Regionalism

Cincy Parents for Public Schools promotes collaboration

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November 1, 2011

Rolanda Smith knows the secret behind student achievement. “When you have parents holding their children accountable, and they feel like partners in the process, that’s when students achieve.” Smith, the executive director of Cincinnati Parents of Public Schools (PPS), knew this years ago. Only now, the research is proving that when parents are involved, student achievement increases. PPS’s continued goal is to foster collaborative relationships not only between parents and their students, but between parents and schools and to sustain that involvement so that all students can achieve. In the last 15 years, PPS has ignored the national finger-pointing over failed education systems and earned the trust of key Cincinnati community groups, teachers and administrators by engaging parents in collaborative and constructive roles with the schools. PPS’s biggest initiative, its Parent Leadership Institute (PLI), is a three-month, intensive professional development program, supported in part by the Mayerson Academy. Over several weekends, PLI trains parents to understand state data, translate that information to the district level, know how to read individual school report cards and how to partner with school professionals and other parents to identify issues and design action plans to increase student achievement. Graduates of this program have become community leaders in education, serving on state and local school committees and helping engage other parents in schools. Gearing Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), an initiative between PPS and the University of Cincinnati, reaches first-generation college hopefuls. While students are instructed in financial aid and application requirements, parents learn how to check homework, set expectations and create structured time at home, things that may have been lacking before. “And when a parent learns those new skills, it affects the rest of the children at home,” Smith says. “I’ve never met a parent who didn’t care about a child’s education,” she adds. “We know there are many levels of parent involvement, and it is all helping to increase student achievement.” Do Good: Congratulate: PPS for receiving a best practice award for its Extra Mile Award program at the Parents For Public Schools national conference in October, 2011. Apply: For PPS’s upcoming Parent Leadership Institute, help on the following days in 2012: Feb. 10-11, March 9-10 and April 20-21. Sign: A petition championed by the national Parents for Public Schools organization to discourage elected officials from cutting any more funding to public schools. By Becky Johnson

Latest in Regionalism

Play grounds Washington Park in city history

By Newsroom

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Development News

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November 1, 2011

This week, a handful of visitors will get a first-hand look at the latest addition to the new Washington Park in Over-the-Rhine – an 18,000-square-foot playgound, complete with a castle and canal boat. Fresh from a $25,000 grant for the play castle, a donation from the Humana Foundation, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) project pays homage to the city’s history in decidedly playful ways. The castle, for example, resembles an Eden Park structure, but adds a dual slide to appease toddling visitors. Plans include a climbing wall for youngsters—a replica of the wall at Eden Park that challenges older climbers. Located just steps from the Emanuel Community Center on Race Street and blocks from the Peaslee Neighborhood Center just off Sycamore, the play area within Washington Park also includes an interactive stream and a miniature canal boat, hearkening back to the city’s canal days in ways designed to engage and delight young guests. In true democratic fashion, park and 3CDC representatives solicited design advice from those who would be using the facility the most—young children in the neighborhood. The result offers plenty of play space, soft ground with rolling slopes, the turreted castle and even musical instruments integrated into the structures as a nod to Music Hall’s influence over the surroundings. Best of all, though, the play space offers sweeping views of the park’s renovated gazebo, performance space and blocks full of beautiful historic buildings that lined surrounding streets. Slated to open in spring or summer 2012, the children’s area provides a bright new spot of inspiration for all ages, whether visitors opt to slide, climb or simultaneously enjoy glimpses of the past, and the future, of the neighborhood. By Elissa Yancey Follow Elissa on Twitter

