Events
Bookmark this page for all upcoming Portman Center programming!
Monday, March 31, 2025 - Portman Center Policy Symposium
11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m., Nippert West Pavilion. Lunch provided
We're excited to announce our 2025 Policy Symposium: Achievable Solutions for the Housing Crisis. Focused on building policies from common ground, the program includes keynote conversations and student policy proposals.
11:00 a.m. Doors open. Lunch served through 12:00
11:15 a.m. –11:45 a.m. Student Policy Presentations
12:00 p.m. Welcome & Opening Remarks
Andrew Lewis, Executive Director, Portman Center for Policy Solutions
Opening Remarks by Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus
12:10 p.m.–1:00 p.m. Federal Strategies for Affordable Housing & Thriving Communities
Rick Lazio, Chair, Enterprise Community Partners
Reggie Harris, Chief of Staff, Ohio First Congressional District and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Moderated by Rob Portman, Former U.S. Senator and Founding Board Member, Portman Center for Policy Solutions
1:10 p.m.–2:00 p.m. Shared Goals for Ohio’s Housing Future
Ohio Senator Michele Reynolds
Ohio Representative Dani Isaacsohn
Ohio Representative Adam Mathews
Moderated by Andrew Lewis, Executive Director, Portman Center for Policy Solutions
2:10 p.m.–3:00 p.m. What’s Worked & What’s Next for Cincinnati
Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval
Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley
Moderated by Liz Keating, Vice President of Government Affairs and Advocacy, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Dessert reception
Thursday, April 10, 2025 - Civility for Democracy: A Braver Campus Dialogue
12:30–2:00 p.m., Clifton Court Hall 5280. Pizza and drinks will be provided at 12 p.m.
Collegiate Workshop: What is the best way for campus communities to effectively respond to evolving DEI policies?
University of Cincinnati students, faculty, and staff are invited to join a respectful conversation touching all sides of a challenging issue. The Braver Campus Dialogue draws inspiration from traditional Braver Angels debates and workshops, BridgeUSA conversations, and visionary collaboration with Braver Angels’ co-founder Bill Doherty. Braver Campus Dialogues are aimed at exploring the nuances of an issue, fostering solution-oriented conversations where participants emerge feeling that differing viewpoints are not obstacles, but essential components in addressing our most controversial topics. Guided by an experienced moderator, participants will navigate the intricate complexities of an issue, gaining a deeper understanding of the similar and different perspectives on the root causes and potential solutions for the most pressing social and political challenges.
Sponsored by the Cincinnati Alliance of Braver Angels, Cincinnati Ethics Center, University Honors, the UC libraries, the Portman Center for Policy Solutions, and the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute.
Questions? Contact Eugene Rutz at rutzee@ucmail.uc.edu