October 2012 neighborhood-voice.

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e tch Mi e 11 t d a ag nteam P Wa re elp ce C H I

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News from

Buckeye-Shaker Central East Cleveland Fairfax Glenville Hough Little Italy University Circle

Under the Sea in Hough

PERRyS PERSPECTIvE
Commentary By East Clevelands M. LaVora Perry

Re-Imagining East Cleveland:

Theres Room for Everybody

It was hot and sunny outside. A small crowd stood in a vacant lot on Idlewood Avenue to kick off the Re-Imagine East Cleveland movement. A burned-out house once stood in that same lot, the location of the days ground-breaking ceremony. That lot is one of four properties on Idlewood slated for renovation or rebuilding. According to East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton and his staff, fresh starts like these are part what the Re-Imagine East Cleveland movement is all about.
continued on Page 8

Preschoolers in Hough started school last month in classrooms decorated to look like a jungle and the ocean. Read more on Page 11. Photo by Lila Mills.

Grassroots Group Hosts

By Sharde` Lackey
I remember my English teacher in high school putting down the text book with her head following suit. Class, she said somberly, lets chat for a minute. I witnessed probably the most emotionally charged and relevant lecture since Sept. 11. But I cringed because I knew of so many women and girls who were victims of the subject matter: domestic violence. I took in every word she said to use it if I was ever in a position to need them. In 2007, we were all rocked with the news of teenager Johanna Orozco being shot in the face by her ex-boyfriend. The dark reality that teens were dealing with adult problems could no longer be ignored or overlooked. The issue was very present even before 2007, yet it was heightened that year. In February 2008, the grassroots group The Candace Institute conducted a conference in which

Love is Not Supposed to Hurt Conference for Teens

Orozco was the keynote speaker. The point of the conference was to confer about issues of teen dating violence. The Candace Institute for Women and Girls was founded by Doris Willis and Alima Aziz in 1989 in Cleveland. The women were motivated by a three-day retreat at Camp Hiram for girls, where the focus was history, culture and self-esteem. Both women at the time had experience working with rites of passage groups for girls in the city. The women saw the development of young African-American women as essential to the development to the community as a whole. We are not an organization, Willis said. We represent a group of women and men that try to uplift African-American women and girls. Willis and Aziz were strategic to set the 2008 conference during Teen Dating Abuse Awareness Month. The event was a success, yet the job was not over.

Free and Open tO Girls aGes 12 18

Love Is Not Supposed To Hurt Conference

9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27
Moores Counseling and Meditation Center, 22639 Euclid Ave., Euclid, OH Teen Girl Vendors Welcome! Call 773-299-3991 or 216-466-5293. To register for lunch, call 216-253-8624 or 216-386-1253.

There has been a lot of talk about food s. deserts in some Cleveland neighborhood red in a Answer this question and be ente of drawing for two free pumpkins courtesy nos. Constanti Have you visited Constantinos, the new grocery store in University Circle? And if so, how has the store impacted your quality of life? Call us at 216-229-8769 or email contests@neighborhood-voice.com. Tim Congratulations to our last trivia winner eland Institute of Art, who Harry at the Clev knew that MOCA Cleveland was founded in 1968. Tim won two tickets to the 1 p.m. d public opening of the new museum at Eucli k you to all Avenue and Mayfield Road. Than the readers who responded to the question!

Win Pumpkins from Constantinos

continued on Page 4

Drill Team in Central Page 4

Bridging the Gap in Glenville Page 4

Free Speech at the Barbershop Page 9

Photos from RTA Groundbreaking

Printed on recycled paper

Neighborhood Connections

publisher

editor

Lila Mills lmills@neighborhood-voice.com

Writers/photographers
M. LaVora Perry mlavoraperry@mlavoraperry.com Justin Rutledge jrutledge@neighborhood-voice.com

Graphic design Consultant

Julie Heckman

Copy editor
Lindsy Neer

Contributors
Indira DeJarnette, Tim Goler, Lori Ingram, Sharde` Lackey, Calvin Marshall, Sherri Means, Katie Montgomery, Tom OBrien, Natalie Rudd, Elaine Siggers, Zachary Siler
Landscape of Greater University Circle atop the W.O. Walker Building at 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio.

Address
phone email
216-229-8769

PHOTO BY STEPHEN TRAVARCA

1990 Ford Drive Cleveland, OH 44106

Letter from the Editor

Obama Campaign Office in East Cleveland
On Sept. 14, 2012, it was official: President Obamas campaign office in East Cleveland had its grand opening with great success. We celebrated and discussed the importance of this election. If anyone you know is a senior, a new college student in a new location, a new American citizen, cant read and has never voted, returned from the military, just turned 18, please have them contact the office at 216-225-8088. If necessary someone will personally come to your home in private and register you. Also arrangements are being made for those who need transportation to the polls. There are staff, volunteers and people available to make sure your voice is heard. Dont lose your right to vote! The Ward 9/ East Cleveland office needs your support. The office is located at 12414 Euclid Ave. just before the corner of Euclid and Lakeview avenues heading east, on the right. The office hours are 10 a.m. 10 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon - 8 p.m. Sundays. Needed are donations of healthy foods, snacks, water, office supplies, cash, gift cards and more volunteers. Every door must be knocked on! Connect with us on Twitter @ward9obama and Facebook at wardnineforobama. We only have until OCTOBER 9th between 8a.m.and 9 p.m. to be legally registered. Indira DeJarnette, University Circle

info@neighborhood-voice.com

scan this to like us on Facebook. Follow us on twitter, connect on linkedin and watch our videos on Youtube.

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Mission

Neighborhood Voice is a monthly community newspaper written by citizen journalists who live, work and play in Greater University Circle. Submit your news, photos or announcements to submissions@ neighborhood-voice.com. All submissions must include your name, address and contact information. Not all submissions can be published. Deadline for submissions: Oct. 24

Get neighborhood Voice delivered to your home. Paid subscriptions available. Call 216-229-8769.

