GLENVILLE - James Reid had the opportunity last summer to stand back and watch what was once just an idea in his head become reality. The last day of the eight-week double elimination Glenville Summer Basketball Tour-nament was coming to a close, trophies and medals were given and children softened their faces with proud smiles.

Glenview Park, 10701 Dupont Ave., was filled with laughing children, joy-filled teenagers and adults with their chests extended because they still “got game.”

Reid is the man bold enough to bring this to life. He grew up in New York, where he par-ticipated in basketball tournaments. In 1999, Reid thought to give Glenville children a taste of what he had growing up in the South Bronx.

“I always saw the kids playing basketball, but there was no organized activity,” Reid said. “I wanted to also give them a positive outlet.”

Reid is a Neighborhood Leadership Institute

graduate, which he said inspired him. Reid has received several grants to help fund the tourna-ment, including one this year.

Players range in age from 9 years old to 50 years old. There are multiple games of bas-ketball rather than a championship game or all-star game. Residents throughout the city of Cleveland are invited to participate and attend.

Reid said how effective a simple organization of basketball can be to the success of a future professional athlete. For example, Donte Whit-ner and Ted Ginn Jr., who are both professional football players, often played in the Glenville Summer Basketball Tournament as children, Reid said.

“We need more people to help organize in the community,” Reid said. “We’ve missed that whole concept.”

We all can anticipate the next Glenville Sum-mer Basketball Tournament — it’s coming in June. For more information or to sign up, visit

Facebook under Glenville Summer Basketball Tournament.

Shardé Lackey is a graduate student at Case Western Reserve University.

Apr i l 2013 • ne ighborhood-vo ice .com

From Empty Lot to High-Tech FarmLeonard Davis’ dream of urban farming grew from a seedling to a garden. It’s located on the corner of East 130 Street and Arlington Avenue in the Glenville neighborhood.

In 2008, Davis’ godfather allowed him to plant a garden on the large plot of land. In 2011, Davis bought the plot and gave away what he grew to anyone who wanted some.

Now Davis’ garden has gone high tech. It’s enclosed in a seasonal high tunnel — a large

Buckeye-Shaker • Central • East Cleveland • Fairfax • Glenville • Hough • Little Italy • University CircleNews from

Shaw & Hawken

Student News Inside!

PErry’s PErsPEcTIVECommentary by East Cleveland’s M. LaVora Perry

Carl Skalak Jr., a farmer and beekeeper from Hough, pitches his idea at the Cleveland Colectivo Pitch for Change event on Feb. 28. The event allowed anyone who signed up to make a pitch for a small grant from Cleveland Colectivo, a group of friends and neighbors who pool their money to donate to worthy work each year. Skalak is looking for funding to buy equipment for his bee keeping operation at Blue Pike Farm, 900 E. 72nd St.

Visit the farm — Skalak calls it “pastoral, idyllic and bucolic” — at an open house from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Local eggs, honey and more will be available to buy.

Photo by C. Ethan Smith, relation-ship manager at the Economic and Community Development Institute and co-owner of the organic apparel company Roads Ahead et al.

continued on Page 10

race, Food & Justice at case Page 6

People Power Page 4

Buckeye student Animator Page 8

check out our new & improved website right from your phone!

Get ready for summer Basketball By Shardé Lackey

Players hold their trophies after last year’s Glenville Summer Basketball Tournament. Photo courtesy of Shardé Lackey.

TRIVIA

Win two vouchers for tickets

to the cleveland International

Film Festival, which runs from

April 3-14, at Tower city cinemas,

by being the first to fill out and return

the readership survey on Page 4 or

online at www.neighborhood-voice.com/

category/get-involved/surveys/

return the completed survey to

Neighborhood Voice1990 Ford Drive

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Life is sweet for Hough Beekeeper

Scan this to like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, connect on LinkedIn and watch our videos on YouTube.

2 www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013

Publisher Neighborhood Connections

EditorLila Millslmills@neighborhood-voice.com

Writers/PhotographersM. LaVora Perrymlavoraperry@mlavoraperry.com

Justin Rutledgejrutledge@neighborhood-voice.com

Graphic Design ConsultantJulie Heckman

Copy EditorLindsy Neer

ContributorsWillie Boyd, Nico Hentley, Lori Ingram, Shardé Lackey, Katie Montgomery, C. Ethan Smith, Lisa-Jean Sylvia, Natalie Rudd, Elaine Siggers, Mark Silverberg

A d d r e s s1990 Ford DriveCleveland, OH 44106

Phone216-229-8769

Emailinfo@neighborhood-voice.com

Advertisingadvertising@neighborhood-voice.com

M i s s i o n 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: April 17

Landscape of Greater University Circle atop the W.O. Walker Building at 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, Ohio. PHOTO BY STEPHEN TRAVARCA

Printed on recycled paper

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

Neighborhood Voice is part of a courageous and innovative movement happening in Greater University Circle — an area that includes parts of East Cleveland and the Buckeye-Shaker, Central, Fairfax, Glenville, Hough, Little Italy and University Circle neighborhoods of Cleveland. We are part of a wide network of people committed to making our communities stronger. Neighborhood Voice tells the stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things. We tell stories of transformation, authentic relationships and people using their talents to do good work and help others. We tell these stories to inspire and inform.

