In honor of Women’s History Month in March, the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls  invited every elected woman in Hamilton County to gather on the Courthouse steps on March 11for a bi-partisan group picture. 

Did you know that as of 2024:

• Women hold a majority of Hamilton County-wide elected seats (8 out of the 11 administrative offices) and over half of the judicial seats are held by women.
• Over 160 women hold public office county-wide.
• We have an unprecedented number of women in local office – mayors, councilmembers, commissioners, trustees  and judges.

The post Women’s History Month: Celebrating local elected women appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

✨ LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! 🎬
All-In Cincinnati Presents: Empower & Eats TV Show Premiere
Women’s HERstory in the Making!

Be part of a monumental evening as this exclusive event is a celebration of economic mobility, policy change, and the cultural richness that drives our community forward.
All-In Cincinnati premieres Empower & Eats, our exciting new TV show showcasing the voices of Hamilton County entrepreneurs, policymakers, and changemakers.
Get ready to experience:

• Exclusive Screening of Empower & Eats
• Fireside Chat with Featured Entrepreneurs & Policymakers
• Networking & Community Conversations
• Light Bites & Refreshments

REGISTER HERE: www.bit.ly/empowerandeats

📍 Soul Secrets 1434 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
🗓 March 21, 2025  |  ⏰ 7pm – 9pm

Let’s celebrate Legacy, Leadership, & Liberation during Women’s HERstory Month—honoring the people who are transforming our city!

SPACE IS LIMITED—SECURE YOUR SPOT TODAY!     

🌱 Growing People, Growing Community
Recognizing Our Collective Strength and Amplifying Voices for a Stronger Tomorrow

Real change happens when we uplift the leaders, organizations, and businesses shaping our community. This month, we’re celebrating five dynamic community leaders and six businesses driving impact across industries in Hamilton County.

🔹 Anzora Adkins – A steadfast advocate for neighborhood transformation, Anzora ensures that youth and families in Evanston have the tools and opportunities to thrive.
🔹 Freda Epum – An acclaimed author and artist, Freda weaves powerful narratives on race, illness, and belonging, as seen in her debut memoir, The Gloomy Girl Variety Show.
🔹 Te’Airea Powell – President of the East Westwood Community Council, Te’Airea drives neighborhood growth while balancing roles as a business owner, consultant, and mom.
🔹 Rajani Menon – A dynamic civic engagement leader, Rajani advances inclusive leadership and community-driven solutions at The Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation.
🔹 Venita Turner – A heart transplant survivor turned advocate, Venita founded The Beat Goes On to provide housing support for transplant patients traveling to Cincinnati for life-saving care.

FEATURED BUSINESSES:

🔹 Christina Davis, CEO & Owner, Davis Cookie Collection – Creating sweet memories with handcrafted cookies and inspired recipes.
🔹 Crystal Kendrick, CEO & Owner, The Voice of Your Customer & The Voice of Black Cincinnati – Driving visibility and impact for Black businesses and community initiatives.
🔹 Jennifer Ingram, CEO & Owner, Calibrated Lens – Expanding history’s reach with the Numismatics Noir Coin Card Deck, a curated collection of rare U.S. currency featuring untold Black stories.
🔹 Kisha Johnson, CEO & Owner, The Johnson’s Daycare Center – Nurturing the next generation, providing safe, loving, and empowering care for children and families.
🔹 Shauntel Dobbins, Founder & CEO, FinanciallyU – Providing financial literacy education to equip individuals and families with wealth-building tools.
🔹 Tammie Scott, CEO & Owner, Nostalgia Wine & Jazz Lounge – Bringing nostalgia and joy to Cincinnati with a sophisticated space for music, culture, and connection.

Join us in celebrating these leaders and businesses! Their work strengthens our community and builds a legacy of opportunity for generations to come.

The post All-In Cincinnati presents Empower & Eats to celebrate women’s HERstory appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Willie Brown,

Executive Publisher

Inglewood Today

As we reflect on the great female athletes during Women’s History Month, we are reminded, sadly, of the gross pay inequities between men and women.  While top-tier NBA players like Lebron James will reportedly earn $128M for the 2023-2024 season, highest paid WNBA player, Jackie Young will earn $252,450.

Fortunately, women aren’t competing just for the money. They are in it for the love of the game, and the opportunity to blaze trails for women behind them.

