Club News & Events

This year the Zonta Club of Cincinnati partnered with the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) and with Women Helping Women (WHW), the YWCA of Greater Cincinnati (YWCA), and the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries (CHPL) in planning the following events for Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women – 16 Days of Activism from Nov. 25th, International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and December 10th, Human Rights Day:  

• Opening Reception at the Contemporary Arts Center for the Exhibition, Wounded Healers – Transforming Pain to Wholeness & Health was held on November 9th for the artists, their families and guests. The exhibition ran through Sunday, Dec. 10th and was free to the public. This inaugural exhibition included twenty-two pieces of art from fifteen diverse artists featuring drawings, prints, photographs and paintings that depict the personal and painful journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse leading to healing , hope, and wholeness.  

• The 2023 Kickoff for 16 Days of Activism occurred Nov. 16th.  Zonta President Melinda Hepfner was the emcee. Council Member Victoria Parks presented a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Aftab Pureval; and Hamilton County Commissioner Denise Driehaus who launched the HC Commission on Women and Girls presented a proclamation from the Commissioners. Shawnee Turner from the CAC also spoke.  Among other notables who were there were several artists, Paula Brehm-Heeger, director of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Libraries and Mary Maune, Administrator for the HC Commission on Women and Girls.

• Orange Cincinnati – on or around Nov. 25, the Hamilton County Courthouse and County Offices at 800 Broadway, the Bengal’s Paycor Stadium, and Duke Energy Convention Center’s icon sign were illuminated orange.  Orange is the global symbol representing a world where women and girls no longer live in fear of violence. 

• Continuing during the 16 Days of Activism, the Madeira and Mt. Healthy Libraries featured book displays and distributed Zonta Says No Bookmarks that included the hotline numbers for Women Helping Women and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati. 

• Several libraries hosted speakers from WHW and the YWCA during the 16 Days.

• On Dec. 7th, The Journey Of Healing, a panel discussion moderated by Shawnee Turner of the CAC and featuring Zontian Melinda Hepfner, Wounded Healer artist Jamie Schorsch and psychologist Dr. Robin Arthur was held at the CAC.