Cincinnati

UC’s DAAP, Hughes High School team for TREAD Project

By Newsroom

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May 24, 2011

Three University of Cincinnati Industrial Design students are empowering and educating students at Hughes High School through a footwear design studio as part of their senior thesis, the TREAD Project.Charley Hudak, Vanessa Melendez, and Jince Kuruvilla, are fifth-year industrial design students in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning and have been networking for nearly five years to bring TREAD Project to life.The design studio was somewhat inspired by a program at Carnegie Mellon University, Sneakerology Course, which focuses on the culture and history of sneakers, not design.In its first year as a footwear design studio, the TREAD Project became part of UC's ID curriculum thanks to the support of Dale Murray, associate professor and coordinator of Industrial Design, and Phyllis Borcherding, associate professor and coordinator of Fashion Design and Development. After the success of its initial year, the design team decided to share the project at the high school across the street from UC's Uptown campus. The TREAD Project is a seven-week design student for 25 Hughes students who meet for three sessions per week. The last session each week features a footwear industry professional, including representatives from Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Jordan, Toms Shoes, Vans and more. In classes, students learn how to design with markets in mind, solve design problems and creatively sketch their concepts of the perfect shoes, which they will present to a panel of experts on the last day of the studio, May 25."It gives them a different opportunity to realize their skill sets can be applied to any problem," Melendez says. "They're using different thinking skills to solve problems instead of memorization or standardized tests."The project has particular significance at Hughes, where the dress code allows only black or white shoes. The students' shoe brands become a way for them to express their personalities.While the studio teaches students about footwear design, it also inspires them to take more active roles in their lives, including getting to school every day, applying to college or landing a job after graduation. "There are opportunities that not all of these students are aware of," Hudak says "Creative problem-solving goes beyond the education and design process." "Their skill sets can be applied to any problem," Melendez says. "They're using different thinking skills to solve problems instead of memorization or standardized tests."Hudak and his partners, all of whom are graduating this June, hope to expand the curriculum into a working non-profit model that could be replicated nationwide. Do Good:• Support the Tread Project. Donate money or supplies so tread can continue to teach inner-city students. • 'Like' Tread Project on Facebook. • Get informed. Visit the Tread Project online to learn more about the progress and see cool pictures, too!By Jayna BarkerFollow Jayna on Twitter @jaynabarker.http://www.jaynabarker.comPhoto courtesy Tread Project

Latest in Cincinnati

Chamber’s GrowthForce program aims to accelerate regional business growth

By Newsroom

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General

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May 24, 2011

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber is ramping up its efforts to retain and grow the region's existing businesses through a revamped program called GrowthForceGrowthForce is building and expanding on the successful 20-year old Regional Business Retention Committee (RBRC), a volunteer group of 30 business leaders who mentor local business owners through growth periods."GrowthForce is a collaboration of business sector volunteers, local economic development professionals, and regional Workforce Investment Boards, a vastly expanded team of experts to address business needs," said Julia Muntel, the Director of Investor Relations and Business Retention with the Chamber. "The coordinated approach allows us to maximize resources by working in a regional, aligned fashion. This gives us the most bang for our buck. GrowthForce leverages powerful, existing resources and applies the same methods and tools of business attraction to help local companies stay strong and grow jobs in the economy. Focusing on local, established business growth isn't a small piece of Cincinnati's economic pie. In 2010, nearly three-fourths of the region's total business investment came from existing businesses, according to the Chamber.The free program is open to companies in the 15-county tri-state region of SW Ohio, Northern Kentucky and SE Indiana. The program's goals are to grow the its number of business outreach volunteers by 25 percent, and to increase the number of participating businesses to 450, a 10 percent jump from last year. "In this era of elevated competition and economic uncertainty, we have recently chosen to focus on companies that may be rapidly expanding, within targeted industries, or those experiencing a variety of changes in their business cycle. These high potential companies, large and small, may be well positioned for growth," explained Muntel. GrowthForce's expansion is largely being supported with a $250,000 grant to increase business retention efforts that the Ohio Department of Development awarded the Chamber last December.To support the program, the Chamber will publish the Cincinnati USA Regional Business Resource Guide, and provide training and orientation to partners. The resource guide and other supporting materials can be found online on the GrowthForce website.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Chris Kemper, Cincinnati USA Regional ChamberYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

What Makes Riverfront Developments Work?

