Director
Jennifer Summers

Raised in Louisville Kentucky, Jenn has lived or worked in Over-the-Rhine for 26 years. She has learned from lifetimes of Over-the-Rhine residents working for our city, raising children, tending elders and committed to building just community. Formally trained as an educator and practically raised up in activism, she feels blessed each day to be in a space of continual learning and fighting for what’s right. She loves storytelling, sitting on stoops and porches and cooking and eating with friends. When she’s not working with neighbors for justice, she might be riding her bike, hanging out with her partner or being outsmarted by her beautiful children. Two of her favorite changemakers are Angela Davis and Zora Neale Hurston.

Receptionist
Marilynn Anderson
(513) 621-5514 ext. 12

Marilynn has lived in Cincinnati for about 40 years, and worked in Peaslee’s building for 24 of them! With a background in early childhood development, she worked in the early learning center on Peaslee’s ground floor until 2021. Since then she has worked at the front desk as one of our receptionists, but seeing kids come and go is still her favorite part of the job. Marilynn also enjoys listening to jazz and visiting her son and three grandkids.

Community Education Coordinator
Jennifer Arens
(513) 621-5514 ext. 15

A transplant from the Boston area, Jenn has lived in Cincinnati since 2014. She loves learning, every day, from wise people who challenge power to do what is right, and she is deeply grateful to have a job that allows her to dig into social justice with people of all ages and backgrounds. She thoroughly enjoys sing-a-longs, puns, and Wikipedia, and she will be your best friend if you watch women’s soccer with her. She’s inspired by activists like Audre Lorde and Dorothy Day.

Custodian
Larry Fogle

Larry was born in Cincinnati and grew up in Over-the-Rhine. He loves spending time with his family and is always working to make himself a better person. Larry’s favorite pastimes include watching TV, action movies, and horror movies, and listening to R&B and gospel music. His favorite changemaker is Kehinde Wiley.

Administrative & Communications Coordinator
Liz Gottmer
(513) 621-5514 ext. 10

Liz is a Cincinnati native who is passionate about equitable education and housing for everyone from everywhere. She is a member of MUSE, Cincinnati’s Women’s Choir, and loves breakfast, learning languages, and walking with her dog Lou. Her favorite changemaker is Malala Yousafzai.

Youth Program Facilitator
Rachel Hollins

Rachel Hollins is Peaslee’s Youth Program Facilitator. Born and raised in Cincinnati, Rachel takes a personal interest in local issues especially pertaining to youth advocacy. She is formally trained as a social studies educator for grades 7-12 and completed a Master’s program in Education in 2022. Rachel is inspired by June Jordan and James Baldwin.

Receptionist & Program Outreach Coordinator
Shelia Jefferson

Shelia relocated to Cincinnati in June 2022 from Huntsville, Alabama–the Space & Rocket City.   She is very passionate about helping those in need, and has served the elderly community and folks experiencing homelessness, as well as tutoring youth at various schools in Huntsville. Shelia loves everything on PBS that gives her more knowledge and challenges her thinking. She loves spending time with her kids and grandkids. Shelia is inspired by Shirley Chisolm, Bessie Coleman, and her grandfather Joseph T. Banks, who was a community servant and leader.

Piano Program Coordinator
Elena Kraineva

Elena Kraineva recently moved to Cincinnati and is enjoying living in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood. She holds a Doctor of Music degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Ms. Kraineva actively performs internationally and in the US as a soloist and as a member of various chamber music groups, including Harmonie Universelle (USA), Musical Offering, and Duo Vitruviani. An active educator, Dr. Kraineva has given master classes and lectures in the US, Austria, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Russia. Elena enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as traveling and learning about different places and people. In her spare time she loves painting, reading books, swimming and watching movies. Her favorite changemaker is Sofia Kovalevskaia.

Peaslee Kids Lead Teacher
Alex Okonta

Chris Heckman
Board Co-Chair

Chris grew up in a middle class suburb of Kansas City where the residents were 95% white and heavily car-reliant. A combination of years of urban living, time with neighbors and a recognition of how policy impacts city residents has broken many of his younger assumptions. Chris is honored to be Co-chair of Peaslee’s board, and is proud to be planning sustainable improvements to our building for decades to come. He has a degree in Industrial Design from Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, and now owns Losantiville Collective, a design and fabrication shop in OTR. Chris founded the local chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which seeks ambitious bipartisan climate action. He lives with his wife Kristen Myers and their children Otto and Flora on Elm Street.

