for the world’s food source. During the holiday season they created holiday wreaths using many natural materials. In February, members will learn about Cincinnati’s Hillside Trust. The Hillside Trust’s mission is accomplished through research and education, land conservation, and advocacy of responsible land use. Did you know Cincinnati is one of the most landslide prone cities in the US? The Junior League Gardeners are also responsible for the design and maintenance of the plantings at the JLC headquarters, Columbia Center. We have all marveled at the lovely flower boxes and bushes lining the wooden fence along Delta Avenue on our way in and out of the building for meetings and events. These beautiful landscapes are designed courtesy of the Junior League Gardeners. A team of members lovingly plant, water, fertilize, prune and weed and work their gardening magic to enhance The Junior League Gardeners are responsible for the design our headquarters building for all to enjoy. Since and maintenance of the plantings at the JLC headquarters, 2020, the team has planned the design, purchased Columbia Center. the foliage plants, cleaned out the boxes seasonally, and even replaced the planters with cuttings from their own homes during the winter. Members come weekly during the summer months to water and care for the gardens and continue to maintain them regularly as the weather turns cooler. Passers-by often comment on how nice the Columbia Center grounds look, thanks to their time and attention. We are grateful for the hard work of our dedicated gardening groups and their immense talent that they share with the JLC and beyond!
Empowering Women
via Women’s Healthcare Forum
Event Sponsor
BY DANIELLE PEACE, CONTENT WRITER Empowering, enlightening, informative. These were the recurring themes of the Women’s Health Care Forum described by the attendees. The third installment of this series in fall 2023 was filled with information that women of the JLC were able to apply to their own care, focused on family planning. Planning and creating awareness around various topics such as motherhood, family planning, infertility, disparities in infant care, and mental health around family planning were among the topics of conversation. The evening was sponsored by Colorful Cupboard Painting, a female-owned business that paints spaces of all sizes and helps accommodate pricing for those in need. The panel consisted of experts in the field: Dr. Emily Hurley, obstetrician-gynecologist at UC Health, Lisa Henkel, President of Reproductive Assistance Inc., Lauren Everett, Associate Director, and Ayanna Morgan, Grants Manager, at Cradle Cincinnati, Rebecca Story, licensing specialist at Lighthouse Youth and Family Services, and Dr. Ashley Solomon, a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Galia Collaborative. Dr. Hurley shared her knowledge on infertility, IVF and egg preservation and is an advocate for educating and counseling women on their fertility options and reproductive health. Lisa Henkel provided information to the attendees regarding reproductive assistance, which helps create
families through surrogacy and egg donation. Lauren Everett and Ayanna Morgan shared information regarding their work with Cradle Cincinnati, which has a focus in decreasing infant mortality rates and eliminating racial inequities in health care. Rebecca Story shared her work with Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in fosteringto-adopt and how to enroll in that process for anyone interested. Dr. Solomon ended the evening discussing ways to be an advocate for yourself and mental health, being educated around family planning options, and utilizing the education and resources in the Cincinnati area in these fields. While the evening was filled with education and enlightenment, it was also filled with solidarity - many attendees of the forum shared similar challenges and concerns, and everyone was in agreement the night was beneficial regardless of your journey. Rebecca Bryson, VP of Community Impact, put it perfectly: “The Junior League of Cincinnati is proud to host these healthcare forums to educate our members and provide a safe space for questions and support. This forum was especially meaningful as many of our attendees were brave enough to share their experiences and found that they were not alone. It was a huge bonus to see women making meaningful connections.” Stay tuned for the next installment to be planned for spring of 2024. Junior League of Cincinnati 9
