A passion for volunteerism and advocacy shows up every day in the life of Ophelia Arnold.
Currently, she serves her community by leading and overseeing the outward facing work at the Columbus Urban League. Her current title is Program Manager of Health Equity Services.
Ophelia also attributes a lot of her professional success due to being afforded the opportunity to serve with the Columbus Urban League, as a Lead Housing Counselor for 1 years as an employee, and a community volunteer for 7 years with the African American Male Initiative.
Born on an Airforce base in Arkansas, and later raised in Chicago, Ophelia has a unique and comprehensive perspective when it comes to serving the community. Additionally, Ophelia attended Ohio Dominican University and Mount Vernon Nazarene College, and jump started her career of service hood with the Alvis House and Talbert House.
In 2008, she worked in administration at the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority. Since that eye- opening and life changing experience, her focus has shifted from policy correction to affordable housing, advocacy, and deepened her emphasis on people centered systemic change.
Ophelia’s 16-year housing career has worked in many areas within the industry, including public housing, tax credit, housing choice vouchers, layered funding, and more.
Ophelia holds several certifications: Public housing Manager from NAHRO, Calculation Specialist of occupancy in public housing from NAHRO, Nan McKay and NSPIRE Inspector Training Program.
Ophelia also is certified as: Housing Counselor, Financial Counselor and Foreclosure counselor from NHNLA Unidos.
Her most recent accomplishments are being appointed as a Commissioner for the City of Columbus Community Relations Commission (CRC) the current Assistant Secretary of the Columbus branch of the NAACP, Vice President of Black Achievers Columbus a committee member for the Columbus Public Health Minority Health Advisory Committee (MHAC), Ohio Black Maternal Health Caucus and Ohio Pregnancy Associate Mortality Review Committee (PAMR).
However, the thing that drives, motivates, and makes her most proud is that even though she is in leadership, she diligently works to maintain a level of transparency and relatability with the community she serves.