Looking for RAPPers!

In preparation for the RAPP 25 Year Reunion, we're out looking for RAPPers!

One of the challenges we've faced in RAPP in recent years is a lack of records.  Rather than giving up, though, we've worked to connect with the RAPPers we'd "lost."  As of now, we have gathered the names of almost 300 people who completed RAPP in the two and a half decades of the program - and nearly half of these were found in the UC alumni database.

You can find the names of the RAPPers we've connected with their years on the RAPP History site.

We need your help to find the rest of RAPP!  We also need your help getting you to the RAPP 25 Year Reunion!

Your help in the following ways is greatly appreciated:

1.  Were you in RAPP?  Please send your mailing address to Rebecca Lehman, RAPP Program Coordinator, at lehmanrl@uc.edu or 513.556.6119.  Your contact information will only be used for information about the RAPP Reunion.

2.  Do you know other RAPPers?  Please help us fill in gaps around names by checking the years you know on the RAPP History site and emailing/calling Rebecca with the names of folks you know.

3. Are you a fan of RAPP on Facebook?  That page and this blog are the easiest ways to stay up to date on RAPP and what's happening around multiculturalism and social justice at UC.  Fan us!  And recommend other RAPPers you know do the same?

The reunion is five months away!  Please help us connect with as many folks who could be there as possible!

RAPPORT Service Day with OTR Community Housing

Last weekend RAPPORT had its first service event for the 2010-2011 school year, organized by our Public Ally Kinsey.

We spent a morning with Over the Rhine Community Housing doing administrative work, moving residents, and cleaning a building to make inspection possible.

Jourdi, Meagan, and Gabby were the filing superstars!

Dan (red jacket) helped a tenant move from transitional housing to her own apartment.

Tyler helped clean two housed previously boarded for thirteen years.  Going into the bag is a mix of insulation, dirt, and animal refuse.

Courtney helped us figure out where to park our garbage bags using a sign she found in the building.

Alyssa answering the question "What are we breathing in around these face masks?"

Many thanks to Tyler, Courtney, Chris, Meagan, Rebecca, Gabby, Kinsey, Dan, Alyssa, and Jourdi (not pictured) for spending a Saturday morning helping OTRCH be able to provide affordable housing!

Snapshots of Fall RAPP XXVI Retreats

November 5th-7th marked the annual "rite of passage" that is the fall RAPP retreat!  Our Tuesday RAPP XXVI group spent November 5th through 6th at Grailville and our Wednesday group the 6th through 7th.

The first retreat of the year is full of fun, friendship-building, and exploration.  On topic were how we define race and the concept of unearned privilege - as well as the fun+frustrating game of STAR Power.

Some snapshots from the weekend:

Tiara & Jay smile during STAR Power trading.

A mixed-emotions group of Triangles during STAR Power. 

A group photo of the Tuesday group members waiting on the bus!

Wednesday group members mid-dinner on Saturday night.

A friendly, peaceful, happy dinner table with Eddy, Jojo, Chris, and Jas.

AJ and Lance in the middle of trading during STAR Power.

Talkin' 'Bout Stereotypes Program - Monday, Nov 22nd

Schneider Hall RA Sakinah is hosting a program on racial stereotypes:

Talkin’ bout Stereotypes!

Interested? Come down to the Turner Lobby on

Mon, Nov 22 at 8:30 pm!!!!

We’ll be doing role-plays, having discussions and eating

FREE PIZZA!!!

Discussion on Sexuality in the Black Community - Tomorrow!

RAPP member Ali (XXVI) is hosting an open discussion about sexuality (particularly homosexuality) in the Black community as part of a class project.

The forum will be Friday, November 19th, at 11AM in the African American Cultural & Resource Center.

Cookies provided by Ali!

National Transgender Day of Remembrance - Tonight!

Throughout the world, people gather this day every year to pay respect to those needlessly killed by hate crimes against the transgender community, and to call attention to the threat of violence faced by gender-variant people.

The progam includes a service of musical selections, a message from Cincinnati Vice-Mayor Roxanne Qualls, and reflections from the Community, ending with a candlelight vigil to honor those who have been victims of violence.

The gathering starts at 7PM and the locations is Hebrew Union College 3101 Clifton Ave Cincinnati, OH

Please contact Paula Ison at paulaison@hotmail.com or call 859.384.7446 if you have any questions.

Sponsored by Human Rights Campaign, Crossport, and Committment Cincinnati.

Clermont College in the News for Community Garden

From Community College Times:

College’s garden helps local food pantries

By CC Times, Published November 11, 2010

Planted in April in honor of Earth Day, the inaugural community garden at University of Cincinnati Clermont College (UC Clermont) this fall produced 381 pounds of vegetables and fruit—and all of it is going to local not-for-profit organizations that serve the community. 

The harvest—which includes squash, zucchini, tomatoes, eggplant, corn, peppers, basil, cucumbers, pumpkins and watermelons—was donated to local organizations such as the YWCA Food Pantry, the YWCA House of Peace, the James Sauls Homeless Shelter and Kings Way Fellowship’s food pantry.

“Our clients really appreciated having a selection of fresh vegetables,” said Lynn Stranz, coordinator of Emergency Service for the YWCA’s branch office. “More than half of them live in apartments or are in senior housing, so they don’t have the space or ability to grow their own gardens. People really got excited about fresh produce—particularly the tomatoes and zucchini.”

Measuring 25 square feet, the garden was established on a college-owned plot of land. Seeds and seedlings grown and donated by biology lab manager Daryl Klein were planted and tended throughout the spring and summer by students, faculty and staff volunteers.

Nearly 120 extra tomato plants left over after planting were donated to six community organizations.
“In addition to providing these organizations with fresh, locally-grown, organic produce, we were thrilled to be able to share the tomato plants so these groups could grow their own tomatoes on site,” said Barbara Wallace, UC Clermont’s director of the College Success program and coordinator of the garden.

Additionally, the garden became a featured part of the college’s service learning in several biology classes. Students planted and tended the garden, using organic gardening techniques.

Despite some setbacks—including a late frost, insects, deer and a summer drought that prompted campus facilities staffers to truck water to the site weekly—Wallace is happy with the outcome.

“We learned a lot this year, and have plans to expand the garden’s size next year when it’s planted in conjunction with Earth Day next spring,” she said.