Non-Profit

SVP donors plant seeds of success at Civic Garden Center

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Education + Learning
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April 26, 2011

Cincinnati's Civic Garden Center staff had a dream: turn an abandoned Avondale gas station site into a high-tech example of all things environmentally sustainable. The far-reaching goals of the Green Learning Station targeted builders, developers and public officials as well as homeowners and students. The innovative idea and environmental focus intrigued the then-new Social Venture Partners Cincinnati, a non-profit made up of individuals who invest their financial and professional capital in group grants, known as "partnerships." It was 2008, and SVP gave its first grant--$25,000--to the Civic Garden Center to support the development of the Green Learning Station, which was slated to open in 2009."They wanted to be relevant to today's communities," says Lisa Davis-Roberts, SVP Cincinnati director. So began a unique collaboration between grantor and grantee. SVP Cincinnati assigned a team of partners to support the project. Members included a financial management expert, a project manager from Procter & Gamble, a venture capitalist and a marketing expert.Through their research, partners discovered a major concern, located just blocks from the Civic Garden Center. The successful and popular Harold C. Schott Education Center at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens, which opened in 2006, already fulfilled many of the Green Learning Station's goals for environmental education.Instead of pulling funding, SVP members helped CVG partners develop a new strategy for the site, one more in line with their central mission of helping people garden. "Rather than try to be everything to everybody, the new Green Learning Station is about gardening for people," Davis-Roberts says.With rain gardens, vertical gardens and container gardens, pervius paving and composting, the station highlights practical ways that people can positively impact the environment in their daily lives. It will open to the public this summer."The cost is a fraction of what it was going to be," Davis-Roberts says. She explains that money, in this case a total of $55,000, is just the start of SVP's investment in a project. "We work with our organizations for three to five years." SVP members invest $6,000 of their own money for three years and also commit to an average of 100 volunteer hours—time spent sharing their expertise with non-profits. Davis-Roberts says that Cincinnati's roughly 20 partner units (which can be made up of more than one person) represent a wide range of skills, including legal, financial, IT, marketing and project management. Working with professionals, many of whom have years of experience in corporate settings, offers non-profits invaluable insights. "Non-profits need cash," Davis-Roberts says. "They also need capacity building." SVP Cincinnati, which launched in spring 2007, is one of 25 affiliates of the Seattle-based non-profit in cities across three countries. So far, the local branch has invested in four non-profits. "We want to grow an engaged community of knowledgeable donors," Davis-Roberts says. Do good:• Become a partner. Make the most of your social investments by using your expertise to be a part of positive change.• Link with SVP. See which of your LinkedIn connections are already involved. Then join them and start spreading the word.• Get your hands dirty. Learn more about the Civic Garden Center's Green Learning Station before it opens this summer.By Elissa Yancey Photo courtesy SVP Cincinnati

Latest in Non-Profit
P&G joins forces with Recyclebank
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Cincy In The News
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April 19, 2011

Due to the successful collaboration with RecycleBank recycling rewards program in Cincinnati, Procter & Gamble will expand its collaboration nationwide. This partnership further promotes P & G's and RecycleBank's mission of educating the public and rewarding consumers for protecting and improving the environment. Read the full story here.

Goodall-inspired Ambassadors plant roots in city
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Diversity
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April 19, 2011

When primatologist and environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall visited the Cincinnati Zoo last month, she spent time talking to young "ambassadors" who she hopes will act as the solid foundation, or roots, for conservation, preservation and ultimately transformation around the world. Goodall's international efforts, known as Roots & Shoots, has several local groups, most school-based operations with one exception: a new community-based model taking shape in Northside this spring. "We want to help kids and help the environment at the same time," says neighborhood activist Maureen Wood, who founded the Green Ambassadors earlier this year. Ambassadors, aged 18 years and younger, visited with Goodall at the zoo, where they got to ask the legendary researcher questions about her work and hear her hopes for nurturing global change through fun, educational programs for young people. Roots & Shoots programs have three areas of focus: the human community, the environment and animals. The principle behind the name is a natural one, best summed up by a Goodall quote:"Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We CAN change the world."                 This summer, the Green Ambassadors Roots & Shoots group will host two day-camps, from June 20 to July 10 and from July 18 to August 5. Fee scales will depend on ongoing fundraising efforts to provide scholarships for children who need them.Do Good:• Tweet all about it. Find out environmental news and more via the official Roots & Shoots Twitter account.• Start a group. Roots & Shoots provides ideas and inspiration to start your own group in your school or community.• Go to camp. Email and sign your child up for a camp slot today.By Elissa YanceyPhoto by Owen Hunter-Linville

