Community Happens Here is one of Pleasant Ridge's gems. It is an intentional space open for…read morecommunity engagement, co-working spaces, sidewalk hospitality and more. We live in the area and have watched it grow to what it is today and it is a place my family looks to for activities weekly. The founder Ruth Ann, is the most engaging, caring neighbor I have ever met. I'm so glad that we have someone who was thoughtful and intentional on creating a space to nurture the kids in the community from the start of school and after, pour into the parents and neighbors all while creating opportunities for connection.

Blue Manatee Literacy Project is one of my favorite places in Cincinnati. They have such a great…read moreassortment of gifts and books for every age, and are constantly getting new things! Their mission is what really makes them stand out in the community though! Every book you purchase, whether child, adult, in person or online, they donate a book to a school in need! I love knowing that by expanding my daughter's library we are also helping out kids right here in Cincinnati who may not have access to new books without programs like BMLP.

Unfortunately I have not been able to take my kids in-person to visit yet. Looking forward to…read morethings going back to normal and getting to experience the store in-person. I ordered some Christmas gifts online and they were a great price and shipped quickly. I had accidentally checked local delivery instead of shipping. An employee called me and changed to shipping and didn't charge me shipping prices even after I offered to pay. Very lovely employees.

This is a great place. Individuals living with disabilities attend this program as a 4 year school…read more They learn how to be more independent by taking many classes. I have volunteered in their awesome kitchen and taught some crock pot cooking classes. There are many opportunities as a volunteer here. I have found it very rewarding. We have had just as much fun as the students!

"You don't know what you've gotten yourself into," smirked Nikki. "Once you walk through these…read moredoors, you can't stay away!" Four years ago, Nikki started StarfireU as a shy, silent 21-year-old. Today she enthusiastically led me on a tour of her school. StarfireU is a four-year college geared towards individuals with developmental disabilities. Their goal is to enrich lives through unlimited opportunities that build independence and community inclusion. Students have the opportunity to improve social skills, create art, photography, learn yoga, cook, and everything in between. Many go on to lead independent lives and become involved in the community. I sat in on a seminar where the Senior class discussed their capstone projects. Ideas ranged from documenting Cincinnati murals through photography, to fundraising for homeless advocates, to adapting a play from a favorite book. I was beyond impressed with the initiative and support within these classroom walls. StarfireU has been educating adults with disabilities since 1993. Over the years, it has grown from a single classroom to a state-of-the-art facility with computers, roundtable classrooms, and dry erase walls. They're always open to working with volunteers around the community, so if you're in need of a smile and a life-changing opportunity, get involved here!

Only good things to say about STAF having adopted several cats there over many years. Recent…read moreadoption was a previously adopted cat returned after a rather traumatic home situation. Volunteers (Jean, Amanda, Julie, Amy) were so helpful, supportive, friendly. I can't praise them enough. In just 5 days my "scaredy" cat has left his hiding place, explored the house and is happily settling in. I think this reflects the good care he received at STAF while awaiting a new home.

We recently adopted 2 cats from STAF, Buddy and Asher. We are so pleased with the entire process…read moreand the results. Everyone at STAF is so dedicated. They do absolutely everything they can to make sure that all of the animals' best interests are considered and taken care of. What I appreciated so much is how much detail I received from them. I knew what each cat was eating, their history, medical information and more. We received a huge goodie bag filled with food for each cat, litter, toys, treats and more. Having this makes the transition from the shelter to home go so much better. We worked with Jean who is amazing! Thank you so much for your concern, the details you provided and your honesty. (You alerted us to a potential minor issue with one of the cats which never happened.) We absolutely love our cats and owe so much to the dedication of the volunteers at STAF who made this happen. Susan & Mark

This is an organization that has been around for 30 years helping women express themselves through…read morewriting. They offer a variety of classes in all types and genres. Women of all ages and backgrounds attend their classes. The focus is more on expressing yourself and putting your thoughts and memories on paper than on grammar and word choice. I recently attended a mother/daughter workshop with my mother and grandmother. The two hour workshop focused on these relationships and what we have learned from the other in the relationship. The instructor that led us was kind and even shared some of her own writing. We would write for a bit and then share our ideas and writing and then write and share etc... The stretches of writing were about 15-20 minutes, not to long for a novice like me. The other women in the workshop were incredibly nice and there was a lot of laughter and a few tears. Their facility is huge and is on 2 floors. They have a variety of areas with different types of furniture to best meet your writing preference. At the workshop, they had drinks, fruit, and some pastry available if you wanted it. There are several bathrooms. Parking is in a public lot about 100 feet down the street. I am unsure of the prices of their regular classes, but looking at the price of this workshop, I thought they seemed a little high. On the other hand, if you are looking for a place to express yourself and bond with other women, it would be worth the cost. I am not a writer and will probably never attend another class here. But, if I had a passion for writing, I would spend multiple nights a week in their classes.

My child is it is it awesome because they also have a healthcare with everything is offer therapy…read more I totally recommend this place is awesome.

Cant Say Its The Best School But I Can Say They Have The Best Teachers When I was A Student, I…read moreWasnt The Best Kids But I Think I Was Mostly On The Worst List But Even Though I Didnt Graduate Due To Pregnancy I Miss My Teacher They Helped Me To Control My Emotions And Open Up More To People, And That Everyday Arent Always Perfect With The Point System Im Happy My Adpoted Mom Took Me There Instead Of Keep Sending Me To More School Until Expelled From All Public Schools, Im A Mother Of 2 Girls And I Wanna Thank The Teachers The Put Up With T Maupin (Class 2018 Grade 11th)

What a gorgeous space! Great views from the windows, high tech environment and the art on the walls…read moreis gallery worthy. What I like about this place is that I absolutely have no idea what they actually do here. I've been here dozens of times and they have played host to the continuum of care for homeless service providers in Cincinnati as well as offered community trainings for resources to help veterans, student loan forgiveness for folks working in non-profits along with other things that promote positive change in the community. I've really enjoyed the space they provide here to affect so much change in our area and want to give them the kudos they deserve. Not so humbly submitted, Michael C.

The Brewhaus Bakery is an adorable storefront in the heart of downtown Madeira. They supply not…read moreonly dogs, but also humans, with very tasty treats and even some gifts! Upon walking in you get the feel of a cozy gift shop and bakery combined. There is some pretty awesome dog decor all around. So much to see... there are all kinds of gifts and goodies from local vendors around the perimeter walls. How about some local honey or chocolate for you, and an adorable bowtie for your pet?! Then there is the real star, the dog biscuits. They are handmade from spent grains (at the end process of beer brewing) from many local breweries. Each bag lists what brewery the spent grains are from, and the tag names the staff member that made them! Who could forget to mention that the whole purpose of this business is non for profit. They employ special needs adults, and do programs with special needs teens! Everyone here was very kind and helpful. The final high point for me personally, of course, is the human treats! They have a baker who is very talented. I took home a maple oat scone, which was delicious! This is a great place to indulge for yourself, your pet, and find some great gifts for any occasion while supporting a good cause and shopping local!!!

Great service & super responsive. The person I worked with sent me lots of different options to…read morechoose from for my puppy's cake. He ended up loving it so much! The price is so reasonable & fair. I also always get the treats whenever I see them sold. I love that this business gives back to the community. Can't wait to support them in the future!

There are a couple of therapists at this location. June is a supervisory LISW, and she's real funny…read moreand down to earth. Check out her website and see if she might be a fit. I'm hoping she gets me mentally well while encouraging the growth of my T-shirt collection.