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Connie Hinitz has spent her life building bridges—between cultures, causes, communities, and occasionally, across muddy trails in Hamilton County parks.
Originally from Minnesota, Connie moved to Cincinnati 50 years ago for graduate school at UC, earning master’s degrees in Community Planning and Geography. After a year in Israel learning Hebrew and being exposed to a variety of cultures, she returned and launched a career spanning government and nonprofit sectors.
One of her proudest achievements? Creating a nationally recognized refugee resettlement program that brought over 1,000 Eastern Europeans to Cincinnati. “Recently, I ran into one of the individuals I helped resettle,” she shared. “He’s now near retirement, and I was delighted to hear about the career successes of his children. How rewarding to learn that in a small way, I made a difference in people’s lives!”
This mix of humility and dedication defines Connie’s work as a OneSource Center consultant. “My first project was with Great Parks of Hamilton County—I loved being able to merge my love for the outdoors with a project that used my planning skills!” Through dozens of projects, Connie learned to step back and truly listen. “Having been in leadership roles my whole career, the hardest lesson was learning how to sit on my hands and not offer an instant solution. But listening to multiple approaches makes for better outcomes—and stronger teams.”
OneSource also provided “a safe space to confront my implicit biases and grow.” Growth, after all, is Connie’s true north.
Connie recently completed a three-year term as president of her congregation, leading a successful capital campaign that exceeded its goal by 10%. “I guided this project utilizing many of the principles I picked up at OneSource. As my way of saying thanks, I made an extra donation to OneSource at the end of the year.”
Connie’s “raison d’être” is to build understanding across differences and is rooted in Jewish tradition: “You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it.”
Whether she’s attending the opera, sampling food from local ethnic eateries, or hosting foreign delegations, Connie remains fiercely committed to the community. “Standing still is not an option,” she maintains. “Modernizing and continuous improvement are necessary if you want to stay relevant and have impact.”
And as for Cincinnati? “Where else can you hike, hear world-class chamber music, and be home in 20 minutes? Honestly, what more could you want?”
From all of us at OneSource, thank you, Connie for being our compass and intrepid guide on the often rocky nonprofit trail. We’ll follow you anywhere!
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