RAPP Leaders Go On To Be... Public Allies!

A couple of years back, we made a couple videos called "RAPPers Go On To Be..." to highlight how involvement in RAPP makes sense for all Bearcats regardless what career you might be headed toward.

In reflecting on encouraging people to apply for formal leadership positions in RAPP, we thought it could be similarly useful to highlight how people have contributed to RAPP and gone on to apply the knowledge they learned in a variety of impactful professions.

RAPP & Public Allies have long had a strong overlap in people given our shared work toward a just society and honoring that everyone leads!

Ashley shows off her artwork at the RAPPORT 2009 Retreat.

Ashley Bennet Gray (RAPP XXII) was a graduate assistant and student worker with RAPP XXIII and RAPPORT.  Ashley served in Public Allies in 2009-2010.

Kinsey (2nd from right) leads a group of volunteers in a joint role for Public Allies & RAPP.

Kinsey Brown (RAPP XXIII) was a Peer Leader with RAPP XXIV Sunday.  Kinsey served in Public Allies in 2010-2011 with RAPP.

Marjorie (far left) reps RAPP with several other RAPP alumni who served in Public Allies.

Marjorie Bledsoe (RAPP XXV) was a Peer Leader with RAPP XXVI Wednesday.  Marjorie served in Public Allies in 2011-2012 with RAPP.

Jojo smiles for the camera at Accelerating Racial Justice 2013.

Jojo Azevedo (RAPP XXIV) was a Peer Leader with RAPP XXVI Wednesday, facilitator for RAPP XXVII and Accelerating Racial Justice (ARJ) 2012, and process observer for ARJ 2013.  He is currently serving in Public Allies 2013-2014 with the Academy of World Languages.

"Yours Truly, Cincinnati" Documentary Premiere - Jul 19th!

"Yours Truly, Cincinnati" Documentary Premiere

Hosted by 100 Best Communities for Young People - Cincinnati

Thursday, July 19

5PM-7PM

Elementz: The Hip Hop Youth Arts Center

1100 Race St. , Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

 

This documentary piece is the culmination of an eight (8) month collaboration between The STRIVE Partnership and Public Allies Cincinnati to capture the voices, affirmations and dissenting opinions of community residents as they respond to Cincinnati being named one of th...e 100 Best Communities for Young People in 2010 and 2011. Join us as we reveal what citizens had to say, and share your thoughts about work, school and living experiences in Cincinnati.

Free food and free admission. All ages are welcome. RSVP today.

Check it out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/175418542589899/

RAPPing up 2012

From: Marjorie Bledsoe, Public Ally for RAPP 2011-2012

Working with RAPP and Public Allies this year has been amazing! I’ve learned so much that it’s hard to sum it all up. I have solidified my love of community, relationships, and Social Justice Education through my ten months of service. I didn’t realize how many groups of amazing influential people I belong to; the interconnectedness of these communities has never been more apparent. I guess I wasn’t paying close enough attention, or maybe I’m just now positioned to feel like I’m really part of it all.

My journey to working with Public Allies and RAPP started in 2009, when I joined RAPP XXV. Through RAPP I met someone who introduced me to the Northside Family Dinner community. I quickly became friends with the folks who host and attend Family Dinner, many of whom are Public Allies Alumni. As I went through RAPP, Family Dinner served as my support network; I would go straight from meetings to Dinner and debrief on what I’d learned. Concepts of privilege and oppression were new to me, and although I’d experienced these dynamics throughout my life, I’d never realized how valid my own experiences actually were. My Family Dinner community and RAPP legitimized so much of what I’d been told wasn’t real about my life experience. Major medical issues and divorce are only a couple of examples of what I was faced with during this time, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to support me through such a difficult part of my life.

In 2010-2011 I took on a Peer Leader position with RAPP XXVI, became active in RAPPORT (RAPP’s alumni program), and joined the newly formed Social Justice League. I continued to build upon the foundation of awareness and appreciation for myself and others I gained in my RAPP XXV experience. I finally possessed the confidence to take what I’d learned of myself and my experiences out into the world. I did workshops and trainings with the Social Justice League, had difficult and emotional conversations with my family and friends, and I came out.

