https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog daily 0.75 2025-06-13 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/wordplays-meet-the-new-team-open-house-celebration monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/edfa7d5d-438e-417c-954d-64e840c98341/WordPlay+Open+House+Flyer.jpg Blog - WordPlay’s Meet The New Team Open House Celebration - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/5cb2f13b-c316-4b01-a0d6-ed2e415a45fc/New+Team+Flyer.jpg Blog - WordPlay’s Meet The New Team Open House Celebration - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/78d58cea-5f74-4c89-ad19-fed4db4c58be/Emilia+Watka+Flyer.jpg Blog - WordPlay’s Meet The New Team Open House Celebration - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/cincinnati-youth-poet-laureate-returns monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/d2b24f8c-bd61-4bdc-bf66-05801fc0e580/Copy+of+Halfsheet+-+Arts+%26+Medicine+%281%29.png Blog - Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate returns! - Join us for a coffee and donut information session on Saturday, February 4th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at WordPlay Cincy. To RSVP by Wednesday, February 1st, please contact Yalie Saweda Kamara at yalie@wordplaycincy.org. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/wordplay-co-founder-and-executive-director-libby-hunter-bids-farewell monthly 0.5 2023-01-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e71ce426-da62-4c9c-ab90-86540149a398/Screen+Shot+2022-12-29+at+7.52.32+PM.png Blog - WordPlay Co-Founder and Executive Director Libby Hunter bids farewell  Libby and WordPlay student Aysha in WordPlay's first year. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/power-to-the-poets-giving-cohort monthly 0.5 2022-11-29 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/thank-you-to-everyone-that-helped-us-celebrate-the-first-decade-of-wordplay-cheers-to-10-years monthly 0.5 2022-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174133470-C4IQPK3HZMR6R5JJ00ON/DSC_8151-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174133236-XPZDWARKD8EZ2BJFM839/DSC_8167-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174135360-914COMUGSWUBYO6148LD/DSC_8190-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174136211-F6STMB27ZC6KOBKWAONO/DSC_8193-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174138027-DQL0OJ4H5KMPFYU73K7Y/DSC_9101-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174138764-Y2F6TAAHITA6RXJ58KW5/DSC_9104-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174140464-GFK5ATX1TVXO7AN832AV/DSC_9107-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174141209-CJXF035ERD1E5KDOJIK7/DSC_9115-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174143035-BD8QIMDHZFEVS660CJQG/DSC_9117-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174143516-32JPGMO54UJAVML1ZAWK/DSC_9118-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174145310-C2ZBDTHBGX2KEYUXJI4S/DSC_9120-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174146336-8BAAC3SGI71Q2E261HTM/DSC_9123-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174147389-UHG2HQUHJLVQDNRK4WEW/DSC_9130-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174148642-6JCBL8WCXKID5CJT3LZT/DSC_9132-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174150284-EVCRY2MI259IDHMSDEPF/DSC_9139-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174151357-EUL0J3P2Y7BZZ3IBS7RP/DSC_9144-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174153402-IQMP4UMC3IDS12GVGKAO/DSC_9146-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174154449-E04QT0ABK2YFCMOOMCPH/DSC_9150-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174156698-JP3MD929QG4X35XV1ERP/DSC_9154-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174157549-73P355OWFLCLAM8R41B7/DSC_9157-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174158574-1586NINJGQQ10T18G4GT/DSC_9161-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174160825-JRQDJNNJ0QXI4S8SFVY8/DSC_9167-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174161133-3H8L5SUX4RZFCLFOAFWT/DSC_9172-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174162240-80CMSPQU8GEMLH1DVFWG/DSC_9179-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174163389-SED0DSVGKDQ0I48P0CJQ/DSC_9184-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174163841-QXPI2VKSRQ7S2EWTYLZQ/DSC_9193-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174165441-BMBTJKYP2L09DVP55S7G/DSC_9198-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174165555-0QKA6MH7132F61LNFJIN/DSC_9199-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174167916-SNLT4OQSKQ8BZ4WD3HHS/DSC_9224-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174167900-UVWDVIWXZVJDCQD49G3W/DSC_9230-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174169830-CF2OQLM8FYZKFG0J48H6/DSC_9261-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174169980-RG8JJH2XSIV8H1UWO41N/DSC_9264-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174171839-58KE8YVNWGF9KJH8NINV/DSC_9292-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174172024-8Y0P10GXFA9PJGRRPSMU/DSC_9300-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174174250-I1YWSOANKIDU5Y4TILVO/DSC_9305-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174174376-M2F40VEZTPAPAZDDP0BP/DSC_9319-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174176762-V0SYUTFD6V5T777E0YK6/DSC_9327-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174176882-MFDC2CKP6QY28MW0LES9/DSC_9333-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174179351-OTKY90OG2UGY31VKOPO3/DSC_9339-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174179643-MQC26ZWX73XN9CS6GO20/DSC_9340-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174181660-DVXN1M6NP2ZOJ9VN87MA/DSC_9345-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174182056-1LDX7SFCAUDT0YJPWQM4/DSC_9348-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174183735-PB01LOG8USE6OL9UM3TM/DSC_9349-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174184154-9LG55QBPI43XUF93GM2M/DSC_9357-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174185672-BBXY863838HZ0T3AEILF/DSC_9361-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174186287-JHKGS5VI8B9YABHRWH0D/DSC_9365-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665174187032-NZZP8OC3D6YKWHWHQQNV/DSC_9368-2.jpg Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/8aada2c6-38cd-44c1-83a0-2987fd32e739/Sponsor+Logos.png Blog - Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate the first decade of WordPlay - Cheers to 10 Years! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/the-power-of-story-8agpa-pmr8j-5jcjz monthly 0.5 2022-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/fb47bf89-04da-457b-9171-0c1b480a977b/Yalie+Email.png Blog - Welcome Yalie! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/the-power-of-story-8agpa-pmr8j monthly 0.5 2022-08-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e8ce5d63-cd20-4009-b124-2ee8a340104f/unnamed+%281%29.jpg Blog - Join us in celebration of 10 years of playing with our words! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e1e68237-7afb-45a9-85cc-3a54236d6af8/EventBrite+Banner+-+WordPlay.v2-02.png Blog - Join us in celebration of 10 years of playing with our words! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/the-power-of-story-8agpa monthly 0.5 2022-07-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/67240b76-3f74-4aa2-8126-f77e3d3dd30d/powerofstorybar.png Blog - A beautiful reflection on "The Power of Story" by Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate, Rimel Kamran - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/the-power-of-story monthly 0.5 2022-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/67240b76-3f74-4aa2-8126-f77e3d3dd30d/powerofstorybar.png Blog - The Power of Story Summer Giving Campaign - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/about-wordplay monthly 0.5 2022-06-17 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/rimel-kamran monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e7273d8d-cc68-4454-abf8-ae9fd46644a6/Wordplay+-+Rimel+Kamran.png Blog - Cincinnati’s First Youth Poet Laureate - Rimel Kamran https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/wordplays-response-to monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1652030899864-9PW38W50FDZ7FQM0KN60/unsplash-image-E94nZORR5qc.jpg Blog - WordPlay statement in response to anti-equity legislation https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/are-you-next monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1652031066700-QAUBNIBH6ZMO1KDMHPIK/unnamed+%281%29.jpg Blog - Are you next Amanda Gorman? https://www.wordplaycincy.org/blog/newest-board-member monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470987460-KB6DYU3UWPVN8UJVVB6A/NGP_4679.jpg Blog - Meet our newest board members! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1652031587066-LFWCREQVXXGW3I56ZX8S/unsplash-image-B0r51vDweZM.jpg Blog - Meet our newest board members! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470901419-5LLTJNA8EFUUW19GQWB1/tinamacon.jpeg Blog - Meet our newest board members! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events daily 0.75 2025-08-12 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/the-mind-sees-all-exhibit-opening-reception monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/youth-poet-laureate-curation-project-launch monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/byrons-room-opening-celebration monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1682642542916-2CFJQ320977H1PHHRPTC/126497128_10159086775564427_2770507290102311095_n.jpg Events - Byron's Room Opening Celebration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1682642543511-9IL703AQ9ZV0EG0GR6PH/Byron%27s+Room+Flyer+Options.png Events - Byron's Room Opening Celebration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1682642543653-965RNNRJJJPDL5Q86V87/IMG_1140+Medium.jpeg Events - Byron's Room Opening Celebration https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/youth-poet-laureate-chapbook-release-party monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/440cfb90-33fc-4333-b663-c1631efa337a/Screen+Shot+2023-04-27+at+11.44.03+AM.jpg Events - Youth Poet Laureate Chapbook Release Party! Youth Poet Laureate Rimel Kamran and Youth Poet Laureate finalists, Audrey Symon and Nola Stowe, will celebrate the launch of their co-written chapbook So Listen to My Voice, Bear Witness to My Story. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/workshop-with-hanif-abdurraqib-ck3gw monthly 0.5 2023-04-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c0d710ed-1771-4de3-abb3-e9a4c102237b/Full-Color-JPEG-100.jpeg Events - Workshop with Hanif Abdurraqib! This engagement is supported by the Arts Midwest GIG Fund, a program of Arts Midwest that is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Ohio Arts Council. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/cincinnati-youth-poet-laureate-info-session monthly 0.5 2025-06-13 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/open-mic-night monthly 0.5 2022-11-22 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/junk-journals-for-everyone monthly 0.5 2022-11-14 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/wordplay-presents-arts-and-medicine-a-reading-performance-and-panel monthly 0.5 2022-10-14 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/black-poetry-night-at-the-tome-bookstore monthly 0.5 2022-10-12 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/deweys-givesback-night-wwordplay monthly 0.5 2022-10-04 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/wyoming-black-poetry-day-poetry-spoken-word-night monthly 0.5 2022-09-29 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-gxwar-c67fw-3xryn-7jbca monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-gxwar-c67fw-3xryn monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-gxwar-c67fw monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-gxwar monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-5egtc-793kf-whcah-d8k55-sc6gt monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-5egtc-793kf-whcah-d8k55 monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-5egtc-793kf-whcah monthly 0.5 2022-09-15 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-5egtc-793kf monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-cmwgn-s5da6-adngw-mg7zf-msjzd monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-cmwgn-s5da6-adngw-mg7zf monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-cmwgn-s5da6-adngw monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-cmwgn-s5da6 monthly 0.5 2022-10-11 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-2nrnt-bwwrw-9tpyf-l4e78-9yc6t monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-2nrnt-bwwrw-9tpyf-l4e78 monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-2nrnt-bwwrw-9tpyf monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-2nrnt-bwwrw monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-2nrnt monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-cd8px-ltakc-whh8n-8yyn9-2x22p monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-cd8px-ltakc-whh8n-8yyn9 monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-cd8px-ltakc-whh8n monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-cd8px-ltakc monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-cd8px monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/private-event-cincinnati-boy-choir-retreat monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/workshop-with-hanif-abdurraqib monthly 0.5 2023-03-21 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/cheers-to-10-years-anniversary-celebration monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g-5egtc monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry-crnn4-ff25y-ryj3g monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj-yja39-9kwry monthly 0.5 2022-09-08 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-five-rn68y-klknj monthly 0.5 2022-08-31 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/fierce-opera-word-premiere monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/f4af5f87-dc93-4c52-9241-5643499ce2e9/2020%2BFierce%2B2%2BInternal%2B1500%2Bx%2B600.jpeg Events - Fierce Opera Word Premiere! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/rumi-nights-poetry-song-and-friendship-to-benefit-the-well-and-mindful-poetry-moments monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-four-l29z7-m9fpn-aajfw-then7 monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-four-l29z7-m9fpn-aajfw monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-four-l29z7-m9fpn monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/adventures-in-mail-art-letter-writing-sapj4-nwcyt-mcp8d monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/adventures-in-mail-art-letter-writing-sapj4-nwcyt monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/adventures-in-mail-art-letter-writing-sapj4 monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/adventures-in-mail-art-letter-writing monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-three-yjsgy-cd3lg-pks2p-ygl9y monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-three-yjsgy-cd3lg-pks2p monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-three-yjsgy-cd3lg monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-four-l29z7 monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/housewarming monthly 0.5 2022-05-17 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/event-three-yjsgy monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/events/whatyouneedtoknow monthly 0.5 2022-06-27 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/home daily 1.0 2025-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/454bd0aa-92d0-467e-9398-3687fcbcc720/DSC04950-2.jpg Home - WordPlay Cincy: W here stories write the future WordPlay was founded in 2012 to give young people a safe, inclusive and inspiring place to come together, uncover and share personal narratives, and determine how their creativity and voices contribute to a more just and equitable community. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e7ae1a08-2e35-4bec-ba17-443cc7780e2a/FiR-Creative--Rome-Ntukogu---Wordplay-Way---White.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/090013cf-8ac4-4759-92c9-039fd00d12d4/KW2_1749.jpg Home - A Longing for Belonging A beautiful poem delivered by one of our WordPlay students... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/536ffe58-0c28-403a-8089-6298b800ec8c/FiR-Creative---WordPlay---Programs---Icon.png Home Programs https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/3901a512-4a17-42ff-b072-9ff03ae943e2/FiR-Creative---WordPlay---Volunteer---Icon.png Home Volunteer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/4aaa01e1-72c4-4302-be21-8a1054c3dd92/FiR-Creative---WordPlay---Events---Icon.png Home Events https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/f1fa057f-786d-4584-ba51-3cc6fb31d02f/FiR-Creative--Rome-Ntukogu---Typewriter---White.png Home - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/0ccc1245-c8a2-4fad-9322-340a43854f51/KW2_1577+%282%29.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/87606319-dd23-4a1b-9444-3463238a1098/Untitled+design.png Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/364bbe4c-14a5-4a72-9089-03a75e68ac26/The+Cincinnati+Youth+Poet+Laureate+Program+aims+to+identify+youth+writers+and+leaders+who+are+committed+to+civic+and+community+engagement%2C+poetry+and+performance%2C+human+relations%2C+diversity+and+ed.png Home https://www.wordplaycincy.org/in-schools daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/0bcc549b-e675-4a03-ac84-9bb35b1723dc/Screen+Shot+2021-02-03+at+7.58.03+PM.png In Schools - Artist-In-Residencies (6-12 weeks): We have three Artist-in-Residency programs. I AM Residency: In this residency, your students work with quotes, writing prompts, portrait poems, and the I AM poem! There will be opportunities to share, and your students will be invited to take part in a “call out” circle, where they will hear how their pieces spoke to their classmates. This residency focuses heavily on poetry, sharing, and revision. Playwriting Residency: This 8-12 week residency can be crafted to fit your timeline and can be molded to fit the needs and desires of your classroom teachers/students. In the playwriting residency, students will write a 10-minute play, while serving as readers for each other's plays. Each week will include writing exercises, (revolving around script writing and character) as well as readings of plays in progress. Ala Carte Residencies: We work with classroom teachers to determine an artistic discipline to support classroom curricula. Next, we pair a WordPlay Teaching Artist specializing in this discipline to plan and deliver a 6 week experience for students. Disciplines include: creative writing, poetry, theatre, movement/dance, and visual arts. After School WordPlay Clubs: Our clubs serve partner organizations and schools by offering after-school engagement programs. These programs are delivered in 6-week increments, for 1 hour each session, and can support 12 students per Teaching Artist. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c099da58-9f11-4e54-8006-2462d572cce9/IMG_5222.jpg In Schools - WRITERS' ROOM AT AIKEN HIGH SCHOOL The WordPlay Writers' Room launched in a former teacher's lounge inside Aiken New Tech High School in 2017. A hub for programs both during and after school, the Writers' Room provides equitable access for all students in the school to creative programs, as well as consistent opportunities to collaborate with school staff. Each week, WordPlay staff lead the 7th and 8th grade Humanities classes for creative writing experiences with historical context; several classes of Aiken's international students visit the Writers' Room weekly to engage in writing for social action; and WordUP, our longest-running teen program (begun in 2012), meets weekly after school for a deep dive into social justice, current events, news literacy and multi-genre writing experiences. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c9df0bd2-7397-4e5a-8f2a-c2306582e0a1/Sayler+Park+Readers+Theater.png In Schools - ARTS INTEGRATION Poet Tree (4 sessions): WordPlay Teaching Artists work with your students to craft individual poems, while a visual artist installs a sculptural tree in a designated spot of your choice. The class then installs the poems from the beautiful Poet Tree with students. The wonderful thing about Poet Tree is that you have a beautiful finished project, made by your students that they can see for as long as you choose to keep it up, and they get to take their very own poems home with them after you dismantle the tree! Reader's Theatre (6 sessions): Wordplay provides a dramatic script, informed by a piece of literature chosen in partnership with your classroom teachers. A trained teaching artist meets with your students for 5 sessions to refine and learn the script. The 6th session culminates in the performance of the chosen piece. Together, the students and teaching artists learn the key elements of Readers Theatre using creative, project-based learning while building social emotional skills, community, and setting goals together as a class. Wordplay Readers Theatre workshops integrate reading, writing, speaking, and listening with engagement of all students. ALL students learn to find their voices and grow in self-confidence and self-awareness. This workshop provides opportunities for cooperative learning and student empowerment through practicing literacy and presentation skills. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755572107-TYBSR19IVDAE07WO4I4M/Dater+Foundation.jpg In Schools https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755587677-DE9NPTW2B3XBZK8D0Y0O/Woodward+Trust.jpg In Schools https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1664223954037-HM5H33LBNDRDBYKRUO6M/Robert+C.+%26+Adele+R.+Schiff+Family+Foundation+%28300+%C3%97+100+px%29.png In Schools https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1664224049775-1S86DSVL8IEW3JCXTM4H/mayersonlogo.png In Schools https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1664224095826-P1H225DXFM7TUYLW54PB/OAC_full-color-cmyk-logo.jpeg In Schools https://www.wordplaycincy.org/2022-programs daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/81bcea75-aae4-4c15-8d01-ba4ba6507cd3/Story+Sparks%21+June+13th-17th+10am-12pm+ages+6-9+copy.png 2022 Programs - Story Sparks! Ages 6-9 June 13th-17th 10am-12pm FREE Join WordPlay this Summer for one of our creative camps! Camps at WordPlay are an exciting exploration of storytelling and art-making. We pair students with the region’s best Teaching Artists to explore storytelling, writing, visual arts, music, and drama. Camps meet once per day, M-F and are organized by age. We celebrate our creative explorations each week with a Friday showcase of student work. Register now, spaces are limited! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/9847e2b6-b34e-46e7-9743-9d13cadd1fee/Summer+Camp+-+Creative+Club.png 2022 Programs - Creative Club Ages 10-13 June 20th-24th 10am--12pm FREE Join WordPlay this Summer for one of our creative camps! Camps at WordPlay are an exciting exploration of storytelling and art-making. We pair students with the region’s best Teaching Artists to explore storytelling, writing, visual arts, music, and drama. Camps meet once per day, M-F and are organized by age. We celebrate our creative explorations each week with a Friday showcase of student work. Register now, spaces are limited! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/16c2de45-831d-423b-a990-975c79270991/Summer+Camp+-+My+Story+My+Voice.png 2022 Programs - My Story, My Voice Ages 14-18 10:00-12:00pm June 27th-July 1st FREE Join WordPlay this Summer for one of our creative camps! Camps at WordPlay are an exciting exploration of storytelling and art-making. We pair students with the region’s best Teaching Artists to explore storytelling, writing, visual arts, music, and drama. Camps meet once per day, M-F and are organized by age. We celebrate our creative explorations each week with a Friday showcase of student work. Register now, spaces are limited! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1656349369824-JVUR23G78V7THBATPGHM/Program+-+Teen+Artistic+Development.png 2022 Programs - Teen Artist Development Ages 12 & Up 1:00-2:00pm Tuesdays in July FREE Join us for creative hour at WordPlay! We’ll meet weekly to spark inspiration for creative writing, to connect to other youth writers, and to connect with artist mentors. Find your muse, get creative sparks, and learn all sorts of ways to write and explore artistry. We’ll also offer performance preparation for students interested in their writing transforming into spoken word or theatre pieces! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/5597e879-0e0b-4ec6-99a2-69070fb762ee/Program+-+Adventures+in+Mail.png 2022 Programs - Adventures in Mail Art & Letter Writing Ages 10 & Up 5:30-7:00pm Thursdays in July FREE Ready to take your letter writing and mail art to the next level? Ready to surprise the people in your life with mail that will dazzle hearts and minds? Ready to learn ways to accentuate your family history archive with letters? Or are you just simply ready to initiate correspondence with someone? This workshop is for you! In this intergenerational workshop, participants will learn fun and interactive ways to initiate and sustain letter writing practices and push the boundaries of the standard envelope and 8x11 paper. From interactive cards to developing your signature style of mail art, this workshop will ensure your receivers will yearn for more! At the conclusion of this workshop, each participant will depart with a mail art kit to create letters and mail art for the forever-writing future! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/722d18ab-be48-42a3-b30f-e3ff473bed3e/Copy+of+Program+-+Inklings.png 2022 Programs - Inklings Story Circle Ages 4 & Up Tuesdays, 10-11:00am FREE It’s storytime at WordPlay! Join us weekly as we read a book aloud and have fun drawing, writing, or acting it out! Each week will feature a new book and a guest reader- from whimsy to funny, Inklings is sure to spark your imagination! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755587677-DE9NPTW2B3XBZK8D0Y0O/Woodward+Trust.jpg 2022 Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643314816714-06L42KVV3GU2LMO9S18I/oac_full-color-rgb-logo.png 2022 Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/f8e2408b-3d69-4f23-80c4-a2e6c1c73800/nbjc-logo-350x170-1.png 2022 Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755572107-TYBSR19IVDAE07WO4I4M/Dater+Foundation.jpg 2022 Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/newsandevents daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/history daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643663488625-SW8Z94VR91RORZLSS04P/girl+with+typewriter.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643663488011-RDSE4G2JPMIACS1GLQ80/Chase+Readers+Theater+Photo_edited.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643663491767-ZP7H8QHA507NQ2TB39CQ/Tajha.jpg History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643663489652-49QC1CDYJIBL3RDQ5575/kid+with+typewriter.jpg History https://www.wordplaycincy.org/givemonthly daily 0.75 2022-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/3ff6d37a-6c18-4980-82a9-eb9cde3254fe/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---Literati.png Give Monthly - $45 / month Can provide a student with all the supplies they need for programs year-round. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/60c256e3-22e4-43ef-909a-160639f3c353/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---futureinvest.png Give Monthly - Make it stand out Invest for the future. Sustaining donors like you enable WordPlay to strategically reach more young people and innovate, because we know we have your ongoing support. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/2153da8c-5124-4977-90a2-96c6a9d13260/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---Be.png Give Monthly - Make it stand out Be part of the WordPlay family. Join our dedicated family of supporters, volunteers, teachers, artists and neighbors who understand the meaning of making a sustaining commitment for our youth. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/61903174-c46e-4072-a92a-010cca56a4e6/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---Laureate.png Give Monthly - $85 / month Can fully fund all costs for one student in programs year-round https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/3d5a9b31-8b78-4e23-a4d4-1f6205ea85f5/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---Story.png Give Monthly $8.25 / month Can provide a student with one week of program supplies each month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e1caf1c5-4658-4cca-a93b-392f79bf43c0/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---commit.png Give Monthly - Make it stand out Your commitment matters. A recurring monthly donation, no matter the amount, provides important dollars that WordPlay just doesn't receive through other types of funding. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/22026527-a45a-4073-a636-a21bd47acb1b/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---Wordsmith.png Give Monthly - $15 / month Can provide a student with 2 weeks of program supplies each month. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/44f2344d-1f0c-43b8-a41c-78658968cf68/FiR-Creative---Rome-Ntukogu---square---ChooseAmount.png Give Monthly - Make it stand out Choose an amount that fits your budget. By giving monthly, you invest what makes sense for you, and you make an incredible impact for young people over the course of your membership. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/buy-a-typewriter daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/careers daily 0.75 2025-06-10 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/team-2 daily 0.75 2026-01-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470164356-5A0E9YJ10LHXRR6HKMO0/Manuel+Iris.png Board + Staff + Teaching Artists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/24fbd50f-12f1-43a2-ab3d-9868945eaf55/Screenshot+2025-06-16+at+5.55.14%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Board + Staff + Teaching Artists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/4b43b969-e298-462c-a935-4b51c91f49b6/DSCF2469.png Board + Staff + Teaching Artists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c9e0c027-530c-4d11-b658-a3f16e40808b/%7BCohear%7D_%7BTasha-Pinelo-Photography%7D_0044_websize+%281%29.jpg Board + Staff + Teaching Artists https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/fffb348c-e003-4328-b463-50b8853f262c/Strunk+-+Headshot.JPG Board + Staff + Teaching Artists https://www.wordplaycincy.org/about-us2 daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/ea51a525-7450-469a-b358-dde3ca5290c7/DSC_2088.jpg About Us2 - ABOUT US WordPlay Cincy’s mission is to create spaces for young people to fulfill their potential by discovering, honoring and sharing their voices. Our free programs for ages 5 - young adult blend the four elements of personal growth, community-building, creative expression and future orientation through project-based learning. All that we do is founded on our core beliefs that: Creativity catalyzes learning Our young people are a vast resource of strengths, and Self-determination lies in being the authors of our own stories. We infuse reading, writing and storytelling with the visual and performing arts, where children and teens uncover their unique personal narratives, activate their strengths, and determine how they want to contribute to a more just, inclusive and creatively connected community. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/autumn-mckinley daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643472304254-52UNAEXV6X6EXRKWYA72/autumn.jpg Autumn McKinley - Autumn McKinley / Community Partnership Specialist Autumn McKinley is an abstract artist and jewelry designer who has spent 15 years working in the nonprofit, advocacy, and community organizing sectors across the country—fighting for the reform and implementation of policy issues regarding inequities and inequalities in the workplace and healthcare systems. Always a fan of the arts, Autumn discovered her inner artistic voice while going through her treatment for breast cancer in 2017. Art became her form of healing, a place of strength, and a way to share love. Now a survivor, she turned her passion for color and texture into a growing business with @ArtbyAutumnM and @AllCheri. She creates beautiful abstract art, jewelry, and accessories inspired by this incredible journey called life. She views time as magical moments to inspire and be inspired. An adventure to learn, grow, relearn, experience, shape, and share the beauty in our interconnections. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/tina-macon daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470901419-5LLTJNA8EFUUW19GQWB1/tinamacon.jpeg Tina Macon - Tina Macon / Trustee Tina Macon has over 25 years of experience in the Organizational Development and Business Coaching arena assisting businesses and organizations in the areas of Business Design, Human Capital Management design and operations, Conflict Analysis and Correction Strategies, Executive Coaching, and Training. As President and Senior Consultant of AllMac & Associates, LLC some of the clients Tina has partnered with include Xavier University, the YWCA of Hamilton, The Free Store Food Bank, Small Business Development Council (SBDC) of Hamilton County, Cincinnati Public Schools, The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and Mercy Health Partners. She has created customized programs on Human Capital Management design & implementation, leadership development, conflict management, and change management approaches and practices. Tina has a Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Engagement from Antioch University McGregor and a Bachelor of Science in Labor and Human Resources Management from The Ohio State University. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/elissa-yancy daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643471485337-D93TBFNNSGKR5NFKKX8I/elissa_edited+%281%29.jpg Elissa Yancy - Elissa Yancey / Co-Founder & Trustee for Life Elissa Yancey is the owner of E.Y. Ink, co-founder and CEO of local nonprofit A Picture's Worth and co-founder of WordPlay Cincy. She has a significant background in education and has spent more than 20 years in the journalism industry, including freelance work for the Washington Post and serving as professor, Director of Special Projects and Associate Director, Marketing and Communications for the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/qeiara-manuel-fuller daily 0.75 2025-08-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/74c9fe5a-3ab3-4ab7-9ccc-5d826cef11c1/libby+-+b%26w.jpg Qeiara Manuel-Fuller - Libby Hunter / Co-Founder & Executive Director Libby has initiated, led and served numerous nonprofit organizations on an international, national and local level. She earned her BA in East European Studies from the University of Massachusetts and an MA in Central Eurasian Studies from Indiana University. After serving as a Fulbright Research Fellow in Budapest, Hungary, Libby left academia for the nonprofit world, spanning educational work with the East European Village Project and Learning Enterprises, refugee resettlement with the Hungarian Red Cross and Catholic Charities, and later promoting sustainable, affordable urban re-development in residential real estate. A random encounter with teens in her Northside neighborhood led to the co-founding of WordPlay in 2012, seeking a unique and compelling way to bridge social divides and provide a platform for marginalized voices through creative youth development programs with storytelling at their core. Libby has three grown sons whom she bribes to spend time with her through mountain biking, camping, hiking and pretty much anything outdoors, as well as rescue pup, Mary, who maintains an impressive stick and frisbee collection. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/eve-bolton daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643330938180-QZJAIB3Z758YITYJ4VX8/Eve-Bolton-500w.jpg Eve Bolton - Eve Bolton / Trustee Eve has served on the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education since 2008. She was a Social Studies teacher in Wyoming City Schools for 35 years and has served as the Wyoming Theatre Arts Director and Wyoming Teachers' Union President. Eve is the former President of the College Hill Redevelopment Corporation and was the first woman elected to an executive office in Hamilton County as County Recorder. She serves on WordPlay’s Programs Committee. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/manuel-iris daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470164356-5A0E9YJ10LHXRR6HKMO0/Manuel+Iris.png Manuel Iris - Manuel Iris / Literature and Hispanic Outreach, DePaul Christo Rey Highschool and Poet Laureate of the City of Cincinnati Poet, educator and public speaker. He received the “Merida” National award of poetry (Mexico, 2009) for his book Notebook of dreams, and the Rodulfo Figueroa Regional award of poetry for his book The disguises of fire (Mexico, 2014). His first bilingual book, Traducir el silencio/Translating silence, received two recognitions in the International Latino Book Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2018. That same year, he was named Poet Laureate of the City of Cincinnati, now Poet Laureate emeritus as of January, 2021. Iris has published poetry, essay, and translation in magazines and literary journals from Mexico, Spain, Chile, Cuba, Colombia, Portugal, France, England, the United States, and Angola. His poetry has been included in several Mexican, as well as Latin-American, and American, poetry anthologies. He has also given talks, lectures, and poetry readings in literary events, academic conferences, and cultural centers of Mexico, the United States, and Europe. Manuel currently serves as Literature Teacher and coordinator of Hispanic Outreach at DePaul Cristo Rey High School, where he has also been a co-coach for the 2-times LTAB champion slam poetry team, and co-coordinator of the school’s poetry club. Iris holds a BA in Latin American Literature from the Autonomous University of the Yucatan (Mexico), a MA in Spanish from the New Mexico State University, and a Ph.D. in Romance Languages from the University of Cincinnati. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/brandon-isaac daily 0.75 2025-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/3237c6a0-0d38-486f-8b2e-351220ea578b/DSCF2489.jpg Brandon Isaac - Brandon Isaac / Storytelling Director Brandon Isaac is a Cincinnati-born artist, educator, and community builder who serves as the Storytelling Director at WordPlay Cincy. With deep roots in hip-hop, poetry, and performance, Brandon uses the power of story as a pathway back home to the soul—guiding communities to reclaim their internal liberation. His music, including albums like The North Star and Evolution of Existence, reflects his journey through healing, identity, and self-mastery. At WordPlay, Brandon leads creative programming that helps youth develop their voices through writing, performance, and multimedia storytelling. Grounded in empathy and purpose, his work creates spaces where stories spark growth, connection, and transformation. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/bricemickey daily 0.75 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c9e0c027-530c-4d11-b658-a3f16e40808b/%7BCohear%7D_%7BTasha-Pinelo-Photography%7D_0044_websize+%281%29.jpg Brice Mickey - Brice Mickey/Board Co-Chair Brice Mickey is a strategist, facilitator, and longtime champion for equity and youth empowerment. With over a decade of experience leading diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across nonprofits, education, and healthcare, Brice brings both heart and strategy to his leadership at WordPlay Cincy. As Board Co-Chair, he is committed to ensuring that WordPlay remains a space where young people can share their stories, develop their voices, and build their confidence through creativity. Most recently, Brice served as the inaugural Vice President of DEI at Beech Acres Parenting Center and continues to consult nationally on equity-centered organizational change. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/jess-delisio daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/586e30ec-2619-464a-90d1-901cf0805a87/jess4.jpg Jess DeLisio - Jess DeLisio / Trustee A lifelong learner, creative, and strategist, Jess is is UX/UI (user experience and user interface) designer for P+G's Home Care team. Previously, she has worked in UX/UI for brand strategy IT consulting firms. Jess had the opportunity to engage in literary and creative programs, and strongly believes in the importance of the written word for kids to share their stories, process experiences, and connect with one another. Jess also volunteers with Fernside Cincinnati and sponsors a service dog through Puppies Behind Bars. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/tom-monaco daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643471442620-ASV4PYR7NQ2I8EMTAMKF/tom_edited.jpg Tom Monaco - Tom Monaco: An Enduring Legacy WordPlay suffered an unimaginable loss in early spring 2017 when our Board Chair and friend, Tom Monaco, passed away unexpectedly. Our organization, along with all whose lives he touched through his work with WordPlay, numerous other nonprofits, schools and individuals across the city, are immeasurably better for the gifts he so selflessly shared. Tom was a keen observer of human behavior and spent the majority of his mentorship with me teaching me not how to be a more productive leader in my work role, but how to prioritize my personal well-being. Take care of yourself, and the rewards of work will fall into place. An elusive lesson, but one I now emphasize in coaching our WordPlay team and students. I believe this is his most enduring legacy, helping others to define what it means to be their very best selves, starting with “self.” Thank you, Tom. —Libby Hunter, Executive Director https://www.wordplaycincy.org/kelly-leon daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/4b4263c1-e289-48a9-9a05-d7ca3a45e70a/914A3810-Edit.jpg Kelly Leon - Kelly Leon / Trustee Kelly Leon has been writing professionally for more than 35 years, starting as a journalist after earning her master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Following many years in print and broadcast journalism, she transitioned to public relations/corporate communications for Xavier University, 3CDC, and currently Union Savings and Guardian Savings banks. Through her consulting business, Kelly Leon Communications, Kelly has worked with freelance clients including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, The Kroger Co., Cincinnati Business Courier. She is a native Cincinnatian and currently lives in Amberley Village with her husband Steve. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/michael-link daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/90b7ff96-b80a-473c-bd50-082ffb379995/914A3368-Edit.jpg Michael Link - Michael Link / Chief Storyteller Michael Link has been involved with WordPlay since before its doors opened. Link volunteered with WordPlay in a number of ways including with the organization’s original social enterprise, The Urban Legend Institute. As WordPlay grew and evolved, Link eventually joined the WordPlay Board of Trustees from 2013 until terming off in 2019. Originally from New York, Link has spent the last 14 years as the Publisher Relations and Events Manager at Joseph-Beth Booksellers as well as being involved with The Books by The Banks Literary Festival, The Kentucky Book Festival and various committees for The America Booksellers Association. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/ewaniki-moorehawkins daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643470987460-KB6DYU3UWPVN8UJVVB6A/NGP_4679.jpg Ewaniki Moore-Hawkins - Ewaniki Moore-Hawkins / Trustee Ewaniki Moore-Hawkins is a dynamic and resourceful servant leader with many years of experience in the fields of entrepreneurship, higher education, and event management. Ewaniki is the Co-Owner & Chief Detail Officer of Soul Palette, LLC. Soul Palette curates soulful paint experiences that meet their clients cultural, educational, social, professional and or spiritual needs. In 2020, Ewaniki ended an 18-year career at the University of Cincinnati-African American Cultural & Resource Center. In her last role as the Director, she was vital in expanding the vision and mission of the center while supporting the growing needs of their student constituency. Last year Ewaniki had been named as the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc- Beta Zeta Zeta Chapter ``2020 Woman of the Year” and the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc- Epsilon Lambda Sigma Chapter “Unsung Heroine Award 2020.” Ewaniki has earned a BBA & MBA from the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business and is married to Brandon Hawkins and has two beautiful daughters, Khara and Karis. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/joe-moorman daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643471141368-RD82X20B23N5CIWIX8IC/Joe_edited.jpg Joe Moorman - Joe Moorman / Board Chair As Senior Director of Organizational and Community Development for the Mayerson Academy, Joe provides strategic consulting and leadership with topics such as organizational development and culture, professional learning, program development, and diversity, equity and inclusion. He works with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) on the implementation of “I am CPS,” a district-wide organizational culture transformation initiative. Joe received his undergraduate degree from Xavier University’s Philosophy, Politics and the Public honors program and earned his M.Ed in urban education from the University of Pennsylvania. He serves on WordPlay’s Programs Committee https://www.wordplaycincy.org/wallyhart daily 0.75 2025-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/b341e693-18f8-4973-b5fd-7b7760e2a248/71948512_10116042362344144_2051943492069883904_n.jpg Wally Hart - Wally Hart/ Executive Director Wally Hart, a native of the greater Cincinnati area, is deeply committed to the city's families and youth. He champions the idea that every student deserves safe and courageous creative spaces to explore their identity and aspirations. With over 25 years immersed in hip hop culture, Wally has worn many hats: DJ, producer, rapper, researcher, writer, promoter, educator, mentor, and rap coach. His extensive experience in the field enriches his approach to community engagement and education. Wally did his PhD work in Sociology at Texas A&M, where he also taught for five years. His scholarly work centers on systemic racism and the ways hip hop is produced, consumed, and discussed publicly. A dedicated reader and writer, Wally is unwavering in his commitment to anti-racism, integrating these values into his professional and personal pursuits. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/michele-kiner daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643330842683-Q1YKVEPJTNFBSMQQ5QI0/Michele+Maciejewski+Profile+Pic+%281%29.jpg Michele, Kiner - Michele Kiner / Treasurer With 22 years of corporate accounting experience spanning auditing, regulatory compliance, annual planning and forecasting, high-level financial analysis, and direction and oversight of large-scale accounting systems. In her current role with Messer, Michele provides leadership and vision for the accounting function across the organization, and is eager to apply her depth of expertise to all aspects of WordPlay's finance and accounting. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/gwen-dunn daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1645902037078-CYVD2PY4YASTBKOEANFX/gwen2.jpg Gwen Dunn - Gwen Dunn / Staff Accountant Gwen brings a breadth of business acumen to WordPlay, from founding and leading small businesses to managing finance and accounting matters in the real estate, education, and non-profit sectors. A long-time volunteer and trustee on numerous non-profit boards including multiple terms as Treasurer for various entities large and small, Gwen has a deep commitment to giving back to her community, service through her church, and her family. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/lauren-elyse-tudor daily 0.75 2022-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643472079982-3ILZJRIEHHBUWYV5CSAJ/DSC_8395-edit+%281%29.jpeg Lauren Elyse Tudor - Lauren Elyse Tudor / Interim Development Manager Lauren Elyse Tudor is the Brand Architect + Engagement Strategist of Architect Brand + Design Collective. Lauren is a dynamic engagement strategist with more than ten years of campaign, design, marketing, fundraising and project-management experience. She's a spirited community builder with a rich and robust background rooted in community-organizing, relationship and capacity-building. Over the years, Lauren has been a force in numerous leadership positions at amazing companies and organizations such as the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Public Allies Cincinnati, YWCA, United Way, and Organizing for America – the campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama. In addition to her day job, Lauren is a fierce advocate for women's reproductive rights serving as a member on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood Southwest Ohio Region. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/thomasestrunk daily 0.75 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/fffb348c-e003-4328-b463-50b8853f262c/Strunk+-+Headshot.JPG Thomas E. Strunk - Thomas E. Strunk/ Trustee Thomas E. Strunk is a teacher and a writer. Thomas currently teaches classical literature and history at Xavier University where he has been a professor since 2008. He is the author of the poetry collection Transfigurations (Main Street Rag Press, 2023). He has also written on Latin poetry and the music of Bob Dylan, and Dr. King as a reader of the classics. Thomas grew up in Northeast Appalachia in Minisink Hills, Pennsylvania on the Delaware River. He now lives with his wife and twin daughters in Northside, Cincinnati. Thomas has a BA in Classics and History from Pennsylvania State University and an MA and Ph.D. in Classics from Loyola University Chicago. He also has an MFA in Creative Writing from Wilkes University. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/govinda-davis daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643376793059-46JUE621LJOFOTSR2I49/Govinda+Davis.jpg Govinda Davis - Govinda Davis / Senior Associate, Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP Govinda is an experienced intellectual property lawyer and focuses her practice on counseling clients on trademark and copyright law. Govinda studied political science and music industry at Northeastern University and studied law at Seton Hall University School of Law in New Jersey. Govinda became interested in copyrights at a young age. This early research sparked her interest, which set her up naturally for a career helping others protect their assets and to foster creativity as well. She is also a world traveler, a photographer, a figure skater and has a great appreciation for architecture. A natural leader, Govinda is a co-chair of her law firm’s Minority Attorney Affinity Group and also devotes time to mentoring students through law school and young attorneys. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/aaron-parker daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1645901875982-T7XOL4D92PWADC4BOWJR/aaron2.jpg Aaron Parker - Aaron Parker / Trustee Updates coming soon… https://www.wordplaycincy.org/desirae-hosley daily 0.75 2025-06-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/30b7e12d-856f-4335-acd1-8d2ab62b09f1/Screenshot+2025-06-16+at+5.54.15%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Desirae Hosley - Desirae Hosley / Artistic Director Born and raised in the Queen City, Desirae ‘The Silent Poet’ Hosley is known for being the quietest person in the room...until she takes the stage. Although Spoken Word is where she cut her teeth, you can find her acting, speaking, and community organizing. She values linking people, facilitating conversation, and bringing healing to those around her. Quote: "I am honored to step into the role of Artistic Director and to be back at WordPlay Cincy, with such a rich legacy of artistic excellence and community impact. This is a pivotal moment—one filled with extraordinary opportunities to elevate bold voices, foster meaningful collaborations, and create work that reflects the complexity and beauty of our world. I look forward to championing innovative storytelling, supporting visionary artists, and engaging audiences in dynamic and inclusive ways. Together, we will build a future grounded in creativity, curiosity, and connection." https://www.wordplaycincy.org/anjali-almbasu daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1e351694-1f1e-4398-b455-dd8b7469067e/Anjali1.jpg Anjali Alm-Basu - Anjali Alm-Basu / Comic Art, Bookbinding Anjali Alm-Basu has been teaching, tutoring or mentoring in some capacity for ten years. Their main subjects are Japanese and comics/ illustration, but in tutoring ACT/SAT prep and substitute teaching, they have managed to effectively teach most of the high school gen ed curriculum at least once over. They also run a local acting troupe as well as act as webmaster for the Cincinnati Book Arts Society. They have been tutoring and leading workshops with WordPlay since 2013. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/yalie-kamara daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643474074991-IBVXVSP04AK4AG18J7PW/Yalie+Kamara.jpg Yalie Kamara - Yalie Kamara / Poetry Yalie Kamara is a Sierra Leonean-American writer and native of Oakland, California. She is the author of two collections of poetry: A Brief Biography of My Name (Akashic Books/African Poetry Book Fund, 2018) and When The Living Sing (Ledge Mule Press, 2017). She was a finalist for the 2017 Brunel International African Poetry Prize and a 2017 National Book Critics Circle Emerging Critics Fellow. She is also a Callaloo Fellow in poetry. Yalie earned an MA in French Culture and Civilization from Middlebury College and an MFA in Creative Writing (poetry) at Indiana University. She is currently pursuing her PhD in English and Creative Writing at the University of Cincinnati, where she is a Yates fellow. In between her studies, Yalie worked in the field of social justice specializing in educational access and arts facilitation. She has lived in France, Brazil and the U.S., and has a particularly soft spot for Oakland, Washington DC, and Paris. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/pauletta-hansel daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473331237-9POZPHRUHTGI13S1KGQ2/Pauletta+Hansel+cropped_edited.jpg Pauletta Hansel - Pauletta Hansel / Creative Writing, Poetry Pauletta Hansel is an award-winning author of seven poetry collections, including Coal Town Photograph (Dos Madres Press, 2019) and Palindrome (Dos Madres Press, 2017). She was Cincinnati’s first Poet Laureate (2016- 2018) and has served as first Writer-In-Residence for WordPlay and Thomas More University. Pauletta was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky. She is a volunteer for the Urban Appalachian Community Coalition, with a particular focus on its new Urban Appalachian Leadership Project for youth and young adults, and is managing editor of Pine Mountain Sand & Gravel, the literary publication of Southern Appalachian Writers Cooperative. Pauletta leads writing workshops and retreats in the Greater Cincinnati area and beyond, including at WordPlay, Thomas More University and as core faculty for The Makery, Hindman Settlement School's new online studio for writers of place https://www.wordplaycincy.org/brandon-isaac-1 daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1645901088225-P2ROI9BWS134MVCVD7QL/brandon3.jpg Brandon Isaac - Brandon Isaac / Spoken Word, Stand Up Comedy Brandon Isaac is a connector in the conduit of arts and healing in Cincinnati Public Schools. He works as a paraprofessional and uses his vehicle to guide children, teach performing arts, and coach basketball. When he’s not trying to be Gandhi, he likes to work out and express himself through the arts. He is currently finishing up his first music project with local producer Stallitix. You can follow their collective @kenfolklore on Instagram. Brandon's goal is to be able to expand his practice throughout different schools in the inner city of Cincinnati. "It was the delight of my soul to be doing something that looked like bettering the condition of my race." —Fredrick Douglass https://www.wordplaycincy.org/freda-epum daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473081595-Y63BH2QUIXO5REL73KRU/fredaepum.jpeg Freda Epum - Freda Epum / Poetry Update coming soon… https://www.wordplaycincy.org/geoff-barnes daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643472905518-R5JNA0I4HPG64Y6KYBQ4/Geoff+Barnes.jpg Geoff Barnes - Geoff Barnes / Dance & Theater Originally from Cincinnati, Geoffrey has spent the past 6 years working as an actor and teaching artist in the area after living abroad for 20 years. He has been seen on stage at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, and the Know Theatre. Geoffrey incorporates storytelling, improvisation and dance to emphasize the importance of self expression and communication amongst his students. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/natalie-villacorta daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/327c57a4-6722-487e-8e15-7239ba41e14b/natalie3.jpg Natalie Villacorta - Natalie Villacorta / Creative Writing Natalie Villacorta is a writer from McLean, Virginia. Her stories and essays have appeared in Hobart, DIAGRAM, The Offing, and Moss. She is a PhD candidate in creative writing at the University of Cincinnati, where she teaches courses in creative nonfiction writing and audio storytelling. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/kate-reidel daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643474615755-ZEMT9Y7U4MDF6U8IU5PJ/Kate+Reidel.jpg Kate Reidel - Kate Reidel / Diveristy, Equity and Inclusion, Social Justice and Teen Enrichment Kate Reidel is a master Waldorf teacher and education enthusiast. She earned her Master’s degree at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but is a Cincinnati native. Kate has been working in every avenue of her life and career with a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens. She is a skilled communicator and has been trained in Nonviolent Communication as well as Restorative Justice practices. Kate is a storyteller, a poet, a lover of music and art, and she is dedicated to serving the youth and LGBTQIA+ communities in Cincinnati. As if her life weren’t exciting enough, Kate spends her free time snowboarding, kayaking, rollerblading, hiking, and swimming. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/laila-hameen daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473228400-KZJ6DJTWSX57F1DDW9CV/PSX_20200923_110826.jpg Laila Hameen - Laila Hameen / Theater, Creative Expression Laila Hameen is a native of Dayton Ohio who discovered a love for acting at age 10, after improvising the role of Frankenstein's monster at her school's summer camp. Laila enjoys teaching acting and creative expression to youth. She believes that creativity activates self-healing above adversity. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/annie-ruth daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643474667102-73HAKGV43O3VWUWXE20Z/AnnieRuth_headshot.jpg Annie Ruth - Annie Ruth / Multi-discipline Artist, Visual Art, Creative Writing Update coming soon https://www.wordplaycincy.org/jeni-jenkins daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473953446-060FIKYV3ZHMDUJLENWU/jeni+jenkins+-+profile.jpg Jeni Jenkins - Jeni Jenkins / Design Activist, Educator, Artist Jeni Jenkins of Renegade Babe design studio is a design activist, educator, and artist passionate about the role of art in transforming individual lives and communities. Equipped with a multidisciplinary background in social science and art, Jeni is interested in creating and leading projects that spur social and economic change through art and design. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/brandon-hawkins daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473387674-36NP5372ERWEK00CEP2W/Brandon+Hawkins+Profile+Pic.jpg Brandon Hawkins - Brandon Hawkins / Visual Artist Brandon Hawkins is the Lead Artist of Soul Palette with more than 20 years of artistic expertise. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Africana Studies and a certificate in Fine Arts. Brandon has been passionate about art since his youth, and considers drawing, painting and graphic design to be some of his best talents. Brandon’s dreams have become a reality with the opportunity to use his gifts and talents every day to empower others to find their inner artist. www.paintwithyoursoul.com https://www.wordplaycincy.org/laurent-che daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473038566-T6NUU1MJ96PGKWR3DM2V/Laurent+Che.jpeg Laurent Che - Laurent Che / Poetry & Spoken Word Meet Laurent Che of "Out of the Heart." Laurent has been a poet and professional spoken word artist for 10 years. He began writing poetry at 9 years old and started sharing with the world at about 17. He's performed on stages throughout the country, with works published in theatrical productions, short films produced based on his poetry. Laurent has competed in national spoken word competitions and taught poetry at the high school level. Discovering his passion for poetry at an early age allowed him to find his voice, hone his craft, and master the fundamentals of being a strong spoken word artist, all while creating a unique style that set him apart. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/carlos-garcia-leon daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643474262626-HZ7FMJ9SHV82XAGR5OA1/Carlos+headshot+2020.jpeg Carlos Garcia Leon - Carlos Garcia Leon / Poetry, Spoken Word, Louder Than a Bomb Slam Poetry Coach Carlos García León (he/they) is a queer, non-binary, Latine, Mexican-Statesian spoken word artist, and also currently the Individual Giving Manager for Cincinnati Opera. Carlos’s written work has been published nationally through Poetry Spoken Here and in multiple publications of the LA Zine, Young Ignorantes. Locally, they were published in the Postcards from the Pandemic and still attend open mics virtually. Their work, both in the arts and through writing, is driven by a fight for cultural equity, decolonizing the arts, and social justice. Outside of working and writing, Carlos likes to stream TV and movies, read a good book, learn German, take naps under their weighted blanket, drink milkshakes, and look for the next poncho to add to their collection. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/liz-wu daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643475369217-5D203RKNYF096WFIC2R1/lizwu_jf700x615.widea.jpg Liz Wu - Liz Wu / Music, Creative Writing Liz Wu is a professional musician, fitness instructor, and published children’s book author with a passion for bringing people together. Two of her bigger projects include #Kindflash, a grassroots volunteer effort that organizes monthly community outreach events, and World Music Fest, a celebration of world cultures through music, dance, art and food. If she has a spare hour, you might run into her at a farmer’s market, hiking in the woods, volunteering, or enjoying the arts! https://www.wordplaycincy.org/kay-e-bancroft daily 0.75 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/261c8a6a-8646-46c9-bed6-7782a5a6d249/kay3.jpg Kay E. Bancroft - Kay E. Bancroft / Poetry, Creative Writing Kay E. Bancroft (they/she) is a queer and non-binary poet, educator, editor, and literary reviewer from Cincinnati, OH. They hold a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cincinnati and are currently an MFA Candidate at Randolph College. You can find their writing in Cotton Xenomorph, GRLSQUASH, Harness Magazine, and more with new work forthcoming in literary anthology, Beyond Queer Words. Explore their work at kayemoorepoet.com https://www.wordplaycincy.org/contact daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/asheydevon-williamston daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/fbc6f2b7-5a64-40bc-9842-ca821da1f660/ashley-devon3.jpg Ashey-Devon Williamston - Ashley-Devon Williamston / Poetry, Creative Writing Ashley-Devon Williamston is a Cincy native, academic and artist. They hold an MA in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Cincinnati, and currently work as a researcher and educator. They use their poetic practice to express things that are not best stated in APA format, such as the delights of surprise homemade pies, perfectly symmetrical leaves, or the intense grief that comes with terminating a toxic relationship. For them, writing poetry is like crafting a portal through which others may venture to explore the depths of humanity. Their poems and essays have been featured in a number of outlets including Ginger, Autostraddle, Salty, and Dinner Bell. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/dai-williams daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643475197099-GSLL6GRPW6V1J0LDB9JY/IMG_4898.jpeg Dai Williams - Dai Williams / Multi-discipline Artist, Visual Art Dai Williams is an illustrator, designer, printer, and street artist from and living in Cincinnati. They use their experience from attending the Art Academy of Cincinnati, collaboration with Artworks and work in the printing and design industry, to create art that connects with the world through their alter ego S0FT GH0ST.The graphic, minimalistic ghost is a cartoon reflection of them and how the climate of the world affects them as a queer person of color working as an artist in the city. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/elaine-olund daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/702343a6-dc7d-48ef-b8a4-cce658c6d697/elaine2.jpg Elaine Olund - Elaine Olund / Creative Writing, Visual Art, Yoga Elaine Olund has been practicing yoga for over a decade and loves how it helps her find balance, both on and off the mat. After a near-death health crisis several years ago, her practice deepened further, which led her to complete 200 hour training in Ashtanga/Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga from It’s Yoga/Cincinnati. She’s also a graduate of True Body Leadership Training, which focuses on healing and growth through trauma-sensitive movement, art and writing practices. Additional training has focused on trauma-aware, restorative practices. She teaches weekly yoga classes to teens and seniors. Outside of yoga, Elaine owns a graphic design, writing and editing business, writes poetry and fiction, and teaches creative writing workshops. (She’s found yoga also helps fuel creativity! https://www.wordplaycincy.org/terrence-burke daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643472984313-W618KI0O0V9A05N1L26G/WMP+TB+and+Sassy+EDIT_edited.jpg Terrence Burke - Terrence Burke / Puppeteer Terrence is the voice and hands beneath the Wump Mucket Puppets, a Cincinnati based professional puppet company. A self-taught puppeteer, Terrence's original stories and songs are performed at libraries, schools, museums, and special events throughout the Tri-State and New England. He has made numerous appearances on radio and television, including a guest segment on PBS. More information at www.wumpmucketpuppets.com https://www.wordplaycincy.org/hillary-hahn daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/d1975c2c-5e57-41f1-858c-df01531ac289/hillary2.jpg Hillary Hahn - Hillary Hahn / Dance, Theater, Creative Writing Hillary Hahn is an artist of many trades from Independence, Kentucky. She has performed as a dancer, singer and actor on many stages in Cincinnati including classical ballet productions like “The Nutcracker” and “Giselle” to musical theater productions like “Chicago”, “Tommy” and “Tarzan”! In addition to her work on stage she is also an independent singer-songwriter with one self-released record out called, “Walking In Cleveland” from 2008! She is also a self-published children’s book author and illustrator and released her first book in 2020 called, “On A Bethlehem Night”. She is currently scheduled to release her second record and second children’s book by the end of 2021 and is also studying at NKU as an Integrated Studies major, focusing on theater, studio art and music. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/simone-yael daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/b2ac4176-fdf0-491f-b845-9d94d69b391b/Simone+Yael_edited.jpg Simone Yael - Simone Yael / Theater, Community Arts Simone Yael ventures in stage performance, filmmaking, fashion, architectural design, poetry/spoken word, music and dance. She is intentionally finding new ways to marry creative projects with Art-Entrepreneurship & community engagement. She is inspired by the deeply held belief, “We were all created to create - and we shouldn’t need to starve to be artists.” https://www.wordplaycincy.org/volunteer daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643496359945-Q02CZYTZ47HDQ8N1PDFB/IMG_1483.jpg Volunteer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643496423886-5UTL5SPXEKE1QQRFK17O/IMG_1807.jpg Volunteer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643496459160-YSCNUVQ05E34YCYIRLNZ/Tajha.jpg Volunteer https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643496489761-I0ONMYQ3OG0QXQTJ0UIA/King+Typing_edited.jpg Volunteer https://www.wordplaycincy.org/samuel-foulkes daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643473123416-ZR8YTPTWMCARFVFJEMMF/Samuel+Foulkes_edited.jpg Samuel Foulkes - Samuel Foulkes / Creative Writing Samuel Foulkes has been volunteering with WordPlay since 2012, and brings his love of reading and writing (and, occasionally, chess!) to the young people of Cincinnati. When he's not having fun at WordPlay, Samuel manages Clovernook Printing House, the largest producer of braille in North America. In addition, he chairs Clovernook’s Arts & Accessibility Initiative which works with museums on accessibility projects, and he has generated guidelines and training programs for braille producers in developing countries. Samuel is currently co-authoring a professional certification course in advanced braille transcription (ever wonder how to braille a comic book or Old English?) on behalf of the Library of Congress, which will serve to improve braille production standards in the United States. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/theresa-kulbaga daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/5e1bcf2a-4792-4b9c-bdf4-549080a814ae/theresa2.jpg Theresa Kulbaga - Theresa Kulbaga / Creative Writing Dr. Theresa Kulbaga teaches creative writing, gender studies, and courses in women's autobiography and memoir at Miami University. She is the author of Campuses of Consent: Sexual and Social Justice in Higher Education (with Leland Spencer), as well as numerous articles about women's nonfiction literature and feminist pedagogy. She is co-chair of Miami University's LGBTQ+ Advisory Board Council, making Miami more inclusive and informed in matters concerning gender, gender identity, and sexuality. She is also chair of the Human Rights & Social Justice Program, Women's History Month, and the Favorite Poem Project. She hikes every day with her dog and writes using at least three different colors of ink at a time. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/teisha-murray daily 0.75 2022-02-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643474400743-I7HOMK0G2BWX4OC8B0BY/teisha-murray_edited.jpg Teisha "Murray" - Teisha “Murray” / Movement, Arts Integration Teisha Murray (known as "Murray") is an alumni of Cleveland School of the Arts. She graduated as a dance major, and during her time there learned classic dance techniques, as well as improvisation and non-traditional partnering skills. Murray is also a poet and an aerial arts instructor. She mostly teaches for Pones, Inc. and Dimension Fitness, and loves joining the WordPlay family to teach her two loves of movement and poetry in one place. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/together-we-cross daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/a-longing-for-belonging daily 0.75 2022-06-09 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/ciarra-wooten daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/b2f1c968-bab7-4c44-9e41-3254e28e88a6/CJ4.jpg Ciarra Wooten - Ciarra Wooten / Community Engagement Ciarra Wooten is a creative professional with a background leading youth arts and community engagement programs and initiatives in nonprofits and higher education institutions. Ciarra nurtures two main passions in her life: art and international exchange. She earned her BA in Russian with a focus on International Development. Her commitment to a life of public service working towards the elimination of poverty, discrimination and injustice brought her to the nonprofit world after forgoing the idea of working for the government (just not the right culture fit ;P). Prior to shifting her focus to the arts, she taught ESL at private schools and universities both in Cincinnati and abroad in Turkey for several years. Ciarra is committed to helping emerging artists to succeed in the creative economy through resource sharing, capacity building and intentional connection. One of her personal aims is to cultivate a stronger artist network in the midwest region, anchoring Cincinnati as the hub for arts funding and capacity building for young and emerging creatives. She is the co-founder of a new Cincy-based music exploration series, WARMTH, which aims to provide a safe space for BIPOC, women, and LGBTQI+ creatives to celebrate camaraderie, encourage exchange of industry knowledge and discover more opportunities for innovation and cultivation of the arts in the region. Ciarra is a visual artist and an avid lifelong learning enthusiast. Ciarra recently moved back to Cincinnati after living and working in Milwaukee, WI. One of her greatest joys will be playing the role of the hostess with the mostest for her friends and family in her new place in East Price Hill where she will live with her partner and two kitty cats. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/donate daily 0.75 2025-09-30 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/about-wordplay daily 0.75 2025-06-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/c6abd8a7-dee6-49bc-b057-25bdff58b427/DSC04067-2.jpg About WordPlay - About WordPlay WordPlay Cincy creates spaces for young people to fulfill their potential by discovering, honoring and sharing their voices. Our free programs for ages 5 - young adult blend the four elements of personal growth, community-building, creative expression and future orientation through project-based learning. All that we do is founded on our core beliefs that: Creativity catalyzes learning Our young people are a vast resource of strengths, and Self-determination lies in being the authors of our own stories. We infuse reading, writing and storytelling with the visual and performing arts, where children and teens uncover their unique personal narratives, activate their strengths, and determine how they want to contribute to a more just, inclusive and creatively connected community. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/partner-programs daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://www.wordplaycincy.org/taylor-byas daily 0.75 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/38012d79-d5b4-4581-a05d-3de83e6d4767/Black+and+White+Smiling.jpeg Taylor Byas - Taylor Byas / Teaching Artist Taylor Byas is a Black Chicago native currently living in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is now a third-year PhD student and Yates scholar at the University of Cincinnati, and an Assistant Features Editor for The Rumpus. She is the 1st place winner of the 2020 Poetry Super Highway, the 2020 Frontier Poetry Award for New Poets Contests, the 2021 Adrienne Rich Poetry Prize, and a finalist for the 2020 Frontier OPEN Prize. She is the author of the chapbook Bloodwarm from Variant Lit, a second chapbook, Shutter, forthcoming from Madhouse Press, and her debut full-length, I Done Clicked My Heels Three Times, forthcoming from Soft Skull Press in Spring of 2023. She is represented by Rena Rossner of the Deborah Harris Agency. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/michael-thompson daily 0.75 2022-06-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/d79e9f2b-054c-44f8-b8b4-ed8d95fb3077/image0.jpg Michael Thompson - Michael Thompson Michael Thompson is a multimedia artist, designer, and poet. He takes on the role of artist as archivist; collecting things, spaces, and histories to add to his art and life. He draws in sensibilities and practices from scientific and philosophical fields and enjoys collaborating outside the typical scope of the art world. His practice focuses on visual and human ecology, dignity, and nuance; using both his art and poetry as a manner of abolishing the compartmentalized reality which he experiences as an observer of the world. His current work has found him using painting, journalism, and poetry in his multi-year project, "Sanctuaries". Michael is a TEDx Speaker, Artist-in-Residence at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Contemporary Arts Center and is formerly a resident at Cincinnati Shakespeare Company. Outside of his own practice, he also works as a teaching artist and therapeutic artistic engagement specialist. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/caroline-dziubek daily 0.75 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/4b18bc4b-1dc7-4b3e-af41-1dcbc6925d60/42965551_10217816268579668_4495765765936381952_n.jpeg Caroline Dziubek - Caroline Dziubek / Teaching Artist Caroline Dziubek is an undergraduate English and Gender and Diversity Studies student at Xavier University. At Xavier, she serves as a member of the Community Engaged Fellowship, a cohort of students whose common goal is to invest their time and care into organizations and neighborhoods across Cincinnati. As a Fellow, Caroline volunteers with a variety of local organizations, including but not limited to Casa de Paz, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, and Wave Pool. Because of her love for creative self-expression, WordPlay is one of her favorite sites. As a poet, she derives much joy from telling her own stories, but even more from encouraging others to tell theirs. She is grateful to have found such a welcoming space in WordPlay and hopes to continue to grow with the organization. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/jacob-zimmerman daily 0.75 2022-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/5ecec7d9-d6c9-4737-8335-f7aadbbdca4b/IMG_0222.jpg Jacob Zimmerman - Jacob Zimmerman / Teaching Artist Jacob interned with WordPlay in 2019 and is delighted to be back as a Teaching Artist. He is a passionate reader and writer who believes in the power of writing to make us kinder and gentler, more awake and alert to the world we live in. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from the University of Cincinnati. He has taught in a number of roles and has worked with students ranging from preschoolers to doctoral candidates. He recently served on the selection committee for the Cincinnati Youth Poet Laureate. Jacob loves walking, traveling, drinking coffee, and eating late night snacks. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/amanda-marasch daily 0.75 2022-07-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e3a5a6f2-320e-4661-ba7b-f302dce00fdd/914A3573-Edit.jpg Amanda Marasch-Brinkman - Amanda Marasch-Brinkman / Teaching Artist Amanda Marasch-Brinkman (She/Her/Hers) has studied Musical Theatre, Dance, Acting, and The Alexander Technique, receiving a degree in Musical Theatre from East Carolina University. After more than a decade of working on stage and in the TV/Film industry in New York City, she returned to the Greater Cincinnati area. During her time in NYC, Amanda was fortunate to work on six seasons of Orange is The New Black and many other Netflix and HBO originals. Through the Steinburg Lab at NYU, she has performed and helped develop New Works written by Graduate Students in the prestigious Golberg Department of Dramatic Writing. Currently, Amanda serves on the board of a local theatre organization. She just finished directing her third (local) show, runs musical theatre camps, works as an audition coach, and performs as often as possible. Amanda believes being able to express yourself and using art to communicate is what she would like to share with every student she teaches. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/michael-carr daily 0.75 2022-07-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/f3eee91a-950d-4454-9696-5d9e0b99a210/michaelcarr.jpeg Michael Carr - Michael Carr / Teaching Artist Michael Carr is a Cincinnati native. Graduate of University of Cincinnati-CCM in Acting. Michael has been a theater educator for UC-CCM (Acting Dept and Musical Theatre Dept), Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati (Hunter Heartbeat), and others. Michael is a Dad to twins (Rowan and Theodore) and a proud member of Actors Equity. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/abby-palen daily 0.75 2022-08-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/40a6cd54-3ab2-4146-af90-86c4cbb8e0b0/Abby_Palen_Headshot_2022.jpg Abby Palen - Abby Palen / Teaching Artist Abby (they/them) is an expert in cardboard trickery, puppetry, and storytelling. Operating under the hope that art can be as accessible as possible, Abby leads upcycled art classes across the city. You can learn more about Abby (or hire them) at their website. (abbypalen.com) https://www.wordplaycincy.org/2022-fall-programs daily 0.75 2022-11-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/d0398ee5-cdb2-45e2-81f8-f61b2760626f/Seeds+for+Change.png 2022 Fall Programs - Seeds for Change Mural Project in partnership with Jeni Jenkins of Renegade Babe Studio & Nest Northside Ages 14 & Up October 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 1-5 Saturdays, 4-6pm Evenings *email amy@wordplaycincy.org to register* In person, outside in Northside Are you a teen interested in learning how to paint a mural? Do you want to help combat Racism in our city? Would you like to help plant seeds for social change and create a legacy for future generations? Join us as we create a powerful mural nurturing pride in our community’s belief that Black lives matter, and Black lives are valued. All participants will participate in hands-on mural installation. Project Goals: · Bring increased visibility to and humanize Black identity · Foster a sense of safety and a sense of belonging · Energize a public space · Incite community dialogue · Add increased richness to the Northside community and Cincinnati https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/cf1bf9f0-92fc-4d0d-9fde-b2069a0fcb44/Creating+Your+Children%27s+Book+with+Hillary+Hahn.png 2022 Fall Programs - Creating Your Children’s Book! with Hillary Hahn Ages 14-Adult Tuesdays, 5:30-7 pm October 4th-November 8th FREE Let’s learn how to create a children’s book: from conceptualizing the story to getting creative with illustrations to building a website and selling your first copy! This workshop will not only support students with creative expression through story, but help develop their digital independence online. I’m happy to answer all questions and share my own process in this intimate six-week course! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/621fa1d4-33ee-4539-8ab2-4c103fc57a71/Voices+with+Yalie+Kamara.png 2022 Fall Programs - Voices with Yalie Saweda Kamara Ages 14-19 Wednesdays, 4:00-5:30 pm October 12th-November 9th FREE WordPlay welcomes high schoolers to participate in Voices, a multiweek poetry workshop that explores and celebrates the unique perspectives and experiences of its participants. Throughout the course of the workshop, attendees will have opportunities to: learn about the history of performance and written poetic traditions; create poetry in a supportive environment; receive performance poetry guidance; and share their writing publicly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e460f885-d3c0-40cd-8ce2-2bb50e565333/One+Journal.png 2022 Fall Programs - One Journal, Many Possibilities! with Kellz Ages 12-18 Wednesdays, 5:30- 7:00 pm October 19th-November 9th FREE Using journal prompts, collage, bookbinding, and various art media, this 6-week workshop will bring the magical and fun experience of exploring your imagination through the blank pages of a handmade journal! Participants will be encouraged to use words and art to access their authentic expression(s)! During sessions 1& 2, participants will make handmade journals and gather visual materials that reflect their creative visions. During sessions 3-6, participants will use their gathered materials to begin exploring their imagination on the blank page through guided exercises facilitated by Kellz! At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will depart with handmade books filled with words, visual creations of their imagination, and the skills to create more handmade journals for the forever creative and writing future! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/beeda201-6c35-45c1-b677-06bafd73bac7/Saving+Your+History.png 2022 Fall Programs - Saving Your History with Clarity Amrein All Ages Welcome Thursdays, 6:00- 7:30 pm October 13th-November 10th FREE Join us to learn about digital preservation and community archiving with the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/b4ed00a3-a50a-46a9-a3c9-eb20c0af8e8f/Race+and+the+City.png 2022 Fall Programs - Race and the City Cincinnati, 1820-Present with Melanie Moon Ages 12-14 Thursdays, 4:00- 5:00 pm October 27th-November 17th FREE This program is based on the book Race and the City: Work, Community and Protest in Cincinnati 1820-1970 by Dr. Henry Louis Taylor, Jr. Students ages 12-14 will explore chapter 2 of the book titled “John Mercer Langston”. John was only 11 years old when he came to Cincinnati during the summer of 1841 to find himself in the middle of a race riot. In addition to listening to the reading of the chapter, students will examine the work of SOS Art Cincinnati poets, visual and performing artists to become familiar with the chapter. Students will then let their imaginations soar as they create their own artistic expressions of the chapter through poetry, essays, dramatizations, visual art, and more! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1665763551942-N4H4NH93GXTB1RNJHDHV/Copy+of+Save+the+Date%21+WordPlay+Presents+Arts+and+Medicine+A+Reading%2C+Performance%2C+and+Panel+When+Thursday%2C+October+27%2C+2022%2C+600+PM-730+PM+Where+Virtual+%28Zoom+link+available+upon+registration%29.png 2022 Fall Programs - WordPlay Presents: Arts and Medicine: A Reading, Performance, and Panel Thursday, October 27, 2022, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Where: Virtual (Zoom link available upon registration) FREE Please join us on Thursday, October 27 (6:00 PM-7:30 PM) for Arts and Medicine; an online reading, performance, and panel that celebrates the intersection of these two practices. This event will feature Cincinnati’s Youth Poet Laureate Rimel Kamran alongside artist and healthcare professionals: Dani Clark (artist, researcher, and narrative medicine specialist), Christina Eskridge (actor, theatre company founder, and public health specialist) and Dr. Joanne Godley (physician, poet, and bioethicist). Event is FREE. For more information or to register for this event, please contact Yalie Saweda Kamara: yalie@wordplaycincy.org https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/2c377973-7f8e-44df-aadb-58c5e2d81ca4/The+Joy+Lab.png 2022 Fall Programs - The Joy Lab: A Collaborative Experiment in Handling Current Events with Jacob Zimmerman Ages 14-18 3 Saturdays 11:00am-12:00pm October 29th-November 12th FREE How do we stay interested, alert, and undaunted when current events in our communities, and the wider world, often: make us feel angry, overwhelmed, burnt out, or afraid? In this 3-week creative writing series, we will experiment with joy. In this "Joy Lab," students will engage in a variety of creative exercises that explore delight, humor, and play as a way to "re-think” how to react, act, survive, and even thrive during what can be scary socio-economic and political times in our communities and the world at large. We will explore joy not as a way to ignore current events that trouble us, but rather as something that helps us to think critically as we remain engaged citizens, attentive to the world around us. This Joy Lab and our collaborative work will, therefore, make us better equipped to digest/respond to current issues we can process and protest as we are compelled to action. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/95402db1-69e1-4948-9014-68cebc8a7d55/Copy+of+Race+and+the+City.png 2022 Fall Programs - Junk Journals for Everyone! with Lizzy Duquette Ages 8 & Up! Saturday, November 19 11:00am-12:00pm FREE Let’s make something beautiful and useful out of paper scraps! Found paper ephemera become delightful journals, art books, or story books with simple binding. Go on a scavenger hunt to find old books and magazines, junk mail, and paper in your recycling bin! This workshop is for age 8 and up, with all skill levels welcome. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755572107-TYBSR19IVDAE07WO4I4M/Dater+Foundation.jpg 2022 Fall Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/f8e2408b-3d69-4f23-80c4-a2e6c1c73800/nbjc-logo-350x170-1.png 2022 Fall Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643755587677-DE9NPTW2B3XBZK8D0Y0O/Woodward+Trust.jpg 2022 Fall Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1643314816714-06L42KVV3GU2LMO9S18I/oac_full-color-rgb-logo.png 2022 Fall Programs - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/clarity-amrein daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/2154aa6f-ba42-419d-8fdc-28bdd97fab51/ClarityAmreinHeadshot+%282%29.png Clarity Amrein - Clarity Amrein / History Clarity Amrein (she/her) is the Community Content Coordinator for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, working as reference librarian and archivist in the Genealogy and Local History Department. Her educational background is Technical Writing, User Experience Design, and Library and Information Sciences. She is also an archivist and board member of the Ohio Lesbian Archives and is active in the LGBTQIA+ community. Her work focuses on digital preservation and community storytelling. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/melanie-moon daily 0.75 2022-08-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1f3d578c-9c5e-4d66-8630-b6332586935f/MelanieMoon.jpg Melanie Moon - Melanie Moon / Teaching Artist Retired librarian, Melanie Moon, worked for the Princeton City School system, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy and Brown Mackie College. She holds master’s degrees in Early Childhood Development (UC) and Library Science (UK). Melanie has served preschool students, middle school and college age students and is passionate about sharing information at all grade levels. Having presented the Race and the City Cincinnati 1820-Present Project to adults all over the city for the past four years, she is excited about sharing the information she has adjusted for tweens to grasp, digest and grow! https://www.wordplaycincy.org/newsletter daily 0.75 2022-09-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/8d6c4300-318e-4116-b545-58a35310f20e/IMG_3582.jpg https://www.wordplaycincy.org/powertothepoets daily 0.75 2022-11-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/955d6c38-05cc-4094-8a6a-76055d3edf51/Cover+Image+EOY+Appeal+.jpg https://www.wordplaycincy.org/cincy-ypl daily 0.75 2025-09-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e06ad26c-ad88-4e28-ad5c-ed581d06cf81/YPL-Cincinnati+LOGO-Clr.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/be3aeaaa-6e35-4483-9a3d-667651465163/Women%27sFund_30th_9.4.25+74.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/ae895f3f-c7be-4b13-b206-00db2bbae0bc/Orange+White+Minimalist+Poetry+Open+Mic+Event+Flyer-3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/e40b8bed-b58f-47a6-ac80-de02c00adac3/Join+Mia+for+a+creative+writing+session+where+words+come+alive+and+imaginations+run+free.+Whether+you%E2%80%99re+a+poet%2C+storyteller%2C+or+just+curious+about+writing%2C+Mia+is+excited+to+create%2C+share%2C+and+sp.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/1725c832-41d1-4bdf-8c07-fb52fe890c8c/Screen+Shot+2024-07-16+at+11.58.59+AM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/077a9603-4556-4367-9b3e-a18daedba744/Screen+Shot+2024-07-16+at+12.00.09+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/fc53a70e-04b2-4c1c-8708-66176e640ecd/Screen+Shot+2024-07-16+at+11.59.38+AM.png https://www.wordplaycincy.org/powertothepoets24 daily 0.75 2024-03-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/b7611c2b-60be-42cf-aca4-8de6e8894b0b/Pop-Up+Image.jpg https://www.wordplaycincy.org/kristencopleand daily 0.75 2025-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6151ce0422cf043265b8d94e/27051578-34da-4b23-ae49-eb18925ea0da/20241217_Kristen+Copeland_mb001+%281%29.jpg Kristen Copeland - Kristen Copeland/Trustee Kristen Copeland, MD, is a pediatrician, researcher, and professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She works at Cincinnati Children’s Hopple Street Neighborhood Health Center, focusing on elevating marginalized voices and creating equitable systems for children and families. With 25 years of experience, her research covers physical activity, nutrition, racism’s impact on development, early childhood education, and COVID-19’s effect on school readiness. Her work has been published in leading journals and featured in major media. Outside work, she enjoys hiking, travel, reading, and practicing French and Spanish. She lives in East End with her husband, two college-age daughters, and their cat. https://www.wordplaycincy.org/new-page daily 0.75 2025-06-26