Groundwork Ohio is going on the road!
Join us at any one of our regional events this spring as we hold community conversations throughout Ohio engaging families, early childhood professionals, maternal health experts, local government officials, and statewide policymakers about the challenges facing our state’s youngest.
We want to hear from you. What’s working in your community? How can we make Ohio the best place to be a young child?
Download our roadshow factsheet to learn more about our policy process.
Stay connected, stay engaged. Together, we will keep this momentum going to create change for young children and families in Ohio.
Past Roadshow Stops
Thursday, April 25
10 AM - 1 PM
Clinton County Aging Up Center
717 N. Nelson Ave. • Wilmington, OH 45177
Welcome by Jane Newkirk, CEO of Clinton County Community Action Partnership. Moderated by Teresa Borden, Head Start Director with the Clinton County Community Action Partnership, our expert panelists include:
Ruth Brindle and Stephanie Butler of the Clinton County Workforce Collaborative
Sharon Gibbs, Fayette County Health Department Help Me Grow
Gina Grace, WIC Director of Madison County
Rhonda Molina, Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative of Warren County
Friday, May 31
10 AM - 1 PM
Akron-Summit County Public Library
60 S. High Street • Akron, OH 44236
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Moderated by Dr. David James, Executive Director of Summit Education Initiative, our panelists will include:
Beth Kelley, Akron Area YMCA
Dr. Brad Lucas, Chief Medical Officer, Buckeye Health Plan
Dr. Jennifer Savitski, Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology | Medical Director, PATH Center | Associate Professor of OB/GYN, Northeast Ohio Medical University
Shaleeta Smith, Director of Family Health at Summit County Public Health
Richelle Wardell, Education & Health Strategist, City of Akron
Jo White, Owner, Circle of Life CEC
Malory Zaun, Clinical Manager, Early Childhood Initiatives, Senior Clinical Consultant, Early Childhood, Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Tuesday, June 11
10 AM - 1 PM
Muskingum University Library 260 Stadium Drive • New Concord, OH 43762
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Muskingum University President Dr. Susan S. Hasseler will be providing a welcome.
Moderated by Dr. Michael Bullock, Founder, Miles’ Mission, expert maternal and infant health speakers will include:
Jeanie Blake, Chief Patient Experience Officer, Muskingum Valley Health Centers
Carol Howdyshell, Director of Nursing, Zanesville-Muskingum County Health Department
Dr. Danielle Roberts, Muskingum Valley Center Pediatric Specialist
Moderated by Dr. Barbara Hansen, Interim Director of Education Studies, Muskingum University, early learning and child care speakers will include:
Michelle Hoskinson, Special Education Supervisor, Zanesville City Schools
James McDonald, President and CEO, Allwell Behavioral Health Services
Joel Potts, Chief Government and External Affairs Officer, Ohio Department of Children and Youth
Sara White, Director of Outreach and Engagement, Appalachian Children’s Coalition
Friday, June 14
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Nationwide Children's Hospital Conference Center - Room Allen A
520 Butterfly Gardens Dr • Columbus, OH 43215
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Dr. Ray Bignall, Chief Diversity and Health Equity Officer at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, will provide a welcome.
Our expert panelists will include:
Mario Basora, CEO, Future Ready 5
Michelle Moskowitz Brown, President & CEO, Children’s Hunger Alliance
Dr. Kathy Lawton, PhD, BCBA-D, Director, Early Childhood Education at Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities
Christina Walls, Managing Director of Education, YWCA Columbus
We are also looking forward to a fireside chat between Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley and Senator Stephanie Kunze (R-Dublin), moderated by Charleta Tavares, Chief Executive Officer, PrimaryOne Health.
Tuesday, July 16
10 am - 1 pm
Athens City Community Center 701 E State St Athens, OH 45701
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Randy Leite, Executive Director, Appalachian Children Coalition, will be providing a welcome.
Maternal and infant health panelists include:
Rose Frech, Grant and Business Development Administrator, Integrated Services for Behavioral Health
Dr. Jody Gerome, OBGYN
Mark Grippi, CEO, Amerihealth
Paul Isherwood, Director, Pathways HUB
Early childhood care and learning panelists include:
Michelle Corrigan, COAD4kids Division Director, Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development
Brielle Clark, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Coordinator, Hopewell Health Center
Stella Marshall, Director, Child Care Centers, Children’s Hunger Alliance
Friday, May 3
10 AM - 1 PM
North Canton Medical Foundation Health Education Building
6046 Whipple Ave. NW • North Canton, OH 44720
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Moderated by Joe Luckring, PNC Regional President, expert panelists include:
Angela Moses, Executive Director at Early Childhood Resource Center
Joe French, CEO of Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health
Adrianne Price, Vice President at United Way of Greater Stark County
Friday, May 17
10 AM - 1 PM
Edison State Community College 1973 Edison Dr. • Piqua, OH 45356
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Moderated by David Larson, Miami County ESC, expert panelists include:
Julie Ehemann, Shelby County Commissioner
Trish Wackler, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer at Upper Valley Medical Center, Premier Health
Karin Somers, Early Childhood Director at CORS Head Start
Deb Frazier, Center Director at Greene Street Daycare and Preschool
Richard Hanes, Vice President of Advancement, Strategic Planning, and Partnerships at Edison State Community College and Executive Director of The Edison Foundation, will be providing a welcome.
