New nonprofit will host popular annual event, the nationally touring Wild & Scenic Film Fest, August 19-21. How did the last local Wild & Scenic Film Festival in 2019 become its largest ‘On Tour’ event?“I think it’s because of the way we choreograph it.And the capacity potential we’ve got. We have an amazing urban footprint downtown now that’s walkable, with all these amazing outdoor...
Real Estate Developer, Writer, Literary Philanthropist You have stated that, with the endowment that you established at Columbus State, your wish is to do for the literary arts what the university has done for visual arts and performing arts in recent years. How do you see that vision taking shape?“Actually, I was planning to do something like this half my life, once I could afford to do it...
Director, Illges Gallery, and Professor of Art, Columbus State University Advocate, We Cannot Walk Alone What is We Cannot Walk Alone and what inspired it? “We Cannot Walk Alone Is a group that got together sometime in June in response to the George Floyd incident. It has since grown into a much bigger discussion about social injustice, racism, and all the other issues that history has...
Trombonist (Atlantis Collective), Label Co-Founder (CloudStepper Records), Audio Engineer (The Loft Recording Studio) How did playing in a marching band prepare you to become a professional musician? “A lot of the marching band stuff that I did, especially later in high school, was in more of a leadership role. A lot of it was listening skills—knowing how to be part of a band. The leadership...
Executive Director, Leadership Institute at Columbus State University Is a leader born? Or is a leader made? “A leader is made. Absolutely. If leaders weren’t made, we’d be out of business. Our whole premise is built on the fact that people can grow. We all have opportunities to do better—to be better—all the time. That’s really what leadership is all about: Being the best version of yourself you...
Liberian, American, and (after Friday) Master of Public Administration Paul Yarwaye fled the violence of the Civil War that began 40 years ago in his native country of Liberia, the West African nation with deep historical and cultural ties to the Chattahoochee Valley. On May 17, Paul turns 59. On May 18, the United States citizen will graduate from Columbus State University with a Master of...
Executive Director, Youth Orchestra of Greater ColumbusFounding Member, Wolf & Clover What’s a typical work day like for you? “It all depends on what season I’m in. Right now, I’m in the middle of recruitment season. So yesterday I was in 3 meetings: [Columbus Cultural] Arts Alliance, I had my board meeting, and partners meeting with the RiverCenter and [Columbus] Symphony [Orchestra]. The...
(start us up and we’ll never stop)* Columbus is doubling down on the bet that entrepreneurship is the economic engine that will power the regional economy in the 21st century. In classic Electric City fashion, both private companies and public entities combine to form the full scope of recent local investments cultivating small-business start ups. StartUp Columbus Programs Director Ben...