UC celebrates community champions with prestigious service-learning awards

The University of Cincinnati’s College of Cooperative Education and Professional Studies (CCPS) recently celebrated the exceptional contributions of one community partner organization and two esteemed faculty members with distinguished awards. Over-the-Rhine Community Housing received the inaugural Roger Grein Award for Community Impact, recognizing their significant role in fostering community development. Additionally, Associate Professor Stacie Furst-Holloway and Educator Professor Erinn Green from the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts & Sciences were honored with the 2025 Jack Twyman Award for Service-Learning. These accolades highlight UC’s commitment to service-learning, seamlessly integrating academic pursuits with impactful community engagement.

Named in honor of philanthropist and UC alumnus Roger Grein, the Roger Grein Award for Community Impact is a newly established accolade recognizing nonprofit organizations that partner with UC's service-learning program to effect significant change in their communities. A dedicated committee selected Over-the-Rhine Community Housing (OTRCH) as the inaugural recipient from over a dozen nominees, based on their measurable outcomes and alignment with UC’s mission to address pressing social issues. The service-learning program proudly celebrated OTRCH’s important work as the first awardees of this honor.

The Roger Grein Award acknowledges OTRCH’s powerful mission to provide affordable housing and comprehensive support to Cincinnati’s most vulnerable residents. Since partnering with UC around 2012, OTRCH has enhanced its service-learning initiatives, particularly at the Jimmy Heath House (JHH). Opened in 2011, JHH offers permanent supportive housing for 25 individuals who have experienced chronic homelessness and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, adhering to the Housing First model. In 2024, OTRCH housed 1,146 residents—a 17% increase from 2023—across 710 units, up from 564. At JHH, residents benefit from case management and healthcare, with an average stay of four years; 39% of residents achieved income stability, and 30% transitioned to permanent housing. University of Cincinnati medical students, led by Dr. Joseph Kiesler, and nurses collaborate with OTRCH by volunteering at Jimmy Heath House and providing essential on-site healthcare services to Permanent Supportive Housing residents.

“OTRCH’s work transforms lives through housing and healthcare access,” said Michael Sharp, associate professor and service-learning director. “They directly address poverty through compassionate support of those experiencing homelessness, mental health, and substance abuse disorders, and we couldn’t be prouder that UC helps to support this work.”

The Jack Twyman Award, named in honor of UC alumnus and humanitarian Jack Twyman, recognizes faculty members who excel in integrating service-learning into their curriculum. This prestigious award celebrates innovative teaching practices that connect students with community needs, emphasizing respect and engagement. Stacie Furst-Holloway and Erinn Green have been honored for their transformative contributions to education.

Furst-Holloway and Green received the Jack Twyman Award for their exceptional leadership over eight years in teaching PSYC7063 and PSYC7064: Program Evaluation and Policy Analysis I and II. As co-instructors of this year-long course sequence, they mentor MA Psychology students in evaluating and analyzing programs for partners such as the Freestore Foodbank and 1N5. Students develop plans during the fall semester and implement them in the spring, utilizing innovative methods like Photovoice when traditional approaches are insufficient.

Their collaborative model creates lasting impacts—partners utilize the findings for reports and grants, while students gain invaluable practical experience. Projects are tailored to address unique challenges, such as analyzing footage for restricted programs or remotely training staff in Uganda. Furst-Holloway and Green guide their students in becoming effective community partners by teaching them how to engage with stakeholders who have varied lived experiences and how to navigate these interactions respectfully.

Their long-term collaborations include grant work with 1N5 and continuous evaluations with Schoolboard School. Their approach emphasizes respect and engagement, focusing on client needs and preparing students for varied interactions. Graduates often regard this course as a highlight of their program, with many choosing to work with partner organizations after graduation.

OTRCH’s efforts in housing support and Furst-Holloway and Green’s educational innovations embody UC’s service-learning ethos—bridging academia and community for societal benefit. The Roger Grein and Jack Twyman Awards reflect UC’s dedication to honoring those who drive change. As the service-learning program evolves, it continues to foster partnerships that uplift humanity and address critical challenges.

Featured top image of Kelly Collison, Chief Executive Officer, Magnified Giving; Roger Grein, Founder, Magnified Giving; Stephanie Kollmann Baker, Assistant Director, UC Service-Learning; and Mary Rivers, Executive Director, OTRCH. Photo/Emily Sullivan.