Randall Sistrunk

Randall Sistrunk Rob Hardin | Columbus CEO

About: Sistrunk joined Orange Barrel Media in early 2019 after several years working for the city of Columbus on diversity and inclusion initiatives. Before that he was the program director for the Columbus Urban League. He has a B.S. in sociology and applied criminology from Walsh University and took part in the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School in 2018. He’s the father of Jordan, a fifth grader, and Myanah, a second-year pre-med student at the University of Dayton.

Outside of work: Sistrunk serves on the advisory committee for Franklin University’s School of Public Administration, on the board of directors of the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility and on the City of Columbus Police Chief Advisory Panel. He’s also the chief opportunity maker for his side gig, Connect 3.0, which specializes in connecting opportunities with interest. The goal is to take advantage of his networking and relationships to develop a business that will allow him to help professionals and businesses discern needs, position opportunities and solve complex challenges.

What does Columbus need to thrive? Columbus should continue to build on the Columbus Way, understanding the need to intensify our approach in ensuring equitable distribution of opportunities. (That includes) the support of small and minority businesses, advancement of minority leadership, addressing health disparities and providing necessary resources to students now required to learn in non-conducive environments as a result of COVID-19 limiting educational resources.

Sistrunk’s idea: Full engagement and employment for 100 restored citizens. I propose an initiative to address the top five barriers to employment that keep restored citizens from full engagement and employment in the workforce. The five barriers are: record expungement, hiring bias, training and education, resources and support and housing.