Arts center builds audience in Clifton
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Arts + Culture
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April 19, 2011

With new access to upper floors and a growing list of classes, the founding executive director of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center envisions thousands of visitors experiencing art and education in ways they had never imagined. Then again, Ruth Dickey is no stranger to dreaming big in the world of nonprofits. The founding executive director for the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) has been working with nonprofit organizations for more than a decade. Before she left Seattle, she was working as the executive director of New Futures in Burien, WA — a nonprofit that works with families in low-income apartment complexes.When Dickey moved to Cincinnati in May 2008, the Clifton School on Clifton Avenue, a Beaux Arts landmark dating from 1906, had been sitting unused for two years. Public school plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art Fairview German Language school across the street inspired community members to re-envision the historic space as an innovative arts center. When the CCAC took possession of the building to prepare for its grand opening, it was covered in dust and cobwebs. Room by room, volunteers painted, fixed plaster and pulled staples out of floors to make the center a welcoming space for artists and visitors. "This place has the potential to do many things – inspire people and make them a part of something," Dickey says. Since its opening in September 2008, more than 25,000 people have walked through its doors for classes, exhibits and events. From her position as executive director of Miriam's Kitchen  — a Washington, DC-based breakfast and social service program for people who are homeless — to her degrees in foreign service, Latin American studies, creative writing and poetry, Dickey lives her passion – maintaining the well-being of nonprofits and the arts."The arts have a unique way to help us see things differently," Dickey said. "The arts have the power to let us connect in ways we never would otherwise."The 53,000-square-foot building in Clifton currently houses classes in dance, yoga, and painting, dog training classes, summer camps, music concerts and art exhibits.Expanded offerings required expanded renovations, including last fall's $1.7 million updates to the fire protection and elevator systems that allow for more use of the top two floors."I think the hardest part for every nonprofit is balancing these huge, ambitious dreams and what is possible with what you have the financial resources to do," Dickey says.Much of the funding CCAC received has come from an array of different contributors — the state of Ohio, the city of Cincinnati, a generous anonymous donor, individuals and foundations.But even the funding for renovations doesn't cover the cost of keeping the building lit, warm and clean."There's always this tension between what you can see – if only we had more investment, we could do so much more for the community – and then making possible with what you have," Dickey says.Do Good:• Take a class. From Pilates to puppy training, view the current calendar to see what you need to learn next.• Make the Center your friend. On Facebook, where else?• Get crafty. Bring your bags and some cash to the Crafty Supermarket Saturday, May 7. Be prepared for crowds, great food, one-of-a-kind crafts and entertainment. By Jayna BarkerFollow Jayna on Twitter @jaynabarker.http://www.jaynabarker.comPhoto courtesy CCAC

ArtWorks projects’ impact lingers on walls, in lives
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Arts + Culture
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April 19, 2011

It was a big, blank moldy wall on Covington's Washington Street this time last year. Now, a brightened, clean parking lot sits next to the building, which is home to Be Concerned, a non-profit that helps low-income families obtain necessities. The art has transformed a neighborhood eyesore to a sign of rebirth through art.The massive ArtWorks mural, with blues and greens that reflect the power of the Ohio River, is full of hopeful images—a flower, a fish, a grove of blooming trees. It is the result of the work of a team of 14 apprentice artists, lead artist Tina Westerkamp and three teachers. One young mural worker on the project made a two and a half our journey from his home in Roselawn to Covington to get to work each day. He took two busses and walked across a bridge. He did it for minimum wage. He did it to make art."We want to set these kids up for success," says Tamara Harkavy, founding director of ArtWorks, the largest employer of visual artists in the community. This is the 16th summer that ArtWorks has sponsored public art projects that do more than provide jobs and add a splash of color to neighborhoods. "These are real investments in community," says Harkavy. In Covington, for example, the mural inspired new lighting for the parking lot as well as a concerted effort to keep the space clean. Last year, ArtWorks received 400 applications and hired 75 apprentices between the ages of 14 and 21. This year, Harkavy wants more. She wants double, to be precise. By adding $300,000 to her $800,000 budget from last year, she can hire 150 apprentices to work on projects, including a C. F. Payne-designed mural, "Sing," on the side of WCET's office building in Over the Rhine. This summer, innovative art projects are planned for Avondale, Mt. Adams, Newport, Covington, downtown and Over-the-Rhine. One, at the Ronald McDonald House in Avondale, will employ 16 apprentices to add art to 26 guest rooms and conduct an art-making workshop with families. Harkavy knows the lasting impression made by ArtWorks extends beyond the paint on walls. With 15 summers completed, she often runs into lawyers, surgeons and professors and artists, all former ArtWorks apprentices, who credit the summer job with changing their lives.Do Good:• Adopt an Apprentice. As little as $25 can sponsor a young artist for a half a day's work creating a lasting piece of community-inspired beauty.• Interview an apprentice. Help ArtWorks narrow the talented applicant pool.• Hear why they do it. ArtWorks alums describe the program and their role in it.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy of ArtWorks

