United Way of Greater Cincinnati - LIVE UNITED

WINGs: Women Investing in the Next Generation

In This Issue:

• Welcome New Steering Commitee Members!
• WINGs Goes to Washington (again!)
• Making an Impact at VISIONS
• Donor Dollars at Work in Our Community - Meet Susanne
• 'Impact of Maternal Depression on Child Development'
• WINGs Flower Power Happy Hour
• WINGs Calendar of Events
  

Welcome New Steering Committee Members

Each year, WINGs will add new women to the Steering Committee from our many active members. This year, we welcome three women to the committee that bring passion for WINGs, excitement to make the group even better and enthusiasm for continuing our growth.
- Laura Hinegardner - Katz, Teller, Brant & Hild
- Mary Beth Sauer - Ethicon Endo-Surgery
- Susan Storer - Macy's, Inc.

WINGs also owes a great debt of gratitude to Cathy Myers and Deb Crosby from U.S. Bank for their leadership on the Steering Committee since it was founded in 2007. Cathy and Deb will be stepping down from the committee but won't go far - they will continue to stay connected to WINGs through work on our sub-committees.

Thanks to our Steering Committee members that will continue their service in the 2010 year.
- Eileen Budo - The Procter & Gamble Company
- Tracey Fielman - Deloitte Tax LLP
- Ingrid Nobiletti - Fifth Third Processing Solutions
- Christi Novomesky - The Procter & Gamble Company
- Lisa O'Brien - U.S. Bank
- Cheryl Rose - Fifth Third Bank

All of our Steering Committee members, past and present, are extremely appreciated. The program that has been developed brings great opportunities to women leaders across our region.

WINGs Goes to Washington (again!)

In March four WINGs members traveled to Washington D.C. to voice their passion for early childhood care and education.  This year’s two-and-a-half day trip consisted of a fun-filled, jam-packed agenda.  Cathy Myers (U.S. Bank), Cheryl Thomas (P&G), Tracey Fielman (Deloitte Tax LLP) and Deb Crosby (U.S. Bank) met with Representatives Steve Driehaus and Jean Schmidt, staff from Senators Brown and Voinovich’s offices as well as the Director of Governor Strickland’s Washington DC office.  The meetings provided an opportunity for the women to build relationships with their elected officials and share the WINGs mission.  

In addition to legislative visits, the group attended The Partnership for America’s Economic Success (PAES) national conference. PAES engages business leaders nationally to advocate for public investment in early-childhood programs.  The conference allowed WINGs members to network with business leaders and advocates from around the country, as well as providing tools and information on how to advocate for increased public support for home visitation and quality child programs. 

The trip wasn’t all business, though.  Thursday evening provided a great chance to get to know each other better and learn more about the impressive history of our country with dinner and the Monuments by Moonlight tour.  Flying back to Cincinnati on Friday, the group left D.C. with stronger friendships and new ways to increase WINGs involvement in public policy advocacy.

To learn more about WINGs’ work in advocacy, please attend our next luncheon on Friday, May 14.  Click here for more details about the lunch.

Making an Impact at Visions

The newest WINGs Impact endeavor took place on February 11th at VISIONS Community Services in the West End. VISIONS Community Services is a community-based organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing human services that strengthen families and promote self-sufficiency.

This was the first of several sessions with VISIONS this year to allow WINGs members to make an even greater impact in our community. During this session, WINGs members met with VISIONS's executive director, Marcia Simmons, and the director of parent and outreach programs, Robinn Jones-Leonard, for an introduction and a descriptive tour of their operations. Afterwards, the WINGs members split up into two groups to connect with both the moms and the children.

The WINGs members had a wonderful time in both sessions. The members enjoyed playing and working with the children on their class activities, and the others who joined the meeting with the mothers felt they were able to connect and learn more about their lives, aspirations and how WINGs can help.

Mark your calendar for our upcoming sessions at Visions and watch for more details.
- June 3, 4-5:30 p.m.
- September 22, 4-5:30 p.m.
- November 11, 9-10:30 a.m.

Donor Dollars at Work in Our Community - Meet Susanne

Finding Her Voice in the Public School System

Susanne’s son, now in second grade, was diagnosed with autism at age 3.  New Perceptions, a United Way agency partner, provided Ryan with occupational and speech therapy, as well as the official diagnosis that enabled Ryan to receive an IEP (individualized educational program) when he later began kindergarten in their Covington school district.

Committed to meeting all the challenges her son would face, Susanne joined Latonia Elementary’s volunteer parent group, where her leadership talent, decision-making and strong desire to serve her community was recognized.  District and school staff referred Susanne to the Prichard Committee, who, in partnership with United Way agency partner, Covington Partners in Prevention, encouraged Susanne to apply for an advocacy training position with the Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (CIPL) and she was accepted.

