OUR MISSION IS TO HARNESS THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TO DISRUPT STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ISSUES OF POVERTY TO ACHIEVE EQUITY FOR ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS.

OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND PROSPER.

WHY IS RISE IMPORTANT?

The Research

Poverty is a problem in Franklin County. One in seven Franklin County residents live in poverty. Franklin County has a higher poverty rate than most counties in the Columbus Metropolitan Area and most people experiencing poverty in the metro live in Franklin County. But ending poverty can start right here.

Scioto Analysis is a public policy analysis practice based in Columbus, Ohio. Scioto Analysis specializes in tax and budget, health and human services, and energy and environment policy. Scioto's goal is to improve the use of public policy analysis at the state and local level.

the original blueprint

scioto analysis research

POVERTY SNAPSHOT REPORT

the rtii team

Danielle Sydnor, Chief Executive Officer

Danielle Sydnor is CEO of the newly formed Rise Together Innovation Institute a capstone of a larger, Franklin county funded strategic plan to help an estimated 400,000 plus county residents find paths toward economic stability. Danielle worked in banking since 2002, including National City Bank, MBNA and Bank of America, with experience in retail banking and management experience in credit card sales, service and lending. Danielle became licensed as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch in 2011. She continues to draw from all her professional experiences to build genuine relationships where clients, partners and the community can benefit. Danielle is the immediate past President of the Greater Cleveland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Sydnor is a Commissioner on the Columbus Women’s Commission, a member on
the board of Board of Trustees at Eliza Bryant, and Freedom Equity CDFI. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Phoenix. Danielle is a proud recipient of Crain’s Cleveland 2019 40 Under 40 and a graduate of the 2020 class of Leadership Ohio. Danielle is a native of Sacramento, California. Her family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1995. She has since proudly deepened her roots in Ohio. She has two sons, Noah and Giles, who are both away at college.

Kathleen Clyde, Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives

Kathleen Clyde served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives from 2011-2018 and as a County Commissioner in Portage County from 2019-2020.

As a member of the Ohio House, she was a leading voice in Ohio on voting rights and democracy reform issues, helping to defeat several voter suppression measures in the legislature with governor’s vetoes and victories in court. As a county commissioner, she directed 12 departments with over 400 staff and a $65M annual budget, oversaw the county’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and led the passage of a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.

Kathleen earned a B.A. in English from Wesleyan University and a J.D. from Ohio State.

Nadia Howard, Executive Administrator

Nadia Howard is the executive administrator of the Rise Together Innovation Institute. Nadia brings 20+ years as a stellar executive administrative leader with program, project, and event management experience in the community, medical and education systems. A strong strategist and visionary with an innate gift for seeing challenges before they arise and providing solutions to said challenges. With her attention to detail and prompt decisive nature, she will take business endeavors to the next level, enabling leaders to relax and focus on what matters most. A native of
Springfield, Ohio Nadia’s vision for business and personal life is to empower, inspire, encourage, and equip people to follow their dreams and press through adversity to realize their full potential. Nadia models this in her daily life by being a lifelong learner who is on a constant road of self-
discovery and evolution while sharing her gifts with the world. Passionate about Diversity & Inclusion and an advocate who works diligently to improve and support her community. One of her core values is providing service and resources to the unhoused, underemployed and
especially, teen mothers. Nadia is the proud mother of 2 amazing daughters and is engaged to be married in Fall 2023.

Will Petrik, Director of Policy & Advocacy

Will Petrik has 12+ years of experience in community engagement, communications, public policy, advocacy, and coalition building, and a proven track record of making a positive difference for families. As State Director of Advocates for Ohio’s Future, he (along with dozens of other organizations) helped expand Medicaid in Ohio. Because of this work, over 700,000 people now have access to healthcare coverage. At Policy Matters Ohio, Will spearheaded efforts to make child care more affordable for parents, and he worked with local leaders to enact paid parental leave for city workers in Cleveland. He also developed a state policy proposal to change the tax code and put more money in the pockets of families to help them pay for necessities.

