ÇÑ×ÓÉçÇø R.O.C.K.S. and the Honors College are piloting the Humans of Greater Cincinnati project as part of a first-year experience that includes more than 50 incoming students. Each student will receive an iPad to take photographs, shoot videos, and create narratives that capture the human experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election year, the current climate of social and political protest, and more. Through these activities, students will learn the fundamentals of community-based learning and research, and connect where they come from with the world in which they will enter upon enrolling at ÇÑ×ÓÉçÇø. Students will evaluate regional needs, consider issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and imagine the future that may grow out of these turbulent times. Our goal is to encourage students to connect their academic interests to the broader needs of Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati in order to foster the next generation of regional leaders.
To accomplish these goals, we have developed a few shared activities, so that students can share their stories with one another, learn more about the ÇÑ×ÓÉçÇø community, and begin to explore the needs of the region.