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Tag: Taylor Bruck

  • Shared struggles: How civil rights history shapes LGBTQ+ advocacy

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    The fight for equality is personal for millions of Americans, including Sheena Barnes. She’s Black and she’s bisexual — two identities that she says aren’t separate from each other and two that she advocates for every day.

    What You Need To Know

    • As the nation reflects on the legacy of the civil rights movement, the fight for equality continues to evolve

    • Marginalized groups are making their voices heard — pushing to make sure they get treated equally — among them LGBTQ+ advocates

    • One Ohio woman says her own life sits at the intersection of two movements 

    • Those movements have more in common than many realize

    “When I walk in the room, I’m Black first,” Barnes said. “They’re going to see my skin tone, my race before, you know, my sexual orientation.”

    Barnes, who’s the director of people and culture at Equality Ohio, made history in 2019 as both the first Black and first openly queer woman elected to the Toledo Board of Education. In her life, she said she’s dealt with both racism and homophobia.

    Sheena Barnes, who’s the director of people and culture at Equality Ohio, made history in 2019 as both the first Black and first openly queer woman elected to the Toledo Board of Education. (Provided)

    “I’m too black for this space in the LGBTQ space, and I’m too gay in the Black space and trying to navigate that world where you have to fight for both because they’re part of your whole liberation,” Barnes said.

    The modern Civil Rights Movement took shape in the 1950s — ending legal segregation and expanding protections under the law.

    The LGBTQ+ rights movement gained national momentum in the late 1960s — leading to nationwide marriage equality in 2015.

    They were different eras and different fights, but Barnes said they shared the same goal.

    “Martin Luther King Jr. stood for equality,” Barnes said. “He wanted everyone, regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, to have the freedom to, to live and thrive together.”

    Historically, to achieve this, she said people protest, they rally and they show up in court.

    The Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, which legalized same-sex marriage, drew directly from another case, Loving v. Virginia from 1967, that struck down bans on interracial marriage.

    And Black LGBTQ+ leaders have long been central to both movements. Bayard Rustin, a Black gay man, helped organize the March on Washington, and Marsha P. Johnson, a Black transgender woman, helped spark the 1969 Stonewall uprising.

    But Barnes said while progress has been made, discrimination hasn’t disappeared — it’s shifted.

    “When you’re looking at what’s happening right now, especially in Ohio and other states, red states, they’re attacking our trans siblings because it’s easy, it’s an easy target,” Barnes said. “White supremacy doesn’t change the narrative, it just changes the people that it’s trying to oppress… the core of it is to make someone less than. So that way, you know, white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian, able-bodied males who have higher income can always be on top.”

    According to national tracking groups, hundreds of anti-transgender bills have been introduced across the country in recent years. Advocates also report Black transgender women face disproportionately high rates of violence in the U.S.

    UCLA’s Williams Institute reports that transgender people are four times as likely to be victims of crime than cisgender people.

    “We’re losing too many people,” Barnes said. “I think the new unfortunate trauma of this time is we’re losing a lot of young people to suicide completion to, you know, substance abuse. And so we need to get real, real fast because the impact and devastation just from community rhetoric to legislation wise, they’re harming folks mentally and physically as we lose health care for those who need it.”

    At the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, Angela Phelps-White, the executive director, said protections matter because they make people feel valued. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission investigates thousands of discrimination complaints each year, most involving employment, housing and public accommodations. The most common bases, she said, are retaliation, disability and then race.

    “Everyone’s just fighting to be the true, authentic selves and to be able to live the life as they choose. That pursuit of happiness,” Phelps-White said. “We need to be able to live where we want to live, how we want to live. We should be the navigator of our own lives and not have other people dictate what we can and cannot have, simply because of how we identify.”

    Since 2020, the number of complaints filed has increased significantly — from a little more than 3,000 in 2020 to just under 8,000 in 2025. She said a significant increase in charges arose for the Commission from the passing of Ohio House Bill 352, also known as the Employment Uniform Law Act (EULA). So the Commission believes the increase in charges might be attributed to people having a better understanding of their rights, how to utilize the services of the Commission and knowing that the Commission is here for them.

    “Our mission is to promote positive human relations among the highest diverse population through enforcement of the anti-discrimination laws,” Phelps-White said. “The goal is to eradicate discrimination in any way possible.”

