Ludlow

Charlie’s Kids Foundation emphasizes safe sleep for infants

In hopes of preventing other families from going through a loss similar to the one they experienced, the Hankes want to do all they can to educate others about the dos and don’ts of infant sleeping habits.

Circus Mojo founder starting first U.S. training center for medical clowning

Paul Miller, a clown and Ringling Bros. alum, is opening a center in Northern Kentucky to certify adults as Circus Wellness Specialists so they can train, educate and help disenfranchised youth, hospitalized people and senior or disabled adults.

NKU facilitates STEM learning for students from pre-school through college

Improving students' performance in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics—otherwise known as STEM education—is Northern Kentucky University’s Center for Integrative Natural Science and Mathematics’ ultimate vision for students from pre-school to college.

Strut Your Stuff teaches women about cars, helps low-income women with transportation

Growing Sound creates new anti-bullying strategy using music

As part of its Before the Bullying initiative, Covington-based Growing Sound worked with 15 students in the Greater Cincinnati area to produce six music videos aimed at promoting pro-social behavior.

Cincinnati Fondo brings cyclists together in support of Freestore Foodbank

When the second annual Cincinnati Fondo takes place September 22, cyclists will come together to support the Freestore Foodbank.

Fifth Third eBus visits local nonprofits, promotes financial empowerment

The Financial Empowerment Mobile (eBus) will travel to Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities to partner with nonprofits and work toward helping underserved individuals get a handle on their finances.

Fidelity Investments transforms Holmes Middle School

When Fidelity Investments began its partnership with Holmes Middle School four years ago, its aim for Transformation Day was to do everything it could as an organization to ensure students would receive a quality education in an environment that would prompt them to do their best. Over the years, the company has brought hundreds of volunteers and community partners together to further achieve that goal by doing things like building an outdoor amphitheater and painting and beautifying the school.  Niki Gordon, who serves as Fidelity’s manager of community relations in Covington, says the most important thing is that the improvements translate to student success.  “Attendance is consistently over 96 percent, which in an urban setting is difficult to achieve; behavior and discipline problems are down over 90 percent over the past two years,” Gordon says. “And the principal has seen that as incentive in places we’ve created that the kids want to come and learn, and they get rewarded for certain things. So whether that’s being able to go visit and sit in the new media center—some of the spaces we’ve created with comfy couches and those kinds of things—students see as an incentive for behaving and doing the right thing and being there.”  This year’s transformations included an array of larger projects—like creating an outdoor garden that will serve as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) learning opportunity through a program implemented by Teach for America.  “We’re working with the Teach for America science teacher at the middle school, so we built these raised garden boxes, and then after that she’ll be using those to do a year-round project where students will grow crops, and they’re learning about the science of the planting in the classroom,” Gordon says.  The project goes even beyond STEM learning, however, as it also taps into service learning and engages students and other community organizations in a way that allows them to give back.  “The Boys and Girls Club will also be working on those during the summer, and then as they harvest those, they’ll give them back to the community," Gordon says. "Chapman Childhood Development Center—an onsite early childhood development center—will receive the produce from the garden. Looking at the power of collaboration and community and how we’re able to impact these students has been great through the process.”  Do Good:  • Sign up with Covington Partners to mentor a student.  • Offer your skills or expertise in a local classroom. • Organize a book or supply drive for students in need. By Brittany York Brittany York is a professor of English composition at the University of Cincinnati. She also edits the For Good section of SoapboxMedia. 

Metro now offers stored-value cards to riders

Many city-dwellers are continuously faced with the arduous task of budgeting their quarters between two priorities: bus fare and laundromats.