We all have something to give and we need each other to thrive. Come join us. Find out more at www.neighborhood-voice.com/category/get-involved or call 216-229-8769.

“I’d always thought I was waiting for someone to come and change things — but what I really learned was that I was waiting for myself.”

~ Bevelynn Bravo, resident

Neighborhood Voice is a program of Neighborhood Connections.

M i s s i o n

Get Neighborhood Voice delivered to your home. Paid subscriptions available.

Just $10 for six months!

Call 216-229-8769.

More than 70 people attended this high-energy event! During the marketplace part of the eve-ning, folks can make a request, offer or an-nouncement to the group. It is a fun and fast way to connect with others in the room. Here are some examples of connections made at last month’s Network Night:

•Ajahofferedfreesamplesofhernatural skincare products. She also asked if someone could stay with her mother on Saturday morning. Group member Tanya agreed to help!

•BrendaandTanya,withtheEast73rdStreet Community Club, asked for help with their

Juneteenth Celebration scheduled for June 15 and their summer youth programs. Others in the group volunteered to lend a hand.

•BrianwiththeLauraandAlvinSiegal Lifelong Learning Program at Case Western Reserve University talked about bringing non-credit classes to homes and community centers in Greater University Circle. People in the group had a lot of suggestions for class topics and many were interested in being class teachers, too.

~ Written by Lisa-Jean Sylvia of Neighborhood Connections

4 www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013

NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTING NeIghborhood VoIce

Thursday, April 4At University Circle United Methodist Church, 1919 E. 107th St. at Chester Avenue

For more information, contact Lisa-Jean Sylvia at 216-229-0555 or email her at lsylvia@neighborhoodgrants.org.

Come for dinner, fun and possibility!

JoIN ThE NExT NETWoRk NIGhT

Kim Woodson, standing, shares a joy with the group at last month’s Network Night. Photo by Lonnie Bray-El.

Every month a group of people comes together in Greater University Circle to support one another and share their gifts and talents. The evening is called Network Night and anyone is welcome to attend. Come check out the next gathering from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 at University Circle United Methodist Church, 1919 E. 107th St. Here’s what happened at the last Network Night:

NeIghborhood VoIceNEIGHBORHOOD FAITH

www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013 5

Express Yourself

A regular column by Natalie Rudd

L O O k I N G u P

When was the last time you said “I’m sorry” and really meant it? Many times, we don’t take the time to say, “I’m sorry” or if we do say it, we say it grudgingly. We don’t really mean it because we don’t really think what we did was wrong. That is the same spirit that Cain had in the Bible when he killed his brother Abel. God asked Cain, “Where is your brother?” Cain tried to cover his sin instead of being truly apologetic. We have many people with the same spirit today — The Cain Spirit.

Talk about a time when someone apologized and you could tell they really meant it. And if they didn’t, was your relationship the same after the coun-terfeit apology?

Buckeye-Shaker’s Elaine Siggers posted this on her blog at www.wordsthat-lastalifetime.wordpress.com. Glenville’s Cozetta Ragland took to the streets with a video camera and asked people to respond to Elaine’s post. See what people had to say at www.youtube.com/NeighborhoodVoice.

HopeGrowing up, I often heard my father say, “Keep your faith strong and your hopes high!”

As a little girl, I didn’t quite understand what this expression meant, but I always loved to hear him say it. As an adult, I came to under-stand how important it was to “keep my faith strong and my hopes high” as the disappoint-ments and challenges of life started to roll in like waves from the sea.

Living without faith and hope is a certain recipe for disaster. However, there are so many peo-ple walking through life without faith or hope. These individuals often aren’t sure what or who they believe in. Some have experienced so much heartache and disappointment that they protect themselves by claiming to not believe in anything.

At the same time, some of us have hope — but the hope is misplaced. We have hope in our careers, our bank accounts and in our relation-ships. We hope in things that can change or disappear as swiftly as the wind.

What does a life without faith and hope look like? It can look like:

•Awomanoverdosingonheroininfrontof her 3-year-old daughter•Amanstabbingawomantodeath•A14-year-oldcommittingsuicide

These are extreme examples of individuals liv-ing without faith and hope. In each instance, the individual was unable to see past his or her current circumstances to a brighter, better to-morrow. They did not have faith in something bigger than themselves, or have hope that life would get better.

I encountered all three of these circumstances in less than one week. Needless to say, my heart was overwhelmed and disturbed by the number of people hurting and living in agoniz-ing pain that we didn’t recognize and couldn’t relieve. My heart was heavy because of their lack of hope.