During this time I was encouraged to explore the Public Allies program by Rebecca Lehman and my friends who were Public Allies Alumni. These folks supported me through the application process which is daunting, especially for those who are financially limited. If not for their support I don’t know that I would have made it through the process or gotten the job, as I was initially rejected as an applicant. I’m so thankful for all of these people; I feel as though I am on a path that will only lead to bigger and better things as a result of participating in Public Allies.

My experience with Public Allies and RAPP had been so rich and rewarding that I don’t know that I can fully describe all that I’ve gained. I spent this time planning, facilitating, networking, and learning. I have learned and accomplished so much in the last ten months that it will probably take just as long to process it all. I would like to share the video made by Rebecca Lehman about the RAPP Reflections show that is part of the ReRoot exhibit at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center. I think the video highlights some of the key things that happened in my life and in the RAPP XXVII Tuesday and Wednesday groups. Enjoy!

See a Year of RAPP at "ReRoot" Exhibition - Opening Jun 1st, runs through Aug 2nd!

Clifton Cultural Arts Center’s (CCAC) summer exhibition, ReRoot, explores how identity, community and place inform one another. From Cedric Cox’s densely fragmented abstract urban landscapes to Tawni Shuler’s surreal organic re-purposing of the open west, ReRoot places twenty local and national artists’ work in conversation.

Join us for the opening on Friday, June 1st, from 6:00 – 8:30 pm!

Included in the show is a room of work by Marjorie Bledsoe, the current RAPP Public Ally, that artistically demonstrates the RAPP process.  Marjorie worked gathering information & inspiration from RAPP XXVII and created multiple pieces that represent the experience.

Please join us for the opening!  A group will be traveling (on foot if weather permits) from the RAPP Office to the CCAC at 5:30PM on Friday, June 1st.

Visit the exhibit during our gallery hours June 1 through August 2: Mondays, noon - 5pm
Thursdays, noon - 7pm
Saturdays, 9am - noon



 

Designing A Mural To Tell Cincinnati's Story

From: Public Allies Cincinnati, Cincy Story Mural



What do you get when you take three visual artists, a screen printing guru, a visionary, and over 1400 photos and stories from across the city?


THE CINCY STORY MURAL!


...I’ve never been very good at jokes. Sorry. :/


All (failed) jokes aside, working as part of the design team has been a once in a lifetime experience. After hearing so many incredible stories at the Photo Harvests and perusing the amazing photos submitted with Krista, three artists working on the mural design met on one of Clifton’s rooftops.

The rooftops of Clifton


Each equipped with our own artistic process, aesthetic, and background, we spent a lot of time talking about what the project meant to us and wondering how we were going to merge our very different perspectives into a cohesive piece of art. It could have been a mess, and to be honest, I listened my fair share of doubts from people who heard about what we were attempting to accomplish. But, as it turns out, our diversity has made us--and this project--stronger. Instead of clashing, we found that our individual talents and approaches complemented one another. I had never worked in a digital medium before, but Marjorie’s digital design background, Photoshop expertise, and talent as a teacher brought the rest of us up to speed in no time. I love connections and tend to see everything in terms of systems of possibilities, so when I looked at the rich body of raw material we had been given, I saw a beautiful sum, not 1400 parts. It provided us a framework and starting point. Laura, with her incredible eye for detail, was able to hone in on the individual photographs and collage them in compelling compositions that honored each photograph while creating fluidity between them. All these pieces together gave us a vision and direction for the mural that we could have never achieved individually.




The idea for a template that we began with...


We brought our design ideas and first few finished neighborhoods to Krista, who loved it and urged us onward. Then we met with Aaron Kent of DIY, who took our digital designs and spearheaded the process of turning them into physical screenprints. Again, without their individual perspectives and talents, the mural couldn’t have gone forward. And without everyone’s written and photographic contributions, we’d have nothing to create with. CSM is truly a collaborative effort that represents the power of what can be accomplished when we don’t try to put aside our differences, but instead embrace and utilize them in a unified effort.




A sneak peek of what's to come!



