If you’ve ever planted even one plant native to our region, then there’s a good chance you’ve helped at least one native caterpillar survive long enough to become a butterfly or a moth. As a result, you’ve probably indirectly contributed to the creation of more caterpillars, which means you’ve probably fed several songbirds, and maybe even a bird of prey, or maybe a snake, or a fox.
Read MoreI meet Christie Kuhns in a vacant grass lot in Avondale, surrounded by chain link fencing, toting two beat-up, dusty camping chairs. The setting is incongruous with the location you might assume someone of Christie’s stature – an accomplished professional who has practiced law at both a major law firm and Fortune 500 company, a former Ohio State Representative, and now the President & CEO of the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio – would select for an interview.
Read MoreI met Muna Bhandari at the Voice of America park in Liberty Township. She arrived in a gorgeous royal blue-colored saree with cream-colored, floral-like elements sewn in. Traditional bangles and chandelier earrings fashioned her arms and ears, helping to pull the look together and overall represent the culture she proudly stands behind.
Read MoreSian Bitner-Kearney is her mother’s daughter. On a brilliant sunny morning during Mother’s Day weekend, the founder and Executive Director of Rock Your Beauty welcomed me into her Northern Cincinnati home with fruit, muffins, and a warm, friendly smile. We sat in her well-appointed, cozy living room to chat and learn more about the nonprofit and its mission to empower women and girls in Greater Cincinnati.
As it celebrates its first year of nonprofit status, Rock Your Beauty (RYB) remains steadfast in the mission to “...be a catalyst for change, inspiring women to embrace their unique beauty and empowering them to realize their full potential.”
Our discussion started with a look back at the origins of RYB.
Read MoreHappy Pride 2025!
Read MoreOn June 14, 2025, more than 8,000 people gathered in Clifton for the "No Kings" protest. This event in Cincinnati was part of a nationwide "Day of Defiance," which took place in over 2,000 towns and cities across the country, protesting the current administration. The No Kings movement is a coalition made up of numerous partner organizations, including 50501, the ACLU, Common Cause, and the Human Rights Campaign.
Photography by Stacy Wegley.
Read MoreIn early April, an awards ceremony held by the University of Cincinnati’s Women Center hosted many of the most determined, powerful, and effective student leaders to honor and award outstanding students and their work, and to present the C-Ring Women's Leadership Award to one selected student.
Read MoreAt 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 MoreOn the cool yet sunny afternoon in late November, I had the immense privilege of interviewing Mary Vicario, LPCC-S, at Cincinnati’s iconic Union Terminal. We discovered a cozy nook within the terminal – a fitting backdrop for a conversation that revealed the deep personal significance this historic landmark holds for Mary. Union Terminal connects her to cherished childhood memories and the people who inspire and shape her extraordinary work to this day.
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 MoreLet’s travel back in time to the halls of high school. Remember that civics or history class where the teacher drummed on about this thing called gerrymandering? Well, it turns out that word is pretty darn important.
Read MoreQueen City Pollinators began over a cup of coffee at The Upside Brew and a newfound love for bees. Fully caffeinated, Carrie Driehaus and Jenny O’Donnell set out on a mission to support our city’s pollinators through education, conservation, and collaboration with a multitude of nature-based organizations and local schools. We met up with Carrie this Spring to hear how it all started, score tips for supporting pollinators, and her message on why we should care about these special six-legged creatures.
Read MoreI met with Amanda Laskowski on a rainy spring day at Vessel Collective in Bellevue, Kentucky. Although the weather was dreary, the space where we sat was bright and welcoming: two words that also spring to mind to describe Amanda and the energy she brings to Cincy Postpartum and her work with new moms all over the region.
Read MoreWhat can be better than attending an event full of people dedicated to energizing their city and each other? Everything feels more meaningful when you think about the time, energy, sweat, and tears that go into organizing a book reading, or speaker series. By being intentional with our time, our empathy, and our cash, we can support the people building up communities and uplifting others.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreCincinnati Pride, like other Pride demonstrations across the United States and the world, began at The Stonewall, a club in New York City that was at the center of a police raid in 1969. The Stonewall was a popular place for Black drag queens, transgender and gender nonconforming folks, and others in the community. The demonstrations in response to the raid became a defining moment in history. While these demonstrations were not the first in the L.G.B.T.Q+ rights movement, it was the instance that these issues became more visible – and impactful. In the years following Stonewall, parades and demonstrations began across the country – including in 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 MoreAlison Rampa knows something about setting a scene. Entering her mid-century modern home with twinkle lights and books lining the shelves in her family room, jazz music playing quietly in the background, and candles lit all over, it felt like a scene in a movie. With Alison’s infectious laugh and the smell of coffee in the air, we felt immediately at home as we sat down for a chat about her life and work as a middle school English teacher, leader of a women’s theater company, and founder of a body-positive summer camp for adult women.
Read MoreWith new art exhibits, performances, Black History Month programs, Women’s History Month events, concerts, sweet treats, and more, you can celebrate our community by supporting locally organized events.
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