Then my mind wandered to my dad’s quote, and I found reassurance: Keep your faith strong and your hopes high. I remembered a Scripture from Psalm 25 that soothed my heart: “No one whose hope is in You will ever be put to shame.”

That is what my Dad was teaching us. He was teaching us to put our hope in the Lord and to trust that he knows the plans he has for us. We have to keep our faith strong by staying close to him. For God, the solid rock is the only founda-tion in this life that never changes, never fails and never leaves us — no matter what. My faith in God keeps me strong and it gives me a reason to have high hopes — no matter what I am experiencing in life.

I realize, reader, that you and I may believe dif-ferently. I realize this is not a faith-based paper and I am making strong comments on my own beliefs. And that is OK. Sometimes in life you can’t hold back what you believe. Perhaps if we shared more about the good news of Je-sus Christ, more people could “keep their faith strong and their hopes high.”

Natalie Rudd is on the ministerial staff at An-tioch Baptist Church in Fairfax. Reach her at mindfuldiva@gmail.com.

You can fight cancer by enrolling in the American Cancer Society’s new research study, Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) at Case

Western Reserve University at Thwing Center on April 19 and at Case Western Relay For Life on Case Field on April 20.

If you are between the ages of 30 and 65 years old and have never been diagnosed with cancer, you are eligible to enroll.

If you are interested in enrolling, please:

Visit ClevelandCPS3.org to schedule your appointment or call toll-free 1.888.604.5888.

Also, join us to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back against cancer on April 20 at Case Western Reserve University’s Relay For Life!

Visit RelayForLife.org/cwru for more information on how you can get involved.

This is our chance to fight back against a disease that takes too much.

What if you could prevent even one family from hearing the words “you have cancer”?

Robin’s NestsUniquely crafted, custom designed gift baskets for all occasionsFor Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthday or Any Day, we strive to create the perfect expression of you!

For ordering information, call Robin’s Nests at 216-326-2994

INSPIratIoNal Quote

Don’t let a life situation control U … Adapt and control life situations!!

~ By Will Boyd, a University Circle resident

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE NeIghborhood VoIce

6 www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013

CLEVELANDACTION TOSUPPORTHOUSINGMore than money.

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 we’ll help with everything.

From where we’restanding, it looks a little crooked.

Learn about our new low interest rates:call 216.621.7350 or visit www.cashcleveland.org

R ID E R TA T O T O W ER C I T Y

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated,” Martin Luther King Jr. once said.“We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garmet of destiny.”

Many in Greater University Circle are building more trusting relationships across racial, socioeconomic and institutional-community lines.

They know our destinies are tied; we are stronger together than we are apart. This is one of their stories...

By M. LaVora Perry

uNIVErsITy cIrcLE - Food — what’s race and justice got to do with it? To answer that question, Case Western Reserve University hosts the “Race, Food and Justice” confer-ence on April 25 and 26. The conference is free and open to the public.

It marks the third year CWRU’s Social Justice Institute has partnered with local organiza-tions Rid-All Green Partnership Project, Envi-ronmental Health Watch and PolicyBridge to raise public awareness about how race, food and justice relate to one another.

Here is an excerpt from an interview about the conference with CWRU professor Rhonda

Williams, Ph. D., founder of the Social Justice Institute:

NV: How long has the “Race, Food and Jus-tice” conference been in the planning?

RW: In Spring 2011, [our three conference partners] approached us to work with them on bringing Will Allen, the CEO of [Milwaukee-based] Growing Power, Inc. to Cleveland. Since then, we’ve been doing something every year. We wanted to talk about what it means to grow healthy food and what the implications are for people in communities and how [healthy food] is not out of reach for people with few resources.

Free university conference on race, Food and Justice

The Neighborhood Voice wants to hear from you

Use your voice. Send us your articles and photos at

submissions@neighborhood-voice.com.

continued on Page 10

MONEy MATTErs By Aisha T. Weeks

1. CRedIt SmARt

Saturday, April 6, 201310:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.• Learn basic credit terms and definitions• Helps you understand your credit rating and how it affects your interest rate• How to maintain good credit• The basics of a spending plan

2. tO YOUR CRedIt

Saturday, April 6, 201311:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.• Participates must have their credit report prior to attending class. To get your free credit reports go to: www.annualcreditreport.com• Gives you ideas on how to repair your credit• Recognize credit repair scams• Set up a spending plan• Recognize signs and dangers of predatory lending

3. KeePING SCORe

Saturday, April 13, 2013 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.• Discovers the importance of recordkeeping• Know which records to keep and for how long• Learn the best way to keep your own records

4. COUNt eVeRY dOLLAR

Saturday, April 13, 201311:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.• Recognize your spending habits and how they influence your budget• Learn the importance of your fixed, flexible, and occasional expenses• Plot out your expenses on a spending plan• Learn how late payments affect you• Develop a 12 month spending plan

