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Laundry is a sensory pleasure for me: the smell of detergent and dryer sheets, the warmth of clothes fresh from the dryer, the satisfaction of a stack of clean clothes ready to be worn again. I know that not everyone feels this way, nor that everyone has the privilege of easy access to laundry facilities, but still, I was delighted to sit in a laundromat for this conversation with Jamie Jones, a nursing student who started a neighborhood nonprofit focused on laundry. We met at City Limits Laundry in Walnut Hills to learn more about Laundry Love Cincinnati.

Features, Outreach + Advocacy, Health + WellnessSuzanne WilderOctober 21, 2019Features

Shannon Anderson-Hammond: You Are Not Alone

We met Shannon Anderson-Hammond at Starbucks in Hyde Park – one of her favorite places in the world. For Shannon, coffee is life. With her early wake-up time, intense daily workouts, exceptional work ethic, and passion for creating communities for women on and off social media, it’s no wonder that she needs a little pick-me-up throughout the day.

She’s been through her fair share of hard times, from battles with depression to surviving abusive relationships. She’s an open book who loves sharing her journey with the world to help others. She prizes transparency, encouraging everyone to speak their truth and know that no matter what we’re going through, we’re not alone. In the spirit of that message, she established YANA (You Are Not Alone), an online community where women can connect, share stories, and support one another without judgment.

Features, Health + Wellness, Outreach + Advocacy, Sports + FitnessKristyn BridgesOctober 14, 2019Features

This is Entrepreneurship: Sew Valley’s Rosie Kovacs

The name “Rosie” just insists on optimism, and Rosie Kovacs was aptly named, for sure. She embodies entrepreneurial determination and a pure force of will to create opportunities and get things done. The C.E.O. of Sew Valley co-founded the nonprofit company in 2017, alongside C.O.O. Shailah Maynard, with the goal of bringing resources to apparel designers and entrepreneurs. The journey, of course, was anything but predictable. She shared with us the ups and downs of stepping away from her and life partner, Hayes’, venture, Brush Factory; the good, the bad, and the ugly that is the fashion industry; and more.

This Is Entrepreneurship: Sherry Sims on Mentorship

Sherry Sims went looking for a mentor early in her career. She was ready to grow and make moves, but she struggled to find someone who could help guide her.

Ainsley Cameron on the Cincinnati Art Museum’s ‘Women Breaking Boundaries’ Exhibit

The Cincinnati Art Museum champions the work of female artists – whether they’re well-known or they slipped through the historical cracks. For more than 100 years the Cincinnati Art Museum has been bringing in groundbreaking work created by women, and the tally for female artists they represent has only grown since Dr. Ainsley M. Cameron, curator of South Asian Art, Islamic Art, and Antiquities, joined the team.

Arts + Culture, October 2019, Sponsored ContentBrittany BarkerOctober 3, 2019Community Mix

By the Book: Sex Talk with Your Local Librarian, Chapter 3

Safe sex is enjoyable sex. It’s a great relief for all parties when every piece of information is on the table, and there isn’t a worry later about random bumps. The least fun guessing game is, “Razor burn, allergy, or S.T.D.?” Giving yourself the knowledge that you have done everything in your control to prevent the transfer of disease is invaluable.

By the Book, Health + Wellness, Education, October 2019Emma WilligOctober 3, 2019Community Mix

This Is Entrepreneurship: Postwell’s Jess Kerr

Some entrepreneurs have everything planned out, and when the time comes, they’re ready. As we sit in a tiny Oakley duplex surrounded by stacks of pads, perineal sprays, sitz, and more, Jess Kerr tells us she was not one of those entrepreneurs.

The postwell journey started with a moment of frustration on behalf of a friend struggling through postpartum recovery. What came next can only be explained through the perfect storm of a viral internet story, a stack of plain white boxes, and a woman determined to solve a problem.

Meet the Women of Cincy Team: Gina Regan

As a Women of Cincy resident, I got to choose and interview a team member about their life and work. As I sifted through profiles on our Meet the Team page, Gina immediately stood out with a history major at Xavier. I, too, am a history major at Xavier and am constantly seeking inspiration for what to do once I graduate in May. Gina is the sales director for Women of Cincy as well as a developer and fundraiser for the Corporation for Findlay Market. We met on a sunny day in Washington Park, and Gina’s bubbly, cheery, and hilarious personality made for lots of fun and laughter as the day waned and music and people built into the lively atmosphere.

Scenes From the City: Rachel Trees of P Squared

Over the past few months, my perception of myself has shifted into that of a tree root, growing and thriving in the soil of Cincinnati. By nurturing one meaningful connection of friendship, I’ve come to realize the boundless other relationships that can then take root and blossom. By laying down roots and investing in relationships, the fertile soil that is Cincinnati allows me to grow and reach people like Rachel Trees.

