Meet three Cincinnatians making the city more creative, connected and unmistakably itself, and then help choose the Culture Maker of the Week winner.
Cincinnati culture doesn’t just happen. It’s built every day by artists, musicians, chefs, organizers, performers, business owners, neighborhood champions and wonderfully weird people who give this city its personality.
That’s why CityBeat is launching Culture Maker of the Week, a new contest celebrating the people who make Greater Cincinnati more vibrant, joyful, thoughtful and alive, whether they’re working center stage or quietly making things happen behind the scenes.
Nominees are submitted by you (submit nominations here), and our editors pick the three up for voting. Read about this week’s contenders below, then cast your vote for the person you think deserves the title.
You can vote as often as you’d like until noon on Oct. 16. The winner will be announced Friday afternoon.
Emily Jane
Nominated by: Lauren Hughes
Why Hughes nominated Jane:
Emily Jane is a talented local fantasy fiction writer. Her recent books, Mr. Yay, American Werewolves, Here Beside the Rising Tide & on Earth as it is in Television, are all perfect for escaping the stress of life into a new world that expands your imagination beyond what you may expect to see coming.
She has a way of using her words to bring some goofy, carefree, childlike fun right into your adult life, and make it feel like you relate to it too! She is also personally a great friend, mom, gardener & community member. If you see her hosting a book event or attending a theme party, you know she will be dressed for the occasion …with accessories for others too! We appreciate Emily!
Roger Ruffen
Nominated by: Kyle Root
Why Root nominated Ruffen: Roger Ruffen, a former WWE referee from the 80s-90s, is also a former wrestler and current owner of the Northern Wrestling Federation (NWF). For 30 years, he has brought family-friendly professional wrestling to the greater Cincinnati area. Having grown up as a lifelong fan, he went from being a child earning money to pay for tickets to watch wrestling in person at the historic Cincinnati Gardens to eventually cutting his teeth in the business as a teenager and working in the ring there.
For over 40 years, he’s been involved with professional wrestling, and he’s still going strong, hosting weekly affordable live wrestling events while training the next generation of young talent at his training facility, BoneKrushers, hoping to make it big as he did! He’s trained notable international names including Abyss, Karl Anderson, Jillian Hall, Lord Crewe, current WWE superstar Lexx King FKA Brian Pillman Jr, and his wife and current NWA superstar, Big Mama. To this day, his goal is to spread the same joy he felt as a small kid to the children of Cincinnati through the action and drama of professional wrestling. In 2019, a documentary was released about his life in wrestling titled “I’m The Man: The Story of Roger Ruffen and the Northern Wrestling Federation”. He is an avid, lifelong Pete Rose fan and enjoys the taste of Cincinnati chili more than anything.
Ana Log Stix
Nominated by: Sydney Napier
Why Napier nominated Stix: Ana Log Stix is a local drag performer who has been incredibly active in Cincinnati’s LGBTQIA+ community for years.
Ana strives to bring the community together by way of outreach, hosting events that celebrate the community, ensuring we have a safe space to gather, and using her voice to educate people about the queer community and the very real struggles faced daily. Not only does Ana bring joy, but she also gives us a sense of hope that one day, we may attain true harmony without judgment.
Cast Your Vote
Vote once. Vote twice. Vote every time you reopen the tab. Then send this story to the group chat, neighborhood Facebook page, Discord server or overly competitive family member of your choice.
You can vote as often as you’d like until noon Oct. 16. The winner will receive a featured CityBeat story, recognition across CityBeat’s social channels and eternal neighborhood bragging rights.*
*Not legally binding, but spiritually true.
Know Cincinnati’s Next Culture Maker?
Nominations are always open. Tell us about an artist, DJ, chef, bartender, muralist, musician, organizer, educator, performer, community builder or other local human making Cincinnati a more interesting place. Nominate a Culture Maker here.