Tender Mercies gives hope to homeless
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Diversity
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April 19, 2011

When Harold lived on the streets of Cincinnati, he dreamed of a childhood he never had. One with presents under the tree and a smiling Santa bursting with holiday cheer. After illness tore apart his professional life and his family, those dreams never seemed further away from reality. At 42, Harold found help at Tender Mercies, a nonprofit that provides transitional, permanent and quick access housing, as well as outreach and resource coordination for people with mental illness. "More than anything else, Tender Mercies has given me back my dignity and self-respect," says Harold, who now has his own apartment and his own truck. He also works at Crayons to Computers, the local nonprofit that provides resources to area teachers.Born of an effort to do just that, Tender Mercies has come a long way since its founding in 1985. Initially, the organization, which was formed by three clergymen, focused on providing safe housing. Two women with mental illness who had been living in temporary housing had been attacked; one of them was killed. After that act of violence, Tender Mercies took shape. Now the organization provides housing in six buildings, five of which are more than 100 years old. Workers' outreach efforts spill into the streets to connect those with mental illness with resources and opportunities to live safe and productive lives. Every year, fundraising accounts for a major part of the nonprofit's funding. Every year, staff works to raise $500,000 just to cover the gaps in government and grant funds that allow programs to continue. And in cases like Harold's, the success stories offer proof that building security and self-confidence has a wide range of benefits. Harold's current volunteerism includes a turn playing Santa for children who are hungry or living on the streets. Do Good:• Find the latest news. Friend Tender Mercies on Facebook.• Supply snacks. The Tender Mercies Snack Shack, run by residents, can always use crackers, coffee, microwaveable foods and more. • Make a donation. Check to see if your employer will match your tax-deductible gift.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy Tender Mercies

Earth Day celebration brings new life to Sawyer Point
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Diversity
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April 12, 2011

Pack up your family and your used batteries for Cincinnati's celebration of the 41st Earth Day, Saturday, April 16, from noon until 5:30 pm at Sawyer Point downtown.The free event features live music and displays of everything from life in the river to an environmental puppet show. This year, the first 200 pounds of dry cell batteries and a limited number of laptops, digital cameras, cell phones and other electronics will be recycled for free. The Turkeys, Wild Carrot and Night Flyer will take the stage through the day, punctuating a series of presentations highlighting local conservation efforts. Exhibitors include Sunrock Farm and Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)—Sunrock Farm brings animals to pet and ORSANCO brings its "Life Below the Water Line," 2,200-gallon aquarium filled with fish that live in the Ohio River. As in past years, Environmental Awards will go to outstanding citizens, businesses, students, government agencies and teachers. Do Good:• Be part of a giant living painting. Wear a black shirt to Earth Day and be a part of artist Daniel Dancer's vision for "Pick up America." • Buy stuff. Whether you want a t-shirt, a coffee mug or a notepad, the Greater Cincinnati Earth Coalition gives you a chance to show (or wear) your support.• Join the movement. Volunteer to help at Cincinnati's Earth Day.By Elissa Yancey

Downtown’s VLT Academy builds impressive record of learning, achieving
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Architecture + Design
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April 12, 2011

