I am totally a fan of the Spanish community, so if you are looking for a place to practice your…read moreSpanish, volunteer with the people, or learn about their culture, as far as I know, this is the place to do it in Cincinnati. I volunteered here for a few months, teaching math to Spanish people trying to earn their GED, and it was awesome. I got to practice my Spanish and meet some very cool people. The folks that run the volunteer program are awesome and very helpful, very flexible, and very understanding. I have also volunteered for a College Goal Sunday event here(where students fill out the FAFSA) and people came in droves to volunteer. It reminded me how rich of a support system it has and how happy people are to be involved with this joint. Even though it has a religious background and I absolutely do not, they accept anyone who is of good nature and you will guaranteed get along with them. If you're looking for a more casual, less official way to meet/converse with Spanish people, they have Sunday brunches in the basement after Sunday mass(from about noon-2). I went here once, because I typically work Sunday from 8-4, but I had a blast. I was hesitant when going, because I knew nobody. When I got downstairs and made it glaringly obvious that I knew nobody, a man motioned for me to sit down(his name was Wenceslao, so cool) and began a conversation. I chatted with him and a few others for about an hour, just getting to know them and practice my Spanish. Although I knew I was rusty, they assured me that I was very good and it built up my confidence. That experience is what Su Casa is all about. It's catered to the Spanish community, but accepts everyone with wide-open arms. I HIGHLY recommend this place as a way to feel like you're part of something.

If you're a church or non profit you can shop here for foods, hygiene and family items like…read moreformula, diapers etc. The mission of the Freestore is to end hunger and the story of their evolution is humbling. This is a warehouse (think Sam's Club) full of canned items, fresh vegatables and meat, fruit, drinks etc. It's absolutely unbelievable. There is also a section they give you 30 minutes to shop and everything is free! (after you make a purchase) Fresh vegetables, meats, fruits, hipster juices and all types of random goodness. If you operate a food pantry, provide meals as part of a community service or organization this is a place you should visit. Just ask for Moxie! She runs the show! Not so humbly submitted, Michael C.

Media Bridges is a local non-profit that provides access and education to the community on…read moretechnology and technology resources. They just recently moved downtown on Race and Central Parkway. The center offers free classes to the community on things such as video production, graphic design, web design, Once someone has taken classes there, they can have access to use the electronics and equipment that Media Bridges owns. They also produce programming on their four local access channels for many local organizations. They pride themselves on being one of the many organizations that have moved into Over the Rhine to help it's revitalization and growth as a booming cultural and arts neighborhood. I am actually looking into taking some classes there soon. I hear that they are somewhat hard to get into as they are free!

Ever wanted to make your own TV show... for FREE?! You can do it here…read more Media Bridges is a non-profit cable station located at Race and Central Parkway. If you are a Cincinnati resident, you can come here to learn how to create your own television show and have it broadcast. How so? 1.) Call up Media Bridges. Ask to signup for their television classes. They also have radio classes if music is more your thing. 2.) Attend the required classes and learn how to use the equipment. Ask questions! 3.) Once you are proficient, you can borrow video cameras, use the station's television studio or radio pod to create your own show. Media Bridges also has several editing suites so that you can put together your show and add graphics and effects. 4.) When you have a completed show, you can burn it to DVD and schedule it for broadcast. Pretty cool, eh? Media Bridges is community centric and promotes freedom of speech. As long as your message is tastefully produced, you can make a show about anything: hobbies, cartoons, talk show, politics, music, religion... your imagination is the limit.

It was August and school was about to start up again in whatever form that it is going to be in…read morethis #covid19 year of 2020. My soon to be four year old grandson was with me this weekend. Happen, Inc was sponsoring the #backtoschool #northsideschoolbackpackgiveaway just a few blocks away from my house on #hoffnerstreet. We arrived just after 10:00 am for the 10 am to 2 pm event. It wasn't busy at all. The main gate entrance to this enclosed garden that I didn't even know existed was the required flow for the parents & children coming here. #Covid19 precautions were being taken. Facemasks and social distancing was promoted. We checked in at the registration table. Emails were asked for so they could keep people informed of future events. Most of their events used to be held at their storefront on #hamiltonavenue until the #covid19 pandemic. The friendly staff directed us to walk through the garden to the next table at the back entrance. My grandson and I got a little bit off of the main path but we made it to the next table. Here my grandson was able to pick out what color backpack he wanted! Green was his choice. He was excited to look inside it and we stopped on the sidewalk just down the street. He sat down and opened it up. To my surprise it was loaded with writing pads, paper, folders, crayons, a ruler and a zippered pouch with a lot of erasers and pencils and a pencil/crayon sharpener. My grandson was so happy! He sat there on the sidewalk sharpening the pencils. I was glad to see that the backpack was made from high quality materials. After this we headed to #jacobhoffnerpark for more fun. It was a great day! Until next time stay healthy & be kind to each other. #happeninc #northside #familytime #weekendfun #grandchildren

This place hosts free crafting events for kids about once every other month, usually around a…read moreholiday. I love taking my kids! Even though my oldest is only three, the atmosphere is perfect for him. It's laid back. You come and go at your convenience - it's nice that he can participate, but doesn't have to stay in a seat longer than he can handle. They provide all the tools and supplies for free!On our most recent visit this past October, they had pumpkin decorating. The pumpkin had already been emptied of it's guts, so all you had to do was draw and then carve your design!

