For our fourth event of 2012, GOOD Ideas for Cities is headed to Cincinnati.

GOOD Ideas for Cities taps creative problem-solvers to tackle real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders and present the solutions at live events across the country. Thanks to our partnership with CEOs for Cities and a generous grant from ArtPlace, we’re taking the program to six cities in 2012. If you’re in Cincinnati, here’s how you can be a part of it.


Last month, we issued a call for Cincinnati creatives and chose six teams to represent the city. Each team was issued a challenge proposed by local urban leaders and began working together on a solution. At the event, the creative teams will present their solutions, and the urban leaders will join them onstage for a brief Q&A. Afterwards, we’ll have drinks and more conversation as we discuss how to make these ideas a reality.

Wednesday, May 16
Doors at 6:00 p.m.
Program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Contemporary Arts Center
44 East Sixth Street
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

RSVP here.

Update: We have added a simulcast lounge in the lobby to accommodate more seating. This will be a great place for attendees who’d like to stick close to the bar and still watch the presentations! All seating is first-come, first-served, arrive early if you’d prefer to sit in the theater.

Hosted by The University of Cincinnati Niehoff Urban Studio and the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation

Special thanks to our partners Soapbox, AIGA Cincinnati and AIA Cincinnati

Supported by ArtPlace

Thanks to our generous beer sponsors at Christian Moerlein Brewing Co.

Do not call the venue about tickets, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com with any questions.

The Challenges

1. Cincinnati is known for its strong and diverse arts community with a plethora of offerings that include large museums and institutions, excellent arts schools, and alternative spaces and galleries. How can the local arts scene serve as a catalyst for the local creative economy in a way that will attract talent, fuel innovation and build a stronger workforce?

Contemporary Arts Center, Molly O’Toole

20-Somethings Doing Something: Michelle Stawicki, Lauren Mae Oswald, Angela Kowalski, Kelsey Downs, Mandy Smedley, Emily Wolf

2. Four transit agencies operate public transportation in the Cincinnati region, each with its own name and identity, spanning multiple counties and two states. How can we create a more user-focused transit experience around a bus rapid transit line that builds brand equity and consumer commitments with a unified, region-wide voice, creating rising public demand for a better regional system?

Metro, Sallie Hilvers; TANK, Gina Douthat; Agenda 360, Mary Stagaman and Adena Kass; Vision 2015, Bill Scheyer

Mission Possible: John Rizzo, Ben Patrick, Chris Simmons, Kelsey Hawke, Meghann Craig, Jon Cramer, Sarah Strassel, Missy Raterman, Carrie Farler, Ashley Plank, Kelly Horan

3. Studies have shown that parental involvement in a child’s academic aspirations is one of the most important elements in improving student outcomes and nurturing student success. Knowing that early education is especially critical to our students’ lifelong development, how can we design, implement, and evaluate a system of parental involvement within early education for Cincinnati families?

Strive Partnership, Greg Landsman; KnowledgeWorks, Jamie Berg

Cincinnatives: Dustin Blankenship, Julie Blum, Doug Hovekamp, Kara Koch

4. Walkability offers real benefits to our health, the environment, our communities, and our finances: Research shows increasing walkability can increase the value of residential and commercial real estate. How can we help our communities come together and make changes necessary to increase their local walkability?

Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation, Eric Avner; LISC, Kathy Schwab; Cincinnati Area Board of Realtors, Mark Quarry

Scout Camp: Luke Field, Tina Sevilla Stear, Michael Bergman, Nick Dewald, Lindsay Dewald, Lann Brumlik Field, Eric Stear, Will Yokel

5. Homeowners in the Greater Cincinnati area are spending far more than they should on electricity and gas because their homes lack proper insulation, storm windows and efficient heating and cooling systems. With the goals of saving money, reducing emissions and putting local residents to work, how do we get more Cincinnati households to perform energy efficiency upgrades on their home?

