Widening the Lens is a youth-led civic engagement initiative designed to bridge generational, racial, and geographic divides by creating sustained relationships between young people and adult community leaders across Cincinnati. Rather than one-time programming, Widening the Lens builds an ongoing ecosystem of connection in which youth serve as facilitators, knowledge holders, and co-creators of community dialogue and action.

Each cohort brings together students and community members—including leaders from education, business, faith communities, nonprofits, and government—for structured conversations, relationship-building experiences, and shared commitments that extend beyond the meeting space. Participants move from dialogue to action through pledge-based follow-through, continued communication, and reconvening sessions designed to deepen trust and accountability.

The program was developed through the partnership between A Picture’s Worth and FamiliesFORWARD/Learning Grove and sits within A Picture’s Worth’s Cohort Leadership and Narrative Strategy framework. This collaboration centers community voice as expertise and uses intentional story gathering to shift perceptions, strengthen civic participation, and support more equitable decision-making.