Our Team
S. Barbara Busch, Executive Director
S. Barbara Busch, SC, co-founded Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) in 1978 and continues as its Executive Director today. WIN provides financial education and homeownership opportunities to low and moderate income residents throughout greater Cincinnati. Originally started with a $14,000 budget, the organization now has an annual budget of $1.4 million and employs 21 staff members. A Cincinnati native, S. Barbara has worked for over 40 years to help low and moderate income residents shape their communities. She is a member of the Sisters of Charity. S. Barbara has a Master of Social Work from University of Michigan and is a Licensed Independent Social Work Supervisor. Under her direction, WIN has built or rehabilitated and sold 167 homes to first-time homeowners. WIN has developed relationships with local and national lenders, which has resulted in over 7,000 low-income families owning their homes. WIN developed the WIN Economic Learning Campus in the heart of S. Cumminsville. The Campus offers financial training and counseling for homebuyers, leadership training, enrichment programs for youth, and 18 apartments for senior citizens. In 2014 WIN began its effort to move 40% of S. Cumminsville out of Poverty in a generation through six targeted efforts and includes 50 near net zero energy homes.
Alison Auciello, Community Organizer
Alison Auciello is a community organizer. With 14 years’ experience working on environmental hazards, Alison works with individuals to build teams, analyze power and get action on their issues. Alison has experience on industrial pollution campaigns, educating government regulators on enforcement and stopping water privatization. She works on the project to make Hamilton County sewers affordable and sustainable. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 104 or email Alison
Courtney Barlow-Schulte, Director of Fund Development
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 132 or email Courtney
Rigel Behrens, Community Development Planner
Before joining WIN’s staff, Rigel worked as a self-employed artist for 19 years. Rigel earned a BA in Political Science from Northern Kentucky University and a Masters of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. In 2011, Rigel joined WIN’s staff to manage data collection and analysis of Hamilton County foreclosure trends, and produced WIN’s foreclosure reports for several years. She has also provided outreach and technical support for resident-led community building and neighborhood revitalization. In addition to working with the community directly, her work also includes grant writing, action planning, mapping, developing and maintaining relationships with partner organizations and universities. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 103 or email Rigel
Myra Boggs, Financial Literacy Coordinator
For over 21 years as a HUD approved Housing Counselor, I worked with families preparing them for home ownership opportunities which included extensive budgeting and credit counseling. I also provided Financial Literacy workshops on a variety of topics that was of interest to families. In my current role as the Senior Financial Literacy counselor, I work with senior citizen homeowners to develop ways for them to be more comfortable in their homes. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 125 or email Myra
Cozette Evans, Administrative Assistant – Youth Programs Coordinator
Cozette Evans, Administration Assistant &Youth Coordinator, has been employed By Working In Neighborhoods for 19 yrs. Myself and my siblings have been volunteering at Working In Neighborhoods for over 30 years. I have been working with the youth program for over 20 years. Before joining the WIN Staff, I bought my first home from Working In Neighborhoods. I am a resident of the South Cumminsville Community for 23 years. I have three adult children and four grandchildren. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 100 or email Cozette
Dennis Kinne, Housing Counselor
In December 2010 Dennis Kinne began his WIN career as a housing counselor, coach, educator. Prior to WIN, He worked in accounting, auditing, information technology, and network operations at Cincinnati Bell, Cincinnati Gas & Electric, and Arthur Andersen. He earned a Bachelor’s in Business Administration Degree from the University of Cincinnati, an MBA from Xavier University. He holds a Certified Public Accounting permit. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 129 or email Dennis
Mary Metzmeier, Community Organizer
Mary Metzmeier is our lead organizer. She helps low and moderate-income people build power by coming together and working strategically to change public policy and business practices. Mary has worked on housing, quality of life issues, environmental issues, and building neighborhood involvement. After 21 years in the field, Mary’s favorite part of organizing remains helping people who feel powerless begin to see that by working together, we can make real, sustainable change. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 105 or email Mary
Kofi Nevis, Energy Educator
