Social Change
At last count, Ohio City was home to nearly 90 nonprofit organizations and community groups. Combined they employ 3,000 individuals and have a collective budget totaling several hundred million dollars. They also attract over 100,000 customers annually, and boast more than 10,000 committed volunteers.
Since the recession began, the groups that make up this sizeable nonprofit community have met regularly to discuss ways to combine purchasing, share services and leverage their resources. Such conversations have led to Ohio City Dialogues, an effort to bring together and strengthen the nonprofits in the neighborhood that is being managed by the community development corporation Ohio City Inc.
"These groups are able to accomplish more and better achieve their missions by working together," says Jeffrey Verespej, Director of Operations and Advocacy with Ohio City Inc. "They are able to get better services at lower rates because they're sharing the burden across so many different organizations."
The group is now working with the Sourcing Office, a local company that helps governments, businesses and nonprofits obtain competitive rates for goods and services. Recently, they crafted a Request for Proposals for an information technology provider and selected Onelink, a Westlake-based company.
Verespej says that the Ohio City Dialogues group will display its growing influence in the coming year. The group is planning to hold its annual meeting in March, with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
"There's a real nonprofit economy here, and nonprofits have an economic impact that's not often seen," Verespej says. "We think we can tell a different story, and leverage nonprofits into a stronger impact for the community."
Source: Jeff Verespej
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Since the recession began, the groups that make up this sizeable nonprofit community have met regularly to discuss ways to combine purchasing, share services and leverage their resources. Such conversations have led to Ohio City Dialogues, an effort to bring together and strengthen the nonprofits in the neighborhood that is being managed by the community development corporation Ohio City Inc.
"These groups are able to accomplish more and better achieve their missions by working together," says Jeffrey Verespej, Director of Operations and Advocacy with Ohio City Inc. "They are able to get better services at lower rates because they're sharing the burden across so many different organizations."
The group is now working with the Sourcing Office, a local company that helps governments, businesses and nonprofits obtain competitive rates for goods and services. Recently, they crafted a Request for Proposals for an information technology provider and selected Onelink, a Westlake-based company.
Verespej says that the Ohio City Dialogues group will display its growing influence in the coming year. The group is planning to hold its annual meeting in March, with Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson scheduled to deliver the keynote address.
"There's a real nonprofit economy here, and nonprofits have an economic impact that's not often seen," Verespej says. "We think we can tell a different story, and leverage nonprofits into a stronger impact for the community."
Source: Jeff Verespej
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A few short months ago, the vacant, boarded-up commercial property at E. 156th Street and Waterloo Road was like a "Berlin Wall," says Brian Friedman, director of Northeast Shores Community Development Corporation. Passers-by on their way to concerts at the popular Beachland Ballroom were treated to the building's dark, unfriendly visage. Rather than a welcoming gateway to this up-and-coming, arts-friendly community, the structure served as an ugly reminder of the blight nipping at its heels.
Today, the building remains stubbornly vacant. Yet, it's been festooned with a bright, colorful mural signaling the entrance to the the Waterloo Arts District, thanks to a partnership between Northeast Shores and a local graffiti artist.
"The mural is designed to be temporary, since we'd prefer the building to be occupied, but unfortunately difficult commercial projects can take years," says Friedman. "The mural also works well with our recently-launched Artists in Residence initiative, a grant program to deal with issues like vacancy."
The $5,000 mural was completed by Massillon artist Steve Ehret, who has participated in several pop-up galleries in the neighborhood. Friedman hopes it will become the first of many such creative, artistic interventions in North Collinwood.
Last summer, North Collinwood was selected as the location for a two-year, $500,000 pilot program that will use artist-based development to revitalize one urban neighborhood. The program is being managed by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) and Northeast Shores.
Source: Brian Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Today, the building remains stubbornly vacant. Yet, it's been festooned with a bright, colorful mural signaling the entrance to the the Waterloo Arts District, thanks to a partnership between Northeast Shores and a local graffiti artist.
"The mural is designed to be temporary, since we'd prefer the building to be occupied, but unfortunately difficult commercial projects can take years," says Friedman. "The mural also works well with our recently-launched Artists in Residence initiative, a grant program to deal with issues like vacancy."
