Actions Speak Louder...

[joe erpenbeck]

Westwood Works is an evolving discussion rather than a movement. It started as a gathering of citizens in Westwood who wanted to focus on what is right about their community and build on the assets of the largest neighborhood in the city.

 

They began by supporting a local artist who was applying to have a mural painted in the neighborhood and needed support. This group of committed folks stepped in and endorsed the application and now a beautiful mural exists on Harrison Avenue in the heart of Westwood on the side of the Henke Winery building.

 

The group kept growing and hosted events such as Up For Grabs, a free neighborhood yard sale. They continued meeting and founded Westwood Works. It is not your typical community or neighborhood association.

 

“We get together once a month but it’s more of a conversation,” John Eby states, “People come to us with ideas, things that they would like to do or see in the neighborhood. We’ll help you get it started. A woman came because she wanted to find others to walk with, so Westwood Walks began. It is a group that meets each Saturday morning at Town Hall and walks. Joe Binder was inspired and took it over. It was his pas- sion. Now they take a different route each Saturday and highlight something interesting or historical about Westwood.”

 

The thinking behind Westwood Walks morphed into Trea- sure Qwest, an Amazing Race type event through the streets of Westwood and Cheviot. Recently 18 teams of 4 “raced” through the area completing fun mental and physical challenges at many local establishments along the way. The event is designed to show off many of the wonderful streets, businesses, groups, history and people that make their neighborhood great.

 

Just like the race, Eby thinks people appreciate and engage in Westwood Works for many reasons, “We are less formal and try to be extremely welcoming. We are open to anything, any idea that someone is passionate about. I think there is power in that. Everyone here has so many gifts, I have been amazed. I have also learned that people want to engage about what they care about and then they may “disappear” for a while. That’s okay. We will continue to build on our assets and see where we go.”

 

 

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Originally Shared in "Our Community" a Newsletter from ABCD Cincinnati.

To read more, check out:  http://www.hamiltondds.org/News/ABCDNewsletter.aspx

 

For more information: please contact Joe Erpenbeck at [e-mail]

 

 

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