Westwood Works is on a mission to connect Cincinnati’s largest neighborhood and celebrate its strengths by building a positive, inclusive, and vibrant community.
We connect people through fun community meetings, racial reconciliation, justice, and equity work, inter-and intra-community partnerships, and building relationships with residents with talents to help us grow.
We connect places and give people a sense of belonging through community events, creative streetscapes and play spaces, mini-grants, pedestrian safety efforts, and developing and investing in our neighborhood.
We connect purpose by ensuring that inclusion, diversity, and community input are at the forefront of our efforts. We connect people to their passions and act as a positive liaison to community organizations.
Westwood Works was formed in 2009 to bring an Artworks mural to the neighborhood. The mural was dedicated during the first Westwood Art Show in September 2009. Shortly after, we started to host informal community meetings where neighbors shared visions of what was positive and possible in Westwood. Because 75% of our business district was vacant, our meetings were primarily hosted in Cheviot. We were often called a Drinking Club with a Civic Problem.
In the fall of 2009, the group organized a race/scavenger hunt called Treasure Qwest, which brought 25 teams into Westwood and Cheviot. After a wonderful two years, Treasure Qwest was put to rest to bring about our first pop-up beer gardens on the lawn of St. James Episcopal Church during the spring and summer of 2011. These events were filled with music, games, drinks, and neighbors.
In 2013, we stood in support of our black and brown neighbors and declared that racism had no place in Westwood through a petition and press conference.
In 2014, in partnership with Madcap Puppets, Cincinnati Recreation Commission, local choirs, and Gamble Nippert YMCA, we offered a free community holiday celebration: Deck The Hall. This event included caroling, photos with Santa, hot chocolate, kids’ activities, and a holiday tree lighting.
In the summer of 2016, Pop Goes Westwood offered pop-up shops, live music, yoga, Zumba, and interactive art activities. This was held every weekend from Memorial Day to Labor Day to show people what the pedestrian plaza that was proposed as a part of the Westwood Town Hall redesign could provide for the community.
The following summer, we morphed Pop Goes Westwood into Westwood Second Saturdays and offered four free, themed events in the heart of Westwood at Westwood Town Hall from June-September of 2017. This event series has drawn over 20,000 people to Westwood from over 20 zip codes.
Westwood Works invests in the Westwood community by bringing residents together for annual events, neighborhood activations, and other programs to strengthen Cincinnati’s largest neighborhood.
Major funding provided by The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation
By donating to Westwood Works, you’re investing in Cincinnati’s largest neighborhood and helping further our efforts of making our community more positive, inclusive, and vibrant.
From volunteering at our events to attending monthly meetings and getting involved in the Westwood community, there are many ways to volunteer your time with Westwood Works.
The events and activities we host throughout the year are made possible by our generous sponsors. Want to make a direct impact on the Westwood community? Become a sponsor today!