The $5,000 mural was completed by Massillon artist Steve Ehret, who has participated in several pop-up galleries in the neighborhood. Friedman hopes it will become the first of many such creative, artistic interventions in North Collinwood.
Last summer, North Collinwood was selected as the location for a two-year, $500,000 pilot program that will use artist-based development to revitalize one urban neighborhood. The program is being managed by the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture (CPAC) and Northeast Shores.
Source: Brian Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Liz Maugins of Zygote Press remembers the moment in 2008 when she realized just how fragile her own organization's existence was in Cleveland's ever-shrinking nonprofit ecosystem. Like many nonprofit groups, she was looking at fewer philanthropic dollars during the worst recession in decades. Meanwhile, many foundations were stressing collaboration or proposing outright mergers.
"Like a lot of nonprofit leaders, I was freaking out and wondering what would come our way," recounts Maugins, who worried that her small nonprofit would be wiped out by the tidal wave of the national recession. "So I started sending out messages to other arts leaders to see if they were feeling the same thing."
Not surprisingly, other nonprofit leaders were losing sleep over their situations, too. Yet rather than retreating to their own private islands to struggle in maudlin isolation, Maugins and her colleagues banded together for survival.
"The number one challenge was that we had no exposure, especially with the dwindling arts coverage locally," says Maugins. "Yet we knew that our arts organizations were doing amazing things with education and other programming, and we're the economic engines of our neighborhoods."
Today, Zygote and 27 other groups in Northeast Ohio have banded together to form the Collective Arts Network (CAN), received a grant from the Ohio Arts Council, and produced a magazine-style journal touting their work. Ten thousand copies have been distributed to galleries and other hotspots in the city.
Next up, the CAN group is working on other kinds of collaboration, including programming, events and sustaining the journal as a quarterly publication.
Source: Liz Maugins
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"Like a lot of nonprofit leaders, I was freaking out and wondering what would come our way," recounts Maugins, who worried that her small nonprofit would be wiped out by the tidal wave of the national recession. "So I started sending out messages to other arts leaders to see if they were feeling the same thing."
Not surprisingly, other nonprofit leaders were losing sleep over their situations, too. Yet rather than retreating to their own private islands to struggle in maudlin isolation, Maugins and her colleagues banded together for survival.
"The number one challenge was that we had no exposure, especially with the dwindling arts coverage locally," says Maugins. "Yet we knew that our arts organizations were doing amazing things with education and other programming, and we're the economic engines of our neighborhoods."
Today, Zygote and 27 other groups in Northeast Ohio have banded together to form the Collective Arts Network (CAN), received a grant from the Ohio Arts Council, and produced a magazine-style journal touting their work. Ten thousand copies have been distributed to galleries and other hotspots in the city.
Next up, the CAN group is working on other kinds of collaboration, including programming, events and sustaining the journal as a quarterly publication.
Source: Liz Maugins
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Inefficient, drafty homes in Cleveland not only are an impediment to attracting savvy urban homebuyers, they're also a harsh economic reality for those who must swallow high utility bills. Despite the daunting prospect of renovating an old home, there are simple, cost-effective ways to save energy -- and money -- that don't involve notching the thermostat down another degree or donning Eskimo-like clothing.
That's the impetus behind Cleveland Energy $aver, a new program just launched by the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), Cleveland Housing Network (CHN), LAND Studio and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program aims to make 100 homes in Cleveland energy-efficient by fall of this year.
Homeowners who enroll in this program can obtain a complete energy audit for a mere $50, a tidy sum that likely amounts to a fraction of their monthly heating bill. After the audit has been completed, owners will work with program staff to develop a scope of work, seek low-interest financing if needed, and hire a contractor. When the job is completed, professionals will help evaluate the work to make sure it's been done properly. As an enticement, owners will save 20 percent off the top, and another 20 percent when the work is complete.
“Cleveland Energy $aver will provide homeowners with tools they need to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes,” says Marcia Nolan, Executive Director of Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH). “It will also help Cleveland to become more sustainable and competitive to future residents.”
Source: Marcia Nolan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
That's the impetus behind Cleveland Energy $aver, a new program just launched by the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), Cleveland Housing Network (CHN), LAND Studio and the U.S. Department of Energy. The program aims to make 100 homes in Cleveland energy-efficient by fall of this year.
