Columbus Food Adventures is celebrating 15 years of inspiring others to embrace, discover, and support local food creators. From their walking tour of the Short North Arts District featuring artisan producers and the finest local cuisine, to showcasing the unique and discoverable corners of the community , Columbus Food Adventures creates new connections for locals and turns visitors into fans.

Founded by Nate DeMars in 2011 as part of a Fisher College of Business MBA entrepreneurship class project at The Ohio State University, Pursuit has spent the last 15 years building a reputation as a resource to those celebrating and pursuing excellence. Through their work to uplift countless artists and musicians with their In Pursuit concert series to their[Good] Intentions Program that provides dignity through suit donations to hundreds in need, Pursuit Short North is more than a place where people go to get a suit when they get married, it’s a place where making a difference is their fabric of choice.

Few people have been as impactful and worked to embed themselves in every facet of improving our community in as short of a period of time as Jason Henry. As President of the Friends of Goodale Park, Jason Henry has helped to spearhead new arts projects and innovative park programming. As a resident, he has been focused on amplifying our community to further greatness as a devoted and selfless advocate.

There is nothing more quintessentially Short North than the decades old Doo Dah Parade. And there would be no Doo Dah Parade and other community events without Deb Roberts, a.k.a. Mz Doo Dah., Deb’s ability to infuse cheer into volunteerism shines an unmatched light into our community.

Thurber Village has long been an important community resource, providing not only core community services and needs, but anchoring the area for decades. When the property experienced a significant transition, local developer CASTO saw an opportunity to make a bigger impact on the community by forging a new legacy. Their redevelopment of Thurber Village not only beautified a key community space, but it brought in Lucky’s Market and revitalized this important front door to the Short North and surrounding neighborhoods.

North Central Mental Health Services is a comprehensive, community-based mental health and recovery agency located in the Short North Arts District. For decades, they have served as a space that touches the lives of thousands of individuals in need within our community and across the region. 

Since her tenure began in 2021, Chief Bryant has been leading a powerful transformation of one of the most agencies in Columbus. Through her leadership, our community has experienced a dedicated network of partners in safety that have not only collaborated to respond to our increase in demands, but have done so in a way that has reimagined what well-being means. We have been uplifted by this leadership in the Short North, and in Columbus as a whole.