Leadership Columbus Walk the Talk Award
A major component of the Leadership Columbus experience is the Group Project – putting all the leadership rhetoric and information into action. Participants in the Leadership Columbus signature program have benefited the community at large through the completion of small group projects executed during their ten month study program.
The Group Projects reflect leadership in action and that is why we have created the “Walk the Talk” Awards.
DRAC - Downtown Resident’s Association Columbus (2003)
Group Project Members: Andrea Garner, Sid Hargro, Shyam Rajadhyaksha, Daryll Rardon, John Shockley, Kevin Wood
The Downtown Resident’s Association was created in response to Mayor Coleman’s initiative to bring 10,000 new residents living in downtown Columbus in the next decade. In 2003, the DRAC made its debut at City Hop, the tour of downtown homes. That summer, the group also recruited board members, established its nonprofit status, and raised seed money from Capital Couth, Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District and the Downtown Development Corporation. Today, the DRAC holds monthly meetings and serves almost 650 residents… helping them to “Urbanize their Lives”.
Downtown Dog Park (2004)
Group Project Members: Janet Berry, Suzanne DeWoody, Mary Jane Gerhardstein, Liz Leahy
This team continued the effort to make Columbus a great place to live, work and play. They assisted in the formation of the Downtown Dog Park Association with a passion and commitment to support downtown revitalization. The association's mission is to establish off leash dog exercise areas in close proximity to urban housing to support the development of a thriving downtown community. To date the group has raised awareness and interest with the Columbus City Council and the Columbus Recreations & Parks Department, researched models for urban dog exercise areas and associations, met with urban dwellers to identify their needs and seek their support, and opened the first dogpark at the cormer of 4th and Spring.
Pink Loves Green (2009)
Group Project Members: Nancy Johnston, Laura Kraus, Christy Borror, Regan Walsh, Tracie Ransom
The Pink Loves Green group marshaled resources to help Komen Columbus bring recycling to the Race for the Cure. The race has been in existence for a n umber of years and recycling had been on the race organizers wish list. With the help of 22 volunteers, the Pink Loves Green team worked throughout the event to collect trash and move bins to locations where trash receptacles were needed. Rumpke worked with Komen Columbus on this effort and reported that 1.28 tons of materials were recycled after the 2009 Race for the Cure.
STAR Bear Program of Nationwide Children’s Hospital (1999)
Group Project Members: Ray Adams, Eric Colombo, Jim Kapp, John Lane, Donna Teach
STAR Bear, (School Transitions and Re-Entry) was the mascot developed by this group project. It is a stuffed animal and acts as an ambassador between the classroom and the child undergoing treatment at the hospital. STAR Bear wears a backpack that carries notes, gifts or other remembrances to and from the child and his classmates from the classroom to the hospital.