Spotlight On Hometown History Makers
Women's History Month 2019
Charlene Ventura

 
Charlene Ventura says she initially took what was considered "the more traditional female journey of the time. Went to college, got married and had babies."
 
Then, she was exposed to Betty Friedan's book, The Feminine Mystique. "The position I was in at the time and a new realization of the limitations on women catapulted me into becoming politically active and one of the founders and leaders of the women's movement in Cincinnati," said Ventura. "This role and awareness eventually led to my employment, in 1973, at the YWCA, which was an organization that mirrored my values - empowerment of women and racial justice. In other words my avocation became my vocation."
 
In 1976, Ms. Ventura initiated the first community-wide forum on domestic abuse, which led to the funding and establishment of the YWCA Alice Paul House, the first shelter for survivors of domestic violence in the Greater Cincinnati area and one of the first seven in the nation. In 1980, she founded AMEND, a unique program to counsel male abusers, and instituted transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and their children.
 
She directed a fund-raising effort to save Cincinnati's historic YWCA building, converting part of it into housing for the elderly and disabled. In 1998, Ms. Ventura provided staff leadership for a campaign to purchase the new domestic violence shelter and renovate the historic downtown YWCA headquarters. This new shelter, designed to respect the dignity of all women and children, replaced the YWCA Alice Paul House and tripled its capacity. As a result of this initiative, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton attended the dedication of this new state-of-the-art shelter. Ms. Ventura also established the annual YWCA Salute to Career Women of Achievement in 1980 and the Racial Justice Breakfast in 2000.
 
Although she was mentored by dozens of women, her biggest influence was her firefighter father. "Without being aware of it, his example taught me to have a strong work ethic, be independent, use common sense, have a good sense of humor and be true to myself."

Also a mentor, Ms. Ventura advises leaders to, "Manage by walking around and by example. Don't ask anyone to do anything that you are not willing to do yourself - this has to be genuine. Let your people know how much you appreciate who they are and what they do. Create an environment of excellence and celebration."

 In 2004, Ms. Ventura was celebrated with an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree from the College of Mount St. Joseph. Other honors include being named one of Ohio's Ten Outstanding Young Women by Redbook Magazine, being named among Cincy Magazine's 100 Most Powerful Leaders, being inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame, receiving the Human Relations Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and receiving the Women of Distinction Award from the Great Rivers Girl Scout Council and the national recognition from Women's E-News as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century as well as the We Celebrate Woman of the Year Award from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

She is currently a member of the University of Cincinnati Safety & Reform Advisory Committee and an Organizing Member of the Beyond Civility Speaking of Race Planning Group.
 
Ms. Ventura enjoys reading great novels, writing poetry and swimming. "It is great exercise," said Ventura, "and an excellent form of meditation." She has two daughters, and a grandson. Her partner of over five years is the Honorable Jack Sherman.


 
Spotlight On Hometown History Makers
Women's History Month 2019
Francie Pepper

Francie Pepper, a well-respected advocate and volunteer, was b est known for leading an impressive fundraising effort for a cause close to her heart.
 
Pepper was best known for devoting herself fully into all of her pursuits. When asked once by a reporter what her occupation was, Pepper replied "WMV"-wife, mother, and volunteer. She excelled in all three.
 
Pepper grew up in Mount Auburn in the 1950's. It was there that she says she first recognized people in need, an observation that would guide her life for decades to come. As a child, she was in awe of the accomplishments of her mother. A leader and philanthropist herself, her mother served as President of the YWCA in 1968. Additionally, Pepper's aunt would found several YWCA Asian chapters.
 
Upon graduating from Cincinnati's Hillsdale School in 1958, it was then on to Smith College in Massachusetts. Eventually marrying husband John, a 2006 Great Living Cincinnatian, they found themselves following his career with Procter & Gamble and living in cities across the globe. Not one to sit idle, she volunteered by helping fellow P&G wives settle in to their new homes, serving as an unofficial welcome wagon. Upon returning to Cincinnati, she dedicated herself to our city, volunteered with organizations like Youth Collaborative, Junior League, and Cincinnati Country Day.
 
Soon her skills at fundraising became apparent. She learned early on to value both small and large-scale donors, because both create awareness and community ownership. A colleague once remarked that Pepper was as comfortable volunteering in a woman's shelter as she was in a board room. She was also pleasantly tenacious in her activism. One community partner recalled Pepper "trapping" business leaders in her van until they made a significant pledge.
 
One of the largest beneficiaries of her commitment would be the YWCA. Asked to lead their capital campaign in 1995, she led them to raise a staggering $7.5M. With the money raised, the group renovated an old mansion and transformed it into a battered women's shelter, eliminated the waiting list in the process. A self-proclaimed feminist, Pepper would become a national voice in support of domestic violence awareness. With that message that when women suffer, so too do their children, her words tried to end that cycle before it started. To this day, many in our area continue to benefit from Pepper's efforts.
 

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