    The Commission enforces Ohio’s civil rights laws as they’re written, and Phelps-White said the state has more protections than people realize.

    “Ohio created its Civil Rights Act in 1959, five years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964,” Phelps-White said. “Federally, we protect more classes than the federal government does… Ohio sort of leads the federal government in that we have many bases for which someone can allege discrimination. So it’s not just race, sex, ethnicity, it’s age, it’s gender, military status, marital status, familial status, retaliation and we cover many areas. We cover housing and employment, housing, public accommodation, credit and higher education as it relates to disability.”

    Angela Phelps-White, the executive director of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    For people who live at the intersection of identities, Barnes said those protections are essential. She said even if you don’t like the difference, it doesn’t mean you can’t respect the difference.

    “Injustice is connected, just like freedom and liberation is,” Barnes said.

    But still, the two movements and even people within their own movement, sometimes resist one another. Some Black churches don’t accept LGBTQ+ people, and there are people in the LGB+ community who don’t support trans people.

    “I think it comes down to a simple formula,” Phelps-White said. “We have to embrace and respect each other’s differences. And once we do that and we quit trying to rank one cause over the other cause and realize that we all equally have the same goal and we come together, there is strength in numbers.”

    Both women said history makes one lesson clear: lasting change happens when movements learn from one another and when people stand together.

    “And this is why we need accomplices… for the movement of true equality for all and liberation for all,” Barnes said. “From the civil rights movement that we saw, a lot of our white, you know, sisters and brothers and siblings doing the groundwork with us because they knew that less harm would come to them just because of their appearance. And this is what we have to do in the LGBT community for our trans siblings, right now, because they are under attack more so than my rights are under attack as a bisexual, queer woman.”

    From the streets to the courts, the path to equality has followed familiar steps — and advocates say understanding that history may help shape what comes next.

    What protections exist for the LGTBTQ+ community in Ohio?

    In Ohio, sexual orientation and gender identity are currently not listed as separate protected classes under state law. However, Phelps-White said they have been protected statewide through Ohio Revised Code 4112 under the term “sex.”

    They’re also protected federally under the umbrella of sex discrimination following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County in 2020 which applies to employment nationwide.

    The group “Ohio Equal Rights” is collecting signatures in an effort to get two amendments on the November ballot this year — one to get rid of the ban on same-sex marriage in the Ohio Constitution and the other to advance discrimination protections, which would include sexual orientation and gender identity as separate protected classes.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • What to know about this year’s tax changes under ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’

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    OHIO — With the passage of President Trump’s tax bill last July, tax filing season will look different for many Americans.

    What You Need To Know

    • A major tax bill passed last summer is bringing notable changes, and with more than 800 pages, it impacts a wide range of Americans

    • Workers who rely on tips — especially in the service industry — could see more of their earnings stay in their pockets

    • Overtime pay is getting a tax break — extra hours worked could now mean extra money kept, as some overtime income may be tax free

    • New relief measures may reduce how much people 65 and older owe, particularly those living on fixed incomes like Social Security or pensions

    The act is more than 800 pages long, so there’s a lot to unpack. But John Patriarca, the chief operating officer of P3 Financial Group, said there are three main takeaways most taxpayers should know.

    1. No tax on tips. Workers who earn tips may no longer have to pay federal taxes on that income. That’s a significant change for people in the service industry who rely on tips to make ends meet
    2. Overtime pay is also getting a tax break. If you work extra hours, that overtime money could now be tax free, depending on income and eligibility requirements
    3. Seniors aged 65 and older are seeing changes too. New tax relief measures could lower how much retirees owe, especially those living on fixed incomes like Social Security or pensions

    “There’s not a ton of controversy and overall, it’s you know, it is a good thing,” Patriarca said. “It will benefit the bulk of the taxpayers. They do project this year to be the largest amount in terms of volume and sheer number of tax refunds that are going to be going out.”

    Patriarca said the new laws are designed to benefit low-to-middle-income earners the most.

    “These income limitations obviously are designed to make sure that these policy changes affect and target lower to middle-income earners, which really are the people that deserve and need the tax breaks,” Patriarca said.

    He added the law is retroactive to January of last year, meaning the taxes taxpayers will prepare in 2026 are for the 2025 tax year.

