The Women of Cincy residency isn’t like any other journalism or communications internship; our residents are not nameless fact-checkers – we want them to leave with both professional and personal growth; we want them to go out into the world more confident and capable human beings.
Read MoreWhen we first met with Tia Rochelle, it was the beginning of 2020, just before all of our worlds upended. On the very last day of 2021, I spoke with Tia and we were at the height of the pandemic, unsure if things would ever return to “normal.”
Tia will tell you herself that when Women of Cincy first interviewed her, she wasn’t exactly sure where her business, JahniSpot, was heading. She was adjusting to being an entrepreneur, balancing work and home, and ensuring her family was secure even though she was taking a risk.
Read MoreWelcome to 2022. I want to share emotional and life-defining decisions accompanied by a three day thought process.
Like many people throughout the world, I encountered losses due to Covid-19. My Covid-19 Calendar has birthed (and continues to birth) “seasons of challenges”.
Read MoreOur city thrives when we support local Black business. Where you spend your dollar matters – shop local Black-owned businesses, including those featured on this list and in our past gift guides. You can satisfy your sweet tooth, buy a new outfit, and sport your Bengals pride while also supporting the local economy!
Read MoreWalking into Never the Less, a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides programs for fourth- through eleventh-grade girls in the tri-state area, is a lot like walking into a church: the atmosphere is welcoming and bright; in lieu of stained glass, beautiful paintings and prints depicting strong women decorate the walls; and at the center of it all, one can only approach the equivalent of a preacher – founder Ms. Doris Thomas – with a sense of joyful reverence. Working through her faith and the footprints of the women who showed her the way, Ms. Doris talked to us at Never the Less’ new location about her faith, her accomplishments, and her hopes to come.
Read MoreI’ve put off this letter for so long, mostly because I just couldn’t figure out where to begin.
When thinking through how to start this off, in true ‘90s kid fashion, I just keep hearing Smash Mouth sing, “My world’s on fire, how about yours?”
Monica Toro Gomez is a strong and inspirational woman who radiates compassion and strength. She moved to Cincinnati from Colombia with her one-year-old daughter in 2010 and, at the time, didn't know any English. Monica's story of finding her way and a community in a new country is filled with hardships and a tremendous amount of resiliency.
Read MoreWe know that the past two years have been rough for everyone – us included. But, we’re still here and the need to create more empathy and connection across our communities is growing. Centering diverse voices through story is how we begin to break down barriers and local stories are important vehicles in which we can learn from one another and create change in our communities.
Read MoreHuddled in Clifton’s Sitwells Coffeehouse, we sat down with author and community leader, Lauren White. The coffee shop is just a short drive from the University of Cincinnati (U.C.), where Lauren received her bachelor’s degree, is working on her master’s, and is a current employee. She’s made the most of the opportunities U.C. provides to create change for students and youth across Cincinnati. A published poet, Lauren wrote a book of poetry sharing the untold stories of Black women that she hopes will help encourage and inspire anyone who reads it.
Read MoreThe 2021 Election Day is just around the corner. On November 2, Cincinnatians will elect nine city council members to serve two-year terms and one mayor to serve a four-year term. In addition to city council and the mayoral race, voters will decide on Cincinnati Public School board, judges, and several ballot issues.
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 MoreZoey Peach is, as her name implies, a real peach, with a bubbly personality and excitement behind her glistening eyes. The health educator and outreach maven invited us into the newly re-opened offices at Caracole, a nonprofit AIDS service organization serving the tri-state area in the fight against HIV/AIDS through prevention, housing, and care. Zoey shared stories of the amazing people she’s learned from and how she’s using that knowledge to fight discrimination in the tri-state area.
Read MoreAs a Gemini and self-professed creative with degrees in African American studies and marketing, Sheryl Long didn’t anticipate her current career path in city administration. But she found her purpose in local government roles. She’s now the assistant city manager for Cincinnati and the president of the Ohio City/County Management Association.
Read MoreBecky Blank is passionate about making the tech industry a more diverse space. She lives her passion in her day job at Ample by striving to be the kind of strong woman leader whom she has always wanted to have in her workplace, and in her free time through the two nonprofits she helped found, We Pivot and Unmute. Both aim to amplify marginalized voices in the tech industry.
Read More“Cincinnati Is Beautiful.”—This simple and colorful mural in Camp Washington, just off Martin Luther King Drive near its overpass with Central Parkway, catches my eye every time I drive past it to get to the University of Cincinnati. Heading downtown, as I walk or drive around Over-the-Rhine, I take a closer look at the doors and walls of some boarded buildings and am often surprised to find them painted with cute door knobs, windows, and flower boxes.
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 MoreKatie’s voice is deep and warm. There’s a steadiness in the way she talks, rhythmic and thoughtful. Many Cincinnatians would recognize her voice after nearly 30 years on W.N.K.U. as host of “Music from the Hills of Home,” and leader of her own bluegrass band, the Katie Laur Band. Her voice is the sound of home for many.
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.
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