ARTS & CULTURE | COMMUNITY | PHILANTHROPY
May 2021
May Festival heralds pandemic recovery
Taking food rescue that ‘last mile’ Fernandez & Shifman have an app for that
PLUS: A return to urban farming
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Movers&Makers MAY 2021
SUMMERFAIR 2021
SELECTED EXHIBITS OF FINE ARTS & CRAFTS
MoversMakers.org
Publishers’ Letter 4 Arts/Culture 5 Playhouse getting back into action 6 Cincinnati Opera returns: in-person – but outdoors 6 May Festival: Very American festival heralds pandemic recovery | By Ray Cooklis 8 The A/C List: music, theater, visual art and more 10
The Datebook 12 Late Spring offers a variety of fundraisers, virtual and in-person, including dinners, parties, golf outings, a Derby party, a scavenger hunt and a weekend celebrating motorsports
Focus on: Food 18 A new nonprofit goes the ‘last mile’ to rescue food – with volunteers and an app | By Shauna Steigerwald 18 Urban gardens promote self-sufficiency, reclaim land, improve environment | By Madeline Anderson 20
In the News 22 Art Academy graduation features celebrated poet 22 Rotary Club honors Nzekwu of Found Village 22 Classical curriculum tuition-free school in works 24 Names in the News 25
Gifts/Grants 28 ArtsWave gives $166K in project grants 26 Fifth Third Foundation supports Cincinnati State 29 Scripps awards $600K for diversity in journalism 29 Latino center wins grant from Give Where You Live NKY 29
Snapshots 30
JUNE 4 - 6 CONEY ISLAND Fri 12 p.m. - 7 p.m. Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Sun 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Rain or Shine
CancerFree Kids raises nearly $450K 30 Orange buildings marking hope of end to pandemic 30 Brennaman hosts Family Nurturing Center TV program 31 Chamber program highlights COVID-19, racial impacts 31 Stepping Stones ‘Open Your Heart’ raises $68K 32
Advance tickets and more info at:
www.summerfair.org
Rock the Block touches 14 neighborhoods 32 Urban League honors six leaders in TV special 33 Volunteers begin returning to Matthew 25: Ministries 33 Give Back Cincinnati upgrades school garden 34
On the cover: Julie Shifman and Tom Fernandez, photo by Tina Gutierrez. Background: “Fresh Harvest” – an ArtWorks mural by Jonathon Queen (Kroger building, Vine and Central Parkway, Cincinnati), photographed by Dick Ebert (www.encirclephotos.com).
Movers & Makers
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PUBLISHERS’ LETTER
A
s we sit here in the midst of a damp and unpleasantly chilly mid-April afternoon, it’s easy to get discouraged. COVID deaths continue to rise (again), passing 3 million worldwide. Violence and hatred have reared their ugly heads several times this week in nationally breaking stories. And this weather is not helping one bit. There is even a snowflake icon (!) on the extended forecast this week. And don’t even get us started on cicadas... On the other end of the spectrum, vaccinations move along promisingly (We get #2 this week.), the stock market is setting records, the Reds lead the league in runs scored, UC has a new coach, FC Cincinnati is about to kick off, and we here at M&M and Cincinnati Cares have so much for which to be thankful. The best part of what we get to do is share inspiring stories. Take our cover story, for example. Shauna Steigerwald profiles the dynamic duo behind a new nonprofit – “the Uber of food rescue” – using an app to make sure unused food is not going to waste (Page 18). And speaking of food, Madeline Anderson shines a light on the quiet but
flourishing world of urban agriculture/ farming/gardening/growing – whatever you wish to call it – that is spreading roots from the suburbs to the urban core (Page 20). And if that wasn’t enough, actual live singing is returning to the public stage. Given the super-spreader capacity of singers, vocal music has been the last of the performing arts to re-emerge. Thanks to the clever folks at the May Festival, who have created a one-of-a-kind, spatially-safe vocal/ choral experience, we don’t have to wait another whole year to continue this oldest of Cincinnati traditions. Ray Cooklis outlines the offerings on page 8. (And Cincinnati Opera returns this summer, as well!) So, good riddance to April, always the cruelest month. May is here now, and hope springs eternal. As always, thanks for reading. Please share with a friend. Thom and Elizabeth Mariner, co-publishers, Movers & Makers Publishing
Do you love print? We love print. You can touch it, feel it, pick it up again and again. It doesn’t disappear from your coffee table the second you look at something else. It will still be there tomorrow, next week, and the rest of the month, for a quick browse or for reference. For 25 years, Movers & Makers has been a free print publication distributed to hundreds of locations throughout the area. But times change, and for a variety of reasons we are working to transition a portion of our distribution to direct mail. If you value our publication, and would appreciate having every issue of M&M delivered directly to your mailbox, please support this effort by signing up for a FREE subscription at www.moversmakers.org/subscribe.
Elizabeth & Thom Mariner, co-publishers
Publishing schedule: Issue
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(April 30)
May 26
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(July 2)
July 28
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Sept. 1
OCTOBER
(Sept. 3)
Sept. 29
NOVEMBER
(Oct. 1)
Oct. 27
DEC ’21 / JAN ’22
(Oct. 29)
Nov. 23
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Also at www.moversmakers.org/publishing-schedule © Copyright 2021 Movers & Makers Publishing We make every effort to verify information submitted for publication (print and online), but are not responsible for incorrect information or misidentified photos provided to us. Readers are advised to confirm event dates and other important details and check for last-minute changes with the organizations or advertisers involved. Publication of this magazine and its website (www.MoversMakers.org) does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of any information contained within, including advertisements and links. Movers & Makers Publishing is a nonprofit with fiscal sponsorship provided by Inspiring Service.
New Beginnings with Matinée Musicale! RETURN of Live Recitals Begins with RETURN Engagement of Acclaimed Tenor
Friday, June 4, 2021 7:30 p.m.
Pene Pati
(Limited seating with masks and social distancing.)
with Ronny Michael Greenberg piano
• “The most exceptional tenor discovery of the last decade” (Opéra Online)
TWO PERFORMANCES—SAME PROGRAM! Memorial Hall OTR
Sunday, June 6, 2021 3:00 p.m. SOLD O
UT!
• Recent debuts—Percy in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at Opéra national de Bordeaux, Romeo in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette at San Francisco Opera and Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata at Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theatre • Brought the Matinée Musicale audience to its feet demanding multiple encores during his 2019 Cincinnati debut—the clamor for his return is being answered!
October 3 2021
November 14 2021
January 30 2022
WindSync
Martin James Bartlett
Nicole Cabell
2021–2022 All recitals are at 3:00 p.m. at Memorial Hall OTR
March 6 2022
March 27 2022
April 10 2022
Zlatomir Fung
Ryan Speedo Green
Rachel Barton Pine
Photo: Devon Cass
Matinée Musicale Announces its Long-Awaited 108th Season
WIND QUINTET
PIANO
SOPRANO
CELLO
BASS-BARITONE
VIOLIN
For more details, including ticket information, please visit: www.matineemusicalecincinnati.org Visit us on Facebook.
Arts/Culture Playhouse getting back into action quickly Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present a slate of new events for the spring and summer – including the first in-person performances in the Marx Theatre in over a year – with two limited engagements featuring nationally recognized theater artists. April 30-May 2 “Higher and Higher: A Rock ‘n Soul Party with Chester Gregory” – Broadway star and recording artist Chester Gregory honors the legends of rock and soul: Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown and more. May 26-27 “The Skivvies: Live and Literally In-Person!” – The Skivvies are Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley, singer/actor/musicians performing stripped down arrangements of eclectic covers and eccentric originals. Not only is the music
stripped down – cello, ukulele, glockenspiel, melodica – but the Skivvies literally strip down to their underwear to perform. May 8, 16 and 23 The Playhouse is partnering with The Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center and the Cincinnati Music Accelerator to present live outdoor events featuring theater artists, musicians and poets. Appropriate for ages 12 and up. The events are free, but advance reservation is required. • May 8, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Cincinnati Union Terminal • May 16, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Cincinnati Art Museum • May 23, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Mayerson JCC Each evening features a different line-up of artists and content (to be announced at a later date).
Cincinnati Music Accelerator to launch ‘Music City’ initiative There is a new initiative in the works with the goal of boosting musical career opportunities here in Cincinnati – making Cincinnati a “Music City.” Cincinnati Music Accelerator (CMA), Ohio’s first music career accelerator, was launched in 2017. From music business training, street performances, and outdoor mobile activations via CMA’s mobile stage trailer, CMA has worked to find and create ways to accelerate opportunities within the musical arts of Cincinnati. “The last year has shown us that there are many ways to provide music entertainment outside of traditional venues, and this is creating new opportunities for music artists and creatives that didn’t exist before,” said Kick Lee, CMA founder and executive director. “However, partnership with local businesses, city leaders, and arts Kick Lee supporters is vital to sustaining and growing these opportunities so that Cincinnati can achieve the mission of becoming a music city.” CMA is currently forming a national advisory B\board of current and former music industry professionals, entertainment lawyers, artists and repertoire (A&R) representatives, record label executives, and business and organizational leaders to advise CMA on programming and help produce resources for the Cincinnati region. Cincinnati has a strong legacy in popular music as home to The Isley Brothers, LA Reid, Bootsy Collins, Walk the Moon, The National, 98 Degrees, and the famed King Records. “There’s no reason Cincinnati can’t be a music city on the scale of Nashville, Austin and Detroit,” says Lee. “We just need to put the infrastructure in place.” www.cincinnatimusicaccelerator.org 6
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The Skivvies, Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina
Through May 16 “Dragons Love Tacos” will be available to stream for free on weekends as part of the virtual Off the Hill series. Appropriate for ages 3 and up. Through May 23 “The Catastrophist” by Lauren Gunderson, a co-production of Marin Theatre Company and Round House Theatre Company, will have its exclusive Cincinnati presentation. Cost to stream is $25. www.cincyplay.com
Matinée Musicale brings back acclaimed tenor for live performances Friday, June 4, 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 6, 3 p.m., Memorial Hall Samoan Pene Pati – one of the world’s most critically acclaimed tenors – returns to Cincinnati in June, kicking off Matinée Musicale’s resumption of in-person events. In 2019, Pati endured an arduous journey to Cincinnati from New Zealand when an hours-long trip turned into days. Despite the stress and jet lag – and a surprise March snowstorm – Pati gave a performance that brought the Matinée Musicale audience to its feet clamoring for multiple encores, as well as cries for his rapid return. Restrictions because of the pandemic resulted in several scheduling postponements. But now Pati again takes the Memorial Hall stage, with pianist Ronny Michael Greenberg, for two performances. The nonprofit Matinée Musicale serves the Greater Cincinnati community through recitals, meet-theartist receptions, master classes, member meetings, plus scholarships Pene Pati and grants to small nonprofits. www.matineemusicalecincinnati.org
ARTS/CULTURE
ArtsWave introduces new park series
Rendering of the stage at Summit Park in Blue Ash
Cincinnati Opera returns: in-person – but outdoors July 11-31, Summit Park, Blue Ash Fifty years after Cincinnati Opera presented its final open-air season at its first performance home – the Cincinnati Zoo – the company returns to the outdoors. The opera’s 2021 summer festival will take place July 11-31 at Summit Park in Blue Ash, and will feature internationally renowned artists, the Cincinnati Opera Chorus and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of Cincinnati Opera’s 100th anniversary season in summer 2020. Summit Park was selected given its ability to host large-scale stage productions and its capacity to accommodate a significant, socially-distanced audience. Additionally, Summit Park offers a central location and an abundance of public amenities, such as parking and nearby restaurants. During July’s Cincinnati Opera
performances, audience members will be able to sit together in socially-distanced “pods” designated on Summit Park’s Great Lawn, and performances will be presented from an expansive stage constructed at the base of the park’s signature observation tower. Cincinnati Opera’s summer festival includes three popular operas previously announced as part of the company’s 2021 season: “Carmen,” “Tosca” and “The Barber of Seville.” Each opera will be presented without intermission in a reduced, 90-minute version partially staged with costumes, theatrical hair and makeup, and lighting. Opera in the Park, Cincinnati Opera’s season-opening celebration concert, also moves to Summit Park and will kick off the 2021 summer festival. Tickets start at $15. Current subscribers were contacted in April about their ticket options. Single tickets go on sale to the general public June 7. www.cincinnatiopera.org
‘Paintings, Politics and the Monuments Men’ July 9-Oct. 3. Cincinnati Art Museum will display prized artworks recovered in World War II. The US Third Army discovers Édouard Manet’s “The Winter Garden” in the salt mines at Merkers, April 25, 1945, image courtesy of National Archives at College Park, MD
During its 2021 campaign efforts to fund the arts, ArtsWave announced a series of free monthly outdoor concerts, “Enjoy the Arts @ Parks,” presented by Macy’s. The new eight-month series will include multiple performances during each concert thanks to partnerships with a diverse set of art organizations and independent artists, as well as Great Parks of Hamilton County, City of Covington (Devou Park) and Boone County Parks (Boone Woods). The first concert was at Devou Park on Saturday, March 27,
featuring gospel-southern rock by Redemption Brothers, melodic lyrics by Tracy Walker & Band, and a fusion of swing, jazz and rock by the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra’s Devou Doo Daddies. All concerts 1-5 p.m. • May 29, Sharon Woods • June 26, Glenwood Gardens • July 31, Woodland Mound Park, Weston Shelter • Aug. 28, Miami Whitewater Forest • Sept. 25, Fernbank Park • Oct. 16, Winton Woods Amphitheater www.artswave.org
Summerfair poster artist Amy Panfalone Summerfair 2021 poster
Summerfair unveils 2021 poster, Each year, Summerfair Cincinnati, one of the oldest continuous art fairs in the country, accepts submissions for its commemorative poster. The Summerfair Cincinnati 2021 selection, designed by Amy Panfalone, has been unveiled. Panfalone is a middle school art teacher for the Lakota Local School district. She has been teaching for nearly 20 years and also has experience in advertising design. She enjoys many art media, including color pencil illustration,
painting, photography, and digital art. Panfalone and her husband enjoy travel and much of her work is influenced by their experiences. Summerfair Cincinnati will return to historic Coney Island for its 54th year, June 4-6. • Friday: noon-7 p.m. • Saturday: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. • Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $10 (cash only at the gate), with children 12 and under admitted free. Advance tickets available online. www.summerfair.org
Movers & Makers
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ARTS/CULTURE
A very American May Festival heralds pandemic recovery By Ray Cooklis The Cincinnati May Festival has always been a special time for our community, helping us each spring to reconnect and celebrate our cultural and musical roots as “A City That Sings.” But this year’s festival, set for May 21-30 in Music Hall, will be especially meaningful, marking a return after a pandemic-scarred year and all it has taken from us – including the sound of voices raised together. Singing was found to be a particularly easy way to spread the coronavirus. The first widely reported mass infection in the United States, in fact, was after a choir practice in Washington state in early March 2020. We are certainly not out of the woods yet, but the fact that a festival is even feasible this year serves as a very hopeful sign. “It is an emotional time as we take our first steps coming together again,” said May Festival Principal Conductor Juanjo Mena when the three-program, five-performance lineup was announced in late March. “My heart has never been more full of hope and optimism,” said Mena. “I can think of no better way to connect and express the complex emotions we all feel … through voices raised together in song.” By the festival’s historical standards, this year’s program is unconventional, reflecting – very creatively and effectively – the demands of the moment. Distancing. Masks. Ventilation. Smaller audiences. Shorter programs. No intermission. And yes – less chorus. Choral singers appear in just a few pieces on two of the three programs, and then only as 24-member ensembles. Instead, most of the music is for vocal soloists with orchestra. But what music! This festival features a rich lineup of works that we might never see in a more conventional May Festival. Benjamin Britten’s “Les Illuminations” for soprano (or tenor) with strings. John Adams’ “The Wound-Dresser” for baritone and 8
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chamber orchestra. Gustav Mahler’s “Songs of a Wayfarer.” Gustav Holst’s “Rig Veda” choral hymns. Lieder by Franz Schubert. And on and on. Indeed, nearly every work in the lineup is getting its first May Festival performance.