    No Tax on Tips

    The new law allows qualified workers to deduct tip income if they meet certain requirements. Single filers can deduct up to $12,500, while married couples filing jointly can deduct up to $25,000, with income limits that phase out at higher earnings.

    No Tax on Overtime

    The overtime deduction follows a similar structure, including the same dollar limits and income phase-outs. Single filers have a maximum deduction of $12,500, while married filers can deduct up to $25,000.

    Patriarca said both of these deductions directly reduce taxable income, meaning there’s no need to itemize deductions whether a filer itemizes or takes the standard deduction.

    Senior Standard Deduction Increase

    Under the senior tax relief provisions, there’s an additional $6,000 deduction for taxpayers 65 and older who file single, and $12,000 for married couples filing jointly if both spouses qualify. There is an income limitation, however — $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly, before the deduction begins to phase out.

    Patriarca said all the stipulations make professional guidance especially helpful to ensure everything is reported correctly and taxpayers get the most out of their money.

    While there’s a lot of advice online and on social media, he recommends not creating a tax plan based on information from an unqualified source.

    “2025 was a little bit goofy because these tax laws were put into place mid-year,” Patriarca said. “So, you just want to make sure you check with your employer to make sure they’re reported properly and then when you do file your tax return that you’re reporting those properly with whichever service you use.”

    Other notable changes

    Another change, Patriarca said, allows taxpayers to deduct the interest they pay on car loans, though there are limitations and eligibility requirements.

    For small businesses and self-employed individuals, the law also includes expanded bonus depreciation for certain assets placed into service.

    How often do tax changes happen?

    Patriarca said changes to tax law aren’t uncommon.

    “We do see tax law change generally whenever we see policy change within Congress,” Patriarca said. “And so, when we see a shift in power at that level, generally we will see potentially some new tax bills from new tax law, as we have in 2025.”

    The changes impact not only taxpayers but also employers responsible for filing W-2s and 1099s.

    “We just want to make sure that we’re doing our due diligence, making sure that we’re submitting all of our wage reporting, W-2, 1099 accurately so that our employees are in a favorable position and they’re able to file their taxes accurately and take advantage of the new tax code,” Patriarca said.

    These tax changes are currently set to run through the end of 2028, unless extended by future leadership.

    The IRS has not yet announced when it will begin accepting tax returns, though the agency typically starts processing returns in the last week of January. The deadline for filing taxes without requesting an extension is April 15.

    Patriarca also reminded taxpayers that filing an extension does not mean they can delay payment. Even with an extension, any balance owed must still be paid by April 15.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • The Power of manifesting in the New Year

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    Manifesting, experts say, isn’t just about vision boards or positive thinking. It starts with reflection. Many yoga instructors encourage people to get grounded, look back on the year they had and release the guilt that often comes with feeling like they didn’t do enough.

    What You Need To Know

    • As the new year begins, many people are looking ahead — setting goals, making resolutions and hoping for a fresh start

    • But experts say before rushing into “doing more,” there’s real value in first slowing down

    • As 2026 approaches, wellness professionals say reflection and manifestation can be powerful tools for moving forward with intention rather than pressure

    • Rather than focusing only on what you want to achieve, the owner of Granville Yoga suggests asking yourself what you want to feel more of in the new year

    Maybe you weren’t as productive as you wanted to be. Maybe you spent the year simply trying to get through it, and that’s OK. Others may realize they actually accomplished a great deal — they just haven’t taken the time to pause and recognize how far they’ve come.

    Kelli Biehle, owner and instructor at Granville Yoga, said checking in with yourself is essential before setting intentions for the year ahead.

    Instead of judging the past, she encourages reframing it — viewing experiences and accomplishments as information. Rather than focusing only on what you want to achieve, she suggests asking yourself what you want to feel more of in the new year.

    “We’re go, go, go, and we’re always looking for that next thing, right? We’re trying to get to the next career goal or whatever,” Biehle said. “Our tagline of the studio is listen to your body to hear what’s on your mind that like, feel that like your body knows. Your body knows already. You just have to slow down enough to like, actually take stock and see what it’s trying to tell you.”

    She said awareness is a critical first step. From there, manifestation begins with gratitude — intentionally acknowledging the people and moments you’re thankful for.

    Biehle recommends starting with reflection and release: looking back on the past year with gratitude while letting go of what no longer serves you. From there, she suggests clarifying intentions in areas like health, career, and relationships — being specific about what you want, such as financial security rather than simply “more money.”