Will lives in North Linden with his wife, Jen, and their two cats. Outside of work, he likes to spend time with friends, go for walks, sing, dance, play guitar, and garden.

Rob Moore, Policy Analyst in Residence

Rob Moore has worked as an analyst in the public and nonprofit sectors and has analyzed diverse issue areas such as economic development, environment, education, and public health. His specialty is applied microeconomic analysis of public policies and tradeoffs between efficiency and equity outcomes in economic development and social safety net programs. He is president of Gross National Happiness USA, a national grassroots organization promoting multidimensional measurement of well-being in society, and maintains memberships with the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, the Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis, and the Ohio Performance Evaluators’ Group, the latter of which he serves as a board member and policy chair.

Before becoming an analyst, Rob was a community organizer in Omaha, Nebraska. He holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of California Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Denison University. He is active in his community as a board member for the Brewery District Community Association and is a professional registered parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians. In his free time, Rob enjoys baking, film, road biking, tabletop roleplaying, and performing with his improvisational comedy team Slumberjacks.

Kevin Jones, Director of Marketing & Messaging

Kevin Jones is the former Legislative Analyst for Columbus City Council-member Nicholas Bankston. He is also the Founder and Chief Strategist of KJ Management Firm LLC.
KJ Management Firm LLC is a marketing, communications & advocacy firm supporting new business owners and developed leaders. In addition, he helps to establish political brands for candidates of public office.

As a Columbus native and civic engagement leader, he is extremely involved in the community and serves as the President of the Central Ohio Young Black Democrats. He is a former Member of the Young Professionals Council of Nationwide Hospital, and former Board Member of the RoadMap Team for the Ohio Urban Resource System (OURS). Today, he currently serves as a Board Member of Renew Homes Ohio and as the Civic Engagement Chair for the Columbus Urban League Young Professionals.

Rohnesha Horne, Director of Community Partnerships & Programs

Rohnesha M. Horne is the former Director of Marketing for Urban One/Radio One Cleveland, Ohio. Her career began with Radio One in 2008, as the Assistant Marketing Promotions Director for all station brands, which included WENZ-FM 2107.9, WZAK-FM 93.1, WJMO Praise 94.5 FM and WERE-AM Newstalk 1490 AM. Lastly, in May of 2017, Rohnesha was promoted to her former position; and exited the role in 2020.

The departure of Urban One led Rohnesha to becoming CEO and Founder of RH Event Planning and Consulting, L.L.C, A multi-media company that offers a variety of services including media buying, marketing consultations, sales & sponsorship strategy, event planning/concert production and public relations services.

Rohnesha has produced events for The National Urban League, The Collective PAC, Project 68, N.A.A.C.P, Vestige Strategies, Radio One, Rap Star Energy drink and more. Her concerts have featured artists such as the legendary NAS, Common, Móneybagg Yo, Big Latto, Cardi B and Migos. In 2023, she had a stint in education working in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights school district as an Academic Success Coach and Instructional aide. During her time at Monticello Middle School, she led 4 programs, after school, during school and weekends which led to improved grade point averages, decreased behavioral incidents and increased morale.

the rtii board

Trudy Bartley,
Board Chair
Associate VP of Local Government & Community Relations OSU

Guadalupe Velasquez,
Board Secretary
Managing Director,
Welcoming City

Terry Green
Founder & Executive Director, Think Make Live Youth

Charleta B. Tavares
CEO, PrimaryOne Health

Carla Williams-Scott
Director, City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods

Matt Habash,
Board Vice-Chair
President and CEO Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Joy Bivens,
Ex Officio Member
Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County

David Harrison
President, Columbus State Community College

Pastor Keith Troy
Pastor, New Salem
Baptist Church

Sandy Doyle Ahern,
Board Treasurer
President, EMH&T

Michael Corey
Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

Joanna Pinkerton
President/CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Nana Watson
President, NAACP
Columbus Unit

2023 Partners

RTII Team

RISE TOGETHER WITH US!