Neighborhood Voice is a program of Neighborhood Connections.

We want to hear from you. Write to us at 1990 Ford Dr., Cleveland, OH 44106 or email us at info@neighborhood-voice.com.
October 2012

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NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTING
PEOPLE POWER
A regular column by Neighborhood Connections staff
people from the area in preparing and finding employment in the medical industry as pharmacy technicians and phlebotomists. Though this initiative has had some early successes, many of us who live and work in the neighborhoods surrounding University Circle have little or no knowledge of this initiative, nor have we benefited from this initiative. Because Neighborhood Connections is actively engaged with both neighborhood residents and institutions, we know that the breadth of the divide between these neighborhoods and the anchor institutions, as well as the depth of multi-generational poverty that impacts so many families, requires a bold approach and a sustained strategy of co-investment. And we know that to work, residents need to be at the center of this initiative. Unless a robust network of residents is developed and is co-creating and co-investing in this strategy, this initiative will miss the mark. At Neighborhood Connections, we want you and need you to join others and get involved in building this network. We want to unleash creative and optimistic energy to tackle the major challenges facing Greater University Circle together. Our intention is to break down barriers across boundaries to build a strong network to: Create a sense of co-ownership and co-investment for all people in Greater University Circle by building trust; Create more opportunities for mutual support and collective action across boundaries to tackle the tough issues affecting Greater University Circle; Build and bridge residents connections to opportunities that will improve their lives; Facilitate easy on ramps for civic participation. We need you. Join us. Visit the Neighborhood Voice website to learn more or call 216-2298719.

NeighbOrhOOd VOice

Drill Team Helps Girls Stay Focused

By Sharde` Lackey
CENTRAL - As I approached the doors at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church on Woodland Avenue, I heard deep thunders of unified stomps and shattering claps responding to a voice of strength. I followed the sounds, the stomps and claps. When I finally turned the corner into the room, there stood unified rows of young women. Their faces seem mature and strong. I was flabbergasted at their ages: no one was older than 17 years old and one was just 7. They were as precise as the mathematics needed to build Egyptian pyramids, hence their name: Daughters of the Nile, under the direction of Renee Alexander. The group is a Neighborhood Connections grantee. I had the opportunity to interview four spunky and beautiful young women. All of these ladies offered their perspective on their experience with Daughters of the Nile, a drill team. Brittany, who was on the drill team for nine years and now acts as an adviser for DOTN and attends Bowling Green University, was the first. I first saw them [Daughters of the Nile] in a Labor Day parade, she said. I joined shortly after. I was late for my first practice. The drill team is like a sisterhood. I guess you dont want to leave. Our performances rebuilt the community. Arieyanna, now 14 years old, joined at the age of 12. My favorite piece is called MC Get with It, she said. Being a part of this team has taught about not being selfish, it keeps me out of trouble, and it helps keeps my grades up. This young lady was full of energy and kept me smiling throughout the entire interview. Her glowing persona alone will take her far in life. Fifteen-year-old Tomechia commands a room upon entering. She is a natural at leading without even having to say a word. She joined the group seven years ago. I like the feeling of being a part of a team, she said. When the new girls come in, my advice to them would be Do not come in with a negative vibe. It brings down the entire team. Christian was a quiet butterfly. Very soft spoken, however, her stomp and clap in unison with the team can be very misleading. Her peers identified her as a leader almost automatically a silent leader. Ive matured more and I feel like the drill team keeps young girls out of trouble, she said. These young ladies spoke to the power society can expect in the next few years, power that is just as resounding as their stomps. Keep up the great work ladies.

Our Work in Greater University Circle

All of us might wish at times that we lived in a more tranquil world, but we dont. And if our times are difficult and perplexing, so are they challenging and filled with opportunity. ~ Robert Kennedy
Right now is an important moment of opportunity for residents living in the communities of Greater University Circle. We need a sense of urgency to take advantage of this opportunity. There is a large and innovative wealth building strategy that has been underway for the past five years. Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic and other University Circle institutions, The Cleveland Foundation, nonprofit community based organizations and other entities have been coming together in an attempt to develop ways to build wealth in the area around University Circle. The area includes the city of East Cleveland, Hough, Glenville, Little Italy, Fairfax, Buckeye, Shaker Square and Central. To date, this wealth building initiative has: Created the Evergreen Cooperative, three co-operative businesses in Glenville and Central that are owned and operated by neighborhood residents; Brought together anchor institutions to develop a plan to purchase supplies locally; Opened NewBridge Cleveland, a job training program on Euclid Avenue that assists

Sharde` Lackey is a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University and a former intern at Neighborhood Connections.

Tom OBrien is the program director at Neighborhood Connections, a grassroots small grants program and publisher of Neighborhood Voice.

Neighborhood Connections is sponsoring an event this month organized by Pastor Andrew Clark, of Trinity Outreach Ministries in Glenville. The event, called Bridging the Gap in the Faith Community, will allow faith leaders to offer their plans and projects for the areas they represent and allow attendees to pledge their support in working with the presented initiatives. It is our goal to develop a sense of neighborhood within the faith community, Clark said. Every faith leader should leave with support promised by various individuals. The event highlights a practice Neighborhood Connections feels strongly about: the social marketplace. In the marketplace practice, people gather together to make offerings of their skills and talents and to make requests for help in a fast paced and fun way. The marketplace is a quick and engaging way to reveal untapped resources and to begin to fill unmet needs right away. Neighborhood Connections believes that we all have talents that can help our community. Together, we have the power to co-create an extraordinary world right where we live.

Photo courtesy of Renee Alexander.

Love is Not Supposed to Hurt Conference for Teens

continued from Page 1

training up young sisters to do the work after us. The people are ready now. The accountability of the community to the welfare of the youth has heightened and The Candace Institute is one of the many groups rising up to the duty. If you, too, are interested in volunteering and/or participating with The Candace Institute, please contact Doris Willis at Candace. institute@yahoo.com.

