Announcing: Test City Storytellers
Stories are powerful. They bring us to our feet. They make us feel connected. They make us cry. They make us want to do something different in our own life. And, importantly, they bring our community together.
If you live in Columbus, Ohio then you live in Test City, U.S.A. For decades and decades, Columbus has been America’s hometown petri dish for testing things. The reason why is because the people here best represent the demographics, and broad culture, of the people in the United States.
As they say, ‘If it happens here, it can happen everywhere.’ Let’s go for it; let’s put that mantra to the test.
Test City Storytellers: Change Starts with a Story
Our country is opening itself to change more rapidly than ever before.
Connectedness to information, each other, diversity in thought and culture, and the tools to bring ideas to life has catalyzed change in every industry and in many parts of society. Without a doubt, we are a part of it. We are on the right track.
I am optimistic about our future in Test City.
Change is visible — development and orange barrels line our beloved High Street and abandoned factories are becoming hives for arts, makers and innovation in Franklinton. And we’re a Smart City, a national beacon for a better transportation system, or at least working to live up to that promise.
Change is also under the surface — our (technology) startup community is becoming a national model of success; winning noteworthy accolades and growing organically.
We are on the right track, but still, we must do better. Few people feel authentically connected to what is also happening in Columbus… our failing schools, our deeply segregated communities, our opioid epidemic, and also to our rising social entrepreneurial scene, compassionate re-entry work programs, thriving performance arts, music and film, and more.
If we are the test for all else, then let us put change on the testing block.
Let’s explore the stories of our unsung heroes, movement leaders, and unifiers tirelessly working to change this place and America. Let us be united in a willingness to learn the issues, take action if we’re moved to do so, and lead alongside our changemakers.
Test City Storytellers is a new event series that brings together our community to hear, and take action on, stories of change. These are the stories that move us, and gather not-entirely like-minded people.
The storytellers will be changemakers, broadly speaking, who have an important story to tell. We intend to invite speakers to our stage from both inside and outside our community, and from all walks of life.
- On forefront issues like equality, discrimination, and harassment
- Folks leading the frontline response on issues like the opioid epidemic
- With foundational science and technology questions — raising societal and moral questions in A.I. and driver-less cars worth debating now, but also huge change in diversity and gender in the workforce
- Purpose-filled social entrepreneurs, chefs with a cause, teachers, immigrants, playwrights and all other agents of change.
Leadership comes in many career paths — we are going after the type of leadership that changes everything.
Nominate Changemakers
We could use your help. Please visit TestCityStorytellers.com and share the changemaker that moves you, unsung heroes in our community, leadership, etc. And, if you’d like to stay connected, sign-up for email updates.
Change starts with a story; and this story starts with you.
David All is the founder and CEO of storytelling agency OneNineNinety which produces Test City Storytellers.
