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Good (Man)ners: Jamie Sivrais on A Voice for the Innocent

April is National Sexual Violence Prevention Month/Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so it’s fitting that our featured ally is Jamie Sivrais, founder of A Voice for the Innocent (A.V.F.I.). A.V.F.I. is a nonprofit community dedicated to supporting those affected by rape and sexual abuse by offering a safe, compassionate space to share stories and seek help. We sat down with Jamie at the A.V.F.I. office in Covington to talk storytelling, surviving abuse, and breaking down our society’s idea of masculinity.

Good (Man)ners, Outreach + AdvocacyMichaela RawsthornApril 26, 2021Features

Good (Man)ners: Discussing Compassion, Integrity, and Unity with Reverend Derek Terry

Signing on to our video chat with a joyful hello and a sparkly golden background, Reverend Derek Terry has calm but invigorating energy at 9:30 p.m. on a Wednesday night. He’s no stranger to being welcoming; as the head pastor of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Pleasant Ridge, he interacts with people of all backgrounds. The openly gay Black man has been noticed around the country for sharing the journey of discovering his sexuality in the shadow of the church. With the overwhelming uncertainty hanging over our heads due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, we turn to Rev. Terry’s message of hope, acceptance, and equality.

Good (Man)ners: The Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire’s Brooklyn Steele-Tate

We got the chance to chat with Michael Cottrell a.k.a. Brooklyn Tate-Steele, drag queen and community activist. Michael has seemingly endless energy. He performs as Brooklyn at Below Zero Lounge a couple times a week, is the president of the Cincinnati Pride Parade and the Gay Chamber of Commerce, and is an active member of Imperial Sovereign Queen City Court of the Buckeye Empire (I.S.Q.C.C.B.E.), which has raised over $1.3 million for charities across Cincinnati. Oh yeah, and he has a regular 9-to-5 gig working for a mobile medical company – and he thinks you can do it all, too.

Good (Man)ners, Arts + Culture, Outreach + Advocacy, FeaturesMichaela RawsthornMarch 2, 2020Features

Good (Man)ners: Dani Isaacsohn on Cohear, Everyday Experts, and Changing the Norm

Like many who grew up in Cincinnati, Dani Isaacsohn left the city as a young adult. He attended Yale and Georgetown University, moved to D.C., and worked on both the Obama and Clinton campaigns. With a budding career in politics and law, Dani found his way back to his familial roots in Cincinnati. Inspired by his work on the campaign trail, he started CoHear, an organization focused on connecting everyday experts with local decision-makers. Together, they work to create innovative solutions to local issues that will positively impact all community members.

Good (Man)ners, Outreach + Advocacy, Features, EntrepreneurshipTracy P. Van WagnerSeptember 23, 2019Features

Good (Man)ners: Rodney Christian on Finding Your Gift and Giving It Back

Rodney Christian grew up in East Westwood – to be frank, one of Cincinnati’s most struggling communities. Even as a kid, he was a leader, but he didn’t know it. One day a friend shined a light on Rodney’s gift of community and relationship building. He encouraged Rodney to help him open a basketball gym so the kids in their community had a safe place to spend their time. Today, Rodney manages a recreation center at Third Presbyterian Church in the heart of East Westwood. It’s open seven days a week, and there’s always an open door for the kids who need it.

Good (Man)ners: Kick Lee on Ending the Starving Artist

Writing for Women of Cincy has given me the opportunity to meet and share stories with influencers and change-makers throughout Cincinnati. I usually walk away from my interviews feeling inspired, but Kick Lee is quite possibly the coolest person I never knew I needed to meet. He’s created a career and a lifestyle based around helping others achieve their dreams. As the founder of the Cincinnati Music Accelerator, he’s helping local musicians realize their worth as artists and discover how to take control of their own careers.

Good (Man)ners: Rico Grant on Paloozanoire and Being Black and Excellent

We sat down with “true Cincinnati kid” Ricardo (Rico) Grant to talk about his career in the hair and beauty industry, the inspirational woman in his life, and his upcoming adventure: PALOOZANOIRE, a three-day celebration bringing together over 2,000 men and women of the Black community from across the nation.

Good (Man)ners: Chef Ryan Santos on ‘Please,’ Passion, Creativity, and Inclusion

Tucked in a quiet corner on Clay Street in Over-the-Rhine, Please is a warm and inviting space that allows diners to leave their worries at the door, relax, and enjoy a good meal. With a colorfully unique restroom (#pleasepotty) and walls hugged with personal cards, photographs, bus tickets, and wine corks left by guests, the cozy restaurant is a wholesome reminder of the city it serves. Grab some wine or a warm drink and join us at the table as we discuss Ryan’s love for cooking, his perfect day, and his passion for creating an inclusive and well-rounded environment that aims to please.

Good (Man)ners, Food + Beverage, Features, Arts + CultureKristyn BridgesApril 29, 2019Features

Good (Man)ners: Cradle Cincinnati’s Ryan Adcock

Ryan Adcock is on the frontlines of a tough fight to make Cincinnati a better place for women and infants. As the executive director of Cradle Cincinnati, his job revolves around listening to women and families to help reduce infant mortality in the tristate area.

Features, Good (Man)ners, Outreach + Advocacy, Health + WellnessAbbey BruceApril 1, 2019Features