We All Shine On
BLINK TorchBearers
The nine TorchBearers were chosen from nominations from the public to find Cincinnatians who let it shine through their work, service, creativity and care. Each TorchBearer will carry a specially designed torch!
Shelby Mundy and Team Mundy is walking on behalf of Nick Mundy. He was a community leader and life coach who passed away in August of this year. His widow Shelby Mundy, three children, and friends, carry on his legacy through Team Mundy, inspiring othres to Live & Love Boldly
Jen Mott is an assistant principal with Mason City Schools and juggler with the Cincinnati Circus. Circus performers are athletes of art, and they show us what people can achieve through hard work and dedication. As an educator and performer, Mott inspires us to have dreams as large as the night sky.
Rodney Christian is the Recreation Center Director at Third Presbyterian Church in Westwood, and he’s the president of East Westwood Community Council. Working with the youth is a big part of his journey, and he has been involved in the community for generations. He is now working with the grandkids of some of the kids he mentored!
Caroline Pennington is a devoted wife, mother, artist, fire performer, ballet teacher, and winner of Michelob Ultra’s #findyourfit. She teaches at the Turn Out Dance Academy in Waynesville, which helps each student realize and reach their full potential and to enhance their lives through the art of dance.
Meisha Williams is the coordinator for community engagement at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Is there a better way to engage the community in art than BLINK! She embodies the Art Musuem's mission to contribute to a more vibrant Cincinnati by inspiring its people and connecting our communities through art.
Suzy DeYoung, after 25 years as a restaurateur and caterer, launched La Soupe in 2014 with the desire to make a difference in her community. She realized that she could redirect the surplus catering food to help those in need. La Soupe is dedicated to rescuing and repurposing excess food to feed those experiencing food insecurity.
Vernon Jackson Vernon Jackson is a local barber and the founder of The Gifted Event, which works to make the barbershop and salons a safe and inclusive space for neurodivergent children and their families. Jackson challenges every industry to be intentional about creating space and a time that is inviting for all children and their families.
Beth Johnson is the executive director of Cincinnati Preservation Association. Cincinnati Preservation the recognized resource and champion for the preservation, reuse and celebration of historic and cultural resources. Johnson’s favorite local historic site is the Roebling Bridge because it represents strength, connection, creativity, and ingenuity…all of which also represnet Cincinnati.
Channing Seideman had her first seizure when she was of 9 and was diagnosed with refractory epilepsy, which means it is non-responsive to medication. An avid horserider since childhood, Seideman works with CURE Epilepsy, one of the largest organizations in advancing research for Epilepsy.
Cincinnati loves a parade. You could argue we create holidays just so we can hold a parade, and BLINK is a shining example of that desire on the march.
The BLINK Parade, presented by Skyline, takes place at The Banks, on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. The route goes from Paycor Stadium and continues along the riverfront, ending near Great American Ball Park.
This year's theme is “Let It Shine” and feature more 3,000 participants in glowing splendor, with nine TorchBearers honored during the parade.
For the first time, the parade will feature the BLINK Ensemble Chorus to open and close the ceremonies with some extra special sparkle. Hundreds of voices will come together of all styles, skill levels and ages.
With more than 80 projects by hundreds of artists spanning across three cities, the artists are lighting up Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky for this year's BLINK as the Grand Marshals. Each TorchBearer will carry a specially designed torch! They were chosen from nominations from the public to find Cincinnatians who let it shine through their work, service, creativity and care.
A few highLIGHTS:
The Marching Bulldogs from Woodward Career Technical High School under the direction of Tyree Gilbert show that hands-on learning, a demanding program and world-class staff connect students with promising futures. For the first time in program history, the Marching Bulldogs received a grant from Hamilton County that allows for brand-new equipment this year.
Queen City Bike kicking off BLINK 2024 with a pedal-powered, smiling people, sparkly spectacle for their BLINK Bright Bike. QCB is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting a community of bicyclists and encouraging new, emerging riders to start pedaling.
Organized by Anaya Belly Dance, the Shimmering Shimmies inspire others to “Shine Your Inner Light and Give Glow to the World.” This dedicated group of dancers have a serious commitment to strong dance technique, unending study, classic inspiration, and daring innovation. They will be are dancing while balancing shemadan (candelabra) on their heads! The shemadan is used in celebrations in throughout the Middle East, particularly to light the way for wedding processions.