Homeowners who enroll in this program can obtain a complete energy audit for a mere $50, a tidy sum that likely amounts to a fraction of their monthly heating bill. After the audit has been completed, owners will work with program staff to develop a scope of work, seek low-interest financing if needed, and hire a contractor. When the job is completed, professionals will help evaluate the work to make sure it's been done properly. As an enticement, owners will save 20 percent off the top, and another 20 percent when the work is complete.
“Cleveland Energy $aver will provide homeowners with tools they need to make energy-efficient improvements to their homes,” says Marcia Nolan, Executive Director of Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH). “It will also help Cleveland to become more sustainable and competitive to future residents.”
Source: Marcia Nolan
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Families in Central know well the distinctive whistle blow of Heaventrain, and that it means hope is on its way. They also know to follow its call to help rebuild their east side Cleveland neighborhood through fostering stronger neighbor-to-neighbor relationships, a mission that the nonprofit Lighthouse Inc. has been fulfilling for more than 30 years.
Heaventrain is a full-size bus that Lighthouse has outfitted as a mobile classroom. It serves more than 1,200 kids every Saturday, providing them with character-based education, fun and games, and a free meal.
"Central is not a neighborhood where parents typically feel safe letting their kids just go out and play," explains Lighthouse Executive Director Andy Batten of the community, which is home to several low-income, subsidized housing projects. "We provide an almost carnival-like atmosphere, and then the kids are fed."
In addition to Heaventrain, Lighthouse runs a tutoring program at East Tech High School that builds in-depth relationships with kids to ensure success, manages a youth basketball program to provide kids with positive alternatives to gang involvement, and provides a summer-long nutrition program.
"One of the high school students on our basketball team turned things around and went from a 1.4 grade point average to a 3.8 grade point average," says Batten.
Yet what he is most proud of is how Lighthouse develops its programs. Rather than repeating programs each year, the organization continually evaluates its successes and failures and how it's serving the community. "We work with residents to build programming, and only develop programs if the neighborhood says it's important and neighbors are willing to get involved."
Last year, the charity rater Guidestar rated Lighthouse the second best charity overall in Ohio, and the third best charity in the U.S. for nutrition programs.
Source: Andy Batten
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Heaventrain is a full-size bus that Lighthouse has outfitted as a mobile classroom. It serves more than 1,200 kids every Saturday, providing them with character-based education, fun and games, and a free meal.
"Central is not a neighborhood where parents typically feel safe letting their kids just go out and play," explains Lighthouse Executive Director Andy Batten of the community, which is home to several low-income, subsidized housing projects. "We provide an almost carnival-like atmosphere, and then the kids are fed."
In addition to Heaventrain, Lighthouse runs a tutoring program at East Tech High School that builds in-depth relationships with kids to ensure success, manages a youth basketball program to provide kids with positive alternatives to gang involvement, and provides a summer-long nutrition program.
"One of the high school students on our basketball team turned things around and went from a 1.4 grade point average to a 3.8 grade point average," says Batten.
Yet what he is most proud of is how Lighthouse develops its programs. Rather than repeating programs each year, the organization continually evaluates its successes and failures and how it's serving the community. "We work with residents to build programming, and only develop programs if the neighborhood says it's important and neighbors are willing to get involved."
Last year, the charity rater Guidestar rated Lighthouse the second best charity overall in Ohio, and the third best charity in the U.S. for nutrition programs.
Source: Andy Batten
Writer: Lee Chilcote
reimagine cleveland wins national planning excellence award for sustainability innovation
Defying a Rust Belt reputation may not have been the primary goal of Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland, but winning a National Planning Excellence Award from the American Planning Association proves the local initiative is well on its way.
Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland began in 2008 with a singular goal: bring Cleveland’s neighborhoods back, one vacant lot at a time. Led by the City of Cleveland and urban development organization Neighborhood Progress, the program pairs with Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative to envision innovative uses, including alternative energy generation and ecosystem revitalization, for vacant spaces throughout the city.
The American Planning Association recognized the collaborative effort for its non-traditional approach to greening Cleveland, awarding organizers for engaging the community with city-wide workshops and securing funding for nearly 60 vacant land pilot projects.
Read the rest here.