By Rich Shivener

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General

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May 24, 2011

With Cincinnati's Banks Project rising on the riverfront, we take a look at other regional waterfronts to see what works and why these developments are making cities reexamine their relationships with rivers.

High-school leaders bond, learn at Xavier this summer

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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May 24, 2011

More than 100 Cincinnati inner-city high-school students get a taste of college living for four weeks each summer through an educational effort with roots in the heart of Over-the-Rhine. Leadership Scholars, a four-year-old nonprofit focused on providing support for students with academic potential but few avenues of support, began after Cincinnati lawyer Harry Santen saw the challenges faced by talented students enrolled at St. Francis Seraph School downtown. Today, Leadership Scholars provides year-round programming and support for area youth, including a no-cost summer program based at Xavier University that will include 125 students this year, the biggest class ever.They span four grades and more than 15 schools. They are veterans of the school-year program, which includes team mentoring and leadership development sessions at Xavier. During the summer session, they take academic as well as arts-focused classes. They take field trips and have a picnic with their extended "family" of scholars. They walk away with much more than solidified academic skills. "The best part each summer is watching the students make new friends," says Tara Bonistall Noland, Leadership Scholars' associate director. "One student told me last week that while she has a lot of friends at her high school, she considers her Leadership Scholars friends to be her real friends."Bonistall Noland is preparing for her second summer program, which means hiring 12 professional teachers and 16 veteran high-school Leaders as staff members, and buying 200 water bottles, 120 flash drives, 160 t-shirts, more than 500 books and thousands of sheets of paper. She can't wait for the program to begin."We see tremendous growth in the students each summer - especially with the 8th graders, who are participating for the first time," Bonistall Noland says. "They become more mature, their communication skills improve, and they begin to embrace leadership in a new way. All of a sudden, holding the door for someone else becomes the norm, and speaking up in class is cool."Do Good:• Make a donation. Your contribution can help purchase supplies for this summer's session at Xavier!• Be a coach. Volunteer to mentor or speak to a group of young Leaders and Scholars about your career and path to success.• Keep in touch. Like the Leadership Scholars Facebook page to find out the latest news. By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy Leadership Scholars

Edible Ohio Valley champions local businesses, food economy

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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May 24, 2011

In a time when many people are far removed from what's in their food and where it came from, there is a visible movement to get back to basics. One new local publication, Edible Ohio Valley, sets out to make the case for eating fresh, eating local, and supporting small businesses. Edible Ohio Valley is one of about 70 independently owned Edible Communities publications that promote a Locavore - or a fresh, locally based - eating lifestyle.Just over a year old, the quarterly magazine-quality publication is operated by three sisters: Jennifer Kramer-Wine, Julie Kramer and Joy Kramer-Arndts, who collectively write, design, illustrate and sell advertising for the publication (with freelance contributions). Their parents help distribute it to local businesses and some libraries.The sisters decided to start the publication after Julie and Jennifer, who previously lived in New York City, saw Edible publications in Connecticut and New York help drive a local food movement."I thought this would be great in Cincinnati, it's a city that has such an agricultural history that seems to have been lost, and it really needs this kind of support," said Julie, publisher and art director. "I thought with all of our talents combined, it was possible for us to take this on."Edible Ohio Valley covers the range of local food consumption, from farmers, retailers, vineyards, bakeries and restaurants. You can also find some book reviews and recipes, an event listing (which is updated online) and an advertiser's directory which serves as a resource for locavore-minded businesses."We really want to inform. We want people to use Edible Ohio valley as a resource for local food, and to really get people thinking about where to buy food and why they should know their growers," Julie said.The free publication is supported by advertising. Most of it is local, with the exception of Whole Foods, which advertises in all Edible publications wherever a Whole Foods is located. So you can find the publication there, as well as Findlay Market, Party Source, Anderson Farmer's Market, Pipkins Market in Montgomery and Gorman Heritage Farm in Evendale and these places. You can also read it online. Edible Ohio Valley has Facebook and Twitter pages to stay connected with readers.The publication is off to a prestigious start. Earlier this month, Edible Ohio Valley was awarded 2011 Publication of the Year Award from the James Beard Foundation, along with the suite of Edible Communities Titles. The National Award has been compared to the Oscars of the food world.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSources: Jennifer Kramer-Wine and Julie Kramer, co-founders Edible Ohio ValleyYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

