04/20/2026
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 - 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻.
Leadership Linden, an initiative of the Community of Caring Development Foundation (COCDF), will host its Spring Forum, “The United Nations of Linden,” a timely and forward-thinking conversation that positions Linden’s growing diversity as a powerful driver of economic opportunity, civic engagement, and sustainable development.
Linden is no longer defined solely by its past—it is being reshaped by its future. Today, the neighborhood reflects a rich and expanding global tapestry, including long-standing African American families alongside immigrant and refugee communities from East and West Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This diversity represents not fragmentation, but a unique and competitive advantage.
𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁?
The conversation will be moderated by Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, a trailblazing leader and the first Latina elected to the Columbus City Council. A lifelong Eastside resident, Barroso de Padilla brings over two decades of experience in youth development, leadership, and civic engagement, including national leadership roles with City Year and extensive service across local and regional boards. Her personal and professional commitment to community development makes her uniquely positioned to guide this important dialogue.
The Forum will be hosted by Leadership Linden’s CEO, Adam K. Troy, whose leadership has helped shape Linden’s revitalization through faith-based economic development, cross-sector partnerships, and the cultivation of grassroots leadership through initiatives like Leadership Linden.
𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘆:
𝗜𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱, a Somali-American attorney and public servant representing Ohio’s 3rd House District. A former refugee, Mohamed has dedicated his career to expanding access to justice, advocating for affordable housing, education, and economic equity, and ensuring opportunity for historically underserved communities.
𝗔𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗮 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗿, President and CEO of MK Global Holdings, and a respected voice in diaspora engagement and economic development. Tongor’s work bridges international partnerships and local entrepreneurship, strengthening economic pathways both in Columbus and abroad.
𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻, a Linden-based entrepreneur and owner of Island Vibes, a local Caribbean restaurant that reflects the cultural vibrancy and small business spirit driving neighborhood growth.
Together, this panel will explore how infrastructure, policy, and community partnerships can align to support diverse entrepreneurs, prevent displacement, and create pathways for inclusive economic growth.
𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
*Infrastructure improvements that support culturally diverse small businesses
*Policy and zoning strategies for mixed-use and mixed-income development
*Preventing displacement while encouraging responsible redevelopment
*The role of faith institutions, minority-owned businesses, and global entrepreneurs as anchors of a market-ready economy
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆.
https://link.msgsndr.com/sp/21f18c10ed3