Greenmont Party Center, 800 S. Green Rd., South Euclid Who should attend: Faith leaders, residents, pastors.
4 w w w. n e i g h b o r h o o d - v o i c e . c o m October 2012

Oct. 24, 2012 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

So in response, the Candace Institute is hosting the Love Does Not Have to Hurt conference on Saturday, Oct. 27. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We [need to] be proud of who we are; know who we are; to make us stand up, Willis said. The greatest impact is to come. The work does not stop with me. We are recruiting and

Lackey is a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University and a former Neighborhood Connections intern.

NEIGHBORHOOD FAITH
LOOkING UP
A regular column by Natalie Rudd
When God takes your relationship to another level, He reveals Himself to you in way that He hasnt before. Through the ups and downs of life, you experience new attributes of God that takes your relationship to a new level, and this new level yields a deeper understanding of who He is. The first time I ever experienced this was in 2007 when I lost every material thing I owned when my apartment building caught on fire. I literally walked away with a pair of house slippers and the jogging suit I was wearing. I had recently moved into the apartment and was scheduled to purchase renters insurance the following morning. Needless to say, I was not only devastated but fearful about my future and starting over literally from scratch. I had no idea how I was going to rebuild my life. Then God showed up and poured blessing after blessing after blessing replacing everything and then some within less than 30 days. WOW! Only God could do such a thing! During that season of my life, He took our relationship to a higher level. He revealed Himself as Jehovah Jireh my provider. In a time of great need, He provided not just material things but peace that surpassed all understanding. He provided comfort in the midst of fear. He remained true to His word. Here I am again with my health crisis, this seemingly never ending pain, yet even in this storm I believe God is taking me higher. This time He is Jehovah Rapha my healer. I didnt know Him like this before. I have only read about it from the lives of the people in the Bible, Ive heard of this from other people and witnessed it in family members, but never experienced it personally firsthand. God has showed Himself in a new way to me. Even though my healing is not complete, Gods grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9) and He still provides for me the breath of life and for that I am grateful. But mind you, in order to experience God in these new ways, I had to go to through some storms. When God takes us higher, it is guaranteed that we will have to go through it, whatever it may be, to draw us closer to Him. In going higher, God has to remove anything that is hindering us from going to the next level. This is a painful process, however, we have to trust that God knows the plans that He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and He does not leave us to ourselves to figure them out. He allows the experiences of life to guide us into walking into our divine purpose. Be reassured that when storms come your way, it means God is about to do a new thing in your life (Isaiah 43:19). It means that He is about to reveal Himself like you have never experienced before.

NeighbOrhOOd VOice

Domestic violence Awareness

By Sherri Means as told to Lila Mills
Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women, statistics show. More women are hurt by domestic violence than by car accidents and rapes combined, according to statistics from the nonprofit group Domestic Violence Statistics. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Neighborhood Voice talked with Sherri Means, a Clevelander and frequent contributor to the paper, about her struggle with domestic violence and her grassroots effort to help other women break free. When I came out, it was in 2005 and I left because of my injuries. (Means, 56, has back injuries that make it difficult for her to walk. She cannot drive a car.) The pain got so overwhelming that I just left. He caught me off guard in my car and he carried me by my neck. And I had brain trauma. Now my head is twisted and it lies on my right shoulder. If I didnt have those injuries, I probably would have stayed until he killed me. Maybe by accident, maybe he didnt mean it, but I would be dead. It makes me so crazy sometimes. I dont go out to stores. I go out and speak to groups, but I still havent gotten used to it. I used to stop cars because they thought I was cute. Now I stop cars for another reason. I lost my pretty. I try to get other women to see this is what domestic violence looks like. You have to be able to wake up and listen to people when they try to give you advice. Basically, the UnderWings Project is a peer-support organization and the women that come here are survivors. Our organization is run by women survivors, so that makes a big difference. We understand what its like. For me, all the years of beatings slowly broke me down. I medicated with alcohol and drugs so I could live with the person I was. My abuse took me places I thought I would never go. It led me on a path of drugs. I was living in this fog all the time. A few times I tried to commit suicide. Its hard to live with it. You dont think you can come out and be normal, but you can. You just need some help and some counseling. Im not a counselor; Im an advocate. Its truly up to the woman in the situation to make the decision to leave. I try to be creative about helping them get out of their situations. I remember when I was younger, I was about 10 or 11 years old and a woman down the street would have black eyes all the time. I would say, Shes stupid. That will never be me. Never say never. When do you leave? The first time he disrespects you, slaps you, calls you a bitch. Ive had women call me from Columbus because we put billboards near the Statehouse. We had six billboards in Cleveland and Columbus. Helping these women is really helping me, too. I see this place one day where there is open land, horses. Where women can come to just start healing their minds. I would have 20 to 30 beds for people who could stay for two years. Thats my dream for what happens next. When you first come out, people think you can start looking for a job. I was like a piece of furniture for six months. You have to just sit without worrying about a job for a while. We have to reach back and help somebody else. Im doing what I know how to do to save lives.

Storms Take Us Higher

Have you ever had a friend who just changed on you? You know, they just flipped the script on you. You thought everything was going well then all of a sudden things changed. You sat back and shook your head in disbelief. Thats what God just did to me. I thought I knew him then he flipped the script and took our relationship to another level, without even asking my permission! Clearly he doesnt need it. I didnt realize it at first. In fact, it wasnt until dead smack in the middle of it that I realized things had changed. I understand now that God allows situations to occur in my life to take me higher in my relationship with Him. But in order for that to happen, I have to go through something to get to that higher level. Often times we fight Gods plan to take us higher and we get stuck along the way, asking God why this is happening to us. I will admit that in the beginning of my health crisis, also known as my storm, I spent way too much time asking God why this was happening, even though I know that God typically does not answer why questions. Still, I couldnt keep myself from asking. Of course, I got no answer. So I eventually switched to asking, When will this storm be over? When can I get back to my regular routine? You know status quo when all was well? Immediately, the Holy Spirit said Status quo? You think this storm was tailor-made for you to go back to life as it was? Really? In my mind God was saying, You got it twisted and obviously you dont know me as well as you claim to! Ouch! It then became clear that storms are made specifically to speak to us and to take us higher. No more status quo! No more walking, talking or living the same. You see, going higher means that we are gaining a deeper understanding and a closer walk with the Lord. It means that our faith is being refined to yield a higher praise. No more status quo! Our storms have meaning and purpose.

