During her time with the City of Dublin, former council member and vice mayor (among many other titles) Judi Stillwell learned and developed skills that ultimately lead to her involvement with TEDxColumbus and her assistance to others on a path of learning. With a desire to serve the public, she worked her way up through the ranks and heard the needs of Dublin residents while with the City.
Dublin Life: What were your duties as a City Council member?
Judi Stillwell: I represented Ward 2 on council. As Dublin’s governing body, City Council sets policy direction and passes legislation, establishes City goals and oversees and approves the annual budget. I would bring issues on the minds of Ward 2 citizens, both resident and corporate, to Council, and report Council proposed policies and plans to my Ward. Frequently, because the City was experiencing rapid growth, Ward 2, City staff and I would address questions of zoning/development/capital improvements, and work toward consensus on outcomes.
Council members also serve on several council committees in a two year term – mine were Administrative Committee and Public Services. Standing council committees review issues referred to them by council and report back to council. I served a two year term as vice mayor which gave me the experience of presiding at Mayor’s Court and performing weddings in addition to administrative responsibilities. I was also the Dublin Council rep to MORPC (Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission).
DL: How did you hear about the opportunity to become a Council member? What were your early motivations?
JS: Public/community service is in my DNA. We moved to Dublin in 1978, and my early experience was with Dublin schools. There was only one elementary, middle and high school each and you had to drive to the Kroger on Henderson Rd. to buy a loaf of bread. So we had to plan for growth. Subsequently, I was appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals and then to Planning and Zoning. Each experience brought me in touch with issues facing Dublin, citizens, developers and decisions that would move us forward in a good way. In early 1992, I was encouraged to run for the Ward 2 Council position. After serious consideration, I decided to go for it.
DL: What were your occupations before/during your time with the City?
JS: I started working at Children’s Hospital in 1978 in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, in Immunology – a field that was advancing rapidly and becoming critical to diagnostic medicine. In the mid-80s, still based at Children’s, I moved to leading two different organizations of community-based pediatricians.
In 1993, in response to studies revealing that less than half of Franklin County two-year-olds were fully immunized, Project L.O.V.E. (Love Our Kids, Vaccinate Early!) was formed, and I became Executive Director. We created a collaborative partnership of Franklin County hospitals, physicians, health departments, business and community organizations to move that statistic to 80 percent. When I resigned in 1997, shortly before moving to southern California, that 40 percent had increased to almost the goal. Today, Franklin County communities are recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as having one of the highest urban immunization rates in the country. Yet, the work of Project L.O.V.E. will, by necessity, continue.
DL: What is your involvement with TEDxColumbus and how did that come to be?
JS: I’ve been a speaker/co-curator, starting with the 2012 TEDxColumbus event which means that I’m always on the lookout for potential speakers and performers from in and around Columbus to organize around a theme, such as 2014’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics). We find speakers/performers that have an idea to share, and/or a story to tell that is riveting and provocative. We fit the program together against a theme, such that the whole experience is amazing, inspiring for both speakers and participants. You leave so exhilarated and exhausted at the same time!
I had become interested in TED (Technology Entertainment Design) when we lived in southern California. TED conferences originated from Long Beach, just up the road from Orange County. We moved back to Columbus, Upper Arlington this time around – in the early 2000s. Columbus was one of the first cities to obtain the TEDx license in 2009 (the “x” means independently organized), and our first TEDxColumbus took place later that year. There have been annual events ever since. I wanted involvement beyond the programs, and came on board after the 2011 event.
DL: Are you involved with any current civic projects?
JS: In addition to TEDxColumbus, I am especially interested in food programs which address food insecurity and access to healthy food. I’ve been delivering food and toiletries to the Gladden Community House food pantry for a number of years. I am also an occasional volunteer at Gladden sponsored events in Franklinton. The Womens’ Fund of Central Ohio also claims my support.
DL: What college did you attend? What was your field of study?
JS: DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind. I intended pre-med, but women in medicine were not as accepted as today. So I opted for an area major in Chemistry, Microbiology and Biology, leading to work in diagnostic medicine. I received my MBA from Capital University.
DL: Do you have any personal favorite/fun stories from your time with the City?
JS: Oh, there are many. Being a member of Dublin City Council was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, one of which I enjoyed immensely and I credit the work council did together along with staff and the community, but also the associated experiences. As vice mayor, I performed several weddings – some of the happiest occasions during my tenure. Then there was time spent with Frankie Avalon, who was headliner at a July 4 celebration and whom I swooned over as a teenager. The Olympic Torch raced through Dublin and we dedicated the Dublin Rec Center. And one memory that has special meaning for me is when the Celtic cross was gifted to me at the end of my term.
DL: What sets the Dublin community apart?
JS: Pretty much most central Ohio communities compare themselves to Dublin – and for good reason. It is a well-planned and beautiful city. There is far-sighted and cutting-edge thinking, a responsive government, schools, special events … the list goes on!
DL: What are you up to these days?
JS: “No good!” No really, we are traveling more frequently. We are deeply involved with the amazing art community in Columbus and we enjoy three grandchildren who constantly amaze and entertain us. I’m interested, still of course, with TEDxColumbus, but also other venues for TEDx, specifically those coming from inside prisons. There’s a humanity there that we are ignoring as a society. Also, I’m trying to make sure that “there are no hungry people” moves closer to reality. I love going to farmers markets, meeting the growers and the farm-to-table movement. Columbus is a very exciting place to be these days.
DL: What are some of your non-professional hobbies?
JS: I fly through the air with the greatest of ease, at the Flying Trapeze Academy in Venice, FL.