The victories won by Serena Williams go far beyond the tennis court.  She is an inspiration and an icon. From her humble beginnings in Compton until her 23^rd Grand Slam singles title, the tennis legend and her sister Venus are considered pioneers of a new era in tennis—one shaped by wealth, fame, celebrity and record-breaking wins.

Danica Patrick paved the way in a sport that is hard-pressed for female representation.  Danica accomplished multiple firsts for open-wheel car racing and was the first woman to win an IndyCar Series race at the 2008 Indy Japan 300.  She is credited with inspiring more women to enter auto racing and motorsports.

Professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist, Ronda Rousey is not one to mess with.  The 2008 Olympic bronze medalist is the only woman to win both a UFC and WWE championship and was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.

WNBA player Candace Parker cut her teeth as a dominant player with the Los Angeles Sparks for 13 seasons.  One of the league’s most celebrated players, Parker earned the title of Rookie of the Year and WNBA MVP in 2008.  She led the Sparks to a championship in 2016.  At 37, she’s now a player for the Las Vegas Aces.

The resilience of women in sports—or any field for that matter—is truly remarkable. 

The post Women in sports: Trailblazers and advocates for equality appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

By Amanda Carter

amanda.carter@hamilton-co.org

In honor of Women’s History Month in March, the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls — organized several years ago by Commissioner Denise Driehaus — invited every elected woman in Hamilton County to gather on the Courthouse steps on March 5 for a bi-partisan group picture. The gathering provided an opportunity to kick off Women’s History Month and highlight the importance of promoting and encouraging women and girls to seek leadership positions, influence policy decisions, and promote public service.

Women hold a majority of Hamilton County-wide elected seats (8 out of the 11 offices), and more than half of the judicial seats are held by women. More than 160 women hold public office countywide. Hamilton County has an unprecedented number of women in local office, including mayors, councilmembers, commissioners, trustees, and judges.

The post Hamilton county women’s commission celebrates women’s history appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

Wright Communications

In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, The Cincinnati Herald and Professional Pretty are sponsoring their first ever “Black Women’s Book Expo,” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, March 14, at Kennedy Heights Arts Center Lindner Annex, 6620 Montgomery Road, 45213. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.  

The event will feature a presentation by Sharon Draper, “Teacher of the Year” and celebrated author, workshops on how to get published, market your book and nurture your book from seed to finished product. Local authors will have booths and make short presentations on their books and their journey to publication. There will also be shopping featuring local vendors.

“I am so excited about this great event featuring local Black women authors and their books,” said Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, publisher of The Cincinnati Herald, co-sponsor of the event. “I always wanted to do a book fair, and it’s a natural fit for the Herald.” 

Morgan Owens, CEO of event co-sponsor “Professional Pretty,” will be the emcee for the day – introducing workshop speakers and saying a few words about her brand Professional Pretty, which helps minority women in business grow through workshops, marketing, branding services and business books.  

Owens is an author herself, who recently published her first book Finding My Sparkle, an autobiography she describes as “my story of finding self-love.” She is in the midst of a successful 17-city book tour, with her supporting sponsor “P&G Beauty.” 

“The Black Women’s Book Expo is new and different for the City of Cincinnati,” Owens said. “I thought that during Women’s History Month, it would be great to feature so many of the amazing women who are authors in the city. I was able to find success with my first book, and I wanted to help other women do the same.” 

The event is free and open to the public. Booth rental is available for authors who would like to sell their books — $100 for author booths and $75 for retail booths.  

Event Schedule 

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Author and Retail Booths Open

11 a.m. – Sharon Draper (National Teacher of the Year and internationally known author), who will talk about one of her books and how to get started as a writer.

11:30 a.m. – Joyce Smith, (owner of Smith and Hannon Books), who will speak on “Getting Your Book Into Independent Bookstores”

Noon – Linda Wright (Award winning journalist and president of Wright Communications), who will speak on “Literary Childbirth: Nurturing Your Book From Seed to Finished Product.”

12:30 p.m. – Annie Ruth (nationally celebrated author, poet, and visual artist), who will give a workshop on how to get published via self-publishing and royalty publishing. 

1:15 p.m. – Dr. Anisa Shomo, (MD, author, YouTube vlogger and  founder of “Dr. Shomo Knows Bookclub”), who will speak on the importance of getting your book in front of book clubs.

