Building a Supportive Collective
MCWI Large Gatherings & Affinity Groups
2024: Thriving Through Connections
In July 2024, MCWI hosted its second Large Gathering at the Cincinnati Zoo. This year's celebration "Thriving Through Connections” presented how social connections can relate to well-being and highlighted real-life applications of how connections can nurture child and youth thriving. The session offered community performances that celebrated being connected and presentations about different kinds of connections including kinship care and mentorship. We believe our connections inspire and elevate our well-being and this celebration reflected the ways we are connected to each other and to our community!
2022: Thriving Children Sharing Diverse Perspectives through Research, Story, & Art
Event Sessions:
Community Arts and Music Presentation by Annie Ruth Art (Recording)
Welcome and Table Setting with Carley Riley and Neal and Donna Mayerson (Recording)
Spoken Word Performance by Zee Pittman-Carter (Recording)
Six Notes on Well-being with Brita Roy and Carley Riley (Recording)
Performances by Elementz (Performance #1 & Performance #2)
Talk on Character Strengths with Ryan Niemiec (Recording)
Ignite Talk with Pratima Shanbhag and Sarah Zawalay (Recording)
Talk on Community Action for Well-being and Equity with Soma Saha (Recording)
Intergenerational Conversation on Child Thriving (Recording)
MCWI Affinity Groups
MCWI’s Affinity Groups are comprised of people with shared perspectives coming together for a shared purpose. Affinity Groups are led by one of our Core Community Leads and supported by MCWI. In 2024, we launched our first affinity group for youth (Seniors at Aiken High School).