Diversity

Skyline founders serve up a scholarship

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September 20, 2011

The Glenway Skyline, one of three operated by the Lambrinides, the company's founding family, will be serving more than coneys from now on. The fourth-generation family owners have created the $30,000 Glenway Skyline Scholarship to benefit graduates of Cincinnati Cooks. The Freestore Foodbank initiative offers free 10-week culinary courses for budding chefs in need of job training but with limited resources. Cincinnati Cooks prepares students for work in the food service industry. To further help the community, all the food cooked during courses is served at Kids Café, an after-school meal program that provides food for many Cincinnati Public School children. The Lambrinides brothers learned of the Cincinnati Cooks through John Young, president and CEO of the Freestore Foodbank, and long-time customer of the Glenway Skyline. “We’ve had an ongoing relationship with him and knew it was something we could help out with,” says Nicholas Lambrinides. The scholarship will be awarded in $1,500 installments to a new graduate of Cincinnati Cooks each year. The money will be deposited to the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State to allow the winner to continue a culinary education. Brenda Torres received the inaugural scholarship at the most recent Cincinnati Cooks graduation ceremony. “She’s a hard worker and is going to do well at the culinary institute,” Lambrinides says. He personally presented Torres with the award at the ceremony. The Lambrinides have a long-standing reputation of philanthropy in the city and were especially interested because of the culinary nature of their business and Cincinnati Cooks. “Cincinnati Cooks is a great program that helps the community,” says Lambrinides, co-owner of the Glenway Skyline. “Our great-grandfather came from a modest beginning and created something great with Skyline. Maybe we can help do the same.” Do Good: • Donate: Free Store Foodbank is always accepting donations • Volunteer: Contact Melanie Burden for information on how you can help out. • Advocate: Check out this page to see how else you can help the FreeStore FoodBank. By Evan Wallis

Latest in Diversity

Factory Square Fine Arts Festival garners partners, support

By Evan Wallis

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Arts + Culture

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September 20, 2011

At an upcoming inaugural festival in Northside, thinking inside the box offers the clearest route to creativity. parProjects, a two-man artist group, is launching its fundraising and programming effort for their art and education center made mostly out of repurposed shipping containers by hosting the Factory Square Arts Festival Oct. 22-23. It takes shape in the lot in front of the new American Can Lofts, the space set to be the future home of the art center. The festival features 14 temporary exhibition spaces inside of shipping containers, large-scale sculpture displays by international and local artists, live music by Far-I-Rome Productions and a full complement of food and drinks. A portion of the festival will also be housed in the industrial bays of the American Can Lofts. An encore to the popular City Flea will fill one of the bays. World-renowned South African sculptor, Ledelle Moe will also have works inside the bay. Several other artists from DAAP and Northside’s Prairie Gallery will also display work on site. After a year of negotiating and planning with several partners, Jonathan Sears and Chris Hoeting, founders of parProjects, look forward to seeing their dream come to fruition. They hope to gain backing for their arts center through ongoing outreach and programming efforts and even gained Soapbox as the media sponsor. “We want to involve as many people as we can in this city,” says Sears. “There is a great appreciation of the arts, and we want to create something special.” During the festival, visitors can preview the arts center that will use shipping containers as building blocks and employ a variety of green building methods. With a target completion date in 2012, the arts center plan includes resident artists programs, collaborative arts education programs and exhibition spaces. Part of the center will also be detachable and serve as a mobile exhibition space. By Evan Wallis

Video Midpoint Music Festival

By The BIG Media Company

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Arts + Culture

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September 13, 2011

This year's MPMF marks a 10-year milestone for music makers and music lovers around the country and around the world. Take a video journey through the fun and the funky with the BIG Media Company. Directed by Dave Morrison.

Please and thank you

By Scott Beseler

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Diversity

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September 13, 2011

When it comes to a well-rounded meal, the chefs of Please consider every detail, from the plate to the decor surrounding it. Join Soapbox's Scott Beseler for a culinary tour of a recent meal created in partnership with the Brush Factory.

ToolBank adds power to community efforts

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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September 13, 2011

Community building takes time, energy, and, sometimes, power tools. “Having the right tools is the biggest barrier for non-profits and schools to do community-building work,” says Joe Hansbauer, a veteran of Give Back Cincinnati and now UGive executive director. He has participated and led many clean-up/fix-up efforts and knew of stores of tools warehoused by Give Back Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Parks and other local groups. “At Give Back Cincinnati, we wash every paint brush,” says Hansbauer, a fan of conserving funds and resources at the same time. “Tools have great longevity.” He wondered how the equipment, out of commission for most days of the year, could be available to schools, non-profits, neighborhood business associations and even neighbors who wanted to host a street-clean up. A chance mention at the end of a business meeting led him to contact ToolBank, an Atlanta-based non-profit designed to meet the same community needs. ToolBank inventories tools and allows volunteers minimal-cost access to a wide range of them, from cordless drills and ladders to rakes, shovels and circular saws. Hansbauer’s timing was perfect. As he gathered local business and financial support, ToolBank started adding affiliate programs – one in Charlotte, one in Baltimore, and, starting next year, one in Cincinnati. ToolBank offers the infrastructure to manage tool storage and distribution, as well as non-profit status. Preliminary financial support from UPS, the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, Ethicon and Toyota already amounts to more than $100,000. Once the local ToolBank board of directors, including Hansbauer, raises $125,000, they can begin a search for an executive director. By Elissa Yancey