Connect with Means through www.theunderwingsproject.org. Read her columns at www. neighborhood-voice.com/category/columns/ sherri-means.

Express Yourself
does Your silence Make You Guilty?
Did it ever occur to you that NOT saying something is just as bad or worse than saying the wrong thing? A friend of mine asked me this question. She said that she had a friend, or an associate, who was engaging in what she thought was inappropriate, though not necessarily illegal, behavior. My friend said she felt compelled to say something but, out of fear or whatever other reason, did not. What should she have done? Buckeye-Shakers Elaine Siggers asked this question on her blog www.truelifeexpressions.blogspot.com. Neighborhood Voice took to the streets with a video camera and asked residents to respond to Elaines post. See what folks had to say at http://www.neighborhood-voice.com/ or on our YouTube channel.

Natalie Rudd is on the ministerial staff at Antioch Baptist Church in Fairfax.

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October 2012

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE
READERS RAISE THEIR vOICES AND TELL US

NeighbOrhOOd VOice

I Want My Neighborhood to Have

In our August issue, we asked readers to tell us what they would like their neighborhoods to have. We were inspired by residents in Collinwood who used a Neighborhood Connections grant to build a community chalkboard on Waterloo Road near East 160th Street asking the same question. The group is now building another chalkboard on East 185th Street. Folks from around the area answered our call. Some responded at a Neighborhood Connections gathering at a Wade Oval Wednesday in August; others called in their answers; and lastly, teacher Quelina Jordan asked students in her classes at Shaw High School for their answers. When I visited one of Jordans classes, some of the students said they could bring their wishes to life by working together. Student Deontae Ramsey, 18, disagreed, saying older people dont respect young peoples ideas. But Diane Moree, 16, and Tuquisha Oliver, 17, said youth could accomplish what they wanted to see. Tuquisha wants to clean up litter and beautify abandoned properties. We could do it if everyone came together, Tuquisha said. Here are respOnses we received: Tkeymah williams: More parks because the kids need something else to do besides getting into trouble. Kristen stallworth: A Dairy Queen so the children can get ice cream on a hot day. I also want my neighborhood to have a playground and an indoor swimming pool as well as a basketball court. I want my neighborhood to have a grocery store as well. Taylor rice: A Burger King and a Panera. chania c.: A park with a swimming pool and a water slide. Joi King: More white people and dogs on leashes. More houses where the windows are not broken. I just want to live safe. John eff: More stores. I want it to have a mall just like Beachwood Mall. sharita Burks: A violent-free economy. I also want it to have better houses that arent abandoned. Lanise Gray: I want my neighborhood to be litter free. I dont like riding or walking down the street with piles of trash around me. cadriaynla Thompson: More activities and fun for neighborhood kids. Also, I want clean parks for the younger kids and more block parties. Tyeshawn Lee: A bowling alley, a Dave and Busters and a good playground. shaquille robinson: More people that will clean the streets. I also want my neighborhood to have more people and less gangs. Todd Kennedy: Peace and prosperity Kaelyn Brown: A community garden/urban farm because I worked at one during the summer. Ive seen firsthand the benefits that it supplies. With one in my neighborhood, more families could have fresh organic food. summer Boggan: A better school and better things for kids to be involved in. Leonna duncan: Nothing. Its cool. darrisha sultan: Peace and quiet. It is loud sometimes and I hate that. shevonese Miller: A learning center so kids who dont go to school during the week could go on Saturday to learn something. Trevaun allen: A lot of playgrounds with basketball hoops so everyone would be able to play basketball any day or time they wanted. chanelle Johnson: More facilities for us teens to go and be productive. I would also like it if my neighborhood had less abandoned stores and houses. Why not make those into useful places? alexis Lorain Marion: A mall, a skating rink and a real recreation center with a pool. raheem vance: Money. So when I become a millionaire, Im going to make it happen. Ill let the people in the neighborhood decide what we do with it. Jeremy G.: An arcade so kids wont be so bored when they leave school and they have nothing to do. Harold stallworth: Ice cream trucks. When it is hot, they are scared to come to my neighborhood. Octavion clemmons: A Walmart down the street so I dont have to take the bus or walk all the way there. I wouldnt have to walk far to go to work. sanira stackhouse: A safe community for the children to be able to communicate and walk around by themselves and not be scared of being kidnapped. sue wolpert: More trees Jackie Yancy: A Trader Joes in East Cleveland Michelle Broome: Families with access to all they need Kole Brooks: Creative loving people to share life with deidra pearson: More gardens, more curb appeal (flowers) and lighting Gwen Garth: More love

By Lila Mills

The rev. Ladonna Blaylock: Sustainability and empowerment Joyce puryean: More representatives from local agencies Lashorn caldwell: Love and cleanliness Greg Groves: More soul diana settle: A cafe, a coffeehouse like a small chain or something locally-owned in Buckeye

From where were standing, it looks a little crooked.

We can lend a helping hand. CASH is a local non-profit community development organization offering low interest rates to all Cleveland property owners and investors to renovate or remodel your home. Just fill out our simple online form to get started and well help with everything.

The current interest rate for home improvement loans is:

2.3%

Call 216.621.7350 or visit www.cashcleveland.org

Thank you to everyone who answered the question. Now our next question: How can we make what we want to see a reality? Call me at 216-229-8769 or send your answers to Neighborhood Voice, 1990 Ford Dr., Cleveland, OH 44106.
6 w w w. n e i g h b o r h o o d - v o i c e . c o m October 2012

SUPPORT HOUSING

ACTION TO
More than money.

