Women's Wealth is Central Ohio's Growth

The Community's Conversation

In partnership with The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, this CMC forum unveils the latest research featuring new data on the critical resources that women in Central Ohio need – and often lack – to build wealth. Women face distinct hurdles in accumulating personal wealth, and the implications are huge: according to the Federal Reserve, closing gender and racial wealth gaps could have expanded Ohio’s GDP by a staggering $67 billion from 2005 to 2019. Despite women’s substantial contribution to Central Ohio’s economy, disaggregated research has been lacking—until now. With a panel of passionate leaders, we discuss these fresh findings and shed light on how women in Central Ohio can overcome barriers to wealth creation.

Featuring:

Keena Smith, CEO, The Women's Center for Economic Opportunity

Shannon Isom, President and CEO, Community Shelter Board

Lisa Gray, Founding President, Ohio Excels

And Alex Dorman, Research Fellow, The Center for Community Solutions

The host is Courtney Falato, Vice President and Program Officer, Global Philanthropy, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

This forum was sponsored by The Mary Lazarus Legacy in Civic Engagement Fund and JPMorgan Chase & Co. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC’s livestream partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio and Vue Columbus.

This forum was recorded before a live audience at Vue Columbus in Columbus’ historic Brewery District on March 5, 2025.

Click here to read the subject of this forum, The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio's recent research report, "Making Women Wealthy and Free."