Y’all, I’m so thrilled to share this one with you finally. I had the chance to have a phone conversation with Natalie Andrews, a sex and relationship therapist, to address a few things that we, as women, deal with daily!
Read MoreAs a Women of Cincy resident, I had the opportunity to interview a team member for this month’s Community Mix Collection. Abby Farr, business owner, and free-spirited entrepreneur talked with me about her store, Tillage Clothing. Her store sells sustainable clothing and a portion of each profit is donated to an organization that directly aids survivors of sex trafficking.
Read MoreLaTosha Ward is on a mission to uplift women in business. After working in consulting for more than 12 years, she noticed a gap of representation in top leadership positions and decided to start her own company to help change this. Since 2017, LaTosha's company, BID, Business and Individual Development, has been providing project management and agility training to companies on a more personal level.
Read MoreJillian Harrison-Jones grew up in a family of musicians and took lessons from their careers to ultimately find her passion in conducting. She started as a history major, bound for law school, but when asked what she was truly passionate about, she knew it was music. Jillian made a dramatic switch, getting a new undergrad degree and ultimately pursuing her passion to mold voices into one awesome sound.
On a cold January afternoon, I took a short walk to Emily Palmer Wolff’s studio in the heart of Mainstrasse, Kentucky; it only took me about a song and a half in my headphones to get there from my own home. On my walk, I passed a tall brick building undergoing a makeover; my favorite neighborhood bar, Larry’s; and the side of a building with a mural that reads “Love Y’all” – all everyday details Emily Wolff has touched in Covington.
Read MoreCincinnati is full of so-called local celebrities; they grace nightly newscasts and are shown in The Enquirer on a regular basis. Founder and CEO of RaJean Beauty, Megan Seard, just might be considered one – after all, she estimates her products are in more than 1,500 tri-state homes! However, when taking into account the way one feels after using her shower scrubs and shea butters, the title “local goddess” might be more appropriate.
With a passion for self-care, a relentless customer-first mentality, and a hell of a lot of determination, Megan has been to nearly every corner of Cincinnati and Indiana – with her famous backpack full of products in tow. RaJean Beauty has gone from kitchen table concoctions to a beauty empire that brings out decadent skin with a cult-like following. We sat down with Megan at her favorite partnering location, Aladdin’s, to discuss what’s important to her in these unprecedented times.
Read MoreAs a life-long writer, Kristyn has always had a knack for storytelling. Her writing background eventually led her to Women of Cincy, where she has been a writer for nearly four years. Since joining the team, Kristyn has used her aptitude for writing to help others share their stories and speak their truth. She has also used her editing skills to become the founder and entrepreneur of Krystal Clear Editing LLC.
Read MoreAt the end of every interview, we ask our interviewees about influential women in their lives, and each Mother’s Day, we compile the times our interviewees mentioned their mothers in their answers. Across all these interviews, one thread is evident: to be a mother is to persevere, constantly.
Read MoreApril is National Sexual Violence Prevention Month/Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so it’s fitting that our featured ally is Jamie Sivrais, founder of A Voice for the Innocent (A.V.F.I.). A.V.F.I. is a nonprofit community dedicated to supporting those affected by rape and sexual abuse by offering a safe, compassionate space to share stories and seek help. We sat down with Jamie at the A.V.F.I. office in Covington to talk storytelling, surviving abuse, and breaking down our society’s idea of masculinity.
Read MoreAfter a month of heavy snowfall and dreary winter clouds, the sun was finally peering through my window again as I sat at my desk, ready to meet Courtney Lawrence for the first time. It was such serendipitous timing because Courtney's warmth and vibrant spirit transcended the screen as we talked.
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 MoreAt Women of Cincy, our feature articles are in the Q&A format because we want our interviewees to speak to our audience in their own words. However, as journalists and editors, sometimes things get cut for time or clarity. Editors live and die by time and clarity, and editing for these principles is a daily practice in all newsrooms, including ours.
Read MoreEsther Maria Claros Berlioz, Ph.D., is an integral part of the Latinx community in Cincinnati, welcoming and supporting the immigrant community – especially the children, who she lovingly dotes on. In her work with these children, art has become a communal language, with color and scenes representing unique journeys that are understood through shared humanity, history, and dreams.
Read MoreAt Women of Cincy, we believe that when you uplift women, you uplift everyone. After a hellish 12 months, we think that all of us could use a little uplifting – especially those who own or lead small businesses and nonprofits. In our experience, if you build it – the community will come. So let’s get to work.
Read MoreFor Quinn McIlhargey-Nicholson, a simple scrap of forgotten leather tells a story – it has a hidden history, a character that’s only enhanced with time and wear. I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Quinn, owner and founder of Baqette. Her handcrafted bags are making a name throughout the city, and each bag – made from recycled leather – has its story to tell. Quinn’s own story is about taking a leap and trusting yourself to find the way.
Read MoreOkay, y’all. Now that we have rounded the corner into 2021, let’s talk about things we need to keep and things we need to let go of this year!
Read MoreWith stacks of art supplies, colorful paintings, and children’s drawings decorating the room, the West End Art Gallery’s bright space is reminiscent of the best kind of art classroom. Tia and Michael Brown started the nonprofit art center as a place for the community to find a positive form of expression. The “WE Gallery,” as Tia calls it, began as pop-up workshops in neighborhood buildings. It’s turned into a labor of love for the Browns, with a dedicated space, mobile mural-painting events, two hyper-local coloring books, and art-supply grab bags as COVID-19 restricted in-person workshops.
Read MoreRubina Dosani’s North Star is her Islamic faith, which guides her to help others whenever she can. In following her passion, she has helped people in Cincinnati, throughout the country, and even around the world. She helped establish the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati (I.C.G.C.) and was the first leader of the center’s mental health program, normalizing discussions about mental health and developing resources for the community.
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