Cincinnati Innovates winners tackle chores, more

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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September 13, 2011

Twelve new local innovators will collectively save stroke victims from brain damage and death, save travelers from missed flights, keep firefighters safe in the line of duty, help parents get kids to chores and help fantasy sports fans draft better teams thanks to support from the Cincinnati Innovates Awards Celebration. More than 250 people turned out to see the third annual Cincinnati Innovates Awards Celebration at Northern Kentucky University, where winners received $115,000 in grant awards. In the past three years more than 1,000 entrepreneurs have participated in the Cincinnati Innovates competition. Since the competition's inception, 100,000 votes have been cast and the world is paying attention. Online, Cincinnati Innovates has received almost 1 million page views from more than 50 countries. A total of $250,000 in grants have been awarded to local entrepreneurs in the past three years through the generous support of 23 sponsors. Past winners have gone on to raise over $3.5 million in follow-on capital, have been featured in national media and are changing the world with their ideas. The 2011 Winners include: CincyTech Commercialization Awards: $25,000 ChoreMonster $25,000 Acceptd $10,000 DraftOpt Taft Legal/Patent Awards: $10,000 Ischiban $5,000 Plan B Flights LPK Design & Branding Award: $10,000 SmartyTags Round Pixel Web Development Award: $10,000 Simple Golf Outings Northern Kentucky Vision 2015 Award: $5,000 Ischiban 7/79 Video Award: $5,000 FoxFire Northern Kentucky ezone Award: $2,500 All Decked Out Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens Get Started Award: $2,500 SavingsMatic HYPE Community Choice Award: $2,000 WantBug GCVA Partner Participation Award: $1,000 UC DAAP Industrial Design Program Cincinnati Innovates is made possible through the generous support of The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation, The Health Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Fort Washington Capital Partners, CincyTech, Taft, Soapbox Media, LPK, 7/79 Video Production, Northern Kentucky Tri-Ed, Round Pixel Studio, Bare Knuckle Marketing, Vision 2015, the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association, HYPE, the Northern Kentucky eZone, Cooney, Faulkner & Stevens, and the Cincinnati Inventor's Council. By Elizabeth Edwards

One-woman play tells MS story at UC’s Waddell Center benefit

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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September 13, 2011

Nancy Jones always wanted to write a play. But the Cincinnati born and bred English teacher and communications professional never thought that living with multiple sclerosis for 20 years, and working her way through a closet full of shoes, would give her the opportunity to do just that. Jones’ one-woman performance art production, Above the 37th Parallel, tells a story filled with hard truths and laughter, frustration and courage. And shoes. The kind she once coveted, then, frustrated by the limitations of the disease, had to throw away. The title of the play refers to our region’s place on the globe, and Jones’ research showing that MS more often plagues those living north of the 37th parallel. For the performance, Jones teamed with Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival’s Sherman Fracher, who stars in the one-woman piece. Fracher’s husband Drew directs the show, which mixes education, entertainment, humor and heartache, giving audiences a glimpse into an unfamiliar, yet not uncommon, world. Proceeds from this month’s performances benefit the Waddell Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute, where doctors provide the latest treatments and therapies, and conduct research to find more answers, and someday a cure, for people living with the disease. “MS is a complex disease that is often difficult to diagnose,” says Dr. Brendan Kelley, MS specialist and director of the Memory Disorders Center at UC. “The Waddell Center makes an important contribution to the study of the disease by, among other things, cultivating a better understanding of MS and its many symptoms, leading to timelier diagnosis and better treatment options for patients.” Founded in 2002 through a $5 million gift from retired US Bank chairman Oliver Waddell as a tribute to his wife Virgilee, the Waddell Center serves as the preeminent referral center for the region. “The Waddell Center is a place where people coping with MS can turn for care and treatment – and a place where important research is conducted to advance the field,” Kelley says. Funded partly through donations from the community, the Waddell Center acts an important research and treatment hub. Currently there are six clinical trials underway at the Waddell Center. According to the Center for Disease Control, MS affects more than 1 million people worldwide. This month, Jones’ one-woman play takes shape on stage at UC’s College of Medicine, on Sept. 17-18 at the Krege Theatre in the Medical Arts Building in Clifton. All proceeds benefit research conducted at the Waddell Center for MS. The performances are dedicated to the memory of Virgilee Waddell. Do Good: • Attend a performance of Above the 37th Parallel, Sept. 17-18. Call 513-558-6112 for tickets or order them online. • Donate to the Waddell Center for Multiple Sclerosis. • Learn how you can help someone living with MS. By Deidra Necco Wiley

