On October 19, IDEA alongside the Center for Effective Lawmaking, will be hosting a conversation on effective lawmaking with State Representative Latyna M. Humphrey and State Senator Louis W. Blessing, III. The panel conversation will be led by Director of IDEA, Dr. Michael Neblo, and the Co-Directors of the Center for Effective Lawmaking, Drs. Alan Wiseman and Craig Volden.
Representative Humphrey is a proud Columbus native. She is a graduate of Columbus East High School and Columbus State Community College. She went on to study applied psychology at Franklin University before launching her career in public service.
Her policy priorities focus on criminal justice reform, workforce development, housing access, and child care affordability. Beyond the Statehouse, Representative Humphrey actively organizes resource fairs, policy forums, and community events—collaborating with local leaders, service organizations, and national artists to bring essential programming to the district.
In the 135th General Assembly, she passed seven bills into law, more than any other member of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus. Among them was House Bill 50, Ohio’s first law to eliminate collateral housing barriers for individuals with prior justice involvement. Her leadership earned her the Myrl H. Shoemaker Legislator of the Year Award and the Next Up Columbus Award. Representative Humphrey is committed to uplifting communities, breaking generational barriers, and delivering tangible results for Ohioans—driven by her passion for equity, empowerment, and progress.
State Senator Louis W. Blessing, III is serving his second term in the Ohio Senate. He currently represents Ohio's 8th Senate District, which encompasses a portion of Hamilton County. He began his career in the legislature serving as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, representing the 29th Ohio House District.
Senator Blessing has an extensive background in electrical engineering. He currently works as an engineer at Super Systems, Inc. in Cincinnati and previously worked at Duke Energy and Nova Engineering.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering at the University of Cincinnati. The Senator is a licensed professional engineer and is a member of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers. He currently resides in Colerain Township with his wife Heather and their three sons.
This conversation will focus on the challenges of lawmaking, bipartisanship and the link to effective lawmaking, and how to find ways to collaborate with one another to make meaningful change in Ohio.
This conversation will be held in the U.S. Bank Conference Theater in the Ohio Union from 4:00-5:30pm. Drinks and snacks will be provided before the event.
You can register in advance for the event here.