Guest post written by Cincy Story Mural design team member, Missy Miller

What's Race Got to Do With It? - Apr 5th!

From Cincinnati Public Allies:
What’s Race Got to Do With It is a conversation hosted by social justice organizations, BRIDGES and Public Allies, designed to offer a venue for dialogue around the myriad of issues related to race and class as manifested in the recent local and national events of violence. The death of an unarmed black male, Trayvon Martin, and the freedom of the assailant bring to mind the long history of socially sanctioned violence that is at the core of American race relations, and millions of people around the world have marched for justice on his behalf.

According to BRIDGES’ news release, in lieu of equally disparaging local incidents of violence toward children, this dialogue will examine the educational, cultural and social disparities that stem from issues of race and class, and how these issues affect a child’s ability to succeed. Strategic partners include Serve Ohio, Strive Partnership, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and others.

Special Guest Speakers: Law Enforcement and Behavioral Specialists including Dr. Keith Vukasinovic, clinical counselor; Capt. Gary Lee, Cincinnati Police Department, Dorothy Smoot, Executive Director of the Community Police Partnering Center and Vice President of Youth Services for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati, Cheryl Meadows, retired Executive Director of the Cincinnati Human Relations Council, and other behavioral and educational specialists.

Where: Woodward High School, 7005 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237
When: Thursday, April 5 6:00-8pm

Cincy Story Mural Update

The Cincy Story Mural is a new project dedicated to celebrating the greater Cincinnati area’s people and cultures through collaborative art and storytelling. The idea came from Krista Brinkmeyer, a member of Starfire U who is interested in photography, art, and community engagement. The mural is Krista's senior project for Starfire U, and there are many community partners involved with making the project a success- Public Allies, DIY Printing, Yelp, and Cincy.com to name a few.

There are also many community members who are a part of the Cincy Story Mural; in fact, the community is the focus of this project. Over 100 community members have been involved with the project, through photograph and story sharing, volunteering, and hosting photo/story sharing events in their own homes and communities.

As the project progresses, the focus is on community engagement. There will be a total of four murals sites in various locations throughout Cincinnati. The murals will debut in June 2012, and there will be launch events at each site. Stay tuned for more information on mural launch events!

Cincinnati resident Tawanda Rollins

The Cincy Story Mural blog is coming along, with more and more interested and engaged community members each day! All are invited to share their stories and what they love about the community of Cincinnati on the Cincy Story Mural blog.

Cincinnati resident Maria Eggers

Even if you weren't born here, don't plan on staying here, or don't live here any longer, your memories, feelings, and reflections about the community of Cincinnati are encouraged and welcomed! You can submit them at info@CincyStoryMural.org.

BRIDGES Equity Leadership Training - Mar 22nd!

From BRIDGES for a Just Community:

Equity Leadership Training: Strategies for Creating a Culture of Inclusion

Organizations, corporations, schools, or any group can be diverse without being inclusive.

 BRIDGES  invites you to explore the relationship between diversity and inclusion while sharpening your awareness and enhancing your leadership skills.

 Learn  to work more effectively with people from different backgrounds, beliefs and experiences and embrace your role in creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment.

Wed. March 7, 1:30-4:30p

         www.bridgescincinnati.org/eli

Thurs. March 22, 4:30-8pm

Fifth Third Convening Center,

          United Way, 2400 Reading Road 

General Registration: $45

Program Partners & Alumni: $30

To register  follow the link below:

 http://bridgesequityleadership.eventbrite.com 

  Or contact David Weaver  via email:

 david.weaver@bridgescincinnati.org

Lite fare & drinks provided.

This training is designed for you if you are:

•Non-profit leader

•Human resources professionals

•Educators or counselors

•Emerging leaders

•Interested in creating more welcoming places

By the sessions end you will:

•Assess your diversity and inclusion experiences and knowledge

•Learn techniques to successfully engage in challenging discussions

•Explore the difference between diversity training and practicing equitable leadership

•Examine your assumptions and how easily these can become judgments

•Be able to reflect on the messages that have shaped our lens on the world

•Be able to develop a plan for how to build on your knowledge and understanding.