CLEVELAND

Ask Your

LOcAL dOctOr
nana Kobaivanova, Md, Medical director stephanie Tubbs Jones Health center

Stephanie tubbs Jones health center Celebrating our First Year

We are celebrating the first anniversary of the cleveland clinic Stephanie tubbs Jones health center (StJhc). it has been an incredible year! When the doors of StJhc opened on October 3, 2011, a new era began in providing state-of-the-art health and wellness services to residents in east cleveland and surrounding communities. Our team of medical specialists and support staff members were already familiar faces in the community; their dedication and commitment to providing high quality care to local residents was well known. they helped ensure a seamless transition of this care to our new, modern facility. their commitment - our commitment - is as strong as ever. From the outset, our goal was to establish a medical home for our patients. that goal has been achieved. StJhc is home to the full range of comprehensive healthcare, health education and social services that our patients and their families need to enhance their lives. through the centers Patient Navigation program, patients are linked to assistance they need; this may be provided at StJhc, other medical facilities or in the community. extensive, collaborative relationships with various organizations and programs enable staff at the center to link patients with medical professionals and experts in family counseling, financial and other assistance that is available in the area. being so attuned to the needs of our patients and area residents is a source of pride for the staff. Such awareness has been essential in developing healthcare initiatives that are tailored to the needs of an urban environment. StJhc uniquely provides targeted healthcare services for debilitating, chronic diseases that are most prevalent for residents in east cleveland. health fairs, screenings, preventive education and other services are provided to help residents of all ages obtain and maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves and, by extension, their neighborhoods. in addition, we are always alert to the need for new programs or services to help our patients achieve optimal health. express care services for patients with minor illnesses (like colds) and minor injuries soon will be available. healthcare services after normal business hours and on weekends also are on the horizon. this has been an exciting year at StJhc. We are looking forward to providing quality care for many years to come - to our patients and their families and to the community.

Celebrating our first year. Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center.

A new home for expert care.

Committed to servingStephanie Tubbswe o er At Cleveland Clinic the community, Jones the latest technologies at Stephanie anniversary Health Center we are celebrating our firstTubbs Jones Health Center. Our services include: serving the community. We offer more than 25 primary and preventive carethe the family, care specialty services providing for latest technologies. Our for chronic diseases (diabetes, heart, kidney), for services include: primary and preventive care lab andcare for chronic diseases (diabetes, heart, the family, radiology services, wellness services, outpatient pharmacy and more. kidney), lab and radiology services, wellness services, outpatient pharmacy and more.

13944 Euclid Avenue l East Cleveland 13944 today for an appointment today. Call Euclid Avenue | East Cleveland 216.767.4250 Call today for an appointment today. clevelandclinic.org/stjhc 216.767.4250 clevelandclinic.org/stjhc

dr. Kobaivanova is the Medical director and practices at stephanie Tubbs Jones Health center. To schedule an appointment with her or other sTJHc physicians, please call 216.767.4250.

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October 2012

NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION
MAkING THE GRADE
A regular column by Timothy D. Goler spend most of his/her time with my child and how will the overall school environment support the work of the teacher. In the final analysis, the schools mission, focus, goals and objectives will contribute, for better or worse, in determining whether the child becomes a mature, socially conscious and contributing member of society or a marginally functional adult that is dependent upon society. Obviously, the latter alternative is unacceptable to all parents. consequently, achieving these objectives requires educational paradigm shifts in several critical areas: The schools mission must reflect its intention to develop a whole, healthy and mature person that is literate, able to comprehend, calculate and exhibit critical thinking/problem-solving skills in tangible ways, as opposed to limited achievement measures. The schools focus must reflect an unwavering commitment to the overall growth and development of each student and not simply academic performance on the end-of-the-year state mandated examinations. The stated goals and objectives must reflect the schools intention to provide the necessary cultural, historical and socialemotional foundations. The student must feel included in and surrounded by the schools spirit and embraced by the schools personnel in an environment of love. The sum total of the schools activities must operate as an integration of all of the above to make it clear to both the casual observer and seasoned educator that the primary school objective is the development of caring, compassionate and competent students that can be expected to exercise good judgment in carrying out their individual and collective responsibilities of being their brothers and sisters keepers. If your current school reflects these principles, be thankful and move immediately to immerse yourself in the schools programs and activities, as a school supporter, to prepare your child for greatness. On the other hand, if your childs school keeps you out and only measures your childs success by the states narrow test-driven definition, then withdraw your child immediately and find an alternative school that believes that a childs success is intimately connected to the home, the community and the childs own desires and potential for greatness!
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NeighbOrhOOd VOice

