From Council to Care
In a city that often celebrates its most visible voices, there’s a different kind of legacy that deserves just as much attention. One built slowly, persistently, and often without the fanfare of headlines. Dwight Tillery, Cincinnati’s former mayor, has spent more than four decades investing in the health, education, and empowerment of the city’s underserved communities. His work has left a permanent imprint not only on the city’s systems, but on the people who rely on them most.
Tillery’s career began in public service, but his story stretches far beyond elected office. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati and the University of Michigan Law School, Tillery returned to his hometown with a clear focus: use the tools of policy, education, and grassroots leadership to serve people who had been left out of the conversation for too long.
He joined Cincinnati City Council in 1991 and quickly made history as the city’s second African American mayor. But even then, his work centered on more than title or position. He used his office to launch the city’s first anti-violence initiative focused on youth, the Mayor’s Commission on Children. The initiative marked one of the earliest efforts to address systemic youth violence through public health channels—well before that approach became common practice across American cities.
In office and beyond, Tillery’s focus remained consistent: close the gaps that prevent people from thriving. He founded Grassroots Academy, which trained community members in civic participation and local leadership. Through workshops and advocacy training, the program helped empower residents of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods to become engaged stakeholders. It wasn’t about charity—it was about equipping people with power.
Nowhere is Tillery’s long-game vision more visible than in the Center for Closing the Health Gap, a nonprofit he founded in 2004. The center’s mission is ambitious and urgent: eliminate racial and economic disparities in health outcomes across Greater Cincinnati. Under his leadership, the Health Gap became a driving force in public health outreach. Tens of thousands of residents have received free health screenings through the center’s annual Health Expo. Campaigns like Do Right! promoted healthy eating, exercise, and preventive care in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by chronic illness.
The impact of this work extends far beyond numbers. It builds trust in communities where health systems have often failed. It introduces teens and young adults to healthier habits and professional role models. It brings local health equity from an abstract ideal to a visible, measurable reality. In 2016, the University of Cincinnati established the Dwight Tillery Fellowship to support graduate students pursuing careers in public health, carrying his legacy into the next generation of advocates.
Tillery has also contributed as an educator, teaching African American studies and law at UC and Miami University. He helped establish the African American Studies Department at UC and co-founded the United Black Students Association during his undergraduate years. In every phase of his career, his strategy has been the same: build institutions that outlast the moment.
No public career is without its challenges. Late in his tenure as CEO of the Health Gap, city officials raised concerns about spending transparency, particularly related to public health outreach and produce access programs. These criticisms came amid broader political tensions between Tillery and other city leaders. While the scrutiny drew attention, it didn’t stop the programs. It didn’t erase years of impact. And it didn’t silence the many supporters who stepped forward to defend the organization’s mission and results.
Tillery eventually stepped away from the Health Gap, but not from public life. His influence can still be found in city policies, university programs, and nonprofit partnerships. More importantly, it’s found in the quieter outcomes—the student who sees a future in public health because of a fellowship, the child who eats better because of a neighborhood campaign, the resident who knows how to advocate because they were trained at Grassroots Academy.
In a city known for its skyline and riverfront, Tillery’s legacy lives in something deeper: infrastructure built for equity. Whether walking through the streets of Bond Hill or the halls of UC’s College of Medicine, you can feel the echo of that work. His story isn’t just a part of Cincinnati history—it’s an ongoing investment in Cincinnati’s future.
If you’re visiting the city and want to understand its soul, don’t just go where the tour guides point. Look for the institutions built to serve, the communities built to lead, and the legacies built to last. That’s where you’ll find Dwight Tillery.