At its various educational programs – be they presentations at schools or summer camps, booths at libraries or parks, or talks at any number of other Cincinnati events and locales – volunteers for the 501(c)(3) non-profit RAPTOR Inc. tend to describe their organization quite succinctly: we’re a hospital for birds of prey.
Read MoreBurnet Woods, the 90-acre park near the University of Cincinnati in Clifton, is an important stopover for many migratory bird species. After an arduous flight north or south, a brief sojourn in the park for a scarlet tanager in the spring or a pine warbler in the fall could mean the difference between life and death. Here, beside a pond of gently quacking pairs of mallard ducks, I had the delightful opportunity to meet Ash Conway, the founder of the birding group Queer Birders of Cincinnati.
Read More“Best all-around gal” was how the C-Ring Women's Leadership Award was first presented in 1922. It was an award given by the University of Cincinnati Athletics Department. The award, like the world around it, has evolved and transformed in the more than 100 years since it was first presented.
The C-Ring award is now presented by the UC Women’s Center and is awarded to a woman-identifying or non-binary graduating senior student who demonstrates outstanding leadership on and off campus. Faculty and staff nominate students, and the lengthy selection process begins. Through rounds of interviews and applications, five final nominees are ultimately chosen, with one winner picked by the selection committee.
Read MoreDr. Kara Ayers knows the importance of empathy to change hearts, minds, and actions. From navigating a disability, finding community support, expanding her research and prolific career, lobbying policymakers, and raising her family, empathy underscores Dr. Ayers’ life. The summer sun poured into her brightly colored office at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital as we talked about why community connections change lives, what’s missing when we talk about disability, and how we can do better in caring for each other.
Read MoreThere is a special election in August for Ohio. In November, there will be a general election. State constitutional amendments, school board members, and other government positions are on the ballot.
However, Ohio’s voting laws have changed since the last election. You will need to show an unexpired photo ID to vote in person. We have compiled the information you need for both the special election and the general election.
Read MoreSoumya Jaiswal drives the fight for reproductive health care and abortion access on and off UC’s campus. Throughout our conversation, Soumya mentioned the tenets of the reproductive justice movement – centralizing the inherent right of bodily autonomy, addressing other issues that quell an individual’s rights, uplifting intersectionality, giving the power to govern back to the people, and emphasizing the strength of collective movement.
Read MoreOn a ridiculously windy February afternoon, I met Executive Director Karen Kahle at the Civic Garden Center (C.G.C.). Tucked away at the corner of William Howard Taft and Reading Road, the C.G.C., located inside the Hauck Botanic Gardens, is a plant lover's dream. Despite the cold, the property is full of life and activity as Karen and I sit down to chat about history, native plants, building community, ecology, and how we can all be better stewards of this place we call home.
Read MoreDo 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.
Read MoreEach 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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreAnne Saker is a firecracker of a woman. In her line of work, you have to be. A self-proclaimed “servant of the people,” Anne has taken her role as a journalist with great pride and even greater dedication. She’s had an expansive career from North Carolina, to Portland, to Cincinnati. It was in Cincinnati that she chose to finish her years as an active journalist at the Enquirer.
Read MoreRecently, 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.
Read MoreEven before I had the chance to meet her in person, I had a hunch that Kathryne Gardette’s energy was something special. Her texts and emails regularly begin with anything from “magnificent Monday” to “spectacular Saturday” and always ALWAYS sign off with an invitation to “share your joy.”
Read MoreAs the official Campus Advocates for the University of Cincinnati, Zoe and Cheniece are responsible for creating awareness and education around gender-based violence. The pair focus on connecting students who have experienced gender-based violence to appropriate resources, being a confidential support system for survivors, and more.
Read MoreHave you ever met someone with a really big heart who can’t help but spread compassion all around? I recently had the pleasure of interviewing one such woman, who even uses her business platform to keep a life-stream of compassion flowing. Megan Grote is the owner and founder of With Grace B. Bold (W.G.B.B.), a “clothing brand that empowers women to unveil their self-esteem and rebuild their identity after a diagnosis with breast cancer.”
Read MoreHow can you sum up a person in just a few sentences with a few lines of text on a page? Raneem Salem is too infinite to be condensed into a few paragraphs, especially when his life is about creating space; space for freedom, for creative self-expression. He creates spaces like Girls Rock Cincinnati, a music and arts camp for girls and gender-variant youth, where he serves as executive director. Raneem co-founded the Cincinnati branch of Girls Rock in 2018; it’s a space he wishes he had as a child to explore his own gender and power. Raneem identifies as transmasculine but chose to interview based on his historical proximity to womanhood.
Read MoreMonika Royal-Fischer built her career by helping others achieve success. She understands that sometimes, you just need a little help to get started. For Monika, building strong networks led to career opportunities that allow her to serve her communities and make an impact. She is the founder of the Career Closet at the University of Cincinnati’s Clermont campus. Career Closet is a non-profit that provides students with interview-ready clothing and is the new campus director for Tech Elevator here in Cincinnati.
Read MoreWe cap off our series with our very own, Chelsie Walter, executive director and co-founder of Women of Cincy. Chelsie talks about how this idea to capture a few inspiring stories grew into a volunteer-driven media outlet that has published nearly 400 stories in just three years. She shares how she’s dealt with this rapid growth, a global pandemic that sent the organization into a tailspin, and how she stays committed to the Women of Cincy mission by keeping empathy at the heart of everything she does.
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