Nice article. Joan is one of the good people in town. She ran a good campaign in '07 for Council and ran for the right reasons.

Steve Pavelish

Darn right, Joan. Not only is Cincinnati a wonderful place to grow up, raise a family, and develop life-long relationships, Cincinnati is also an awesome place to start and grow a business. Cooking with Caitlin has been overwhelmed by community support from day one. We are tickled to be here.

Submission on NAACP in Cincinnati

I had struggled all week with concern about the NAACP convention, feeling I should participate, volunteer, do something. Yet, my schedule conspired against me until a friend from NKU offered to have me join him as a guest at the Sprint table for the final dinner.

At the Renaissance Hotel, before going over to the Duke Energy ballroom, I met a conventioneer from out-of-town who works with Great American Insurance. She was beautiful in her stunning, sexy black handkerchief skirted dress with pink and purple flowers in the body. She described how she had been given the VIP tour at her company's national headquarters, how welcoming Cincinnati has been, and that so many had shared how thrilled they are that the NAACP chose Cincinnati for their convention. Her words made me proud.

Our Sprint hosts were charming, as were the others guests at our table, and the room was filled with people I wanted to know. It was wonderful being there with such an energized and committed group of people whose history had meant so much to me and inspired so much hope in the '60's when I came of age. I loved the men, debonair in their tux's, jeweled buttons on their shirts, silk neckties or fancy bow-ties. I adored the women, gorgeous in their sequins and sparkles, classy blacks and deep reds. I was drawn to a table across the room where three women sat, and introduced myself, telling one how captivating she was in her African dress. I stayed and chatted with them. It was that touching conversation that inspired this poem.

Her Name is Darlene

Her name is Darlene
and I met her
at the NAACP
Convention
in Cincinnati
a great honor in 2008
for our sweet city
I saw her across
the room in
Africanesque
robes and
turban
black and white
swirls like zebra songs
wrapping her in
the garb of royalty
the garb of
everyday women
carrying jars of
water on their heads
and baskets
with babe in arms
regal and lovely
so I was drawn to
meet her and
her friend Cynthia
with sparkling
eyes in
animal stripe
black & white
best friends since
childhood ~ she
an Avondale
childcare teacher
and Darlene
retired from the
airlines
who had lived for a
while in Denver
until her birthday
on September 11th,
9-11 made
her think of
friends lost
a place lost
treasures lost
and her heart
turned to home
and family
and what had
been left
behind
left undone
at home
so she came back
to settle things
renew things
take care of things
and people
and family
and she found that
some things broken
remain so
and will not be
fixed
this is as it is
and some things
last a lifetime
like best friends
and
this is as it is
and she talks of
a ship
her ship
that will come
for her
she's waiting for it
to come in
she said
we laughed
and clapped
for that great day
the day her ship
comes in.

My other poem in honor of that night....

It Was the NAACP



It was the NAACP
convention
the last night
a purple sky with
twinkling stars
behind the speakers
an elegant dinner
under the gold lamé
swirls of silk
on the ceiling
of the Duke Energy
Convention Center
ballroom
with iridescent pinks
shimmering on
the walls.


I loved the men
in their black tux’s

jewel buttoned shirts
hand-tied bow ties
gentle conversations
greeting and meeting

and I adored the women
stylin’ in their sparkles
and sequins handkerchief
hemmed gowns sultry blacks
bold African and Indian prints
striking and smart
with open hearts
walking with the swing
of pride.

We heard speeches
of hope challenging us
to truth and honor
with reminders to love
and guide our children
be better than we are.



It was magical and
wonderful
being there together
being there for good
like being in church
hearing the preacher
talking of God
and glory
and the people
saying
Amen.