Join us for our 2024 Advocacy & Education Event featuring Lacey Gero, Director of Government Relations at the National Diaper Bank Network!

When: March 20th, 2024, 8:30am-12pm
Where: Junior League of Cincinnati, Columbia Center – 3500 Columbia Pkwy. Cincinnati, OH

Registration is FREE and includes breakfast

Register here

Overlooked and Under-Resourced: How Diaper Need Impacts Children and Families
Nearly 1 in 2 US families with young children struggles to afford the diapers. Yet we know that all babies require clean diapers to remain healthy. A hidden consequence of poverty, diaper need is a public health issue that negatively impacts the physical, mental and economic health of children and their families. There are solutions. Nonprofit diaper banks lead the way in providing vital resources for families. Community engagement and support is essential. Government investment is imperative. Learn about the growing efforts to end diaper need and how you can help ensure all children have access to the material basic necessities they require to thrive.

SCHEDULE:
8:30 – 9:00: Breakfast & Registration

9:00 – 9:45: Introductions & Keynote Speaker

9:45 – 10:00: Networking Break

10:00 – 10:45: Panel Introductions & Discussions (Panelists TBD)

10:45 – 11:00: Q&A from Audience

11:00-11:30: Meet & Greet with Lacey Gero

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Lacey Gero is the Director of Government Relations at the National Diaper Bank Network, where she passionately advocates for policies that alleviate diaper need and period poverty in the United States. With a background in public health and a deep commitment to social justice, Lacey leverages her expertise in legislative processes and community engagement to collaborate with state governments, lawmakers, and basic needs banks. Lacey graduated from Tulane University with a Master of Public Health degree and Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree.

PANELISTS:

Morgan Whaley | Founder & CEO of Love In Action

 Love In Action is a nonprofit that provides basic needs and services to individual families, and organizations through programs to strengthen communities by demonstrating the love of Christ. Morgan is a former Sweet Cheeks employee, serving in the role of Community Engagement Coordinator. Morgan has been recognized with the Cradle Cincinnati Champions for Change Award, the WeThrive Service Award and most recently has received the 2023 OneSource Emerging Leader Award.

 

April Mueller | Director of Family Outreach at Learning Grove

April Mueller is a dedicated professional serving as the Director of Family Outreach at Learning Grove, where she brings over three decades of expertise in the early childhood field. Since completing her degree in early childhood education from the University of Cincinnati, April has been a driving force in supporting families with young children for the past eight years.

With a profound understanding of the unique needs of families with children under the age of 5, April has cultivated a rich background in community engagement and outreach. Her wealth of experience and expertise ensures that families receive the guidance and support they need to thrive and navigate this critical stage of life.

Trinica O’Bryant | Licensing & Operations Manager at Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency

Trinica O’Bryant, M. Ed. has dedicated over 20 years to the Early Childhood profession with Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency Head Start.  Her passion for teaching and learning has led to various positions within the Head Start program.  She is currently Licensing & Operations Manager, which allows her to remain close to children and families, staff, and most importantly abreast of local, state & federal requirements.  Trinica was recently appointed Project Lead for the Diaper Bank project for Community Action Agency in collaboration with Sweet Cheeks.  Trinica is passionate about serving her community.  She is committed to endless work within the Early Childhood field.  

PANEL MODERATOR:

Megan Fischer | CEO & Founder of Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank

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 thousands of volunteers, distributes more than 2.2 million diapers and 550,000 period products annually from a 16,000 sq ft facility in Cincinnati. Megan is a Miami University (Oxford!) alumnae who double majored 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 as Secretary of the board for Cincinnati-based nonprofit Leadership Council for Nonprofits; Vice President of the Lower Price Hill Neighborhood Association of Businesses; and is on the Advisory Committee for the National Diaper Bank Network.


ABOUT SWEET CHEEKS:
Founded in 2015, Sweet Cheeks is the only diaper bank in the Greater Cincinnati area. Though it’s been just a few short years, we are proud to announce that in 2023 we distributed our 10th million free diaper and look forward to many more years of keeping babies happy, healthy, and safe. Sweet Cheeks uses a “bank model,” supplying diapers to families through 50+ local partner social service agencies which limits duplication of services and expenses, while promoting collaboration to solve a basic human need.