A group of community leaders have come together to devise a plan to make Over-the-Rhine the most diverse business district in Cincinnati. This initiative, Represent, is being led by MORTAR and the OTR Chamber, with a committee of representatives from the African American Chamber, 3CDC, Findlay Market, Model Group, and Urban Sites. Councilmembers Tamaya Dennard and Greg Landsman convened this working group and have guided its work.

To celebrate the launch of this new initiative, Represent will be hosting a kickoff event on Monday, Oct. 8 at 5pm at 101 W Elder Street near Findlay Market. The event will be a networking happy hour, the first of many meetings of its type. Represent’s ultimate goal is to connect more minority-owned businesses with brick and mortar spaces in the OTR neighborhood. 

Data shows that the percentage of African American-owned businesses, in particular, lags far behind the percentage of the African American residents in the City of Cincinnati. As part of the initiative, the organizations involved are committed to filling the majority of their commercial spaces with African American-owned businesses moving forward. While this change will take months or years to be fully realized, the organizations involved are committed to seeing this effort through. The initiative is also engaged in unearthing the opportunities and barriers facing minority-owned businesses, an effort the group hopes can ultimately increase the success of minority-owned businesses in OTR.

Doors at 5:00PM (light refreshments provided)
Conversation at 5:30PM (followed by networking)

This event is free to attend and open to the public.