October 20, 2025

Good Works Columbus: October 20th, 2025

Hi gang, welcome back to Good Works Columbus!

Things you can do in person

• The Big Table: Passenger Rail: Connecting Communities, Building the Future
  Tuesday, October 21st 1:00pm-2:00pm
  111 Liberty St., Suite 100
  Since 2016, The Big Table has gathered Central Ohioans together for a day of connection and community-building, through thought provoking conversations.

  MORPC is excited to once again participate and this year, the engaging dialogue will be centered around the topic of passenger rail. Join us as our esteemed employees and experts envision the return of rail in Central Ohio and discuss how it can modernize mobility, connect communities and advance economic development for our growing region.

  We encourage you to register to attend. Space is limited.

• Community Shelter Board Big Table Discussion
  Tuesday, October 21st, 10am-12pm
  Bottoms Up Coffee at The View on Grant - 350 Mt. Vernon Avenue
  CSB will be hosting a conversation focused on the theme “The Impact of Unity: Housing Together.” Our goal is to highlight the power of collective action and shared purpose in addressing housing challenges. The theme emphasizes that collaboration across communities, organizations, and individuals is essential to create sustainable, inclusive solutions that ensure everyone has a safe and stable place to call home. Through open dialogue and shared understanding, we can transform connection into coordinated impact, proving that when we work together, we build stronger, more compassionate communities.
  Today is the final day to register.

• Cranksgiving Columbus 2025
  Saturday, November 10th 10:00am-2:00pm
  2971 N High St, Columbus, OH
  

  

  
  Please join us for the Columbus edition of Cranksgiving, a food drive on two wheels! This is a free event for anyone with a bike and a desire to do good. Show up on two wheels, and we’ll hand you a list of Thanksgiving food items to purchase for the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resource Center Food Pantry. You'll then ride to local grocery stores, buy whatever you'd like to donate, and carry it by bike back to the food pantry. You can then return to our ride start/finish, Combustion Brewing, for some post-ride socializing and fun! We'll have a prize for the person who hauls the most donations by weight and a raffle for all participants!

• Hilltop YMCA Tree Planting
  Saturday, November 1, 9:30pm-12:30pm
  2879 Valleyview Drive Columbus, OH
  The Hilltop YMCA received a generous Columbus Tree Assistance Program (TAP) Grant from Franklin Soil and Water to plant 51 Ohio native trees on our property this fall. In addition, the Ohio Hispanic Coalition received additional funding from the Ohio Youth Climate Action Fund to purchase additional trees for this project!
  
  Join us! Our goal is to have all of the holes dug and you get to do the fun part - place a tree into each hole, fill with soil, mulch, and stake.

  Please wear sturdy close-toed shoes
  Shovels, light gloves, and other equipment will be provided

• FACT Tree Planting
  Saturday, November 8, 9:00am-1:00pm
  4475 Sunbury Rd., Columbus, OH
  Join FACT for a tree planting day at Pathways Park by the Alum Creek Trail by Easton.
  
  

Things you can do online

• Stop Trump from Increasing Homelessness
  

The Trump Administration's approach to homelessness is to treat it like a crime.

But the real crime is this administration's lack of accountability to people experiencing homelessness and the communities where they reside.

Don't let HUD get away with forcing 170,000 formerly homeless people back on the streets – including veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Demand that Congress hold HUD accountable today!

• Ohio Transportation Survey
  Access Ohio 2050 (AO50) is Ohio's long-range, multi-modal transportation plan, developed by the Ohio Department of Transportation, that will Guide the state’s transportation policies, Inform investment decisions, and Support the work already being done to prepare Ohio’s transportation system for the future.

  The AO50 project team has developed 11 Draft Strategies to advance the plan's four goals of: Safety, Preservation, Efficiency, and Mobility.

  The draft strategies are high-level statements that provide direction for the plan but stop short of defining detailed action items.
  
  Survey link here: https://publicinput.com/ao50e2

• MORPC Leaders Listen 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 environmental and sustainability issues and opportunities impacting the region.

• Support queer youth experiencing homelessness
  Kaleidoscope Youth Center recently announced the closing of its housing program due to funding cuts. Donate to KYC here or donate directly to the youth that are experiencing these cuts.
  

• Accessory Dwelling Unit Survey
  Share your input on ADUs in Columbus! Final week to do so!
  

  

Other Stuff

Things I’m reading/watching:

• Local Funding Lined Up for Chicago-to-Columbus Passenger Rail from Columbus Underground

• Residents express fear, uncertainty as Kaleidoscope prepares to end youth housing program from Matter News
  

Have a great day everyone!

Thanks for reading Good Works Columbus! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. If you are able to, please consider upgrading to a pay what you want subscription.