Life & Work with Claire Wagner of Greater Cincinnati

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Wagner.

Hi Claire, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m not a “creative” as some folks may describe them. I’m a retired communicator whose primary skills were editing, writing and public speaking. But in retirement and with Covid quarantines, I learned fast how to get a church service online and make more graphics to illustrate articles. We make decent use of Facebook, a website and YouTube.
I also take photos for our congregation to use in social media, our newsletter and website.

I started volunteering for the League of Women Voters of the Cincinnati Area and restarted its communications team. We have been able to create social media that reaches younger voters and added events that raise awareness about the importance of voting. As president now of the LWV-Cincinnati Area I am encouraging of new outreach and actively develop ideas with our crew.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In the area of streaming a church service, we started by running recorded pieces and making a YouTube “playlist” to encompass a whole service. In going live, we started with smart phones on tripods. Mics were not synced well. Other tech issues arose. When we could afford to buy PTZ cameras and real streaming equipment, it was a new world of learning, but the system was installed well, explained to me and other volunteers, and was a major improvement. We realized, as did other churches, that it enabled us to be accessible to people who couldn’t attend physically – something we hadn’t thought about before the pandemic.

Regarding voter outreach, some younger League members were willing to train others in creating social media. There’s no harm in making very simple videos, I have learned!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a good organizer, yet more people would be familiar with my skills communicating information and ideas. I’m not afraid to write and rewrite til something makes the best sense. I like speaking in public, and people mention how clearly I write and speak. That’s meaningful to me because if no one receives a message, it’s not really a communication.

I’ve learned a bit of graphics and in managing the church website, know that we need updated photos to keep things fresh. I think I have a good eye for balance and framing in photos.

I think I train people well by considering their perspective in learning something new. I think I am most proud of getting better over the years at listening and considering someone’s perspective when I engage with them. I’m sure I didn’t have that at age 20.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I don’t know about church services going anywhere else besides online.
There are many relatively new voting rights organizations in Ohio and elsewhere doing good work. Yet, the League of Women Voters, with 106 years of voter empowerment and democracy defense, will carry its experience to whatever opportunities and challenges come next. Perhaps collaborations are in our future, to achieve the greatest voter education.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://stjohnsuu.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StJohnsUnitarian/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/lwvcincinnati