James C. Nevis (Kofi). I migrated to the United States of America some decades ago from Ghana West Africa. I attended Youngstown State University, where I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Economic. Then I went to Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where I got a Master of Science degree in transportation planning. After that I relocated to Cincinnati to attend University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Ohio to pursue a Master’s degree in Community Planning. I currently work for Working in Neighborhoods as an Energy Auditor. I am a past President of the Ghanaian Association of Greater Cincinnati, Dayton and Northern Kentucky. Also, I’m a co-founder of a non-governmental agency called Alliance for Progressive Africa (APA). Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 110 or email Kofi
Whitney Schieltz, Housing Development
Whitney, a native of Dayton, Ohio, studied architecture at the University of Cincinnati and then received her master’s in historic preservation from the University of Kentucky. A few years after college, she entered the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and spent two years in El Paso, Texas, ministering on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Since returning to Ohio in 2017, Whitney has volunteered and worked with various community development and social justice organizations and has served as WIN’s Housing and Volunteer Coordinator since 2018. Contact Whitney: (513) 541-4109 x. 109 or email Whitney
Hope E. Wilson, Operations Director/Housing Program Manager
Hope Wilson is the Director of Operations/Housing Program Manager for Working In Neighborhoods (WIN). Prior to her current role she worked as the Community & Housing Development Manager and was involved in the development process for 45 single family homeownership units and 18 senior rental units. Hope was involved in the acquisition, rehab, new construction, and sale of WIN’s homes that are sold to low-moderate income first time homebuyer’s. In addition she has been a Housing Counselor & Homebuyer Educator helping families attain and maintain homeownership in the Greater Cincinnati region. Hope joined WIN in 2000 as a Community Organizer focused on housing & lending issues. Hope has a Masters in Urban and Regional Studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato and a Bachelor’s in Political Science from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 132 or email Hope
Barb Woelfel, Accounting Director
I began working at WIN in 1992 a few years after graduating from Mount St. Joseph with a BA in Accounting. I have watched WIN grow and change in many ways during my time here. But the foundation of WIN’s mission and work has always remained focused on our neighbors. I also have grown with WIN, from a staff accountant to a senior staff member, Accounting Director and part of the management team. In my early days I was focused on maintaining WIN’s financial records and learning about WIN. Now I am involved in some manner in almost everything WIN does. One of my main focuses these days is on grants, from budgets to reporting and compliance. Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 123 or email Barb
Nick Young, Community Development Coordinator
Contact: (513) 541-4109 x. 116 or email NickOur Board of Directors
Robert Alexander
Matt Buddenberg
David Dirr
Marilyn Evans
Ena Fletcher
Ellen Frankenberg
Joy Gazaway
Glen Glenn
Steve Grieser
Blake Johnson
Randy S. Kuvin
Kathy Lutz
Greg Ossege
Steve Schaefer
S. Pat Wittberg
Michael Yeazell
Our History
In 1978, as the nation faced high unemployment, spiraling interest rates, inflation and an energy crisis, Working In Neighborhoods (WIN) was born to help Cincinnati’s low and moderate-income residents.
WIN joined with local residents to create an organization that would help them gain a voice in issues affecting them. By working side-by-side with residents and training them to become leaders, WIN helped residents impact issues including utility reform, quality, affordable housing, and quality-of-life issues, such as decreasing crime.
Led by resident’s desire to live in decent homes and to physically improve their neighborhoods, WIN began developing homes in 1981. In order to educate residents about purchasing a home, WIN began offering home ownership classes and counseling. WIN also developed partnerships with local banks which have yielded over $300 million in investments for WIN’s neighborhoods.
In 1986, WIN collaborated with Cincinnati Gas & Electric to ensure that low and moderate-income residents could afford their utility bills. Through this partnership, WIN developed a program so that low-income residents pay no more that 30% of their income for utilities. By working with CG&E, WIN’s energy program has become an effective resource for helping people manage their energy usage in an efficient and cost-effective way. WIN currently serves low-income utility customers in an 11-county radius.
Over the years, WIN has offered leadership training to organizations in 16 low and moderate-income neighborhoods from West McMicken to Mt. Healthy. We have sold over 160 homes to low and moderate income working families and educated thousands of first-time home buyers about how to purchase a home.
In 1999, WIN began developing the WIN Economic Learning Campus in South Cumminsville. The 5-building property on the site of the former St. Pius Church, is home to a community computer lab, financial literacy seminars and counseling programs, as well as youth enrichment programs including the South Cumminsville Youth Summer Camp and after-school tutoring. In the fall of 2006, WIN developed 18 units of housing for senior citizens in the former St. Pius School.