Nick Rose is Cincinnati Shakespeare’s Macbeth

By Deidra Wiley Necco

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Arts + Culture

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November 1, 2011

Nick Rose moved to Cincinnati in 1994 with a love for the stage, a strong work ethic and a dream. A founding member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Rose currently plays the starring role in this season’s production of Macbeth, running now through Nov. 20. Set in a version of modern day Scotland, Rose’s Macbeth transports Shakespeare’s timeless tragedy to the present moment. “In some ways, Macbeth is Shakespeare’s simplest and shortest tragedy,” says Rose. “Essentially it illustrates what happens in the mind when one becomes a murderer and a dictator.” The real-life husband and wife team of Nick Rose and Sara Clark (Lady Macbeth) brings both heightened passion and raw intensity to the stage. Audiences can expect PG-13-style bloodshed and violence as the actors present a “psychology horror movie” that is remarkably relevant in today’s global political climate. Rose studied acting at James Madison University in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley where he toured with the Shenandoah Shakespeare Express. He was a founder of the university’s student-run second stage - a project launched with a $2,000 budget. He credits this experience as the impetus that led him and a group of young theatre artists to move to Cincinnati and start what was then called the Fahrenheit Theatre Company. Founded in 1993 with the mission of producing Shakespeare and the classics for modern audiences, FTC produced The Taming of the Shrew at Gabriel’s Corner in Over-the-Rhine in its first season. The first season FTC had 17 subscribers. By season 3 they had more than 650 – and have been growing ever since. “We faced some challenges in the beginning,” says Rose. “We were relentless in our dream, and committed to our mission. That brought us through those early days.” In 1997 the company changed its name to the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival, and then to Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in 1999. Rose credits the company’s strong commitment to production values, talent and skill for much of its success. Rose has been with CSC for 15 of the last 18 seasons, leaving for a short time for a job outside the theatre. His love for the stage brought him back to CSC, where he now works full time as an actor. “I’m very thankful,” says Rose. “Cincinnati is a great city with many opportunities for local actors.” In addition to his work with CSC, Rose has also starred or played in a number of productions at the Ensemble Theatre, the Know Theatre, the Edgecliff Theatre, and Playhouse in the Park. Some of his favorite roles include Satan in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati), Gordon in Dead Man’s Cell Phone (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park), and Mr. Cupp in A Christmas Carol (Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park). Catch Nick Rose in Macbeth through Nov. 20, as well as in three more upcoming Cincinnati Shakespeare Company productions this season. He can also be seen in A Christmas Carol at Playhouse in the Park coming this holiday season. Do Good: See: Macbeth or purchase a subscription. Tickets online at www.cincyshakes.com. Become: a benefactor. Spread the word by telling your friends about Cincinnati Shakespeare Company or showing them videos like these. Here and here. By Deidra Wiley Necco

Evanston faces show what neighborhood treasures

By Evan Wallis

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Arts + Culture

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November 1, 2011

In Evanston, faces of the community have become an integral part of the landscape, literally, representing a worldwide challenge from an award-winning artist. JR, a French street artist, started taking up-close, black-and-white portraits of people and pasting enlarged versions of them in public spaces in locations around the world. His work started as an illegal project, but become known by many. In March of this year, JR was presented with the TED Prize for innovation and creativity. In his TED speech, JR urged people to follow his lead; to create art for the sake of making art. Art can turn the world inside out, he explains. As TED Prize winner, he is granted one wish. His was to create a movement in which people stand up for what they care about by contributing to a large-scale, participatory art project, now known as the Inside Out Project. Locally, the Contemporary Arts Center, along with arts groups, took up the Inside Out Project initiative. In Evanston, the CAC, Xavier University’s Eigel Center for Communtiy-Engaged Learning, Flavor of Art Studios and artists’ collective Satellite Projects brought together community leaders to begin the project. The Evanston Group, as they call themselves, have since created a community-centered art project. Portraits from groups like the Evanston Group are being uploaded to the Inside Out Projects website, adding to an expansive collection of portraits from around the world, all stored and showcased on one site. The Evanston result features photos taken by Xavier students and local photographers, John Curley, Greg Rust, Alyssa Konerman and Sean Dunn. They captured images of community children, parents, teachers and leaders. Now images are posted at the Evanston Recreation Center, the Evanston Employment Resource Connection, two other locations on Montgomery Road and Dana Avenue, as well as several locations around Xavier University. One temporary billboard, at the corner of Dana and Montgomery, displays one of the portraits. The Evanston Group began its work by asking neighbors to illustrate their value, their place in their part of the city. Throughout the course of five different photo shoots, the community of Evanston was captured, on camera and in black and white. “There’s a story behind each picture that is fascinating,” says Sean Rhiney, director of the Xavier University’s Eigel Center for Communtiy-Engaged Learning and former Soapbox managing editor. “We asked people to bring an object that represents what the feel they bring to the community. For some people, it was their smile.” The CAC is working with several neighborhoods around the city to participate in the Inside Out Project. By Evan Wallis

