Downtown
Nautical adventure awaits Cleveland youths this summer thanks to Project YESS (Youth Empowered to Succeed through Sailing), a program that allows local students to spend a week sailing and working on a 150-foot tall vessel.
The program, developed by the Rotary Club of Cleveland, is meant for high school students ages 13 to 17. Starting this year, teenagers will develop leadership and navigational proficiencies during a six-week land-based course. Graduates will then ply the Great Lakes aboard a tall ship, using the skills they learned to become a vital member of their on-board community. Lake-faring activities include reading charts, working in the galley and tying ropes.
"They are physically part of the crew," says Project YESS co-chair Anne Kelly. "All of them are sharing in responsibilities and duties from port to port."
The program started in 2010 in conjunction with the Tall Ships Festival. A group of volunteers help raise the $1,500-per-student fee, which includes curriculum materials, meals, and cost of berth. Students with strong leadership skills but who otherwise would not be able to afford the experience are targeted by Project YESS members.
"The kids hold each other accountable and teach one another to step up," Kelly says.
Project officials hope to bring the youth sailing camp experience to 35 students this year. Along with providing direction, confidence and a sense of community, the program can also open students’ eyes to the unique career opportunities that exist in the Great Lakes region, maintains Kelly.
To receive an application for the Project YESS 2013 class, email projectyess@yahoo.com. Applications must be mailed to the Rotary Club of Cleveland by March 15.
SOURCE: Anne Kelly
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
The program, developed by the Rotary Club of Cleveland, is meant for high school students ages 13 to 17. Starting this year, teenagers will develop leadership and navigational proficiencies during a six-week land-based course. Graduates will then ply the Great Lakes aboard a tall ship, using the skills they learned to become a vital member of their on-board community. Lake-faring activities include reading charts, working in the galley and tying ropes.
"They are physically part of the crew," says Project YESS co-chair Anne Kelly. "All of them are sharing in responsibilities and duties from port to port."
The program started in 2010 in conjunction with the Tall Ships Festival. A group of volunteers help raise the $1,500-per-student fee, which includes curriculum materials, meals, and cost of berth. Students with strong leadership skills but who otherwise would not be able to afford the experience are targeted by Project YESS members.
"The kids hold each other accountable and teach one another to step up," Kelly says.
Project officials hope to bring the youth sailing camp experience to 35 students this year. Along with providing direction, confidence and a sense of community, the program can also open students’ eyes to the unique career opportunities that exist in the Great Lakes region, maintains Kelly.
To receive an application for the Project YESS 2013 class, email projectyess@yahoo.com. Applications must be mailed to the Rotary Club of Cleveland by March 15.
SOURCE: Anne Kelly
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Venture for America, a non-profit group that places new college grads in startup companies, is coming to Cleveland. The New York-based organization focuses on placing new college grads in jobs at startups in cities with a low cost of living and in the process of revitalization.
“The goal is to create young entrepreneurs,” explains VFA vice president of corporate development Mike Tarullo. “Too many of our best and brightest are going into big firms and too few are going into growth businesses and startups.” Ultimately, the hope is that the fellows will become successful entrepreneurs themselves in the cities where they are assigned.
The VFA team scours college campuses for recruits. The grads then spend two years in startup or growing companies, getting hands-on experience in developing a company. The employers pay the fellows $36,000 a year.
VFA launched 18 months ago with 40 fellows in five cities: Cincinnati, Detroit, New Orleans, Providence and Las Vegas. This year the organization expanded to Cleveland and Baltimore. The concept is modeled after the Teach for America program, which places new teachers in underserved schools.
“We identify cities that are kind of reinventing themselves through entrepreneurship industries,” says Tarullo. “A lot of it is about preventing brain drain.” The VFA wants to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025 by helping young companies expand and train new college graduates to become business builders and job creators.
The organization has identified 25 possible Cleveland companies, and Tarullo has already talked to more than 10 companies that are interested in hiring a fellow. “They are all different sizes in all industries,” he says. “The common thread is great leadership and exciting growth opportunities. The fellows can cut their teeth and spend a couple of years learning and growing.”
VFA plans to send eight to 10 fellows to Cleveland each year. Tarullo has relied on area support organizations to identify companies. “JumpStart and Bizdom have played a huge role,” he says. “They have welcomed us to the community and introduced us to the right people.”
Source: Mike Tarullo
Writer: Karin Connelly
“The goal is to create young entrepreneurs,” explains VFA vice president of corporate development Mike Tarullo. “Too many of our best and brightest are going into big firms and too few are going into growth businesses and startups.” Ultimately, the hope is that the fellows will become successful entrepreneurs themselves in the cities where they are assigned.
