Category: Art Changes Everything

A Tale of Two Williams

One of the first young people I met at Kennedy Heights Arts Center was William Jenkins.

I met William when he was just six or seven years old—a bright, curious, energetic kid who lived in the neighborhood. His mom, Robin, had enrolled him in our summer camp program, hoping to find a positive outlet for all that creative energy. Over the years, I have had the privilege of watching his spark grow into something remarkable.

William spent countless hours at the Arts Center—in summer camps, after-school art classes, and eventually Teen Artists for Change (TAC), our club for creative youth. Although he was an introvert and a little on the quiet side, something powerful happened when he was given space to create and people who believed in him. He stepped up. He found his voice. And before long, this once-reserved kid became one of the leaders of TAC: a peer mentor, a role model, a person younger students looked to for encouragement. He even helped keep the club going during the pandemic—no small feat.

When it came time for high school, William had a dream: he wanted to attend the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA). But he needed a portfolio to apply—and that felt like a big, intimidating hurdle. Robin reached out to us for help, and we introduced William to local artist and KHAC instructor William Linthicum (“Will”), who had a studio in our Annex. What began as a simple portfolio support quickly grew into a mentorship—and a friendship— that changed both of their lives.

Will remembers, “He brought in a stack of sketch books. He didn’t have art in school, but he loved to draw, mostly anime cartoons.” With Will’s guidance and encouragement, young William was accepted to SCPA as a visual arts major. His whole family gathered around the phone to call Will to share the news. They were so happy–as were we!

Later, when considering his path after high school, William turned once again to his mentor. Will urged him not just to aim high, but to aim for the stars. And he did. 

William was accepted and awarded a scholarship to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the top art colleges in the nation. He is now a junior design major… and absolutely crushing it.

Will once told me, “I am really thankful to have played a part in William’s development. I’m moved to think where he might have been without Kennedy Heights Arts Center.”

Today, as he prepares for his college graduation and steps into a future filled with possibilities, William does so with confidence, purpose, and a sense of identity that was nurtured here—by his community, by his mentor, and by the belief that his voice matters.

William remarked, “You have no idea how much you’ve changed my life. You gave me a voice and a chance. You changed the trajectory of my life for the better.”

Watching William grow from a rambunctious six-year-old to a thoughtful young man and emerging artist has been one of the greatest joys of my time at Kennedy Heights Arts Center. I am so proud of him. And I can’t wait to see what he does next.

It’s stories like William’s that remind me why I get up every morning—and why I believe so deeply in this work. 

Here, art changes everything.

And with your support, it can change everything for the next young person who walks through our doors.

From Tragedy to Transformation

A Community Transformed by the Power of Art

What began as a response to tragedy has become one of the most powerful examples of community transformation in our city. Thirteen years ago, after two devastating incidents of gun violence in Kennedy Heights Park, residents refused to let fear define their neighborhood. They came together with a shared belief that creativity could reclaim what had been lost. Through music, art, and collective imagination, they would take back their park.

What started as a grassroots effort to restore safety has grown into a beloved summer tradition called Play in the Park. Every Wednesday evening, the park fills with free music, theater, dance, storytelling, and community artmaking that brings neighbors of all ages together. “We focus on creating positive interactions, building relationships of trust, and meeting new friends,” says organizer Susan Wade Murphy.

The transformation has been profound. “The park has changed from a place residents once feared to a vibrant, welcoming hub of community life,” reflects Executive Director Ellen Muse. “Play in the Park was the spark that brought people together.”

Since the program began, there has not been another act of violence in the park. Today, children run freely across the field, families gather for evenings under the trees, and neighbors greet one another with warmth and recognition. The space is alive again — a daily reminder that art changes everything. It heals. It restores. It unites.

A Place Where Everyone Belongs

From the beginning, Play in the Park was designed to welcome everyone. Its events are completely free to attend and for all ages, eliminating financial barriers and ensuring every neighbor has access to joyful, creative experiences. Artists, musicians, performers, and presenters are intentionally curated to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of Kennedy Heights, Pleasant Ridge, and the surrounding area.

That sense of belonging is felt deeply by residents. Community member Sharifah Tafari describes it this way:

“Play in the Park is a great benefit to our neighborhood. Families enjoy the sense of beloved community that is fostered every Wednesday. And we are very proud to host it right here in the Heights.”

Survey results affirm what neighbors already know:

• 98 percent say Play in the Park enlivens the park with arts and culture
• 94 percent say it increases access to creative experiences
• 94 percent say it creates a welcoming, inclusive environment

Year after year, families return. Some first came as children, later as teens, and now as adults sharing the tradition with their own little ones.

When Creativity Becomes Community

The impact of Play in the Park is perhaps best illustrated through the story of Sean, who first attended as a toddler. As the summers passed, he explored art activities, played games, danced to the music, and grew up under the shade of the same trees that had once stood silent and empty.

Years later, Sean returned to Play in the Park on stage as a performer with My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus. Inspired by a performance he saw at Play in the Park, he joined the troupe, discovered a passion for circus arts, built confidence, and found a new creative path that continues to shape him.