French Connection in the Queen City

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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September 13, 2011

Local Francophiles can enjoy French language and culture close to home thanks to the Alliance Française de Cincinnati, a local gem with international reach. The Alliance cultivates and promotes French culture and language. Founded in 1901 by Auguste Fredin, the Honorary Consul of France in Cincinnati at the time, the Alliance Française de Cincinnati has a long history serving our city. As a member of the worldwide organization, the Fédération des Alliances Françaises, the Cincinnati chapter is one of over 1,100 in 132 countries. Headquartered in the Columbia Tusculum area, the Alliance’s reach extends to all corners of Greater Cincinnati through special events and outreach initiatives that bring local French speakers together through art, music, food, literature and more. President Alix Pitra, a native Parisian, became involved with the Alliance when she relocated to Cincinnati from France more than four years ago. “The Alliance is unique in that it pools together a rich social network of French speakers in Cincinnati,” Pitra says. The Alliance Française de Cincinnati maintains a connection to Francophone countries in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean and Canada. “For those of us living in Cincinnati who are French speakers, the Alliance makes it easier to maintain our cultural roots and educate others about the French culture,” Pitra says. French language classes act as the cornerstone of Alliance programs, with instruction provided by both native French speakers and those who speak fluent French as a second language. Classes serve children and adults as well as beginners, intermediate, and advanced speakers. Additionally, meetings offer plenty of opportunities to socialize through French literature groups, lectures, a multitude of special events at various locations throughout the city, and free conversation groups in Clifton, Newport on the Levee, and coming soon, to Mariemont. Plans for new programs include one for travelers that will provide cultural education and travel tips for those venturing to a Francophone country. “In all of our programs, we want to be dynamic but also maintain traditions deep-rooted in French culture,” Pitra says. The Alliance Française de Cincinnati welcomes all ages and serves a diverse group. “You don’t have to be fluent in French to attend an event,” says Pitra. For more information and event listings, visit the Alliance online at www.afcincinnati.com or find them on Facebook for the timeliest event information. Do Good: · Attend a gourmet dinner at the Summit Restaurant on Sept. 30 – or participate in one of the many cultural events hosted monthly throughout the year. · Become a member. Enjoy many benefits, and receive discounts at Alliance events, the Cincinnati Ballet and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and ticket specials at the Esquire and Mariemont theaters on select nights. · Join a conversation group – FREE; no registration necessary. By Deidra Wiley Necco Photo courtesy Alix Pitra

Making friends, progress at Choices Cafe

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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September 13, 2011

Mike Moroski grew up on a golf course in Atlanta. Mike Rogers grew up in Cincinnati pool halls and ran away from home for the first time when he was just 9 years old. The unlikely pair found friendship and more on the streets of Over-the-Rhine, where they opened Choices Café, a coffee house with much more than caffeine on the menu. Moroski, now dean of student life at Purcell Marian High School in Walnut Hills, visited Over-the-Rhine more than 10 years ago with students from Moeller, where he was working as an English teacher. During the project rehabbing a building in the neighborhood, he met Mike Rogers, a formerly homeless graduate of the Men’s Recovery Program of the Drop Inn Center. The two men clicked. They discovered a shared passion for justice and affordable housing. They looked at their own friendship and wanted to offer others the same kind of opportunities to meet and work alongside people from different backgrounds and experiences. They found a way to do just that in Choices Café, a non-profit on Elm Street. The space serves as more than a coffee shop. It’s a gathering place for artists and an outreach center for like-minded groups. By partnering with 3CDC, The Drop Inn Center, the Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless and the Peaslee Neighborhood Center, among other groups, Choices Café leaders embody their motto: “We are one.” Current outreach programs include an Urban Plunge experience for high-school and college students as well as a HELP program to assist ex-offenders prepare for work. Do Good: • Donate. Make a secure donation to support Choices Café online. • See a show. Dylan Sneed performs at Choices Café at 6 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 24. • Facebook ‘em. “Like” Choices Café on Facebook. By Elissa Yancey Photo courtesy Choices Cafe.

Plans tonight? Join Soapbox for ‘arts lessons’

By Elissa Yancey

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Arts + Culture

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August 30, 2011

We know you don't have plans for after work tonight, right? This is your last chance to register for our Soapbox Speaker Series sponsored by the Niehoff Urban Studio, tonight! When: Tuesday, Aug. 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Where: Niehoff Urban Studio