Black Men in Central Ohio: Realities, Resilience, and the Road Ahead

What does it mean to be a Black man in Central Ohio in 2026? In Central Ohio, Black men face a unique and often underexamined set of challenges — and opportunities — shaped by generations of systemic inequities and the dynamics of a rapidly growing region. Black men continue to be disproportionately affected by disparities in health, education, income, and incarceration. We explore the realities of navigating mental health stigmas, economic exclusion, and public safety concerns — while spotlighting the innovation and leadership that define the community.

Featuring:

Jason Jenkins, Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, City of Columbus

Duwain Pinder, Partner, McKinsey & Company

Marshall Shorts, Founder and Principal, Artfluential, and Creative Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative

The host is Corey Favor, Senior Director of Community Engagement, Orange Barrel Media.

This forum is sponsored by Otterbein University and McKinsey & Company.

The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream is The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream partner is The Columbus Dispatch. This forum is also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum.

If you would like to keep exploring this week’s forum topic, our partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading "The Invisible Ache: Black Men Identifying Their Pain and Reclaiming Their Power" by Courtney B. Vance (2023).