Re-Imagining East Cleveland: Theres Room for Everybody

Michael Smedley, executive assistant to the mayor, said $180,000 in construction costs will be used to build an affordable house on the empty lot. I recently learned more about Re-Imagine East Cleveland by talking with Joe Mazzola, the citys director of community development, Smedley, Norton, his executive assistant Belinda Kyle, and Quentin Durham, president of Durham Brothers Construction. Here are snap shots of our conversations: norton: [Re-Imagine East Cleveland is about] changing neighborhoods for the better and reclaiming some of the best houses in the region for people to live in. [Its] providing families with home ownership opportunities [who] wouldnt, under normal circumstances, get this opportunity, to really make them able to create a better life for themselves. To have a nice home to leave to the next generation. To be able to build equity quickly in a home. And to make it, for the surrounding neighbors whove been there, a better place to be as a street. We hope to do that one house, one street, one family at a time. In East Cleveland, weve also [addressed] not only the physical repairs and the physical regeneration of a neighborhood, but the economic capacity of a family. Each of the painters that weve hired to do this work was an unemployed person from East Cleveland who was looking for a job, and we put them to work painting houses. The contractors we use to do the rehabs, those are local people that are doing the work. [Durham Brothers Construction won the bid to work with the citys paint program] durham: Durham Brothers construction has been around about 50 years ... We took 25 [applicants], residents of East Cleveland, through a training program, teaching them about lead, work safety. We teach them how to do minor repairs and paint,... [First] we teach [students] how to set up a business and operate a business. The reason we do that is because for the most part, everybody that comes through the program, theres not job waiting for them. So we teach them how to create their own jobs. MLp: Smedley gave several reasons why Idlewood was chosen as Re-Imagine East Clevelands launch site: Houses on the streets northeast of the Cleveland-East Cleveland border, starting with Wadena Avenue, and including Idlewood, are historic and well built. And $2.2 million of President Barack Obamas economic stimulus package funds have gone toward redeveloping the area that includes Idlewood, through such projects as the CircleEast townhomes on Euclid Avenue between Lakeview Road and Auburndale Avenue. That all sounds wonderful. But is there any danger of the new developments taking place in the city leading to gentrification meaning, rich people moving in and pushing everybody else out? Norton answered this question. norton: Theres enough room to accommodate everybody. In gentrification situations the people whove been there for a long time, who tend to be lower income, get kicked out. At this point theres nobody getting kicked out in East Cleveland. And we dont plan to kick anybody out. Theres enough room for everybody. MLp: Kyle, a friend of mine who has lived in East Cleveland since 1967, first suggested the name Re-Imagine East Cleveland. Kyle: To me, Re-Imagine East Cleveland is about the future. What we can do now to make East Cleveland a 21st century thriving community. Mazzola: Its really about building the confidence of the people that are already on the street Hopefully [rehabilitating and rebuilding] will spur reinvestment. This is really how it happens. There has never been and there certainly wont be going forward enough public funds, enough government money, to do all that needs to be done in East Cleveland or anywhere. What it really is is the guy across the street whos looking at a burned out house thinking, I know I need to paint my porch; I know I need to maybe replace my driveway; I know I need to work on my house. But do I want to spend real money on my house, on this street, when Im looking at a burned out house? Now this guys going to look across the street,..., Holy smokes! Look at whats going on up across from my house. Its worth me dipping into my pocket to paint the porch, to fix the roof. Thats how it works.

Broadening and Re-Defining School Success

The definition of a childs success is becoming increasingly narrowed as we continue to define childrens success purely on their performance on a mandated standardized test. This works counter to the philosophy of the important development of a whole child. Todays education, by necessity, must encompass the development of all aspects of the child, including but not limited to the academic, social and emotional. Without a holistic approach to educating children, schools are neglecting their in loco parentis obligation and wasting a valuable educational resource the student! Education must become a total transformative experience, not a rigid process geared to increase test results. Creating this transformation depends upon those institutions that assume responsibility for the overall development of children. While it is true that the family, the church, Boy/Girl Scouts, Big Brothers/Sisters and various other programs can contribute to this effort, there is no question that the schools will be at the vanguard of this effort. How can I say this? Of all the traditional institutions that shape the development of children, the school remains the only present community institution in which parents still have some semblance of hope. Parents send their most precious possession(s) to the school every day and their child spends five to eight hours there. Parents either drop them off or send them to school with the prayer that they will be embraced, developed, cared for and cared about. That their child will be nurtured and returned to them, each day, with new insights, refined skills and observable social/emotional progress towards the manifestation of their unique potential for greatness. One major problem with urban education, in particular, and American education, in general, is the presence of conflicting values, motivations and goals, about learning and how we educationally define success. For all of my years as an educator, I have never heard or heard of a parent indicating that their No. 1 concern was the state report card rating of the school. Parents No. 1 consistent and primary concerns are who is the teacher that will

M. LaVora Perry wrote the childrens book A History of the Civil Rights Movement (Mason Crest Publishers, 2012). For 20 years, she has lived with her family in East Cleveland, near Idlewood Avenue and she plans to stay right there, too.

Timothy Goler is a doctoral candidate studying sociology at Case Western Reserve University and co-founder of PolicyBridge. Contact him at Timothy.Goler@case.edu.

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October 2012

NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS
INGRAMS CIRCLE
A regular column by Lori Ingram
authors are not rich, but they have great stories to tell. The company also offers other services. Ghostwriting, re-writes, revisions, logo design, editing, Web design and all kinds of marketing promos, such as ad cards, brochures, T-shirts, car stickers and mugs. After your book is written, they also have a marketing team that will equip you to market your book yourself or they charge a nominal fee to get your book out to the public. Now how much does getting your book cost? You can publish your book for as little as $300. It has a basic color cover, is not edited, and your manuscript is printed as you have submitted it. Now you probably want and need an editor, and they format your book for an extra fee. A price list is available after your initial phone interview with the company. And you can make money on your book sales. Typically, the average book published by GreaterIsHe ranges from $2 to $4 per book. Even if you sell your book for just $10, you can make the money back that was spent on publishing! So what does Satterwhite see for the future of her company? She is planning a conference around the book Change The Parent, Change The Child. The company plans to have it in December. We have to take back our homes from and for our children, she says. She sees the publishing company as a ministry. She sees regular people getting their stories out to inspire and uplift. For more information, contact GreaterIsHe Publishing Company at www.GreaterIsHePublishing.com or call Satterwhite at 216288-9315.

NeighbOrhOOd VOice

Neighborhood Spotlight:

A Community Gem
Sometimes I just have to talk about businesses in our area that support the arts and can be good for everybody in our community. GreaterIsHe Publishing Company is one such business. How many people do you know that have great stories but have not written their memoirs, so no one will ever know? Well, if you have a story to tell, this may be a way to preserve it for ages to come. Shalana Satterwhite, a native of Cleveland, is the CEO of GreaterIsHe Publishing Company. It is a Christian publishing company focusing mostly on Christian values, however, through positive word of mouth from their current clients, the company has branched out into different family genres. Satterwhite is also an author of three books; In The Struggle, The Audacity to Walk on Water and Change The Parent, Change The Child co-authored by Police Chief Stitt of the Bedford Police Department. The company will publish any book except something with graphic language or illustrations. They give the author complete charge of their work and do not keep any royalties. The customer is charged for processing and handling for online orders. Why do things differently than other publishing companies? Satterwhite says that she believes that is the companys calling to put out stories of real people with real lives. The books are the clients testimonies. Most of the