For more information, or to be a vendor, call 513 961-3331, find Black Women’s Book Expo on Eventbrite.com or click https://bit.ly/3asx5xn.

The post The Cincinnati Herald and Professional Pretty present free Black Women’s Book Expo March 14 appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

In honor of Women’s History Month this March the Downtown Main Library presents LadyFest, a celebration of women’s health and wellness. The event will provide valuable on-site resources to female-identifying individuals of all ages and backgrounds, with representatives from various local and national organizations.

LadyFest runs noon to 4 p.m. Friday, March 6, in the Genealogy & Local History Program Space on the third floor. National Alliance on Mental Illness and Ohio Equity Institute are educating and providing services. Also, the Caracole’s Mobile Testing Van is going to be at Vine Street to provide basic health screenings.

The event is providing kid-friendly activities as well. No registration is required.

A single day isn’t enough to celebrate women! Check out the LadyFest events happening all month at various branches. Find an event near you at CincinnatiLibrary.evanced.info/signup/List. Or call 513-369-6900.

The post Public Library celebrates Women’s History Month with LadyFest event appeared first on The Cincinnati Herald .

As a community activist, Merelyn Bates-Mims, center in red cap, last week joined Civil Rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson at the closed Kroger store in Walnut Hills in a protest of the closing of Kroger stores in minority neighborhoods. Photo by Dan Yount

By Herald Staff 

The Cincinnati City Council recognized human rights and social justice advocate and educator Merelyn B. Bates-Mims, Ph.D., of Cincinnati, with International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month honors on March 14.

Each year, Councilman Chris Seelbach and Cincinnati City Council recognize women from across the community who are making history today through their work advocating for rights, progress and inclusion across our community.

“We are recognizing and honoring Dr. Merelyn B. Bates-Mims, a Fulbright scholar, for her achievements and significant contributions to education, public service and social justice during Women’s History Month, which includes International Women’s Day,’’ Seelbach said.

According to information Seelbach provided about Bates-Mims during the presentation, she obtained her bachelor of arts degree in liberal arts from the University of Louisiana in her home state, but has lived most of her adult life in Cincinnati, where she obtained a master of education degree from Xavier University and her doctorate (with distinction) from the University of Cincinnati in interdisciplinary studies (administration, linguistics and French).

IN 1984, she was awarded a Fulbright, for research in comparative-historical Pidgin-Creole languages and linguistics at Yaoundé University, Republic of Cameroon, and three other universities in West Africa.

In 1986, Bates-Mims became the founding director of Xavier University’s College Opportunity Program, a partnership between Xavier and Cincinnati Public Schools, which was featured on CBS News’ Sunday Morning with host Charles Kuralt.

She has been an educator at Princeton City Schools.

She served as chief administrator of the Equal Opportunity Program of Ohio and as a consultant mediator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Bates-Mims was founding chair of the Coalition on Human Rights’ Darfur Campaign at Christ Church Cathedral.

She was founding chair of the Coalition on Human Rights’ Darfur Campaign at Christ Church Cathedral.

She is founding chair of the Organization of Procedural Justice commissioned by the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, which works to reform sentencing guidelines that have subjected men, especially young African Americans, to excessive sentences for minor crimes in what is being referred to as a form of “modern day slavery.’’

She is the recipient of the King Legacy Award by the MLK Coalition and Freedom Center, the NAACP Ohio Conference Award for Pursuing Liberty in the Face of Injustice, and she has been inducted into the Xavier University Sustainability Heroes Gallery.

In accepting the honors, Bates-Mims said, “New Iberia, Louisiana, is the name of the place where I was born—the home of Louisiana hot sauce and sugarcane fields.

“It was there I learned right from wrong. Who taught me? My grandmothers Cora and Bettie, and my mother, Luelva, who taught me how to read before I entered elementary school. We did not have books in our house. But we did have the printed language on Kellogg’s corn flakes boxes. Using the numbers of the wall calendar and my fingers, she taught me how to count. Poverty is not a signal of the absence of intellect.

“In college, I majored in music and earned a Bachelor of Arts in voice, because my Aunt Georgia, a woman of extraordinarily beautiful voice, taught me the hymns of the church. I remember being placed on a chair in the choir at Mt. Calvary Baptist so that the congregation could see me, at 5 years old, as I sang.

