​Q: What Do you Do for a Living?
A: I am an Administrator for a home care agency and Co-Founder of Bake Me Happy. I am also a partner in a newly formed restaurant group, Muse Hospitality.
 
Q: Tell Us About Your Family and Pets!
A: My family! Well, I am married to an amazing woman, Wendy... she’s also the genius behind Bake Me Happy! We have a daughter, Avery, who's 9 years old. We also have a "man of the house," Myles, a chow/corgi mix... he's 13 and we have Katycat...a 16-year-old...cat.
 
Q: Which Neighborhood Do You Currently Call Home?
A: Bake Me Happy is based in Merion Village.
 
Q: Why Did You Move to Your Neighborhood?
A: We loved the building and the neighborhood. We actually came across an ad in Craigslist for the space and once we saw the area...we couldn’t stop thinking about it.
 
Q: Where Else Have You Lived?
A: Bake Me Happy hasn't lived anywhere else...well, I take that back. We actually started out in a commercial kitchen near campus.
 
Q: South Side Organization(s) Where You Work/Volunteer
A: Interesting question...I do a little bit all over the place. I have presented at the Parsons Library...I tend to do more donation type supporting due to a serious lack of free time. I’ve done some good stuff for South High too!
 
Q: How Are You Active in The South Side?
A: I try to contribute in ways that are meaningful, not only for my customers, but for our neighbors as well. I am a firm believer of being a good neighbor. I pick up trash, I try to manage the weeds on the public side of the building, etc. Bake Me Happy does a fair share of donating to southside initiatives as well. I try to attend MVA and south side commission meetings when I can. Our business exposure has also been good for the southside as we make it a point to always "shout out" Merion Village. Although we don't live in Merion Village...it has been like a "home" to us...we raised our first baby here (Bake Me Happy)!
 
Q: What Are Some Causes or Organizations That Are Important to You and Why?
A: I am very involved in the LGBTQI community, specifically, the black LGBTQI community. I co-founded an organization 3 years ago called Black, Out & Proud (BOP). It's been a struggle, but we are finally starting to see it get some legs. We provide a safe space for and by Black LGBTQ+ individuals that advocates, educates, and inspires. blackoutandproud.com
 
I am also a co-founder of Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers...a chef driven, food distribution project for hospitality workers who were laid off during the COVID-19 shut down. We will shift our mission in the coming weeks, still supporting the hospitality industry. servicerelief.org
 
Q: What's Your Favorite Thing About the South Side?
A: The people are amazing and have been so supportive. I know people don't see Wendy and I as much as they used to...I’m always so happy to see the neighborhood folks and stop for a chat. Merion Village is an amazing place that can hold its own...I look forward to more amazing businesses moving here in the near future.
 
Q: If You Could Make One Improvement to the South Side, What Would It Be?
A: Hmmm...a marketing campaign through the commission that promoted all the good things "Southside." I say this with the intent of including "ALL" of the southside...not just German Village and Merion Village (although I still get a lot of "where's Merion Village?). I think there are all these amazing pockets of the southside that the rest of the city isn’t aware of.
 
Q: What Would You Tell Someone Who May Move to the South Side?
A: You are in the right place!
 
Thank you, Letha for allowing the MVA to shine the South Side Spotlight on you! Each week, we will feature at least one individual who lives, works and/or volunteers on the South Side and who helps to build and strengthen our community every day. If you’d like to nominate someone for the spotlight, email us at [email protected].

​Q: What Do you Do for a Living?
A: I'm a public policy and government relations professional.
 
Q: Tell Us About Your Family and Pets!
A: My partner, Dan and I don't have any pets, but several very happy house plants.
 
Q: Which Neighborhood Do You Currently Call Home?
A: Merion Village
 
Q: Why Did You Move to Your Neighborhood?
A: I was looking for a walk-able, diverse, urban neighborhood with lots of charm and full of great people.
 
Q: Where Else Have You Lived?
A: Berwick and Campus area in Columbus, Muncie, IN, Metro Detroit, Limerick, Ireland
 
Q: South Side Organization(s) Where You Work/Volunteer
A: I am the Vice-chair, Chair of the Public Services Committee for the Columbus South Side Area Commission
 
Q: How Are You Active in The South Side?
A: I'm very engaged in transportation, parks and other public services on the South Side through the Area Commission. I'm an active member of the Merion Village Association and try to keep up with other civic associations, as well. I've helped organize and plan several service days on the South Side.
 
Q: What Are Some Causes or Organizations That Are Important to You and Why?
A: Anyone who knows me can tell you, I love bikes.  I'm on the board of Yay Bikes! where I work to improve our streets and neighborhoods so everyone, from 8 to 80, can feel comfortable riding a bike to get where they need to go or just for fun. I mean, when was the last time your rode a bike and didn't smile? The work is important to me because our built environment has a big impact on equity and our quality of life. With progressive urban planning, we can build neighborhoods that are more equitable and opportunity rich for everyone who lives there.
 
Q: What's Your Favorite Thing About the South Side?
A: Hands down, it's the people that live here.  The South Side is full of kind and caring neighbors who take care of each other. Wherever I turn, I see neighbors lending a hand, sharing what they have, and just plan helping out. It makes the South Side a real community.
 
Q: If You Could Make One Improvement to the South Side, What Would It Be?
A: Parsons Avenue has acted like a barrier for too long. I'd break down the barriers and build bridges between richer and poorer areas in the South Side.
 
Q: What Would You Tell Someone Who May Move to the South Side?
A: The South Side is the best side.  It has a lot of heart and a can-do attitude. The neighbors, that quickly become friends, are the best part of living here. Welcome to the neighborhood!
 
