Jordan Shepherd of Warwick graduates from St. Clement. He will be going to Roger Bacon next year and playing football. Congratulations Jordan!!
Car Parade Held for Local Volunteer, Former Educator, Barbara Smitherman
YWCA honored longtime volunteer, former educator and community matriarch, Barbara Smitherman on Saturday, June 20 th with a car parade past her family home in historic North Avondale. As the YWCA’s Career Women of Achievement season came to a close for 2020 with their broadcast on June 18 th , the organization gathered committee members and board members to thank Barbara Smitherman for her role as Co-Chair for their Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship. Nearly 30 years ago, Mrs. Smitherman helped create this scholarship in memory of her good friend and YWCA board member, Mamie Earl Sells . Since then, over 200 young African-American women have received this award.
The YWCA Mamie Earl Sells Scholarship Fund was established in 1993 to provide financial assistance and support to an outstanding African-American female Greater Cincinnati high school senior entering a post-secondary institution. The scholarship is offered annually in conjunction with the YWCA Career Women of Achievement Luncheon. A committee evaluates and updates the scholarship application, assists in its distribution and promotion, and selects 10 finalists, who include two runners-up and one winner. Evaluation criteria include academic record, personal challenges and hardships, ACT and/or SAT scores, letters of recommendation, class rank, honors and awards, involvement in extra-curricular activities and community service, and employment history. Applicants are required to write two brief essays, one describing their greatest challenge and how it has affected them, and one explaining what Mamie Earl Sells’ philosophy, “Lift as we climb,” means to them. The 2020 winner is Thalia grant, graduate of DePaul Cristo Rey High School. She will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the Fall.
Mrs. Smitherman stepped down as co-chair last year and was to be honored at the annual Luncheon, but that was changed to a TV broadcast due to COVID-19. The organization didn’t want to miss the opportunity to thank their dear friend. Therefore, in the practice made so popular lately by teachers honoring students with a car parade, the YWCA decided to honor this former educator.
Local artists John Lanzador , an artist, painted messages of hope, justice, and community on the boarded-up windows of MiCA 12/v.Provided
John Lanzador, a North Avondale resident, is featured in Spectrum 1’s first “Voices for Change” video, a series that will include activists, leaders, and community members sharing what bought them to action.
The goal is to address discrimination head-on to create a more just world. For his part, Lanzador, an artist, painted messages of hope, justice, and community on the boarded-up windows of MiCA 12/v, which was damaged during the protests shortly after reopening. Other residents, inspired to help, have reached out to him.
To see the video, click here .
