Showing Up in Your Community: Why It Matters and How to Get Started

If you’ve ever moved to a new city, switched jobs, or simply felt like you’re missing something—you’re not alone. The truth is, feeling connected to where you live doesn’t just happen. It takes showing up.

Showing up in your community isn’t just about attending events or knowing your neighbors—it’s about creating a sense of belonging for yourself and for others. It’s about stepping out of your routine, finding your people, and contributing to something bigger than yourself. In a city like Cincinnati—where history runs deep and connections can feel just out of reach—it’s even more important to take that first step.

So, what does showing up actually look like? Here are some real ways to get involved, meet new people, and turn this city into your city.

1. Show Up by Supporting Local Businesses & Events

The best way to integrate into a new city, or even rediscover the one you’ve lived in for years, is to support the places that make it unique.

• Visit Local Coffee Shops & Bars: Skip the drive-thru and grab coffee at a neighborhood spot like Coffee Emporium, The Fix, or Deeper Roots. You’ll quickly recognize faces and start forming connections just by being a regular.

• Attend Community Markets & Festivals: Whether it’s City Flea, Second Sunday on Main, or the Cincinnati Art Museum’s events, you’ll meet small business owners and creatives who shape the culture of the city.

• Choose Local Over Chains: When you eat, shop, or work out locally, you’re investing in the Cincinnati community meaningfully.

  
  

Showing up doesn’t always mean a huge gesture—it can be as simple as knowing the name of the barista who makes your latte or attending an OTR Chamber event and striking up a conversation with someone new.

2. Show Up by Getting Outside & Moving

One of the easiest ways to feel at home in Cincinnati is by experiencing its outdoor spaces. If you love fitness, movement, or just a good post-run happy hour, this is your way in.

• Join a Running or Walking Group: There are plenty of fitness-focused communities, from Cincy Girls Who’s Monday Miles to Flying Pig training groups. Don’t want to commit to running? Even a casual walking group can be the perfect way to explore the city while meeting new people.

• Explore Cincinnati Parks: Show up for your community by using and appreciating public spaces like Eden Park, Smale Riverfront Park, and Ault Park. Better yet—join a park clean-up or volunteer with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.

• Try a Pop-Up Fitness Class: Many local businesses partner with instructors to host yoga, Pilates, and strength training classes in scenic spots around the city. Showing up to one of these is an easy way to meet like-minded people.

  
  

3. Show Up by Connecting With People (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

Making new connections as an adult can feel intimidating. Still, the best friendships are formed when you push past that initial discomfort.

• Say Yes More Often: That happy hour invite? That networking event? That weekend fitness class? Say yes. Even if you don’t know anyone going, or if you feel a little awkward.

• Get Into Community Group Chats: Whether it’s Geneva, Facebook groups, or local Slack channels, Cincinnati has a ton of digital spaces designed to bring people together. Cincy Girls Who’s community chat alone has over 2,500 women who are looking to connect.

• Be the First to Introduce Yourself: Sometimes, showing up means being the person who says, “Hey, I don’t know anyone here either—want to grab a drink?” That small moment could lead to a friendship that changes your entire experience in this city.

  
  

4. Show Up by Giving Back

Nothing makes you feel more connected to where you live than getting involved in a cause that matters.

• Volunteer Your Time: Whether it’s helping out at a local food pantry, joining a mentorship program, or participating in a city clean-up, your effort makes a difference.

• Support Local Nonprofits: Organizations like the Mary Magdalen House, Cincinnati Parks Foundation, and local shelters are always in need of donations and support.

• Attend Fundraisers & Charity Events: Showing up at charity 5Ks, community dinners, or silent auctions supports great causes and introduces you to others who care about making Cincinnati better, too.

  
  

Connecting Through Community Involvement

When you actively participate in your community, you build relationships that extend beyond surface-level interactions. These connections enrich your life and create a supportive network.

Finding ways to volunteer can open doors to lasting friendships. It allows you to meet people who share your passion for making a difference. By doing this, you not only contribute to the community but also create meaningful connections.

Showing Up Changes Everything

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to be an extrovert to show up in your community. You don’t need a giant friend group or a packed social calendar.

You just have to start.

Maybe that means showing up to an event alone. Maybe it means introducing yourself to one new person. Perhaps it's committing to saying “yes” more often instead of waiting for someone else to make the first move.

When you start showing up—for yourself, for others, and for the city—you stop feeling like an outsider. You start feeling like you belong.

And maybe, just maybe, Cincinnati starts feeling like home.

Where’s the first place you’re showing up this month?