RAPPORT Community Service Success!

This past Saturday, December 3rd 2011 some wonderful members of the RAPP and RAPPORT community went to Over the Rhine to volunteer with an organization that works to keep people in affordable, sustainable housing.

RAPP and RAPPORT volunteers in OTR

Over the Rhine Community Housing "is a non-profit organization that works to build and sustain a diverse neighborhood that values and benefits low-income residents."

OTR Community Housing relies on volunteer labor, or "sweat equity" to keep the cost of their rental properties as low as possible. Volunteers do a variety of work ranging from cleaning, trash pick up, landscaping, building maintenance, and more.

If you are interested in volunteering with Over the Rhine Community Housing visit the Volunteer page, or check them out of Facebook @ http://www.facebook.com/OTRCH.

Human Relations Summit Honors Hamilton County's Racially Integrated Communities - Nov 19th!

From the Cincinnati Public Allies Listserv:

HousingOpportunities Made Equal and several community partners are hosting a forum to honor Hamilton County’s racially integrated communities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011 at the SpringfieldTownship Senior/Community Center, 9158 Winton Road, Finneytown. Co-sponsors for the forum are PNC Bank, the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Bridges for a Just Community, the Cincinnatus Association, and the Cincinnati Human Relations Commission.

This Human Relations Summit spotlights 28 communities that the 2010 Census determined to have been integrated for at least 20, 30 or 40 years. As part of the morning’s program, representatives of three of those communities will share their successes and challenges in building inclusive, diverse communities. Audience members will be encouraged to participate in the discussion.

“Through our efforts to deal with illegal discrimination in housing, HOME often sees the worst of the worst with regard to racial conflict,” said Elizabeth Brown, executive director. “This forum allows us to celebrate those neighborhoods where whites and blacks are living side-by-side working together for the betterment of their communities, and they’ve been doing so for decades.”

As part of the recognition, HOME also partnered with Cincy Magazine to publish “Hidden Treasures,” a special publication featuring photos, quotes and descriptions to highlight the richness of each of these neighborhoods. Multiple copies of the magazine will be available at the forum and distributed by Cincy. In addition, trophies will be presented to each of the honored communities.

The forum is free, and the public is invited. For planning purposes, those wishing to attend are asked to contact Myra Calder, consumer education specialist with HOME, by phone at 513-721-4663 or by email at myra.calder@homecincy.org.

Free Tracy Walker Concerts - Nov 12th & 13th!

From the Cincinnati Public Allies Listserv:

AN EVENING WITH TRACY WALKER
Saturday, November 12, 7 p.m.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, 3711 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45220

FAMILY CONCERT: Sing a Song with Tracy Walker
Sunday, November 13, 3-4 p.m.Taft Museum of Art

Both events are FREE. To make reservations call 513-684-4528

Meet the Allies Event - Tomorrow!

From Cincinnati Public Allies:

“MEET THE ALLIES” event is tomorrow!

The Public Allies Class of 2011-12 embarked on their 10 months of service in September. Join us on November 3, 2011 to meet the current class of Allies and hear the impact they are making in the community.

RSVP/Questions : Shawn Jeffers, 513.381.4660, Shawn.Jeffers@bridgescincinnati.org

Public Al lies Cincinnati is a program of BRIDGES for a JustCommunity and Ohio AmeriCorps.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

5:30pm - 7:30pm

Clifton Cultural Arts Center

3711 Clifton Avenue

Cincinnati, OH, 45220

Public Allies advances diverse young leaders to strengthen communities, non-profits and civic participation. Since its inception in 1998, Public Allies Cincinnati has:

• graduated over 300 Allies

• partnered with more than 80 area agencies

• provided services to over 750,000 residents

How will this year’s Allies change the community? Join us to find out!

James Brewer Stewart: “Abolishing Slavery in Lincoln’s Time & Ours" - Oct 4th!

