At our August Monthly Member Briefing, members heard from Christy Coons, President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, who shared how the organization is tackling generational poverty through workforce development, financial empowerment, and and community partnerships. The discussion highlighted the critical role the business community plays in sustaining these efforts and creating a stronger, more inclusive regional economy.
Building Financial Confidence and Career Pathways
The Urban League has developed a portfolio of initiatives that address the barriers many individuals face to economic stability. Programs like the 700 Credit Club help participants raise their credit scores and gain financial confidence, opening doors to homeownership and long-term security. SOAR (Solid Opportunities for Advancement and Retention) prepares individuals who have been chronically unemployed or underemployed for sustainable jobs through personalized coaching and career exploration.
The Expungement Project, created in partnership with the National Urban League and the NFL, provides second chances for individuals with criminal records by helping them re-enter the workforce—an initiative that not only transforms lives but also helps fill critical talent gaps across industries.
In addition, The Urban League partnered with the Workforce Innovation Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber on the Women in Tech program. Developed with support from Grow with Google, this program worked to create pipelines for careers in IT, UX design, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and data analytics by providing courses and certificates in these areas to program participants. Following a successful two-year grant period with the Chamber, the program is now transitioning to continue under the Urban League as the Urban Tech Collective. Meanwhile, Building Futures, a 12-week pre-apprenticeship in the skilled trades, is preparing workers for in-demand roles in plumbing, electrical work, masonry, and HVAC.
Together, these programs reduce poverty, strengthen the workforce, and expand the region’s consumer base, directly benefiting both individuals and employers.“We know that we have a talent shortage in many of our industries,” Coons said. “By bringing folks back into the workforce who have been locked out because of a mistake, we’re helping to meet that need while also giving people a second chance.”
The Role of the Business Community
The conversation also emphasized that the Urban League’s mission cannot be achieved alone. The business community has several avenues to engage—by sponsoring and funding programs, partnering on workforce development, and encouraging employees to serve as mentors, volunteers, or board members. Young professionals are encouraged to get involved through the Urban League Young Professionals group, which is cultivating the next generation of leaders.
Advocacy remains another vital opportunity. Business leaders can help champion second chance hiring and other policies that advance economic mobility. By amplifying the Urban League’s mission and spreading awareness through their networks, companies can drive wider community engagement and support.
A Shared Commitment to Regional Growth
The Urban League’s efforts are closely aligned with the Chamber’s work to strengthen the region’s talent pipeline and ensure inclusive economic growth. Both organizations are exploring deeper collaboration in data sharing, workforce initiatives, policy advocacy, and co-hosted events to maximize impact.
As Urban League President & CEO Christy Coons noted during the briefing, “Everything that we do is based off of reducing poverty, strengthening the workforce and expanding the consumer base. We want to be a pipeline for talent here in the region, and we want to be a catalyst for economic growth.”
Looking Ahead
The August briefing reinforced the idea that ending generational poverty is both a moral and economic imperative. By investing in people, creating opportunities, and building partnerships, the Chamber, the Urban League, and the business community can ensure Greater Cincinnati thrives for generations to come.
Join us virtually on September 11 at 8 a.m. for our Monthly Member Briefing featuring our keynote speaker, Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati Mayor. Following the Mayor’s keynote, you will hear from Christy Samad, Executive Vice President Civic & Commercial Space Activation, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC). To register, click here. We highly recommend checking out our Monthly Member Briefing recordings to catch up on anything you may have missed. You can view them here.