Our Board

Isabella (Bella) Frueh, MA (she/her) is a proud, native Cincinnatian, with 17 years of professional history in education, youth services, and nonprofit service, including close to a decade serving on various Governing Boards and Advisory bodies. Bella advocates for re-balancing systems through power-sharing, which is especially important for causes that impact young people in our community. Bella is the Founder/Owner of "Think - IF" Consulting Services, supporting nonprofit clients with strategy build-out and mission alignment; program design and impact evaluation; and grantwriting. Through consulting, Bella works towards community-centered and data-driven problem-solving - especially while lifting up grassroots organizations with strong evidence of impact. She also serves as Manager of Nonprofit Services for Ignite Philanthropy.

Bella is a current member of NAEYC's National Affiliate Advisory Council; current founding member of the Public Allies Cincinnati Advisory Board; an American Heart Association 2024 Leader of Impact; and a proud graduate of Leadership Council for NonProfits' BOLD cohort (2019), Groundwork Ohio's Leadership & Advocacy Fellowship (2022), and YWCA of Greater Cincinnati's Rising Stars Equity Leadership program (2024).

Most importantly, Bella serves the community coming from a place of humility and learning. She will never shy away from holding herself (and others with particular levels of privilege and power) accountable, and firmly believes we all have different roles to play in dismantling oppressive systems.

Read More

Read Less

Jen Scott (she/her/hers) is a native Ohioan from Forest Park, Ohio. She attended Northwestern University earning a degree in Chemistry. After returning to Ohio, she embarked on a successful career in information technology and established her own consulting firm. In 2015, she began another path in life, that of a community organizer and grassroots activist. Through her volunteer roles, Jen learned how to use her personal passion to empower a community to make a real difference in the lives of others. She served as Director of Advocacy for Equality Ohio and a board member for American Atheists, Cincinnati Pride, and Kentucky Freethought Convention. She also runs Science on Tap Cincinnati, a science education program fiscally sponsored by Community Shares.

Jen joined the board of Community Shares in 2020 and is looking forward to furthering the mission of Community Shares to build social and economic equity and a healthy environment in Cincinnati and the surrounding region.

Read More

Read Less

Brice J. Mickey (he/him) is a DEI strategist, facilitator, and proud member of the Northside community with over a decade of experience advancing education, belonging, and organizational accountability. He currently serves as Equal Opportunity Program Manager at the University of Cincinnati and as Co-Chair of the Board of WordPlay Cincy. Previously, Brice served as Vice President of DEI at Beech Acres Parenting Center, where he led a multi-year organizational strategy, and as Lead Trainer and Director of Programming for Living With Change, an organization advocating for trans youth and their families. He also is a proud alum of cohort programs like School Board School. Brice brings deep experience in governance, documentation, and cross-stakeholder collaboration and is excited to support the board with clarity, care, and integrity.

David has spent his career gaining diverse experiences in many sectors. Currently, he is a Customer Project Manager at technology company Cisco. Previously, he lent his talents to P&G where he streamlined order management for Professional Oral Health customer support teams. He has earned degrees from both University of Cincinnati and the Union Institute and University.

When not engaging in professional endeavors, David enjoys spending time with his family, travelling, and he'll never say "no" to a game night. An Oakley native, he lives in College Hill with his two dogs and is passionate about the mission of Community Shares and the impact that we have in our community.

Read More

Read Less

Read More

Read Less

Julian Collins is Senior Program Manager of Community Engagement at Interact for Health, where he serves as the organization's presence in urban and suburban communities throughout Greater Cincinnati. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in health promotion and education from the University of Cincinnati. Previously, he served as program manager with the American Lung Association and health educator with Planned Parenthood. A native Cincinnatian, Julian is also an international sewing educator, writer and pattern designer under his creative moniker Julian Creates, advocating for diversity and inclusivity in maker communities.

Read More

Read Less

Claire has spent most of her career with the YMCA at both the local and national level. While she is an expert in youth development, her many years in the non-profit world has also made her a skilled fundraiser for Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, one of our charity members. She is an experienced world traveler with avid interest in other cultures, passionate conservationist, seamstress, youth development and social justice advocate. She embraces the positive opportunities that change creates.

Read More

Read Less

Michelle Lydenberg has spent her entire career in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors working to improve health. She currently serves as a Senior Manager of Data and Learning at Interact for Health, a regional health conversion foundation.

Previously, Michelle served as Director of Partners for a Drug-Free Milford Miami Township and held roles with Clermont County Public Health and the South Boston Collaborative Advisory Network. She holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Policy from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of Wooster.

She currently lives in Pleasant Ridge with her husband and son. Michelle is deeply committed to creating a Cincinnati where every resident is able to live their most full lives, whatever that means for them.

Read More

Read Less

Tom Schultz is a Technical Project Officer with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of State and Community Energy Programs. Previously, he was the Data and Program Manager for the Cincinnati 2030 District, an Initiative of Community Shares member organization Green Umbrella. A proud Cincinnati native, Tom returned to Cincinnati serendipitously in 2019 for a graduate fellowship with the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability after completing a Masters of Public Affairs from Indiana University, where he concentrated in Sustainability, Sustainable Development, and Social Entrepreneurship. In his current role, Tom works to analyze data and support programs to support creating a healthy and sustainable built environment for all a job he feels aligns perfectly with the mission of Community Shares.

Read More

Read Less

Tristan N. Vaught is a Co-founder of Transform Cincy, a Community Shares member charity, and formerly the Director of Education and Training at Living with Change. They are an activist, educator, and the Founding Director of the LGBTQ+ Center at IUPUI. Previous to this role, they held positions as the Interim Director and first Program Coordinator of the LGBTQ Center at the University of Cincinnati. They hold a Master’s degree in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from University of Cincinnati with research centered on the effectiveness of LGBTQ+ ally trainings in higher education. They also graduated with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from the University of Cincinnati. Tristan’s advocacy and education work focuses on intersecting identities and how they impact individuals’ lived experiences. They enjoy writing poetry and short stories, communing with nature, and considers themselves a bourbon snob.

Read More

Read Less

David CS Whitehead is a Sale Manager and Regional Political liaison for Spectrum Reach. He is the owner of David CS Whitehead Tax Service, LLC. David is extensively involved in the community and currently serves as the president of the Cincinnati NAACP where he chairs the Voter Empowerment and Political Action committees for both the branch and State of Ohio. In addition, he is Co-chairman of Voter Awareness for the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Ohio, Ohio Council of Deliberations, assist with the Desert of Ohio, and a class of 2023 Grand Inspector General in the AASR United Supreme Council Northern Jurisdiction. He is secretary of Gothic Lodge 122.

David is one of the founding facilitators of the Helping Children Cope with Divorce Program in Hamilton County where he spent 12 years assisting parents in learning how to co-parent post separation. Also, he was an instructor for high conflict parenting training in the Clermont County court mandated parenting program. He served as the master of ceremony and avid supporter of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Sickle Cell Research Day for over 15 years. He continues his passion for assisting others through mentorship programs, public speaking, and any opportunity that comes. He is a Sunday School leader at St James AME Church in Covington Kentucky.

David attended both Cumberland College and the University of Cincinnati to earn his bachelor’s degree in business administration. David has spent numerous years coaching youth sports while raising his children. This competitive athlete resides in Cincinnati where he is actively involved in officiating basketball, football, and lacrosse. He is the 2023 recipient of the Cincinnati NAACP President’s Award for work in the community.

Read More

Read Less