County Funds Youth Exchange Across 12 School Districts

Franklin County Board of Commissioners I Franklin County Office of Economic Engagement and Community Development 

Nine years ago, a program called Erase the Space began pairing students from South High School and Olentangy Liberty in structured dialogue sessions, built on the idea that understanding comes from contact, not just proximity. 

It now operates across 12 school districts. The Board of Commissioners approved a $50,000 grant on June 2, 2026, through Resolution 0357-26, to continue and expand the program's reach across Franklin County. 

Erase the Space connects students from different schools and communities through year-long exchanges focused on civic learning, collaborative dialogue, and workforce readiness. This year, the program will serve 1,500 students annually, engage 60 educators, and facilitate 12 to 14 cross-district classroom partnerships. Districts currently participating include Columbus City Schools, Olentangy Local, New Albany, Whitehall, Gahanna Jefferson, Upper Arlington, and Westerville City Schools. 

The program also runs the STREAMS Civic Leadership Cohort, a deeper engagement track serving 25 to 30 additional youth through student-led civic projects and leadership development. 

Executive Director Derek Burtch told commissioners that this past year the program facilitated 25 exchanges across 50 classrooms in 12 districts. He noted that for most of the program's history he was running it alone, and that recent organizational growth, including the addition of a program director, has made scaling possible. 

Resolution 0357-26 passed unanimously and supports Rise Together Blueprint Goals 9, 11, and 13.