Calling All Cincinnati Creatives: Reduce, Reuse, and Forum
“And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
William Shakespeare, As You Like It, Act II, Scene I
Jenny Brewer brought her business consulting expertise to the Board of Directors at the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub during the organization’s founding in 2021, just one year after Final Strike Collaborative was established nearly 650 miles north in New York City. Despite their distance, both organizations shared the same purpose, extending the life of materials by creating a space where artists can transform the discarded into the desired.
FSC’s Vice President and Designer, Karly Hasselfeld, crossed paths with Jenny at the Hub’s inaugural Fiber Forum in the fall of 2025. There, the two women also connected with Alisa Smith, a nonprofit consultant at Baraza Impact Design Studio, as well as a sewist and maker.
A proud Cincinnati native myself, I was excited to sit down with Jenny and Alisa to chat about their work and the strong partnerships formed at this event. As Jenny explained, the Fiber Forum intended to connect artists affected by material waste across multiple disciplines, “from farmers producing hemp for the textile industry, to furniture upholsterers, to fashion designers, and more.” This gathering validated that regardless of field, every individual in the room lacked access to at least one of the following: materials, equipment, studio space, and business resources.
“It really highlighted the importance of collaboration,” Jenny said, “and people understanding that they are not alone.” The Forum offered panels, workshops, trashion shows with UC students and local boutique stores, and a material data collection piece led by Karly and Alisa, the latter of which expressed how “cool it is to be in a room where everyone cares about the same thing, and yet everyone is so different. It’s amazing.”
The Fiber Forum recently hosted a table at the 2026 Midwest Sustainability Summit on June 12. Exploring the theme of “Adapt Today, Thrive Tomorrow,” this year’s “meeting of the minds,” as Alisa coined it, engaged over 600 professionals and makers to grapple with the next steps in environmentalism through an artistic lens. Participants discussed how to sustain creative progress while dealing with a shifting climate, economy, as well as political and social landscape.
When asked what they would share with the public about the Fiber Forum, Jenny and Alisa noted that they plan to move to a permanent physical space one day. Also, the Forum’s web page was recently launched on FSC’s official site to share resources that strengthen local artistic opportunities.
The two also noted the unique prospects FSC brings to the Forum’s vision and expansion. “What’s great about Final Strike is that it has so many elements — salvaging, the entertainment industry, and it provides access to the business side that a lot of creatives don’t get,” Jenny said. Alisa echoed this sentiment, adding that the opportunity to link a theatrical material’s performance to its upcycled product enhances the storytelling ability of the maker.
Finding the beauty in the seemingly mundane continues to be the one of the most vital traits an artist can possess, helping to improve both their work and their world. FSC is excited to find the good in every piece the environment has to offer alongside Jenny, Alisa, and all the individuals supporting eco-friendly creation.
Cincinnati's next Fiber Forum is scheduled for October 28th, 2026! You can RSVP here.
To learn more about when the Fiber Forum will return and how you can get involved, please visit their website:
Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub’s website: https://www.cincinnatirecyclingandreusehub.org/
Stop in at the HUB for access to its salvaged resources, including fabric design samples, laminate, tile, carpet squares, office supplies, kid crafts, and anything else they can fit into the studio space. If you are looking for more reclaimed materials, check out these Cincinnati-based HUB partners:
Scrap It Up - https://scrapitup.org/
Indigo Hippo - https://www.indigohippo.org/
Additionally, for more info on the annual Midwest Sustainability Summit, please navigate here: https://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org/
We invite you to stay up to date on everything happening here at FSC by subscribing to be notified about events, products, and more sustainable stories.
Date Published: September 9, 2026
Author: Madeleine Thompson
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