About Us
We convene a diverse network of South Side stakeholders to foster alignment to improve the quality of life of South Side residents. We work to enhance communication, collaboration, and service coordination amongst the network.
Our Vision
Columbus’ South Side is a mosaic of prosperous communities in which every resident thrives.
Our Mission
To support South Side residents in living healthy, fulfilling lives by strengthening the collective efforts of community partners.
Holistic Approach
Our work aims to ensure community members have holistic support from our network of partners to address basic needs and provide access to more opportunities that improve quality of life on the South Side.
Ultimately, we believe coming together will help us improve racial equity and address poverty.
Our History
Since our inception, South Side Thrive Collaborative has operated under a simple premise – that we can accomplish more together than working independently.
We grew out of the long-standing commitment to make the South Side of Columbus a thriving community where all residents have:
STABLE
HOUSING
ECONOMIC
MOBILITY
GOOD
HEALTH
COMMUNITY
CONNECTION
South Side Thrive Collaborative first began forming in late 2016 when several community-based organizations – including Mid-Ohio Food Collective, United Way of Central Ohio, Reeb Avenue Center, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Community Development for All People – came together to design an integrative collaborative that powered a collective impact approach to advancing household stability in the South Side.
During this research and development phase, community leaders and stakeholders listened to South Side residents hopes, aspirations, and challenges, and engaged health and human service organizations to build a guiding roadmap for the collaborative. This roadmap continues to guide South Side Thrive Collaborative in its day-to-day efforts of leveraging community assets to more holistically support low and moderate income residents in the South Side.
Today, our network consists of over forty human service organizations, healthcare providers, businesses, and civic groups committed to working together.
Our Leadership
Jane Abell, Executive Chairwoman, Donatos Pizza
Tanny Crane, President & CEO, Crane Group
Brad Draper, Senior Vice President of Operations, Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Ryan Edwards, Co-Owner, Apex Leadership
Jose Feliciano, Homeless Program Coordinator, PrimaryOne Health
Lori Fisher, South Side Resident & Southside Hope CDC
Aaron Hopkins, South Side Resident & South Side Family Farms
Nick Jones, Vice President of Community Wellness, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Claire Jennings, Regional Transit Manager, Central Ohio Transit Authority
Brad Lamone, Retired (former Executive at Engineered Profiles)
John Petro, Director of Business Development and Community Relations, Together & Co
Mike Premo, Executive Director, Community Development for All People
Rahel Neguse, Social Program Developer, Franklin County Job & Family Services
Carla Williams-Scott, Director, City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods
Antonio Williams, Director of Youth Services, Impact Community Action
Randy Winkle, Vice President of Human Resources, Engineered Profiles
Ally Zahler, Executive Director, Reeb Avenue Center
Sarah Lenkay,
Executive Director
In her current role, Sarah is responsible for advancing the mission of South Side Thrive Collaborative by convening and facilitating collaboration amongst stakeholders, building partnerships with residents, local government, and community organizations, and maintaining projects, events, and initiatives.
Prior to leading the Collaborative, Sarah served as Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s Strategic Projects Director where she was responsible for organizing and executing numerous programs, partnerships, and initiatives that addressed food security in Central Ohio. Specifically, Sarah led the development of the Foodbank’s fresh food distribution programming, an urban farm social enterprise, and the administration of competitive grant funding to expand low-income communities access to fresh foods.
Sarah is a graduate of Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agriculture, and Environmental Sciences.