The VFA team scours college campuses for recruits. The grads then spend two years in startup or growing companies, getting hands-on experience in developing a company. The employers pay the fellows $36,000 a year.
VFA launched 18 months ago with 40 fellows in five cities: Cincinnati, Detroit, New Orleans, Providence and Las Vegas. This year the organization expanded to Cleveland and Baltimore. The concept is modeled after the Teach for America program, which places new teachers in underserved schools.
“We identify cities that are kind of reinventing themselves through entrepreneurship industries,” says Tarullo. “A lot of it is about preventing brain drain.” The VFA wants to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025 by helping young companies expand and train new college graduates to become business builders and job creators.
The organization has identified 25 possible Cleveland companies, and Tarullo has already talked to more than 10 companies that are interested in hiring a fellow. “They are all different sizes in all industries,” he says. “The common thread is great leadership and exciting growth opportunities. The fellows can cut their teeth and spend a couple of years learning and growing.”
VFA plans to send eight to 10 fellows to Cleveland each year. Tarullo has relied on area support organizations to identify companies. “JumpStart and Bizdom have played a huge role,” he says. “They have welcomed us to the community and introduced us to the right people.”
Source: Mike Tarullo
Writer: Karin Connelly
Dan Malz is a science guy and a rum aficionado who always dreamed of making his own rum. Three years ago over a pint of Guinness, that dream was on the way to becoming a reality. That's when Malz and his three business partners, John Marek, Keith Sutton and Matthew Zappernick, founded Portside Distillery, Cleveland’s first distillery since Prohibition.
Portside Distillery produces small-batch artisan spirits and craft beers from its lakeside location on W. 9th and Front streets. Malz and his partners got the distillery’s name from their location. “We’re right on the lake, and rum is a very nautical term,” he says. We’re on the side of the port and in the same building as the Cleveland Port Authority, so it fit up well.”
Their first batch of silver rum was released in December of last year. “Silver rum is un-aged rum,” explains Malz. “It’s just high class distilled spirits.” Portside rum hit 22 state liquor stores in January. “The first batch of 800 bottles sold out in three days,” says Malz. “The second batch is in stores now.”
Plans are underway to expand Portside’s selection. “We’re going to make vanilla maple rum and spiced rum,” says Malz. “And we have a couple of beers brewing right now.” Malz and his partners are brewing double pale ale, followed by an imperial stout. The two new rums should be available later this month.
Additional plans include a restaurant at the distillery, which is scheduled to open this summer. It will feature upscale food, eight Portside beers and 18 local guest brews on tap.
Portside is currently looking to fill two positions, one in the brewery and one in the distillery.
Source: Dan Malz
Writer: Karin Connelly
Portside Distillery produces small-batch artisan spirits and craft beers from its lakeside location on W. 9th and Front streets. Malz and his partners got the distillery’s name from their location. “We’re right on the lake, and rum is a very nautical term,” he says. We’re on the side of the port and in the same building as the Cleveland Port Authority, so it fit up well.”
Their first batch of silver rum was released in December of last year. “Silver rum is un-aged rum,” explains Malz. “It’s just high class distilled spirits.” Portside rum hit 22 state liquor stores in January. “The first batch of 800 bottles sold out in three days,” says Malz. “The second batch is in stores now.”
Plans are underway to expand Portside’s selection. “We’re going to make vanilla maple rum and spiced rum,” says Malz. “And we have a couple of beers brewing right now.” Malz and his partners are brewing double pale ale, followed by an imperial stout. The two new rums should be available later this month.
Additional plans include a restaurant at the distillery, which is scheduled to open this summer. It will feature upscale food, eight Portside beers and 18 local guest brews on tap.
Portside is currently looking to fill two positions, one in the brewery and one in the distillery.
Source: Dan Malz
Writer: Karin Connelly
huffpo discusses vacant school building uses
In a Huffington Post report titled “Cities have hundreds of empty schools,” Philip Elliott writes of the nation’s largest cities struggling to sell valuable property while still incurring costs to keep them secure while empty.
Elliot notes that Cleveland already has found uses for 25 former buildings, bulldozed seven other buildings to turn into parks, but still has 27 additional properties up for grabs.
“The number of idle buildings does not include properties that the districts are holding on to but are not using. Cleveland, for instance, kept several buildings at the ready to fill in for others they plan to renovate in the future, officials there said.”