5. Set YOUR FINANCIAL SIGHtS

Saturday, April 20, 201310:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.• Learn what a financial goal is• Know how to prioritize your financial goals• Recognize if a particular goal is realistic• Learn how to change your spending plan to meet your goals

6. CHARGe It RIGHt

Saturday, April 20, 201311:15 a.m. – 12:15 a.m.• Understand credit card basics• Know the costs of using a credit card• Potential problems with credit

7. tAKe CHARGe OF YOUR mONeY

Wednesday, April 10, 20136:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.• Use credit wisely• Set up a spending plan• Recognize signs and dangers of predatory lending

8. CHeCK It OUt

Wednesday, April 17, 20136:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.• Learn the benefits of using a bank• Types of bank fees• Types of checking accounts• Write checks and use ATM or Debit cards• Balance your checking account

Get Smart About money for Free!At the KeyBank Financial Education Center11461 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, Ohio, 44104

“It really boils down to this: that all life is interrelated,” Martin Luther King Jr. once said.“We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied to a single garmet of destiny.”

Many in Greater University Circle are building more trusting relationships across racial, socioeconomic and institutional-community lines.

They know our destinies are tied; we are stronger together than we are apart. This is one of their stories...

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In these difficult economic times, families are strug-gling just to make ends meet.

Many residents, particularly those in underserved communities, are frustrated with so-

cial service and financial systems that are difficult to access and often do not cater to their diverse needs. Many residents rely on money center services and payday lenders that often charge high fees for services many banks offer for free.

Perhaps financial missteps with banking or credit institutions have led to issues with credit reports or Chex Systems reporting (a centralized database where financial institu-tions report derogatory banking information). These issues often prevent individuals from accessing low- or no-cost checking and sav-ings accounts, saving them hundreds of dol-lars a year in fees.

Moreover, many residents struggle to weath-er financial hardships caused by unexpected emergencies. Without assets such as an emergency savings/rainy day fund or access to low-cost credit options, unplanned events such as a large utility bill, blown tire or past

due rent or mortgage payment is all it takes to negatively impact an individual’s financial stability.

Although most people acknowledge the im-portance of saving for the future and build-ing good credit history, many often express difficulty finding solutions to address their financial needs and, is there a way out? For-tunately, the answer is yes.

Let’s learn how Ms. Wilson is getting on the road to financial empowerment.

Ms. Wilson is having trouble paying her utility bill. She is currently three months past due and her utilities have been disconnected. She visits her local community development cor-poration, or CDC, where the representative assesses her personal and financial needs.

The rep discovers that Ms. Wilson spends a high percentage of her income on food for herself and her two children. Ms. Wilson as-sumed that being employed disqualified her for the food assistance program. The CDC representative discovers that due to a pe-riod of unemployment two years ago, Ms. Wilson owes past due amounts on her credit cards and also cannot open a bank account because of unresolved overdraft issues. The rep also discovers Ms. Wilson does not plan to file taxes because she is unsure if she is entitled to a refund.

key.com/financialed Please call the office in advance to schedule 216-370-5630

Opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent those of KeyBank. Key.com is a registered service mark of KeyCorp. ©2013 KeyCorp. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

continued on Page 10

BuckEyE-sHAkEr - Animation is used just about everywhere in the world today. Normally, it is used as some form of entertainment. Chaz Bottoms, a senior at Benedictine High School, combined his love of animation with science, culture and his personal experiences to cre-ate an award-winning and provocative product with an important message for everyone.

Bottoms’ animation, “No-Ners: No Donors,” beat out more than 900 other student submis-sions from almost 40 schools in three states to take the title of Best in Show in the 2012 eXpressions competition, an event put on by Cleveland Clinic that challenges students to take an issue from the field of science and in-terpret it through a different medium, like art.

Bottoms’ animation examines the lack of Afri-can-American organ donors. The issue of do-nor organ availability is a hefty and important one, so it wasn’t easy for Bottoms to come up with a quality animation.

“It all really starts with the idea, and then spending days — maybe weeks — devel-oping that idea; and then being able to look back on my life and reflect ... and give it more meaning, especially to myself,” Bottoms said.

That’s precisely what he did for the “No-Ners” concept.

Bottoms’ father passed away from liver failure. Though he was on the transplant list, he died before he could receive the new replacement organ due to a low number of available livers.

The animation displays the issue from the viewpoint of a high school student getting his license and trying to decide whether or not to become an organ donor.

“I’ve seen from my parents’ friends who aren’t organ donors,” he said. “They don’t trust doc-tors and don’t like going to the doctor.”

One major piece of this mistrust, Bottoms said, is the syphilis experiments that took place in Alabama between 1932 and 1972. During these experiments, syphilis was allowed to run its course through African-American men who believed they were receiving free government health care.

“What strikes me is that things have changed,” Bottoms said. “What I was trying to do with this animation was to show that doctors are now here to help you.”

The message in “No-Ners” is a powerful one, and not just for African-Americans. The lagging number of organs available for transplant af-fects all Americans.