Emery Theatre preview packs artistic punch

By Newsroom

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Arts + Culture

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November 1, 2011

NOTE: Soapbox Media is a sponsor of The Requiem Project. Local musicians, singers, artists and history buffs anticipate one day this month with a single, or make that a double, dose of expectation: 11.11.11. That’s the day The Requiem Project, also known as Tara Lindsey Gordon and Tina Manchise, opens the doors to the Emery Theatre in Over-the-Rhine. The space, built in 1911 with impeccable acoustics as the first concert hall in the United States to have no obstructed seats, will host a new generation of admirers determined to rebuild and restore it. The weekend-long celebration begins with a Friday night fundraiser, a slate of building tours and performances. Headliners Over the Rhine will be joined by musician and composer Peter Adams, choreographer Heather Britt, members of the modern chamber group concert:nova, Exhale Dance Tribe and Madcap Puppet Theatre. “It’s not just an Over the Rhine concert,” says Gordon, who praises Karin Bergquist and Linford Detwiler for their help with the Emery Project. “They are the opposite of divas.” Gordon and Manchise attract talent, from Over the Rhine to a host of volunteers, led by Simone Broughton and her husband Darrin Kuzma, who scrubbed floors and cleared out spaces in preparation for the premiere event. From the 1,600-seat theater to nearly 120,000 square feet of artistic space (the first two of seven floors will be open for tours this month), the Emery captivates returning and new visitors alike. Somewhere in its long-forgotten hallways, inspiration remains as palpable as the passion of the people dedicated to its restoration. When the building opens on 11.11.11, visitors can tour dozens of artists’ work, including glass artist Margot Gotoff, Cedric Cox and photos by Michael Wilson, the event honoree. Gordon calls the Norwood native Wilson, whose photography has graced many an album cover, “the first in the water.” She and Manchise contacted Wilson to gauge his interest before they knew he was based in Cincinnati. “He spent two days shooting the Emery,” Gordon says. “There couldn’t be a more amazing friend to this project.” After the preview celebration starts Friday, festivities continue through the weekend. Saturday includes a free 2 p.m. concert by the Cincinnati Boychoir, free Chipotle lunch for kid guests and a visit from Cincinnati Zoo to You animals. Sunday, the Cincinnati Children’s Choir stops in for a free 2 p.m. show. Friday night guests can tour the building, where dozens of artists’ work, curated by ParProjects, will be on display, then see the concert, and enjoy a couple of after-party options that run until 2 a.m., all for just $75. Dinner and corporate sponsorship options remain available. By Elissa Yancey Follow Elissa on Twitter.

Turophilia changes gears for winter

By Evan Wallis

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Development News

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November 1, 2011

While many food trucks wind down service during winter months, Fallon Horstmeyer, owner/operator of Turophilia Quesadillas, is just getting started. After a little over a year of service from Grammer’s and then out of the rainbow adorned Airstream Trailer in the Seventh and Vine parking lot, across from Jean-Robert’s Table, Turophilia is making its way into OTR Bars. Last week, Horstmeyer began serving her eclectic quesadillas in Japp’s, and service at Neon’s is in the works. Through the warmer months, Horstmeyer found her way around the problem some food trucks have faced by paying rent for a parking space. Her trailer sits in the Vine Street lot every day, and is only moved when she caters events around the city. Horstmeyer’s culinary and entrepreneurial dream began when she visited her mother in Austin, Texas. After seeing Airstream trailers everywhere, Horstmeyer decided she wanted to be the first mobile food vendor in Cincinnati. She found a trailer in Cleveland and began to renovate it. While she didn’t make her goal of being the first Cincinnati mobile food vendor, she continued to fix up the trailer and hone her quesadilla recipes, which were already famous amongst her friends. Her quesadillas play on pop culture icons such as the Bob Marley, the Nietzsche and the Black Keys. Most of her ingredients are sourced from Findlay Market, but her ideas for the creations came from living off of tortillas and random ingredients in her fridge during her college years. Since the beginning, Horstmeyer worked long hours to make her venture a success so. That work ethic even led her to find an investor. So, over the winter, Horstmeyer plans on looking for a storefront to further share her love of all things cheesey with Cincinnati. While cooking and serving at Neon’s and Japp’s may make her research difficult, Horstmeyer isn’t daunted. Her ambitious ideas include showcasing an extensive line of fine cheeses, an effort that she could only try in a brick and mortar restaurant. “The food truck business is a great venture, but one of the major components is that the city has to be supportive,” Horstmeyer says. “Hopefully that starts changing in Cincinnati.” By Evan Wallis Follow Evan Wallis on Twitter

My Soapbox: Santa Ono, University of Cincinnati Provost

By Evan Wallis

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General

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November 1, 2011

University of Cincinnati Provost Santa Ono moved to town after stints at Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Emory University. He's a social media power player with plenty of Klout--all part of his plan to connect with students and the community. He took time to talk with Soapbox's Evan Wallis about UC, Twitter and even softball.

Have You Tried This Yet? showcases P&G’s innovations

By Staff

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Architecture + Design

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November 1, 2011

Following a successful launch last year, the Procter & Gamble Company is once again highlighting the benefits of many of its innovative brands via the Have You Tried This Yet? program, a comprehensive campaign designed to highlight innovative products for self, family and home, each delivering great performance. Read the full story here.

Getting OFFF: artists inspire new world of creativity

By Evan Wallis

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General

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November 1, 2011

Hector Ayuso, the Barcelona-based graphic and motion designer who founded OFFF, brought a piece of his three-day OFFFest to Cincinnati for two days. He left behind ideas and inspiration after connecting people to the future of creative thought.

UC slowly becoming Big East power

By Ray Fittipaldo

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Cincy In The News

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November 1, 2011

Cincinnati is the only team among the six high-major conferences to improve its victory total in each of the past five seasons. The Bearcats won 11 games in Mick Cronin’s rookie season as coach and followed it up with 13, 18 and 19 wins the next three campaigns. Read the full story here.