Read the full report here.
Elliot notes that Cleveland already has found uses for 25 former buildings, bulldozed seven other buildings to turn into parks, but still has 27 additional properties up for grabs.
“The number of idle buildings does not include properties that the districts are holding on to but are not using. Cleveland, for instance, kept several buildings at the ready to fill in for others they plan to renovate in the future, officials there said.”
Read the full report here.
"We are all assets," declares the national website of TimeBanks USA, a movement dedicated to building "caring community" economies through an inclusive exchange of time and talent.
Indeed, time can be as valuable an asset as money in terms of the positive impact it has on a neighborhood, says Adam Gifford, director of community involvement at the Stockyard, Clark-Fulton, and Brooklyn Centre Development Office, which, along with its parent Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, is sponsoring a time bank in Cleveland.
The time bank movement works through reciprocation. For example, a landscaper does an hour of volunteer tree-trimming work, then deposits those 60 "time dollars" into his account. When he needs a service done, like getting his dogs walked or receiving help with his taxes, he simply "withdraws" his deposit for the service. There is no monetary value ever attached to any service -- time is the one and only coin of the realm.
"People may not have the money available, but they may have time," says Gifford. "It's about giving people access to services they normally couldn't afford."
Time banks have sprung up across the country. Locally, Kent and Medina are among the communities to use the service. The Cleveland time bank is in its infancy, attracting nearly 100 members putting in about 150 hours of work so far. A program orientation will be held February 26 at The Salvation Army's Clarke-Fulton location, while a Cleveland time bank website is scheduled to go live in March.
The time bank is open to individuals and groups. Gifford views the exchange of skills and services without cash as a method to enrich lives.
"It's a creative way to build a community," he says.
SOURCE: Adam Gifford
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Indeed, time can be as valuable an asset as money in terms of the positive impact it has on a neighborhood, says Adam Gifford, director of community involvement at the Stockyard, Clark-Fulton, and Brooklyn Centre Development Office, which, along with its parent Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization, is sponsoring a time bank in Cleveland.
The time bank movement works through reciprocation. For example, a landscaper does an hour of volunteer tree-trimming work, then deposits those 60 "time dollars" into his account. When he needs a service done, like getting his dogs walked or receiving help with his taxes, he simply "withdraws" his deposit for the service. There is no monetary value ever attached to any service -- time is the one and only coin of the realm.
"People may not have the money available, but they may have time," says Gifford. "It's about giving people access to services they normally couldn't afford."
Time banks have sprung up across the country. Locally, Kent and Medina are among the communities to use the service. The Cleveland time bank is in its infancy, attracting nearly 100 members putting in about 150 hours of work so far. A program orientation will be held February 26 at The Salvation Army's Clarke-Fulton location, while a Cleveland time bank website is scheduled to go live in March.
The time bank is open to individuals and groups. Gifford views the exchange of skills and services without cash as a method to enrich lives.
"It's a creative way to build a community," he says.
SOURCE: Adam Gifford
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
cleveland well represented in beard award semis
In an Eater.com article titled “JFB Announces 2013 Restaurant and Chef Semifinalists” Raphael Brion shares the most recent “long list” of semifinalists for the coveted James Beard Foundation Awards.
Cleveland finds itself well represented with four local chefs up for various honors.
Michael Symon for Outstanding Chef
Jonathon Sawyer for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Zack Bruell for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Matt Danko for Outstanding Pastry Chef
The finalists will be announced on Monday, March 18, 2013 with the winners announced on Monday, May 6, 2013.
Check out the full list here.
Cleveland finds itself well represented with four local chefs up for various honors.
Michael Symon for Outstanding Chef
Jonathon Sawyer for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Zack Bruell for Best Chef: Great Lakes
Matt Danko for Outstanding Pastry Chef
The finalists will be announced on Monday, March 18, 2013 with the winners announced on Monday, May 6, 2013.
Check out the full list here.
cleveland named by msn as 1 of 10 coolest cities in the midwest
In an MSN slideshow titled “10 coolest cities in the Midwest,” Chelsea Lin proclaims our fair city of Cleveland as one of them due to its musical history and art. Oddly enough, nothing about the phenomenal dining scene is mentioned as a factor of coolness.
In proclaiming what’s cool: “There’s more than just rock ’n’ roll culture at play. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland’s brand-new mirrored digs, is a lesson in modern art itself, a stunning piece of interesting architecture.”
Read the full blurb and check out the other cities on the list here.