Empowering Advocacy Through Storytelling: Crafting Narratives to Influence Policy and Change - family advocates are encouraged to participate in the LORE Storytelling project immediately following the event from 1-2:30 pm.
Engage with Te'Jal Cartwright, owner and story coach at LORE, in a professional workshop designed for administrators, educators, families, and advocates. Learn strategic storytelling methods tailored to influence policymakers toward beneficial legislative reforms. Explore the historical roots of storytelling and its modern applications within advocacy. Gain practical insights and techniques to effectively leverage storytelling as a tool for driving policy change and societal improvement.
Thursday, May 23
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Glass City Center
401 Jefferson Ave • Toledo, OH 43604
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Rev. John Jones, President and CEO, Hope Toledo, will be providing a welcome.
Our first panel on early childhood education, moderated by Elisa Huss-Hage, Director, Early Childhood, HOPE Toledo, will include:
Stephanie D. Kynard, Owner/Operator – Kynard’s Child Development Center
Michelle Bieber, Owner, Over the Rainbow Early Learning Center / President, Ohio Association of Child Care Providers
Dr. Kristi Hannan, Associate Director of Early Childhood, Lucas County Family and Children First Council
Dr. Veronica Motley, Superintendent, Sylvania Schools
Angela M. Mingo, MCRP, Vice President, Development and Corporate Affairs, Nationwide Children's Hospital will give remarks.
Our second panel on maternal and young child health, moderated by Dr. Tashlai Burney, Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Rise and Shine Academy, will include:
Dr. Mary Kay Irwin, Senior Director, School-Based, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Rebecca Good, MPA, CHW, Pathways HUB Manager
Dr. April Hille, RN, MSN, DNP, Maternal Child Health Supervisor, Toledo-Lucas County Health Department
Cherie Sexton, BS, MSN, APRN, PMHS, NCHS, Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Nationwide Children’s Hospital - Toledo
Thursday, June 6
9:30 AM - 1 PM
Dayton Children's Hospital Tech Town Inspiration Center 241 Taylor Street • Dayton, OH 45402
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Rep. Andrea White (R-Kettering), will be providing a welcome.
Moderated by Robyn Lightcap, Preschool Promise Executive Director, our panel will include:
Kwanah Bronaugh, Founder, KB Solutions
Takeia Ely, Home Visitor Service Coordinator
Lisa Henderson, Vice President, Health Initiatives, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
Rev. Palmer Jason, Director, Good Shepherd Academy
Stephanie Keinath, Vice President of Strategic Relations, Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce
We are also looking forward to a fireside chat between Deborah Feldman, President & CEO, Dayton Children's Hospital, and Deirdra Yocum, COO, CareSource Management Group, moderated by Shannon Jones, Groundwork Ohio CEO.
Tuesday, June 18
10 AM - 1 PM
MetroHealth Medical Center (Main Campus)
2500 MetroHealth Drive • Cleveland, OH 44109 The event will be held in the Alfred F. Connors, Jr., MD Learning Center (R170) and Rammelkamp Atrium.
Please park in the P4 visitor parking garage, located on MetroHealth Drive.
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Panelist info coming soon. A welcome will be provided by Dr. Airica Steed, CEO and President for the MetroHealth System.
Thursday, June 20
10 AM - 1 PM
Scioto County Welcome Center
342 Second Street • Portsmouth, OH 45662
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Moderated by Scioto County Commissioner Bryan Davis, expert panelists include:
Paul Isherwood, Director, Pathways HUB
Caroline King, Director, Temple Tots
Jennifer Martin, Manager of Healthcare Services, Molina Healthcare of Ohio
Andrea Price, Director of Health Equity & Cultural Competency, Molina Healthcare of Ohio
Sarah Sloan, Early Childhood Director, Community Action Organization of Scioto County
Thursday, June 27 - Early Childhood Education Focus
Doors open: 9:30 am | Program: 10 am - 1 pm
Maternal and Infant Health Focus
Program: 2 pm - 4pm
United Way of Greater Cincinnati
2400 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45202
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
RSVP here for the early childhood education focused event>
RSVP here for the maternal and infant health focused event>
Early Childhood Education Focus
A welcome will be provided by Moira Weir, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Cincinnati.
Panelists include:
Garri Davis, CEO, Water Lily Learning Center and Founder and CEO, Garri Davis Agency
Terri England, President, A Circle of Friends
Liz Keating, VP of Government Affairs, Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Maternal and Infant Health Focus
Panelists include:
Jennifer Frey, President, Every Child Succeeds, Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
Charla Hale, President and CEO, Healthy Moms and Babes
Stephanie Weber, Associate Director/Training Director, Cincinnati Children’s, Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics
Tiffany White, Health Programs Manager, Healthy Communities Program, Cincinnati Health Department
Tuesday, July 23
10 am - 1 pm
Lima Library Auditorium
650 West Market Street
Lima, OH 45801
Join us for an engaging conversation about making change in our community.
Mayor Christina Muryn of Findlay and Mayor Sharetta Smith of Lima will engage in conversation along with expert panelists including:
Amy Esser, Executive Director of Mercer County Head Start
Phyllis Montrose, Head Start Director for the West Ohio Community Action Partnership
Kim Parks, Owner of ABC 123 Child Enrichment Center