The Rivers We Cross

The Rivers We Cross: Cincinnati 2040

Friday, October 10, 2025 • Cincinnati, Ohio 

9am - 5pm

Cincinnati Public Library (Main)

800 Vine Street, 45202

Join us. Shape the future for Cincinnati.
Register now to secure one of just 50 spots.

Why Attend?

Cincinnati 2040 is not a conference, it’s a one‑day immersive experience designed to help you see your city anew and spark creative, collaborative action for the future of people, place, and planet.

In partnership with [Y]our 2040, a globally respected Zurich‑based community‑driven think‑do tank, we bring unprecedented foresight expertise to Cincinnati. This collaboration infuses the event with international methods for foresight‑to‑action, making it both transformative and globally grounded.

Meet Your Guides to the Future

  • Chris Luebkeman – Moderator
    A geologist, engineer, architect, and true interdisciplinarian, Chris leads the Strategic Foresight Hub at ETH Zurich and founded [Y]our 2040. With over three decades of global experience—from MIT to Arup and the World Economic Forum He builds bridges across disciplines and regions to imagine actionable futures.

  • Jonelle Simunich – Co‑facilitator
    A futurist, architect, city planner, and innovation strategist, Jonelle is an Associate at the Edinburgh Futures Institute who co‑founded [Y]our 2040. She brings creative storytelling and systems thinking to urban futures, tutoring communities to craft regenerative, positive pathways forward.

Local Presenters

Cincinnati’s own Shaquanna Metcalf and Jide’ Fresh will bring local wisdom, artistry, and community insight to the day. Together, they have led workshops, cultural projects, and creative initiatives that center wellness, resilience, and civic imagination. Their voices will ground the event in the lived experiences of Cincinnati, ensuring that the futures we co-create are connected to the people and places that make this city unique.

Local Advisors – Najoli Learning Group

We’re honored to be assisted by Najoli Learning Group, led by L. Danyetta Najoli—an Amazon best‑selling author, cultural humility coach, and principal consultant—alongside Herman J. Najoli, an experienced educational leadership expert.

Event Format & Highlights

  • Guided City Walk: Rove through Cincinnati’s rich layers of history, architecture, and urban landscapes. Reflect on what works, what’s missing, and what could be transformed.

  • Structured Dialogue & Workshop: Join hands-on sessions led by Chris, Jonelle, historians, local futurists, and community voices to explore how the past shapes the present—and how present actions shape what’s next.

  • Co‑create “Future Stories”: Using foresight techniques rooted in [Y]our 2040's methodology, craft collective narratives of Cincinnati in 2040 and identify meaningful pathways to get there.

  • Closing Gather & Share‑Back: Present your visions, connect informally, and build momentum to carry ideas beyond this day.

 

Why This Collaboration Matters

  • Global Expertise Meets Local Insight: [Y]our 2040 brings a globally recognized, place‑based foresight model to Cincinnati. grounded yet visionary.

  • Unequalled Moderation & Design: With Chris’s global convening experience and Jonelle’s futures‑to‑action methodology, this event is tailored for deep engagement and real-world impact.

  • A Rare Opportunity: Imagine Cincinnati’s future in the company of global thought leaders and help shape its trajectory.

How to Participate

Secure your spot now

We’re inviting 50 individuals across sectors: citizens, creatives, planners, entrepreneurs, policymakers. Click [Sign Up] and become part of Cincinnati’s future story.

Sign Up With this Link. https://forms.gle/XcQRML74XqGvAZLS9

If you have any questions please email us at InFlyWeTrust859@gmail.com or call me at 502-592-1725 (Jide' Fresh)