Re-Imagining a More Sustainable Cleveland began in 2008 with a singular goal: bring Cleveland’s neighborhoods back, one vacant lot at a time. Led by the City of Cleveland and urban development organization Neighborhood Progress, the program pairs with Kent State University’s Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative to envision innovative uses, including alternative energy generation and ecosystem revitalization, for vacant spaces throughout the city.
The American Planning Association recognized the collaborative effort for its non-traditional approach to greening Cleveland, awarding organizers for engaging the community with city-wide workshops and securing funding for nearly 60 vacant land pilot projects.
Read the rest here.
Rosetta, an interactive marketing firm, boasts 1,500 team members spread across nine offices in places like New York, Los Angeles and Toronto, among others. But thanks to 450 staffers locally, Cleveland is now Rosetta's largest. That the firm has chosen 2012 to set-up shop in a downtown Cleveland landmark is pure poetry.
It's been a good first year here at Fresh Water, but that doesn't mean for a minute that we plan to slow down. In fact, today we roll out two new content sections: "For Good" and "Fresh Filter," which give us the room to cover the non-profit and arts and culture scenes with more depth.
ReImagining a More Sustainable Cleveland, a creative land reuse initiative to transform empty city lots into gardens, orchards and farms, has received the American Planning Association's National Planning Excellence Award for Innovation in Sustaining Places.
The program, which is led jointly by Neighborhood Progress (NPI), the City of Cleveland, Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and LAND Studio, was first launched in 2010. In its first round, the program funded 56 vacant lot reuse projects, including 13 community gardens, 10 market gardens, six pocket parks and three vineyards.
Now in its second round, ReImagining Cleveland will spend $1 million in 2011-2012 to turn city-owned vacant lots into community green spaces and expanded side yards for residents. To date, nearly 60 homeowners have applied for side yard expansions and 16 green space projects are being implemented.
"ReImagining is an incredibly significant and collaborative effort that helps transform neighborhoods into safer and more stable communities," said Joel Ratner, President and CEO of Neighborhood Progress. "We are so proud that the program has received this honor from the American Planning Association."
Source: Neighborhood Progress
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The program, which is led jointly by Neighborhood Progress (NPI), the City of Cleveland, Kent State University's Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative and LAND Studio, was first launched in 2010. In its first round, the program funded 56 vacant lot reuse projects, including 13 community gardens, 10 market gardens, six pocket parks and three vineyards.
Now in its second round, ReImagining Cleveland will spend $1 million in 2011-2012 to turn city-owned vacant lots into community green spaces and expanded side yards for residents. To date, nearly 60 homeowners have applied for side yard expansions and 16 green space projects are being implemented.
"ReImagining is an incredibly significant and collaborative effort that helps transform neighborhoods into safer and more stable communities," said Joel Ratner, President and CEO of Neighborhood Progress. "We are so proud that the program has received this honor from the American Planning Association."
Source: Neighborhood Progress
Writer: Lee Chilcote
dca seeks applicants for popular city advocates program
The City Advocates program is an effort by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) to engage young professionals in the revitalization of downtown. For two years, City Advocates attend monthly meetings and take on projects that will help advance downtown. Every two years, a new batch of skilled community leaders emerges from the program.
"The program has truly taken off in the past three years," says Gina Morris, DCA's Director of Marketing and Public Relations. "We're entering our fourth year now and have some incredible people with dynamic ideas."
In March, the City Advocates Program will select and announce up to 16 new participants. Those selected must make a two-year commitment to DCA’s program. Participants are chosen through a competitive application process that seeks to assemble a group of diverse individuals who share a passion for Downtown Cleveland and who represent a wide array of interests, professional backgrounds, and relationships to Downtown.
"Qualifications are simple," adds Morris. "Live or work in Downtown, and have a passion to generate change in the civic-realm. We recruit emerging leaders with a vision and guts."
The deadline to apply for the upcoming session is 5 p.m. February 5. More information and application instructions can be found here.
For more info contact Laura Kushnick.
"The program has truly taken off in the past three years," says Gina Morris, DCA's Director of Marketing and Public Relations. "We're entering our fourth year now and have some incredible people with dynamic ideas."
In March, the City Advocates Program will select and announce up to 16 new participants. Those selected must make a two-year commitment to DCA’s program. Participants are chosen through a competitive application process that seeks to assemble a group of diverse individuals who share a passion for Downtown Cleveland and who represent a wide array of interests, professional backgrounds, and relationships to Downtown.
