CINCINNATI — The City of Cincinnati is turning a new page in its community engagement efforts. Officials are making a more pointed, intensive effort to seek feedback and inform residents about the changes happening in their neighborhoods.

The effort began seven years ago with an ordinance advocated for by then-city council member Kevin Flynn mandating the city improve its efforts to gather input and drive civic engagement among residents. A handful of concerned citizens kept advocating for it until the ordinance was passed back in August.

“I’m thankful to city council for passing it because we need community engagement in every facet of city government,” councilwoman Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney said.

Residents frequently criticize city officials for failing to thoroughly inform them of the changes being made in their neighborhoods, particularly when it comes to development. They also decry city government and developers for virtually excluding residents from decision-making processes. Improving the city’s community engagement could prevent gentrification and alienating locals from the transformations happening in their own backyards.

In response to the city’s outreach, people are making a number of suggestions like improving communication through the city website. They also suggest city officials meet residents where they are at, such as at public events, grocery stores and on public transportation. Other ideas include putting up more signage that alerts residents of neighborhood changes and having more flexible times for public engagement meetings.

“I thought the conversation was really productive,” said Janiah Miller, an Over-The-Rhine resident.

Miller was at one of those engagement meetings last night. She called for young people of color to be hired in city and planning jobs to make community engagement more well-rounded and pro-active.

"[A] lot of these decisions are made by people that don’t look like us and so that also creates apathy," Miller said.

Ashley Cook of the West End also suggested that Cincinnati take inspiration from other cities that have had even more success in their community engagement and development.

“Someone brought up looking at other cities and I think it’s very important, Cook said. “I know Cincinnati is very unique, and I know we have the Tri-state, but I also travel and I also see some great things going on with other cities, and I think we can learn from those as well.”

Future engagement meetings for this will be held in Westwood and over Zoom later this month. More information about the city’s community engagement initiative here.

Monique John covers gentrification for WCPO 9. She is part of our Report For America donor-supported journalism program. Read more about RFA here.

If there are stories about gentrification in the Greater Cincinnati area that you think we should cover, let us know. Send us your tips at moveupcincinnati@wcpo.com.

CHICAGO — Vaccination programs continue to work through the most vulnerable and highest priority populations. But many social service workers are still waiting, all the while continuing to support at-risk populations in their communities.

For 15-year-old Kenneth Tolliver, regular in-person meetings with his mentors have kept him tethered during the pandemic.

“In-person talking is better than over the phone because I know that they're really talking to me,” said Tolliver. “They really listen to what I'm saying.”

Since the seventh grade, Tolliver has been a part of the youth development program at UCAN Chicago on the city’s west side.

“Our vision is that youth who have suffered trauma can become future leaders,” explained Claude Robinson, UCAN’s executive vice president of external affairs and diversity.

For more than 150 years, the nonprofit has supported young people struggling in Black and brown communities to reach their untapped potential.

“Here on this campus, [we have] violence intervention, prevention our transitional teen services our alumni services, and then also, our therapeutic youth home, where we house up to 70 young people,” said Robinson.

When the pandemic hit, UCAN’s interactions with children increased. None were in school.

“We've had to adjust how we approach community,” said Robinson. “One of the ways that we did that was through becoming like a temporary food distribution site.”

They did what they could remotely, while also distributing PPE and raising virus awareness while continuing to work face-to-face with at-risk youth.

“It's always a risk,” said youth development counselor Isaiah Brooks, whose job is to engage with young people on the streets.

Brooks says it was a dangerous part of the job, even before the virus.

“You'd never know while you were walking up talking to them. It can be one of their guys who, they’re ‘opps,' could come through shooting,” he explained.

For Toliver, though, his connection to Brooks during the pandemic has helped him weather the storm of isolation and helped him stay out of trouble.

“Isaiah is always here for me every time I need him. I know I can call for anything I need,” said Tolliver.

It took some lobbying to get the state to acknowledge that the services UCAN provides are essential. They’ve recently been bumped up on the vaccine priority list.

Robinson says amid a push for equality in America, the COVID-19 crisis has only increased its resolve to support the community.

“It illuminated our purpose and our mission and vision even more, that we needed to be in community, in service, at the time when it's needed the most.”