Complex emotions Overall, it is a chance to reflect upon those “complex emotions” that Mena talked about. “It’s a different look for the May Festival,” said Nate Bachhuber, vice president of artistic planning for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and May Festival. “We wanted to honor the power of vocal music and use it to tell the kind of stories that are relevant now – to be a balm for this period. Juanjo has been remaining hopeful and has been challenging us to find a way forward. It’s not possible to overestimate the incredible support we’ve seen across the community to bring back and support the May Festival.” This year’s festival highlights “direct, powerful texts that are really important,” Bachhuber said. For example, the May 28 program – Aaron Copland’s “Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson,” Maria Schneider’s “Winter Morning Walks” and Adams’ “The Wound-Dresser” – is meant to reflect some of the emotions brought on by the pandemic, “moving works that are a testament to the human spirit.” Likewise, Kentucky-born African-American composer Julia Perry’s “Stabat Mater” on the May 21-22 program is a fitting reflection on grief and healing.
Very American Note that all those composers, and the writers/poets on whose work most of the music is based, are Americans. That was a conscious choice for this festival, along with an all-American lineup of soloists. “We are lucky to have world-class American soloists,” Bachhuber said, such as renowned soprano Joélle Harvey, a graduate of the University
of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Part of that is sheer practicality. With international travel still difficult or downright impossible, the festival focused on American singers. “That allowed us to take advantage of these artists’ availability,” Bachhuber said. “And for some of them, this is their first time back on stage since the pandemic. This is a moving moment for these artists, being able to perform again.”
Davone Tines
A limited chorus Still, it would not be the May Festival without the chorus, whose participation this year “is in a sense symbolic, but very meaningful,” Bachhuber said. “It was important for Juanjo and all of us to find ways to involve the chorus,” he said. “After all, the festival was created to highlight the chorus. It’s a large part of what makes the festival such a unique cultural offering in North America.” Such choral appearances are brief, with 24 singers distanced on stage and, yes, wearing masks while performing. “These are masks that were created for this purpose, more conical, with space around the mouth, designed with singers in mind,” Bachhuber said. One group of 24 tenors and basses will perform Holst hymns May 21-22, as will a group of 24 sopranos and altos
Strong emotions, powerful texts mark return of annual celebration of Cincinnati’s musical roots
Joelle Harvey May 29-30. Another group of 24 sopranos and altos will sing Reena Esmail’s “I Rise: Women in Song” on that latter program. (The third program, the May 28 all-American concert, is for soloists and orchestra only.) “This was a way we could fulfill the desire of the chorus to get back together in a way that is achievable and safe,” he said.
Safety first Bachhuber and his colleagues in CSO administration have become proficient in figuring out the COVID-19 safety angles, as the CSO and Pops returned to live but modified performances in Music Hall a few months ago. With help from the University of Cincinnati and TriHealth, they did aerosol studies. They analyzed air movement and exchange patterns in Music Hall.
ARTS/CULTURE They tested the best ways to distance and ventilate. Working with the state of Ohio, they crafted a complete plan. Festival forces are rehearsing in small groups using the May Festival rehearsal room and Music Hall Ballroom. Orchestra members and soloists will be distanced on stage, wearing masks whenever possible. Full-orchestra works may have reduced string sections to help make distancing possible. The audience for each program will be limited to 453 people or fewer – somewhat under 15 percent of Music Hall’s capacity, Bachhuber said. Concerts will be 60-90 minutes long with no intermission. “I’ve never heard someone complain that a concert was too short,” Bachhuber said. “Coming back to the concert hall, it’s all about having a meaningful experience.” The bottom line: “Keep everyone safe.” “Our procedures have been based on an assumption that someone in the hall may be contagious. We have many safeguards in place,” Bachhuber said. “We’re being cautious in a way that has allowed audiences to feel safer, and we have seen (CSO and Pops) audiences increase through the spring.”
Free live streaming While most of these precautions hopefully will not be necessary in the long term, one pandemic-induced innovation likely will become permanent: free livestreaming of May Festival concerts. Two of the three programs – May 22 and May 30 – will be streamed live and available for 24 hours afterward on www. mayfestival.com. This will help bring the music to those who cannot attend, and give the festival exposure to a wider, potentially worldwide audience. “We’re going to continue streaming,” Bachhuber said. “We’ve invested in the technology and skills for it because we’re seeing a lot of enthusiasm for it.” Such enthusiasm is not hard to imagine. For the past year, the performing arts have been mostly missing from our lives. Voices have been silenced, and it’s time to sing again. As Mena put it: “This May we will discover the voice in everything: From challenge and sadness to hope, joy and triumph – this will truly be a festival of music that speaks to our time.” 513-381-3300 or www.mayfestival.com
The 2021 May Festival Opening Weekend – May 21 & 22, 7:30 p.m. Bruckner: Adagio from String Quintet in F Major; Perry: Stabat Mater; Mahler: “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen;” Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda. Sara Couden, contralto; Elliot Madore, baritone; May Festival Chorus Tenor and Bass Ensemble; Juanjo Mena, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Voice and Verse – May 28, 7:30 p.m. Copland: Eight Poems of Emily Dickinson; Schneider: “Winter Morning Walks;” Adams: “The Wound-Dresser.” Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; Sophia Burgos, soprano; Davóne Tines, baritone; Robert Porco, CSO
Hearts and Voices Soar – May 29, 7:30 p.m. & May 30, 2:30 p.m. Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5; Britten: “Les Illuminations;” Schubert: 4 Lieder; Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda; Esmail: “I Rise: Women in Song.” Joélle Harvey, soprano; Paul Appleby, tenor; May Festival Chorus Soprano and Alto Ensemble; Juanjo Mena, CSO
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The A/C List Cultural Exhibits/Tours American Legacy Tours | 859-951-8560. americanlegacytours.com Historic tours in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky American Sign Museum | Camp Washington. 513-541-6366. americansignmuseum.org May 27, 6 p.m. “Big Boy’s Evolution” ArtWorks Mural Tours | artworkscincinnati.org Thru October. Walking tours of Pendleton, Over-the-Rhine and Downtown Behringer-Crawford Museum | Devou Park. 859-491-4003. bcmuseum.org Permanent exhibit. “Mrs. White’s Kindergarten” Betts House | West End. 513651-0734. thebettshouse.org May 29. 1 p.m. Betts-Longworth Historic District walking tour Brewing Heritage Trail Tour Center | brewingheritagetrail.com Thru June 27. Guided and outdoor tours: Built on Beer Tour • Brewers & Barons Tour Thru June 20. Brunch, Beer, and Breweries Tour (from Moerlein Lager House) Cincinnati Museum Center | Union Terminal. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org Current exhibits. “A Year on the Edge” • “An Unfinished Revolution: Women and the Vote” • “Inspired by Nature: The Art and Activism of Charley Harper”
Also online at moversmakers.org
Thursdays-Sundays. Docentled house tours by appointment May 16, 4 p.m. “African-American Genealogy 101” (virtual)
May 22, 2 & 7 p.m. Contemporary Performance: modern, tap, jazz and hip-hop
Heritage Village Museum | Sharon Woods. 513-563-9484. heritagevillagecincinnati.org Wed.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Self-guided outdoor tours
Cincy-Cinco | cincy-cinco.com May 5, 5 p.m. Hour-long review of special moments from the 17 years of this event (virtual)
Holocaust & Humanity Center | Cincinnati Museum Center. 513-487-3055. holocaustandhumanity.org Current exhibit. “Dimensions in Testimony” Lloyd Library and Museum | Downtown. 513-721-3707. lloydlibrary.org Permanent exhibit. George Rieveschl Jr.: History of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Current exhibit. “Women and Nature in the Arts, Sciences and Letters” Milford Historical Society | Downtown Milford. 513-248-0324. milfordhistory.net Permanent exhibit. Historical displays of art, artifacts and more National Underground Railroad Freedom Center | The Banks. 513-333-7500. freedomcenter.org Exploring the history of and struggle for freedom Skirball Museum | Hebrew Union College, Clifton. 513-2211875. huc.edu/research/museums New exhibit. “Opening the Ark: Bringing a Lost Jewish Synagogue to Life”
Dance
Friends of Music Hall | Washington Park. 513-621-2787. friendsofmusichall.org Thursdays, 4 p.m. & Saturdays, 10 a.m., thru November. Outdoor tours of Music Hall
Cincinnati Ballet | 513-621-5219. cballet.org May 21-23. Ballet in the Park (at Seasongood Pavilion, Eden Park)
Harriet Beecher Stowe House | Walnut Hills. 513-751-0651. stowehousecincy.org
Miami Valley Ballet Theatre | Fairfield Community Arts Center. mvbtdance.org
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Fairs/Festivals/Markets
City Flea | Washington Park, Over-the-Rhine. thecityflea.com May 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Eclectic arts and crafts fair Covington Farmers Market | Foot of Roebling Bridge, Covington. rcov.org Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Food and beverage market East Walnut Hills Farmers Market | East Walnut Hills parking lot May 28, 3-7:30 p.m. Food and beverage market Fountain Square | Downtown. 513-621-4400. myfountainsquare.com Mondays-Wednesdays thru May 31, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Strauss Troy Market Hyde Park Farmers Market | Hyde Park Square. hydeparkfarmersmarket.com May 16, 23 & 30, 9:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. Food and beverage market Madeira Farmers Market | Madeira Silverwood Presbyterian Church. madeirafarmersmarket.com May 6, 13, 20 & 27, 4-7 p.m. Food and beverage market Northside Farmers Market | North Church. northsidefm.org Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. Food and beverage market
Film Cincinnati Museum Center | OMNIMAX/Union Terminal. 513-287-7000. cincymuseum.org/omnimax Now showing: “Backyard Wilderness” • “Great Bear Rainforest”
COVID ALERT: PLEASE VERIFY ALL DATES AND LOCATIONS WITH EVENT ORGANIZERS. THINGS CHANGE.
FotoFocus Biennial | fotofocusbiennial.org May. Second Screens: Foodie Edition: “Amélie” (virtual)
Literary/Lectures Clifton Cultural Arts Center | 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org May 12, 6 p.m. Sunset Salons: “Craft Cocktails” (virtual) Hebrew Union College | huc.edu/campus-life/cincinnati May 4, 6 p.m. “The Apostle Paul: A First-Century Reform Jew?” May 11, 6 p.m. “Jews of Color” (virtual) May 13, 3 p.m. “Intersectional Jewish Identities” (virtual) May 27, 6 p.m. “Pilgrims and Prisoners: Jews on the High Seas” (virtual) Joseph-Beth Booksellers | josephbeth.com May 11, 7 p.m. Discussion: Emily Henry w/ Brittany Cavallaro: “People We Meet on Vacation” (virtual) Mercantile Library | 513621-0717. mercantilelibrary.com May 6, 7 p.m. Discussion with Byron McCauley & Jennifer Mooney: “Hope, Interrupted: America Lost and Found In Letters” (virtual) Northern Kentucky University | civicengagement.nku.edu May 11, 6 p.m. Six@Six Series: Robert K. Wallace (virtual) May 18, 6 p.m. Six@Six Series: Brandon K. Winford (virtual) Union Institute & University | myunion.edu May 6, 2 p.m. “Radical Curiosity” w/ Dr. Ken Dychtwald (virtual)
Music Art of the Piano | artofthepiano.org May 15-29. Piano festival with world-class and emerging performers (virtual)
Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas | 513-831-2052 May 2, 5 p.m. Virtual Vespers: Bach: Cantata BWV 35, Lauren McAllister, alto Caffe Vivace | Walnut Hills. 513-601-9897. caffevivace.com Most evenings, live jazz performances Chamber Music Cincinnati | 513-342-6870. cincychamber.org May 9, 4 p.m. Gloria Chien (virtual) May 23, 4 p.m. Cho-Liang Lin (virtual) Christ Church Cathedral | Downtown. 513-621-1817. cincinnaticathedral.com May 2, 5 p.m. Choral Evensong May 8, 7 p.m. Trio Heri et Hodie & Coro Volante: Spiritual Songs from the Gift of Isolation May 9, 4 p.m. Organ Recital: Thom Miles Tuesdays, 12:10 p.m. Music Live@Lunch Cincinnati Arts Association | Aronoff Center, Downtown. 513-621-2787. cincinnatiarts.org May 18, 7:30 p.m. RAIN: A Tribute to the Beatles Cincinnati Song Initiative | cincinnatisonginitiative.org May 16, 4 p.m. “Let It Be New” (virtual) Cincinnati Symphony & Pops | Music Hall. 513-381-3300. cincinnatisymphony.org May 1, 7:30 p.m. CSO PROOF: The Right to be Forgotten (virtual) CANCELLED May 2, 7:30 p.m. CSO PROOF: The MetaSimulacrum Vol. 1 (virtual) May 7-9. (Pops) “The Great Film Scores” May 14-16. (CSO) Mendelssohn’s “Italian” Immaculata Chamber Music Series | Holy Cross-Immaculata Church, Mt. Adams. facebook.com May 16, 4 p.m. Music of Mozart, Haydn and Dvorák
ARTS/CULTURE | The List Kentucky Symphony Orchestra | 859-431-6216. kyso.org May 15, 7:30 p.m. “A Rat Pack Reboot” (at Greaves Hall, NKU or virtual) Linton Chamber Music | 513-381-6868. lintonmusic.org May 2, 4 p.m. Live from Linton!: Miami String Quartet with Eric Kim, cello: music by Martinu, Dvorák and Glazunov (virtual) Matinee Musicale | Memorial Hall. matineemusicalecincinnati.org June 4, 7:30 p.m. & June 6, 3 p.m. Pene Pati, tenor May Festival | Music Hall. 513-381-3300. mayfestival.com May 21-22. Juanjo Mena conducts music of Bruckner, Janet Perry, Mahler and Holst May 28, Robert Porco conducts music of Copland, Maria Schneider and John Adams May 29-30. Juanjo Mena conductor. Music of Mahler, Britten, Schubert, Holst and Reena Esmail Musicians for Health | facebook.com May 5, 8 p.m. 5 for 5: Live Concert Series: Christian DeMarco (virtual) Memorial Hall | Washington Park. 513-977-8838 May 2, 2 p.m. Queen City Concert Band: “Journeys” May 5, 8 p.m. Martin Barre (acoustic) performing Classic Jethro Tull May 13, 8 p.m. The Secret Sisters May 19, 8 p.m. Al Di Meola May 30, 7 p.m. The Hues Corporation Salon 21 | 513-977-4165. salon21.org May 27, 7 p.m. Kate Tombaugh, mezzo-soprano; Jill Jantzen, piano; Don Bogen, poet (virtual) Trinity Episcopal Church | 859431-1786. trinitychurchcovky.com May 19, 12:15 p.m. Midday Musical Menu: Jiao Sun, piano (virtual) Washington Park | Over-theRhine. washingtonpark.org
Thursdays & Sundays thru May 30, 6-8 p.m. Pop Up Concerts Mondays May 3-Aug. 30, 6-9 p.m. Jazz at the Park
Theater Cincinnati Arts Association | 513-621-2787. May 4-17. “Rhapsody in Black,” actor LeLand Gantt in one-man show (virtual) May 11, 7:30 pm. Candid Conversation: LeLand Gantt and local artists (virtual) Playhouse in the Park | Mt. Adams. 513-421-3888. cincyplay.com April 30-May 2. “Higher and Higher” A Rock N’ Soul Party with Chester Gregory May 26-27. The Skivvies: Live and Literally In-Person! Upstanders Onstage: Performances for Social Change – May 8, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Cincinnati Union Terminal May 16, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Cincinnati Art Museum May 23, 6-8 p.m. parking lot of Mayerson JCC Northern Kentucky University | 859-572-5464 nku.edu/sota Thru May 31. “Edges” (virtual) Xavier University | 513-7453939 xavier.edu/theatre-program May 7-9. “Theory of Relativity” (virtual)
Visual Art 1628 Ltd. | Piatt Park, Downtown. 513-320-2596. 1628ltd.com Thru May 21. “Cocoon: Fibers of Home” 21c Museum Hotel | Downtown. 513-578-6600. 21cmuseumhotels.com/cincinnati Exhibits by appointment only
Thru August. “Queen City of the West” Thru June. Bisa Butler: “Dress Up, Speak Up: Resistance and Regalia” Art Beyond Boundaries | Over-the-Rhine. 513-421-8726. artbeyondboundaries.com Thru May. “14th Year on the 1400 Block” Art Design Consultants East | O’Bryonville. 513-723-1222. adcfineart.com May 28-June 18. Jodi Reeb: solo show • Gil Given: solo show Art Design Consultants West | West End. adcfineart.com Thru June 25. BLINK Art Showcase April 30-May 21. Works of Myra Burg, Liz Cummings, Kevin Lyles and Emily Randolph. Reception: April 30, 4-6 p.m. The Barn | Mariemont. 513-272-3700. artatthebarn.org April 30-May 11. Hog Bristle Painters. Reception: April 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. May 16, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. “Mariemont Paint Out” Carl Solway Gallery | West End. 513-621-0069. solwaygallery.com April 30-Aug. 28. Survey of Jay Bolotin’s work from the last 45 years, including the brand new “L Portfolio,” plus ongoing screenings of new film “The Silence of Professor Tösla.” Reception: April 30, 6-8 p.m. Caza Sikes | Oakley. 513-290-3127. cazasikes.com Thru May 29. “Tributaries: Sheryl Zacharia and Marsha Karagheusian” • National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts - NCECA • National Show: “Rivers, Reflections, Reinventions”
Get listed Arts/Culture listings are free.* Send event details and photos to: editor@moversmakers.org * See page 4 for print deadlines. Events must meet our editorial standards.