In proclaiming what’s cool: “There’s more than just rock ’n’ roll culture at play. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland’s brand-new mirrored digs, is a lesson in modern art itself, a stunning piece of interesting architecture.”
Read the full blurb and check out the other cities on the list here.
Filing a federal income tax return is far from the most enjoyable activity one can do. It can even be intimidating for people who don't understand the process or know they are eligible for an Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit providing free tax preparation and other services to low- and middle-income Cuyahoga County residents, aims to bridge the knowledge gap and help hard-working individuals and families keep more of what they earned. Nationwide last year, the average credit handed out was about $2,200, but the credit can provide as much as $5,900.
"About 20 percent of people eligible for [EITC] don't claim it," says Mark McDermott, Enterprise vice president and Ohio market leader. "We get the word out."
That word is spread in conjunction with the Cuyahoga County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and a host of other local partner organizations. This tax season, Enterprise has recruited over 350 IRS-certified volunteers to assist in the effort.
Eligible residents can access the free service by dialing the United Way of Greater Cleveland's 2-1-1 help line. Appointments are scheduled at one of 25 sites located throughout the country. There are also a handful of Saturday free tax-preparation events taking place right up until filing day.
During the past seven years, more than 55,000 participants have received over $77 million in refunds and saved millions of dollars in fees from paid tax preparers, notes program director Kathy Matthews.
"That's about $13 million going back into the local economy," says Matthews.
Tax help isn't Enterprise's only offering. Those who use the service also have access to benefit screenings, debt management and more.
"The tax work is our foundation," says McDermott. "This has proven to be a great program."
SOURCES: Mark McDermott, Kathy Matthews
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Enterprise Community Partners, a nonprofit providing free tax preparation and other services to low- and middle-income Cuyahoga County residents, aims to bridge the knowledge gap and help hard-working individuals and families keep more of what they earned. Nationwide last year, the average credit handed out was about $2,200, but the credit can provide as much as $5,900.
"About 20 percent of people eligible for [EITC] don't claim it," says Mark McDermott, Enterprise vice president and Ohio market leader. "We get the word out."
That word is spread in conjunction with the Cuyahoga County Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition and a host of other local partner organizations. This tax season, Enterprise has recruited over 350 IRS-certified volunteers to assist in the effort.
Eligible residents can access the free service by dialing the United Way of Greater Cleveland's 2-1-1 help line. Appointments are scheduled at one of 25 sites located throughout the country. There are also a handful of Saturday free tax-preparation events taking place right up until filing day.
During the past seven years, more than 55,000 participants have received over $77 million in refunds and saved millions of dollars in fees from paid tax preparers, notes program director Kathy Matthews.
"That's about $13 million going back into the local economy," says Matthews.
Tax help isn't Enterprise's only offering. Those who use the service also have access to benefit screenings, debt management and more.
"The tax work is our foundation," says McDermott. "This has proven to be a great program."
SOURCES: Mark McDermott, Kathy Matthews
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
In recent years, Mentor native Erin Huber has flown 7,000 miles just to get the population of a small Ugandan village a drop to drink. That effort is part of a larger endeavor to promote water sustainability both locally and globally.
Huber, founder of Drink Local Drink Tap, a nonprofit organization seeking to connect Clevelanders to local water through art installations and free environmental education, traveled to Africa the last two summers with the mission of getting an impoverished people access to clean water.
The first trip, in 2011, found the activist journeying throughout East Africa to learn about the water situation. Her visit to a rural Ugandan town was particularly eye-opening. Children in the village had to walk over a mile to find a nearby water source, and the water wasn't clean or safe.
Last summer, Huber and her small team returned to Uganda, where they drilled a 70-meter hole into a water table to bring drinkable water to the people of the tiny African community. They filmed their efforts for the documentary Making Waves from Cleveland to Uganda, which Huber hopes to screen at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
"We struck water 'gold,'" she says of the Africa venture, which now supplies fresh drinking water to about 1,500 villagers.
Huber, with a master's degree in environmental studies from Cleveland State University and fond memories of a childhood spent camping next to lakes, streams and rivers, has three more water-related projects set for a future jaunt to Uganda. Meanwhile, she will continue to educate Cleveland's youth and adults about the enormous local fresh water resource known as the Great Lakes.
"We have to realize how fortunate we are," Huber says. "Everything we see needs water to exist."
SOURCE: Erin Huber
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Huber, founder of Drink Local Drink Tap, a nonprofit organization seeking to connect Clevelanders to local water through art installations and free environmental education, traveled to Africa the last two summers with the mission of getting an impoverished people access to clean water.
