Greetings, Columbus!

June marks the beginning of Pride Month in Central Ohio. We kicked it off in Columbus by bringing back one of our most treasured and uplifting traditions: Pride Illumination at City Hall. It was great to be together, in person, to celebrate the power and beauty inherent to identity, inclusion and acceptance.

By banding together as a community – at Pride Illumination and beyond – we proudly embrace our city’s diversity and stand in firm solidarity with our LGBTQ+ neighbors in their fight for full equality. No matter the hardships or setbacks that may lie ahead, know that your city sees you, your city accepts you, and we will always advocate for the right of everyone in Columbus to live freely, authentically and peacefully.

There are still plenty of opportunities to participate in Pride. Visit Experience Columbus to find a list of upcoming LGBTQ+ events.

Sincerely,

Mayor Andy Ginther

Columbus Pride March

After a two year hiatus, I am excited for the return of the 41st-annual Columbus Pride March. This year, I will be joined by hundreds of city employees as we march up High Street to Goodale Park. It has been remarkable to witness the growth of Columbus’ Pride March each and every year, and it is now recognized as the Midwest’s second-largest Pride event in the region. Its tremendous growth represents the many ways in which our city welcomes and embraces individuals and families from all walks of life.

Juneteenth

Juneteenth occurs annually on June 19 and commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were finally informed that they were free – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and two months after the Civil War ended. Its name is derived from a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth,” and represents hope, liberty and resiliency among Black Americans by confronting the harsh but fundamental realities of our nation’s history. There are many Juneteenth celebrations for the whole family to enjoy, including the 25^th Annual Juneteenth Ohio Festival. View a list of other upcoming Juneteenth gatherings here.

As a reminder, city offices will be closed on Monday, June 20, in observance of Juneteenth.

Go Lunch! Summer Food Program

Summer can be one of the most challenging months for children who rely on meals served at school throughout the academic year. This week I visited Dodge Community Center, one of several sites for our Go Lunch! summer food program, which is hosted by the Recreation and Parks Department and provides free, nutritionally balanced meals at Columbus community centers and other convenient locations across our neighborhoods.

Additionally, we know that families are struggling to find healthy fruits and vegetables at affordable prices. Thankfully, our Recreation and Parks Department also offers a free mobile produce market throughout the year. Simply drive up to the mobile market, and our volunteers will load up your vehicle with fresh produce.

Rise Up CBUS!

Last month, the departments of Neighborhoods and Recreation and Parks hosted the first-ever Rise Up CBUS! event to highlight Opportunity Rising – our community’s new playbook for advancing equity and opportunity and dismantling racism. To achieve our 21 aspirations in this effort, the City of Columbus will collaborate with partners and residents as proactively and broadly as possible to improve economic stability, promote health and well-being, and build safe, resilient neighborhoods.

We have several other Rise Up CBUS! events planned for the coming weeks. There will be free music and vouchers for participating food trucks for those who complete a Rise Up CBUS! passport. Find a Rise Up CBUS! event near you.