Cincinnati Art Museum | Eden Park. 513-721-2787. cincinnatiartmuseum.org Thru May 9. “Frank Duveneck: American Master” Thru May 30. Anila Quayyum Agha “All the Flowers Are for Me (Red)” Thru July 11. American Painting: The Eighties Revisited Thru Aug. 29. “Future Retrieval: Close Parallel” Clay Alliance | East Walnut Hills. clayalliance.org May 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Spring Pottery Fair Clifton Cultural Arts Center | CCAC @ Short Vine, Corryville. 513-497-2860. cliftonculturalarts.org May 7-June 4. “Silver Lining: An Outdoor Photography Show” (at Rawson Woods Bird Preserve) May 21-June 18. “When Life Gives Me Lemons” Erika Nj Allen Contemporary Arts Center | Downtown. 513-345-8400. contemporaryartscenter.org Thru Aug. 8. Joan Tanner: “Flaw” • Steffani Jemison: “End Over End” Thru Sept. 19. Hellen Ascoli: “Cien Tierras” Evendale Cultural Arts Center | Evendale. 513-563-1350. evendalearts.org April 30-May 3. Evendale Fine Art Exhibit FotoFocus Biennial | fotofocusbiennial.org May 6, 6 p.m. Lens Mix 6: Zora J. Murff and Sarah Meister (virtual conversation series) Indian Hill Gallery | Indian Hill. 513-984-6024. indianhillgallery.com Thru June 6. “Sound of Still” Tina Tammaro and Leslie Daly Kennedy Heights Arts Center | Kennedy Heights. 513-631-4278. kennedyarts.org Thru May 29. “Collective Impact: Females Joining Forces” Manifest Gallery | East Walnut Hills. 513-861-3638. manifestgallery.com Thru May 14. ”Drawn 2021” •
“Metal” • “Cardboard” • Neil Callander paintings May 28-June 25. “Rites of Passage” • “Magnitude 7” • Jiachen Liu textiles • Manifest Artist in Residence Showcase: Hannah Zimmerman • Manifest Scholars in Residence Showcase: Seth Cook and Ed Erdmann. Reception: May 28, 6-9 p.m. Miller Gallery | Hyde Park Square. 513-871-4420. millergallery.com Thru May 22. “A New Era” The Paintings of Carlos Gamez de Francisco Pendleton Art Center | Pendleton. 513-421-4339. pendeltonartcenter.com April 30 & May 28, 6-10 p.m., open studios Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum | Hamilton. 513-868-1234. pyramidhill.org Thru May 22. “Out of the Darkness” Summerfair Cincinnati | Coney Island. 513-531-0050. summerfair.org June 4-6. Large, outdoor arts and crafts fair with creatives from across the country Taft Museum of Art | Lytle Park, Downtown. taftmuseum.org Thru June 6. “Built to Last: The Taft Historic House at 200” • “Walk This Way” Footwear from the Stuart Weitzman Collection of Historic Shoes Warren County Historical Museum | Lebanon. wchsmuseum.org Thru May 29. Willis “Bing” Davis: In Honor of the Harmon Foundation Weston Art Gallery | Aronoff Center. 513-977-4165. cincinnatiarts.org/ weston-art-gallery May 15-June 26. “Material Message: Photographs of Fabric” Wyoming Art Show | 513-7611749. wyomingartshow.org May 14-23. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Virtual Juried Art Show
Movers & Makers
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12 12 The Datebook
With a Spotlight on the Movers and Makers behind Greater Cincinnati’s Fundraisers, Friend-Raisers and Community Events
P&G leader to speak about corporate responsibility Thursday, May 6, 2-4 p.m., virtual Procter & Gamble’s North American chief sales officer will be the featured presenter at NEW Cincinnati’s spring premier event. Network of Executive Women (NEW) is a professional community committed to advancing women in the workplace, transforming the face of business. Carolyn Tastad – P&G North America group president, chief sales officer and gender equality executive sponsor – will discuss how the extraordinary events of the past year made it clear that brands and companies have a responsibility to step up and play a bigger role in solving the world’s challenges – from the global pandemic to climate change to gender and intersectional inequality. Outside of P&G, Tastad serves
With the goal to build a physical home by 2025, the Sarah Zepernick Foundation and the new nonprofit Sarah House Cincinnati will host an inaugural fundraiser – a virtual four-day silent auction called “Reach for the Stars.” Sarah Zepernick’s mom, Kim Marcum-Mercier, a nurse with Cincinnati Children’s who cares for medically fragile children, is the founder of Sarah House Cincinnati. Co-founders are Dr. Norb Weidner, past medical director of StarShine Hospice and an assistant professor of anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and Rev. Amy Simpson, staff chaplain at CCHMC. Sarah was a 16-year-old sophomore at Colerain High School when 12
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Movers & Makers
MAY 4, TUESDAY Cancer Family Care, Joslin Haggart Yeiser Unsung Hero Awards | 6-9 p.m. Hilton Netherland Plaza Pavilion. DETAILS: Cocktails, dinner, and awards program. Tickets start at $45. Children’s tickets $15. ¼513-731-3346 or bit.ly/cfcunsung
Carolyn Tastad
on the board of directors for the Kellogg Co. and the Consumer Brands Association, and was named to Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women” list for four consecutive years. Tickets: $35 for members, $45 for non-members. Event sponsors include Ernst & Young, General Mills, Mills James Production, and P&G. www.newonline.org/ region/cincinnati
New nonprofit launching virtual fundraiser May 13, noon through May 16, 5 p.m., virtual
COVID ALERT: PLEASE VERIFY ALL DATES AND LOCATIONS WITH EVENT ORGANIZERS. THINGS CHANGE.
she died in 1998 of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma-leukemia following a 14-month battle with the disease. Sarah House will focus on maintaining the quality of life for children with life-limiting illnesses and endof-life journeys, while also providing essential support to their families. Sarah House intends to provide a home-like environment tailored to the specific needs of the child for an occasional and much-needed respite for children and their families. Sarah House would also serve as an alternative place for comfort and end-of-life care instead of a hospital or at home. In 2013, the Ohio Legislature passed legislation called “Sarah’s Law,” establishing regulations for pediatric respite care programs that provide services to pediatric patients. reach4thestarsevent@gmail.com or www.sarahhousecincy.org
MAY 5, WEDNESDAY First Step Home, Hope, Help, Healing | 7:30 p.m. WCPO-TV. DETAILS: First Step Home Awards Celebration recognizing supporters and celebrating client success. Honorees are Dr. Kathy Wedig Stevie: Outstanding Individual, Dr. O’dell Moreno Owens for Interact For Health: Outstanding Organization, and Bill and Polly Molony: Outstanding Family. Rebroadcast: May 8, 7 p.m. ¼www.firststephome.org Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Cincy-Cinco Festival | 5 p.m. Virtual. DETAILS: This one-hour program will re-live some of the greatest moments in the 17 years of this event: Longest Taco in the World, Guinness award-winning Largest Piñata in the world, plus Latino dancing and food offered over the years. ¼www.youtube.com, search for event Musicians for Health, 5 for 5: Live Streamed Concert Series | 8 p.m. YouTube. DETAILS: On the 5th of each month. Christian DeMarco will host a free live streamed concert. ¼www.youtube.com, search for event MAY 6, THURSDAY Boys Hope Girls Hope Cincinnati, Hopefest | 5:30-8 p.m. Cincinnati Zoo’s Giraffe Ridge. DETAILS: Free parking, admission starting at 3:30 p.m. (after-hours entry is only for Giraffe Ridge), train rides, light dinner and 2 drink tickets. Raffle and games. Tickets: 1 for $50 or 2 for $75. ¼www.boyshopegirlshope.org NEW Cincinnati, Stepping Up & Stepping Forward | 2-4 p.m. Virtual. SPOTLIGHT: Page 13. ¼www.newonline.org/region/cincinnati
MAY 7, FRIDAY Redwood Rehabilitation Center, Night at the Race | 6-10 p.m. The Gardens of Park Hills, Park Hills, KY. SPOTLIGHT: Page 14. ¼www.redwoodnky.org/support/events MAY 8, SATURDAY JDRF of Southern & Central Ohio, Cincinnatian of the Year Gala | 6 p.m. Virtual. DETAILS: Celebrate at home with wine tastings, a catered meal from Jeff Thomas Catering, goodies from favorite local restaurants and supporters, and surprises. ’80s theme. ¼www.jdrf.org/socentralohio MAY 10, MONDAY USA Cares Inc., Charity Golf Open | TPC River’s Bend, 316 Winding River Boulevard, Maineville, OH 45039. DETAILS: Funds provide emergency aid to veterans and military families during COVID-19 and raise awareness of rising veteran suicide epidemic. Shamble format of 4-person teams. Carts, lunches, swag packets, and more. ¼https://ohgolf21.funraise.org MAY 12, WEDNESDAY Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, 125th Annual Meeting | 7 p.m. Virtual. Free. ¼www.jewishcincinnati.org MAY 13-16, THURSDAY-SUNDAY Sarah House CIncinnati, Reach for the Stars | SPOTLIGHT: Page 13. ¼www.sarahhousecincy.org MAY 13, THURSDAY Alzheimer’s Association Greater Cincinnati Chapter, The Art of Making Memories | 7 p.m. Virtual. DETAILS: Gather at home with light dinner and curated wine pairings. Hosted by Bob Herzog. Guest of honor Louis Langrée. Package includes tickets to preview auction artwork created by participants in our Memories in the Making program May 7-9 at Kennedy Heights Art Center. ¼www.alz.org
CincinnatiCares.org
Part of Inspiring Service, the nation’s leading provider of community and state based guides for connecting people with active nonpofits to help meet their needs.
Movers & Makers
MAY 2021 13
DATEBOOK
Redwood getting back to normal with two fundraisers
UpSpring’s largest fundraiser goes virtual again, adds new event
Redwood Rehabilitation Center is gearing up for the return of two of its traditional fundraising events.