The wave of people in need of transplants isn’t getting any smaller, so the tide of available or-gans needs to rise in order to benefit everyone.

Bottoms often takes away a greater under-standing of his subject matter after completing one of his animations, but his primary goal is to enhance his viewers’ lives and experiences with his projects.

Bottoms didn’t just come off the streets one day making award-winning animations, though. He has been working on his craft — and working hard — since he was a young boy.

“I’ve always been interested in drawing and car-toons,” Bottoms said as he described his road to becoming an amateur animator. “For some reason, at age 7, it all just clicked that draw-ing, cartoons, animation — I can make my own cartoons. That idea definitely appealed to me.”

NEIGHBORHOOD EDUCATION NeIghborhood VoIce

8 www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013

Two schools - One student Newspaper By Susan Amari

By the time he entered high school, Bottoms was already a competent cartoonist with a number of animations under his belt.

The hard work and deadlines aren’t all that go into the production of a powerful and success-ful animation. The most important key is that the subject matter means something to the animator.

“Do an animation that is personal to you, something that you like,” he said. “Otherwise, if you’re doing it just to do it, it’ll just turn out badly. If you choose a topic you’re interested in, you’ll create a better product.”

Justin Rutledge is a Benedictine High School graduate with a degree in journalism from Bowling Green State University.

uNIVErsITy cIrcLE - When Kate Klonowski, head of Urban Scholastic Media Initiative, came up with the idea to partner Hawken Upper School and Shaw High School students with an interest in journalism for a joint writing venture, the intent of the program was as much about the process as it was the end product.

“In a way, both of the schools have isolation issues,” Klonowski commented when asked about the “SHawken” partnership. “I felt bring-ing the students together would broaden each of their perspectives, an essential quality in be-ing a good journalist.”

The first joint result, The Shawken News, is included as a supplement to this publication. It is a culmination of a pilot year that included SHawken students combining for a joint inter-view with East Cleveland Mayor Gary Norton, and separate articles based on Shaw student

Sa’Randa Cummings’ day at Hawken, and Hawken student Erica Fearon’s day at Shaw.

From fundamental things like the length of school days, to the freedom to sit where you want in a lunchroom to the way in which classes are conducted, the articles combine to convey a current and honest assessment of the difference in educational environment just 30 minutes down the road.

Bruce Morgan, editor-in-chief of Shaw’s Cardi-nal Matters, and Russell Cohen, editor-in-chief of Hawken’s The Affirmative No (AffNo), com-mented on some of the practical challenges the SHawken partnership experienced.

“The biggest problems have been the practical ones,” Cohen said, referring to the difficulty in trying to arrange student meeting times.

Morgan further expanded on that thought: “Not only did we have to juggle our own paper’s troubles, as well as maintaining this relation-ship and program, students of the paper also had to keep up with their schoolwork, home-work, other extracurricular activities and deal with whatever personal issues that may occur.”

Cohen said although the option of Skype or chat session may be used in the future, they do “take part of the connection away.”

The challenge, Cohen added, will be to address those scheduling practicalities in order to “find a way for the students to work together ... not just submit separate articles.”

One of the other issues the partnership wanted to address, Klonowski said, was to help “build up” the Shaw newspaper program. One chal-lenge was the school’s inability to provide and

secure the needed technology for an up-to-date, thriving program. Although that issue has not been resolved, Morgan has seen a recent increase in Shaw newspaper staff members submitting articles.

“Needless to say, I’m overjoyed with this,” he said.

And as for the program’s success?

“I think the program has been successful ... simply due to the fact that it remains intact,” Cohen said. “It is far from ideal, and logistics issues may keep up ... but it has great poten-tial.”

Susan Amari is the editorial director for Hawken School, a private school with campuses in Uni-versity Circle, Lyndhurst and Gates Mills.

Local student Brings Organ Donation Issue to Life By Justin Rutledge

Chaz Bottoms at the eXpressions competition. Photo courtesy of Chaz Bottoms.

NEIGHBORHOOD ARTS & SOCIETY NeIghborhood VoIce

www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013 9

race relationsI attended the third in a series of Race Relations Forums, sponsored by the city of Cleveland and MetroHealth Hospital, last month at the Church of the Covenant in University Circle, close to where I live.

To those who came to the forum, I say “Hurray! Kudos for having an interest in a change!”

Coming out to the forum was the first step to erad-icating the arcane approach to power and wealth in our city and standing with those in history who create change. Let us think of creative ways to be-gin to work toward racial equity in Cleveland.

About 80 people came out to the forum on March 21. They included residents, students and city leaders. We sat at tables in groups of about 10 people each. Moderator Peter Whitt showed vid-eos that gave an overview of the challenges cities face when trying to eradicate structural racism — or public policies and practices that contribute to unequal racial outcomes.

After we watched the videos, we talked at our ta-bles about each individual’s personal experience of racial inequity in Cleveland. The intention was to address “the elephant in the room” and talk about racial equity in our neighborhoods.

