What We Do
Transforming a city is a massive undertaking, but we truly believe the pieces are in place to just that. Below is a summary of the four steps we take to see a city that is more than the sum of it's parts.
Step 1:
Identify and Assess Communities
When we talk about communities, there are countless examples - geographic, cause-based, ethnic, or cultural communities just to name a few. Our ability to map, network, and mobilize within those diverse communities is critical to seeing Cincinnati flourish. Alongside Seed To Oaks, we will begin assessing the needs, strengths, and eventual change happening in our regional communities. Through assessing the local history, community values, demographics, spiritual landscape, cultural tensions, and strategic opportunities, we are able to have an informed approach to tackle unique and complex issues in the diverse contexts that make up a city.
Step 2. Map The Front Lines
The beauty of Cincinnati is that the work is already well underway. There are over 14,000 nonprofits, 2,000 churches, and countless community initiatives happening every day across our city. The pieces are already in place — we’re simply creating a way to connect them. Frontline efforts are already driving change in every neighborhood — food pantries, after-school programs, addiction recovery groups, mentoring initiatives, housing ministries, workforce development teams, and so much more. We want to identify and support these efforts, connect them to one another, and ensure they’re part of something bigger. In pursuit of comprehensively mapping the front lines of the city, we are excited to announce our partnership with Relink.org. We currently have well over 4,000 community assets mapped in the Cincinnati Metro alone across 80 unique causes. As we move forward, this will expand to include tools, events, initiatives, and diverse Kingdom expressions across all sectors. Check out the link below to find resources near you!
Step 3:
Develop Networks
With guidance from our brilliant friends at City Leaders Collective, our next step involves seeing front line leaders own the flourishing of each community. Through working intentionally with trusted and respected voices, we can see deeper systemic impact across the board. Our network metric is a simple one: moving communities from isolated ➝ relational ➝ gathered ➝ mobilized. Whether that means strengthening existing networks or providing healthy frameworks to start anew, we are committed to systemic transformation across all communities - whether they be communities build around neighborhoods, causes, identity, or giftings. There are currently more than 40 causal networks actively meeting across Cincinnati- including more than a dozen that have formed just in the past year- many as a direct result of this collective effort. These networks are a vital expression of what it looks like to be more than the sum of our parts—and they’re just getting started.
Step 4: Mobilize
Bigger Impact
Through Smaller Focus
All of these steps lead up to one goal: communities that become more than the sum of their parts. These connected community ecosystems are designed to allow for greater impact across six key sectors - business, government, church, non-profit, education, and arts & entertainment. Through shared tools, collaborative events, and coordinated calls to action, community leaders are able to effectively ask and answer the question, "What can we do together that we can't do in isolation?"
Extraordinary impact doesn’t begin with grand gestures — it begins with ordinary people showing up. Here's the honest truth of this work: the work of thousands of leaders pales in comparison to the impact of 2.3 million people showing up in small, meaningful ways for what and who they are For. Need help? We want to be For you. Want to get involved? Just let us know what you're for and we'll help you make a difference.
Nick Nye
Executive Director
Columbus, OH
"Building trust and forging collaboration among local congregations, ministries and leaders in the workplace is invaluable to the future of the Church. Leaders like Alex Campbell are stewarding a long-held vision that uniting the whole Church, with the whole Gospel will bring true renewal to the whole city"."
Geoff King
Executive Director
Fort Wayne, IN
"Bringing The Church and community together to find tangible ways to love our city and see it flourish has been great in Fort Wayne. There is a collective prompting in the hearts of many to truly be one - as we are one - in this season in communities all over our nation. I am excited to see what will take root in Cincinnati and grateful for Alex's heart to see the city transformed through the collaboration of God's people"
Caleb Ingram
Executive Director
Dayton, OH
"I am excited about what God is doing in Greater Cincinnati in this season and am encouraged by the desire for increased coordination and collaboration for city transformation in this current season. Alex Campbell has been a vital piece of increasing cohesion and trust between networks, and has invested years of heart, prayer and planning into the city transformation space, and has served with a spirit of humility and partnership. I commend him for his strategic work of bringing greater connectivity and understanding in the body of Christ to streamline and strengthen Kingdom efforts throughout Cincinnati. I believe this is resulting in and will continue to accelerate spiritual and social flourishing across the region!"