Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Prioritizing Residents in Linden’s Reinvestment
The Linden neighborhood in Columbus, a historically significant Black community, has faced challenges from reinvestment trends, including rising rents and limited access to resources. Nationwide Children’s Hospital (NCH), with a 25-year presence in Linden, recognized the need to ensure reinvestment benefits current residents rather than displacing them through gentrification.
NCH sought to align its investments in Linden with the priorities of the community, ensuring residents’ voices shaped the programs and opportunities introduced.
Our Approach
In partnership with Cohear, NCH launched a multi-phase engagement effort to center residents in decision-making:
2020: Five focus groups gathered insights from everyday experts, identifying action steps to support community-driven goals.
2021: The Linden Community Advisory Board was formed, comprising longtime residents to guide program implementation and provide ongoing feedback.
Workforce Development Strategy: A large-scale engagement project aimed to recruit 500-600 Linden residents annually into stable, well-paying jobs with NCH and its partners. This included:
Dozens of interviews and six focus groups with community members, employers, and stakeholders.
Drafting a workforce strategy tailored to Linden’s unique needs.
The Impact
Through these collaborative efforts, NCH and Cohear have:
Elevated residents' voices to shape programs that align with their needs and priorities.
Developed a workforce strategy to connect hundreds of Linden residents with stable job opportunities each year.
Established a long-term Community Advisory Board composed of longtime residents. This board meets regularly to provide NCH with insights on community needs, offer feedback on ongoing efforts, and ensure that NCH’s initiatives remain aligned with the priorities of Linden residents.
Fostered a residents-first approach to reinvestment, ensuring long-term community benefit and preventing displacement.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s commitment to a community-led approach exemplifies how institutions can partner with residents to foster equity and inclusion in reinvestment efforts. Together, we’re creating sustainable opportunities that uplift Linden’s historic community.