People at every table were involved in emotional discussions and each table had a note taker to capture what was said. At my table, we all had experiences with either privilege or dehumaniza-tion. But we all had an interest in changing that. That is why we were at the forum.

I wondered, “What if a committee could peace-ably teach corporations, penal systems, health and welfare systems, learning institutions and ju-dicial systems more equitable practices? And can that kind of awareness and change be peaceful?”

Notice I have been using the word “equity” not “equality.” Equity takes into account that every-body didn’t start at the same place, but everybody should have the resources and opportunities for the same type of success.

I believe that racial equity in America is based upon a color line of black and white. I believe there are unspoken rules — leftovers from slav-ery — that have been “structured” into our soci-ety, and that still affect us today.

But I also believe we have the power to make change. Whether things change or stay the same — the choice is ours.

The city’s next Race Relations Forum is scheduled for May. Stay tuned for more information.

Lori Ingram is an actress living in University Circle.

P O E T ’ s c O r N E r Neighborhood Voice regularly features local poets. Submit your poem to submissions@neighborhood-voice.com.

Today

Today I display happiness because yesterday taught me a lot. Respectfully now I take one step at a time cautiously, I must say.

For me to get a second chance in society a question was asked, “Did I learn my lesson from the punishment I received?”

I reply, “No lesson have I learned, punished I was not.”The only ones that were punished were my friends and family who loved, trusted and believed in me. The ones that I betrayed.I was in denial because of my selfishness and inconsiderate ways.

Today I must say that I am truly sorry and ready to move forward. No more darkness. Now I can see the colors of the rainbow.

Today, like Joseph’s coat of many colors, I have received a gift of respect. My colors allow me to shine. This is what I’ve been longing for.

I work hard every day just to be here today. Now forgive me. No more hate. Congratulate and appreciate my display.

The lessons that I have learned yesterday and the day before make me stronger, today.

Thank you Father, only you have an idea of what I’ve been through yesterday to be here today.

~ By Orville “Nico” Hentley , a musician and business owner in Cleveland

A regular column by Lori Ingram

I N G r A M ’ s c I r c L E Mural Artist coming to TownBy Robin Robinson

Vibrant 40-foot-tall murals adorn the walls of public buildings in Philadelphia and Los Ange-les. Once drab, neglected and graffiti ridden, these buildings now beam with pride and dignity as visitors admire the stunning mas-terpieces. Kent Twitchell is renowned as the mural artist most responsible for Los Angeles and Philadelphia’s visual revitalization. Now, he is coming to Cleveland.

Sankofa, Karamu House and Fairfax Renais-sance Development Corp. have collaborated to bring Kent Twitchell to Cleveland in May. The first of 10 murals will be a 40-by-36-foot mural of actress Ruby Dee (a Karamu House alum) in the Fairfax neighborhood.

Local and national organizations such as JP Morgan Chase, Fifth Third Bank, The George Gund Foundation, PNC Bank, Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, Deaconess Community Founda-tion, Charter One Bank, United Black Fund, Dominion Foundation, Parker Hannifin and The Ohio Arts Council are inaugural contributors to Cleveland’s newest revitalization effort.

There will be free workshops and professional training opportunities for artists and students interested in working with Twitchell on this monumental project. Space is limited.

Sankofa will be accepting applications for apprenticeships on its website, www.sanko-fafineartplus.org.

Robin Robinson is an artist living in Glenville.

By Katie Montgomery

There are many reasons to walk into Re-New Beginning Consignment Shop at 12726 Larch-mere Blvd. It’s green, budget-friendly, filled with beautiful clothes and fun!

Cherie Campbell first opened the doors in February 2009 and has welcomed a stream of recessionistas — that means fashion mavens on a budget — ever since. The shop carries gently used and new higher-end fashions for men and women. To keep styles fresh, clothes remain in the store only 60 days – with prices reduced 40 percent after three weeks.

Consignments by appointment are welcome. Call 216-229-7030 for guidelines. For many, bringing clothes to the shop provides a great alternative to yard sales.

“People tend to gather up their clothes, donate some to charity and bring the higher-end fash-ion items to me,” Campbell said. “It’s a nice way to see if they can earn a little back on their own investments.”

An active member of NARTS — The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops —

Campbell has spent quite a bit of time finding the right mix in the shop. Recently she passed ownership of the shop to her two daughters, Gillian and Porscha Campbell, who have brought the shop to new heights.

Personal service is a hallmark here. If you need help putting outfits together, or are looking for special sizes, just let them know. They keep a list of special requests and will give you a call when a new arrival might fit the bill.

As to being on Larchmere, the Campbells said, “We love it. All the neighbors (merchants) refer customers to one another’s stores. Everyone is so friendly. It works just great.”