Without a single television or radio ad, the Value Learning and Teaching Academy has made a big impression on hundreds of families in Greater Cincinnati. Since its founding in 2005, VLT Academy has offered extended hours and supportive programs for students from Cincinnati, West Chester, Fairfield and other neighborhoods.The charter school, located in five buildings in Over the Rhine, graduated its first class, 19 students, last spring. All of them are now in college.The graduates took nearly a half million dollars in scholarships to colleges including Wright State University, Miami University Ohio, the Ohio State University and Spelman College, according to Clyde Lee, the school's project manager. "We have 22 scheduled to graduate this year," Lee says. "All have been accepted to college. There are no dropouts."VLT Academy currently educates 875 kindergarten through 12th graders. School opens at 7:30 am and ends at 6 pm so parents who work downtown can drop their children off as they head into work and pick them up when their days are done.School founder and superintendent Valerie Lee spent decades as a teacher and administrator in the Cincinnati Public School System. She and her husband Clyde, a retired General Motors manager, lead 95 teachers and staff members across the multiple buildings. All teachers and all substitute teachers are certified. Clyde Lee oversees facilities management and events, working closely with neighboring businesses and landlords to maintain the architectural integrity of the school's buildings while providing for students' physical and educational needs. "We try to foster a family atmosphere," Lee says. "Our main focus is to have our children be college-bound."Lee speaks of his graduates with the tone of a proud father. He mentions one high-performing senior who has been accepted into and wooed by Princeton, Harvard, MIT and Notre Dame. He talks about providing food and new coats for many other students, and of five families currently experiencing homelessness. "We go the extra mile," he says. Part of that extra mile extends into homes of parents before their children enter the Academy, he says. The school plans to implement the First Teacher Program later this year in hopes of raising the youngest students' reading levels and increasing their opportunities for success.Do Good:• Make a virtual visit. • Follow VLT on Twitter. • Check out First Teacher resources.By Elissa Yancey

Xavier University’s X-Lab business competition returns
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Entrepreneurship
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April 12, 2011

Xavier University has brought back its X-Lab (Xavier Launch-a-Business) competition, giving area entrepreneurs a chance to make their business ideas a reality.X-Lab launched last year as an effort to connect the university's business experts with the outside community. It's open to any area entrepreneur, including college students, who want to start a business, nonprofit or social enterprise.The University's Williams College of Business founded X-Lab. Winners will get to meet with potential investors and receive training and consulting services provided by 65 professors, 500 executive mentors and 1,000 MBA students from the business college. X-LAB will also help existing small-to medium-sized businesses improve and expand. X-Lab has grown in its second year, hiring an executive director and full-time staff to run the program and recruit angel investors.Last year more than 160 applied; one of last year's participants was Drs. Denise and Keevin R. Davis who founded Doctors in the Kitchen, healthy cooking business. The veteran husband-and-wife physicians host an online cooking show and offer a range of speaking, conference and corporate health and wellness consultations that focus on wellness, preventative medicine and healthy eating.They started the business two-and-a-half-years ago after operating a successful medical practice in Cincinnati. X-Lab helped the couple develop focus and a business plan, Dr. Keevin Davis said."They helped us understand our target market and helped us focus and understand how a business operates." X-Lab also helped them harness their passion to educate people about wellness, he added."Most people have great ideas, but don't know how to make them into a profitable and a meaningful business," he said. "It takes more than an idea and desire to change the world for the better to be successful," he said.The X-Lab application process is open until midnight May 16. Ideas are vetted in several increasingly competitive stages. Those who meet an initial idea evaluation will complete a more detailed questionnaire, followed by a 30- and 60-minute meeting with two expert panels. Winners will be announced by September 2011.There's no entry fee; you can find out more and register here.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Xavier University and Doctors in the Kitchen co-founder Keevin R. DavisYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

From homework to conversations, Commission offers Latinos support
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Diversity
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April 12, 2011

In a former church in Forest Park, children from Guatemala, Mexico and El Salvador gather after school for free help with their homework. Their parents often stay nearby, hoping to pick up new lessons of their own in their work to adjust to a new nation and a new way of life.The outreach effort by the Latino Ministry Commission of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio in the former Holy Spirit Church continues to grow, offering support and encouragement to immigrant students, their families and the native English speakers who work with them in schools, hospitals and businesses. Carlos de Jesus chairs the Commission and also provides conversational Spanish training for first responders in Forest Park and Fairfield. The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, with offices downtown, also includes one of fewer than 10 designated bi-lingual Spanish/English parishes in the country, at the Church of Our Savior in Mt. Auburn.In the Forest Park space, English classes for native Spanish speakers and Spanish classes for native English speakers overlap every week, allowing teachers to talk to parents, nurses to chat with potential patients, and employers to have conversations with workers."If we can just give them confidence to communicate with their neighbors, bosses and at the store," says de Jesus, an energetic GE retiree. He spearheads the all-volunteer effort of the Episcopal Diocese with an eye toward creating a model for other cities, and expanding the homework club as well. Do Good:• Have a conversation. E-mail Carlos de Jesus to volunteer with the homework club or other learning sessions.• Give a tweet. Follow the Southern Ohio Episcopal Diocese on Twitter.• Learn more about Latinos in Greater Cincinnati. Visit the Greater Cincinnati Latino Coalition.By Elissa Yancey

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