This Is Entrepreneurship: Cloverleaf’s Kirsten Moorefield

Kirsten Moorefield never intended to start a tech company. Yet here she is, the co-founder and C.O.O. of Cloverleaf, an H.R. tech platform that allows individuals and employees to be their best selves both at work and at home. She sat down with us at Rhinegeist Brewery – back where it all began in 2015 – to chat about her journey as a tech entrepreneur; the many, many challenges along the way; finding her support network; and what it means to be a female leader in this space.

This Is Entrepreneurship: Originalitees’ Khisha Asubuhi

My favorite people are those who tell it like it is, and Khisha Asubuhi is no exception. At 5’11’’, she’s fierce inside and out, but she’s as real as it gets, and you find yourself instantly at home chatting with her. We sat down with the owner of Originalitees just a few weeks after the company celebrated 10 years in business to chat about Khisha’s journey of entrepreneurship, dreams for the future, and being more than “just a T-shirt shop.”

Reported By Women: Cincinnati Comic Expo

We weren’t sure what to expect when applying for press passes for the Cincinnati Comic Expo, but what we found was much more than meets the eye. Comic Expo is an environment full of feminism, body positivity, creativity, and immediate acceptance of others. The Duke Energy Center was filled with talented artists, authors, and actors. We watched adults turn into little kids again, discovering their heroes, acting out their fantasies, and embracing fandoms. We quickly realized there was so much more to learn about comic books and pop culture, so in true Women of Cincy fashion, we started walking up to people and asking questions.

October 2019, Reported By Women, Arts + CultureWomen of Cincy StaffOctober 1, 2019Community Mix

This is Entrepreneurship: Catherine Manabat and Julia Petiprin of Homemaker’s Bar

Neon lights. Bright stripes. Smashed fine china. Every detail of Homemaker’s Bar draws you in and tells a story. We sat down with co-owners Catherine Manabat and Julia Petiprin approximately one month after the bar’s opening to chat about what it’s like to be a woman in the hospitality industry, the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and how two L.A. ladies ended up falling in love with Cincinnati.

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

Cole Imperi: Death, Dying, and Doing It Better

Cole Imperi is also a varied tapestry: She writes and hosts podcasts and runs two small businesses; she’s a teacher; and she’s trained in both yoga and typeface design. She is, first and foremost, a thanatologist – a person who studies death and dying. Her passions come together and coalesce in her work here in the Cincinnati area, through her work at the Lloyd Library and Museum as a research fellow, and more. At the vineyards, Cole and I talked about life, death, grieving, and growing.

Arts + Culture, Entrepreneurship, Features, Health + Wellness, Science + TechLaura LeavittSeptember 16, 2019Features

Tanya Leach: ‘Do the things you don’t think you can do.’

Walking into the pottery studio where Tanya Leach often seeks refuge, turning lumps of clay into works of art, was like stepping into an alternate reality. The studio, a historic home in the heart of Covington, is filled with painted tiles and stacked shelves of tools, mixing bowls, and artwork, all covered in the fingerprints of a tight-knit community of women. Tanya, accompanied by her sister Tiffany and studio owner Jane, describes the environment as a place where women can show up and express their support and creativity freely with each other – all over good beer and even better conversation.

Arts + Culture, FeaturesSarah UrmstonSeptember 9, 2019Features

The Second Annual Cindependent Film Festival: Celebration, Opportunity, Expression, and Story

People from all over the world gathered in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine August 29-31 for the second annual Cindependent Film Festival.

Arts + Culture, September 2019Women of Cincy StaffSeptember 6, 2019Community Mix

Meet the Women of Cincy Team: Dani Clark

Preparing to interview Dani Clark was a little stressful for me – I’d been told she’s an exceptionally good interviewer. I wondered how the role-switching would feel for us, but I needn’t have been worried. Her relaxed demeanor and the care with which she responded to each question left me in awe. I was impressed by how thoughtful and purposeful she is. Curious to the core, she couldn’t stop herself from asking our photographer, Katie, and I what our responses would have been to my questions.

Meet the Team, September 2019, Arts + CultureErin GlynnSeptember 4, 2019Community Mix

By the Book: Sex Talk with Your Local Librarian, Chapter 2

Every single person deserves a healthy sexual relationship.

Read that sentence again. And a thousand more times until it is under your skin. Last month, we talked about taking the nervousness out of sex and making it fun. In my opinion, you can’t have fun when you’re having anxiety-ridden-probably-low-key-acting-super-casual panic attacks.

By the Book, September 2019, EducationEmma WilligSeptember 2, 2019Community Mix

Scenes from the City: Michele Burroughs

With summer energy pulsing, Cincinnati is more than just a heatwave. The possibility of good moments seems to be swelling, just as my heart did when I heard about Michele Burroughs. A long word-of-mouth grapevine of coworkers, mothers with a hunger for caffeine, and my frequent eavesdropping paid off in the best way. After learning about Michele’s journey establishing a Pleasant Ridge caffeine gem a few months ago, I knew I wanted to make time to hear her story.