After taking 2020 off because of the coronavirus pandemic, Rooms to Let: CLE returns to Slavic Village this summer stronger that ever—this time with vacant storefronts and a full-blown arts celebration .

Western Reserve Historical Society's John Grabowski will explore how local neighborhood name changes have been influenced by shifting demographics, politicians, developers, and urban planners.

A NEO Solutions Journalism Collaborative article in FreshWater recently prompted an anonymous donor to give $50,000 in aid to Slavic Village Development to help struggling residents. 

The rise in violence that occurred in Cleveland in 2020 reflected a very difficult year, but that has not deterred residents and professionals from addressing it with care. 
 

Equity and inclusion are a priority at the social services agency University Settlement. So the organization hired two local artists to design a permanent mural denouncing hate and sharing the love.

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski provides a peek into the everyday lives of Clevelanders going about their business in the neighborhoods and on the streets of Cleveland.

Like so many others, Slavic Village residents face mounds of paperwork and uncooperative landlords as they try to stave off eviction. But housing advocates are trying to keep these residents from slipping through the cracks.

As the Towpath Trail Extension Project nears completion, community development leaders envision how connectivity will make a social and economic impact on their neighborhoods and residents.

University Settlement's 5115 at The Rising project has already met nearly two-thirds of its $5 million goal toward building affordable housing in the Slavic Village neigborhood. 

With social determinants of health, food, safety, housing, and education in mind, community development corporations are working with developers and other organizations to create affordable housing with accessible services and healthcare.

Neighborhood Pets works to keep pets with their human companions by providing low cost medical care, food and supplies, and other services to low-income pet owners.

Slavic Village's University Settlement and developer NRP Group are working on an affordable housing project that they hope will be the beginning of the neighborhood's renaissance.

Anthony and Tiffany Anreoli fell in love with the historic charm of Slavic Village when they bought their home more than 10 years ago. They've been renovating neighborhood houses ever since and now are developing a community hub.

If fresh air is the only thing getting you through in this age of social distancing, chances are you're looking for some new spots off the beaten path in order to avoid like-minded crowds. Think outside the box with these five spots, which are lesser known but definitely deserve a spot among the "greatest hits" of Cleveland's great outdoors.
 

Events are being canceled or rescheduled left and right. Offices are closing, and people are working from home and sheltering in place. We caught up with five Cleveland organizations to see how the coronavirus crisis is affecting their efforts to serve the public.

Twice a year, Peet McCain invites other Cleveland residents to join him in exploring Northeast Ohio on foot on an eight-mile hike he calls "The Full Cleveland."

The epicenter of the housing crisis a decade ago, Slavic Village is bouncing back with fully rehabbed homes selling for less than $100,000.

PRE4CLE is all about preparing preschoolers for kindergarten, which studies show pays dividends down the road. As the organization reaches the five-year mark, it has much to celebrate but also decisions to make about where to go next.

Ever thought about starting a community garden? Or how about starting your own urban farmers market? Well, Slavic Village Development is looking for someone with an agricultural mind to take a half-acre-plus plot of land on Union Avenue in Cleveland and build a community garden or urban farming operation.

Kauser Razvi says she became motivated to create a literary lot based on the children's book The Wild Robot after the 2016 election. “It’s about identifying, bullying, isolation, and belonging,” she explains. "It's about having value in your own space."