We are always seeking energetic, bold, and passionate talent to help us grow our organization. Check back often for open positions when we post them.

OUR MISSION IS TO HARNESS THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TO DISRUPT STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ISSUES OF POVERTY TO ACHIEVE EQUITY FOR ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS.

OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND PROSPER.

WHY IS RISE IMPORTANT?

the original blueprint

scioto analysis research

POVERTY SNAPSHOT REPORT

the rtii team

the rtii board

Trudy Bartley,
Board Chair
Associate VP of Local Government & Community Relations OSU

Guadalupe Velasquez,
Board Secretary
Managing Director,
Welcoming City

Terry Green
Founder & Executive Director, Think Make Live Youth

Charleta B. Tavares
CEO, PrimaryOne Health

Carla Williams-Scott
Director, City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods

Matt Habash,
Board Vice-Chair
President and CEO Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Joy Bivens,
Ex Officio Member
Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County

David Harrison
President, Columbus State Community College

Pastor Keith Troy
Pastor, New Salem
Baptist Church

Sandy Doyle Ahern,
Board Treasurer
President, EMH&T

Michael Corey
Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

Joanna Pinkerton
President/CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Nana Watson
President, NAACP
Columbus Unit

2023 Partners

RISE TOGETHER WITH US!

Careers

STAY CONNECTED

OUR MISSION IS TO HARNESS THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TO DISRUPT STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ISSUES OF POVERTY TO ACHIEVE EQUITY FOR ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS. OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND PROSPER.

WHY IS RISE IMPORTANT?

the original blueprint

scioto analysis research

POVERTY SNAPSHOT REPORT

the rtii team

the rtii board

Trudy Bartley, Board Chair Associate VP of Local Government & Community Relations OSU

Guadalupe Velasquez, Board Secretary Managing Director, Welcoming City

Terry Green Founder & Executive Director, Think Make Live Youth

Charleta B. Tavares CEO, PrimaryOne Health

Carla Williams-Scott Director, City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods

Matt Habash, Board Vice-Chair President and CEO Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Joy Bivens, Ex Officio Member Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County

David Harrison President, Columbus State Community College

Pastor Keith Troy Pastor, New Salem Baptist Church

Sandy Doyle Ahern, Board Treasurer President, EMH&T

Michael Corey Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

Joanna Pinkerton President/CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Nana Watson President, NAACP Columbus Unit

2023 Partners

RISE TOGETHER WITH US!

Careers

STAY CONNECTED

OUR MISSION IS TO HARNESS THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF PEOPLE AND SYSTEMS TO DISRUPT STRUCTURAL RACISM AND ISSUES OF POVERTY TO ACHIEVE EQUITY FOR ALL FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENTS.

OUR VISION IS THAT EVERY FRANKLIN COUNTY RESIDENT HAS THE RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THRIVE AND PROSPER.

Trudy Bartley,
Board Chair
Associate VP of Local Government & Community Relations OSU

Guadalupe Velasquez,
Board Secretary
Managing Director,
Welcoming City

Terry Green
Founder & Executive Director, Think Make Live Youth

Charleta B. Tavares
CEO, PrimaryOne Health

Carla Williams-Scott
Director, City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods

Matt Habash,
Board Vice-Chair
President and CEO Mid-Ohio Food Collective

Joy Bivens,
Ex Officio Member
Deputy County Administrator, Franklin County

David Harrison
President, Columbus State Community College

Pastor Keith Troy
Pastor, New Salem
Baptist Church

Sandy Doyle Ahern,
Board Treasurer
President, EMH&T

Michael Corey
Executive Director, Human Service Chamber of Franklin County

Joanna Pinkerton
President/CEO, Central Ohio Transit Authority

Nana Watson
President, NAACP
Columbus Unit