January 20, 2025

Good Works Columbus: January 20, 2025

FLOW Conservation Work, Appalachian Prison Book Project, Beers and Board Games

Intro

Hi everyone, welcome to Good Works Columbus, a newsletter highlighting actions you can take at the local level to help improve our community. It’s a cold week out there in central Ohio, here is an updated list of winter warming centers in Columbus.

If you have an upcoming event or a link you’d like to share for the newsletter, feel free to send suggestions. And if you know someone who might enjoy Good Works Columbus, forward it to them and tell them to subscribe here.

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Things you can do in person

• FLOW: Ohio School for the Deaf Conservation Easement Work Day 💧
  Saturday, January 25th
  10:00AM-12:00PM
  Ohio School for the Deaf, 500 Morse Rd.
  We will be working on continuing the restoration of the conservation easement behind the Ohio School for the Deaf. All supplies and snacks will be provided, just come dressed for the weather and ready to work outside. To enter the Ohio School for the Deaf property, drive up to the security gate off Morse Rd, and let them know you are here for a FLOW event. Drive straight back from the gate towards the water towers, and look for FLOW event signs.
  

• Appalachian Prison Book Project 📚
  Feb. 1-2 at Two Dollar Radio or Prologue Bookshop
  

  

  

  
  

• Beers and Board Games benefiting Transit Columbus 🍻
  Join Beers and Boards Games Club this month (and through March) to benefit Transit Columbus.
  We play every week at rotating breweries around central Ohio and usually have between 20-40 attendees at each of our events. We always have new folks joining us, so whether you’re an experienced gamer or new to the hobby, we’d love to play with you — join our Facebook group or Discord server for the latest events and member discussions, follow us on Instagram, and subscribe to our quarterly-or-less email newsletter.

  • Wednesday, January 22, 5:30-9:00pm
    Olentangy River Brewing @ 303 Green Meadows Dr

  • Thursday, January 23, 5:30-9:00pm
    Nocterra Audubon @ 516 Maier Pl

  • Wednesday, January 29, 5:30-9:00pm
    Olentangy River Brewing @ 303 Green Meadows Dr

  • Thursday, January 30, 5:30-9:00pm
    Nocterra Audubon @ 516 Maier Pl

• The Future of Central Ohio Transit 🚍
  Tuesday, Feb. 4 7:00PM
  Whetstone Library 3909 N High St, Columbus, OH
  

  

  
  

• E Broad Bike Lane Survey 🚲
  If you’ve traveled along E Broad St recently in the Near East you may have noticed the newly installed protected bike lanes. I’ve used them a few times and it’s certainly an improvement over the paint only lanes around the city. If you get the chance, try it out for yourself and be on the lookout for yard signs along the route with links to a survey for feedback.
  
  

Things you can do online

• Leaders Listen Economic Development survey
  This survey is part of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and The Columbus Dispatch’s Leaders Listen Series, a set of short public opinion polls that invite Central Ohio community members to provide their input on important community development topics. Please complete this survey to share your insights on housing (and transportation) issues and opportunities impacting the region.

• (~6 minutes) Bronzeville Food Co-op 🛒
  Help bring a local, community-owned grocery store to the Near East. Take an online survey sharing your grocery needs and wants and enter for a chance to win a gift card.
  

  Grocery Survey

In Case You Missed It

• LinkUS Engagement Survey (2 minutes)

  We invite you to share your thoughts on LinkUS and public transportation's impact on your life and community. Your answers will be shared as part of a social media initiative to spread awareness about LinkUS and what it means for the Central Ohio region. Thank you for your participation!

• Mark up the Vision Zero Columbus map. Have a close call walking, biking, or getting around town? Do you know a dangerous intersection that can be improved? Help identify these spots on the Vision Zero map.

Other Stuff

• Things I’m Reading

  • ‘A better world is possible’: Organizers find common ground in Inauguration Day protests from Andy Downing at Matter News

  • The Crisis of Democratic Governance from Samantha Hancox-Li at Liberal Currents

• Newsletter logistics

  • Over the next week I’ll be migrating the newsletter’s platform away from Substack to better align with the newsletter’s values. Substack continues to platform Nazis and white nationalists and it’s been an issue for that hasn’t gone away. Don’t expect any changes on your end. The newsletter will still be free, but I will be looking to open up optional payments as the new platform will likely have some costs (I’ve narrowed it down to Buttondown and Ghost).

Have a great day everyone and see you next week!