"Qualifications are simple," adds Morris. "Live or work in Downtown, and have a passion to generate change in the civic-realm. We recruit emerging leaders with a vision and guts."
The deadline to apply for the upcoming session is 5 p.m. February 5. More information and application instructions can be found here.
For more info contact Laura Kushnick.
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland recently celebrated the completion of its new headquarters in the Beachwood. The 30-year-old building underwent a green renovation that includes rooftop solar arrays, energy- and water-efficient systems, and indoor bike storage.
The Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization that supports social service, educational and humanitarian efforts in Cleveland and worldwide, earned a coveted LEED Gold rating for its energy-efficient renovation. LEED is short for Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design, a green rating system.
"One of the values of Judaism is tikkun olam, which means 'repairing the world,'" says Harvey Freiman, Vice President of Operations with the Federation. "We did this because a planet that is greener and healthier is a good thing."
Beyond the environmental benefits, Freiman says that the energy-efficient project also reduces the Federation's operating costs moving forward while improving the quality of the work environment for the organization's employees.
The Federation faced many challenges along the way, including choosing which energy-efficient upgrades would provide the most bang for the buck. "You have to ask, 'Does spending more money bring additional benefit'?" says Freiman.
The organization was able to receive state and federal grant dollars to help cover the costs of the solar array. Donations from the Mandel family of Cleveland covered the purchase and renovation costs of the building.
Source: Harvey Freiman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization that supports social service, educational and humanitarian efforts in Cleveland and worldwide, earned a coveted LEED Gold rating for its energy-efficient renovation. LEED is short for Leadership in Energy Efficiency and Design, a green rating system.
"One of the values of Judaism is tikkun olam, which means 'repairing the world,'" says Harvey Freiman, Vice President of Operations with the Federation. "We did this because a planet that is greener and healthier is a good thing."
Beyond the environmental benefits, Freiman says that the energy-efficient project also reduces the Federation's operating costs moving forward while improving the quality of the work environment for the organization's employees.
The Federation faced many challenges along the way, including choosing which energy-efficient upgrades would provide the most bang for the buck. "You have to ask, 'Does spending more money bring additional benefit'?" says Freiman.
The organization was able to receive state and federal grant dollars to help cover the costs of the solar array. Donations from the Mandel family of Cleveland covered the purchase and renovation costs of the building.
Source: Harvey Freiman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Last week, Fresh Water participated in a forum entitled "A City of Two Tales: Writing About Cleveland" at the Happy Dog in the Gordon Square Arts District. The event showcased the power of new media to spur civic dialogue and prompted an ongoing debate about telling the city's story to natives and newcomers alike.
The event was organized by Ohio City Writers (OCW), a nonprofit writing center that hosts classes and literary events on Cleveland's west side, and based upon a blog post written by Angie Schmitt of Rust Wire entitled "The Problem with Boosterism."
Following an introduction by OCW Director Frank Lewis, Schmitt kicked off the discussion by offering a critique of pro-Cleveland sentiment in the media and among civic leaders. Northeast Ohio frequently focuses on economic development projects with overstated economic benefits while failing to address genuine problems such as poverty and urban sprawl, she argued. Moreover, she added, Clevelanders often seem unwilling to listen to critiques of regional policymaking, and even become angered by criticisms intended to point out the city's problems.
Other panelists responded by arguing that while Northeast Ohio clearly has a lot of work to do in addressing its problems, the choice between "boosterism" and "realism" represents a false dichotomy. Writing or talking about Cleveland in honest terms typically means walking a fine line between offering a critique of what's wrong with the region and celebrating its successes, they said.
The topic prompted over 100 people to attend the event, which included occasional fights over the mic as well as shout-outs from the bar.
The next day, boosters and non-boosters alike lit up the blogosphere and Facebook with their takes on what happened at the contentious forum. A collection of their blogs can be found on Ohio City Writers' Facebook page.
The event also prompted a discussion about how Clevelanders can convey what's happening here to the national media, who some argued often rely on well-worn narratives about the Rust Belt rather than digging into the region's complexity.
Those looking to join the discussion or participate in future Write to Assemble events (Lewis is planning a poetry slam next) should visit OCW's website.
