Executive Director at Community Matters
Mary has worked in Lower Price Hill since 2010 as an educator, organizer, and nonprofit leader. She helped found Community Matters in 2014 and has been instrumental in bringing a strengths-based approach to our work. In addition to her leadership of Community Matters, Mary has served on numerous local boards and committees to advocate for continued strengths-based investment throughout the region. Mary earned a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University.
For the past 10 years, Community Matters has led a neighbor-driven effort in a small Cincinnati neighborhood, transforming more than 20 historic structures into new housing, businesses, and community spaces. But the hard work isn't the renovation; it's making sure those buildings stay assets for the people who already live there, instead of becoming the reason they get pushed out. This session breaks down our model: invest in people and place together. We don't just restore buildings; we build the capacity of our neighbors to own and keep developing their own community. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for pairing preservation with real, lasting community ownership, and a hard look at what it takes to keep grassroots efforts grassroots.