    Visualization is another key step. Closing your eyes and imagining yourself living your goals — and allowing yourself to feel the emotions associated with achieving them — can help make those goals feel more tangible. Using present-tense affirmations, such as “I am healthy” or “I love my body,” can also help train the mind to believe change is possible.

    Finally, she emphasizes taking action by breaking big goals into smaller, achievable steps for the first few months of the year.

    One practical tool Biehle recommends is journaling to help process the past year. She suggests writing about what did and didn’t serve you — and why — focusing especially on how certain situations made you feel.

    She also encourages answering the question, “What would it take?” For example: What would it take to start a business? To become a yoga teacher? To go back to college?

    Another exercise is writing down what excites you, then repeatedly asking yourself why — digging deeper each time. The final step is defining what success looks like for you personally, and understanding why it matters.

    “Sometimes I think that we get really focused on goals and we get really focused on this outer version of success. And I think as a whole society, we would really benefit a lot from thinking about what types of success we want and what actually makes us be like a successful human being, not a human doer,” Biehle said. 

    For those who don’t enjoy journaling, Biehle said writing notes in a phone or even talking things out loud can be just as effective. The key, she said, is getting thoughts out of your head and into conscious awareness.

    “Sometimes stillness isn’t really possible, you know, just for life reasons and so it can also look like these times of reflection can look like not putting in your earbuds for the first ten minutes of your walk, or the first ten minutes on the, the bike, whatever it is,” Biehle said. “It looks different and the idea of just finding some time to reflect is what is important here.”

    Above all, she reminds people to be kind to themselves. Growth and success look different for everyone, and progress isn’t about rushing to a destination — it’s about honoring the journey along the way.

    For more information about Granville Yoga and new year yoga classes, click here. 

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • Staying on track with nutrition during the holidays

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    For many people, the holidays are filled with family, food — and temptation. But if you’re trying to stick to a nutrition plan or make a long-term lifestyle change, experts say you don’t have to choose between enjoying the season and staying on track.

    Benjamin Williams, an online nutritionist and personal trainer and the founder of The Beginners Club, said the holidays don’t have to be all or nothing. You can enjoy your favorite foods without completely falling off your plan — it just requires mindfulness.

    Williams said the key is focusing on balance instead of restriction. By eating healthy foods about 80% of the time, he said, you can allow yourself to indulge in less-healthy options for the remaining 20%.

    “What if you’ve had a small breakfast, for example, go and enjoy those mince pies,” Williams said. “Go and enjoy the chocolate log or the Christmas pudding because you’ve kind of saved those calories from earlier in the day and you can have them later on. So it’s just kind of thinking, where can I kind of save some calories and where can I go and enjoy myself?”

    He also recommends prioritizing protein and limiting higher-fat foods.

    “We really want to get a large quantity of protein. So leaner meats. So turkey is a traditional one, chicken,” Williams said. “We just want to make sure we’re getting larger quantities of the good stuff, leaner protein, vegetables, which are all tasting really good around the holiday time and just limiting, say, the not so good stuff.”

    Williams added that being mindful of alcohol and dessert intake can make a big difference. He suggests alternating alcoholic drinks with water and deciding ahead of time which desserts you really want, so portions stay manageable.

    “I’ve learned the hard way, you know, we can be getting over 200 calories in one pint of beer,” Williams said. “And so, you know, if you have three of those at 600 calories and that might be killing your deficit coming into the holiday kind of season. So quantity control and just making smart choices when it comes to beverages.”

    Another tip: prioritize conversation over constant snacking. Instead of mindlessly eating, focus on connecting with people you may not see often to stay occupied.

    The takeaway, Williams said, is to enjoy the celebrations — and not let one indulgent day turn into a season of guilt. He also stressed that movement still matters, recommending a walk with family or even some solo time outside after a meal.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • Mental health crisis, addiction center filling gaps in care

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    LANCASTER, Ohio — A facility open in the heart of Lancaster was built for two issues, but has one mission: to help save lives. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Data from the Ohio Department of Health shows that in 2023 there were nearly 4,500 unintentional overdose deaths in the state

    • The overdoses were from a range of drugs, including cocaine, heroin and opioids

    • A dashboard from the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health also shows there are hundreds of facilities in the state to help people with mental health crises or addiction, but they’re usually treated separately, despite often going hand-in-hand
    • In Fairfield County, the community there is looking to solve this issue 

    It’s called The Stabilization, Treatment and Recovery Center, or STARLight Center, a 20-bed facility designed to treat both mental health crises and drug addiction, issues that are usually treated separately, despite often going hand-in-hand. 