Source: Ohio City Writers
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The event was organized by Ohio City Writers (OCW), a nonprofit writing center that hosts classes and literary events on Cleveland's west side, and based upon a blog post written by Angie Schmitt of Rust Wire entitled "The Problem with Boosterism."
Following an introduction by OCW Director Frank Lewis, Schmitt kicked off the discussion by offering a critique of pro-Cleveland sentiment in the media and among civic leaders. Northeast Ohio frequently focuses on economic development projects with overstated economic benefits while failing to address genuine problems such as poverty and urban sprawl, she argued. Moreover, she added, Clevelanders often seem unwilling to listen to critiques of regional policymaking, and even become angered by criticisms intended to point out the city's problems.
Other panelists responded by arguing that while Northeast Ohio clearly has a lot of work to do in addressing its problems, the choice between "boosterism" and "realism" represents a false dichotomy. Writing or talking about Cleveland in honest terms typically means walking a fine line between offering a critique of what's wrong with the region and celebrating its successes, they said.
The topic prompted over 100 people to attend the event, which included occasional fights over the mic as well as shout-outs from the bar.
The next day, boosters and non-boosters alike lit up the blogosphere and Facebook with their takes on what happened at the contentious forum. A collection of their blogs can be found on Ohio City Writers' Facebook page.
The event also prompted a discussion about how Clevelanders can convey what's happening here to the national media, who some argued often rely on well-worn narratives about the Rust Belt rather than digging into the region's complexity.
Those looking to join the discussion or participate in future Write to Assemble events (Lewis is planning a poetry slam next) should visit OCW's website.
Source: Ohio City Writers
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Are you militant about your love for Cleveland? A recently launched civic initiative entitled Cleveland Arsenal aims to reward the grassroots boosterism you've been doing -- while also spreading some of that love to far-flung corners of the region and beyond.
Cleveland Arsenal is a competition that will reward five hardcore Cleveland enthusiasts with $1,000 in cold, hard cash. In exchange, they'll be asked to use their connections and creativity to extol the city's virtues far and wide.
"We want people who are good at sharing their love of Cleveland to be rewarded for their efforts," says Brian Friedman, Executive Director of Northeast Shores Development Corporation, a nonprofit that serves North Collinwood.
Cleveland Arsenal is being launched as a part of the Northeast Shores Artists in Residence program, an effort to redevelop the North Collinwood neighborhood and Waterloo Arts District using artist-based development practices. In short, the focused initiative aims to attract more artists to live in North Collinwood, and to help those that are there to be successful and engage with the community.
Friedman says it's not a requirement that Cleveland Arsenal winners blog about North Collinwood, but adds, "We think what we're doing is so cool that they'll want to." Winners will meet with other passionate Clevelanders, develop a plan for sharing Cleveland's story locally and beyond, hear from Cleveland's young leaders and hone their skills at communicating about their beloved city.
Friedman says such grassroots marketing efforts, far from being scattershot, produce results. "We're already getting more inquiries from people outside of Northeast Ohio who are interested in what we're doing to support artists."
Got a sonnet to pen or Youtube video to stream for your Rust Belt paramore? Applications to Cleveland Arsenal are due by 5 p.m., Tuesday, January 31st.
Source: Brian Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Cleveland Arsenal is a competition that will reward five hardcore Cleveland enthusiasts with $1,000 in cold, hard cash. In exchange, they'll be asked to use their connections and creativity to extol the city's virtues far and wide.
"We want people who are good at sharing their love of Cleveland to be rewarded for their efforts," says Brian Friedman, Executive Director of Northeast Shores Development Corporation, a nonprofit that serves North Collinwood.
Cleveland Arsenal is being launched as a part of the Northeast Shores Artists in Residence program, an effort to redevelop the North Collinwood neighborhood and Waterloo Arts District using artist-based development practices. In short, the focused initiative aims to attract more artists to live in North Collinwood, and to help those that are there to be successful and engage with the community.
Friedman says it's not a requirement that Cleveland Arsenal winners blog about North Collinwood, but adds, "We think what we're doing is so cool that they'll want to." Winners will meet with other passionate Clevelanders, develop a plan for sharing Cleveland's story locally and beyond, hear from Cleveland's young leaders and hone their skills at communicating about their beloved city.
Friedman says such grassroots marketing efforts, far from being scattershot, produce results. "We're already getting more inquiries from people outside of Northeast Ohio who are interested in what we're doing to support artists."