The CIPL program brings together parents, teachers and school administrators for training that helps them work as partners to raise student achievement. The intensive program was developed by the Prichard Committee in 1997 as a way to support informed and skilled parents as effective advocates who are passionate about improving Kentucky public schools.

“I learned about curriculum, budgeting, hiring practices – everything I needed to feel empowered about making my school district accountable for my son’s education,” says Susanne.

Since its inception, CIPL has trained more than 1,500 Kentucky parents on how to effectively advocate for high-quality schools. More than three dozen CIPL fellows have served on school boards, and hundreds more are involved daily in education advocacy. 

“If this program wasn’t available to me, I might have just accepted anything that the staff told me. Now I know enough to question certain methods, and talk intelligently about my son’s curriculum. No one knows what your child needs better than you do, and this training gave me the voice to come to the table with.”

Ryan is progressing nicely, and Susanne’s advocacy continues to evolve. This fall, she will run for one of two elected parent’s positions available on her district’s Site Based Decision Making Council.  A life-long resident of Covington, Susanne believes in her district’s academic future.  “I will always be a champion for parent advocacy,” she says.

'Impact of Maternal Depression on Child Development'

Our March Spring Luncheon, held at the Taft Museum of Art, featured Frank W. Putnam, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry and Director of the Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Putnam spoke about the impact of maternal depression on child development, and how the Every Child Succeeds collaborative is making an impact on alleviating depression in new at-risk moms.

Research has proved that the I.Q. of infants with a depressed mom is significantly compromised. Prolonged disengagement leads to insecurity, emotional issues, aggression and attention issues in the child. The effected moms feel desperate, worthless and withdrawn.

ECS is at the heart of child development, going into the home to provide support and instruction to mothers in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. This early prevention program works with first-time mothers, many of whom are less than 18 years old, low-income, single and/or receiving inadequate prenatal care. The home visits help to strengthen the parent-child relationship, and promote an optimal environment for learning and emotional growth, in addition to addressing maternal depression symptoms, and preventing relapses. A reported 86% of moms are no longer depressed at the end of treatment.

WINGs Flower Power Happy Hour

WINGs members joined to celebrate the Cincinnati Flower Show on April 22. The group enjoyed a private tent with cocktails and snacks for networking followed by a tour of the main event tents. The evening was a great opportunity for WINGs members to come together and get to know one another. We were thrilled to have eleven WINGs members attend an event for the first time - be assured that you'll never be the only 'newbie' at a WINGs event!

Join us for our next WINGs Networking Events:
- June 10, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Art of Entertaining
- December 2, Cincinnati Zoo Festival of Lights (Families will be welcome to attend with you!)

Calendar of Events

Advocacy Beyond Political Action

Friday, May 14, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Taft Museum of Art, 416 Pike Street, Cincinnati 45202
Karen Bankston, senior vice president of the Drake Center, Women's Leadership Council member and member of United Way of Greater Cincinnati's Public Policy Committee and Ohio State Representative Denise Driehaus will join us to share ways that everyone can be an advocate, even beyond political action. Join WINGs members for lunch as we discuss recent advocacy activities - including a trip to Washington, DC in March - and ways you can be involved in this work.
Thanks to U.S. Bank for sponsoring this event.

Click here to RSVP

Unlock the Social Media Mystery

Monday, May 24, 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Scripps Center, 312 Walnut Street, Suite 1800, Cincinnati, 45202
Take part in this session to learn how to use social media to your advantage, including hints for success and what to avoid. Come hear from social media experts; Jackie Reau, CEO and Founder of Game Day Communications and Cynthia Gibson, executive vice president, legal, at Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc.
Thanks to Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., for hosting and sponsoring this event.

Click here to RSVP

NEW! Volunteer with the WINGs Impact Team

Thursday, June 3, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
VISIONS Community Services, 425 Ezzard Charles Drive, Cincinnati, 45203
Take this opportunity to interact hands-on at an early childhood center in the West End, near downtown Cincinnati. You'll have an opportunity to work in their classrooms on art projects, reading and play, as well as take part in break-out sessions to connect with both the moms and the kids. At this session, we'll be working with the moms on job application and interviewing skills. VISIONS is a community-based organization committed to breaking the cycle of poverty by providing human services that strengthen families and promote self-sufficiency.

Click here to RSVP

NEW! Outdoor Summer Fun with WINGs

Thursday, June 10, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
The Art of Entertaining, 2019 Madison Road, Cincinnati, 45208
Join members of WINGs for a fun evening of wine, tappas and networking! The evening will include tasting of up to four wines and a selection of grilled tappas - it will be a great opportunity to celebrate the warm weather together. The cost of the event is $28. Payment can be made by check or credit card online.

Click here for more details and to RSVP