Changing Face of King-Lincoln & Bronzeville

Mike takes a walk through on a rainy but warm December day, reflecting on the rapid changes and gentrification in the King-Lincoln and Bronzeville areas of Columbus. Venting his frustration over a missed job opportunity, he concludes with a seasonal message of resilience and love, urging viewers to focus on joy and caring for one another during the Christmas season.

Good afternoon, this is Mike George coming at you 'live on tape' on this rainy but pleasantly warm Saturday, 23 December. It’s unseasonably warm for Ohio in December, and while we could do without the rain, I try not to take anything for granted.

I’m currently gallivanting through a beautiful but rapidly changing part of town, moving from Old Towne East northward into the King Lincoln area. It’s interesting to see how the city evolves; they just tore down an entire industrial building over on the corner of Long and Hamilton, which is a pretty jarring sight. This area feels like the 'Short North' of the East Side, and you can see the signs of redevelopment starting to take hold.

I’m actually on my way to lunch. Having been in Columbus for a few months now, I’ve gotten pretty savvy at finding the various free community meals throughout town. Today, I'm heading to a lunch hosted by a local church. These churches are such warm, diverse, and welcoming community centers—not at all like the judgmental ones you sometimes see on TV. I really appreciate them for providing these meals during my 'adventure' through the streets.

To be honest, I’ve been feeling a bit low lately. I’ve been struggling with some depression and haven’t applied for a job in about three weeks. I’m still mentally recuperating from a major setback with a position I really wanted at COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority). I’ve been trying to get my foot into the public transportation sector for years, but every time an opportunity comes along, something seems to go wrong.

Maybe this is just a sign that I need to stick with my original path in renewable energy and electric utilities, especially since I've invested so much into it with my master's degree. I need to get back to the grindstone and start applying again.

Anyway, I wanted to give you all a quick update. As we head into Christmas, please make sure not to stress yourselves out too much with shopping and obligations. Just try to love one another and let some joy into your life. Take care of yourselves, and take care of someone else this holiday season. This has been Mike George, live from a cozy Saturday in Columbus. Catch you later!