Got a sonnet to pen or Youtube video to stream for your Rust Belt paramore? Applications to Cleveland Arsenal are due by 5 p.m., Tuesday, January 31st.
Source: Brian Friedman
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Enterprise Community Partners, which helps find affordable housing options, is hosting its first 2012 Enterprise Community Innovation Awards. The award, sponsored through KeyBank, is designed to recognize organizations creating new and lasting community development solutions in Greater Cleveland. The winner will receive a $25,000 grant to support the project.
“We were looking at the future of community development in the area,” says Mark McDermott, Ohio director of Enterprise. “We know there are groups out there doing all sorts of innovative work, and we wanted to highlight that.”
McDermott and his team are looking for organizations that are making a positive impact toward making Cleveland a better place to live. “We’re looking for innovation, but innovation in ways that show new solutions to the challenges in our communities,” says McDermott. “Cleveland is a great place for community development work. We have a set of challenges we haven’t seen for a long time and we have to look at new ways to solve problems.”
Entries are due January 20. Three to five finalists will be chosen who will then present their case to a panel of experts. The winner will be announced in late February or early March at an awards event.
Source: Mark McDermott
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We were looking at the future of community development in the area,” says Mark McDermott, Ohio director of Enterprise. “We know there are groups out there doing all sorts of innovative work, and we wanted to highlight that.”
McDermott and his team are looking for organizations that are making a positive impact toward making Cleveland a better place to live. “We’re looking for innovation, but innovation in ways that show new solutions to the challenges in our communities,” says McDermott. “Cleveland is a great place for community development work. We have a set of challenges we haven’t seen for a long time and we have to look at new ways to solve problems.”
Entries are due January 20. Three to five finalists will be chosen who will then present their case to a panel of experts. The winner will be announced in late February or early March at an awards event.
Source: Mark McDermott
Writer: Karin Connelly
The prevailing impression of regionalism that has been bandied about Northeast Ohio for the better part of a decade is all wrong, says a collaborative group of area nonprofits. While the consolidation of countless municipalities is useful, it is not intrinsically regionalism. True regionalism, they argue, is defined by economic activity -- not political boundaries.
While we pride ourselves here at Fresh Water in having crisp, professional prose, the truth is, without art, a feature is just font on a page. Pictures tell a thousand words, we're told, but the best ones simply leave us speechless. Every masthead and feature image since we launched this pub over a year ago has been shot by Fresh Water shooter Bob Perkoski. Here is a collection of some of his finest work.
When Fresh Water launched in September 2010, we promised to highlight Cleveland's most progressive and creative people, businesses and organizations. But more importantly, we endeavored to place those subjects against the most compelling backdrop of all: Cleveland and its wonderful neighborhoods. Each Thursday, our readers are invited to dig a little deeper into this city we call home. What follows is a list of the 10 most-read features of the previous 12 months. Looking at the subject matter of those stories, it's clear that the most important topics to our readers include neighborhood development, sustainability and transportation, and, of course, food and booze.
cuyahoga arts & culture announces this year's project support grants
On Monday, November 14th, the Board of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture (CAC) approved 88 grants totaling $1,029,164 for its 2012 Project Support cycle. The awards include traditional PS I grants and the new Project Support II, a small grant program that provides awards of up to $5,000. Grants range in value from $625 to $49,333.
This year garnered the largest number of applications in CAC’s history. A total of 131 organizations submitted Intent to Apply materials, of which 118 of were eligible. This is an increase of 45% from the previous year, which was also a record-setter.
The largest recipient is Scenarios USA, a nonprofit that that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership in under-served teens. The smallest is River Valley Ringers, a community handbell choir in Cleveland Heights. Others include EcoWatch, Building Bridges, LakewoodAlive, and numerous neighborhood development corps.
See all the grants here.
This year garnered the largest number of applications in CAC’s history. A total of 131 organizations submitted Intent to Apply materials, of which 118 of were eligible. This is an increase of 45% from the previous year, which was also a record-setter.
The largest recipient is Scenarios USA, a nonprofit that that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership in under-served teens. The smallest is River Valley Ringers, a community handbell choir in Cleveland Heights. Others include EcoWatch, Building Bridges, LakewoodAlive, and numerous neighborhood development corps.