Green Umbrella, Brewster Rhoads; Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance, Lilah Glick; and City of Cincinnati, Office of Environmental Quality, Steve Johns

Hyperquake: Kate Kovalcin, LeAnne Wagner, A.J. Mercer, Dan Barczak, Matt Cole, Molly Danks, Chris Wallen

6. Adults living in neighborhoods with no supermarkets have significantly higher obesity rates compared to adults living in neighborhoods with supermarkets. Currently the City of Cincinnati should have 34 supermarkets—we only have 24. How can we increase both availability of healthy foods and education about healthy eating in underserved neighborhoods?

Closing the Health Gap, Renee Harris; Greater Cincinnati Foundation, Ray Watson; Haile/U.S. Bank Foundation, Chris Bochenek,

Design Impact and Kaleidoscope: Ramsey Ford, Kate Hanisian, Demetrius Romanos, Giacomo Ciminello

Check out the videos from our Portland event and stay tuned for details about future GOOD Ideas for Cities announcement. If you’d like to talk about bringing the program to your city or school, email alissa[at]goodinc[dot]com or follow us at @IdeasforCities

  • Man’s dog suddenly becomes protective of his wife, Internet clocks the reason right away
    Dogs have impressive observational powers.Photo credit: Canva

    Reddit user Girlfriendhatesmefor’s three-year-old pitbull, Otis, had recently become overprotective of his wife. So he asked the online community if they knew what might be wrong with the dog.

    “A week or two ago, my wife got some sort of stomach bug,” the Reddit user wrote under the subreddit /r/dogs. “She was really nauseous and ill for about a week. Otis is very in tune with her emotions (we once got in a fight and she was upset, I swear he was staring daggers at me lol) and during this time didn’t even want to leave her to go on walks. We thought it was adorable!”

    His wife soon felt better, butthe dog’s behavior didn’t change.

    pregnancy signs, dogs and pregnancy, pitbull behavior, pet intuition, dog overprotection, Reddit stories, viral Reddit, dog instincts, canine emotions, dog owner tips
    Otis knew before they did. Canva

    Girlfriendhatesmefor began to fear that Otis’ behavior may be an early sign of an aggression issue or an indication that the dog was hurt or sick.

    So he threw a question out to fellow Reddit users: “Has anyone else’s dog suddenly developed attachment/aggression issues? Any and all advice appreciated, even if it’s that we’re being paranoid!”

    The most popular response to his thread was by ZZBC.

    Any chance your wife is pregnant?

    ZZBC | Reddit

    The potential news hit Girlfriendhatesmefor like a ton of bricks. A few days later, Girlfriendhatesmefor posted an update and ZZBC was right!

    “The wifey is pregnant!” the father-to-be wrote. “Otis is still being overprotective but it all makes sense now! Thanks for all the advice and kind words! Sorry for the delayed reply, I didn’t check back until just now!”

    Redditors responded with similar experiences.

    Anecdotal I know but I swear my dog knew I was pregnant before I was. He was super clingy (more than normal) and was always resting his head on my belly.

    realityisworse | Reddit

    So why do dogs get overprotective when someone is pregnant?

    Jeff Werber, PhD, president and chief veterinarian of the Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles, told Health.com that “dogs can also smell the hormonal changes going on in a woman’s body at that time.” He added the dog may “not understand that this new scent of your skin and breath is caused by a developing baby, but they will know that something is different with you—which might cause them to be more curious or attentive.”

    The big lesson here is to listen to your pets and to ask questions when their behavior abruptly changes. They may be trying to tell you something, and the news may be life-changing.

    This article originally appeared last year.

  • Throughout history, women have stood up and fought to break down barriers imposed on them from stereotypes and societal expectations. The trailblazers in these photos made history and redefined what a woman could be. In doing so, they paved the way for future generations to stand up and continue to fight for equality.

  • ,

    Why mass shootings spawn conspiracy theories

    Mass shootings and conspiracy theories have a long history.

    While conspiracy theories are not limited to any topic, there is one type of event that seems particularly likely to spark them: mass shootings, typically defined as attacks in which a shooter kills at least four other people.

    When one person kills many others in a single incident, particularly when it seems random, people naturally seek out answers for why the tragedy happened. After all, if a mass shooting is random, anyone can be a target.

    Pointing to some nefarious plan by a powerful group – such as the government – can be more comforting than the idea that the attack was the result of a disturbed or mentally ill individual who obtained a firearm legally.


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