A Picture's Worth

06/04/2026

Our 2025 Impact Report is here! 👀💜

2025 was filled with powerful stories, meaningful partnerships, community-centered projects, and moments that reminded us why this work matters.

From deepening connections across Cincinnati to amplifying voices too often left out of the conversation, this year was one of growth, trust, creativity, and impact.

Thank you to every storyteller, partner, supporter, artist, neighbor, and friend who helped make this work possible. There is so much to celebrate, and we can’t wait for you to explore the full report.

Read the 2025 Impact Report here: https://www.flipsnack.com/CDEBA588B7A/2025-apw-community-impact-report

Flipsnack is a digital catalog maker that makes it easy to create, publish and share html5 flipbooks. Upload a PDF or design from scratch flyers, magazines, books and more.

06/03/2026

To celebrate the end of our first full year of Widening the Lens in two Cincinnati high schools, Withrow University High School and Robert A. Taft Senior High School, we gathered with Learning Grove / FamiliesFORWARD and community leaders from both schools for an evening of bowling, food, laughter, and connection at Stones Lanes on May 30. 💜

Special thanks to Interact for Health for sponsoring this wonderful community event, and to the community leaders, students, families, and partners of all ages who showed up, celebrated, and made the evening so meaningful.

Widening the Lens is about more than storytelling. It is about building relationships and trust by connecting young leaders with community leaders, new opportunities, and spaces where their voices are valued.

Want to learn more or help us grow this powerful program? We’d love to connect. wideningthelens.org

06/02/2026

Let’s hear it from the youth! 📣 Youth ages 14 to 30 are invited to share a photo and a story about what their America is holding, building, or caring for, and what that means to them.

A Picture’s Worth is gathering letters from young people through photos and voice as part of Letters to America, a national archive curated by Made By Us. Selected stories may be shared with local Cincinnati nonprofit partners, air on radio, appear in print or digital publications, and be preserved in the national archive.

Participants can upload a photo, record a story up to five minutes, and reflect on what they care about, what is impacting their lives, and what they hope for the future.

Your voice belongs in the story of this country. 💜

Share your letter here: https://apw-letters.pages.dev/

05/29/2026

We believe trust begins with listening, learning, and honoring the wisdom already present in communities.

Last week, Elissa Yancey attended the The Aspen Institute Alliance for Social Trust Summit in Chicago, joining leaders, organizers, storytellers, and community-builders from across the country who are working to strengthen the social fabric.

One of the clearest reminders Elissa brought home was the power of belonging and the importance of centering community expertise. From conversations about “practice-based evidence over evidence-based practice” to the simple but urgent reminder that “we need each other,” the Summit affirmed so much of what guides APW’s work.

We are grateful to be part of a growing field of people and organizations committed to building trust, deepening connection, and creating new futures rooted in community voice.

More reflections to come. For now, we are carrying gratitude, renewed energy, and a reminder that this work is never done alone. 💜

05/27/2026

What do jazz, the West End, and Cincinnati history have in common?

In our latest blog, Maestro Carmon DeLeone reflects on Cincinnati’s rich jazz history through memories of the West End, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Open Door Series, and his experience working with legendary jazz singer and actor Joe Williams.

In conversation with APW Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director Elissa Yancey, DeLeone shares a powerful look at music, memory, community, and the connections that help shape a city.

Read the full story and listen to the interview audio here:
https://www.apicturesworth.org/in-the-news/

05/21/2026

We are so proud of the students at Robert A. Taft Senior High School! 💜 During her valedictorian speech, Wilnya Lindsey-Thompson reflected on the unprecedented challenges her class overcame, including entering 7th grade during the pandemic and learning how to adapt through hybrid learning, uncertainty, and change.

Her words were a powerful reminder of the resilience, leadership, and courage this class carries with them. She also shared meaningful takeaways and encouragement for the Class of 2026 as they prepare for what comes next.

Congratulations to Wilnya and the entire Taft graduating class. Your stories, strength, and voices matter, and we cannot wait to see where your leadership takes you next. 🎓🎓

05/19/2026

Sneak peek! 👀 Our 2025 Impact Report is almost ready, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

2025 was filled with powerful stories, meaningful partnerships, community-centered projects, and moments that reminded us why this work matters. From deepening connections across Cincinnati to amplifying voices too often left out of the conversation, 2025 has been a year of growth, trust, creativity, and impact.

We are so excited to get this report printed and into your hands soon. Thank you to every storyteller, partner, supporter, artist, neighbor, and friend who helped make this year possible. Stay tuned. There is so much to celebrate. 💜

05/14/2026

As Mother’s Day week comes to a close, we’re reflecting on the lessons, strength, and love passed down through generations.

Glorya “Mama Glo” Jackson shared how her parents shaped her life with faith, work ethic, education, and independence. Their belief in God, in learning, and in being able to care for yourself became part of the foundation she carried forward.

Stories like Mama Glo’s remind us that motherhood, caregiving, and family legacy are not limited to one day. They live in the values we inherit, the wisdom we share, and the ways we continue showing up for one another.

Here’s to celebrating mothers, mother figures, and the people whose strength still guides us! 🥰

05/12/2026

Every day is an opportunity to build the future our families deserve.

This Mother’s Day week, we’re reflecting on Rameka Smith’s vision for Cincinnati: a city that “says what they mean, means what they say,” and follows through on the promises made to residents and families across our communities.

We know that mothers, caregivers, and community leaders are often the ones holding that vision closest. They remind us that a better future is not just something we talk about. It is something we build through trust, accountability, care, and follow-through.

Today, and every day, we celebrate the people shaping Cincinnati with love, strength, and the belief that our communities deserve promises kept.

05/07/2026

Every neighborhood has a story. Every story has something to teach us.

In this reel, Hernz Laguerre reflects on the power of community, connection, and what becomes possible when people take the time to truly listen to one another. Storytelling helps us see beyond assumptions and recognize the people, places, and lived experiences that shape our city. Stories like Hernz’s remind us that community change begins with understanding, and understanding begins with listening.

We’re also excited to uplift Brick by Brick: Solutions for a Thriving Community, a PBS CET Public Television series highlighting the people and ideas helping Cincinnati communities grow stronger, more connected, and more hopeful.

Watch, listen, and reflect with us. Learn more about Brick by Brick here: https://www.pbs.org/show/brick-by-brick/