Transform Seeks Matching Gifts for $10,000 Meghan Riley Lewis Memorial Fund Challenge Grant

The challenge from a local couple was made in memory of one of the many victims of violence against the trans community, pictured here, and will support the work of Transform, a member of Community Shares' Social Justice Incubator providing free clothing and services to local trans and gender non-conforming youth and young adults.

Out of pain can come love. Out of loss can come service. And out of the darkness can come a spark that lights up the world.

“Meghan Riley Lewis was a friend, mentor, advocate, sounding board, parent, Navy war veteran, tech professional, music lover, and ‘trans mum’ to the younger generation of trans people in her community,” recalled her close friend and Cincinnati resident Carolyn Martin. “’Stay Sparkly’ was her tagline.”

Lewis enjoyed volunteering, particularly at Baltimore Safe Haven, a full-service housing and wellness center for LGBTQIA people. She created an online support group for transgender people pursuing life-saving procedures in Baltimore.

“This brave, generous, snarky, amazing, sparkly badass lady was shot to death before she could accomplish all the good she set out to do, particularly for trans youth and elderly,” Martin continued, explaining her friend’s spark was extinguished in December when the Bel Air, Maryland, resident was shot outside her home. Her alleged killer awaits trial.

To continue her legacy of love, Martin and her husband, Kevin, have pledged a $10,000 challenge gift to Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati in Meghan’s memory to support Transform Cincy, which provides clothing for Cincinnati-area trans and gender-nonconforming youth and programming for LGBTQIA+ youth and adults.

“We are celebrating her life with this matching gift, sending sparkly ripples of love into the world. Please help us continue her kindness, generosity and advocacy!” Martin added. “Rest in Peace, Meghan. Our love for you will not fade away. Stay Sparkly!”

The Meghan Riley Lewis Memorial Fund Challenge Grant will purchase and install a new permanent, on-site storage facility for Transform to use for clothing donations as well as assist Transform in its delivery of life-saving services to trans youth and young adults from throughout the tri-state region.

Donations to meet the challenge may be made to Community Shares for Transform by mailing a check to Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati, 315 W. Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202, by visiting GiveButter.com/transformchallenge, or using the QR code above.  

Harriet Beecher Stowe House Hosts Housewarming Weekend

Harriet Beecher Stowe House Executive Director Christine Hartlieb speaks about the science behind renovating the historic home at July's monthly lecture at Radio Artifact hosted by Community Shares Social Justice Incubator member Science On Tap. Watch by clicking on the image above or by visiting the link here!

After over five years of meticulous historic restoration work, re-discover Community Shares member The Harriet Beecher Stowe House fully restored to two distinct and interconnected time periods:

• 1840: Abolitionist author Harriet Beecher Stowe living in Cincinnati as a young teacher and mother, preparing to write the world-changing anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom's Cabin.
• 1940: African-American proprietor Irene Bacon managing the house as the Edgemont Inn—a boarding house, community gathering space, and tavern listed in the Green Book.

Saturday, July 20, features a day of family-friendly activities from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. including a concert at 11 a.m. by Linton Peanut Butter & Jam, story time and book signings with Kristy High from 1 to 2:30 p.m., face painting from noon until 2 p.m., Cincinnati Black History coloring books from Urbanist Media while supplies last, and free craft stations, snow cones, and popcorn all day.

Sunday features local visual, musical, and spoken word artists from noon until 4 p.m. including Urban Sketcher Cincinnati Meetup at noon, presentation of a commissioned work by Black Art Speaks artists Deja Fletcher and Ke'Monte Figgs, and performances by CY Lenise, Camille Jones, Ant Alic, Lisa Marie, Gifted Johnson, Nick Fury, Brave Nate, Lucky Lee, Dmaris, MoPoetry Phillips, and Zeda Stew. Refreshments will be available from The Donut Spot.

A ribbon-cutting was held Friday. The museum re-opens to the general public for timed-ticket entries starting Thursday, July 25.

Thank You For Your Support!

A note of appreciation must be expressed to the dedicated donors of Community Shares of Greater Cincinnati.

We recently completed our 29th fiscal year serving the greater Cincinnati community as its only umbrella federation for social and economic justice charities, environmental conservation and sustainability organizations, and animal welfare agencies. As that June 30 date approached, we recognized we were headed for a budgetary shortfall for the year that threatened to deplete our limited operating reserves. We cut expenses where we could and we put out a call to you for additional help. Thanks to the tremendous outpouring of support from our donors, we were able to cut the anticipated shortfall in half, ensuring the continued operations of Community Shares and contributing to our long-term sustainability. Your help is so very much appreciated!

We believe every community member counts. Community Shares connects, supports, and funds nonprofits working toward an equitable, just, and environmentally sound Greater Cincinnati for all. We work to provide funding to these groups to maximize their impact. As we have now entered our 30th fiscal year, we ask that donors continue to support our mission to lead from the margins in fostering local positive change throughout the tri-state region. You may give by visiting https://givebutter.com/givecincy, clicking on the button below, or using the QR code below. Thank you for your generosity!