So next time you’re invited to an event, your closet’s empty and budget is a concern, see what might be waiting for you at Gillian and Porscha’s shop. Hours are: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday – Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Katie Montgomery is an active member of the Larchmere neighborhood. Larchmere is locat-ed one block north of Shaker Square, bordered by Shaker Boulevard, Kemper/N. Moreland, Fairhill Road, and E. 116th/MLK.

re-New Beginning consignment shop — A family affair with flair!

N E I G H B O r H O O D s P OT L I G H T

Sisters Porscha, left, and Gillian Campbell. Photo by Donna Cornett.

Money Matters continued from Page 7

The rep recommends several services to Ms. Wilson to improve her financial stability, includ-ing attending free financial education classes, obtaining a copy of her credit report and working with a financial counselor to develop a plan to resolve her banking and credit issues. In addi-tion, Ms. Wilson is referred to the Cleveland Food Bank, where she applies for food assistance and receives $2,200 in annual food benefits. She then visits a free VITA tax site where IRS certified tax preparers assist her in filing for her tax return and she receives a $4,500 refund.

By taking advantage of multiple services, Ms. Wilson was able to increase her annual house-hold income by $6,700 through her tax refund and food assistance. As a result of receiving

financial counseling, disputing mistakes on her credit report and diligently adhering to her budget/financial plan, Ms. Wilson established a checking account where she receives direct deposit of her payroll check and pays her bills through her account. She no longer relies on payday lenders and expensive money centers, which saves her an additional $1,000 per year.

Ms. Wilson uses this newfound savings to build up an emergency account and pay down debt. She has taken control of her finances and is on the road to becoming financially secure. She has a sense of empowerment and continues to work steadily toward her financial goals.

How much can you save by avoiding predatory financial services?

The high cost of using alternative money lend-ing services:

•Money/billpaymentcenter:Purchasemoney order to pay utility bills: $3 each 4 bills per month = $144 per year in fees

•Rent-to-ownstores: Purchase a $220 television. OR Pay $10 per month for 78 months = $780 paid for a TV only worth $220 Amount overpaid = $560 per year.

•Paydaylender:Paydayloan.$15.50feefor every $100 borrowed. $300 loan for seven- day term = $46.50 fee every month - $558 per year

•EffectiveAnnualPercentageRateis800per-cent. You pay $1,262 per year in fees, more than $100 per month.

By establishing a low/no cost banking relation-

ship to deposit your checks and pay your bills you keep more money in your pocket.

What could you do with that savings?

If you deposited your initial first year’s savings of $1,262 into an account and made monthly deposits of $50 thereafter for five years at an interest rate of 0.75 percent (compounded monthly) — at the end of the five-year period you would have saved $4,366.

That’s a great start on the road to saving for a down payment on a house, college tuition for you or your child or an emergency/rainy day fund.

Aisha T. Weeks is a National Urban Fellow at Neighborhood Progress Inc. Find out more about the National Urban Fellows program at www.nuf.org.

10 www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013

NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS NeIghborhood VoIce

structure that allows farmers to extend the growing season. Davis plans to keep growing food almost all year long.

Local teens and senior citizens originally helped Davis garden. However, the teens soon drifted off to do other summer activities. But the se-niors, Davis’ neighbors who ranged in age from 70 to 80 years old, dived into the work.

Two neighbors, who were not on speaking terms, began to “communicate and develop bonds again” as they worked side by side in the garden, Davis said. “The garden brought people together.”

Their efforts yielded corn, watermelon, collard greens, cabbage, pole beans and snap beans.

“It turned out perfect,” Davis added.

Now, with the seasonal high tunnel in place, Davis is looking forward to adding tomatoes, cabbage and lettuce to the garden. The $4,000 seasonal high tunnel was paid for with a grant

from the U.S. Department of Agriculture — something Davis learned about from a neighbor.

Davis is now also farm manager with the Eden Project, a Cleveland initiative to provide fresh produce to communities and teach young peo-ple how to build seasonal high tunnels and run businesses.

Davis’ goal is to operate a for-profit garden and employ and train others, especially young people. This summer he will offer a garden in-ternship for the first time.

Contact Davis at 216-308-8406 for more in-formation.

People in our community — from Little Italy to Central —

are working hard to transform their neighborhoods. Do you

have a story of transformation? Call me at 216-229-8769.

continued from Page 6

But [getting healthy food] also takes resources. So the question becomes how do we match those two things together? How can we match that with people who have knowledge and have done it?

NV: Talk about the Rid-All / Will Allen connection.

RW: Rid-All Green Partnership actually has an urban agricultural site here [at 8129 Otter Road, off East 81st Street and Kinsman Road]. They are one of Will Allen’s Growing Power, Inc. regional outreach training centers. [Allen] does training through only a handful of sites around the country. And one of them is here in Cleve-land. We wanted to bring him back and have him talk about the good food revolution and what his struggles were and how he was able to mount his operation in Milwaukee.

NV: What do you hope to achieve through this month’s conference?

