Next Up Columbus 2025: Will Wilder
Name: Will Wilder
Age: 24
Profession: Community Planning Analyst at City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods
Neighborhood: East Columbus
Education: Bachelor of Science in City & Regional Planning
Community Involvement: Columbus Urban League Young Professionals, I Know I Can Legacy Network, OSU Black Alumni Society, Special Olympics Ohio, Supporter of ThingsThatMatter Foundation
Motto: “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Will Wilder’s story is one of perseverance, purpose, and deep community pride. Born and raised on the East Side of Columbus, Will is a proud graduate of Columbus City Schools and a product of determination and opportunity. While attending Walnut Ridge High School and Columbus Downtown High School, he balanced athletics, academics, and internships – including his first role with the City of Columbus’ Department of Building & Zoning Services. His hard work earned him both the Morrill Scholarship and the I Know I Can Founders Scholarship, enabling him to attend The Ohio State University debt-free.
Will began his college journey just as the world was shutting down during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought personal challenges and tested his resilience. He found solace and expression through art, especially while painting at Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. He also worked across OSU’s recreational sports facilities, where his leadership and dedication earned him a Student Life Leadership Award in 2022.
After graduating in 2023 with a Bachelor’s in City & Regional Planning, Will came full circle joining the City of Columbus Department of Neighborhoods, where he now helps implement community-driven plans like One Linden, Envision Hilltop, and Eastland for Everyone. For Will, this work is more than a job. It’s a way to give back to the neighborhoods that helped raise him.
What gets you up in the morning? And what gets you through the workweek?
The opportunity to help people and have a positive impact on their lives gets me up in the morning. Knowing the work I am doing to revitalize the Linden, Hilltop, and Eastland neighborhoods, as well as shape the future growth of Columbus, really gets me through the workweek.
What advice or mentors have helped guide you along the way?
Dr. Darreon Greer Sr. is a mentor who has guided me since my freshman year at The Ohio State University. I met him along my mental health journey. Dr. Greer has helped me get through some of the most challenging, difficult times in my life. He has remained a positive, grounding force and continues to inspire me to this day.
Karim Jackson is another mentor who has helped guide me along the way. Karim was my I Know I Can College Advisor at Columbus Downtown High School. He motivated me through high school to apply for colleges, scholarships, and he continued that support through my college career. I now have the privilege to work alongside him in the Department of Neighborhoods.
A mentor who has always guided me is my mom, Merele Wilder. She has been a teacher with Columbus City Schools for 35 years and has worked with children for 40 years. After a long, successful career, she will be retiring in the Fall of the upcoming 2025-26 school year. My mom’s kindness, compassion, resilience, and strength continuously inspire my life every day. Her ability and willingness to help people have helped to guide me in my career.
What do you do or where do you go to unwind?
When I need to unwind, I usually go downtown to the Scioto Mile to sit by the river and look at the City’s skyline. I also go home to the East side to relax and spend time with my mom and two sisters.
Some activities I enjoy are writing and painting. I love watching movies. Lately, I’ve been working on getting back into running again.
What are a few of your favorite local spots in Columbus?
Speck Italian Eatery is one of my favorite spots of all time. They have an amazing Italian cuisine with fresh pasta every day. My favorite dishes are the Cacio e Pepe and Funghi. Flavor 91 Bistro is a great spot on the East Side. They have delicious burgers, wings, and fries. Especially the sweet potato fries. Martha’s Fusion Kitchen is a hidden gem in the heart of North Linden. They offer a variety of classic Mexican dishes, but I love the fish and shrimp tacos. Resch’s Bakery, a staple on the East side. If you grew up in East Columbus, you know about the drive down Livingston to grab donuts before school!
When you were a kid, what did you say you wanted to be when you grew up?
As a kid, I wanted to be an architect when I grew up. I was dedicated to that goal all the way to college, where I originally majored in architecture at Ohio State. I eventually switched my major to City & Regional Planning after the pandemic started in my freshman year. I realized that I wanted to have a larger impact on communities. Instead of focusing on one building, I wanted to help change whole neighborhoods. The nice thing is I could still pursue that dream of being an architect if I wanted to!
What books or podcasts are you reading/listening to right now?
A book I am currently reading is ‘Who Is Government?’ By Michael Lewis. The book contains essays from a collection of authors who tell the untold stories of public service. It primarily highlights federal government employees and the major impacts their work has on the world that people will never truly know due to the nature of public service. I find this book to be inspiring because much of what we do in government may not be seen upfront, or for years to come, if ever. Though this does not mean the work we do is any less impactful.
What does it mean to you to be chosen for the Next Up Columbus award?
It is an honor and a privilege to be chosen for the Next Up Columbus award. I know I am young, but I have been working hard from an even younger age to get to where I am today. It means a lot that my hard work is being recognized. I hope I continue to make a large impact in Columbus. I also hope to inspire peers my age and younger to be more dedicated to their goals, give back to the communities that have raised them, and create opportunities for the next generation to succeed.
If someone were to ask you what the “pulse” of Columbus is, what would you tell them?
Columbus is known as “A City of Neighborhoods”. Being born and raised in Columbus, I didn’t fully understand this saying, but through my work with the Cit,y I have seen it firsthand. I would say the “pulse” of Columbus is the neighborhoods and the diverse groups of people who live in them. The diversity across each neighborhood creates a vibrant culture and experience that will only continue to grow as the city grows.
The Next Up Columbus Awards, presented annually by the Columbus Young Professionals Club, recognize emerging leaders who are making a meaningful impact across Central Ohio. These honorees are innovators, connectors, and community champions helping to shape a brighter future for Columbus. Meet the entire Class of 2025 »