managing growth — we're shaping it.
Our Councilmembers
Columbus Forward is led by nine councilmembers who bring their whole selves to this work:
Shannon G. Hardin
Rob Dorans
Nicholas J. Bankston
Lourdes Barroso de Padilla
Otto Beatty
Nancy Day-Achauer
Melissa Green
Emmanuel Remy
Christopher Wyche
Why This Matters Now
Columbus is expected to gain nearly a million new residents by 2050. How we manage that growth over the next few years will determine what kind of city we become. Will we be a place where only some people can afford to live? Where small businesses get pushed out by development? Where neighborhoods lose their character as they grow?
Columbus Forward says no. We believe rapid growth and quality of life aren't competing goals — they're complementary ones. When we build housing that families can afford, strengthen small businesses, ensure fair wages, and create vibrant communities, we don't just manage growth — we harness it to build a better city for everyone.