Mike and Carmen Simpson becam involved in competitive jump rope in the mid-1990s. They started as spectators and parents, then volunteers. Eventually they grew to help coach the Hot Steppers of Grapevine, Texas. When they were transferred to Cincinnati in 2003, and with the backing of the Mason City School district, the Comet Skippers were born! Under new head coach Vikki Robinson, team members range from second grade through high school, with college-age jumpers competing with the team in US and international competitions.
Born and raised in the Queen City, Asha Ama’s work is inspired by the female form and celebrates duality with soft, rhythmic draping against pieces with an armoured feel.
As a couture designer, she has created for a diverse range of artists from Zendaya to Little Big Town. She has competed as a finalist on Tim Gunn's Project Runway: Under the Gunn. She was also invited back to compete on the hit show Project Runway All Stars. Locally her work has been featured at the Cincinnati Art Museum, Contemporary Arts Center and the Taft Museum of Art. Don’t miss her “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” runway show every night between Race and Republic, from 8 to 10 p.m.
Bi-Okoto was established in 1994 as a professional African dance company comprised of highly talented artists. This non-profit, multicultural performing arts organization has toured and performed in 48 states in America, and has artists who have also toured internationally, preserving, promoting and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Africa and Africans using drums, music, dance, food, languages and other arts.
Clifton Cultural Arts Center, which just opened their brand new facility this year, invited community members to walk with in the parade and held free workshops so participants could create and decorate their own wearable, light-up firefly! As the walk together, they look like a swarm of lightning bugs, lighting up the night!
Cincy Brazil Samba Dance is a local group that demonstrates Brazilian culture through dance with its colors, styles and happiness. Samba is Brazil's national dance and a style of music that originated from a mix of influences. The group aims to honor the cultural roots of samba through its performances, which are characterized by theatricality, professionalism, and excellence.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls is Cincinnati’s first amateur flat track roller derby team. The team is owned and operated by its skaters, who represent a wide range of ages, backgrounds and occupations. The skaters, coaches, officials and support staff of the Cincinnati Rollergirls are all volunteers. Skaters buy their own skates, gear and uniforms and also pay monthly dues. CRG now plays its home games at Cintas Center at Xavier and at Sports Plus in Evendale.
Performing groups from the Creative Asian Society empower, promote, and celebrate the creativity and achievements of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Artists. The Alliance of Chinese Culture & Arts USA hare Chinese culture, develop “East meets West” programs, and partner with the professional arts organizations to host the public events, linking culture and arts to our humanity through the powers of sight, sound, and touch. The Filipino-American Association of Southwest Ohio as been serving the Filipino American community of Greater Cincinnati since 1962. They are involved in multiple Asian and American Cultural events and are connected with businesses that support our vision. Back for the parade this year is India Cultural Association, an umbrella group that aims to bring all local India-related entities together culturally, through dance.
Skate Downtown Cincy is raising awareness and support for downtown’s public skating facilities and social wellness programs that contribute to the health, community, culture, and vibrancy of the urban core.
Founded by Heather Britt, a professional dancer and choreographer, DANCEFIX is a high-energy, adult dance workout class featuring original, diverse choreography by Heather and HBDC teachers. The new DANCEFIX Walnut Hills studio, 934 E McMillan, opens soon, spreading their mission of creating health, happiness, and connection through dance to even more adults and children! Classes at our new space,
InCANdescent, a project of Keep Cincinnati Beautiful. The project is constructed of 1,400 reclaimed single gallon paint cans collected over 14 years, housing programmable LED lights that are responsive to the community. The project will be on display in Washington Park during BLINK.
QKIDZ improves the lives of Cincinnati youth through dance instruction and educational programs that build strong character, confidence, teamwork, and a mindset for success. Annually, Q-Kidz Dance Team empowers over 100 youth between the ages of 4 and 18. With the Q-Kidz-4-Life program, youth learn essential life skills and have ongoing support for overcoming challenges and obstacles and for advancing lifelong learning
In celebration of Earth Day this year, Cincinnati Metro introduced a fleet of ten new hybrid-electric buses. reflecting a continued strategy toward greener, more efficient transit operations. Metro’s previous beloved mini-bus, Hydi, retired earlier this year. The maintenance crew quickly built a new all electric mini-bus, nicknaming it “Evie,” as chosen by Metro’s very own employees!