The RiseUp series is programmed by Memorial Hall P H O T O : P R O V I D E D BY 3 C D C
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confident in their right to be heard. “I think that with 10,000 Maniacs there’s always been an identifying quality and content of lyrics in songs and political parts of songs, just kind of a respect of womanhood in our lyrics,” she says. “For bands historically, you go back in Rock & Roll, there have been women, but not as much as males. And even if you go way back into the Classical music realm, that was dominated by male composers. So we are kind of catching up in a way. The fact is that it’s important now to have equality for all people.” In addition to the market and the concert, the RiseUp event will feature various nonprofits such as Ladies of Leadership, a local mentorship program, that will be on-site collecting donations and raising awareness for their initiatives. “The concert is awesome,” says Stapleton. “We are going to have a blast. But it’s really about awareness, so when it comes to our nonprofit partners, we know by the end that we are going to actually make an impact. These nonprofits are in the weeds, they are the ones that get their hands dirty, they do the hardest work, so we are thrilled to partner with them.” When Stapleton was organizing the event, she consulted the Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation to uncover local organizations that empower young women and might also benefit from the series, she says. She was eager to reach out to Ladies of Leadership, an organization in Avondale that serves children in kindergarten through eighth grade. According to its website, the program builds a sisterhood through mentorship, creating self-worth and confidence in underserved youth. Layered into the decorated concert schedule are “Empower Hours,” intimate, two-hour events that range in purpose from networking to storytelling. Small businesses and outstanding female leaders will be highlighted in categories such as family
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law, financial planning, healthy living, relationships, career advice, spiritual well-being, parenting and self-help. The first Empower Hour is scheduled for November and will honor The Future You Project, a community created to spread hope and a web of support for women. That hour will also feature Amy Scalia of Sinclair Broadcast Group as a speaker. “I feel like you’d almost have to be hiding under a rock right now to not feel like there isn’t incredible momentum for women,” says Stapleton. “I think that we are being heard. I think what our hope is, is that we want to amplify that voice whether it’s through an incredible powerhouse female singing onstage or a quiet voice reading poetry or listening to an inspirational speaker. The goal is to create a space where people feel supported, where we can show true empathy and inspire them to be proud of who they are as individuals.” Tickets for upcoming events range $20-$50 and can be purchased on Memorial Hall’s website. Concerts scheduled throughout the year so far are slated to feature Wild Child, Nella and The Wailin’ Jennys. Stapleton hopes RiseUp installments can morph into a permanent fixture of Memorial Hall’s entertainment offerings. “I think that the one thing I would hope people walk away with is the feeling that someone cares about them,” Stapleton says. “We want to make women feel empowered for themselves first but to know that there’s this whole community here in Cincinnati that is there to support them and all you have to do is raise your hand. We live in such a giving city, somebody is listening, somebody is trying to make their voices heard.” The Cincinnati Bell RiseUp Women’s Series kicks off Sept. 17 with a free concert at Washington Park (1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine) featuring headliners 10,000 Maniacs. More info: memorialhallotr.com.