“And it was there, in New Iberia’s Back o’ the Field neighborhood, that I learned leadership from a former slave, my grandfather Papa Ed Bates, who advocated the building of a public school for colored children, with the men and women of the community responding to the call; his early advocacy thereby conveying messages on the responsibility of humans for the health, safety, and welfare of other humans. Later, during a year-long study in Cameroon and three other countries, I discovered there on Africa continent the same New Iberia universal practice of all adults sharing responsibility for the safety of all the children, other people’s children.

“That international, transcontinental tradition, traveling over time and space, appeared as a natural element among the faculty at Lincoln Heights High School and later the College Opportunity Program for Burton Elementary s graders that was offered by Xavier University.

“Now, and since the time of the tragedy of the child, Trayvon Martin, Christ Church Cathedral and the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio have commissioned a justice work whose mission is to remove the loophole language of Amendment XIII to the U.S. Constitution authorizing legal slavery past 1865; that reads, “Neither slavery nor indentured servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted …”

Bates-Mims has immersed herself in this work in recent years in her work with the Organization of Procedural Justice at the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio.

“The statistics show that the modern lockup of our children, many sentenced at a young age to life-long imprisonment, is the ‘new age slavery,’ as described in Michelle Alexander’s best seller, The New Jim Crow; and Ava DuVernay’s film, The 13^th, revealing how the nation is caught up in the prison industrial complex and mass incarceration—modern day prison slave-labor profiteering commerce made legal by the language of Section I of the 13th Amendment proclaiming that no slavery shall exist in the United States ‘…except as a punishment for crime.’

Across the United States, thousands of children have been sentenced as adults and sent to adult prisons, she said. Nearly 3,000 nationwide have been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, many without legal representation. Fourteen states have no minimum age for trying children as adults. Children as young as 8 have been prosecuted as adults

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) of Montgomery, Alabama, has stated the adult prosecution of any child under age 14 for any crime should be banned, she said, providing the following reasons: Some 10,000 children are housed in adult jails and prisons on any given day in America. Children are five times more likely to be sexually assaulted in adult prisons than in juvenile facilities, and they face increased risk of suicide. EJI believes confinement of children with adults in jails and prisons is indefensible, cruel and unusual, and it should be banned, she said.

Led by Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner, those who argued for the complete abolition of slavery in the United States lost their struggle, Bates-Mims said. The 13^th Amendment as it was passed, and as it stands, forbids slavery “except as a punishment for crime.” Rather than legally abolishing slavery, the amendment changed the system to permit the state, not private citizens, to be slave owners. . . ” wrote the Rev. Murphy Davis in Prison Slavery. Southern Changes in 2000.

INTERESTINGLY, Ohio‘s Constitution in Article l,

Section 6 (1912) reads: “Slavery and involuntary servitude. There shall be no slavery in this state; nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crime.’’

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), in response to a letter from Bates-Mims wrote in February, “I am co-sponsor of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S.2123). Rather than incarcerating repeat offenders in the same communities generation after generation, I believe we can put our taxpayer dollars to better use to break this vicious cycle and turn lives around. The ultimate goal of our criminal justice system is to make our families stronger and our communities safer. I am pleased that S.2123 includes two of my provisions that will promote successful reentry and provide additional tools to promote recovery and prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

“As the criminal justice reform debate moves forward, I will continue to push for the reauthorization of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which improves state and local grant programs to promote successful offender reentry and improve public safety, reduces Bureau of Prison costs and saves taxpayer dollars by improving federal reentry policy.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also wrote to Bates-Mims, saying he has supported several legislative efforts to ensure sentences are proportional to the conviction, which would give federal judges the flexibility to issue sentences below the required minimum in certain non-violent cases, and in efforts to reduce the number of low-level offenses that trigger mandatory minimums, strengthen drug addition rehabilitation and mental health services in the Bureau of Prisons, and expand avenues for expunging or sealing criminal records for juveniles convicted of non-violent offenses.

In the City Hall ceremony, Bates-Mims said, “I entreat you to join in a new emancipation movement to end legal slavery, once and for all.

“I am humbled and grateful for this honor. God bless all the children marching today for justice. God bless all the children of the world.’’

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