Thank you, Erin for allowing the MVA to shine the South Side Spotlight on you! Each week, we will feature at least one individual who lives, works and/or volunteers on the South Side and who helps to build and strengthen our community every day. If you’d like to nominate someone for the spotlight, email us at [email protected].

Q: What Do you Do for a Living?
A: By day: Librarian. By night: All the things! I keep pretty busy with community-based projects. Can't say they provide me with much of a 'living,' but they definitely help me live!
 
Q: Tell Us About Your Family and Pets!
A: I am married and we share a house and lots of fur with a delightful puggle named Xena.
 
Q: Which Neighborhood Do You Currently Call Home?
A: Merion Village
 
Q: Why Did You Move to Your Neighborhood?
A: Originally, work and happenstance. But we've stayed because of the people.
 
Q: Where Else Have You Lived?
A: I've traveled the world but only ever called Central Ohio home.
 
Q: South Side Organization(s) Where You Work/Volunteer
A: Youth Services at the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Parsons Branch; Board Chair with Southside STAY; At-Large Education Commissioner with the Columbus South Side Area Commission; Founder of South Side Story
 
Q: How Are You Active in The South Side?
A: I think the most comprehensive way to answer this is that, as much as possible, I try to show up for kids.
 
At the library, I'm involved with everything from programming to outreach to branch operations, with a focus on supporting youth and young minds. I've worked at five different CML locations, including four on the South/Southeast Side. More at columbuslibrary.org
 
With STAY, I lead all aspects of our mission, which comprises supporting and empowering the neighborhood public schools in the Columbus City Schools South High School pathway. More at southsidestay.com
 
With the area commission, I chair a committee and advise commissioners, community organizations, and the public about all aspects of Pre-K, K-12, and Adult education within our area. (We're also set to add an At-Large Youth seat, which my committee will help support!) More at columbussouthside.org
 
With South Side Story, I interview folks with a tangible connection to South Columbus and share their stories in different spaces. Right now, my focus is on kids. Got a story? Let's connect!
 
Q: What Are Some Causes or Organizations That Are Important to You and Why?
A: Amplifying the voices dreams of youth and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline (where kids are essentially funneled from the public education system straight into the criminal justice system.) There's a group locally, Voices of the Unheard, that's doing work around both of these things.
 
Supporting local art and artists. One that I really enjoy - and have become a monthly patron of, in fact - is Streetlight Guild. They are a performing arts organization that curates events across disciplines with an emphasis on Columbus-based, original, and underrepresented voices.
 
Advocating and fighting for more power, access, and legitimate civic representation at the ground/neighborhood level. There isn't any one group that I would point to for this locally that's hitting it out of the ballpark. I think that's by design in some respects, and it just shows how much work we have to do as a city. That all said, I thoroughly appreciated my experience with the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, which focuses on galvanizing residents across a wide range of demographics - age, race, socioeconomics, professional experience, etc - and equips them with the knowledge and tools to become change agents within their neighborhoods.
 
Q: What's Your Favorite Thing About the South Side?
A: The people.
 
Q: If You Could Make One Improvement to the South Side, What Would It Be?
A: More spaces for kids that validate and value them *as kids.*
 
Q: What Would You Tell Someone Who May Move to the South Side?
A: It's a great place to live, learn, work, and play.
 
But come correct. This is already a thriving community here. Make the time to get to know it and appreciate who and what's here. Being a good neighbor is about way more than mowing your lawn. Growth does not equal development. If you're trying to 'fix' something/one, that doesn't mean you're supporting it/them.
 
Sustainable development happens when opportunities are abundant and work for everyone. So, if you're thinking of moving here? Commit to being a part of that.
 
Thank you, Mike for allowing the MVA to shine the South Side Spotlight on you! Each week, we will feature at least one individual who lives, works and/or volunteers on the South Side and who helps to build and strengthen our community every day. If you’d like to nominate someone for the spotlight, email us at [email protected].

​Q: What Do you Do for a Living?
A: I’m a small business consultant and web designer.
 
Q: Tell Us About Your Family and Pets!
A: I have a wonderful husband, a dog named Prince, and a new granddaughter that I get to babysit almost daily.  They are my world.
 
Q: Which Neighborhood Do You Currently Call Home?
A: Marion-Franklin
 
Q: Why Did You Move to Your Neighborhood?
A: I originally moved to the area to be close to work. I have settled here and love it.
 
Q: Where Else Have You Lived?
A: I grew up and lived on the Far East side of Columbus.
 
Q: South Side Organization(s) Where You Work/Volunteer
A: Marion-Franklin Civic Association, Avenue for All and I am the current Director of the Southside Hope CDC, leading the newly launched neighborhood cleanup, “Operation Southfield”.
 
Q: How Are You Active in The South Side?
A: I’m very active in launching and implementing programs that positively impact our neighborhoods on the Far Southside of Columbus.
 
Q: What Are Some Causes or Organizations That Are Important to You and Why?
A: I’m passionate about preserving our neighborhood as a family-friendly, safe and affordable place to call home. As a Southside resident for more than 25 years, I want to help bring back a sense of strong community by working with others to make a difference in our surroundings.
 
Q: What's Your Favorite Thing About the South Side?
A: The diversity of the people and the rich heritage and sense of community I have experienced living here.
 
Q: If You Could Make One Improvement to the South Side, What Would It Be?
A: More people take pride in their residence, whether renting or buying.
 
Q: What Would You Tell Someone Who May Move to the South Side?
A: It’s a wonderful place to put down roots.
 
Thank you, Lori for allowing the MVA to shine the South Side Spotlight on you! Each week, we will feature at least one individual who lives, works and/or volunteers on the South Side and who helps to build and strengthen our community every day. If you’d like to nominate someone for the spotlight, email us at [email protected].