Lisa Desatnik

I have been fortunate to have made a career out of doing what I love, which is using my communication skills to forge relationships and support of causes that are evoking positive change. I also enjoy working with civic-minded companies and organizations. I’ve earned numerous awards along the way, but my greatest satisfaction comes from knowing my work has helped touch lives in very meaningful ways. For that, I have to thank the dedicated staff and volunteers of so many charitable organizations, events, and civic minded businesses who work day in and day out to fulfill needs. These are the generous people with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working beside. I’ve created and implemented many successful cause-related campaigns and programs such as the award winning Lighthouse Vision Awards and the Collecting for Kids school supply drive. Included among my other past experience is: creating a PR campaign to change the image of newly developed Betts Longworth Historic District, for 8 years coordinating publicity and creative elements of the Inclusion Leadership Awards Event, and creating a PR campaign to help launch the Hidden Treasures CD (tribute to King Records) that resulted in a packed release party. I’ve also worked on numerous other events. Among them - the Appalachian Festival, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati’s Buddy Walk, the YMCA Salute to Black Achievers, YMCA Character Awards, Greater Cincinnati Alzeimer’s Association Memory Walk, Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Association’s Voices of Giving Awards and more. Currently I help raise awareness about the positive contributions of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, and also continue working with other organizations. My experience includes media relations, planning, volunteer management, copywriting, social networking, events, and coordination of marketing materials. Among the other organizations with whom I have or am currently working are: Inclusion Network, iSPACE,FreeStore/FoodBank, Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Cincinnati Arts & Technology Center, Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation, Lighthouse Youth Services, Accountability and Credibility Together, CRI mental health agency, and more. I’m a past Board member of Children’s International Summer Villages and past member of the leadership team for the local chapter of Public Relations Society of America; and get involved with other volunteer opportunities. An animal lover sharing my home with three birds, I have been studying positive behavior management for many years and enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others. My pet interest has led me to become a pet columnist for Hyde Park Living.

CINspirational People: Amanda Boehmer

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CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!

Amanda Boehmer works at Procter & Gamble, and is vice president of TheClubMom.comGTGA: Tell us about yourself?
Amanda: I am a busy mom of two. I have been married to my college sweetheart for 10 years. I am addicted to social media! I like to stay up to date on what is going on! I enjoy reading, blogging, boating, I love fall weather, trying new things, and shopping. I work full time at P&G in Finance.  My main hobby is acting as Vice President of TheClubMom.com. I am also a contributor for Date Night Cincinnati reviewing and writing about keeping the spark alive through different dating adventures.

GTGA: Tell us about The Club Mom?
Amanda: The Club Mom is a blog where mommies get the 411 on Fitness, Food, Fashion and Family.  We do great giveaways for families to enjoy the arts and events around Cincinnati.  We also share work out tips, Super Steal Mommy Deals, Recipes and other Mom Hacks we find along our own journeys in motherhood!

GTGA: What is the most rewarding part of blogging?
Amanda: Sharing something that hits home with other mom’s whether that is a frustration, a tip, a deal!  I absolutely love getting to experience all the fun media opportunities with my family and give tickets to fun events away to my readers!  I love giving gifts and sharing with others!

GTGA: What is your biggest motivator?
Amanda: My Children, My Husband, & My Parents.  They are the reason I wake up every day.  They keep me focused and motivated and sometimes distracted!  I love them with my whole being.  Everything I do, I do it for them.

GTGA:  Tell us about one of your simple pleasures.
Amanda: Talking to my friends.  I am blessed to have a few long-term solid friendships.  These people are my rocks.  Every woman needs her girlfriends.  It’s important to connect and make time for each other whether it is daily, monthly, or even yearly.

GTGA: What is a motto you like to live by?
Amanda: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”  Author: unknown

Pro Seniors Honored Cincinnati Seniors

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What better way for Pro Seniors, a Cincinnati nonprofit organization that assists older Ohioans with legal and long-term care problems, to celebrate its 40th anniversary than to honor older Cincinnati legends.