Saturday, June 5, 7 p.m., virtual
Friday, May 7, 6-10 p.m., Gardens of Park Hills “Night at the Races,” its traditional “Friday after Derby Day” celebration, includes armchair horse races, raffles and silent auction items. The event will take place in person with COVID-19 health guidelines in place, including social distancing, masks, temperature checks and healthscreening questions for all attendees. Friday, June 4, 6-11 p.m., 75 Orphanage Road, Fort Mitchell The organization’s signature fundraiser, “Redwood Express,” will take place at the DCCH festival area adjacent to its main campus. The event will feature live entertainment, including a performance by The Sly Band, as well as food stations, live and silent auctions, raffles and more. All CDC safety guidelines will be followed to mitigate health risks. 859-331-0880, bmoore@redwoodnky.org or www.redwoodnky.org
MAY 15, SATURDAY
MAY 17-23, MONDAY-SUNDAY
Brighton Center, Hope Grows Here Gala | 6 p.m. Virtual. DETAILS: Emcee: Jay Kruz of 94.9 Cincinnati’s Best Mix. Tasting experience and online auction. ¼www.brightoncenter.com Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Great Strides | Virtual. DETAILS: TBA ¼https://fightcf.cff.org Joseph House, Annual Golf Outing | 8 a.m., Fairfield Greens South Trace. DETAILS: 18 holes of golf, continental breakfast, lunch and prizes. Registration: $90 for individuals or $350 for a foursome. ¼www.josephhouse.com MAY 16, SUNDAY A Kid Again, World’s Largest Birthday Party on the Ohio River | 3-5 p.m. BB Riverboats, Newport. DETAILS: TBA ¼www.akidagain.org
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Caracole, Cincinnati AIDS Walk + 5K Run | Virtual. DETAILS: Register and take a short quiz to determine which Greater Cincinnati 5K course fits your personality. Route is unveiled in your 5K packet days before racing week. You can sign up for more than one course – even doing a 5K every day. ¼www.caracole.org > Events The High Hopes Auxiliary, HOPE on the Green | 8 a.m. Hyde Park Country Club. DETAILS: Women’s golf shamble, benefiting telehealth services at Lindner Center of HOPE. Price includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, breakfast, lunch, 19th Hole happy hour and awards ceremony, art auction and raffle. Lunch only: $50. $200/ golfer, $800/foursome. ¼www.lindnercenterofhope.org
Movers & Makers
UpSpring, the only nonprofit exclusively serving homeless children in the Greater Cincinnati region, will host its largest annual fundraiser online this year. The “Benefit Bash” raises funds and builds awareness about UpSpring’s educational and enrichment programs to elevate local children experiencing homelessness. The event supports UpSpring through a silent auction, raffle and paddle raiser. One of the raffle items is a $600 package at French Lick Springs Hotel in French Lick, Ind. A new event, “Dash to the Bash,” is a socially distanced scavenger hunt in
MAY 18, TUESDAY Woman’s City Club, Annual National Speaker Forum and Fundraiser | 7 p.m. Memorial Hall. DETAILS: Keynote: Denise Kiernan, best-selling author and journalist. Tickets start at $40. ¼www.womanscityclub.org MAY, 23, SUNDAY JDRF, One Walk Kings Island | Kings Island. DETAILS: Walkers may participate at the park or anywhere, anytime. Walk at KI is self-guided. Walk teams can earn admission tickets through fundraising. ¼www.jdrf.org/socentralohio MAY 24, MONDAY St. Joseph Orphanage, Golf Outing | 9:30 a.m. Aston Oaks Golf Club. DETAILS: Shotgun, dinner awards. ¼www.stjosephorphanage.org
Over-the-Rhine. The event will take place June 3-5. Individuals and teams of four can compete for prizes. A final clue will be revealed during the June 5 event. Each year, UpSpring empowers the lives of more than 4,000 children experiencing homelessness in our region. Since its founding in 1998, the organization has helped more than 45,000 children who are experiencing homelessness. The committee includes event chair Dean Hoebbel, Jordan Celestin, Ryan Higgins, Katie Jensen, Linsey Kraeling, Alex Kuhns, Becky Riegelsberger, Wendy Ungard and Denise Weinstein. www.upspring.org, click Benefit Bash
JUNE 2-3, WED.-THURS. Taft Museum of Art, Tables of the Taft | 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m. SPOTLIGHT: Page 16. JUNE 3, THURSDAY Goodwill, Golf Outing | Glenview Golf Club. SPOTLIGHT: Page 15. JUNE 4, FRIDAY Redwood Rehabilitation Center, Redwood Express Event: Evening of Celebration | 6-11 p.m. DCCH Festival Area. SPOTLIGHT: Page 14.
Katie Jensen, Upspring development director and committee member
Musicians for Health, 5 for 5: Live Streamed Concert Series | 8 p.m. YouTube. DETAILS: On the 5th of each month. Casey Abrams will host a free live streamed concert. ¼www.youtube.com, search event UpSpring, Benefit Bash & Dash to the Bash | 7 p.m. Virtual. SPOTLIGHT: Page 14. JUNE 7, MONDAY Stepping Stones, Golf Classic | 8 a.m.-6 p.m. O’Bannon Creek Golf Club SPOTLIGHT: Page 15.
JUNE 5, SATURDAY Dragonfly Foundation, Grand Gala Summer Nights | 5:30-11 p.m. Renaissance Hotel, SOLDOUT ¼www.dragonflygala.org
Tender Mercies, Annual Tee Up for Tender Mercies | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Wetherington Golf & Country Club, West Chester. SPOTLIGHT: Page 16.
Former Bengal Joe Walter will host the 20th annual Ohio Valley Goodwill golf outing, with co-host Stephanie Mitchell.
Goodwill marks 20th anniversary of celebrity golf outin Thursday, June 3, Glenview Golf Club Former Cincinnati Bengal Joe Walter celebrates his 20th year as host of the Ohio Valley Goodwill Celebrity Golf Outing. Walter, who played 13 seasons with the Bengals, will welcome Stephanie Mitchell, a Goodwill client, as co-host. Title sponsor, Strategic Benefits, will
be the official sponsor host for the 20th anniversary event. In addition, Goodwill welcomes first-time presenting sponsor First Financial Bank, and returning sponsor TAPE Products Company. www.cincinnatigoodwill.org, click About Us > Events Goodwill store locations: www.goodwillbargains.com
Two flights available for 2021 Stepping Stones Golf Classic Monday, June 7, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., O’Bannon Creek Golf Club, 6842 Oakland Rd., Loveland Stepping Stones will host its 2021 Golf Classic, offering a choice of morning or afternoon tee time. The morning flight heads off beginning at 8 a.m. and the afternoon flight at 1 p.m. The event benefits Stepping Stones’ mission to build pathways to independence, and promote inclusion for people with developmental and physical disabilities. Stepping Stones will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines and have enhanced safety protocols in place. Tickets: $200 for a single and $800 for a foursome. Volunteers are needed for the morning flight (7 a.m.-1 p.m.) and the afternoon flight (1-6 p.m.). 513-965-5148, kelly.crow@steppingstonesohio.org or www.steppingstonesohio.org/golf-classic Morning winners Price McLane, Jaime Masters, Todd Block and George Musekamp at the 2019 Golf Classic fundraiser
Movers & Makers
MAY 2021 15
DATEBOOK
Brennaman joining Tender Mercies golf outing Monday, June 7, Wetherington Golf & Country Club The 29th Tee Up for Tenders Mercies annual golf outing, presented by Path Forward, welcomes the former voice of the Cincinnati Reds, Marty Brennaman. In 2020, with the support of sponsors, donors, and volunteers, this event raised more than $100,000. Cincinnati Coin Laundry
JUNE 9, WEDNESDAY American Heart Association, Greater Cincinnati Heart Ball Digital Experience | 4-5 p.m. Virtual. DETAILS: Online version of the Heart Ball. Hosted by Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz. Live auction, heartfelt messages, and opportunities to support the AHA. Presented by St. Elizabeth Healthcare. ¼https://event.gives/cincyheartball JUNE 12-13, SATURDAY-SUNDAY Cincinnati Concours D’Elegance, An Exhibition of Motorsports Excellence | Various times and locations. SPOTLIGHT: Page 17. JUNE 12, SATURDAY Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired, Virtual Yes You Can 5K | Virtual. DETAILS: Enter to win $50 Target gift card. Registration includes race t-shirt (while supplies last), Yes You Can 5K Guide and surprise gift. Registration: $35. ¼www.cincyblind.org/5K
placed first, followed by Nation Kitchen & Bar, with Prosource/Kyocera coming in third. The annual charity golf outing is an 18-hole tournament played in a four-player scramble format with a variety of fun course contests, mulligans, lunch and dinner included with each foursome. Games and raffles are also available throughout the day. tendermerciesinc.org
him into his next act. Pandemic protocols will be observed. Live stream available. Complimentary valet parking. Tickets: $50. ¼www.beechacres.org Munoz Foundation, Hall of Fame Dinner | DETAILS: Silent auction and program celebrating Scholarship Fund and Straight ‘A’ recipients. STORY: Page 26. ¼www.munozfoundation.org JUNE 14, MONDAY Munoz Foundation, Hall of Fame Golf Classic | TPC River’s Bend. DETAILS: Features dozens of celebrity golfers paired with golf foursomes. Complimentary spectator hole for military veterans. Tee prize packages, hole contests and a catered awards dinner. ¼www.munozfoundation.org JUNE 23, WEDNESDAY Impact 100, Meet the Finalists | DETAILS: TBA. ¼www.impact100.org/events JUNE 28, MONDAY
JUNE 13, SUNDAY Beech Acres Parenting Center, Jim Mason Retirement Dinner | 5-7 p.m. Taft Museum of Art Garden. DETAILS: Cocktails and dinner under the tent to honor executive director’s 42 years of service and launch 16
MAY 2021
Wave Foundation, Putt for Penguins | 10:30 a.m. Wetherington Golf & Country Club. 7337 Country Club Ln. DETAILS: Continental breakfast, golf with cart, drinks and food, awards celebration. Former Cincinnati Bengal David Fulcher and other
Movers & Makers
Marty Brennaman
At the Taft’s 2019 gala: Sabina Khemchandani, Stephan NeCamp, Matt Solomon, Amit Khemchandani
‘Walk This Way’ to Tables of the Taft local celebrities. Each foursome joined by a celebrity for a five person scramble. $300 per golfer. ¼www.wavefoundation.org JULY 12, MONDAY Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, CF Golf Classic | 11:30 a.m. Traditions Golf Club, Hebron KY. DETAILS: Boxed lunch, golfer gift, 18-holes with cart, beverages and snack, to-go dinner. ¼https://events.cff.orgAUG. 5DAY AUG. 11, WEDNESDAY Pro Seniors, Inc., Seniors Who Rock | DETAILS: TBA ¼www.proseniors.org SEPT. 11, SATURDAY The Cure Starts Now, Once in a Lifetime Gala | Duke Energy Center. DETAILS: Auction, dinner and program. Includes complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks. Tickets: $100. SEPT. 23, THURSDAY Christ Hospital, Gala | 6:30 p.m. Duke Energy Convention Center. DETAILS: Black tie gala with cocktails, dinner and dancing. ¼dianne.fisk@thechristhospital.com or 513-585-0657
Wednesday & Thursday, June 2 & 3, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Taft Museum of Art Taking its inspiration from the current Taft exhibition “Walk This Way: Footwear from the Stuart Weitzman Collection of Historic Shoes,” the museum’s annual fundraiser, Tables of the Taft is operating a bit differently this year, thanks to the pandemic. Guests are invited for a two-hour seating, featuring imaginative tablescapes created by local designers and artists, plus light bites at a private table, and viewing of Walk This Way, ranked by Forbes as a top exhibition to see nationwide in 2021. For those who do not wish to join in person, a virtual tour and take-away light bites are available. Reserve seating by May 2. Seating times: 11 a.m-1 p.m., 2-4 p.m. or 5:30-7:30 p.m. Table size: 2, 4, 6, or 8 seats. 513-684-4527, jhorvath@taftmuseum.org or www.taftmuseum.org/events
The Datebook is online Make sure your fundraiser, friend-raiser or community event is listed in our Datebook at www.moversmakers.org/datebook Datebook listings are free.* NPOs may send event details and photos to: editor@moversmakers.org Stand out
Consider advertising. Contact Thom Mariner at tmariner@moversmakers.org for digital and print options. *See Page 4 for print deadlines. Events must meet our editorial standards. Events which are featured in print or our weekly newsletters are chosen at the discretion of editorial staff.
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Photo by Anthony Bristol
The view from Ault Park Pavilion during the Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance.
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Secure your passport to Jim Mason’s Launch Party!
2021 Concours d’Elegance focuses on motorsports Saturday-Sunday, June 12-13, various times and locations The Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance’s 2021 event, “Exhibition of Motorsports Excellence,” will showcase many aspects of auto racing, including open wheel, stock car, endurance, straight line speed racing and motorcycle racing. Special displays include the 100th anniversary of Lincoln, 60th anniversary of the Jaguar E-Type, 50th anniversary of The Z, and microcars. The show will also feature thirteen classes of classic, vintage and exotic automobiles and motorcycles. Saturday, June 12 • Countryside Tour, noon, Horsepower Farm in Middletown. Meet at Mariemont Square. Garage and private car collection tour. • Hangar Party, 5-9 p.m., Executive Jet Management hangar at Lunken Airport. Exotic cars, motorcycles, private jets and luxury motor coaches on display. Sponsored by Porsche of the Village.
Sunday, June 13 • Main Event, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Ault Park. Will Sherman automotive fine art show in the Pavilion. • Craft Beer Garden, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., adjacent to Pavilion. Tickets for the beer garden are for sale at the ticket booth during the show. • VIP Brunch, 11 a.m.1 p.m., Pavilion.
Proceeds benefit juvenile arthritis programs of The Arthritis Foundation. Advance-purchase discounted car show tickets available through May 31. 513-321-1951 or www.ohioconcours.com; www.arthritis.org
An exhibition of Motorsports Excellence is the 2021 Cincinnati Concours d’Elegance featured theme. More than 200 cars and motorcycles will be on display in the historic gardens of Ault Park. Photos by G ary Kessler
1 7.1.202 DATE REWIRE
Sunday, June 13, 5 – 7 PM Cocktails and Dinner under the Tent Taft Museum of Art Garden Complimentary Valet Parking
Join us to celebrate and honor Jim Mason’s incredible impact on Greater Cincinnati children and families over the past 42 years. Help us launch him onto his next adventure! Tickets $50 For tickets, visit our website www.beechacres.org/attend-an-event/ Covid – 19 Safety Measures Outdoor venue Mask required Virtual live-stream available We are doing a memory collection campaign to commemorate Jim Mason’s incredible journey at Beech Acres. Please share a cherished memory you have of Jim here; www.beechacres.memfox.io/jimmason Jim will be presented with your message as a gift and keepsake to treasure.
The annual Hangar Party features dinner-by-the-bite amongst collector cars, private jets and luxury motor coaches.
Questions? Contact Tracy Nath at 513.233.4739 or tnath@beechacres.org
®
Movers & Makers
MAY 2021 17
FOCUS ON: FOOD RESCUE
Bringing it to the table
By Shauna Steigerwald
Shifman, Fernandez and Reiber cook up a food rescue plan that utilizes an app and volunteers willing to go the ‘last-mile’
I
t’s an unfortunate paradox that although up to 40 percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted, millions of people throughout the country remain food insecure. But it isn’t always clear how to bridge the gap between the two problems. Locally, there’s now an app – and a new nonprofit – for that. Last Mile Food Rescue uses technology to help keep good food out of landfills and get it to people in need. “There’s a disconnect: There’s so much waste and there’s so much hunger,” said Tom Fernandez. He and Julie Shifman cofounded Last Mile, which launched in November 2020. By midApril of this year, Julie the nonprofit and its Shifman network of more than 200 volunteers (a.k.a. “heroes”) had rescued some 297,000 pounds of food and distributed it to 50-plus area nonprofits, creating more than 248,000 meals. At the same time, they’ve reaped an environmental benefit: The food they’ve kept out of landfills accounts for more than 161,000 pounds of CO2 prevented. Last Mile uses a simple process: Volunteers download the Last Mile Food Rescue app to see available rescues. (Optional notifications can alert users to open rescues). When a volunteer “claims” a rescue, the app directs them to a retailer or distributor to pick up food that won’t be used before it expires. The app then directs the volunteer to a pantry, shelter, or another nonprofit that needs the items. “We’re like the Uber of food rescue,” Fernandez said. With that setup, they don’t need the infrastructure of buildings to store food or trucks to transport it. 18
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That makes the model nimble and scalable. Their goal for their first year is to rescue one million pounds of food, “but we’re going to blow past it,” said Shifman, who serves as the nonprofit’s executive director. They hope to meet their stretch goal of 1.5 million pounds of rescued food by their Nov. 17 anniversary this year.
