When Ariella "Ari" Cohen thinks about the future of Cincinnati, she thinks about the youth.
Cohen, one of The Enquirer's 2021 Women of the Year, said they are her true passion, as the youth will be the ones taking the initiative after the current generation and will be moving Cincinnati forward.
"I love our city and the opportunities our city has to really break down barriers and make great, positive changes," she said. "My real passion is that we can become an inclusive, diversified and open-minded city, especially one that young people can get their voices out at any table they sit at.
"The next generation lives in the future – why not listen to what they have to say and help the adults make the decisions now?"
More:Meet The Enquirer's 2021 Women of the Year
She knows personally the impact for good youth can have on the city: As a 14-year-old, she organized a citywide dance for Jewish teenagers through the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati after the doors to the Jewish Community Center closed, a move she said she received a lot of "pushback" from other organizations at the time.
"I think actually being young, really standing up for what I believe in with my voice, has been my biggest accomplishment," Cohen said.
"It's not easy to do that, not easy to be a young girl fighting for equality and inclusion and for voices to be heard as a young person. ... It was remarkable for the community to listen and value what I had to say. I hope we continue to do that with the next generation."
Her work contributing to her community didn't end with organizing a dance as a teenager. Cohen, now a stay-at-home mom to five children, serves on multiple boards and executive committees throughout Cincinnati.
Cohen is a board member for Cincinnati Country Day School in Indian Hill, an executive committee member for the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, a board member for the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati, an executive committee member for the Most Valuable Kids of Greater Cincinnati, a committee member for the Ronald McDonald House, and a planning committee member for Cincinnati Parks and Recreation.
'Life and death'
Cohen described being part of the board for the Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati as "life and death for me," feeling that one of the most important parts of her history was having grandparents who laid a strong foundation for giving back.
"It's the idea of trying to leave the world better than you found it, continuing to give back to people and get your voice out there," Cohen said. "It's been transformative to have amazing grandmothers who have paved the way in their leadership in their lives, and that's trickled down to my parents. ...
"Now, I'm trying to teach the same to my children. I hope it’s a generational lesson."
And as a born and raised Cincinnatian, Cohen said the Queen City is a wonderful place to navigate and involve yourself in. The size of the city, she said, is important – not so big that people can easily get lost in the mix, but not so small that people know everything about one another.
"I think that we're diverse, we know how to succeed in working together through differences, having those hard conversations and still coming out and hearing each other," she said. "We're respectful of one another, so there's space for everyone. This is our city. We don't live on a beach or in a wine field, but there's something to be said of our Midwestern simplicity."
About Ariella "Ari" Cohen
Birthplace: Cincinnati
Current residence: Amberley Village
Family: Husband, Andrew Cohen; children, Ezra (12), Zoe (11), Sasha (9), Leon (7) and Nora (5); mother and father Cindy and Harold Guttman; in-laws Ken and Janet Cohen; grandparents Florence and Murray Guttman and Bobbie and Wayne Signer; siblings Seth, Jeremy, Sadie, Hershel and Jonah.
Education: Undergraduate degree in psychology from Indiana University Bloomington, with a minor in English. Master's in social work from the University of Cincinnati.
Occupation: Stay-at-home mom.
What she says
What inspires you to give back? "Growing up with a diverse group of five siblings, including a brother with Down syndrome, I learned from a very young age the meaning and usefulness of standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves. My voice became an important part of who I am as a person."
What need in the community would you like to see addressed? "I would love to see more youth actively being heard throughout our community. As future leaders, I feel it is extremely valuable to hear from the children in our community on their hopes and dreams, and for them to be able to be a part of the process in that change. ... In a more specific area of Cincinnati, I feel like it should be our priority to help the children in the city and their families who have basic needs not being met. Food insecurity, housing needs, education and transportation are enormous issues our city faces today. ... It would almost be like a junior city council committee to help look at some of the challenges our city is facing and allow the next generation to have the opportunity to think critically about ways to address these big issues we are currently facing."
Who most influenced or inspired you to care about others? "I feel so lucky to have been born into such a wonderful family whose strong values of community, giving back and solid Jewish identity have helped shape me into the woman I am today. ... Beyond my family unit, I have felt so fortunate and lucky to have met and to continue to meet people who inspire me in a way that fuels my passion to helping make this world a better place to live and I am also grateful for the boards and committees I have served on to get to know those amazing people, too.
"Lastly, my children influence my desire to continue working on building a more honest, just and inclusive world for them to grow into. I feel not only a responsibility to help my children and their generation feel secure about the future we leave them, but I feel a desire to help show them ways that they can become inspired and find areas where they can commit their time and energy in the ways that feel meaningful to each one of them. My love for my husband Andy, and our five beautiful children is what drives our commitment to leaving the world better than we found it become a hopeful reality."
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