From Cincinnati Public Allies:

James Brewer Stewart: “Abolishing Slavery in Lincoln’s Time & Ours: Creating a New Abolitionist Movement/Confronting Modern Racial Injustice”

October 4, 2011 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm |Freedom Center

Today there are nearly three times as many enslaved people in the world today than there were in the Western Hemisphere when Abraham Lincoln issued theEmancipation Proclamation, an estimated 30 million.  Today, at the same time, the United States incarcerates far more people than any other nation, the vast majority of whom are people with dark skin.  What does “slavery” mean in light of these disturbing facts? How are these facts related historically and in our own time? What can ordinary people do to effectively combat these frightening trends?

Join us as James Brewer Stewart,  James Wallace Professor Emeritus, Macalester College, lectures on “Abolishing Slavery in Lincoln’s Time and Ours: Creating a New Abolitionist Movement/ Confronting Modern Racial Injustice.” Dr. Stewart has published a dozen books and over 50 articles addressing slavery and its abolitionin the history of the United States. Widely recognized for his excellence as a teacher, he is also Founder and Director of Historians Against Slavery, an organization of  over 400 scholars who work to combat slavery and racial injustice today by applying historical perspectives to our contemporary problems.

This lecture is free and open to the public.

RAPP Public Ally 2011-12: Marjorie Bledsoe

We received great news in the RAPP Office today:  Our match for our 2011-12 Public Allies apprenticeship!


Please join me in welcoming Marjorie Bledsoe to her new role, which will start on September 1st!

Marjorie has been a UC student and dedicated RAPPer since fall 2009.  She has studied fine arts and a variety of other arts and marketing at both UC and Hocking College.  Along with being a student, Marjorie has worked in arts and education at Funk­­e Fired Arts, Starbrick Gallery Cooperative, and Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest.

Marjorie is a graduate of RAPP XXV, in which she was selected by her peers and leaders as recipient of the Terence L Jones Diversity Award.  She was a Peer Leader with RAPP XXVI, earned her RAPP Social Justice Peer Educator Certificate this past spring, and co-facilitated an two-day inclusive leadership retreat with me for student leaders of Thomas More College and the College of Mt. St. Joseph this past winter. 
I’m very excited to have someone with such great skills, commitment, and passion to make the year ahead RAPP’s best yet!

Marjorie at the University Recognition Ceremony where she was recognized with the Terence L Jones Diversity Award

Prepping for XXVII: Public Allies Interviews

The RAPP Office has been abuzz this week doing an exciting activity that will greatly impact our 2011-12 experience!

As part of the process of building the leadership team, I interview Public Allies Cincinnati (PA) finalists who are interested in doing their 10-month PA apprenticeship with RAPP.

This year we had a pool of seven outstanding candidates, each of whom would bring useful skills and knowledge to our program.

We should know in a few weeks who our Ally for the year will be - keep an eye out here for the announcement!  Best wishes to all the Public Allies finalists and partner organizations as we work to find our matches!
-Rebecca

Public Allies Cincinnati Class of 2011 Graduation - June 30th!

RAPP's first Public Ally, Kinsey Brown, graduates from the program this evening!

As a not-for-profit apprentice, Kinsey served September 2010 through June 2011 with RAPP.  In their time, they co-facilitated RAPP XXVI, participated in RAPPORT, did administrative work for both, earned a Social Justice League certificate, developed promotional materials and assisted in RAPP's outreach work, put together community service days, coordinated RAPP's involvement in campus- and city-wide events, served on the WorldFest committee, developed a shadowing & interview series for themself with local not-for-profit and higher education leaders, and blogged here, to name a few things.

You're invited to join us in celebrating Kinsey's work and growth at the A Tropical Paradise Graduation!
6-8PM at United Way of Greater Cincinnati (2400 Reading Rd).

Public Allies Presentations

Greetings RAPP Community! You are all cordially invited to some upcoming Public Allies events taking place that this year's Ally Kinsey Brown will be a part of.

If you are or have been thinking about joining Public Allies, these would be great opportunities for you to come and get a sense of what it is like to be an Ally.

Friday, June 10th: Perspective of the Day (POD) on Ableism
8:30AM - 12:30PM at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park

• Kinsey and a team of fellow Allies have been working with Starfire Council of Cincinnati to prepare an interesting and interactive workshop on ableism. This POD will engage people from Public Allies, Starfire U, and the community in reading, discussion, a guest speaker, activities, and a lite lunch provided by Starfire U.

