Celebrate Black Stories — home

La Shanda Sugg, LPC on Love, Inherent Worth, and Community Healing

I was welcomed into La Shanda Sugg, LPC’s comfortably-curated home for our Thursday evening interview – it was effortless to get settled in and open up, feeling like a cozy therapy session. She spoke passionately about her work, often using analogies to tie grand realizations into easy-to-digest teachings. La Shanda also made sure the environment was appropriately catered for the occasion from the background ambiance music to the natural lighting. And during the conversation, we frequently stopped to check-in and regulate our nervous system. La Shanda embodies many roles in this life: a mother, a teacher, a partner and an artist to name a few. From the totally on-brand accents of gold in her flowy outfit to the Paw Patrol bandaid she humbly fashioned on her finger, she was everything I imagined meeting her in person would be like – radiant, respectful, and real.

Quanita Roberson on Ancestors, Elders, and Healing

On a sunny winter morning a few weeks ago, we met with author, consultant, and life coach Quanita Roberson at the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Though we hadn’t met before, we fell into deep topics quickly – touching on race, wisdom, and much more. While we walked around the museum, we learned about her path to healing, the leadership workshop she facilitates (called Fire and Water), and the book she wrote over the course of a decade (called “The InnerGround Railroad”).

Health + Wellness, Outreach + AdvocacySuzanne WilderFebruary 5, 2024Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Renee Mahaffey Harris: Challenging Assumptions, Changing Lives

There is only one way to summarize Ms. Renee Mahaffey Harris: A Powerhouse. While her office at the Center for Closing the Health Gap in Clifton is fashionable and cozy, it’s hard not to notice the accolades that cover the shelves and cabinets. She is the recipient of a UC Health Humanitarian Award, MLK Humanitarian Award, Business Courier’s Women Who Mean Business Award, and countless others. A picture of her standing with Dr. Cornel West adorns a corner. A lifetime of serving others has not gone unnoticed. After completing this interview, I mentioned Ms. Mahaffey Harris to several people who turned out to have connections with her, and all said the same thing: “Isn’t she amazing?”

Ask UPLIFT: Black Women Cultivating Change

This month, we spoke with Ashley Glass of Black Women Cultivating Change about the journey of entrepreneurship.

Goddess of the Blues: Cheryl Renée

Cincinnati native, world-traveled musician and “Goddess of the Blues,” Cheryl Renee is the kind of gal you’d want to have in your band. Not only is she an incredible pianist and singer, but she’s humble, spunky and self-sufficient. Cheryl has toured the world and continues to keep herself busy in Cincinnati’s music scene. But she doesn’t need the applause – she can often be seen shooing away the enthusiastic clapping and cheers after every set. No, there isn’t a need to remind her how good she is – she already knows. (But we’ll continue to be fan girls in the audience anyway).

Features, Music, Arts + CultureSophia EpitropoulosMarch 27, 2023Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Whitney Gaskins: See it, Be it – Breaking the Barriers of STEM

Women of Cincy sat down with Dr. Whitney Gaskins in the cutting-edge new Digital Futures building at the University of Cincinnati. With research labs, drone rooms, and contemporary architecture as the backdrop for our conversation, it was impossible to not be inspired and uplifted by all the hard work and advocacy Dr. Gaskins pours into her work every day, making sure everyone has a fair shot at a career in STEM.

Education, Science + Tech, Outreach + AdvocacyMelanie SchmidFebruary 27, 2023Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Act 2 in the life of Ewaniki “Niki” Moore-Hawkins

Sitting grounded in the place where she made roots and blossomed, Ewaniki “Niki” Moore-Hawkins talked with us about her history at the African American Culture & Resource Center at the University of Cincinnati and about launching act 2 of her life during the height of the pandemic.

Education, EntrepreneurshipMichaela RawsthornFebruary 20, 2023Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Ask UPLIFT: Be the Light Clinical Supervision and Consulting

Each month, we will ask one or more UPLIFT entrepreneurs about their journeys, and we’ll discover a new business and a new journey of entrepreneurship.

Entrepreneurship, Ask UpliftAsk UPLIFTFebruary 8, 2023Community Mix, Celebrate Black Stories

A chat with Dr. Janelle McClain, the “B.O.O.B.S. lady” herself, about breastfeeding and Black maternal health

Do you know those people that make you feel welcome with their smiles and warm invitation? Janelle McClain is one of those rays of light. She is a wealth of knowledge, and her passion for people is palpable.

Janelle McClain, affectionately often referred to as “the boobs lady,” is the C.E.O. and executive director of the community health maternal and child health services nonprofit program, Breastfeeding Outreach for Our Beautiful Sisters, also known as B.O.O.B.S. She proudly serves the community as a counselor, trainer, and advocate for mothers and babies. She is driven by her desire for a healthier, more supported community. I left our meeting feeling inspired by Janelle and her team’s work to promote breastfeeding awareness, education, and resources to Black women.

Outreach + AdvocacyKourtni GunvalsonFebruary 3, 2023Community Mix, Celebrate Black Stories

February Events: Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Art, and more!

Ready to escape the grey clouds and cold weather? We are, too! That’s why we assembled just a few of the many events happening around town this month. With new art exhibits, dance performances, Black History Month programs, sweet treats, crafting, and more, you can celebrate our community by supporting locally organized events.