Cincinnati nonprofit Pro Seniors honored Cincinnatians

Honorees Honorable Nathaniel Jones, Sister Rose Ann Fleming, Mary Meinhardt and Marty Brennaman with Pro Seniors Executive Director Rhonda Moore. Photo credit: Pro Seniors

Marty Brennaman, Sister Rose Ann Fleming, the Honorable Nathaniel Jones and Mary Meinhardt were recognized as “Seniors Who Rock” at a November event.

In case you are unfamiliar, Marty has been the stand out voice of the Cincinnati Reds since 1974; Sister Rose Ann is an attorney and special assistant to Xavier University President, The Rev. Michael Graham; and also is an NCAA faculty athletic representative for Xavier, working with the men’s basketball players. The distinguished career Nathaniel Jones includes serving as general counsel of NAACP and on the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. And Mary is an advocate for seniors, serving as a volunteer guardian for Cincinnati Area Senior Services and board member of EPIC House and Pro Seniors.

The honorees each shared one of their favorite inspirational quotes that has kept them rocking. Among those quotes were:

 “For when the one great scorer comes to write against your name, he marks not that you won or lost, but how you played the game,”
and “Don’t pass up the opportunity to apologize for a mistake,” from Grantland Rice.
-Shared by Marty Brennaman

The Bible verse “Encourage one another day after day.
– Shared by Sister Rose Ann Fleming

During Pro Seniors 40 years, more than 110,000 seniors have been helped with legal problems and more than $36 M has been recovered in retirement benefits. Additionally, 166,000 seniors, their families and their caregivers have benefitted from Pro Seniors community education presentations. Among Pro Seniors’ other programs are: a free legal hotline; long-term care ombudsmen as advocates for seniors; and prevention, detection and reporting of identity theft and health care fraud.

#GoodThingsCincy

Freestore Foodbank Restores Hope

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Yes, the Freestore Foodbank – a Cincinnati nonprofit organization – does SO much for helping to ensure those in need don’t have to be without nutrition. But it also does SO much more. Meet Niki, one of the recipients of the more than 700 donated coats and 500 donated handmade Cincinnati nonprofit, Freestore Foodbank, helped Niki out of homelessnessscarves and hats. She knows what it is like to hit rock bottom and climb your way back, with some help.

Niki spent two years living with the day-in and day-out fear of the uncertainty that comes from sleeping on the streets, and not being able to find a job. The Freestore Foodbank provided her with food, but also with clothing and referrals to employers. It also got her into her own apartment.

How did that feel to her?

“When I got the keys in my hand, I bent down and kissed the ground. I’m not homeless anymore!,” Niki said.

If you would like to volunteer or donate to the Freestore Foodbank, please click here.

CINspirational People: Lisa Graham

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CINspirational People is a feature of Good Things Going Around profiling diverse people of Greater Cincinnati, what inspires them, and what is inspiring about them. You can read more profiles by clicking on the link at the top of the blog. Do you know someone to suggest? Please reach out. Thanks!

For this profile, I am profiling someone who I admire in so many ways. I first heard about Brewhaus Dog Bones at a CincinnatiBrewhaus Dog Bones is a Cincinnati nonprofit organization social enterprise conference and Lisa Graham is its founder and director. When you buy the tasty dog treats (I know they are tasty, as I have tested them on several dogs), you are supporting opportunities for young adults with disabilities to gain valuable life and work skills as they are involved in every aspect of making and selling the products.

You will learn a lot more about Brewhaus Dog Bones, Lisa and Lisa’s inspiration for her organization in my interview with her below.

 Lisa GrahamGTGA: What are Brewhaus Dog Bones?

Lisa: They are handcrafted, small batch, oven baked dog treats made from whole grains sourced from local Cincinnati microbreweries. Currently, Listermann Brewing Co./Triple Digit Microbrewery, Mt. Carmel Brewing Co., Rivertown Brewing Co., Bad Tom Smith Brewing, Paradise Brewing Supply, Eight Ball Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Fibonacci Brewing Co., and Old Firehouse Brewery support its mission by donating spent barley grains and product sales in taprooms/brewing supply stores.