Friday June 17th: Team Service Project (TSP) Showcase
1PM - 5PM at the Main Library Downtown, 3rd Floor Conference Room

• Since September, the Allies have been hard at work in three teams working on three major TSP's. Each team will present what they did and what they learned from the process. Come support Kinsey's team, Team Sidetracked, as they present on the natural playground they built for Cincinnati Union Bethel.

Friday June 24th: Presentation of Learning (POL)
11:15AM at the Theodore M. Berry Head Start Center, 880 W. Court St.

• The Allies' main final project is their POL, where they present to their peers, their partner organizations, and the community about what they learned in their ten-month apprenticeship. This presentation covers the personal and professional impact the year had on the ally, rather than a simple overview of what they did.

Our Future Now Art Exhibit

Our Future Now Presents Youth Visions of the Future at SOS ART

Our Future Now, an installation featuring youth expressions of the future will be featured in SOS ART, which opens Friday, May 27. The installation celebrates the future dreams, hopes, fears, and aspirations of 5th - 8th grade students throughout Greater Cincinnati that participated in this citywide youth art project developed by the Kennedy Heights Arts Center and Public Allies Cincinnati.

Nearly 200 children from public, private, and alternative schools, as well as youth-serving programs, imagined and depicted their respective futures and those of their communities in a multimedia art project.

The artwork of all Our Future Now participants will be displayed as windows in a largescale cityscape installation, constructed in partnership with local artist and arts educator Cedric Michael Cox and teen students, featured in SOS ART. SOS ART is an exhibition of creative expressions of peace and justice that includes a range of local artists, from students to professional.

The exhibition, located at the Art Academy of Cincinnati at 1212 Jackson Street in Over-the-Rhine, opens on Friday, May 27 from 6:00pm to midnight and runs through Sunday, June 5.

About the Kennedy Heights Arts Center:

Kennedy Heights Arts Center enhances the life of the surrounding community through arts and cultural experiences that embrace diversity, foster creativity and build community. Founded in 2003 by local residents, Kennedy Heights Arts Center strengthens the fabric of the community by bringing together diverse residents to imagine, create, celebrate and grow.

AWL International Festival

The Public Ally at the Academy of World Languages would like to invite you to AWL's International Festival!!!

AWL is a CPS magnet school for languages teaching Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Japanese to our English speaking population. They also have a thriving English as a Second Language program that brings them students from over 40 countries, speaking 30 languages.

To celebrate our diversity every year AWL has a great, big festival that all are cordially invited to attend!

The festival is Saturday May 21 from 11am - 4pm:

• 11 - 12: AWL student performances
• 12 - 4: Music and food from around the world
• 12:30 - 3: Games and fun for all

There is also an added component to this where you can volunteer if you would like. If you are free that day and want to get in some service hours, please contact the Public Ally Megan Shapiro @ peaceloveshap@gmail.com for more information about volunteering.

Snapshots from RAPP/RAPPORT Spring Service Day

This past weekend RAPP & RAPPORT students participated in a service day working with Cincinnati Public Allies and Cincinnati Union Bethel.  We spent the morning working with Team Sidetrack on the completion of the natural playground they've spent the year planning and building at CUB's Head Start facility in Winton Terrace.

Many of the volunteer team rode down in a van provided by RAPP.

Our group worked on several projects - prepping a "creek" bed, installing bridges, building structures to play in, and cleaning dangerous items out of donated dirt.

RAPP intern Mel (XXVI) posed by a playground element.

At the end of the morning our team posed with some of the Public Allies for a group shot - check out the fun playgrounds!  In the end, the traditional playground will connect with the natural one.

Thanks to Kinsey (XXIII) for organizing the service day and to Matthew (XXVI), Julia (XXVI), Amber (XXV), Sara (XXVI), Kaila (XXVI), Anum (XXV), Rebecca (XXII), Amber (XXV), Mel (XXVI), and Chris for spending the morning on this fun project!