    “It’s life changing, to have this facility open in Lancaster, Ohio,” said Lancaster’s mayor, Don McDaniel. “There are some other mental health facilities locally, but they’re more of halfway type houses or recovery centers, and they’re not doing what this facility is doing.”

    Marcy Fields (left), Jillian Cleary (center) and Mayor Don McDaniel (right). (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    McDaniel said some communities in the state don’t have the resources to provide immediate crisis-level care, leaving those seeking treatment often forced to travel to other areas, sometimes across state lines. There are stories of Ohioans traveling to facilities in Texas for care. Bringing back local treatment and intervention is critically important, he said. 

    “Sometimes it was as far away as several counties away that there was an available bed,” Mayor McDaniel said. “That means that that person in crisis was uprooted from the community, taken away from their friends and family, and given a bed several counties away or maybe a couple hundred miles away, depending on the circumstances and just not really conducive to recovering from crisis.”

    Without facilities like STARlight, McDaniel said, the consequences can be severe. 

    People cycle in and out of jail or emergency rooms. Some end up homeless. Others face an increased risk of death from suicide, illness or overdose. 

    The STARlight Center brings resources right to the people of Fairfield County. 

    Fairfield County has been hit hard by drug addiction. Data from the Fairfield County ADAMH Board shows 49 people died of accidental overdoses in 2023. 

    “Now what we’re seeing is a real mix of substances,” said Marcy Fields, the executive director of the ADAMH Board. “I’m not sure people are seeking out, or getting heroin as much, but we know fentanyl is in many, many drugs. So even though people might be drifting toward methamphetamine and even cocaine is seeing a resurgence. But those drugs are mixed with fentanyl now, so the risk of overdose from an opioid is still really high, because people may not even know it’s in the drug they’re taking. So overdose is still a huge risk. We’re still doing a lot of work getting Narcan out to the community, because that saves people’s lives.”

    Fields said STARlight provides a critical option for people seeking help earlier, before they reach a hospital-level crisis. People of all genders can voluntarily seek help. 

    “So we’re trying to get help to people that aren’t to the point where they absolutely need a hospital setting and a hospital bed and locked into the facility,” Fields said. “We’re trying to get help to people that are…saying, ‘I’m not doing great; if I could go there voluntarily, I would, because I want to get better.’”

    The center is operated by OhioGuidestone, a nonprofit that runs the 24/7 facility. 

    Jillian Cleary, the regional director of operations at OhioGuidestone, said STARlight also works to remove financial and insurance barriers that often prevent people from accessing treatment. 

    “If someone shows up at the Starlight Center, we can provide them care,” Cleary said. “We don’t have to worry about any of that red tape that sometimes you deal with.”

    Since opening to the public in Oct. 2024, the STARlight Center has already served more than 100 people.

    Testimonials from clients highlight the impact:

    • “Words do not describe the amount of gratitude that I feel for all of the support that I have gotten from everyone here. Literally, every single person in their own way. Each and everyone deserves praise for what they do. Thank you for everything!”

    Cleary said one of the unique aspects of STARlight is its inclusive approval. No crisis is considered “too small.”

    “We don’t define your crisis; our clients define their crisis,” Cleary said. “It can be something as, you know, like losing a pet, losing a boyfriend, losing, you know, something like that all the way to somebody who’s struggling with really serious mental health issues such as psychosis.”

    The center also works with clients on long-term recovery by creating discharge and aftercare plans before they leave.

    “We really work closely with the clients who come in to develop a discharge plan and an aftercare plan,” Cleary said “We really want to make sure anybody who comes in, they know that we are glad that they’re there, they know that they’re safe, they know that they’re going to get good care and that they’re going to leave with plans for where to follow up.”

    The $4.5 million project was a community effort. In 2018, Fairfield County passed a property tax levy to help fund STARlight. State and federal grants cover about a third of the cost, with the rest coming from local property taxes. 

    STARlight is open 24/7, but because of the community, people 18 years and older can get the help they need, and there’s no cost barrier.  