The first trip, in 2011, found the activist journeying throughout East Africa to learn about the water situation. Her visit to a rural Ugandan town was particularly eye-opening. Children in the village had to walk over a mile to find a nearby water source, and the water wasn't clean or safe.
Last summer, Huber and her small team returned to Uganda, where they drilled a 70-meter hole into a water table to bring drinkable water to the people of the tiny African community. They filmed their efforts for the documentary Making Waves from Cleveland to Uganda, which Huber hopes to screen at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
"We struck water 'gold,'" she says of the Africa venture, which now supplies fresh drinking water to about 1,500 villagers.
Huber, with a master's degree in environmental studies from Cleveland State University and fond memories of a childhood spent camping next to lakes, streams and rivers, has three more water-related projects set for a future jaunt to Uganda. Meanwhile, she will continue to educate Cleveland's youth and adults about the enormous local fresh water resource known as the Great Lakes.
"We have to realize how fortunate we are," Huber says. "Everything we see needs water to exist."
SOURCE: Erin Huber
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Will Tarter, Jr. stands out as a leader among Cleveland’s young professional community. As the charismatic head of the Cleveland Young Professional Senate, he champions causes and issues that impact this highly in-demand demographic, not to mention the long-term well-being of Cleveland.
buffalo orders up big platter of cleveland dining awesome-sauce
In a Buffalo News feature titled “Chow down on Lake Erie,” food writer Andrew Galarneau highlights the thriving culinary scene in Cleveland and wonders how and why it differs from Buffalo’s own food scene.
Galarneau, questioning local food scribes like the PD's Joe Crea and this pub's own Douglas Trattner, delves deeply into the likely causes for Cleveland's disproportionate maturity when it comes to food and dining. Many of the city's finest chefs are mentioned in the piece.
"How did Cleveland get so awesome?" Galarneau muses aloud.
“When Symon said, ‘Cleveland is awesome, check it out,’ he wasn’t lying,” Trattner, a restaurant critic and author, is quoted in the piece. “Anybody can get up there and talk about their hometown, but he had stuff to back him up, so it wasn’t just ‘Here’s what I’m doing’ but ‘Here’s what Cleveland’s doing as a dining town, I’d think you’d be surprised.’ ”
The scribe notes that “[Eric] Williams won the undying love of tattooed hipsters and blue-collar types with Happy Dog, a bar that serves 75 beers and $3 boats of Tater Tots with as many of the 19 sauces, ranging from black truffle honey mustard to Oaxacan chocolate mole, as you want. And live polka happy hour on Fridays.”
Check out the full tribute to Cleveland and get a sneak peak at Buffalo’s budding scene here.
Galarneau, questioning local food scribes like the PD's Joe Crea and this pub's own Douglas Trattner, delves deeply into the likely causes for Cleveland's disproportionate maturity when it comes to food and dining. Many of the city's finest chefs are mentioned in the piece.
"How did Cleveland get so awesome?" Galarneau muses aloud.
“When Symon said, ‘Cleveland is awesome, check it out,’ he wasn’t lying,” Trattner, a restaurant critic and author, is quoted in the piece. “Anybody can get up there and talk about their hometown, but he had stuff to back him up, so it wasn’t just ‘Here’s what I’m doing’ but ‘Here’s what Cleveland’s doing as a dining town, I’d think you’d be surprised.’ ”
The scribe notes that “[Eric] Williams won the undying love of tattooed hipsters and blue-collar types with Happy Dog, a bar that serves 75 beers and $3 boats of Tater Tots with as many of the 19 sauces, ranging from black truffle honey mustard to Oaxacan chocolate mole, as you want. And live polka happy hour on Fridays.”
Check out the full tribute to Cleveland and get a sneak peak at Buffalo’s budding scene here.
For a number of years at the tail end of the 20th century, Greater Cleveland's public and private leaders attempted to pull the city up through ambitious marketing campaigns. For awhile it seemed to work. The national media began referring to Cleveland as the "Comeback City" in conjunction with the grand openings of ambitious projects like Tower City Center, Jacobs Field and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
But toward the end of the '90s a strange thing happened: The city, for all intents and purposes, stopped marketing itself.
Why?
"We began to believe our own press," says Rick Batyko, president of the Regional Marketing Alliance of Northeast Ohio, which conducts the Cleveland Plus campaign. And civic officials "moved on to other tasks and defunded marketing."
