2008 Woodie Awards
Over-the-Rhine volunteer receives $1K grant
Kelley Bricker
Issue date: 12/2/08 Section: Campus
After creating an after school program for young girls in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine community, Miami University senior Eva D'Intino was awarded a $1,000 Carter Entrepreneur Grant to help with funding.
The program will help seventh grade girls at Rothenberg Elementary School develop their writing and artistic skills through student-designed explorations of issues pertinent to young women in urban areas, such as identity, peer pressure and race.
D'Intino was first inspired when she began volunteering for Over-the-Rhine Community Housing her sophomore year. The following year, she lived there through the Over-the-Rhine Residency Program.
"Living and working in Over-the-Rhine is the best experience," D'Intino said. "In the news, they talk about the crime, but they don't talk about the true sense of community. They care about each other."
D'Intino said her experiences there influenced her senior thesis, which focuses on the connection between urban education reform and after school programs.
"I knew I wanted to do something with Over-the-Rhine," D'Intino said. "It was the most important part of my undergraduate experience."
D'Intino said she began planning her program in August and worked with Bonnie Neumeier, a member of Over-the-Rhine for Education in Public Schools (OTREPS), a committee that works to improve the neighborhood schools.
According to Neumeier, Rothenberg Elementary School, the only public school in the Over-the-Rhine community, is currently in academic emergency.
"I know one of the teachers, Kathie Klondell, has been very interested in supporting OTREPS," Neumeier said. "She was hungry, wanting something for the girls she teaches."
Neumeier wished there had been a creative program like this when she was in elementary school.
"The sooner we encourage and empower young girls, the greater their success in life will be," she said.
Neumeier said D'Intino is the passionate and motivated person needed to implement this project.
The program will help seventh grade girls at Rothenberg Elementary School develop their writing and artistic skills through student-designed explorations of issues pertinent to young women in urban areas, such as identity, peer pressure and race.
D'Intino was first inspired when she began volunteering for Over-the-Rhine Community Housing her sophomore year. The following year, she lived there through the Over-the-Rhine Residency Program.
"Living and working in Over-the-Rhine is the best experience," D'Intino said. "In the news, they talk about the crime, but they don't talk about the true sense of community. They care about each other."
D'Intino said her experiences there influenced her senior thesis, which focuses on the connection between urban education reform and after school programs.
"I knew I wanted to do something with Over-the-Rhine," D'Intino said. "It was the most important part of my undergraduate experience."
D'Intino said she began planning her program in August and worked with Bonnie Neumeier, a member of Over-the-Rhine for Education in Public Schools (OTREPS), a committee that works to improve the neighborhood schools.
According to Neumeier, Rothenberg Elementary School, the only public school in the Over-the-Rhine community, is currently in academic emergency.
"I know one of the teachers, Kathie Klondell, has been very interested in supporting OTREPS," Neumeier said. "She was hungry, wanting something for the girls she teaches."
Neumeier wished there had been a creative program like this when she was in elementary school.
"The sooner we encourage and empower young girls, the greater their success in life will be," she said.
Neumeier said D'Intino is the passionate and motivated person needed to implement this project.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
teresa
posted 12/07/08 @ 9:44 PM EST
eva d'intino is one of the greatest people I know!! this is awesome I hope more people follow her example and take action to help others and make the world a better place :)
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