Social opportunities and new friendships can be hard for anyone to come by. In Greater Cincinnati, however, one organization is finding success in bringing women together.
“We’re helping normalize something that used to feel uncomfortable,” Tara Osborne, founder of Cincy Girls Who, explains. “Showing up alone, starting over, and seeking connection as an adult; that cultural shift is where the real, lasting impact lives.”
Today, she notes, Cincy Girls Who reaches approximately 50,000 women across Greater Cincinnati each month.
The nonprofit group's no-cost events include community park and neighborhood walks; meetups like run clubs, trivia nights and hobby-based gatherings; wellness-focused events such as yoga, workshops or speaker sessions; and social events like happy hour, cocktail-creation classes and vision boarding.
“We also use our digital community spaces to help women coordinate their own meetups,” Osborne remarks. “The connection extends beyond just our scheduled events. We have a group chat with over 250 subgroups across professions, hobbies and neighborhoods.”
The goal, she says, is to make it easy for women to plug in at any level, and connect in a relaxed setting. The result?
“Women who once felt isolated are now building real friendships,” Osborne says. “They’re finding people to travel with, celebrate milestones with and lean on during difficult seasons. What starts as a walk often turns into a support system.”
Osborne–and the organization itself–began with one foot in front of the other.
“It started very simply: I hosted a walk and invited women to join me,” she explains.
“I focused on creating something that felt welcoming, low pressure and easy to say ‘yes’ to. From there, I shared consistently on social media, highlighted real women in the community and made it clear that this was for anyone who wanted to show up,” Osborne says.
Organic growth, she adds, has been one of the most powerful parts of building Cincy Girls Who.
“With growth comes a lot of fun ways to bring others in on the community. I've focused a lot on building unique partnerships with local businesses and organizations, which helps expand both our reach and the types of experiences we could offer. At the same time, I kept hearing the same thing from other women who had been in similar moments of their life: ‘I want to make friends here, I just don’t know how.’ That really stuck with me.”
Cincy Girls Who came from that shared experience.
“It was built on the idea that connection shouldn’t feel complicated or intimidating,” she adds. “It should feel natural. Sometimes all it takes is a place to show up.”
Ready to join them? You won’t be alone.
“We regularly see anywhere from 50 to over 200 women attend larger events like our seasonal kickoff walks,” Osborne proudly reports.
Smaller meetups and recurring gatherings continue to grow as well, which demonstrates that connection is happening—not just at large events, but in more personal settings, as well.
“One of the biggest misconceptions is that you have to be outgoing or already confident to participate,” she points out. “In reality, most women who come to Cincy Girls Who are showing up with some level of uncertainty; that’s the whole point.”
Cincy Girls Who, Osborne stresses, “is more than just a walking group.”
While walking is often the entry point, it’s only a cornerstone of a larger community-driven organization.
“It is about creating a space where women can show up as they are, try something new and find a sense of belonging,” she says.
“And yes,” Osborne adds with a smile, “your dog and kids can come too!”
CincyGirlsWho.com