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).
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Giving Flowers to Cincinnati’s Black Women
We celebrate Black stories all year. Women of Cincy’s staff gathered just a few snippets from interviews over the years that celebrate the unique perspectives, culture, mindsets, familial and community connections, and influences that arise from the Black experience. Celebrating Black stories is not just one action but instead is made up of many individual stories that coincide together. You can celebrate more Black stories with us here.
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Dr. Hou-mei 后楣 Sung 宋: Educating Cincinnati on East Asian art and discovering a ‘magic mirror’
Dr. Hou-mei 后楣 Sung 宋 knows the challenge of overseeing an East Asian collection in a Western art museum. The collection, housed in a wing of the Cincinnati Art Museum, consists of paintings on scrolls, pottery, statues, plates, knives, armor – and one very special mirror – that were gifts, donations, or are on loan. Throughout our time together on a cold February afternoon, Dr. Sung emphasized the importance of art education in breaking down cultural and language barriers.
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Ask UPLIFT: Emma Schmidt and Associates, Sex + Relationship Therapy
This month, we meet with Dr. Emma Scmidt, founder of Emma Schmidt and Associates, Sex + Relationship Therapy, to discuss her experiences as a small business owner and how she takes care of herself while managing a busy life as an entrepreneur.
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Excerpt: My UC Story 1973–1979 by Julia Montier-Ball
At UC, I was introduced to many contemporary people, places, and things that ultimately shaped my personality as an independent and critical thinker. I did my best in those years to experience the best UC had to offer, from the wonderful art gallery in the Student Union to the impromptu picnics in Burnet Woods. My life on campus was connected to the community, from the shops on Short Vine to the shotgun building with a loft down on Fourth Street that provided the setting for my final thesis project. In writing this essay, I came to realize just how significant growing up in an urban college setting was in creating a rich path for me toward my career goals.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Meet the Women of Cincy Team: 2023 Residency
This semester we welcome three new residents to our team! Over the course of the semester, these students, Karley Cappel, Isabella Avendaño, and Angie Bolan, will have hands-on experience editing articles, writing social media posts, creating newsletters, researching projects, and much more! We’re excited to have them as a part of the Women of Cincy community.
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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.
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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.
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Why We’re Shopping Local This Holiday Season – and You Should Too!
Small businesses embody everything we love about our city: their ability to create something out of nothing, operate with passion and attention to detail, foster community, and keep our dollars local is nothing short of amazing. At Women of Cincy, we know firsthand the work, care, and love that goes into these businesses because we’ve spent so many hours telling the stories of the faces behind the counter. So trust us when we say, SHOPPING LOCAL MATTERS. Read on to hear from the folks who make it work every day, and visit womenofcincy.org/uplift to view our directory of women-led products and services!
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Women of Cincy Gift Guide: Winter 2022
As another year comes to a close, we are reminded again of how important it is to support your local small businesses during the holiday season. Where you spend your dollar matters – using your dollar to uplift local businesses strengthens the community and our city. The good news is that we have a wealth of hidden small business treasures all around, ready to be found! The holidays are a time to give to our loved ones – let’s include our city and community on our list this year.
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Abiyah: Cincinnati Music Legend With *Still More to Come
On a beautiful autumn morning at the Mariemont Concourse, Women of Cincy sat down with Abiyah, a multi-genre singer, songwriter, recording artist, and musical muse. For more than 20 years, Abiyah has been engaging fans in Cincinnati and around the globe with her boundary-blurring musical styles of floetry, hip-hop, beatbox, indie-rock, and more. Listening to her music has been described as “like getting blitzed by Maya Angelou and Chuck D at the same time!” Meet Abiyah, a woman with a deep, distinctive laugh, who laughs often, and who will be rocking the musical scene in Cincinnati for years to come.
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Leslie Mattie Rich: Community Organizer Extraordinaire
On one of the few non-muggy days this summer, I walked through the bright and bustling streets of Westwood to my neighborhood arcade, Wondercade. It’s a well-worn path. My kids and I make the trip often to this cherished piece of our community. This time, though, I wouldn’t be trying to beat my high score on Pac-Man or Q*bert. I was there to talk with Leslie Mattie Rich, Wondercade owner, life-long Westwood resident, and incredible creator of community. As the sounds of joy spilled in from outside the party room where we sat, Leslie shared her passion, and gift, for making space and place for the people around her.
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