    “It takes a village, it takes a city,” McDaniel said. “It takes a county to step forward and say, ‘We need this. We recognize a need, and we want to assist our friends, family and neighbors in overcoming, in this case, addiction, but also the mental health issues.’ And they’re often coupled together.”

    Fairfield County ADAMH Board. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    ADAMH is also developing additional resources, including Venture Place, a 24-unit apartment complex to provide permanent housing for unhoused people with behavioral health needs. 

    Across the street, the Center of Hope will offer recovery programming and support. 

    “So much we see out there are the people in the middle of their problems, and it’s discouraging, and it’s frustrating,” Fields said. “But we don’t see enough of these people that get into recovery and have a great, high-quality life because they’ve got into recovery. And they can in spite of really, maybe a mental health diagnosis or a substance use diagnosis, in spite of that, they can get into recovery and have really the life they always wanted.”

    For those outside Fairfield County, resources are available through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which maintains an online dashboard of crisis programs by county. 

    “Many of us have a lived experience ourselves, myself included,” Cleary said. “And we want you to know that you’re not alone. And so, you know, yes, centers like this need to exist more. It takes a lot of effort. It takes a lot of collaboration between agencies like ADAMH, the city, local law enforcement, the emergency department. And so we’ve really learned how much work it takes to get these things up and running. But I think it’s been a really good example of what a community that cares about their citizens can do when they put their efforts and their willpower and their passion together to make that work for the people who need it.”

    For more information on STARlight, click here.

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • Traveling poet spray paints messages of support, encouragement across U.S.

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    Street artist Kimberly Brown, who goes by the artist name “Boots,” knows firsthand art can heal the heart. Ten years ago, the Chicago-based artist went through a bad breakup that inspired her to put pen to paper.

    What You Need To Know

    • New data published by the CDC’S National Center for Health statistics shows depression is becoming more common in the U.S.

    • The report shows that more than 1 in 8 Americans 12 and older have been depressed in recent years

    • Since 2015, depression prevalence has nearly doubled, from 7.3% to more than 13% in 2021-23

    • One traveling poet is hoping to help change these statistics
    • Through offering a simple message of support and encouragement she helps people who are struggling across state lines

    “Spray painting is my therapy,” Brown said. “The whole poetry thing for me is my healing journey.”

    Bringing her writing to the world, she published her first poetry book in 2016. 

    “I just started kind of writing letters to him that I would never send him and then I turned those into my first book and I never really thought that it would be anything like, I kind of just wrote the book to, you know, put a dagger in him a little bit, or maybe have him see my perspective,” Brown said.

    Kimberly Brown, also known as “Boots,” stands in the Short North in Columbus in front of a quote she sprayed on the sidewalk. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    One book quickly turned into two. Wanting to expand her reach even more, she began spray painting her quotes on sidewalks and sticking them to poles. She started the process in California in 2016 and is making her way to cities in all 50 states, with only about six states left to go. On April 16, she was in Columbus for the first time. She’s already sprayed in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo.

    “I kind of hit as many as I can, and sometimes I like hitting smaller cities only because they don’t have as much art. So I feel like some cities need it more than others,” Brown said. “I did Puerto Rico, too, which was one of the best trips. And I’m going to finish this year.”

    Her messages vary from hope and healing to many about breakups and avoiding toxic love, but they all have a similar purpose. She wants everyone to know it’s okay to struggle as we all are dealing with something. 

    “I struggle through a lot of mental health issues so a lot about mental health,” Brown said. “My main goal would be to help people heal, to make people feel that they’re not alone, to let them know that no matter what they’re going through, there’s a way through it.”

    Her work is needed now more than ever. New research from the CDC shows depression rates for both children and adults are on the rise. More than 1 in 8 Americans ages 12 and older have been depressed in recent years, according to the new report. Dr. Gage Jordan, assistant professor of psychology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said there are many reasons including lingering effects of social isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic, the overwhelming nature of peoples’ day-to-day lives and people feeling more comfortable speaking about mental healh issues and seeking help. 

    “What these statistics say is that nobody’s immune to it,” Jordan said. “It can affect anybody of all backgrounds and that’s important to recognize because we interact on a daily basis with people of various backgrounds. So if we can just kind of understand where other people are coming from, do recognize that everybody has this propensity to struggle, because that’s in part what it means to be human. Well maybe we can be a little bit more human to one another as a result of that.”

