Monthly Archives: October 2014
Be A Positive Influencer
Rick Guidotti Is Changing How We See Our World
Last week, I had an incredible, rare opportunity through my public relations work for the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival organized by LADD to meet and get to know someone whose vision, drive and passion is singlehandedly changing the way we see the world. The way we see each 
other.
Rick Guidotti was one of the most sought after fashion photographers. He traveled to exotic locations, always first class; and had studios in Milan, Paris and New York. Through his lens, he captured the eloquence of the world’s most elite super models for Revlon, Loreal, Marie Claire and Elle. But, through all of his success, something was missing.
Until that fateful day when Rick spotted a 12 year old girl with long, flowing white hair and pale skin waiting for a bus, his career had been focused on showcasing an industry’s standard on what beauty should look like. The problem, he realized, was that there was a real dichotomy between what his clients dictated he saw and what his eyes and heart saw as descriptors for that same label.
The last fifteen years have seen Rick’s lens refocus. On any given day he could be anywhere across the globe whether in Africa, Switzerland, Tanzania, San Diego, New York…or Cincinnati capturing the essence of young and old whose only similarity is the fact that they have a genetic, physical, or behavioral condition. He is the founder and director of Positive Exposure, an innovative arts, education and advocacy organization that provides new opportunities for individuals to see people with differences as human beings first.
Rick is on a mission to use his talents to put the humanity into medicine, schools, workplaces, and communities through the words and images of people who have diagnoses. His goal for his art and his talks is for audiences to leave with a new perspective on those around them. He wants them to them to see the life, energy and beauty in ALL people no matter their differences.
While here in Cincinnati Rick spoke to hundreds of students at area schools and to an audience at a free talk at Obscura downtown. At every event I saw magic happen before my eyes. Young people who deal with typical issues of peer and academic pressure applauded loudly. The bleachers in the gymnasium at Summit Country Day School rocked as row after row of youth stood on their feet.
Rick Guidotti with students from Cincinnati Country Day School
Last Friday the Cincinnati ReelAbilities Film Festival had Rick photograph local families that he will use to create an exhibit for the Festival, which will be February 27 to March 7, 2015. If you missed any of the media coverage, here are some links.
It was truly a week that left a lasting impact on me. And it made one thing a lot more clear…the world needs many more Rick Guidotti’s.
It is not too late to see Rick’s art. His #FotoFocus2014 exhibit will be on display at the Art Academy through October.
Cincinnati Nonprofit Wordplay Helps Kids Express Themselves
Written by Good Things Going Around Intern, Andrea Francisco
Wordplay is a Cincinnati nonprofit organization that specializes in helping children express themselves through our rich language. When asking the executive director and co-founder of Wordplay, Libby Hunter, how to describe her non-profit in a few words, she responds, “Wordplay is a non-profit organization located in the northside neighborhood of Cincinnati serving children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, targeting literacy and creative expression. We have free after-school and weekend programs that help children with everything from schoolwork to advanced creative writing projects.”
Not only does Wordplay help children excel in their language arts classes, but assists them in expressing their ideas, understanding their emotions, and trusting other people. Its core values of community, communication, transformation, exploration, creation, and
Cincinnati nonprofit Wordplay is rolling out a new writer-in-residence program
curiosity demonstrate what an experience at wordplay can truly inspire.
With one-on-one instruction from adult volunteers, each student blessed with the opportunity to work with Wordplay will discover a passion for learning that lasts a lifetime – something that is truly priceless. Some of its programs include after-school tutoring from 2:30-5 pm Monday – Thursday, creative writing workshops, and “Wordplay Saturdays” from 12-4 pm. Similarly to its after-school tutoring sessions, “‘Wordplay Saturdays” also offer homework tutoring in all subjects. However, these Saturday sessions also include creative activities, group projects, and programs specifically designed for each grade level.
Libby Hunter also tells me that if you have children or know a child who would benefit from Wordplay, there are three really interesting and fun upcoming programs available to them. On Thursday October 9th from 6-8 PM, Wordplay is excited to announce that they will be hosting their first open mic night, named “Louder than a bomb”. This city-wide youth poetry slam already has had five schools to RSVP, including Woodward, Roberts, SCPA, Hughes, and Aiken. This is a larger event, as Wordplay hopes to have a total of twelve schools participate and 400 kids in total. Next, Wordplay is hosting one of the activities at “Books by the Banks” at the Duke Energy Center on October 11th from 10 to 4 PM. There will be booths where kids get to write flash fiction (really short fiction stories) on the typewriters provided. How cool! Typing homemade fiction stories on a typewriter is a very unique experience that not many kids these days, including myself, have ever really tried. Lastly, but not least, Wordplay is celebrating its second anniversary on October 18th from 6-8 pm.
Another way to get involved with Wordplay is to volunteer. Wordplay is looking for a wide-range of people to volunteer, not just writers. For tutoring volunteers, a minimum of two tutoring sessions per month lasting around one to two hours are required. In addition to tutoring, there are administrative tasks and behind-the-scenes work that need help. For more information, be sure to check out Wordplay’s website, wordplaycincy.org. You can also e-mail them at info@wordplay.cincy.org and call at 513-541-0930. Wordplay is located on 4041 Hamilton Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45223.
More about the photo: Thanks to grant from the Andrew Jergens Foundation, Wordplay is rolling out a new Writer-in-Residence Program. They have taken the successful writing residency model from universities and colleges, and are bringing it to WordPlay kids. Not only do current students get to work one-on-one with a professional writer, but Wordplay is now inviting NEW students to set appointments to work with its Writer on their own creative projects, school assignments, or join one of our young writers circles.
