Jill Moorhead

2 months ago | columbusmonthly.com | Jill Moorhead

Sophia Fifner is a walking resource. And she’s a busy one, at that. She takes meetings from her car, toggling between civic strategy sessions and her daughters’ dance rehearsals, and always follows up with a signature email. It’s warm, direct, and full of links: her LinkedIn, the Columbus Metropolitan Club’s event calendar, and an open invitation to keep the conversation going. “People need to know who to call,” she says.

2 months ago | columbusmonthly.com | Jill Moorhead

After 20 years in the art world, Michelle Brandt could have played it safe. Instead, she doubled down—on her instincts, her values, and a bold vision for Downtown Columbus. When instability threatened her longtime gallery space in the Short North, Brandt didn’t just find a new location—she helped shape an entirely new vision, one that reimagines Gay Street as an arts corridor that centers on culture, not just commerce. Today, her gallery is a cornerstone of that effort.

2 months ago | columbusmonthly.com | Jill Moorhead

Lourdes Barroso de Padilla didn’t grow up dreaming of city council. Born on the East Side of Columbus to Cuban political refugees, she graduated high school, as she puts it, “by the skin of my chinny chin chin.” Traditional academics weren’t her thing. But community? That clicked. She found her footing through service with City Year, where she spent her days knocking on doors on the South Side, trying to convince neighbors to come to the after-school program she helped organize.

Mar 24, 2025 | columbusmonthly.com | Jill Moorhead

Ohio is host to a plethora of ancient earthworks. Plan your trip to three cities with striking mounds, great eats and historic hotels. Plus, local celebrations and a guide to respecting the mounds. Jill MoorheadColumbus MonthlyThe thing about earthworks is that they’re not easy to Instagram. You can’t capture their scale in a single frame. There’s no dramatic skyline behind them, no giant “MOUNDS” sign spelling out your location. And thankfully, no Dippin’ Dots stand waiting nearby.

Feb 20, 2025 | columbusmonthly.com | Jill Moorhead

With an intuitive transit system, losing your way is rare, but losing yourself in the sounds, smells, and sights of the city is inevitable.