Time for Change: A Smarter, Fairer, More Responsive City

Purpose: To provide meaningful opportunities for Cincinnati youth through employment, mentorship, and structured engagement. 

Proposed Action: Re-establish and modernize the Citizens Committee for Youth (CCY), a city-funded summer employment program that once played a vital role in Donald’s own development.

Benefits:

• Provides local youth with paid summer jobs
• Builds strong partnerships between the city and local businesses
• Offers mentorship, structure, and skill-building
• Supports long-term personal and professional growth for teens

Purpose: With over 6,000 illegal firearms estimated to be on Cincinnati’s streets, the goal is to reduce gun violence and improve neighborhood safety by removing these weapons from our communities.

Proposed Action:

Implement a no-questions-asked gun buyback initiative that offers flat-rate compensation for turning in illegal guns.

Benefits:

• Takes illegal firearms out of circulation
• Offers a safe, anonymous way to reduce weapons in communities
• Helps restore peace and security in high-risk neighborhoods
• Signals a proactive approach to public safety

Purpose:

To promote emotional wellness and resilience in Cincinnati students by making mental health education a foundational part of their learning experience.

Proposed Action:

Collaborate with Cincinnati Public Schools to introduce mandatory mental health education in all CPS schools, starting at the elementary level.

Benefits:

• Equips students with tools to recognize and manage stress and trauma
• Normalizes conversations around mental health from an early age
• Encourages emotional intelligence and healthier school environments
• Supports long-term academic and personal success

Purpose: Business owners are frustrated with the city’s fragmented system for permits, inspections, and compliance. The current process is inefficient, requiring visits to multiple offices and causing delays and confusion.

Proposed Action:  Establish a Centralized Business Services Office to 

• Combine all business-related functions in one location
• Increase staffing to improve service speed
• Streamline workflows and reduce red tape
• Enhance coordination across departments

Benefits

• Faster, simpler compliance for business owners
• Stronger support for entrepreneurship
• Improved trust and collaboration between the city and its business community