Rebecca Devenanzi
When you enter a barber shop, youre following a tradition that can easily be traced to Roman times and centuries earlier. From that time to this, barber shops have cut hair and served as community gathering places. Rebeccas Shaker Barber Shop continues both these practices in the shop Rebecca DeVenanzio has run at 12808 Larchmere since September 1992. When I started on Larchmere, my daughter was in second grade todays shes a mom with a toddler. During this time, Rebecca has watched her customers families grow, as well. I love peoples stories and can always remember someone by their story from the first time theyre here, she said. So, whats Rebeccas story? Along her journey from Canton to Cleveland, Rebecca has been a trailblazer the first woman barber in Canton and the Stark County barber union. These cultural firsts did not come without challenges. There were times early in her career when men were reluctant to sit at her station. It took Rebecca three shops to find a solution working in an all-womens barber shop! The good news customer attitudes have long since adjusted. Exactly what is a barber shop? Its a place that focuses on the cutting of hair. People can go elsewhere to get color, perms and other touches, explains Rebecca, but here is where they often start with a great haircut. And how does a barbers style differ? A barber cut maximizes a persons head of hair vs. trying to force a style on it. Thats quite a nice deal in exchange for the $16 Rebecca charges per haircut, which is in line with her goal of keeping great cuts affordable, especially for families. Rebeccas is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. (FYI - The busiest days are Tues. and Sat.) If you have a little one - youll find Rebecca taking extra time to teach them how to get a haircut. Perhaps after theyve read the book Barber Bear she keeps on hand and calls a classic. Once business hours start, its democracy in action first-come, first-served (unless you want to come in before or after hours the only times Rebecca takes appointments at 216-229-3057.) Its fun, Ill have a doctor from the Clinic waiting next to a 4-year-old, she said. The wait is some of Rebeccas favorite times as the conversations hit full stride. The whole experience of a barbershop is special, she notes. I sometimes feel its the last bastion of free speech: people sharing their thoughts, having a voice, and leaving as friends. Her thoughts on Larchmere in general? I love the Larchmere neighborhood. It was my dream to work here, Rebecca shared. Ten to 15 years before I bought this shop, I used to stand outside its windows, looking inside and wishing it was mine and here I am! Her hope for the future? That more people find out how great a place Larchmere is to be, she concludes with a smile.

Lori Ingram is an actress living in Cleveland.

POETS CORNER

Neighborhood Voice regularly features local poets. Submit your poem to submissions@neighborhood-voice.com.

To Barack & Michelle / Memories of Ronald Davis You are living beyond the dream This is the day the Lord has made, Whether youre working or just chillin The house that black built wasnt made in the shade. If these walls could talk They would unleash profound memories, So Gods labor is not in vain The house is white for all to see. It cant rival heavens mansion, Tell them why not RD When one and one is no longer two, when snow turns white to blue Take your eyeballs out roll them in the sand, walk on water like I walk on land When Rockefeller hasnt got a cent and they elect a colored president Ronald Davis used to quote the above when he thought that something couldnt happen. Nothing is impossible with God.

Photo and article by Katie Montgomery, a member of the Larchmere Community Association.

Written by Calvin Marshall, a University Circle resident, and Laurine Moore in collaboration, Feb. 2, 2009.

Read new articles, watch videos, see more community photos every day at www.neighborhood-voice.com

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October 2012

Have you heard about the new and improved employer assisted housing programGreater Circle Living?
Have you heard about the new and improved employer New guidelines allow some part-time and new hires Living? assisted housing programGreater Circle at nonprofits in Greater University Circle to take advantage of the program.
New guidelines allow some part-time and new hires at nonprofits in Greater University Circle to takeLooking to buy program. advantage of the a home?

University Circle has so much to offer. When I walk to work, I look around at University Circle has so much the beautiful historic buildings andto offer. it When I walk to work, I look around at reminds me beautiful historic buildings and it of Europe. When I need the a loaf of bread, Ime of get fresh baked reminds can Europe. When I need a in of bread, I can get fresh baked bread rightloaf the neighborhood, rather bread my car for a loaf from than getting inright in the neighborhood, rather than getting in my car for a loaf from the grocery store. store. the grocery Linda Linda University Hospitals University Hospitals

Receive up to $30,000 Looking to buy a home? to buy a home in Greater University Circle. Receive up to $30,000 to buy a home in Greater University Circle.
Own a hometo $8,000 but need repairs? Receive up in the area for exterior repairs.

Own a home in the area but need repairs?

Receive up to 1,400 in assistance on Receive up to $ $ in rentalrental assistance 1,400 approved units. approved units.
We have something for everyone who We have something wants to live near work. for everyone

Looking rent an an apartment? Looking toto rent apartment?

Receive up to $8,000 for exterior repairs.

on

My husband Ben and I Baltimore, which is a here from moved very liveable city. We here from Baltimore, which is a werent ready for the werent ready very liveable city. We suburbs and never being able to walk anywhere again. I love for the suburbsbeing never walk to restaurants and able to being able to walk anywherebe dependent on driving. I and not again. I love walk to work as long being able to walk to restaurants as the weather permits. and not be dependent on driving. I Meg walk to work as long as the weather University Case Western Reserve permits. Meg Case Western Reserve University

My husband Ben and I moved

Eligible Greater University Circle Neighborhoods:

wants to live near work.

who

Eligible Greater University Circle Buckeye/Shaker Fairfax Glenville Hough Buckeye/Shaker East Cleveland Fairfax Little Italy Glenville Hough University Circle
To Learn More:

Neighborhoods

Little Italy University Circle

East Cleveland

I live 2.9 miles from work. I like to say I roll out of bed and into work. Gary Ive ridden my bike to workCleveland Clinic and I could walk to work. Its convenient and it saves on gas, too. Gary Cleveland Clinic

I live 2.9 miles from work. I like to say I roll out of bed and into work. Ive ridden my bike to work and I could walk to work. Its convenient and it saves on gas, too.

Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation 2 16.361.8400 or www.fairfaxrenaissance.org

To Learn More: 16. University Circle Inc. at 2 707.501 9 Fairfax Renaissance Development www.universitycircle.org/live-here/housing
1 330 Euclid Avenue 1

Corporation 2 16.361.8400 or Living In the Circle Center Stop by the Visitor & www.fairfaxrenaissance.org
*Visit the website for complete program guidelines, eligibility and participating employers.

University Circle Inc. at 2 707.501 16. 9 www.universitycircle.org/live-here/housing Stop by the Visitor & Living In the Circle Center 1 330 Euclid Avenue 1

Attend the 3rd Annual Showcase guidelines, eligibility *Visit the website for complete program and participating Tour in the Circle and Homeemployers.
Thursday, September 27, 201 from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm 2

NEIGHBORHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jamocha arts Center hosts First annual College Fair
October 6th High school students from Greater Cleveland are invited to attend the Jamocha Arts Center Annual College Fair on October 6, 2012. This event will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center at 14801 Shaw Avenue in East Cleveland. It is free and open to students and parents. We anticipate more than 200 attendants who are encouraged to part-take in our Workshops, where students will learn tips on selecting the right school, writing dynamic college application and scholarship essays, and staying abreast of college and FAFSA deadlines. Students and parents will also have an opportunity to start thinking critically about visiting colleges and meet with more than 25 college and university representatives from Ohio colleges and historically black colleges. There will be vendors with college related items for students, food and a raffle

NeighbOrhOOd VOice

To place a community announcement, contact 216-229-8769 or go to www.neighborhood-voice.com/calendar.

Market Benefit
The annual Coit Road Farmers Market Benefit is 6:00PM Monday, October 8 at The Beachland Ballroom. The event features food from local chefs and live music. Tickets for $35 are available at the Coit Road Farmers Market or online at www.coitmarket.org. The Beachland is located at 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44110. Founded in 1932, the market is celebrating its 80th anniversary. The Coit Road Market offers access to affordable locally sourced farmed fresh products to the residents of Greater Cleveland. The proceeds support operation of the market during the winter months.

Open 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Wednesdays

15000 Woodworth Rd., east Cleveland

east Cleveland library Book sale

The Friends of East Cleveland Public Library will be having a book sale from 10/4-6/12 11am-5pm. Expect great deals on books, movies and audiobooks for adults and children.

Delicious Sandwiches and Pies

Find our sandwiches and pies at The Lancer and Whitmores or call us and place your personal order.
Breakfast sandwiches delivered. Call Toni White at 440-479-4801 or email twhite515@gmail.com.

rummage sale/Flea Market

WHEN: Saturday, October 20, 2012 9:00AM 3:00PM WHERE: Windermere-Living Hope United Methodist Church 14035 Euclid Avenue East Cleveland, oh 44112 CONTACT: Gloria Allen (216) 451 2500 FELLOWSHIP HALL TABLES AVAILABLE Seniors (65 & older) $15 Others $20 Vendors $25

Walk against Cancer

The fourth annual Walk Against Cancer presented by Ward 7 Councilman T.J. Dow from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Oct. 13. $5 registration fee. Participants receive a Ward 7 Walk Against Cancer t-shirt and a balloon while supplies last. The walk will begin at The Salvation Army, 6000 Hough Ave. For details and advance registration, call 216-721-3038.

Teachers Dream Up Unique Classroom Decorations

By Lila Mills
HOUGH - Preschool teachers Angelica Pickett and Andora Sanders wanted to do something different in their classroom this year so they turned the room into a jungle. It took five weeks of work. The two used just construction paper, crayons and glue to create the jungle decorations in their classroom at Childrens First Learning Center, 8408 Hough Ave. They painstakingly twisted paper to make vines and cut out leaves individually to make different types of trees. The children in their classroom will study the rainforest throughout the year and draw their own animals to add to the room like monkeys hanging from the trees. The children will also add a pond with frogs to the scene. The year will end with a field trip to the rainforest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. This is just the result of a little bit of dreaming, Sanders said about her and Picketts work. It was well worth the work. In the other classroom, the teachers created an Under the Sea theme. Students like the decoration with one saying that coming to school felt like he was going swimming.

Now Hiring

Mitchells Ice Cream

at Uptown in University Circle
FULL AND PART TIME POSITIONS
Apply at mitchellsicecream@gmail.com Or write to: Mitchells Ice Cream 26161 Detroit Rd., Cleveland OH 44145

advertise with neighborhood Voice

Eight communities, One voice.

Call us at 216-229-8769 or send an email to advertising@neighborhood-voice.com.
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October 2012

11

Named the #1 national leader in quality.

-- American Hospital Association - McKesson

And once again ranked among the best hospitals in the country.
-- U.S.News & World Report

At university hospitals, were dedicated to providing the most advanced medicine and the highest-quality care to our patients, their families and our community. Its a commitment that has attracted the attention of national health care experts, including U.S.News & World Report.
University HOsPitALs CAse MediCAL Center Cancer Cardiology & Heart Surgery Diabetes & Endocrinology Ear, Nose & Throat Gastroenterology Geriatrics Gynecology Nephrology Neurology & Neurosurgery Orthopedics Pulmonology Urology University HOsPitALs rAinbOw bAbies & CHiLdrens HOsPitAL Cancer Cardiology & Heart Surgery Diabetes & Endocrinology Gastroenterology Neonatology Nephrology Neurology & Neurosurgery Orthopedics Pulmonology Urology

UH Case Medical Center is among the nations best hospitals, ranked in all 12 methodology-ranked specialties.

UH Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties for the second consecutive year.

Learn more about our national recognition and our commitment to high-quality, patient-focused care at uhhospitals.org/Quality. At university hospitals, our mission is you.

1- 866-uh4-care

1- 866 - 84 4 - 2 2 7 3

UHhospitals.org/Quality

Among the nations leading academic medical centers, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, a nationally recognized leader in medical research and education.