Women of Cincy • April 22, 2022

Jessica Moore on Relationship-Building to Create Lasting Change —

After moving to Cincinnati, Jessica Moore was on a mission to make a life for herself in her new city. After years of grinding away in just about every job in the food and beverage service industry, she didn’t know she’d find her calling in an organization like Cohear. Jessica now works as a Community Organizer, building and tapping into a vast network of Everyday Experts who help to create real change.

Women of Cincy • April 22, 2022

Nia Baucke on Creating Policy by Listening — Women of Cincy

Sitting in Cohear’s office, with her youngest son happily crawling around at her feet, Nia Baucke spoke with us about her passion for the work she gets to do through Cohear. Nia worked in the social good space throughout her career. While these experiences gave Nia a chance to contribute to her community, she knew something was missing from that work: the voice of people most affected by the issues she and her colleagues were trying to solve.

Women of Cincy • February 21, 2022

The Second Adolescence of Dr. Nicole Avant — Women of Cincy

Dr. Nicole Avant carries titles familiar to many women: mother, sister, daughter, caretaker, provider, business owner, employee, teacher, professor. Now, at age 42, she’s learning to define herself outside these roles. In our recent conversation, Nicole shared how she’s taking the time now to find and love herself. She’s breaking free from the confines of productivity, structural inequality, and capitalism to build a life centered on joy – and she wants more women to do the same.

Medium • December 20, 2021

Bell, book, and candle

Two ghosts frequent the nightmares of researchers: the “Hawthorne effect” and the problem of attrition. Both cast long shadows of doubt on study findings. Have researchers on a teen and family intervention now found a way to exorcise them?

Women of Cincy • October 25, 2021

Lauren White on Building Community Connections and the Dark Side of the Moon — Women of Cincy

Huddled 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 hope

Women of Cincy • April 26, 2021

Good (Man)ners: Jamie Sivrais on A Voice for the Innocent —

April 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.

Supermajority • November 18, 2020

Meet the Sheriff-Elect Who Took the Job of the Man Who Fired Her for Being Gay and Speaking Out

In 2017, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil fired Charmaine McGuffey from her job as major of the Hamilton County Jail and Court Services. Neil claimed he acted in response to a hostile work environment complaint filed by McGuffey’s administrative assistant. McGuffey argued she was fired at least in part because she is openly gay. This year McGuffey ran against Neil for Sheriff and handily defeated him in the April primary, capturing 70% of the votes.

Women of Cincy • November 9, 2020

This Is Entrepreneurship: Chelsie Walter on Putting Empathy to Work —

Our job is to make sure that we’re creating as many opportunities as possible to put people in situations where they can experience empathy. Empathy is something that you have to work on. It’s a muscle.

Women of Cincy • September 4, 2020

This Is Entrepreneurship: Melis Aydoğan on Turning Passion into a Business —

We connected virtually with Melis Aydoğan, founder of the Turkish coffee brand, Rüya – “bold coffee for the immigrant dream.” In fact, Rüya means “dream” in Turkish. It’s aptly named as Melis does more than make a tasty source of caffeine. She creates community connections, pushes herself and others to dream big, and is a strong voice for immigrant families, such as her own.

Supermajority • August 11, 2020

What Biden’s VP Can Learn From The Women Who Ran Before Her

The only thing we know for sure about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s vice-presidential pick is that she will be a woman, making her the third female vice-presidential candidate from a major party in United States history. She will follow in the footsteps of fellow Democrat Geraldine Ferraro and Republican Sarah Palin, who ran in 1984 and 2008, respectively (although neither won).

RISE News • August 1, 2020

Inside the School-to-Prison Pipeline —

Simply put, the School-to-Prison Pipeline refers to the policies and practices that push youth from the classroom into the courtroom. The practice grew primarily, though not exclusively, from two discipline practices: 1) zero-tolerance policies and 2) using police officers in schools—in the form of School Resource Officers (SROs).

RISE News • July 26, 2020

Cincinnati Opera’s 'Blind Injustice' Tells the Story of Six Ohio Exonerees —

This week the Cincinnati Opera premiered Blind Injustice exploring the true stories of six people who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned before being freed by the Ohio Innocence Project (OIP). The opera is a collaboration between OIP and the Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC). It is based on real casework by OIP, 13 hours of interviews with the exonerees, and the book Blind Injustice written by OIP Director, Mark Godsey.

Women of Cincy • July 20, 2020

Wendy Calaway: Finding Hope and Fighting for a Safer, More Just Society —

We’re taught stock lines like, “The United States has the greatest criminal justice system in the world.” That kind of commentary isn’t really evaluated very much. We all just kind of think it and say it. And I thought it, too. Then, I started walking into the juvenile court every day in Hamilton County and saw that our criminal justice system wasn’t very good.

RISE News • July 15, 2020

Cincinnati Artist Draws Portraits of People in Recovery —

Cincinnati artist, Dana Langenbrunner, was working in the art therapy program at the Center for Addiction Services when one student asked to draw her portrait. That’s not what the class was working on that day, but Langenbrunner was excited that a student wanted to create art for the sake of art.

Women of Cincy • July 10, 2020

This Is Entrepreneurship: Barb Smith on Sticking to Values and Pivoting During COVID —

Meet Barb Smith, co-founder and president of Journey Steel. She is the living embodiment of Journey Steel’s motto: “We build and support dreams.” Barb spoke with us via videoconference about the values upon which she built her company and how she kept it afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic by sticking to those values. She also talked about what it’s like leading in a male-dominated sector as a Black woman.

Prism • May 27, 2020

Public safety should be based on care, not fear

The term “public safety” often elicits images of firetrucks, police cars, and ambulances. We tend to think it is the first responders who keep the public safe. While they certainly do play a role, this public safety picture is incomplete—or perhaps, wholly inaccurate. Emerging is a new definition of public safety that is evidence-based and human-centric.

Medium • May 9, 2020

What are people saying about the children who become involved in the juvenile justice system and…

Every child, regardless of what they look like, who they are related to, where they live, or the choices they make, deserves the opportunity to thrive. Children who become involved in the juvenile justice system, especially those who are incarcerated, face multiple barriers to becoming healthy, happy, and well-functioning adults before and during their involvement with the justice system. Yet, they receive disturbingly little support to prevent their involvement.

RISE News • April 17, 2020

Guidance for Youth Justice Systems During COVID-19 Crisis —

The W. Haywood Burns Institute compiled recommendations for youth justice systems In response to the current COVID-19 crisis. The list is a compilation of information collected from several advocacy organizations; Youth Justice Coalition, Juvenile Justice Initiative, Center for Children’s Law and Policy and Youth Correctional Leaders for Justice.

RISE News • April 2, 2020

Telecourt During COVID-19 and Beyond —

Courts across the country are already facing budget cuts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. As is being reported, courts are being warned about and sustaining double-digit budget cuts. Technology has served courts and their communities in the past by streamlining court processes and increasing efficiency.

Women of Cincy • April 1, 2020

This Is Entrepreneurship: Rachel DesRochers on Guilt —

At cozy and eclectic Left Bank Coffeehouse in Newport, we sat down with Rachel DesRochers, serial entrepreneur and founder of Grateful Grahams, to talk about one of the frequent side effects of professional success: guilt. During her decade as a business owner, Rachel has learned a thing or two about managing guilt. She shared her experience and some tips and tricks, like a regular gratefulness practice and lots of self-love.