Conversations with Justin Hucke

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Hucke

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey began with a fixation on making a positive impact in my community. From an early age, I was drawn to activities and projects that brought people together. My desire to be involved and contribute meaningfully led me to pursue a career where I could combine my skills with passion forservice.

After a brief stint in the corporate world, I spent several years in government and politics. Wanting to pave my own path, I saw a need in my community for accessible, high-quality marketing services—especially for small businesses and nonprofits that often struggle to get their message out. This was the catalyst for founding Madison + Eden, a marketing agency with a mission to empower these organizations to tell their stories, connect with their audiences, and thrive.

During this time, I made the life-altering decision to come out as gay. While it was an extremely difficult decision, it was the best I’ve ever made. Just after coming out, I hosted a one-off event to benefit the local LGBTQ+ community. My work didn’t stop there and led to the start of Queen City Charities, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit that provides grants to support LGBTQ+ causes, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for everyone in our community.

Through both Madison + Eden and Queen City Charities, I’ve been able to merge my passion for community involvement with my professional skills, driving positive change and fostering connections that strengthen our community.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’m not sure you’ll find anyone who would say their journey is a smooth road. I’ve had extreme lows and extreme highs. Over the course of the last five years, I’ve moved back to Cincinnati, come out as gay, started a new business, established a nonprofit, gotten a dog, and so much more – all amidst a global pandemic and economic and political uncertainty. Has it been smooth? Not a chance. But would I change any of it? Not a chance.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Although I’m the founder and president of a full-service marketing agency, my passion lies with the nonprofit I started, Queen City Charities. Queen City Charities started out as an idea for a laid-back, do-good happy hour and quickly evolved into Greater Cincinnati’s largest drag brunch, Wigs & Waffles, our signature annual event which raised $125,000+ with 600+ attendees in June 2024. Now, we host events throughout the year, all to give back to the LGBTQ+ community in Greater Cincinnati through our grantmaking efforts.

Our organization focuses on local causes that make local impact. While there are countless organizations working to advance the conversation and impact on a national level, our focus is in the Greater Cincinnati LGBTQ+ community, all while having fun. That’s part of what sets us apart. As we say, we like to have fun, raise money, and give it away. We’re committed to bringing the community at-large together to raise money for worthy local causes, all while having a great time.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you have to sit with your low points and acknowledge them. Not everything will go the way you planned, but when you take the time to recognize when you’re feeling defeated or discouraged, you’ll be better equipped to handle it in the future. Being an entrepreneur is tough—there’s no sugarcoating that. You have to embrace the challenges and keep pushing toward your goals, even when it feels like you’re stuck and there’s no way out of the rut.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://queencitycharities.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/itsnotjustintimberlake
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justin.hucke/
• Other: https://madisoneden.com

Image Credits
Ross Van Pelt, RVP Photography