Before they met Kurt Reiber, president and CEO of Freestore Foodbank and now a member of Last Mile’s board of directors, is the matchmaker who brought Fernandez and Shifman together. A Pennsylvania native, Fernandez studied business at Carnegie Mellon. Although his days as a reservist on the school’s tennis team didn’t end in his childhood dream of becoming a professional tennis player, he and his wife both landed jobs at Procter & Gamble after graduation. His 23-year career there, in purchasing within the company’s supply chain operations, was excellent preparation for Last Mile, he said. “The food rescue process is a supply-chain process,” he said. While at P&G, he also got his first taste of nonprofit work. The “proud Asian-American” – he’s of Philipino ancestry – co-founded in 2007 the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, now a thriving association with 90 corporate sponsors, a $1.5 million budget and host of the largest Asian-American gathering (a career fair) in the U.S. After P&G, the Hyde Park resident and father of two daughters put on his entrepreneurial hat, starting Massage Envy locations in Kenwood and Eastgate.
There’s a disconnect: P T G There’s so much waste and there’s so much hunger. hotos by ina
utierrez
Tom Fernandez, Last Mile Food Rescue co-founder
He sold those businesses and joined the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber as senior business advisor of the Minority Business Accelerator. He feels so strongly about that work that he’s staying on even while working on Last Mile, where he’s board chair. “The topic of racial equity is so important at this moment,” he said. Shifman, of Amberley, has had what she calls a “portfolio career.” “To me, that’s what makes my life interesting, that I get to do a lot of different things,” she said. The Cincinnati native, who has four grown sons and one grandson, studied ballet at Indiana University and danced with the Cincinnati Tom Ballet before atFernandez tending law school. She worked with many nonprofits during her 18 years practicing law and eventually formed a nonprofit consulting company. In 2008, she noticed a lot of her empty-nester friends – educated Boomer women who’d been out of the workforce while raising children – were struggling with what to do next and finding a lack of resources to help.
She wrote a book, “Act Three,” as an entry to the speaking circuit, and she launched a coaching company by the same name. For her own next act, she took a job as executive director of Adopt a Class, a local nonprofit that brings mentors into economically challenged schools. “I learned how to run an organization that had enormous amounts of volunteers,” much like Last Mile, she said. Beyond her paid work, she’s had a long history of volunteer involvement with nonprofits ranging from the Talbert House to the YWCA to United Way. That includes more than 30 years on the board of the Cincinnati Ballet, where one of her biggest initiatives was “Cincy in NYC.” The ballet, Cincinnati Symphony and May Festival were all performing in New York City around the same time. Shifman and her committee worked to get other arts groups, plus chefs, involved, culminating in 1,500 Cincinnatians traveling to New York City in May 2014. The project gave her ample experience in fundraising, critical to her work at Last Mile.
First-year goal: 1 million pounds of rescued food Stretch goal: 1.5 million pounds Achieved so far: 300,000 pounds Volunteers engaged so far: 200
Two paths converge Despite their distinct backgrounds, Shifman and Fernandez came to the idea of starting a technology-based food rescue in the same way: Hearing about efforts in other cities. Shifman’s sister, who lives in Atlanta, mentioned using an app to rescue food. “I said, ‘that’s amazing; we don’t have anything like that in Cincinnati.’” Shifman contacted Reiber at the Freestore. As it happened, he’d been advising someone who was interested in the very same thing: Fernandez. Fernandez had read about a fellow Carnegie Mellon alum who started 412 Food Rescue in Pittsburgh. That organization uses an app and volunteer “Food Rescue Heroes” to rescue food. (Last Mile eventually licensed and now uses that organization’s Food Rescue Hero app.) Reiber connected the duo, who met in June 2019.
“We compared notes and we just hit it off,” Fernandez said. “When I think back, I can’t believe how lucky we are,” Shifman said. “We literally had never met, hadn’t even heard of each other, and yet very quickly figured out we were going to be able to do this.” They spent the next six months visiting and benchmarking other cities to determine the best practices and technology for their project. It also gave them time to get to know each other. “Julie’s tough as nails,” Fernandez said. “Her husband, as an endearment, (said) she’s a ‘get (stuff) done girl.’ That’s what you need. You need somebody who’s just so committed they make things happen.” “Tom has an incredible personality and way with people that is very helpful in our relationships,” Shifman said. They don’t see Last Mile as competing with other area nonprofits. “The needs in the community are so tremendous for food that there is room for everyone,” Fernandez said. Reiber welcomed Fernadez and Shifman’s effort to create an incremental increase in the amount of food available to local residents. The Freestore already serves a large network of 600-plus pantries, he said, and it picks up large food donations from places like grocery stores and manufacturers. “We’re not as nimble as we can be to pick up these smaller donations, the 10 pounds of food here or the 15 pounds of food there,” but that food makes a difference, he said. “It’s a great way for folks that have these smaller donations to have an alternative to throwing that food away,” Reiber said. “That’s – in my opinion – a win-win-win for everyone.” Fernandez has seen that win-winwin via excitement from donors, who get a tax benefit and the reward of seeing perfectly good food redirected to those in need. Volunteers, meanwhile, feel “joy” in getting food through that “last mile” to beneficiaries, who in turn appreciate the items. “That joy, you really want to keep it going,” he said. “It’s a good vibe, and it’s self-perpetuating.”
Success in sight?
when she moved here 24 years ago. She noted that Shifman’s impact on Those who know Fernandez and the ballet has been “immeasurable.” Shifman think they have what it “You need the passion and the entakes to make Last Mile a success. ergy, but you also need the formality Community leaders at the Cincinnati of structure and organized thought, chamber, Flywheel and Cintrifuse and (Shifman) brought both of those provided early support on the idea as things,” she said. part of Tom’s Leadership Action class. She lists reasons Shifman will be (Of note: They’re the co-founders, but successful with Last Mile: “She’s got both credit leadership by their chief the work ethic, she’s got the follow operating officer, Eileen Budo, as a through. She knows the community, huge part of their success so far). she knows people who will help her. Fernandez “has the right comShe’s very compelling; she’ll tell the bination of skills and motivations story in a way that will be convincing and desires to see it through,” said … She will succeed.” Darrin Redus, senior vice president of Last Mile’s success would be a step economic inclusion at the Cincinnati toward fighting hunger in our area. chamber and executive director of It’s not a problem that can be cured the Minority Business Accelerator. overnight, but raising awareness is (Fernandez is on his team). key, Reiber said. Beyond Ferndanez’ project manage“Last Mile Food Rescue has alment skills, Redus appreciates his lowed the community to see that even PROOF “‘can-do’ spirit and “positive attitude.” the smallest donationADVERTISER can make an Both at the Chamber and at Last impact on lives,” he said. “Together, review the proof below to and folio (if applicable) is ready for print. Check for any sp Mile,Please “Tom is very driven byensure the that your advertisement we can hunger-free, healthy or grammatical errors. List any changes/corrections here or increate an email.aThank you for your prompt attention and assistan PLEASE REPLY WITH APPROVAL BY EMAIL FAX THIS SIGNED PROOF. need and the opportunity to make and thriving OR community.” Frank@RossPublishing.com (866) 774-8433 (804) 674-6318 an impact for underserved communities,” he added. 513-449-1698, Living Skilled Nursing Care Continuing Care (CCRC) CARE LEVEL Victoria Morgan, Cincinnati Independent info@lastmilefood.org Assisted Living/Personal Care Residential Care Home or Respite Care OPTIONS Memory Care Long-Term Care Rehabilitation Care Ballet’s artistic director, met Shifman www.lastmilefood.org EMAIL:
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MAY 2021 19 7.75" x 9. 2 5"
CHANG
FOCUS ON: URBAN GARDENING
Whatever the name, urban gardening flourishing in region Great Recession, now pandemic pushing more to be self-sufficient, reclaim land, improve climate
LEARN MORE ABOUT URBAN GARDENING
Civic Garden Center
With its mission of building community through gardening, education and environmental stewardship, CGC bills itself as THE place in Cincinnati to learn about gardening, sustainability, and horticulture. www.civicgardencenter.org
Hamilton Urban Garden System
Since 2012, HUGS has installed dozens of organic urban gardens, participated in farmers markets, and partnered with local schools, community agencies, universities, and civic organizations around Hamilton, Ohio. www.hamiltonurbangardens.org
Loveland Learning Garden By Madeline Anderson
Planting beans in Price Hill Community Garden
U
rban agriculture is about more than food. It’s a strategy to gain transparency and take ownership of and responsibility for our food systems and our environment. It’s a collective mobilization effort: building up the businesses, places of worship, schools and every neighbor in a given community. Even if you don’t have your hands in the soil yourself, many public gardens’ education and economic initiatives reverberate around the area for generations.
Also called urban farming, urban gardening or urban growing, these terms for growing food within metropolitan areas may describe different ways of transitioning our food systems from reliance on traditional, rural crop agriculture to ones closer to home. Community gardening, the most common form of urban agriculture, refers specifically to nonprofit or citizen-led efforts on public or private land. The various phrases for urban agriculture serve as a metaphor for its ability to adapt to differing needs. Often, urban agriculture is a collaboration between local government, nonprofits and consumers, but there’s never a one-size-fits-all solution. Cincinnati has many models of urban farms: social enterprises, corporate vertical farms, 501(c)(3) nonprofits and more.
empowered and rewarded by the literal fruits of their labor. Cincinnati’s Civic Garden Center was established in 1942 as an educational network for victory gardening. In 1980, its first community garden outreach program established the Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden. This was a cutting-edge solution at the time to rejuvenate downtown Cincinnati and became a national model for neighborhood development. Urban agriculture’s popularity today tends to follow trends in the economy, as it did a hundred years ago. “Community gardening basically started falling away in terms of popularity during the early 2000s,” said Greg Potter, community garden coordinator at the Civic Garden Center. “And as the Great Recession happened in 2008, people’s financial situations started them thinking more about being self-sufficient. That’s one of the drivers of community gardens – people wanting to be self-sufficient.” This was especially true this past year. Desires to reconnect with nature, tackle environmental justice and take charge of our food sources have never been a greater part of our collective consciousness than during this global pandemic.
Finding its roots
Is sustainability sustainable?
Urban agriculture has some history in victory gardens, also known as war gardens. These were popular gardening efforts during World War I and II, where governments encouraged people to supplement their rations with home- or community-grown food. The gardens also boosted morale, because people felt
Urban farms may grow on city blocks, like Permaganic in Over-the-Rhine, or they may thrive in a suburban nature preserve, like Valley View in Milford. They may be funded by community fees, grants or direct donations – and often a mix of all of these.
A metaphor for life
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Working to foster lifelong connections to the wonders of the natural world, LLG delivers outdoor hands-on learning experiences for children in its schoolyard gardens and nature trail. www.lovelandlearninggarden.org
Tikkun Farm
An urban farm in the neighborhood of Mt. Healthy, Tikkun hopes to be a place of healing, repair and restoration cultivated through meaningful work and spiritual practices for the restoration of the individual, the community and creation. www.tikkunfarm.com
Gorman Heritage Farm
A 122-acre nonprofit, working farm with a mission to educate about agriculture, nutrition, sustainability, and the environment, the vision of Gorman Heritage Farm is to cultivate an informed, involved community dedicated to Building Healthy Futures. www.gormanfarm.org
Turner Farm
A working farm and education center in Indian Hill, Turner Farm draws lessons from our rural heritage to help build a positive future, and demonstrate that local, organic, low-impact food production grows healthy communities and healthy ecosystems. www.turnerfarm.org
Check out these and other volunteer and educational opportunities at www.cincinnaticares.org
Robin Jones and Ricky “Yo” Perrymann at Winton Terrace Community Garden
Potter noted that, nationally, new community gardens only have a twoto-three year lifespan, something the Civic Garden Center actively works to combat through free development training. “The whole idea behind the community garden network is literally the fact that (gardeners) can help each other as much as we can help them,” Potter said. “I have a picture of an old-time switchboard operator above my desk because I connect gardeners to each other and to resources. We can help people leverage the available resources for themselves.” The city plays a major part in this endurance, too. The Office of Environment and Sustainability has been working for the last decade, but more specifically since 2017, to centralize coding, update zoning and give grants to community gardens for operations, programs and projects. “We consider (urban agriculture) a good use of public land,” said Michael Forrester, OES director. “When (the city) leases out spaces, we’re putting property back into productive use. We see it as a way to foster bonds within the community. We give people access to green spaces and a chance to grow their food.”
A family harvests beets at Price Hill Community Garden
Since the asks greatly exceed the funding – with 50-75 grant applications a year – a collaborative effort with the Office of Community and Economic Development and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation allows the city to pool their financial resources to make it easy for gardens in nature centers, schools, churches and social enterprises to get the direct dollars they need.
Urban vs. traditional agriculture Community gardens aren’t trying to compete with supermarkets. “When you look at traditional agriculture, we’re talking big monoculture spread out in the rural areas here in Ohio. They’re just providing a very different type of product,” Forrester said. “What (urban agriculture) can do is really develop a niche product that can be sold locally.” Or, maybe not sold at all. Many community gardens grow food and plants for their own gardeners and their families, or as a donation to soup kitchens, food banks and places of worship. With urban agriculture, the community knows what they eat, where it came from and where it’s going. These small, targeted efforts can make a big difference. When we plan, create, educate and grow together, we transform from consumers to producers, from bystanders to advocates. “All of a sudden the tomatoes at a store don’t have the same appeal that maybe a farmer’s market tomato has,” Potter said. “Community gardeners are spreading the word about how good local produce can be.” Forrester agrees. “What urban agriculture is able to do is it’s really able to be nimble. It’s able to be flexible. It’s able to really jump in and put plants in the ground and make things happen.”
18th Annual
Giving USA 2021
Cincinnati Briefing
“A Turn of the Wheel: Reemerging from Covid-19” WEBINAR PRESENTATION Returning for her 18th year as keynote presenter will be Melissa S. Brown, philanthropic research professional and former editor of Giving USA.
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 PROGRAM: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Q&A: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. REGISTER AT: theyunkergroup.com BOARD LEADER ALERT
Philanthropic support of your nonprofit is more important today than ever before! Plan to attend this briefing on national and regional trends and funding opportunities.
