In early June, the Cincinnati Chamber took more than 70 business and community leaders to Atlanta for our biannual Leadership Exchange. The goal of these trips is to learn, explore, and create stronger connections with one another. While in Atlanta we were able to focus on topics directly related to our strategy of growing population, growing the economy, growing cultural vibrancy, and ensuring everyone belongs here.
In many ways, I found linkages to the work we’re doing in Cincinnati right now. But Atlanta had more. More investment, more growth, more housing, and more intentional strategies on belonging. The trip was a jolt of inspiration and motivation to start necessary conversations about the future of our city. And let me tell you, this group is ready to step up and to apply the learnings from the exchange here in our region. Whether that means finding innovative ways to encourage more housing starts, retaining talent through unique partnerships with our universities, or envisioning the blueprint for diverse venues that attract national (and international) competitions, musicians, conferences, and more.
What does that have to do with the summer issue of Realm? Well, what’s inside is a testament to the resources we already have to achieve greater things in our own backyard: Leaders like those we recognized in our annual Making Black History awards; innovative companies like Medpace, Tata, and GE Aerospace; a robust startup scene; cultural assets that are important not to just Cincinnati but our nation as a whole; and a diverse group of individuals (the Cincinnati Futures Commission) who made concrete recommendations that will lay the groundwork to put the city on a path of growth.
I’m pretty pumped. I hope this issue gets you revved up, too. And if you’re so inclined, raise your hand to join us!