In essence, Northeast Ohio stopped telling its tale with the tale barely begun -- a rather large mistake in retrospect. "The underlying economy wasn't doing that well," Batyko says. "That's something you couldn't see in the skyline shots."
During the mid-2000s, the region's narrative thread was picked up by Cleveland Plus campaign. Established in 2005 -- with founding members that included Greater Cleveland Partnership, Positively Cleveland and Team NEO -- the organization champions Northeast Ohio as a culturally rich, yet affordable place to live.
Read the rest of the story here.
But toward the end of the '90s a strange thing happened: The city, for all intents and purposes, stopped marketing itself.
Why?
"We began to believe our own press," says Rick Batyko, president of the Regional Marketing Alliance of Northeast Ohio, which conducts the Cleveland Plus campaign. And civic officials "moved on to other tasks and defunded marketing."
In essence, Northeast Ohio stopped telling its tale with the tale barely begun -- a rather large mistake in retrospect. "The underlying economy wasn't doing that well," Batyko says. "That's something you couldn't see in the skyline shots."
During the mid-2000s, the region's narrative thread was picked up by Cleveland Plus campaign. Established in 2005 -- with founding members that included Greater Cleveland Partnership, Positively Cleveland and Team NEO -- the organization champions Northeast Ohio as a culturally rich, yet affordable place to live.
Read the rest of the story here.
If Northeast Ohio has a digital divide, then Cleveland-based nonprofit broadband provider OneCommunity wants to lay down enough fiber-optic cable to successfully bridge the gap.
The divide is particularly wide in Cleveland's poorer neighborhoods, says OneCommunity CEO Brett Lindsey. In response, his organization created the Connect Your Community Project (CYC). Since 2010, CYC has provided broadband training, equipment and support for nearly 8,000 Cleveland and East Cleveland residents. The group's work is supported through a $18.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
The organization's new adopters receive a refurbished computer at no cost after matriculating through the training program. They also have the opportunity to receive a free modem and affordable, high-speed home Internet service.
In modern society, everything from job postings to health care information is online, notes Lindsey. The idea is not to give Cleveland's underserved access to solitaire or funny YouTube videos, but an electronic education that will allow them to look up information on their child's school system or connect with far flung family members.
"The haves and have nots in terms of technology are significant," says Lindsey. "This is a way to get people engaged."
OneCommunity is also bringing "digital literacy" to Cleveland families with young people on track for college entry but not currently connected to broadband. Computer training and access can go far in spurring parental engagement in a student's post-high school academic career, Lindsey believes.
So far, so good, says the OneCommunity CEO. In its initial CYC data, 75 percent of parents surveyed used their home broadband connection to communicate with their child's teachers and administrators.
"We have to continue to ensure that people don't get left behind," says Lindsey.
SOURCE: Brett Lindsey
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
The divide is particularly wide in Cleveland's poorer neighborhoods, says OneCommunity CEO Brett Lindsey. In response, his organization created the Connect Your Community Project (CYC). Since 2010, CYC has provided broadband training, equipment and support for nearly 8,000 Cleveland and East Cleveland residents. The group's work is supported through a $18.7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
The organization's new adopters receive a refurbished computer at no cost after matriculating through the training program. They also have the opportunity to receive a free modem and affordable, high-speed home Internet service.
In modern society, everything from job postings to health care information is online, notes Lindsey. The idea is not to give Cleveland's underserved access to solitaire or funny YouTube videos, but an electronic education that will allow them to look up information on their child's school system or connect with far flung family members.
"The haves and have nots in terms of technology are significant," says Lindsey. "This is a way to get people engaged."
OneCommunity is also bringing "digital literacy" to Cleveland families with young people on track for college entry but not currently connected to broadband. Computer training and access can go far in spurring parental engagement in a student's post-high school academic career, Lindsey believes.
So far, so good, says the OneCommunity CEO. In its initial CYC data, 75 percent of parents surveyed used their home broadband connection to communicate with their child's teachers and administrators.
"We have to continue to ensure that people don't get left behind," says Lindsey.
SOURCE: Brett Lindsey
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
wsj calls cleveland an 'overlooked entrepreneurial hub'
In a Wall Street Journal post titled “For U.S. Startups, ‘Times They-are-a-Changing,’” Steve Case, co-founder of AOL, shares his thoughts on entrepreneurship and trends that are changing nationwide, including Cleveland.
“I’m convinced that we’re beginning to see a regional 'rise of the rest' as cities like Washington D.C., Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Raleigh, Cleveland, Detroit and many others experience unprecedented growth in startups. Silicon Valley will continue to be our nation’s most vibrant entrepreneurial hub, but a growing number of companies will start up in these often overlooked places.”
