Date: 3/15/23
Schedule:
Joanne Goldblum serves as chief executive officer of National Diaper Bank Network (NDBN) and co-author of Broke in America: Seeing, Understanding, and Ending Us Poverty (Feb. 2021, Benbella Books).
In 2016, Denise Driehaus became Hamilton County’s first elected woman to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). A life-long resident of Hamilton County, Denise is honored to serve her community in this role.
During her tenure as President of the BOCC, Denise led the county through the COVID-19 Pandemic and secured necessary federal funding, which stabilized the region. Since joining the BOCC, Denise also founded the Commission on Women and Girls, which has driven policy changes in areas of pay equity, access to period products, and combating domestic violence. She has also advanced the work of the Hamilton County Addiction Response Coalition (HCARC), which has saved countless lives by helping connect county residents to treatment and long-term recovery for those that are suffering from the opioid outbreak. Denise has been an advocate for environmental initiatives including her support for bike trails across the county. She has also encouraged economic development in both our smaller and larger jurisdictions and is focused on building strong partnerships with businesses and our communities.
As Commissioner, Denise serves as the Chair of the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls and the following; the Executive Chair for HCARC; the Executive Board for REDI Cincinnati; Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District Policy Committee; Hamilton County Storm Water District Oversight Board; Hamilton County Land Reutilization Corporation; OKI Regional Council of Governments; and the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency.
To promote and inform the work of Hamilton County, Denise is also honored to serve as the Vice Chair of the National Democratic County Officials, Secretary of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, a facilitator for the National Institute for Civil Discourse, and a Board Member of the Community Learning Center Institute.
Prior to her service as a Commissioner, Denise served four terms in the Ohio House of Representatives for the 31st Ohio House District. Before entering public service full-time, she owned and operated two small businesses. She understands many of the hurdles facing small businesses and economic development.
Denise earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Miami University (OH). She enjoys traveling, biking, and is a licensed beekeeper. She is the mother of two children, Sarah and Andrew, and resides in the Cincinnati neighborhood of CUF.
Megan started Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank in 2015 after learning diapers weren’t covered under any government assistance programs. She has grown the organization into one of the largest basic needs banks in the country, and with a team of 5 staff and hundreds of volunteers, distributes more than 2 million diapers and 500,000 period products annually from a 16,000 sq ft facility in Lower Price Hill.
Megan is a Miami alumnae with degrees in Journalism and Creative Writing, and worked in higher-ed publishing before leaving the corporate world to run her nonprofit full-time. She currently serves on the board of Leadership Council for Nonprofits, the steering committee for Leadership Council’s BOLD Program, and is on the Advisory Committee for the National Diaper Bank Network. Megan is a graduate of BOLD (Board Orientation & Leadership Development) Class 3 and C-Change Class 15.
Josselyn Okorodudu is a life-long community advocate and organizer. She currently leads community and clinical engagement for Cradle Cincinnati as the Director of Community Strategy where she serves families and a mission to eliminate infant mortality in Hamilton County. Additionally, Josselyn is the co-founder of Our Tribe, a United Way recipient organization with the mission to promote equity and justice for the Black Autism Community in Cincinnati. Josselyn is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and recently received her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of Western Alabama. She currently resides in Liberty Township with her husband Jolomi, and 3 children: Kai (12), Brynn (8), and Raven (6).
Ashlee Young, servant leader, health justice advocate, Vice President Policy & Engagement at Interact for Health. Ashlee is committed to serving the community and lives by the words of Marian Wright Edelman “Service is the rent we pay for living. It is the very purpose of life and not something you do in your spare time.” She earned a Master of Public Health from Wright State University and a Bachelor of Science from THE Ohio State University. Her commitment to service and passion for people has led her to serve on the board of MORTAR, Delta Gateway Foundation, Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati, Hamilton County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, and Cincinnati Health Department. In 2022, she was selected by Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber as a Making Black History honoree and American Heart Association Women of Impact nominee. In 2020 she received the Forty Under 40 award from the Cincinnati Business Courier. She is also a proud member of Cincinnati Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Queen City (OH) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. She enjoys volunteering with these and other organizations in her community. Ashlee is the proud mother of Nila, who attends Howard University and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.