Description

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of On the Fly!, Joan Kaup sits down with Ruth Anne Wolfe, the passionate founder of Community Happens Here, a grassroots social enterprise proving that deep, meaningful community can’t be mass-produced—it must be built, cup by cup. ☕

From her unexpected path through Japan, law, and motherhood to founding a brick-and-mortar community space in Cincinnati, Ruth Anne shares the journey that led her to reimagine what local connection really looks like. Through hospitality, art, and conversation, Ruth Anne is cultivating a place where children, entrepreneurs, and neighbors meet, learn, and build trust across differences.

Listen to hear more about: 

• The origins of Community Happens Here and its mission to combat loneliness through radical localism.
• Ruth Anne’s experience in Flywheel’s accelerator and the “aha” moments that shaped her approach to social enterprise.
• How sliding-scale coworking, youth-led coffee service, and sidewalk tea transform a neighborhood block.
• The importance of being your own angel investor when your vision doesn't fit traditional funding models.
• Why “you can't be what you can't see”—and how that philosophy shapes everything from mentoring to measuring impact.

 Visit communityhappenshere.org to explore coworking options, attend an event, or stop by for free coffee on a Saturday from 11am–1pm at 6238 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Follow Community Happens Here on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

 At Flywheel Social Enterprise Hub, we believe in the power of social entrepreneurs like Ruth Anne to drive equity and impact in our neighborhoods. Learn how Flywheel supports founders, invests in big ideas, and helps social enterprises thrive: flywheelcincinnati.org

On The Fly! is sponsored by First Financial Bank
Learn More at bankatfirst.com