“America was built by risk-taking entrepreneurs who throughout history have turned dreams into new businesses, disrupted industries, created new ones and inspired the world.”
Check out the full piece here.
“I’m convinced that we’re beginning to see a regional 'rise of the rest' as cities like Washington D.C., Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Raleigh, Cleveland, Detroit and many others experience unprecedented growth in startups. Silicon Valley will continue to be our nation’s most vibrant entrepreneurial hub, but a growing number of companies will start up in these often overlooked places.”
“America was built by risk-taking entrepreneurs who throughout history have turned dreams into new businesses, disrupted industries, created new ones and inspired the world.”
Check out the full piece here.
Salaries for technology professionals working in Cleveland rose by double percentage points over last year, according to the 2013-2012 Dice Salary Survey from Dice, a career site for technology and engineer professionals.
Salaries for tech and engineering jobs rose 11 percent in the city, compared to the national average of just 5.3 percent. The average salary in 2012 was $75,773, compared to $68,519 in 2011 and $65,045 in 2007, according to the report.
“It’s really good to see, from a career perspective, salaries going up,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “We like to see more students go into IT after high school because the pipeline is not full enough. The salaries drive more interest among students to go into IT.”
Nellis reports that 82 percent of NEOSA companies had job openings last year, and 73 percent expected to add staff this year. Given Cleveland’s cost of living, the salary increase gives the area an advantage, especially when the 11 percent growth ranked Cleveland fifth out of the seven cities that saw double digit tech salary growth.
While some of the smaller and startup tech companies in the region may struggle a bit to offer the higher salaries, JumpStart recruiter Kara Hornikel says these companies are also eager to attract the best employees. “Our startups want to attract and retain top talent,” she says, adding that one third of the 50 to 70 open jobs at JumpStart companies are in IT.
There are advantages to working at a startup tech firm too. “It’s a lot more exciting for a developer to work in a startup environment,” says Hornikel. “They get a lot more say from start to finish and they get to stretch their creative skills.”
The increase gives technology companies in Cleveland the ability to attract and retain talented employees from both within and outside the region. “Northeast Ohio is starting to recognize how important attraction and retention is,” says Sean Turner, senior recruiter at JumpStart. “We’re trying to be more competitive about attracting talent here. With the salary increases compared to the national average and the cost of doing business here, you get more bang for your buck.”
Sources: Brad Nellis, Kara Hornikel, Sean Turner
Writer: Karin Connelly
Salaries for tech and engineering jobs rose 11 percent in the city, compared to the national average of just 5.3 percent. The average salary in 2012 was $75,773, compared to $68,519 in 2011 and $65,045 in 2007, according to the report.
“It’s really good to see, from a career perspective, salaries going up,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “We like to see more students go into IT after high school because the pipeline is not full enough. The salaries drive more interest among students to go into IT.”
Nellis reports that 82 percent of NEOSA companies had job openings last year, and 73 percent expected to add staff this year. Given Cleveland’s cost of living, the salary increase gives the area an advantage, especially when the 11 percent growth ranked Cleveland fifth out of the seven cities that saw double digit tech salary growth.
While some of the smaller and startup tech companies in the region may struggle a bit to offer the higher salaries, JumpStart recruiter Kara Hornikel says these companies are also eager to attract the best employees. “Our startups want to attract and retain top talent,” she says, adding that one third of the 50 to 70 open jobs at JumpStart companies are in IT.
There are advantages to working at a startup tech firm too. “It’s a lot more exciting for a developer to work in a startup environment,” says Hornikel. “They get a lot more say from start to finish and they get to stretch their creative skills.”
The increase gives technology companies in Cleveland the ability to attract and retain talented employees from both within and outside the region. “Northeast Ohio is starting to recognize how important attraction and retention is,” says Sean Turner, senior recruiter at JumpStart. “We’re trying to be more competitive about attracting talent here. With the salary increases compared to the national average and the cost of doing business here, you get more bang for your buck.”
Sources: Brad Nellis, Kara Hornikel, Sean Turner
Writer: Karin Connelly
Education is on the forefront of Cleveland's transformation plans. The city is aiming to reform its troubled school system as well as increase the number of youth attending and graduating from college.
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) had Cleveland's goals in mind when planning its African American History Month programming for this year. Throughout February, the library will offer a variety of education- and educator-focused programming, music and events at its main facility and branch locations.