    He said people should take the statistics as a warning sign for society. He recommends people connect with each other more in person, get out in nature, eat healthy and exercise regularly. 

    “Think about ways in which we can show compassion to one another, to engage with one another in a way that’s meaningful, and make changes more systematically so that we can eventually bring these rates down and start cultivating a life that’s worth living, and a life that has a little bit more meaning than we think it feels like it does right now,” Jordan said.

    Brown hopes to encourage conversations around mental health. With each quote she hopes to stop thousands of people in their tracks, allowing them to take a moment to pause and soak it in. 

    Kimberly Brown, also known as “Boots,” stands in the Short North in Columbus in front of a quote stuck to a poll on the sidewalk. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    “I feel like we just don’t live in the moment where maybe if I can get them to stop for a second and read something and have them, you know, be in the moment,” Brown said. “I feel like we’re just constantly looking for that next thrill, scrolling, whatever we’re doing and I feel like if we could just pause and breathe and appreciate where we’re at, we wouldn’t always feel so unsatisfied.”

    She aims to connect people across state lines through simple messages and the shared human shared experience of both joy and pain.

    “I didn’t think at first it would be that impactful but I probably get 200 messages a day sometimes where people are just like, even if it’s just like a thank you that made my day,” Brown said. “I’ve had people tell me, like, I feel like you’re just following me, spreading hope. And I love that feeling to where there’s multiple people who can see me in so many different cities.”

    She reminds everyone that small words of kindness can truly make a big difference. 

    “Everybody just expressing some level of kindness to people could really change their day,” Brown said. “And I hope that it just inspires people to live their best life.”

    You can also find Brown’s poetry on wearable art like sweatshirts, buttons and stickers on her website. If you want to follow along with her journey, she can be found here. 

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    Taylor Bruck

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  • Did you know Columbus is home to one of the largest distilleries in America?

    Did you know Columbus is home to one of the largest distilleries in America?

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s population is growing and so is its spirits.

    What You Need To Know

    • They say everything is bigger in Texas, but the possibility of Ohio taking the top spot is *brewing*

    • Many industries continue to expand as businesses like Intel call central Ohio home

    • A distillery in Ohio aims to increase the state’s tourism and give the Kentucky Bourbon Trail a run for its money  

    • The founder also aims to continue contributing to the agricultural vitality of the region

    Columbus’ own Middle West Spirits launched in 2008. Since then, Ryan Lang, the CEO and head distiller at Middle West Spirits has been creating an expansive line of craft alcohol, all highlighting the unique flavors of the Midwest.

    “We’re Ohio born and bread,” Lang said. “We buy all of our agriculture here. We buy the majority of our barrels from Ohio.”

    Ryan Lang, the CEO and head distiller at Middle West Spirits, Taylor Bruck/Spectrum News 1

    A new 75,000 sq. ft. distillery in East Columbus makes Middle West Spirits the largest distillery in Ohio and one of the largest in the nation. It’s an addition to their smaller distillery and restaurant called Service Bar located at 1230 Courtland Ave. in the Short North. The larger distillery is located at 1165 Alum Creek Drive on a lot that also hosts a grain recycling center and a packaging and bottling plant.

    “This plant primarily has whiskeys,” Lang said. “The other plant can make all of our other stuff so vodkas, gins, brandies, all the other things that we would normally want to make.”

    Lang said the addition has increased the distillery’s production capabilities tenfold. The company currently makes 15 branded products and distills for other clients. But they have even bigger goals for future development. 

    “Eventually this will get developed more into a hospitality site, more like an actual whiskey campus,” Lang said. “So you can come here, you can eat here, you can work at the bar here, there are barrel selections that’ll happen here, there’ll be events here. So yeah, there’s a lot planned for our future here.”

    The larger distillery located at 1165 Alum Creek Drive, Taylor Bruck/Spectrum News 1

    As central Ohio continues to grow with Intel and other businesses calling it home, Lang hopes to grow with it and increase Ohio’s tourism.

    “Similar to what you have in California for very large wineries or similar to what you have in Kentucky for large distilleries, we’re going to have something here that people can enjoy year-round, and hopefully have a spot to go to on a regular basis,” Lang said. 

    By expanding his business, Lang also aims to continue contributing to the agricultural vitality of the region. 