And they are all made, marketed and distributed by students who have disabilities.

GTGA: Tell us more about how Brewhaus is helping people
Lisa: My goals with Brewhaus Dog Bones are to give young adults with disabilities opportunities that empower them in a way that they never would have otherwise experienced; and to change other people’s perceptions of people with disabilities.

Brewhaus Dog Bones is a nonprofit, social enterprise that is currently working with eight local school districts including New Richmond, Mariemont, Sycamore, Williamsburg, Princetown, Mason, Oak Hills, and Cincinnati Public Schools to teach young adults life and work skills.  We do not charge the schools. We have no administrative costs so everything we make goes back into funding our programs. We are also working with the Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired on an adult model that will create paid employment.

Schools create their own classroom and hands-on lessons around our product; and there are also opportunities to bring their experience out into the community. I provide the materials but students do everything from start to finish from planning/forecasting demand, making, baking, labeling and weighing bags, processing orders, attending community sales opportunities, calculating costs, and counting money.
Teachers and vocational trainers create their own lessons, and each stage has hands-on experience in math, entrepreneurship, marketing, communication and teamwork.

Natalie Graham is the inspiration behind the Cincinnati nonprofit social enterprise Brewhaus Dog Bones

Natalie Graham

GTGA: Where does your inspiration for Brewhaus come from?
Lisa: My daughter, Natalie, absolutely. She loves animals and also loves to bake. Natalie has some disabilities and I have always thought, ‘Is there something I can create to open opportunities for her and others like her?’

It was two years ago when we went to San Diego and visited a brewing company where they happened to have dog treats for sale. Then I began noticing treats in other places. It seemed like a great fit for Natalie. The association with our micro breweries seemed like a valid relationship.

GTGA: Have you ever organized anything on this scale?
Lisa: I have never started a nonprofit or anything that would required this much coordination, although I have always been a creative thinker and an organizer. I have gotten a lot of help.  I worked with SCORE and our local breweries have been very supportive and helpful, donating their spent grains. My graphic artist, Thommy Long of Lemon Grenade Creative, has been a great support and helped with the process as well too. (or whatever you want there)

GTGA: Tell us more about Natalie:
Lisa: Twenty one years ago, Natalie was a tiny baby (just three pounds) born at 33 weeks at Good Samaritan Hospital.  In her sheepskin, I remember she would wriggle to the end and she’d hit her head and would cry and they’d put her back. She is very determined. She has very good work ethic. Natalie loves animals and especially cats so I am trying to figure out cat treat. In fact, we partly went to San Diego to visit the zoo. We go to as many zoos as we can and especially where there are pandas.  As I mentioned, Natalie loves to bake and cook, and also likes school and learning. She is also very good at bowling and following directions.

Natalie has a chromosomal abnormality, which has caused her to have some developmental disabilities; however, she is doing great. She can read, write and do basic math and is very capable of managing most of her needs. She just learns at a different pace and has difficulty understanding complex things. She also has a 50% hearing loss which makes her speech sometimes difficult to understand and orthopedic issues sometimes cause her to have an unsteady gait.

What is your long term goal with Brewhaus?
Lisa: My goal is to eventually have our own freestanding “Brew Bakery” for supported employment and to continue as a vocational training site. Brewhaus hopes to create a micro industry in Cincinnati from the spent grains that will directly benefit people with disabilities.

New Richmond Brewhaus Dog Bones team

New Richmond Transition Program staff and students:
Front Row: Shelly Glenn (teaching assistant), Sarah, Natalie, Gaylynn Robinson (teaching assistant), Lisa Martin (lead transitions teacher); Back Row: Eric, Bobbie Perry (teaching assistant), Beau, Michelie Flood (teaching assistant), Thomas.

 

 

 

 

 

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