Send us Fan Mail New episode alert. On the latest So, Let's Talk Columbus, host Michael Wilkos sits down with Adero Robinson, CEO of Communities In Schools of Ohio, a nonprofit that's been placing caring adults inside school buildings since 1993. They dig into the real story behind student absenteeism: one in four Ohio students is chronically absent, and as Adero explains, the reasons behind absenteeism are complicated. Families care about their kids but are often stretched impossibly thin. I...

Send us Fan Mail The first five years of a child’s life can shape everything that follows. Yet 72% of preschoolers living in low-income households in Franklin County begin school without the necessary kindergarten readiness skills. And for too many families, high-quality, affordable child care remains out of reach. Join Michael and his guest, Dr. Gina Ginn, CEO of Columbus Early Learning Centers, for a powerful conversation about early learning, working families and why child care is essentia...

Send us Fan Mail Don't miss this timely conversation with Lisa Patt McDaniel, CEO of Aspyr Workforce Innovation, as Michael digs into the big question of our moment: why are so many hardworking people still struggling to get ahead? From wages and workforce pipelines to practical solutions for building more pathways to stability, this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus is packed with insight, urgency and hope for central Ohio’s future. United is the Way. liveunitedcentralohio.org

Send us Fan Mail Stuff the Backpack, a partnership between NBC4 and United Way of Central Ohio, celebrates the power of our central Ohio community that shows up for kids in a big way. In this episode, host Michael Wilkos talks with Jenn Kiser of NBC4 about the importance of volunteers, partners and neighbors coming together to provide backpacks and school supplies for more than 240,000 students over the years. Tune in to find out why this simple act makes such a meaningful difference on the f...

Send us Fan Mail More than one in three households in Franklin County is working hard but still struggling to cover the basics. In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Melanie Hill of United Way of Central Ohio helps unpack the ALICE data and what it reveals about the hidden financial hardship shaping our community. It’s a powerful conversation about the real cost of living, the people behind the numbers, and what it will take to make Columbus a place where more families can thrive.

Send us Fan Mail This is the second half of this important conversation. If you missed part one, be sure to go back and listen first. In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Shannon Isom, President and CEO of Community Shelter Board. Shannon Isom brings a powerful mix of candor, compassion and deep expertise to a conversation that cuts to the heart of what Columbus is facing. Shannon helps Michael unpack the real drivers behind homelessness, the strain on our shel...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Shannon Isom, President and CEO of Community Shelter Board. Shannon Isom brings a powerful mix of candor, compassion and deep expertise to a conversation that cuts to the heart of what Columbus is facing. Shannon helps Michael unpack the real drivers behind homelessness, the strain on our shelter system, and why this issue is about more than individual circumstances. It’s about housing, systems and the kind of com...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus, Michael talks with Dr. Cheryl Wyatt of Success by Third Grade about how early literacy is about more than reading. It’s about the community coming together to strengthen the systems, supports and partnerships that help children thrive. Whether you’re new to Success by Third Grade or a longtime champion of the movement, this conversation offers fresh insight into the exciting work happening across Franklin County to create stronger f...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of So, Let’s Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos, Michael explores how housing stability shapes a child’s ability to learn, grow and thrive, through a powerful conversation with Samantha Stewart of the YMCA of Central Ohio. It’s a human-centered look at the families doing everything they can to stay afloat, and the community partnership that is helping stabilize families, and keeping kids in school and hope within reach.

Send us Fan Mail Don't miss this episode of So, Let's Talk Columbus with Michael Wilkos! Michael sits down with Erin Prosser, Deputy Director of Housing Strategies for the City of Columbus, to move beyond the problem and into the solutions. Together, they explore the strategies the city is using right now to expand housing access, preserve affordability and ensure Columbus remains a place where opportunity is within reach for everyone. Tune in to hear from someone working on the front lines o...