Movers & Makers
MAY 2021 21
In the News Art Academy graduation features celebrated poet An Ohio native whose collection of essays became a national book of the year is the keynote speaker for the Art Academy of Cincinnati’s May graduation. Hanif Abdurraqib’s collection, “They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us” was released in winter 2017 and was named book of the year by BuzzFeed, NPR, and Oprah Magazine, among others. Art Academy senior Amyia Carroll referenced his work in her recent capstone project: The truth is, if we don’t write our own stories, there is someone else waiting to do it for us. And those people, waiting with their pens, often don’t look like we do and don’t have our best interests in mind. “This line always stayed with me,” she said. “I discovered my role as a
designer was not only crucial to who I am today, but why I chose to become a creative.” Abdurraqib, born in Columbus, first came onto the national stage in June 2016 with his collection, “The Crown Ain’t Worth Much,” named a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Prize, and was nominated for a Hurston-Wright Legacy Award. With Big Lucks, he released a limited-edition chapbook, Vintage Sadness, in summer 2017. His first collection of essays, “They Can’t Kill Us,” was released in winter 2017 by Two Dollar Radio and was named a book of the year by Buzzfeed, Esquire, NPR, Oprah Magazine, Paste, CBC, The Los Angeles Review, Pitchfork, and The Chicago Tribune, among others. His “Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes
to a Tribe Called Quest” became a New York Times bestseller, was a finalist for the Kirkus Prize, and was long-listed for the National Book Award. His second collection of poems, “A Fortune for your Disaster” was released in 2019 by Tin House, and won the 2020 Lenore Marshall Prize. The ceremony is on May 16 from 10 a.m-1 p.m. in Ault Park. Also addressing the graduates will be valedictorian Nytaya Babbitt, recently named SummerFair Cincinnati’s “Emerging Young Artist” beating out twenty finalists from area colleges.
Hanif Abdurraqib, commencement speaker for the Art Academy’s 2021 graduation ceremony
Rotary Club honors Nzekwu, co-founder of Found Village
Center for Addiction Treatment adds outpatient services
A Fort Thomas woman, who is focusing her life on creating a family-like support system for traumatized teens, has won the 2021 Greater Cincinnati Jefferson Award. This makes her a finalist for the national award – known as the “Nobel Prize for public service.” Katie Nzekwu is co-founder and CEO of Found Village, which provides resources and support to help teens develop the skills and support systems needed for a stable life. Found Village takes its name from the adage that it takes a village to raise a child. Started in 2015, the organization is for teens who do not have that “village” of support that often comes from family, mentors and close community. Through this “found village” they can discover talents, explore interests, build strong relationships and healthy lifestyles. After-school, one-on-one and community-based activities include job training, life skills, fitness, creative experiences and mentoring. Teens in the program had an 89
The Center for Addiction Treatment (CAT), a nonprofit addiction treatment facility, is launching a new outpatient program in response to the overwhelming need for addiction treatment options in the Greater Cincinnati region. The new “Intensive Outpatient Program” is an evidence-based treatment option for people who may benefit from treatment less-structured than that offered at the center, but more intensive than weekly or biweekly outpatient services. The program will provide essential addiction education and treatment components that allow patients to apply their newly acquired skills in their daily lives, while maintaining employment and positive relationships. Treatment is individualized, but the average length of the program is 90 days. Support for the program is provided in part by State Opioid Response (SOR 2.0) funds from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. “By adding an Intensive Outpatient Program, we will now offer a full continuum of care for individuals who struggle with a substance use disorder,” said CAT President/CEO Chellie McLellan. Since 1970, CAT has provided treatment for patients with addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling. www.catsober.org
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percent decrease in psychiatric hospitalizations, 90 percent graduated from high school and moved toward secondKatie Nzekwu ary education, and 70 percent left governed custody and were reunited with their families. The program has saved the community an estimated $200,000 in services. As the Greater Cincinnati winner, Nzekwu becomes a finalist for the one of five national Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Awards for Outstanding Public Service Benefiting Local Communities, part of the overall Jefferson Awards. The national Jefferson Awards program was founded in 1972 by Cincinnati native Robert Taft and former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It honors outstanding service in more than a dozen categories, from service by public officials and professional sports figures to service by private citizens, students and corporations. Winners from more than 90 communities across the country will compete in Washington D.C this summer.
Samuel Adams Taproom to sell limited-edition brew benefiting YWCA Consumers of Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom’s new beer called “Equal Hopportunity” will be supporting the YWCA Greater Cincinnati. Every $6 pint sold will net the YWCA a $3 donation. The limited-edition collaboration is being launched in honor of International Women’s Day to help the YWCA with its mission of working to close the pay gap between men and women. Sales began March 29 and continue until supplies are exhausted. Each year, brewers from the 24-year-old Cincinnatifounded Samuel Adams craft limited release brews tied to International Women’s Day. According to the YWCA, women across the Greater Cincinnati area make on average $0.80 for every $1 earned by men, adding up to an average loss of $327,953 in wages over the course of a career.
Ohio suicide prevention group launches Black-focused effort The Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation has launched a series of “pop-up” events in Ohio in April and May aimed at promoting better mental health and suicide awareness in the Black community. “Life is Better With You Here” is the name of the campaign, which included an event on April 24 at Corporate, a sneaker and clothing boutique at 2643 Erie Ave. The OSPF hopes to share resources for young black teens, as well as share various stories from the Black community to show that Black teens suffering from mental health disorders are not alone. www.withyouhere.org
Aquarium’s foundation to resume outreach program The foundation supporting operations at the Newport Aquarium is resuming its outreach programs this summer. The WAVE Foundation’s “WAVE on Wheels” program is beginning registration for in-person outreach in which aquarium animals – sharks, stingrays, penguins and others – will come on site at organizations, community centers, libraries, schools and companies to provide educational experiences. WAVE has put in place new protocols to deal with continuing COVID-19 restrictions. www.wavefoundation.org
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IN THE NEWS
Assistance League delivers 10K toothbrushes Although the coronavirus pandemic put a hold on shopping trips to the Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati’s headquarters, the 23-year-old agency did not stop serving kids. Assistance League volunteers packed 10,000 sets of toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and sanitary pads for every student in grades four to six at 43 schools. “Every student in my school needs clothes and they also need hygiene products due to their family’s financial situation,” said Monica Keenon, resource coordinator at Ethel M. Taylor Academy. Keenon and others participated in a survey to assess the needs of local children during the pandemic. In previous school years, elementary students relished the “shopping” field trip to Assistance League headquarters. Paired with a volunteer, each child received
personal attention while being measured and sent home with two new shirts, pants (altered when needed), a fleece jacket, belt, socks and underwear. This program is known as Operation School Bell, and the Assistance League has seen 40,000 children visit over 20 years. Primary funding for Operation School Bell is provided by the Charles H. Dater Foundation and the Woodward Trust. The organization is striving to address three key need areas for children: clothing, health and supplies. Hunger and literacy are also getting attention. Assistance League volunteers have donated nearly 3,000 books to children at local schools since 2020. In the past year, Assistance League volunteers donated 12,500 hours valued at $387,000. The organization has served the unmet needs of 64,500 individual women and children. The all-volunteer organization works closely with greater Cincinnati public and parochial schools, colleges, hospitals and women’s shelters. www.assistanceleaguecincinnati.org
Cohen Vice President Adam Dumes presents Great Parks CFO Andy Collins with donation check.
Holiday lights recycling program sees big uptick The Holiday Lights Recycling program at Great Parks, in its seventh year, continued to have a big local sustainability impact. Thanks to a long-standing partnership with Cohen Recycling, the program has redirected thousands of pounds of lights from the landfill to be refined into new products. Drop-off locations were available from Nov. 1, 2020 through Feb. 1, 2021, at six park visitor centers. This year, 15,700 pounds of lights were collected at Great Parks, surpassing last year’s total by 4,200 pounds. Cohen is donating $2,355 to Great Parks to support ongoing conservation efforts. To date, more than 42,300 pounds of lights have been collected over the course of the partnership program. This year’s total comes close to surpassing all six previous years combined. www.greatparks.org, www.cohenusa.com
Great Parks golf pro earns national recognition by industry association
Classical curriculum tuition-free school in works for 2022 opening
A Great Parks of Hamilton County golf pro has been named among the nation’s top teaching professionals by an industry association. PGA head golf professional Matt Starr was recently recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) as a “Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional.” Starr has been the head golf professional at Meadow Links & Golf Academy since 2005 and started his career at the course when he was just 16 years old. As a PGA pro, Starr strives to ensure his students build a solid framework of golf fundamentals while practicing and playing. He has worked with players, ranging in skill and knowledge of the game, but truly enjoys his work with junior golfers. This is the first time Starr
The Cincinnati Classical Academy has received approval to open in 2022 as a new public charter school with grades K-6. The school will offer a classical liberal arts education with instruction in moral character and civic virtue. A new grade will be added each year until all grades K through 12 are served. The school has been accepted – through a competitive application process – to partner with the Barney Charter School Initiative of Hillsdale College, which has developed a K-12 American classical education curriculum that the academy will adopt. Hillsdale College will also provide support for teacher training and development. There are more than 20 charter schools with the Hillsdale classical curriculum
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has been recognized for the national honor. Meadow Links & Golf Academy was also selected as a national “Top 50” stand-alone range. The range at the golf course was recognized not only for its design, but also for its golf programming. Meadow Links is one of six Great Parks golf courses.
Movers & Makers
Matt Starr
throughout the country, each with long waitlists for attendance. Dr. Jed Hartings, board chair of the Cincinnati Classical Academy, stated, “We believe that a classical liberal arts curriculum is the best means to achieve the purpose of public education, which is to develop a citizenry capable of personal and political self-governance.” The curriculum empowers students to live rich and meaningful lives through the teaching of core disciplines in language, math, science, history, literature and philosophy. The founding board of the Cincinnati Classical Academy aims to locate the school along the I-71/I-75 corridor in Hamilton County. www.cincyclassical.org
NAMES IN THE NEWS Tara Tuttle Julie McGregor Blair Schoen Rickena Bowman Zahki Davis Kersha Deibel David Kirley Chris Kleman Ken Patel Lena M. Patton Tom Schultz Lindsey Wade Jaynie Levinson Tamara Harkavy Daniel Parsley Abby Marcus
Price Hill Will named Tara Tuttle to its board. An English teacher at Elder High School, Tuttle is a life-long resident of Price Hill, where, along with her husband, she raised three children.
Santa Maria Community Services Inc. promoted Julie McGregor to the new position of chief program officer. McGregor recently completed 14 years with Santa Maria, having started as its Every Child Succeeds program director in 2007. McGregor holds a master of social work from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Spanish from Wittenberg University. McGregor replaces Blair Schoen, who retired March 31 after more than 43 years at Santa Maria. In joining Santa Maria in November 1977, Schoen had just finished a stint as a Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) worker doing community organizing in the East End. She had a toddler at home and wanted to work as an advocate for adolescents. She had lost her younger sister to a drug overdose and wanted to do what she could for other teenagers who were facing similar troubles.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati appointed Joanna Kemper, senior manager of human resources with Luxottica Retail, to its board.
The Cincinnati USA Convention & Visitors Bureau elected a new slate of regional leaders and advocates to serve on its board and in leadership roles. Jeff Berding, president and GM of Major League Soccer team FC Cincinnati, was elected board chair. Berding replaces Mario San Marco, board chair since 2018. In addition, Agnes Godwin Hall of Macy’s was elected vice-chair and Paul Silva of Eagle Realty Group was elected secretary-treasurer. New at-large directors include ArtsWave CEO Alecia Kintner and Akiva Freeman, an office, manufacturing, and logistics manager for Kroger. New directors include Adam Gelter, executive VP of development at 3CDC; Bobby Spann, VP of external
affairs for the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport; Joe Pinto, general manager of Hyatt Regency; and Brendon Cull, executive VP & chief strategy officer for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. Returning directors include Mike Conway, chairman & chief portfolio officer for Winegardner & Hammons Hotel Group; Eric Kearney, president & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce; Karen Forgus, Senior VP of business operations for the Cincinnati Reds; and Tim Zeis from the Greater Cincinnati Sports Corp.
Hearing Speech + Deaf Center named Amber Burley Munnerlyn and David A. Skidmore Jr. to its board. Munnerlyn is an assistant professor in the American Sign Language Department of the University of Cincinnati’s College of Education. She is a licensed professional counselor and a certified ASL interpreter. She is co-founder of Cincinnati’s African American/ Black Interpreter Collaborative. Skidmore is an employment attorney at the law firm Frost Brown Todd. In 2019, he was co-chair of Hearing Speech + Deaf Center’s 3rd Annual Laura and Richard Kretschmer Service Award Gala.
Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati has added eight members to its board. They join a now 19-member board, composed of a majority of women, 42 percent BIPOC/AAPI individuals, and 21 percent individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. The new members are: Rickena Bowman, General Electric Aviation; Zahki Davis, Fifth Third Bank; Kersha Deibel, Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region; David Kirley, CDK Global; Chris Kleman, First Financial Bank; Ken Patel, P&G; Lena M. Patton, Hamilton County Educational Service Center; Tom Schultz, Green Umbrella.
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati recently promoted two staff members, and hired a new development chief. Lindsey Wade is now serving as Chief operating officer and Jaynie Levinson as
women’s philanthropy director. Tamara Harkavy, founder and former CEO of ArtWorks, has been hired as chief development officer.
The Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra named Daniel Parsley as assistant conductor. A Cincinnati native, Parsley enjoys an active career as conductor, educator, scholar, church musician and professional chorister. He is currently director of choral activities and program head for the music department at Thomas More University, and also director of music at St. Timothy Episcopal Church. Parsley most recently served as assistant conductor/ conducting fellow for the May Festival Chorus and associate director for the Cincinnati Youth Choir. Parsley completed his doctorate in choral conducting with a cognate in orchestral conducting, at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He also holds a masters in choral conducting from Bowling Green State University and undergraduate degrees in voice performance and international studies from Xavier University.
Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park announced the appointment of Abby Marcus as its new managing director. Currently, Marcus is managing director of the Orchard Project, a multidisciplinary artist residency program in Saratoga Springs, NY. She has also served as managing director of CalArts Center for New Performance in Los Angeles and as finance director at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, where she helped oversee their $32 million capital expansion project. She will replace Buzz Ward, who is retiring after 29 years in leadership at the Playhouse. In addition to her finance and management background, Marcus serves as a creative producer of Vampire Cowboys, an OBIE Award-winning theatre company in New York City. She has held previous leadership positions at NYC’s Baryshnikov Arts Center, the Dramatists Guild of America and the Playwrights’ Center in Minneapolis.
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Gifts/Grants ArtsWave awards another $166,000 in project grants The board of ArtsWave, the nationally-leading fundraising organization for the Greater Cincinnati arts community, approved $166,000 in funding in early April, bringing its total project-based grantmaking to nearly $400,000 in the past year. A total of 67 organizations received funding from Artswave, which raised $13 million from its latest annual campaign, special coronavirus response fund, and administered funding from the government’s CARES Act.
