Building Stable Neighborhoods, One Conversation at a Time: Reflections from The Big Table

Recently, Inspire was proud to host a Big Table discussion as part of The Columbus Foundation’s annual community-wide day of connection and conversation.Our discussion brought together clients and other representatives from the Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, South Side Thrive Collaborative, Sanctuary Night, Columbus REALTORS, and emerging developers to talk about how we can work together to build and sustain stable neighborhoods across Central Ohio.

The Big Table conversation was honest, hopeful, and, at times, tearful—reflecting the real challenges that many Columbus families and neighborhoods face every day.

Collaboration at the Core

One of the first insights was clear: strong neighborhoods depend on strong collaboration. On Columbus’s south side, South Side Thrive Collaborative has shown how convening organizations — even around one table at the local library—can spark progress. Participants discussed the need for similar efforts on the west side of Columbus, where coordination among service providers remains a critical gap.

While dialogue matters, the group emphasized that conversation alone won’t solve deep-rooted challenges. “We need action, even in small increments,” one participant shared. “It’s about focusing on attainable moves that build momentum.”

Barriers to Stability

Much of the discussion centered on the systemic barriers that make neighborhood stability difficult to achieve.

• Social workers are doing essential work but face overwhelming caseloads, and prior efforts to pair them with police officers on the street had mixed results.
• Transportation continues to be a make-or-break factor — limiting where people can work and live, and often isolating families from critical resources.
• Childhood insecurity is another root issue. As one participant noted, instability starts when children don’t feel safe or know where their next meal will come from.

Even with promising regional efforts like LinkUs Columbus, not all communities feel included. Some south side residents, for example, struggle to see themselves reflected in Columbus’s growth and in new workforce opportunities tied to projects like Intel.

A Need for Empathy — and Action

Beyond policy and programs, attendees voiced concern over something deeper: a growing lack of empathy in our society. The group agreed that rebuilding a sense of collective responsibility — of caring for our neighbors — is essential to reversing the “not my problem” mentality that seems to be taking hold.

Participants also noted that organizations doing vital work are facing declining funding even as community needs increase. The answer, suggested by the group, is not simply more policing or incarceration, but rather more compassionate law enforcement working in close collaboration behind the scenes with social service professionals who can meet people where they are.

Finding Hope in Connection

Despite the weight of the challenges discussed, the conversation ended on a hopeful note. Many participants expressed gratitude for their teams, allies and partners who continue to show up and make a difference every day. Others found hope in gatherings like The Big Table itself — spaces where dialogue can plant the seeds for meaningful change.

At Inspire, we believe that storytelling, collaboration and empathy are at the heart of stronger communities. We are grateful to everyone who joined our table and shared their perspectives—and we remain committed to helping lift up the conversations and the people working every day to make Columbus a place where every neighborhood can thrive.