March 2025 Newsletter

March 2025 LWPC Meeting Recap

On March 5th, the LWPC gathered at the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) Administration Building to learn about the System to Achieve Food Equity (SAFE) Network and continue our work on strategic planning.

The SAFE Network began during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency food for children when schools were closed. Since then, it has grown to include 300 individuals and 100 organizations. Their goals, called SMART AIMs, are to close the meal gap for children and families from 303,000 to zero by December 31, 2028, and to improve self-reported food security for children and families by 5% each year starting in 2024, with a 20% improvement by December 31, 2028. These goals have led to new partnerships and teamwork in the communities most affected by food insecurity.

Data shows that this approach has helped reduce the meal gap in Lower Price Hill and Avondale, and the SAFE Network hopes to expand into other neighborhoods in Cincinnati. If you're interested in volunteering with any of SAFE's food partners, please contact Rachel Uhrig or join the SAFE monthly meetings!

SAFE Network Website

Meal Gap Dashboard

March LWPC PowerPoint Slides

2025 Strategic Planning

Our strategic planning conversations in March's meeting included a glimpse at LWPC's drafted guiding principles and group conversation to complete a SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. SW are internal to LWPC and OT are external to LWPC.

ACTION ITEMS:

Vote for LWPC Guiding Principles.
Add to our SWOT analysis.

Vote for LWPC Guiding Principles

Add to LWPC's SWOT Analysis

Member Announcements & Funding Opportunities

Images are clickable links or announcement PDFs for you to print and share.

Women & Kids Clothing Swap

Date: March 15, 2025

Time: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Location: 2901 Gilbert Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45206

Other Details: Clean out your closet & come find new treasures! Bring your clothes and join the Buckeye Birth Coalition at Easterseals Redwood.

Tire Amnesty Day

Date: March 15, 2025

Time: 9 AM to 1 PM

Location: 3929 Cherry Street,

Cincinnati, OH 45223

Other Details: Free tire disposal for up to 10 tires per vehicle.

Ohio Parent Advocacy Network Parent Listening Session

Date: March 19, 2025

Time: 6 PM to 7:30 PM

Location: Cincinnati Community Action Agency Rooms 304 A/B

Details: OPAN would like to hear from parents or caregivers who have children in early childcare through school age regarding experience in early childcare education. Seating is limited; $50 stipend for attendees.

Flo's Little Gardeners

Date: 4th Saturday of the Month

Time: 10 AM to 11 AM

Location: Walnut Hills Library & Melrose Garden

Other Details: Learn the food cycle with hands-on gardening & activities. Family fun & snacks provided.

Voices of Black Women

Details: American Cancer Society is ready to understand the unique experiences of Black Women to shape a path for the health of future generations. By taking online surveys at least twice a year, you can help shape this path for the betterment of the community.

OhioMeansJobs Readiness Workshops

Location: 1916 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214

Other Details: Core classes to prepare you for employment. Sessions include basic computer skills, resume building, interviewing skills, networking, and more!

Diaper Bank Program

Date: March 3, 2025 & March 17, 2025

Time: 2 PM to 4 PM

Location: 1740 Langdon Farm Rd.

Date: March 11, 2025 & March 25, 2025

Time: 12 PM to 2 PM

Location: 880 W. Court St.

Details: No income restrictions; eligible once per month.

En español

Funding Opportunity:

Interact for Health - Local Policy RFP

Available Funding: $75,000 - $250,000

Deadline: Friday, April 4, 2025

Time: 5 PM

Details: To advance local policy and advocacy efforts focused on addressing the social, economic, and environmental factors that shape health. 18-36 month projects.

More details here!

Last Mile Market

Date: Fridays

Time: 1 PM to 3 PM

Location: 3458 Reading Rd.

Details: Shop for free groceries. Text LMM to 833-592-0669 for schedule updates. Closed on bank holidays.

Funding Opportunity: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Exploring Equity Grant

Deadline: Rolling submissions through October 15, 2025

Time: 3 PM

Details: Support projects that seed new and unconventional ideas that could radically advance health equity for generations to come. RWJF evaluates proposals for this funding opportunity based on the extent to which the proposed project seeds an idea that (1) is new and unconventional and (2) meaningfully advances health equity.

More details here!

Funding Opportunity: City of Cincinnati Human Services Fund & Impact Award

Deadline: 03/24/2025 OR 04/21/2025

Time: 4:30 PM

Details: The intent of the HSF is to leverage, develop and scale proven strategies to accelerate progress toward community goals. Service categories include comprehensive workforce development, youth gun violence prevention and reduction, supporting, securing and stabilizing housing for high-risk populations. The fiscal year 2026 Impact Award is for: Food insecurity as a part of the broader gun violence prevention strategies.

More details here!

Funding Opportunity: CareSource Foundation Community Grants

Deadline: Rolling Submissions

Details: These grants are awarded year-round for a one-year period by CareSource Foundation committees established in each market. Priority is given to organizations, collaboratives and initiatives that deploy innovative solutions.

More details here!

Does your organization have an announcement or funding opportunity?

If you would like to include an announcement in the next LWPC meeting, please email us by Monday, March 31st.

If you would like to include an announcement in next month's newsletter, please email us by Friday, April 4th.

Email your announcements!

March Spotlight

Spotlight:

Courthney Calvin

Tobacco Free Living Coordinator

Courthney Calvin is a Public Health Educator in the Tobacco Free Living Program at the Cincinnati Health Department. Courthney has received her bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Cincinnati. She is dedicated to addressing tobacco-related health disparities ensuring that every resident in Cincinnati can live, work, and play in environments that are tobacco free. Courthney is currently providing vape education to students in the Cincinnati area while working with the largest school district on a Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health (INDEPTH) program which is an alternative to suspension which teaches students about nicotine dependence, while establishing healthy alternatives for an unhealthy addiction.

Courthney has become a strong and resourceful leader in her community and is actively involved with the following organizations: Tobacco Free Ohio Alliance, Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes (PAVE), The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council, Cincinnati Organized & Dedicated Employees (CODE Local union), she is currently the Vice Chair of Community Action Agency-Board of Directors, a Board member of the University of Cincinnati Cancer Advisory Board, a member of the Parent Advisory Board at Stanford University and a founder member of The Air We Share workgroup which focuses on identifying and addressing tobacco-related health disparities in multi housing units. In her spare time Courthney enjoys volunteering, reading, extreme couponing, traveling, spending time with her 14-year-old son Chase.