March is Women’s History Month, when we celebrate women's contributions and achievements. Many incredible women live and work in the Uptown area, including three leaders making a difference through their Uptown-based nonprofit organizations. We spoke with each woman about her experiences, organization, and how you can get involved this month and beyond.
“We’re proud of the women who are helping those who live in Uptown, whether it be through services, donations, food drives or even just by providing a space to learn and have fun,” says Brooke Rapp, Director of Community Development at Uptown Consortium, Inc. (UCI). “For anyone interested in donating or volunteering, these three nonprofits offer a variety of ways to help.” Read on to learn more about these three female-led nonprofits located in Uptown, Cincinnati.
Serving Older Adults through Changing Times
Located in Avondale, once the home of the second-largest senior population in Cincinnati, Serving Older Adults through Changing Times (also known as SO-ACT) is a nonprofit organization designed to provide ongoing support and build community among senior citizens. Their mission is simple: “You know the issues, SO-ACT.”
The nonprofit provides hands-on, referral and financial assistance with food, housing, energy bills, medication and transportation. SO-ACT also engages senior citizens through educational workshops like cooking and financial literacy and community incentives like bingo, dinner outings, musical plays and sports. Some of SO-ACT’s programs include Wisdom Behind the Walls, which connects volunteers with senior citizens; Walk With Me, where licensed technicians treat elders with pedicures to improve overall health; and SO-ACT’s intergenerational program, which brings children and seniors together.
Sandra Jones Mitchell, the co-founder and Executive Director of SO-ACT, is a professional advocate for senior citizens and has worked with them for over 40 years. “Our elders are essential and vital community members,” she says. “By offering companionship, community activities and encouragement through SO-ACT, we want to enrich the quality of life of older adults and decrease senior isolation and loneliness. Aging should be a fun and exciting time in one’s life!”
In addition to SO-ACT, Sandra has served on the Avondale Community Council board since she was 17 and acted as President from 2019-2021. She is also an active volunteer in her community. Sandra is a member of the American Society on Aging and continues to work as a consultant for families with aging relatives.
SO-ACT welcomes all types of help, including donations and volunteer contributions. Click here to learn more and get involved.
Civic Garden Center
The Civic Garden Center (CGC), located at the Hauck Botanic Gardens in Avondale, is a nonprofit model helping communities build resilience through gardening, education and environmental stewardship. Plants are at the core of CGC’s 80-year history—their main goal is to plant food and trees to protect the land, air and water.
The CGC offers educational programs for all ages and interests, including K-6 summer camps and field trips; Green Teens, which provides teenagers with opportunities to explore environmental STEM; Treeforestation and ReRooted, which allow volunteers to learn how to restore habits and maintain native plants; and gardens for communities and schools.
Karen Kahle, the Executive Director at the CGC, was inspired years ago by the work of Aldo Leopold, America’s most significant environmental thinker. She finds inspiration in CGC volunteers who share her passion, admiration and commitment to nature. “At the CGC, we focus on making connections that provide value,” she says. “Our constituents come to learn how to grow food, plant native trees, enhance the vibrancy of their neighborhood or school, and be better stewards of the environment. They do more than network; they come to build relationships that matter.”
Karen has spent over 30 years in program and resource development for various good causes, including as the Director of Development and Community Relations for the Corporation for Findlay Market. Today, her focus is on fulfilling the CGC’s mission.
There are many ways to help the CGC, including financial and wish list donations, volunteering and event rentals. The CGC also offers classes for anyone interested, including a new series of gardening and cooking classes. Also on the schedule is their annual Plant Sale, with online sales in April leading up to their one-day in-person sale on May 6th. To learn more, click here.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC)
Currently located on Short Vine in Corryville, the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) wants to strengthen the critical link between participation in the cultural arts and thriving, healthy children, adults and communities.
CCAC offers free and low-cost art programs like arts and cultural classes for all ages, after-school programming, exhibitions from local artists, creative placemaking and community-building events and performances. This summer will be jam-packed with CCAC events such as improv performances, two shows from local artists and 18 different week-long visual art camps for ages 3-12. CCAC is also bringing back its 11-week summer concert series, “Wednesdays in the Woods” at the Burnet Woods Bandstand and adding on eight more concerts for their new “Saturdays in the Park” at Inwood Park.
Executive Director Leslie Mooney is proud of how CCAC has helped the community. “CCAC is particularly proud of programs like Rockets to Robots STEM+Arts initiative, which brings together students and families in all five public elementary schools in Uptown by providing educational resources, community-building, food, and family engagement,” she says.
Leslie’s nonprofit work didn’t begin with CCAC; before joining in 2013, she served as Director of Development at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. She has also held research and education positions in the U.S. Department of Justice and the Boston History & Innovation Collaborative. Leslie serves as the LSDMC Chair of the Fairview-Clifton German Language School in her free time and coaches local youth sports teams.
CCAC offers plenty of opportunities to engage with the arts as a participant, volunteer or donor. They are fundraising for a new 18,000 sq. ft. purpose-built community arts center in the Clifton business district, set to open in early 2024. To learn more about the nonprofit, click here.
We’re proud of our female Uptown leaders making a difference in our community. For anyone interested in volunteering or signing up for a program in Uptown, check out the above nonprofits or click here for a complete list. Please visit the Uptown Cincinnati Twitter and Facebook page on all things Uptown. Happy Women’s History Month!