One of the things I love most about Cincinnati is that our region’s growth doesn’t happen in just one place or because of one big idea. It happens neighborhood by neighborhood, organization by organization, and often because a group of people decides that something can be better and then gets to work.
That idea runs throughout this issue of Realm. Our cover story looks at the community development corporations helping shape the future of neighborhoods such as College Hill, Covington, Northside, and Walnut Hills. These hyper-local organizations tackle everything from housing and small business development to arts spaces and commercial corridors, with residents playing a central role in determining what comes next.
You’ll see that same spirit elsewhere in these pages. Cincinnati’s life sciences sector is growing through deliberate collaboration among businesses, universities, healthcare institutions, and organizations on both sides of the river. Our region’s nursing schools are responding to a critical workforce need. United Way of Greater Cincinnati is working with the Chamber’s Center for Research & Data to use data in new ways to improve outcomes for children and families.
And, of course, this fall brings another great example of what happens when Cincinnati thinks big: BLINK. More than 80 artists from our region and around the world are transforming Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky in October. BLINK brings people into our neighborhoods, puts our region on an international stage, and reminds us how much creativity and energy exist here.
At the Chamber, our vision is a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs. The stories in this issue are a good reminder that those words are connected. Growth is strongest when people are invested in the places where they live, businesses see opportunity here, and organizations across sectors are willing to work toward something bigger than any one of us could accomplish alone.