MYCincinnati youth orchestra
Previously, Artswave distributed $2.4 million in grant payments to 43 organizations that receive operating revenues, expanded its $10,000 working-capital loans for eligible arts organizations, provided emergency grants to 47 organizations, and administered $3.7 million in relief funds at the federal, county, and city-level to arts organizations and artists. Throughout the year, ArtsWave provided more than $750,000 in support of cultural organizations led by or serving primarily BIPOC audiences. The latest set of grants will support projects such as the following: • The “It’s Commonly Jazz” festival will move beyond its Bond Hill location into Over-theRhine, Kennedy Heights and Walnut Hills, offering 14 neighborhood concerts, while simulcasting its programming on its social media channels and reaching more people in the process. • Cincinnati Museum Center will present “Once Upon a Canvas: Storytelling through Art,” an innovative, collaborative project that brings together local artists of color, children, and their families at the intersection of art and storytelling. • Dearborn Highlands Arts Council in Indiana will have graduates of the Jail Chemical Addictions Program (JCAP) create a Mural of Hope, working with the assistance of an artist. This mural will tell their story of hope and in addition, graduates will participate in workshops to explore color and healing 26
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through their art. • Ish Festival will present “Rising in Love,” a new musical theater work by Philadelphiabased Rory Michelle Sullivan, which is a modern-day coming-of-age story about an engaged, interracial, millennial Jewish couple, who confront their fears and anxieties surrounding their upcoming marriage, turning to family and friends who help them learn what it takes to rise in love. • Through the upcoming production of “Big Fish,” Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre will elevate its technical skills and create a stronger artistic vision for its productions. This will include fantastical costuming elements, tricks such as launching people out of a cannon, and an almost cinematic flow from scene-to-scene. The construct of the show relies heavily on the use of projections, some which incorporate animation. • Vulcan’s Forge Performing Arts Collaborative will bring the Dancing Wheels Dance Company to Memorial Hall in September to showcase its integrated dance technique using challenged dancers in wheelchairs, highlighting the talents of the challenged community while creating paid opportunities for local artists with disabilities. • MYCincinnati, a free, daily youth orchestra program serving 100 children in Price Hill, will celebrate its 10th birthday through a major expansion, adding at least 30 new students, along with reinvigorated programming. All approved projects were selected based on their ability to further ArtsWave’s vision to create a more vibrant regional economy and more connected community. Strong funding for the arts has allowed Cincinnati’s arts and culture scene to become a national draw and regional asset. Each year, ArtsWave supports the work of over 100 arts organizations, school outreach programs, festivals, community centers, neighborhoods, and various collaborations through impact-based grants. The region’s arts sector has an economic impact of more than $300 million annually and includes more than 225 organizations that employ 10,000 individuals as artists, performers, and staff. Full list of grant recipients and amounts: www.moversmakers.org/artswave-impact-grants-2021 Commonwealth Artists Student Theatre
Muñoz Foundation names student scholarship winners The Anthony Muñoz Foundation has awarded $42,000 in college scholarships to 18 Tri-state students who will receive a one-time scholarship toward pursuing their college education. One overall male and one overall female Straight ‘A’ Student of the Year will be chosen and awarded an additional scholarship. The students will be recognized at the foundation’s 20th anniversary dinner on June 13. “This past year proved to be difficult for many, and now more than ever, we are excited to recognize and reward these high school seniors for their resilience and success in and out of the classroom,” said Anthony Munoz, NFL and Cincinnati Bengals Hall of Famer, who launched his foundation in 2002 to engage and impact youth mentally, physically and spiritually. The foundation runs seven programs, including scholarship opportunities, tutoring, and a leadership seminar. A key foundation partner is Mike’s Carwash. The foundation received over 320 nominations from 133 local high schools.
Winning students and their schools: Vicky Almeida, Turpin High School Mercedes Bowman-Engleman, Aiken High School Mikala Coker, Walter E. Stebbins High School Haylee Foist, Oyler High School Jordan Fong, Larry A. Ryle High School Savannah Panetta, Dayton High School Denise Rangel, Simon Kenton High School Nicole Rechtin, Bellevue High School Jordyn Rowe, Bishop Brossart High School Carson Curtis, Archbishop Moeller High School Jamari Fields, Oyler High School John Harris II, Princeton High School Carter Hudson, Calvary Christian High School Martin Igaba, DePaul Cristo Rey High School Dylan Robinson, Hamilton High School Logan Schneider, Elder High School Connor Stuart, Boone County High School James Tillotson, Fairborn High School
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Meeting community needs by offering better choices By Cindy Starr
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alley Interfaith Community Resource Center (VICRC), a small charity, is a gem so well hidden that when its board leadership asked John Keuffer whether he might be interested in becoming their executive director, he had to pause. “I hadn’t heard of them,” said Keuffer, who was then directing the Sheakley Center at Lighthouse Youth Services. Intrigued, Keuffer learned that the Lockland agency had existed as a food and clothing pantry for more than 50 years, while annually serving 4,000 to 6,000 clients from Upper Mill Creek communities, including Arlington Heights, Carthage, Hartwell, Lincoln Heights, Lockland and Reading. Ready for a new challenge, Keuffer (pronounced KEEF-er), stepped into the leadership role in 2017. Since then, he has transformed the pantry into an emerging resource center that helps connect clients with services related to addiction, mental health, violence and job-readiness. “I took over with the goal and directive to really try to end generational poverty cycles, or disrupt those cycles,” Keuffer said. “A food and clothing pantry was just not going to achieve that goal. If you want to transition people out of their circumstances, you need to address some deeper issues, not just the symptoms.” Equally important, Keuffer has financially stabilized the agency, which once depended on an angel donor to meet year-end deficits. VICRC now has a Better Business Bureau accreditation and a 4½-month reserve fund. “I’m not a big fan of multi-million-dollar endowments that sit out there and never get touched,” Keuffer said, “but you have to build for the future or you’re not going to serve anybody.” Keuffer began the agency’s service transition by using food and clothing as a way to engage clients. “The design was to start asking a simple question that had not been asked before, and that is, ‘What brought you here?’” Keuffer said. “There wasn’t much interaction previously. We learned that there’s a certain percentage of people who are unable to educate or employ themselves out of their circumstances” These difficulties ran the gamut,
from housing insecurity and homelessness, to joblessness or inability to find childcare. A notable portion were victims of crime, including domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual exploitation and elder abuse. Some had been diagnosed with a mental illness but were not seeking treatment, in part because they did not want to leave their neighborhood. “With gentrification, more people in poverty are being pushed out to the suburbs, and the suburbs don’t have the services to deal with it,” Keuffer said. “Many of these people can’t get downtown for services, or they choose not to.”
To transition people out of their circumstances, you need to address some deeper issues, not just the symptoms. – John Keuffer Keuffer knew his small agency could not hope to meet so many significant human needs on its own. Keuffer is the only full-time staffer, and there are only six part-time staffers. “Our name is community resource center. So we began to act like one and looked for partners who could meet those needs.” VICRC partners with the Addictions Services Council, Julia’s Hope (in Hamilton), the Cincinnati Police Department and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office. To assist youth with mental health issues, Keuffer also created a partnership with St. Joseph’s Orphanage. That partnership has since been absorbed by the Lockland School District. Superintendent Bob Longworth said Keuffer and his staff are a blessing to the Lockland community. “VICRC has contributed to our efforts and abilities to support our students and families in a number of ways.” Those include acquiring and distributing school supplies, providing clothing and meals to families, and helping students develop financial literacy and life skills. Case managers from Addiction Services work side by side with VICRC volunteers, handing out food, lending an ear, and offering
immediate help to clients who selfdisclose an addiction. They have offices in the building, keys and a pass code, as do police officers from Lockland and Reading. According to Adam Webb, mobile engagement supervisor at Addiction Services,“VICRC has provided us with a platform to be a part of the community in which they serve,” he said. “This allows us to build rapport and trust with individuals who may need our services.” The word “Interfaith” in VICRC’s name honors its history of support from area churches and synagogues. “But there’s no faith that we’re prescribing or preaching or teaching,” Keuffer said. “We serve everybody, no matter your faith. We don’t preach; but if somebody asked, ‘Would you pray for me?’ I have some people who will pray for them.” Keuffer came to the nonprofit world by way of a criminal justice career. He has worked as a police officer in Lincoln Heights, Elmwood Place and Terrace Park. During that period he did volunteer work at the Bob Hope House, an agency located in Mount Healthy that no longer exists. “I loved the place; it inspired me to do more,” Keuffer said. “I had a case where I’d actually arrested a kid for burglary, and that kid was then sent to the Bob Hope House. It was an interesting paradigm, where my job was formerly to get him off the street and now my job was to get him back. That particular youth was able to recover, Keuffer said. “He was a wonderful kid. He made a bad decision trying to make a quick buck for the family, not for himself. Not to justify it, but there are a lot of people trying to make a decision, and the Rolodex in their brain for choices is limited. His choice was limited.” At VICRC, Keuffer seeks to continue building that Rolodex for his clients. “Our goal is to become a true community resource center where we’re using our food pantry as the engagement tool and where we have several agencies operating out of the building,” he said. “We see them interacting and engaging with people who come for food and clothing and learning about their deeper issues. Being a community-based referral network is our goal.” www.vicrc.org
GIFTS/GRANTS
Talbert House to help with Ohio’s new suicide prevention line
Representatives from Certified Piedmontese pose with FC Cincinnati’s Gary the Lion at the Becky & Ted Catino Choice Food Pantry, celebrating the kick-off of the beef distributor’s sponsorship.
SVDP receives big beef shipment from Nebraska tied to FC Cincinnati A shipment of 1,000 pounds of beef arrived in March at St. Vincent de Paul’s Becky & Ted Catino Choice Food Pantry, thanks to a generous donation from Certified Piedmontese, a Nebraska-based beef distributor. The donation was made as Certified Piedmontese kicks off a new sponsorship deal with FC Cincinnati. “We are extremely grateful for this donation,” said Mike Dunn, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul - Cincinnati. “Ground beef is a popular request from families we serve at our Choice Food Pantry. This will go a long way to putting nutritious meals on the table for our neighbors in need.” Representatives from Certified Piedmontese and FC Cincinnati, including mascot Gary the Lion, paid a visit to SVDP to facilitate the delivery. The Don & Phyllis Neyer Outreach Center is located just over a mile away from the team’s new stadium in the West End.
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“We are thrilled to connect our sponsor Certified Piedmontese with St. Vincent de Paul for this significant donation. St. Vincent de Paul does great work supporting those in need and we appreciate their willingness to distribute the beef at their pantry locations,” said Kate Solomon, FC Cincinnati vice president for community relations. Last year, over 39,000 individuals relied on the Becky & Ted Catino Choice Food Pantry for assistance with food. Another 7,800 turned to a smaller pantry in SVDP’s neighborhood food pantry network for help. SVDP-Cincinnati is one of hundreds of St. Vincent de Paul district councils throughout the United States. More than 1,200 neighborhood-based volunteers provide personal and emergency assistance for needs such as food, clothing, rent and utilities, prescription medications, and much more.
Movers & Makers
Talbert House received the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline’s 988 state planning grant through Vibrant Emotional Health, the nonprofit administrator of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The grant allows Talbert House to collaborate on the development of strategic plans for Ohio that will prepare for projected infrastructure needs, volume growth, and access to the Lifeline’s new 988 number. In July 2022, 988 will become the national three-digit dialing code for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Americans needing support should continue to call 1-800-273TALK (8255) until then. “Access to mental health and crisis support has never been more critical for Americans,” said Kimberly Williams, president and CEO of Vibrant Emotional Health. “Vibrant is committed to providing the states and territories with some of the resources they'll need to plan for the implementation of 988, and to support their local crisis centers. By working together, we will increase access to care, reduce the stigma around mental health and, ultimately, save lives.” Talbert House will collaborate with state leadership, suicide prevention
experts, people with lived experience, and others to create a 988 implementation plan, and support the Lifeline’s operational, clinical, and performance standards that allow access to care. “Last year we served over 96,000 clients in prevention and hotline services,” said Harold Howard, Talbert House vice president of Community Care. “This collaboration will allow us to reach even more community members in need of support and promote positive mental health awareness.” Talbert House will implement the Lifeline’s 988 three-digit dialing code through its existing 281-CARE infrastructure. The Talbert House 281-CARE hotline is a 24/7 crisis intervention service for psychological crises, relationship conflicts, bereavement, loss and other personal emergencies. Community members can call 513-281-CARE (2273) or text “TALBERT” to 839863 to access the 24/7 hotline. Vibrant believes the new 988 number, once implemented, will ensure the continuation of the Lifeline as America’s mental health safety net by providing emotional support for people in distress, reducing suicides and mental health crises, and providing a pathway to well-being for all.
PNC-managed trust donates $20,000 to the Central Clinic The Jack J. Smith Jr. Trust/PNC Charitable Trust has granted $20,000 to the Central Clinic Behavioral Health Child & Family Treatment Center. For nearly 100 years, through 12 locations in Greater Cincinnati, Central Clinic Behavioral Health has provided individualized mental health, addiction and forensic services to children, families and adults. This grant will be used to eliminate the financial barrier to therapy for
families of children who need counseling and treatment, and are unable to afford the services or copays that insurance does not cover. “Many children without insurance coverage can now receive therapeutic services,” said Dr. Walter S. Smitson, Central Clinic Behavioral Health president and CEO. “Thanks to the Jack J. Smith Jr. Trust/PNC Charitable Trust many children will be able to receive the counseling and assistance they need.”
GIFTS/GRANTS
Fifth Third Foundation gifts $750K to support graduation rates at Cincinnati State A lead gift of $750,000 from the Fifth Third Foundation will help Cincinnati State re-launch a $3 million initiative this fall aimed at boosting graduate rates among low-income students. The Cincinnati State “Accelerate” program is part of the community college’s $15 million, 50th anniversary campaign. When combined with donations from every member of Cincinnati State’s overall governing, foundation and alumni boards, Fifth Third’s gift brings the donation total to $1.9 million for the program. Accelerate, which is free for eligible students, provides a comprehensive set of personal, academic, and financial supports designed to help students stay in college, earn credits faster and graduate on time. The amount raised so far will allow for the first class of 200 “C-State Accelerate” scholars to
begin the program this fall, when Cincinnati State plans to return to a full in-person course schedule. At full capacity, the program is designed to serve 600 students. This is not the first time for “C-State Accelerate.” Cincinnati State was chosen to operate the program for three years from 2015-2018 as part of a rigorous, statewide study conducted by a nationally recognized research organization, MDRC. The study showed that “C-State Accelerate” significantly increased retention and graduation rates for low-income students at the college, enough so that the college launched fundraising efforts to restart the program. Cincinnati State President Dr. Monica Posey said the program not only supports student success, but also strengthens the region’s workforce.
Dr. Monica Posey
Heidi Jark
“We are proud to provide this gift to deserving Cincinnati State students to help them advance their educational goals. This is one of the many examples of how we are working to change people’s lives and create positive outcomes in our communities,” said Heidi Jark, senior vice president and managing director of the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank.