See all the grants here.
Anne Kelly used to travel four days a week for her job. Then about a year and a half ago she was traveling less and she found she had a lot more free time on her hands. She wanted to take that free time and do something that made a difference. “I felt I had the energy to do more for people,” she recalls. “A friend convinced me to join the Rotary Club.”
Then Kelly heard about the Lost Boys of Sudan, the Friends of the Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland. “These kids were basically told by their parents to flee on foot with lions and tigers and soldiers,” she explains. “They told the story of how they first got to Cleveland in winter and thought the snow was flour and that we were so wealthy that we let the flour flow into the streets. The first time they got in an elevator they thought it was the room where they would be staying.”
Those stories prompted Kelly to form Drinks for Do-Gooders, a monthly happy hour where for the cost of a drink, people could get together and help the Lost Boys. The first event raised $350. “The Rotary Club really got behind this concept,” says Kelly. “Then the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club partnered on this, and it allowed me to see that it could grow bigger.”
Today, Drinks for Do-Gooders meets on a quarterly basis. The cover charge is a little higher -- $20 -- but includes drink tickets, appetizers and a raffle. The group has raised between $1,400 and $1,800 for worthwhile causes.
The next Drinks for Do-Gooders meeting is in January and will benefit Ohio City Writers. Best Buy has donated a 60-inch flat screen television to raffle off, and the Cleveland Play House has donated two tickets to an upcoming show. “Come out, have a drink and do some good,” says Kelly. “You can do more in a happy hour than just feeling like you got together for happy hour.”
Source: Anne Kelly
Writer: Karin Connelly
Then Kelly heard about the Lost Boys of Sudan, the Friends of the Sudanese Lost Boys of Cleveland. “These kids were basically told by their parents to flee on foot with lions and tigers and soldiers,” she explains. “They told the story of how they first got to Cleveland in winter and thought the snow was flour and that we were so wealthy that we let the flour flow into the streets. The first time they got in an elevator they thought it was the room where they would be staying.”
Those stories prompted Kelly to form Drinks for Do-Gooders, a monthly happy hour where for the cost of a drink, people could get together and help the Lost Boys. The first event raised $350. “The Rotary Club really got behind this concept,” says Kelly. “Then the Cleveland Professional 20/30 Club partnered on this, and it allowed me to see that it could grow bigger.”
Today, Drinks for Do-Gooders meets on a quarterly basis. The cover charge is a little higher -- $20 -- but includes drink tickets, appetizers and a raffle. The group has raised between $1,400 and $1,800 for worthwhile causes.
The next Drinks for Do-Gooders meeting is in January and will benefit Ohio City Writers. Best Buy has donated a 60-inch flat screen television to raffle off, and the Cleveland Play House has donated two tickets to an upcoming show. “Come out, have a drink and do some good,” says Kelly. “You can do more in a happy hour than just feeling like you got together for happy hour.”
Source: Anne Kelly
Writer: Karin Connelly
metrohealth and cia host aids memorial quilt
If a quilt panel were created to represent your life, what would it look like? Clevelanders have the opportunity to see panels that honor the lives of local people who have died of AIDS -- panels created by their family and friends for the national AIDS Memorial Quilt. The public is invited to view portions of the quilt at MetroHealth Medical Center until Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Among the local stories behind the panels: Ana Rodriguez was a spirited young girl who found out she was born HIV positive just before her parents died of AIDS in the late 1990s. Instead of letting it get her down, Ana became the first child to openly have AIDS in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and toured the country helping others cope with the disease before her death in 2004.
Daily viewing of the quilt panels -- 8 panel sections measuring 12 square feet -- will hang from the ceiling of MetroHealth’s Rammelkamp Atrium through Dec. 7. The public is invited to view the display each day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more info click here.
Among the local stories behind the panels: Ana Rodriguez was a spirited young girl who found out she was born HIV positive just before her parents died of AIDS in the late 1990s. Instead of letting it get her down, Ana became the first child to openly have AIDS in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and toured the country helping others cope with the disease before her death in 2004.
Daily viewing of the quilt panels -- 8 panel sections measuring 12 square feet -- will hang from the ceiling of MetroHealth’s Rammelkamp Atrium through Dec. 7. The public is invited to view the display each day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
For more info click here.