Elizabeth Burnside
Board Co-Chair

Though originally from Chicago, Elizabeth has discovered a deep sense of purpose and community during her years in Cincinnati. She serves as a Community Mentor in Peaslee’s community education program, and as an Over-the-Rhine resident has played a leadership role in the Keep Our Courts/Do Development Differently coalition. Elizabeth has a background in early childhood education, and has been working for the last five years at Rothenberg Preparatory Academy, where she has also volunteered in the Parent Resource Center. She graduated from Chatfield College with an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts, and is now working on a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Colorado Christian University. Her hope for the community is that they realize they can make it in life no matter their situation. Elizabeth’s endless desire to learn and deep well of compassion are life-giving resources at Peaslee and beyond.

Dr. Bob Donovan
Board Treasurer

“Dr. Bob” is a family physician with the Center for Respite Care who’s lived and worked in Over-the-Rhine for over 30 years. He is also a Marianist Brother.

Bob feels that the vision and mission of Peaslee fits well with his personal hopes for all the people of Over-the-Rhine.

Dr Eric R Jackson

Dr. Eric R. Jackson is a distinguished historian, scholar, and academic leader with nearly thirty-five years of experience in higher education. As Professor of History and former Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Northern Kentucky University, he is recognized for his scholarship in African American history, Black Studies, and public history. The award-winning author of more than fifty scholarly publications and several influential books, Dr. Jackson has advanced historical understanding through research, teaching, and community engagement. His expertise extends to documentaries, podcasts, and public lectures, bringing history to broad audiences. Through leadership roles, editorial service, and civic involvement, he continues to promote educational access, cultural preservation, and meaningful dialogue while expanding the impact and relevance of African American history and Black Studies as well as the history of Black Americans in Cincinnati.

Bonnie Neumeier
Board Member, Co-Founder of Peaslee

Bonnie is a community activist, a teacher, a storyteller, a poet, a listener, and one who includes everyone. She is one of the women who founded Peaslee, the Drop Inn Center, Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, and the Over-the-Rhine People’s Movement.

Yet beyond Bonnie’s many accomplishments in fighting for affordable housing and basic human rights, her integrity, untiring efforts, and compassion to include and nurture the voices of those who get dismissed have impacted countless families and individuals.

Mark Samaan

Mark is the Transit Planning Manager for Cincinnati Metro and resident of Northside. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Urban Studies from Tufts University and a Master’s of Community Planning from the University of Cincinnati. He is a near life-long Cincinnatian and co-founder of the Better Bus Coalition, which worked to improve the bus system around riders’ needs and demand investment in the local public transportation system. His work and interests in transportation as well as housing are centered around designing an equitable city for longtime residents and newcomers alike.

JT Sedgwick

JT is a burgeoning Cincinnati Public Schools teacher and Agents of Change alumni. As a native Cincinnatian, he has grown to deeply care about the people and “vibe” of the city. As a CPS graduate and teacher, he has grown to appreciate the role the youth play in developing, shaping and changing that vibe. And, as an Agents of Change Alum, he has grown to understand the crucial role Peaslee Neighborhood Center plays in educating the local youth. 

JT looks at Peaslee and sees a place that converses with the story of Over-the-Rhine. He is excited that he can play a small part in it.

Ed Slater

Ed is a longtime neighborhood resident and lives just around the corner from Peaslee on Main Street. Ed is the Director of Volunteer Engagement at the Center for Respite Care. Located in Over-the-Rhine, the Center is a 24/7, 20-bed medical facility providing medical care and case management to folks experiencing homelessness and needing a place to recover after a stay in the hospital.

Ed and his partner, Stephen, share their place with two dogs –Juliet, and Ramiro. Ed’s activities outside of work include serving on the board of Tender Mercies, Inc., and involvement with the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus. Ed and Stephen share a delight in the local theater scene, especially the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

Christopher Wilkey

Chris teaches community writing at Northern Kentucky University. Committed to linking his professional work to community activism and social justice, Dr. Wilkey co-designs community-based writing courses and research projects that address the social needs of local communities outside the university. Most of his community engagement work is done in Over-the-Rhine, where he has collaborated with several Over-the-Rhine community organizations over the past two decades on issues related to literacy education and rhetoric. He facilitates a writing group at the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition office where he meets regularly with individuals to generate writings to be published in Streetvibes. He is currently a co-editor of Streetvibes, along with Dr. Brian Bailie who teaches at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash campus.