Scripps awards $600K to support diversity in journalism As part of its commitment to advance equity, diversity and inclusion within the journalism industry, the Cincinnati-based Scripps Howard Foundation has selected the University of North Texas and Elon University as recipients of grants from its new program for emerging journalists. The foundation, a philanthropic organization of the publicly traded E.W. Scripps Co., has awarded $600,000 to the two institutions to enhance or create programs that inspire high school students to embark on journalism careers. Last summer, the foundation hosted a competitive application process to select the two universities, which will each receive $100,000 a year over three years. The programs are funded through a generous gift from Eli and Jaclynn Scripps and Jonathan and Brooke Scripps. The Mayborn School of Journalism, based in Denton, Texas, will use the grant to help establish the Scripps Howard Emerging Journalists Program at the University of North Texas, serving high school students and teachers of diverse socio-economic, racial and ethnic backgrounds. Elon University in North Carolina will use the grant to fund the Scripps Howard Emerging Journalists Program. Between 2021 and 2023, the program will engage at least 115 high school juniors and seniors from North Carolina and surrounding areas. The foundation and its parent company, Scripps, have committed to increasing diversity in journalism through a variety of programs.
For the first time since the pandemic, members of Give Where You Live NKY gathered in-person at the Globe in Covington, and chose Esperanza Latino Center to receive the quarterly donation.
Latino center wins speed philanthropy grant from Give Where You Live NKY Give Where You Live NKY giving-circle members recently gathered to give $6,500 to Esperanza Latino Center. The grant kicks off a year of quarterly meetings that have, since launching, brought more than $50,000 in awards from the giving circle’s members to Northern Kentucky nonprofits. Give Where You Live NKY is a joint initiative presented by Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky and Mueller Financial, Inc. Its format lends itself to busy community members who are looking for an easy way to give back to nonprofits that serve Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. The remaining 2021 Give Where You Live NKY meetings will be held on June 17 at Union 42 Bourbon & Brews, Sept. 16 at
Wooden Cask Brewery, and Dec. 9 at Molly Malone’s (all on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m.). The giving circle reportedly runs on a tight schedule at each meeting. Participating members nominate a nonprofit of their choice, and three names are randomly selected and briefly discussed by the group. The members then vote on their favorite, and each member contributes $100 for the grant to the winning organization. All this takes place in under an hour. The format of Give Where You Live NKY also provides a way to connect funds to nonprofits without the need for nonprofits to expend financial resources and staff time on fundraising. www.nkygives.org
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Snapshots SNAPSHOTS
Who, what, where & why
CancerFree Kids gains nearly $450K
CancerFree Kids families thank Jersey Mike’s for 11 years of participation.
Two fundraising initiatives for CancerFree Kids have brought the organization nearly $450,000. Jersey Mike’s Subs raised a record-breaking $207,630 for Greater Cincinnati’s CancerFree Kids as part of the restaurant’s 11th annual “Month of Giving” in March. The Jersey Mike’s event includes $167,787 donated on a single day, March 31, when the company donated 100 percent of its sales at all 23 of its Greater Cincinnati locations to support CancerFree Kids, a nearly 20-year-old Loveland-based nonprofit, funding innovative research on cancers impacting children. Also in March, more than 650 Tri-state high school students and sponsors joined forces to raise $232,000 as part of CancerFree Kids’ ninth annual “Night for the Fight.” The typically 12-hour overnight event pivoted to a week-long virtual competition between 37 local high schools using a mobile platform. TQL Foundation served as presenting sponsor of “N4TF” for a third year. Since its inception in 2013, “N4TF” has raised more than $1.7 million CancerFree KIDS families visited for childhood cancer research.
Students from 37 high schools submitted videos on a mobile platform.
100 percent of sales on March 31 at Jersey Mike’s shops were donated to CancerFree Kids.
Jersey Mike’s locations all over the city to thank the chain for supporting childhood cancer research.
Orange buildings marking hope, enthusiasm to end pandemic Buildings all around Greater Cincinnati were lit up in orange recently, the color of hope and enthusiasm, as community leaders work to achieve an 80% vaccination rate for the Greater Cincinnati population by July 4. “Reaching that 80 percent milestone will bring us a big step closer in defeating the virus in our region,” said Craig Brammer, president and CEO for The Health Collaborative, one of the organizers. The Health Collaborative and others organized “Get Out the Vax” weekends during the second and fourth weekends in April and again in May. At the start of the campaign in early April, 35 percent of those who were eligible had been vaccinated in the 15-county region. Some of the locations lighting up included Florence water tower, Christ Hospital, Duke Energy Convention Center, Paul Brown Stadium, Great American Ballpark and the Northern Kentucky University College of Informatics. The Health Collaborative is a nonprofit, datadriven organization founded in 2015. Its purpose is to bring together healthcare stakeholders and provide them with the actionable data they need for healthier people, better care and lower costs. www.healthcollab.org Vaccine appointment information: www.testandprotectcincy.com 30
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Jenny Sasson, pastor at Vineyard Church, advocates for the Latino community to get vaccinated.
Northern Kentucky University’s Informatics building
Community leaders hold a press conference announcing the “Get Out the Vax” effort.
Photo credit: Cory Sharber 91.7 WVXU
SNAPSHOTS
Brennaman hosts televised Family Nurturing Center program
Members of Kappa Delta Sorority at Northern Kentucky University Tom Gil (Far left) Mark Ayer
Jill Meyer, chamber president and CEO, speaking during the program broadcast.
Faced with a second year without its annual fundraising banquet, Family Nurturing Center turned to the airwaves and retired broadcaster Marty Brennaman to appeal to area residents for support of its mission to end child abuse. The “Step Up For Children” program debuted on WCPO Channel 9 April 13, thanks to a grant provided by the Clement and Ann Buenger Foundation. Marty Brennaman, the voice of the Cincinnati Reds for 30 years, served as host of the program, which features stories of courage by abuse survivors and honors community members who have supported the Family Nurturing Center and its mission: • Tom Gill, longtime Chevrolet dealership owner who has hosted several events to raise awareness of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. • Mark Ayer, local real estate investor who developed an office complex into a thriving home for numerous local nonprofit agencies, including Family Nurturing Center. • Kappa Delta Sorority at Northern Kentucky University, which raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Family Nurturing Center through its annual Shamrock 5K Run and Walk. Family Nurturing Center relies on grants and donations to support the therapeutic and counseling services it provides at no cost for people of all ages, but especially children and families. According to national statistics by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every four children is abused or neglected at some point in their lives. Kentucky has the highest rate of child abuse cases in the entire country.
SATURDAY 6:30PM CET SUNDAY 8:30PM CET ARTS
Chamber program highlights COVID-19, racial impacts WCPO 9 aired a program highlighting the legacies of Cincinnati leaders and featuring the stories of nurses, business owners and essential workers who served the community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. “Legacy of Leadership: A Region Rises,” was produced by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and aired April 8. The chamber typically hosts an annual dinner honoring Cincinnatians for their contributions to the community – called Great Living Cincinnatians – but the event was canceled this year because of the pandemic. “This year, we wanted to find a way to honor our entire region as we emerge from one of the most difficult years in our history,” said Jill Meyer, chamber president and CEO. “We thought about how the leaders of the past have paved a way for leaders of the future to step up in new ways to help solve problems and rebuild the economy.” More than a dozen past Great Living Cincinnatians narrated the story. The chamber will inaugurate its next class of Great Living Cincinnatians in person at its annual dinner in February 2022.
Join Barbara Kellar as she showcases artists and cultural leaders from the Greater Cincinnati community.
www.CETconnect.org www.CETconnect.org
Emmy Award Winner Regional - Interview/Discussion Program
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SNAPSHOTS
Stepping Stones raises $68K Stepping Stones hosted its 13th annual “Open Your Heart” fundraiser in February in a new, safe and socially-distanced format. Stepping Stones netted more than $68,000 to benefit year-round programming for children, teens and adults with disabilities. Supporters enjoyed meals from Eddie Merlot’s in the comfort of their own homes. The event featured a video program with appearances by Stepping Stones’ Executive Director Chris Adams, Eddie Merlot’s Executive Chef Adam Jaramillo, Open Your Heart’s
event chair Dina Taylor and the family of a program participant. Supporters raised money for Stepping Stones by partaking in an online raffle with four premiere items, purchasing art kits for program participants and making general event donations. The event’s presenting sponsor was Convalescent Hospital for Children. Stepping Stones is a United Way partner agency serving more than 1,100 people with disabilities in day and overnight programs that increase independence and promote inclusion.
David and Nancy Aichholz, and Dan and Catherine Seifert attended the virtual event.
Rock the Block benefits spread across 14 neighborhoods Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati’s semi-annual Rock the Block event took place April 10 at 14 locations across six Greater Cincinnati counties, a departure from its typical approach working en masse in one neighborhood. To facilitate COVID-19-compliant physical distancing, hundreds of volunteers spread out to clean, paint, mulch, plant, repair and build in partnership with nonprofit groups and communities who needed a little extra hand. Volunteers worked through the rain to tackle all scheduled projects, plus a few extras.
West End Community Garden crew
Licking River Greenway cleanup Block Care Closet – Newport
Fine art photography portraiture – above or below the water.
Thomaston Woods – Clermont County Evanston Park – Greater Cincinnati Realtors Association
Tina Gutierrez Arts Photography tinagutierrezartsphotography.com tinagutierrezarts.photoshelter.com/portfolio tango@fuse.net 513.446.1903
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SNAPSHOTS
Urban League honors six community leaders in TV special The 72-year-old Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio named six more “Lions.” This 27-year-old ceremony recognizes community leaders who have reached age 65 and distinguished themselves in their personal and professional lives. The event, typically an in-person dinner, was televised April 8 by WLWT (Channel 5) with broadcaster Ashley Kirken as host. 2021 Lion Honorees: • Bootsy and Patti Collins – renowned funk and R&B bassist, singer and bandleader; philanthropists and community activists • Eileen Cooper Reed – former state director of the Children’s Defense Fund, education advocate, and racial equity leader • David Dillon – former Kroger CEO and local Urban League board chair • Michael J. Graham, S.J. – president of Xavier University and community and racial equity advocate • Dr. O’Dell Moreno Owens – retired president and CEO of Interact for Health, healthcare pioneer, leader, and advocate View the program at www.youtube.com, Bootsy and Patti Collins receive their awards from search “Urban League’s 27th annual Urban League CEO Eddie Keon and SVP Gina Goings. Glorifying the Lions”
WLWT Channel 5 broadcaster Ashley Kirken served as host.
Retiring Xavier University President Father Michael Graham
Education and equity leader Eileen Cooper Reed
Pre-scheduled volunteers begin returning to Matthew 25: Ministries Matthew 25: Ministries, one of the Tri-state’s largest nonprofits and most prolific engagers of volunteers, has begun to fully engage volunteers again. “Volunteers are the heart of our ministry,” said agency CEO Tim Mettey. “We are so happy to see their smiling faces again, and are thankful for their generous contribution to our work. Our volunteers are an essential part of helping get products into the hands of people who need it.” Matthew 25: Ministries utilizes volunteers in sorting, counting, packaging and preparing shipments. The total for 2020 was $293 million worth of donated products. In an effort to comply with
recommendations from Ohio Gov. DeWine, the Ohio Health Department and other governing officials, Matthew 25 suspended volunteer hours at its facility in mid-March 2020. As guidelines have continued to evolve regarding safe operations, the organization implemented additional safeguards to help protect the health and safety of its staff and volunteers. Updates to its facility and volunteer process help protect everyone at its building, and allowed the agency to reopen to volunteers on a pre-scheduled basis in mid-March 2021. Volunteers must pre-schedule as individuals, with members of their immediate household, or in small groups of no more than six people. They are required to wear masks or face coverings and maintain all COVID-19
Matthew 25: Ministries’ volunteer helping prepare donated items for distribution
safety protocols. Volunteers are being scheduled at least four weeks in advance for shifts Monday through Saturday. Although on-campus volunteer opportunities were suspended during the majority of 2020, the organization offered a number of off-campus, primarily self-directed volunteer opportunities, including collections, kit assembly and creative projects. Because the agency is a destination location for students needing service hours for school, academic honors or college applications, Matthew 25 developed an off-site service hour program to meet the needs of these students while on-campus volunteer hours were suspended. The agency also implemented a contactless local pick up program for some types of donations. In 2020, Matthew 25 engaged almost 17,000 volunteers, who donated more than 37,000 hours. Programs
Matthew 25: Ministries’ volunteer building personal care kits for distribution
that are primarily volunteer-powered were placed on pause. In a typical year, the organization would welcome more than 60,000 volunteers. “It has been exciting to resume these programs with the return of on-campus volunteers,” said Mettey. “Our goal is always to provide a hands-on experience for volunteers that offers them an education, an active experience and a sense of deep satisfaction and accomplishment when finished.” www.m25m.org
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SNAPSHOTS
Give Back Cincinnati upgrades garden for Madisonville school Give Back Cincinnati, the region’s all-volunteer young professional organization, partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools in March to update and renovate the learning garden at John P. Parker School in Madisonville. The garden will allow students to actively participate in cultivating food from seed to table. The project also promotes sustainability, health and nutrition, and community. Dozens of Give Back volunteers, all masked, gave their time to recreate the gardens. The initiative comes just months after it was announced the neighborhood would lose its Family Dollar store, one of the few places in the area where fresh vegetables and fruit could be purchased.
Sydney Hoffman and John Simmons paint the garden borders. Sean Huncherick prepares the soil for planting.
Sam Abatte and Jordan Klette-Cusher proudly show off the finished renovations.
Volunteers collect litter at Winton Woods Volunteers collected hundreds of bags of litter in the annual Winton Woods Cleanup for Great Parks of Hamilton County in April. More than 160 volunteers came together in the largest day of volunteering at Great Parks since 2019, picking up 164 bags of trash and 73 bags of recyclables. Some items were too big for bagging, like a car tire, muffler, baseball bat, fence posts, lumber, and even a giant rug. Volunteers followed physical distancing recommendations and fanned out to beautify Winton Lake Harbor, shelters, picnic areas, and the disc golf area at the park. Volunteer opportunities: www.greatparks.org Volunteers collected 164 bags of trash and 73 bags of recyclables in one day. Students from Finneytown High School pitched in.
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Movers & Makers
CABVI’S YES YOU CA N
SATURDAY, JUNE 12TH & SUNDAY, JUNE 13TH
5K
VIRTUAL WALK/RUN
One of Cincinnati’s Most Inclusive 5Ks
Every dollar raised will help empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired with opportunities to seek independence. For more information or to register, visit www.cincyblind.org/5K Questions?
hanna.firestone@cincyblind.org
513.487.4530
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Thank You for Making the 2021 Alpaugh Annual Awards Such a Great Success! We’d like to thank our fantastic keynote speaker, Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, and the team at McDonald’s for all of their work preparing for our event.
Did you miss the 2021 Alpaugh Family Economics Center's Annual Awards? See them here: alpaughawards2021.com And we couldn’t do the #WorkThatMatters without the support of our very generous event sponsors:
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
economicscenter.org smartpathlearning.com