"We try to focus on topics that resonate with the community," says CPL programming director Aaron Mason. "Education is the topic of the day."
Featured programs and events include:
* A showcase of student-produced music and videos created by Cleveland’s youth through the efforts of Reading R.A.M.M. (Recording Arts Music Media) founder Edward “Phatty” Banks. The February 9 event at the main library is designed to connect area children with reading and education through use of pop-culture-style music and media.
* A performance by Ralph Miles Jones and Baba Issa Abramaleem, otherwise known as "The Seekers of Truth Revolutionary Ensemble." Jones is a multi-instrumentalist and recording artist from Oberlin College. Abramaleem is a composer, visual artist, playwright and percussionist-guitarist. The duo plays CPL's Rice Branch on February 15.
* A free screening of the documentary "PUSH: Madison vs. Madison" on February 22 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. branch. The film covers the trials of a talented but dysfunctional high school basketball team.
This year's round of African American History Month programming is meant to look ahead rather than back at history, notes Mason.
"The library should be a place of learning and engagement," he says. "It's about exposing people to new ideas."
SOURCE: Aaron Mason
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
Cleveland Public Library (CPL) had Cleveland's goals in mind when planning its African American History Month programming for this year. Throughout February, the library will offer a variety of education- and educator-focused programming, music and events at its main facility and branch locations.
"We try to focus on topics that resonate with the community," says CPL programming director Aaron Mason. "Education is the topic of the day."
Featured programs and events include:
* A showcase of student-produced music and videos created by Cleveland’s youth through the efforts of Reading R.A.M.M. (Recording Arts Music Media) founder Edward “Phatty” Banks. The February 9 event at the main library is designed to connect area children with reading and education through use of pop-culture-style music and media.
* A performance by Ralph Miles Jones and Baba Issa Abramaleem, otherwise known as "The Seekers of Truth Revolutionary Ensemble." Jones is a multi-instrumentalist and recording artist from Oberlin College. Abramaleem is a composer, visual artist, playwright and percussionist-guitarist. The duo plays CPL's Rice Branch on February 15.
* A free screening of the documentary "PUSH: Madison vs. Madison" on February 22 at the Martin Luther King, Jr. branch. The film covers the trials of a talented but dysfunctional high school basketball team.
This year's round of African American History Month programming is meant to look ahead rather than back at history, notes Mason.
"The library should be a place of learning and engagement," he says. "It's about exposing people to new ideas."
SOURCE: Aaron Mason
WRITER: Douglas J. Guth
SafeCare, which provides continuous monitoring and background checks of employees in the healthcare industry, received a $25,000 grant in November from the Innovation Fund. The money will help SafeCare expand and refocus the company, which was formed out of Bizdom Cleveland’s inaugural class in April 2012.
The grant will allow SafeCare to concentrate more on the B2B market, rather than the consumer market. The company monitors employees on a monthly basis against nationwide healthcare and criminal public data sources.
“We will be using that money to really concentrate on flushing out our B2B offerings,” explains SafeCare founder and CEO Lissette Rivera. “We’re moving away from consumer products because of the sticky situations you can have when you share people’s information.”
SafeCare is in the process of re-designing their website to create a more personal feel. “We’re focused on providers rather than families, and our website will have a more warm and fuzzy feel,” Rivera says. The new website should launch by the end of this month.
SafeCare has three clients spanning nine healthcare facilities. Rivera has grown the company to four employees -- a CTO, two contract employees and a paid intern -- and is hoping to hire a salesperson in the next six months. “We’re fast moving in the direction of creating more and more jobs,” boasts Rivera.
Source: Lissette Rivera
Writer: Karin Connelly
The grant will allow SafeCare to concentrate more on the B2B market, rather than the consumer market. The company monitors employees on a monthly basis against nationwide healthcare and criminal public data sources.
“We will be using that money to really concentrate on flushing out our B2B offerings,” explains SafeCare founder and CEO Lissette Rivera. “We’re moving away from consumer products because of the sticky situations you can have when you share people’s information.”
SafeCare is in the process of re-designing their website to create a more personal feel. “We’re focused on providers rather than families, and our website will have a more warm and fuzzy feel,” Rivera says. The new website should launch by the end of this month.
SafeCare has three clients spanning nine healthcare facilities. Rivera has grown the company to four employees -- a CTO, two contract employees and a paid intern -- and is hoping to hire a salesperson in the next six months. “We’re fast moving in the direction of creating more and more jobs,” boasts Rivera.
Source: Lissette Rivera
Writer: Karin Connelly