Visit Working In Neighborhoods Guidestar Profile, including recent 990s and Annual Reports.
WIN in the News
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Five forgotten neighborhoods band together to fight for change Soapbox Media March 31, 2020
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New mural program brings colorful works of art to neighborhood streets WKRC Local 12 October 28, 2019
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City Debuts New S. Cumminsville Walking Trail to Wrap UP 26th NEP City of Cincinnati June 6, 2019
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Groundbreaking part of Neighborhood Enhancement Program in South Cumminsville WKRC Local12 March 1, 2019
- Banks Were Held Accountable to More Neighborhoods in 2016 Next City, April 19, 2017
- Our Forgotten Neighborhoods: South Cumminsville WCPO, Channel 9, April 18, 2017
- Editorial: Our forgotten neighborhoods need attention
WCPO, Channel 9, April 17, 2017 - The rise of South Cumminsville Cincinnati Enquirer, June 3, 2016
- From All Fronts: Local organizations discuss ways to combat environmental, economic disparities with pioneering group PUSH Buffalo City Beat, March 30, 2016
- College Hill continues big housing boost Cincinnati Enquirer, September 10, 2015
- Fergus Street in Northside makes dramatic turnaround thanks to neighbors’ organic efforts WCPO, Channel 9, August 14, 2015
- Crisis Averted? Cincinnati neighborhoods continue to struggle with blight in the wake of the foreclosure crisis CityBeat, July 8, 2015
- Hamilton Co. foreclosure report being met with varying interpretations: 1,766 filed foreclosures in 2014 WLWT Channel 5, June 11, 2015
- Local Foreclosures Down, But Not Down Enough WVXU, June 11, 2015
- Foreclosures down 27 percent, but problems persist Cincinnati Enquirer, June 11, 2015
- What’s your home worth? Recovery so far is uneven Cincinnati Enquirer, January 1, 2015
- Reclaiming our community together Cincinnati Business Courier, April 25, 2014
- Cincinnati set to expand vacant foreclosed property plan WCPO Channel 9, March 12, 2014
- WIN Spotlight Ohio Housing Finance Agency, Fall 2013
- Editorial: Putting Our House In Order, Cincinnati Enquirer, May 12, 2013
- Cincinnati’s “shadow” housing inventory raises new fears, Cincinnati Business Courier, May 11, 2013
- Which parts of Hamilton County had most foreclosures in 2012?, WVXU, April 30, 2013
Join Our Team
Working In Neighborhoods is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants must be able to pass a drug screen and background check.
Working In Neighborhoods 2021 AmeriCorps VISTA
Join WIN and help develop resources and partnerships to support resident-led initiatives for food justice, climate resiliency & equitable development.
Full-time, 1 year (06/07/2021 – 06/06/2022)
Accepting Applications from 02/11/2021 To 05/05/2021. Applications must be completed online through the AmeriCorps VISTA portal.
Member Duties : The VISTA member will join WIN’s Community Development Team of WIN’s “Out of Poverty” Initiative, a six-fold strategy that includes walkability/transportation, youth and education, health/food access, jobs/economic development, housing and beautification/safety, to bring 40% of residents out of poverty within a generation. The VISTA member will help WIN develop resources and partnerships that support sustainable food access projects; help WIN develop affordable, effective green infrastructure solutions to help low-income homeowners address storm water issues affecting their property; work with the community to organize Pop-Up events and community projects to stimulate activity, transform vacant spaces, and test what is feasible at key nodes and gateways in the Beekman Street Corridor.
Program Benefits: Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend, Childcare assistance if eligible, Health Coverage, Education award upon successful completion of service, Training & Professional Development, Living Allowance, Relocation Allowance.
Terms: Permits attendance at school during off hours, Permits working at another job during off hours, Car recommended.
Skills: Community Organization, Communications, Leadership, Fund raising/Grant Writing, Recruitment, General Skills, Business/Entrepreneur, Computers/Technology, Writing/Editing, Public Speaking.
For information about this project or AmeriCorps VISTA service at Working In Neighborhoods, contact Rigel at (513) 541-4109 x. 103 or rbehrens@wincincy.org