PRESENTED BY
Our FutureIs Female
Meet 25 women driving change throughout Cincinnati, whether in policing, politics, the arts, environmentalism, social justice, business, or the dining scene.
By Emily Chien, Natalie, Clare, Lauren Fisher, Alexandra Frost, Jaclyn Youhana Garver, Judi Ketteler, Aiesha D. Little, Michelle Sikorski, and Elizabeth Miller Wood
Edited by Lauren Fisher
Kathy Y. Wilson Speaks Her Truth
A revamped Your Negro Tour Guide—coadapted from Wilson’s former CityBeat column—premiered at Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati this month.
All in This Together: Resources for Women
Whether you’re searching for woman-to-woman mentorship or looking for an outfit to help ace your next job interview, these five local organizations have your back.
Elizabeth Pierce Stays Curious
The Cincinnati Museum Center CEO keeps families coming back to Union Terminal.
Colleen Hanycz Opens the Doors to Higher Ed
The first woman and first lay president of Xavier University uses her status to broaden access to education.
Colleen Houston Paints Cincinnati’s Empty Walls
The ArtWorks CEO and artistic director is engaging community and beautifying the city one mural at a time.
Cal Cullen Makes Waves
Spreading Cullen’s Wave Pool model far and wide could help improve communities through art.
Sponsored
The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Drives Change Through Research
From salary inequity to disparity in job benefits, The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation leads the way in advancing women’s economic growth.
Renee Mahaffey Harris Improves Health Outcomes
The president and CEO of The Center for Closing the Health Gap wants to eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities.
Carla Walker Tackles Climate Change
Carla Walker builds strategies to address climate change equitably.
Mary Wineberg Runs a Different Race
The Olympic gold medalist turned teacher won a seat on the Cincinnati Public Schools board last fall.
Ixi Chen Plays a New Melody
Concert:Nova challenges how we experience classical music thanks to Chen.
Elizabeth Blackburn Shows Her Stripes
A new generation directs the Bengals’ strategy and engagement.
Tyra Patterson Breaks Down Barriers
Free after two decades of wrongful imprisonment, Patterson drives change at the intersection of art and social justice.
Candace McGraw Watches the Sky
The CVG CEO reshapes Cincinnati into a global hub for passengers and cargo.
Sarah Weiss Cultivates Empathy
"I’m fortunate that I have some leadership ability and platform to be able to help others become upstanders," says the CEO of the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center.
Aziza Love Grooves to a New Beat
Hard lessons from the pandemic became fodder for a new album and a promising future in the L.A. music scene.
Britney Ruby Miller Weathers the Storm
Through industry upheaval, the heir to the Jeff Ruby throne pushed her restaurants to new heights.
Jill Meyer Steers Our Economic Future
With Meyer at the helm of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce, businesses have a relentless advocate.
Charmaine McGuffey Creates a Lasting Legacy
Elected Hamilton County Sheriff in 2020, McGuffey is one of only three women to hold the title in the state and the first openly gay sheriff in Ohio.
Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney Works for You
The vice mayor wants everyone to feel welcome at City Hall. She carries that ethos into her leadership.
Julie Brehm Challenges Health Taboos
Postpartum moms turn to the TriHealth pelvic health physical therapist for help with a sensitive issue.
Candice Brackeen Builds up Minority Entrepreneurs
Venture capital funds don’t always serve BIPOC-led businesses well. The Lightship Foundation CEO changes that.
The Women Who Made Us
Learn about the women who helped shape Cincinnati as we know it today.
Emily Wolff Builds a Culinary Empire in Covington
The self-described creative entrepreneur uses her restaurant experience, fine arts background, and passion for historical preservation to breathe new life into MainStrasse Village.
Katie Nzekwu Supports Foster Kids
Once a child of the foster care system herself, the CEO of Found Village helps children and teens in need.
Kristen Schlotman Brings Hollywood to Cincinnati
With Film Cincinnati, she works to produce Hollywood movies in the Queen City.
Rachel DesRochers Bakes in Collaboration
The creator of Grateful Grahams uses her Incubator Kitchen Collective to reshape Cincinnati’s entrepreneurial scene.
Editor’s Letter, April 2022: Celebrating 25 Women Driving Change in Cincinnati
It takes a village to drive change in any community, and thousands of women are doing their part across Cincinnati.
Sponsored
The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation Champions Workplace Policies to Support Frontline...
Policies and support for frontline workers is part of the research The Women’s Fund focuses on to improve economic self-sufficiency for women in Cincinnati.
Alicia Reece Hits Her Stride
Inspired by the women who came before her, the Hamilton County Commissioner works to open doors for the next generation.