A House Divided: Soap Opera in Cincinnati

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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May 24, 2011

The battle to preserve or demolish the historic James Gamble house continues between Greenacres Foundation and defenders of historic homes. At issue: Greenacres wants to raze the building and turn their property into an outdoor educational center, but the Cincinnati Preservation Association plans to raise $10 million to purchase and preserve the house.Read the full story here.

Startup Handbook Wins National Book Award

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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May 24, 2011

Startup: The Complete Handbook for Launching a Company for Less, written by Elizabeth Edwards, a board member of the Greater Cincinnati Venture Association, won top honors at the National Indie Excellence Book Awards and made Amazon's Top 20 Books for New Business Entrepreneurs.Read the full story here.

Future Blooms wins Ohio Nonprofit Excellence Award

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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May 17, 2011

Keep Cincinnati Beautiful's Future Blooms Program won the Ohio Non-profit Excellence Award for the Southern Region. KCB has beautified nearly 300 buildings in Cincinnati neighborhoods, resulting in a reduction in crime, blight, and street litter.Read the full story here.

Harmony Garden research academy trains residents to lead

By Newsroom

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Diversity

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May 17, 2011

This summer, a small group of residents in the West End will be part of a new kind of leadership development program. A year-long academy will train four women how to conduct research, how to identify health disparities and how to hone their own life and workforce skills.The Community Resident Research Academy, the latest programming effort by the non-profit Harmony Garden, builds on more than three years of work alongside West End residents.In that time, community researchers - all women, all mothers - have surveyed their neighbors to find out what kinds of help and support they want and need. The community research team organized a healthy, happy, hazard-free program, says Executive Director Lisa Mills. "Over the course of the past four years, they have come so far," Mills says. Resident researchers planned monthly workshops where they and their neighbors learned about high blood pressure, cholesterol and nutrition on a budget. They even started a walking club. What excites Mills the most, though, are the intangibles that women have taken from being part of the research team. "Being healthy and striving for a healthy life impacts their children, their families and their community," she says. "They have connected all of the dots."Now Mills and the rest of her all-female team at Harmony Garden want to extend the dots by giving neighborhood women a path to reach broader audiences and enhance their ability to impact community development and urban planning issues. They will also design and complete a project to benefit their community. The academy is a pilot program that she hopes will act as a kind of Leadership Cincinnati for women living in disadvantaged communities.Women accepted into the academy will be paid $8 per hour for the time they spend learning research skills, developing personal reflections and building their capacity to lead. Mills and her team have structured the program to allow the women time to continue to manage their own lives."We realized the women's lives are very chaotic," Mills says. "They are all mothers. They are doing the best they can for their kids." While Mills and her team are busy recruiting women for their first class, they are also seeking additional funding. "It's a very expensive program," says Mills, who estimates it will cost $20,000 per year to sponsor one class member. Do Good: • Underwrite good news. Harmony Gardens is on the lookout for a sponsor for their newsletter, which reaches 6,000 homes and businesses in the West End. • Fund a scholarship. Mills and her team welcome any level of support to offset the academy's $20,000 per student per year price tag.• Show your stuff. Volunteer as a presenter in the academy. "It's important to expose women to people doing different jobs, particularly around health," Mills says. She hopes to have a variety of speakers to help inspire the West End women, many of whom have not traveled far outside their neighborhood boundaries. Email Lisa Mills for more information.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy Harmony Garden

Edible Magazines win James Beard Award

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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May 17, 2011

Edible Ohio Valley won the 2011 James Beard Foundation Publication of the Year Award during the Beard Journalism Awards dinner in New York City. One of 70 Edible communities publications nationwide that received the award, Edible Ohio Valley features locally grown and community based foods, family farmers, growers, retailers, chefs and food artisans, all collaborating to promote a healthy and affordable lifestyle.Read the full story here.