Cintrifuse is home to two of Cincinnati's best startup accelerator programs (The Brandery and…read moreCincyTech). They have a gorgeous space in the hip Over-The-Rhine neighborhood, where budding entrepreneurs, working professionals and mentors come together to create a great coworking space.

This is a terrific agency. They are communicative, patient, friendly, and eager to help you be…read moresuccessful. We've been associated with FOY for a little over a year now, and we've had positive experience after positive experience. They offer flexible schedules for training classes and social events. Often, there's food at these events! You can't beat that. If you're thinking about becoming involved with fostering children - part or full time, advocacy, whatever - consider aligning with Focus On Youth. They are a Christian organization but it's not overt. They emphasize traditional family values and ethical treatment of others. I'll definitely be back.

Over the Rhine Foundation is a great organization that is working to revitalize the most beautiful…read moreneighborhood in Cincinnati. They have money and they are using it to keep it beautiful and keep it growing. Sometimes they will have fundraisers and auctions to keep their funds going, but they seem to be doing okay. They are working on a market for antiques and crafts that might happen every weekend on Main Street, recruiting new businesses in the area, support for current businesses, a marketing campaign for promoting coming to Over the Rhine on weekends, working towards preserving current buildings, and working on renovations. They also do a lot of work with youth growing up in Over the Rhine and the quality of their organization. They do a lot of good things and are really succeeding in what they've started out to do. Cheers!

Our family has been part of the Goddard community since June 2023, when our oldest child started…read moreattending. Today, all three of our children (ages 4.5, 2.5, and 1.5) attend Goddard, and we've experienced every classroom from Infant through PS2. We initially chose Goddard because of its outstanding reputation in the community. Families consistently described it as clean, safe, educational, fun, and trustworthy, and our experience has absolutely lived up to those expectations. What stands out most is the genuine care the teachers have for the children. My kids are excited to go to school every day, which speaks volumes. The school is constantly creating fun and engaging experiences, from Kona Ice visits and special guests to themed weeks, festivals, scooter races, and enrichment opportunities like dance and soccer during the school day. While we've had countless positive experiences, Ms. Amy deserves special recognition. She has built incredible relationships with our children and has become such an important part of their lives. She lovingly created nicknames that are still used years later, helped fully potty train our oldest and is now helping our second child, and even asked to FaceTime when he celebrated his first success on the potty. She has cared for our children when they were sick, kept us informed about important deadlines and events, and always takes time to share the little stories that make our days brighter. Goddard should do everything they can to keep her. The teaching staff as a whole is exceptional. There is a wonderful mix of long-tenured teachers who mentor those newer to the profession. Every teacher brings a different style--warm, structured, silly, nurturing, or traditional--but all have earned our trust. Communication is also strong. We receive regular updates regarding supplies, incidents, and classroom activities. While there have been a few opportunities for more proactive communication, such as when a classroom staffing change occurred unexpectedly, those instances have been the exception rather than the rule. Academically, we've been incredibly impressed. Beyond reading at home, we rarely feel the need to supplement their learning. Our children frequently come home talking about topics that surprise us with their depth and detail. Most recently, we had a lively family discussion about nocturnal animals inspired by what they learned at school. The school is exceptionally clean, organized, and well-managed. I particularly appreciate the emphasis on life skills and personal responsibility. My children routinely clear their dishes, clean up after themselves, and take pride in helping at home--habits that were reinforced at Goddard. Finally, we have tremendous appreciation for Ms. Emily and Ms. Didi. Together they provide the perfect balance of hands-on leadership and strong administrative organization, helping create the positive culture and consistency that make the school so successful. As parents, there is nothing more valuable than knowing your children are safe, loved, learning, and excited to be where they are each day. Goddard has given our family that peace of mind, and for that we are incredibly grateful.

I knew we chose the right daycare facility when my son had his first febrile seizure on a Sunday. I…read morenotified the school after my son missed several days of school of his diagnosis. Juliana called me the first day he was back. She implemented a protocol that if he ever had a fever, they would give him Tylenol (with a doctor's note) and that a parent would have to pick him up right away. This past Friday, my son's teacher Ms. Didi noticed his fever right away (even though it was only 99.5) and the school notified me. I arrived to pick him up within about 20 minutes. As I was putting him in his car seat he had another febrile seizure and started to turn blue. I ran him back inside and Gabbi very calmly called 911. The paramedics arrived within minutes. Meanwhile several teachers came to help apply ice and comfort the both of us. Gabbi offered to come with us to the hospital and without my insisting we were fine, would have. Gabbi even texted us to check in with our family later that night. I cannot thank the staff at Goddard Ft. Mitchell enough for their compassion and help in such a difficult moment.