    “We buy our grains primarily from the state of Ohio,” Lang said. “What we can get here, but it’s the vast majority. Then that material goes through our distillery, it goes through our recycling plant, it’s outside. And then we take the recycled material, which is spent grain, and we send it back to the farms that we bought the grain from where they have cattle and hog. Now our hope is to bring that material back here to the site for people to eat. So yeah, that’s the full circle we’re working on right now.”

    He said he wants to give people opportunities to come to Ohio, play here and stay here as he believes in his products and he believes in the state. 

    “We’re still telling our story in the state of Ohio for people to know who we are and we hope to get a little louder with that over the next, you know, five, ten years and hopefully we have a destination for people to come to help with that.”

    For more information on Middle West Distillery, visit here.

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  • Muslims join for community prayer on Ohio State’s campus

    Muslims join for community prayer on Ohio State’s campus

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — Hundreds of Muslims came together in prayer Friday on The Ohio State University’s South Oval.

    Some Muslim students on OSU’s campus told Spectrum News 1 they felt their First Amendment rights were violated on April 25, when their prayer service was broken up by police who were responding to the pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the school’s campus. Hundreds of people returned to that same spot where the encampment was and where dozens of people were arrested on campus.

    What You Need To Know

    • A community prayer was held on Ohio State University’s South Oval Friday 

    • Hundreds of Muslims in the Central Ohio community came together to “reclaim their sacred space and stand in solidarity against hate and violence.”

    • Dr. Yasir Qadhi, a nationally renowned speaker and American Muslim scholar, led the Khutbah (sermon) and prayer

    • While their latest community prayer was happening, Ohio treasurer Robert Sprague announced that the state is buying an additional $30 million worth of Israeli bonds

    Friday is considered the most significant day of the week in Islam. Normally, Muslims would be inside a mosque, but on May 3 students, faculty and community members decided to hold the prayer publicly.

    Jamil Aboushaar, a junior at OSU and a member of the Muslim Student Association on campus, said the event was about coming together as a community to advocate for peace overseas and to motivate everyone to stay strong in their faith. 

    Jamil Aboushaar, a junior at OSU and a member of the Muslim Student Association. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    “Message of unity, a message of peace,” Aboushaar said. “We’re not anti-Semitic. We’re not anti-Semitic by calling for an end to genocide. Rather, we’re advocating for humanity more than anybody else is, more than the other side is. We’re advocating for, you know, just justice and peace for everybody, no matter their religious background, no matter their cultural background, no matter their ethnic background.”

    Yasir Qadhi, a nationally renowned speaker and American Muslim scholar, led the Khutbah and prayer.

    “It is high time that we, not just the Muslims of this land, but people of conscience, people of integrity, people who care about their country and that’s all of us, it is high time that we change the realities of what our country is doing over there,” Qadhi said. “All Muslims, and people of all faiths, we shall not and we cannot tolerate hatred and preaching hatred of another faith tradition. And we will not tolerate anti-semitism…We will not allow voices of anti-semitism or voices of Islamophobia to be given a platform. However, we will not be intimidated when criticism of a country is falsely accused of being anti-semitic.”

    Muslims join for community prayer on Ohio State’s campus on May 3.

    Muslims join for community prayer on Ohio State’s campus on May 3. (Spectrum News 1/Taylor Bruck)

    While their latest community prayer was happening, Ohio treasurer Robert Sprague announced that the state is buying an additional $30 million worth of Israeli bonds.

    The move comes as pro-Palestinian protests continue to ask schools and universities to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

    That decision is not sitting well with Aboushaar, who said he doesn’t want Ohio’s tax money being spent overseas.

    “It’s just as concerning every time I read it,” Aboushaar said. “Where there’s more bills being passed, more money being sent over and, you know, that’s why we’re out here. We’re out here to advocate and to stop that. We’re tired of our money that we put we put into the system to be used against us overseas. And not even just against us, but to all, like all genocides, all killing any, any funding of, you know, weapons or anything worldwide that America takes place in, we’re against all of it.”

    Spectrum News 1 reached out to both the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Jewish Columbus to get their reaction to the announcement, but neither provided us any comments. Meanwhile, we asked the treasurer’s office whether it has any concerns that this purchase will be seen as an inflammatory move by those who are opposed to investments in Israel during a time of war. They too did not respond.

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