This is the kind of transformation Play in the Park makes possible.

It is a reminder that when a community chooses connection over fear, creativity over silence, and joy over despair, extraordinary things can happen.

A Partnership Rooted in Equity, Creativity, and Care

Kennedy Heights Arts Center has been a founding and sustaining partner of Play in the Park from the beginning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when gathering in the park was not possible, the Arts Center reimagined the program entirely creating “Play in the Streets,” a mobile arts experience that brought music and creativity directly to neighborhood blocks.

“KHAC has always brought artistic expertise, accessibility, and a commitment to equity to this work,” Susan says. “Their leadership and partnership have helped Play in the Park grow and remain true to its purpose.”

Together with residents, neighborhood partners, and artists, KHAC has ensured that this program remains a beacon of creativity and connection for more than a decade.

Help Keep This Community Tradition Alive

Play in the Park exists because our community believes in the power of art to bring people together. And it continues because of people like you.

As Kennedy Heights Arts Center faces significant public funding losses in 2025, your support is especially critical. Your gift helps ensure that programs like Play in the Park remain free, accessible, and open to all, strengthening our community one Wednesday night at a time.

Help us keep this tradition thriving and keep proving that art changes everything.

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Where Dreams Find Their Rhythm

For students in the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, music has become a source of confidence, creativity, and community.

A partnership between Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Cincinnati Public Schools, the Jazz Academy provides high-quality, barrier-free jazz education to students across the city. Through instruction, mentorship, and performance opportunities, it helps young musicians grow both on and off the stage.

For Cadence Okuwobi, that growth has been life-changing. Over the past five years, she has found her voice and her confidence as one of the only Black female bassists in Cincinnati. “Jazz Academy taught me the joy of trying something new,” she says. “It helped me see what’s possible.”

Her parents, Dr. Oneya and Rev. Dele Okuwobi, have seen firsthand how the program has shaped their daughter’s future. “Jazz Academy has been the single most formative activity in Cadence’s life,” they share. “From the dedicated faculty, to the friendship of her bandmates, and the tangible resources the program offers — private lessons, instruments, and transportation — the Cincinnati Jazz Academy provided everything Cadence needed to develop from a novice to a professional musician.”

Cadence entered the program as a sixth-grade cellist. Within a year, she was encouraged to explore new instruments, from guitar to electric bass, before falling in love with the upright bass, now her main instrument. That guidance led her to perform at international festivals and attend the Jazz at Lincoln Center Summer Jazz Academy in New York City. Today, Cadence mentors younger students and performs professionally. “Every part of this program matters,” she says. “The lessons, the instruments, the support, the connections. It all works together.”

Evelyn Yosmali, a tenth grader who plays the vibraphone, has been part of the Jazz Academy for five years. “Music is such an important part of (my) life,” she says. “It connects people. Life is boring without music.” This past summer, Evelyn attended Interlochen, one of the nation’s top arts camps. “Because of Jazz Academy, I already knew how to jam with people, how to network, and how to carry myself on stage,” she says. The support Kennedy Heights Arts Center provided helped make that opportunity possible. “It’s such a supportive community,” she adds. “Everyone is encouraged to grow.”

For Yaziah Etheridge, now a senior, the program has shaped not only his musicianship but his sense of self. “Being a part of the Jazz Academy has changed my life,” he says. “It taught me time management, discipline, and not being scared to put myself out there.” His grandmother, Evaxie Durand, remembers watching his transformation. “Yaziah started CJA as a small, big-eyed little boy who always loved music,” she recalls. “He lacked confidence in himself, and he didn’t think he could play. His music teacher encouraged him to just try, and to his surprise, he was a natural. Dr. Rudnick worked with him and helped him become a real trumpeter. I saw his grades improve, his focus sharpen, and his confidence bloom. His posture even changed. He began to stand tall.”

Through the Jazz Academy, Yaziah traveled abroad for the first time on a trip to Lisbon, Portugal, where he performed in breathtaking venues like the Mosteiro da Batalha — and, as he’ll tell you, had the best shaved ice of his life. “This experience has literally taken him around the world,” Evaxie says. “His life has been forever changed, and I am so grateful to Kennedy Heights Arts Center for shaping such a great young man.”

For these students and their families, the Cincinnati Jazz Academy is more than a music program. It is a place where potential is nurtured, confidence is built, and dreams take flight.

Because at Kennedy Heights Arts Center, art changes everything. It creates opportunity, shapes futures, and transforms lives through the power of creativity.

Make More Stories Like This Possible

Your gift to Kennedy Heights Arts Center helps ensure that every young person — regardless of income or circumstance — has access to the life-changing power of art. This year, your support is especially critical. Due to significant federal funding cuts–including the elimination of our NEA grant and budget cuts at Cincinnati Public Schools–individual support has never been more important. 

Every donation supports opportunities that build confidence and open doors for students like Cadence, Evelyn, and Yaziah. Together, we can keep the rhythm of their dreams alive.

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