Habitat for Humanity has been creating housing opportunities for more than half a century, one home and one family at a time. We explore the difference their approach is having on people and places and their potential to thrive. Also, can we power more of our cities and towns through solar? The technology is available, but getting to scale is not so simple. Plus, an update on property tax fixes.

Guest Voices: Norm Miozzi, Habitat for Humanity Greater Dayton; Jason Chamlee, Habitat for Humanity Greater Cincinnati; Ollie Kroner, Office of Environment & Sustainability Cincinnati; Bill Agel, Farmer; Rick Lohnes, Fmr. Clark County Commissioner; Adam Sokolski, EDF Renewables North America; State Rep. Kevin Miller (R), Ohio’s 69th District; State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D), Ohio’s 24th District; Brian Massie, AxOHTax Campaign, and more.

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This Brick by Brick Community Town Hall special explores how Southwest Ohio is preparing for the future of work. Is our region "workforce ready"? Join host Hernz Laguerre Jr. as he connects with educators, employers, workforce leaders, and community members about emerging opportunities, skilled talent needs, and innovative approaches to workforce development. The training pipelines, opportunities, and solutions they share have corollaries throughout the region, whether it's Dayton, Cincinnati or towns in-between. What will it take to build a stronger workforce? Listen to find out the efforts underway, and the work that is still ahead.

Main Panelists: Dr. Cassie Barlow (SOCHE); Joe Sciabica (Employers’ Workforce Coalition, Dayton Foundation); Dr. Shannon Cox (Montgomery County ESC); Dr. David Lawrence (Dayton Public Schools); Dani Heeter (Sinclair College); Dr. Chris Spradlin (Edison State Community College); Dr. Jason Anderson (Wright State University); Jason Eckert (University of Dayton). Thanks to the students and teachers who also shared their career training stories with us!

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With a growing number of seniors as neighbors, our communities are creating pathways for our elders to age-in-place, and that includes dealing with some key housing issues. Following the hot, wet summer, the value of our regional tree canopy cannot be overstated. We take a look at the benefits, and the seeds planted to strengthen it. Plus, the latest with 3D-printed housing.

Guest Voices: Stephanie Seyfried and Jenny Federle, Council of Aging; Connie Pflanz, Catherine Elizabeth Bachelor, TJ Helman, Kym Terrell and Linda Deering, Cincinnati Residents; Tim Westrich, National Church Residences; Crystal Courtney, Cincinnati Park Board; Joe Boggs, OSU Extension Hamilton County; Keith Thomas, 3D Vision Builders.

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Every neighborhood should have “access to great schools, and strong family and community support systems” that will prepare kids for college and a career. That’s the vision of the Department of Education which funds nearly 50 so-called “Promise Neighborhoods.” Omega Community Development Corporation’s Hope Zone in Northwest Dayton is one of them and for decades it has been having success uplifting seventeen neighborhoods.

Interview guests: Rev. Vanessa Ward, CEO RISE Northwest Development Corporation; Rachel Ward, president Omega CDC; Dawna Remencus, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Sinclair Liaison; Janiece Malone, maternal coach Omega CDC; Maleishia McIntosh, Hope Center Participant; Tanisha Burns-Martin, community development manager, RISE Northwest; Renata Waters, Fairview resident; Jenish Tidd, Fairview resident, Brittany Riese, Dayton resident; Jeffrey Hughes, Dayton resident.

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In this extended extra, Brick by Brick’s Emiko Moore sits down with researcher and physician Dr. Carley Riley, with Cincinnati Childrens’, to learn more about the Neighborhoods as Systems Toolkit. The free resource aims to empower residents to create systemic change at the local level.

Guest Voices: Dr. Carley Riley, Cincinnati Childrens’ and Neighborhoodtoolkit.org,

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In this season three premiere, the Brick by Brick team explores a Safe Sleep Lot, which Cincinnati Public Schools is using to support students (and their families) dealing with housing instability. The team also updates area housing and rental affordability and sits down with the creator of a free toolkit already empowering neighborhood change. It may be able to help your neighborhood too!

Guest Voices: Rebeka Beach, Project Connect, Dr. Carley Riley, Cincinnati Childrens’ and Neighborhoodtoolkit.org, Robi Simms, Charles Simms Development, Aja Cole, Safe Sleep Lot Client, Larry Woody, Local Resident, Lilly Shea, Local Resident, Alicia Joiner, Local Resident

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Brick by Brick discovered dozens of solutions in Season 2, that are working to solve a variety of problems. After many iterations, Cincinnati engineers created the perfect speed hump. The city has data showing traffic calming devices are slowing drivers down. Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and NKY is preparing to open a new headquarters that will more than double the annual meal production for seniors. People Working Cooperatively is improving air quality through a pilot program. One homeowner says she is heathier and less stressed. We look back on these solutions and more.

Interview guests: Cecily Foster, nurse and gardener; Sharon Hawkins, founder and director of The Dayton Doula Initiative; Earl Crossland, architect and co-founder of Tiny Homes for Humanity; Jeff Demaree, teacher Cincinnati Public Schools; Dr. James Greenberg, co-founder Cradle Cincinnati; Amaha Sellassie, board president Gem City Market; Michael Beck chief production officer Meals on Wheels of Southwest Ohio and NKY; and Rosa Baker, food policy council manager Green Umbrella.

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Data from the U.S. Census Bureau finds nearly one in four Americans are vulnerable to extreme heat. Many of them are in urban areas where there isn’t enough shade. Disturbingly, we’re losing trees to commercial development, weather events and invasive insect species like the emerald ash borer. Cities are recognizing the need to plant more trees and are implementing urban forestry plans. This life-sustaining strategy is already proving successful in the health of its residents. Will the money and political will be there to expand it?

Interview guests: Jennifer Spieser, President and CEO Cincinnati Parks Foundation; Joe Boggs, Assistant Professor, OSU Entomology and OSU Extension, Hamilton County; Bryan Urban, City of Dayton Operations Supervisor Street Maintenance; Maddie Hall, CEO Living Carbon; Rahul Mishra, Chief Product Officer Living Carbon; Steve Fleegal, Executive Director Appalachia Ohio Alliance; Jaeydah Edwards, interim director Groundwork Ohio River Valley; Marisha Davis, member Equity Advisory Group; Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar, principal investigator Green Heart Project.

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