16th Annual Celebrating Our Beloved Community: Walk Our Blocks
Thursday, September 28th
Join us as we gather with our friends, partners, and supporters to recognize the efforts of our community. We will walk the blocks of Over-the-Rhine, meet neighbors, learn about the work of Over-the-Rhine Community Housing.
Standing at the corner of Access and Inclusion means Over-the-Rhine Community Housing works to build an inclusive community that benefits low-income residents. With support from donors like you, we met the housing needs of 851 Cincinnatians in 2022.
We will honor Dr.Kiesler and Our Daily Bread as our Partners in Building Our Beloved Community. We will thank Mary Burke Rivers for her 30 years of service to the community.
5:00 PM Doors Open at Washington Park
Meet us at the Band Stand.
5:15 PM Registration
Register by 5:30 PM to time to visit as many stations as possible. Registration remains open until 6 PM, so come when you can.
5:15 – 6:45 PM Self-Guided Exploration of Stations
Visit our stations to learn about the property development, property management, and tenant advocacy work of OTR Community Housing while meeting residents and neighbors.
6:45 PM Dinner in the park
Enjoy dinner provided by Arepa Place!
7:00 PM Program and Awards
Join us in honoring our Partners in Building Our Beloved Community and listen to updates on our current work from Mary Burke Rivers.
We’re grateful to our 2023 Sponsors.
For more information contact Claire at 513-381-1171 cdaugherty@otrch.org
In 2007 we embarked on a journey to celebrate the community that we sought to preserve and help grow, building inclusivity. We planned to make our first event a memorable one! The evening included nationally recognized architect Michael Pyatok who spoke on quality affordable housing design; the unveiling of a limited edition Rookwood tile that was exclusively designed by Cincinnati artist Terri Kern for OTRCH; and a brief introduction to the work of OTRCH.
On through the years we have had poets, staff, residents, artists, videographers and many more friends help us celebrate and tell the story of our neighborhood and our work. Check out these videos we shared in 2016: Todd’s Story and Angie’s Story. Click here to see a list of past award recipients.
Guests at our 2018 event had a blast celebrating the artistic talent that exists in our neighborhood. Click here to check out the photo album on Facebook! 2018 Partner in Building Our Beloved Community award recipients were Cincinnati Development Fund and Georgia Keith.
In 2019, we presented Partner in Building Our Beloved Community awards to Peaslee Neighborhood Center, the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, and Bonnie Neumeier. View the video shown that evening, produced by Barbara Wolf, here, and check out the photos from the evening, taken by Angie Lipscomb, here.
In 2020 we went virtual due to the global pandemic, but we didn’t miss a beat celebrating and honoring our special community. We still shared time together and we reflected on the impact that the current state of affairs had on us and our neighbors. We observed the depth of our organization’s commitment to creating homes that are more than just houses and a community that is more than a destination. And we of course shared the stories of our work and the lives of Over-the-Rhine residents. The stories shared elevated the value and reassurance that a stable home provides.
In 2021 we shared time together in a unique way by walking the blocks of Over-the-Rhine. Starting at Washington Park we invited you to explore our neighborhood by stopping at any of the 12 stations along our 0.5 mile route to meet residents and spend time talking with neighbors.
We presented our Partner in Building Our Beloved Community awards to Crescenda Parson and to Greater Cincinnati Foundation, both of whom played a significant role in helping us achieve our vision of quality stable housing for all in a socially, racially, and economically inclusive community.
In 2021 we hosted this event both in person and virtually. Click here to view a recording of our virtual event. Click here to view photos from the in-person event at Washington Park.
In 2022 we spent our second year walking the blocks of Over-the-Rhine giving supporters an opportunity to authentically experience the neighborhood. Supporters chose from 12 stations where they could learn about the various housing and development we provide.
We presented Partner in Building Our Beloved Community awards to Roger Auer and Cornerstone Renter Equity. Roger announced his departure from the Board President seat, and supporters had the opportunity to thank him for his decades long work to maintain affordable housing. Click here to view the photos from the event.