Around Town, Arts + CultureWomen of Cincy StaffFebruary 1, 2023Community Mix, Celebrate Black Stories

Robin Walker: Building Futures in Technology

Late last summer, we met up with entrepreneur, former technology manager, and nonprofit leader Robin Walker at her business space in Springdale. In two adjacent storefronts in a shopping plaza, Walker runs a suite of organizations: one a technology support company (Technology Tailor Made) and one a nonprofit that aims to build careers in technology for minority youth (Camp BYOC). That nonprofit started as a short summer program for a handful of teenagers – as “Build Your Own Computer Camp” – and has expanded to become a wider range of programs including coding, multimedia, and robotics.

Entrepreneurship, Education, FeaturesSuzanne WilderJanuary 23, 2023Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Artist Cynthia Lockhart on Art, Passion, and Using Your Gifts

It only takes a few milliseconds to feel the sparking energy that radiates from Cynthia Lockhart—it’s the kind of glittering comfort you want to bottle up and drink when you’re having a low day. She exudes confidence through a contagious smile, fabulous wardrobe, and lively charisma; her words travel with passion and leave a residual feeling of encouragement.

Arts + Culture, EducationSophia EpitropoulosJuly 29, 2022Features, Celebrate Black Stories

Novelist Sheila Williams on Telling Black Women's Stories and Creating an Opera for Cincinnati

There may be no better place to spend a rainy Monday evening than amid the shelves of a cozy bookstore. Add coffee, laughter, and great conversation, and it’s instant magic.

This was the setting in early June when I sat down with Sheila Williams at Roebling Point Books & Coffee. Williams is the author of six novels, including Dancing on the Edge of the Roof, adapted into a Netflix film starring Alfre Woodard in 2018, The Secret Women, and the recently released Things Past Telling. Today, Williams calls northern Kentucky home, but she proudly notes that she is “a product of Columbus Public Schools.”

July 2022, Arts + CultureRita DiBelloJuly 2, 2022Community Mix, Celebrate Black Stories

Lydia Morgan on the 35th Annual Juneteenth Festival

Each June for 35 years, Lydia Morgan has brought the Cincinnati community together to celebrate Juneteenth – gathering in Eden Park to eat, listen to music, dance, connect, and remember. Lydia takes us through the complicated feelings around the holiday, the family-friendly activities at the Festival, and relearning history through joy and celebration.

Monique Gilliam on Intention, Relatability, and Turning Action into Results

If you look up the word “driven” in the dictionary, odds are you’ll find a photo of Monique Gilliam next to it. The vision she has for her life is clear and focused, and her work ethic is something to be admired.

Since our last sit down with Monique back in 2019, she’s taken on new career and social ventures, including joining the Cohear team as a Community Organizer in March 2021. With less than a year under her belt, she was promoted to Director of Organizing and she’s relishing in this moment. At Cohear, Monique feels valued, supported, and seen. She couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the work they’re doing and she’s eager to see where this journey will take them next.

Nia Baucke on Creating Policy by Listening

Sitting in Cohear’s office, with her youngest son happily crawling around at her feet, Nia Baucke spoke with us about her passion for the work she gets to do through Cohear. Nia worked in the social good space throughout her career. While these experiences gave Nia a chance to contribute to her community, she knew something was missing from that work: the voice of people most affected by the issues she and her colleagues were trying to solve. Now with Cohear, Nia spends time talking with Everyday Experts and helping them find actionable solutions to the issues they face day-in and day-out.

Nikita Anderson on the Importance of Lived Experience and Creating Sacred Spaces

Nikita Anderson is a straight shooter – unafraid to tell it like it is. She gets it from her mom. It’s a quality that has served her well in her work with Cohear over the past 4 years, first as an everyday expert and now as Director of Community. Nikita knows the power of sharing personal stories to foster connection and change, and she is incredibly proud of the work her team and their partners are doing to engage previously unsung voices. Cohear helps organizations and decision makers leverage real world experiences to improve their policies and better serve their communities, one focus group at a time.

Councilmember Meeka D. Owens on Climate Change and Green Sustainability in Cincinnati

In December 2021, after the city council and mayoral elections, it was announced that a new committee would be tackling climate change in our city: the Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Committee, with Councilmember Meeka D. Owens as its chair.

When I sat down with Councilmember Owens, it was clear that she is passionate and knowledgeable about the environmental issues we are all having to face – but beyond that, she is hopeful. She has faith in our people coming together. She sees light in Cincinnati’s future.

Annie Ruth: Learning with Art

The best way to describe Annie Ruth is as a bright ray of sunlight on a foggy, hazy day. When she walks into a room, her spirit is a reminder of hope and positivity. She brings her authentic self forward and hopes to inspire others to do the same. Not only is Annie a talented artist and educator, but she's full of compassion and wisdom, and her enthusiasm for life is truly contagious. Even after many difficult obstacles in her path, she’s living proof that strength and determination can move mountains.

Education, Arts + CultureKelsey GrahamMarch 21, 2022Features, Celebrate Black Stories

In Conversation: Kersha Deibel of Planned Parenthood on Community Health and Bridging Gaps

Recently, I sat down and talked with Kersha at P.P.S.W.O. to get a glimpse into life at the clinic.

Kersha has been invested in Planned Parenthood in a variety of roles for 16 years. She was a patient, then volunteer, intern, and became an employee of Planned Parenthood’s national office. She led the political and advocacy teams and eventually became the president and C.E.O at P.P.S.W.O. Her motivation comes from ensuring access to quality healthcare for all, allowing our community to reach its full potential.