RW: One of the key things is to educate people around how race has impacted food and food

access, and how race has impacted people’s relationship in history to the land and what that mean in terms of urban agriculture. And, how that hinders and limits as well as furthers the possibility to use agriculture as a way to unpack racial discrimination and injustice and move toward policies and action that can stem the tide of racial injustice and inequity.

Food is a mirror for understanding the inequali-ties that impact people of color, poor people, and people in urban communities … The con-ference provides a comfortable entry point to have these conversations.

To register for the conference or to learn how you can be

involved in other Social Justice Institute programs, visit

www.case.edu/socialjustice, call 216-368-2515 or email socialjustice@case.edu.

M. LaVora Perry is a writer living in East Cleveland.

Free university conference on race, Food and Justice From Empty Lot to High-Tech Farm continued from Page 1

Leonard Davis, Jerome Pannell, Keneth Jackson and Mark Pannel, left to right, stand in front of the seasonal high tunnel they built in March on East 130 Street and Arlington. Photo by M. LaVora Perry.Inside the seasonal tunnel at Rid-All Green Partnership. Photo courtesy of Rid-All Green Partnership.

Altered Book Group Exhibition: April 4 - 29Opening Reception: Thursday, April 4, 6-8pmGallery Talk: Thursday, April 25, 7pmJourneys is the seventh annual exhibition of new works by the Altered Book Group at Loganberry Books Annex Gallery. This year’s theme reflects on real and imagined journeys, the artist transforming the original content or structure of a book into a unique, purposeful, or whimsical expression. This year’s artists include: Judith Angelo, Catherine Anson, Cynthia Beeker, Phyllis Brody, Sarah Clague, Gene Epstein, Pat Pitingolo, and Anne Weissman.

Edible Books Festival April 6, 1:00pm It’s the tenth year celebration of the Edible Books Festival at Loganberry Books and Strong Bindery! This international event has made a home here in Cleveland with just one rule: make edible art that has something to do with books. How people choose to interpret that rule is wherein lies the fun.

Entrants: Create something book related, making sure all parts are edible. Corresponding books as part of your display are also encouraged. Please register your entry ahead of time by contacting Emily at 216.795.9800 or emily@loganberrybooks.com. Each entry receives a handmade miniature book pin from Strong Bindery and a photo on the Loganberry Books website. There is no fee for participating and viewing; $3 fee for voting and eating of the Edible Books.

United to End Racism Workshop Racism doesn’t operate in a vacuum or affect only people of color. It affects family, fellow workers, children, the economy and institutions. Who should come? Anyone interested in self-empowerment and being a part of the solution. Learn skills to identify and unlearn messages from racism, learn how to develop methods for effectively challenging racism and other oppressions. From 2 to 5 p.m., April 20 at St. Alban Church, 2555 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights. Space is limited. Reserve a spot by April 17. Call 216-406-3854. Sliding fee scale: $2 - 40. Pay at the door.

Race, Food & Justice Conference This conference, on April 25 and 26 at Case Western Reserve University, will highlight and increase grassroots support for Growing Power’s Growing Food and Justice for All Initiative. The conference is a collaboration between Environmental Health Watch, Growing Power, Rid-All Green Partnership, and Case Western Reserve University Social Justice Institute. The conference will feature a screening of the film “Soul Food Junkies” from 7 p.m.-9 p.m on April 25. Speakers include Erika Allen, of the Growing Power Good Food Justice for All Initiative, and Malik Yakini of The Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. For more info contact Kim Foreman at 216-961-4646 ext. 104.

healthy Cooking Classes Learn to prepare affordable, healthy and tasty meals for your family from teachers Vel Scott and Divinity Catering. Learn the basics of healthy cooking, the importance of local, fresh food, and how to prepare healthier meals, vegetarian and vegan dishes. Call Kim Foreman to register at 216-961-4646 ext. 104.

To place an event, call 216-229-8769 or go to www.neighborhood-voice.com/events

Commodore Place Apartments is now renting studios and one - and two-bedroom apartments.

Contact Malinda Matlock, property manager, at 216-421-3900 or email her at mkmtlk@yahoo.com.

Looking forward to meeting you!

one month free with signing of 12-month lease.

www.ne ighborhood-vo ice.com Apr i l 2013 11

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

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Wednesdays

15000 Woodworth Rd., east Cleveland

Delicious Sandwiches and PiesFind our sandwiches and pies at

the lancer and Whitmore’s or call us and place your personal order.

Breakfast sandwiches delivered.

Call toni White at 440-479-4801 or email twhite515@gmail.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD ANNOUNCEMENTS NeIghborhood VoIce

“What can Greene do for you” Concierge Services to Casino, snow removal,

property care, grocery store trips, junk removal

Greenetron Enterprises

contact 216-324-6552 or Terrencegreene2002@yahoo.com or check out www.greenetron.vpweb.com

Food for thought Who says there’s no such thing as

a free lunch?

Got an idea for a community improvement project you’d like to start?

Call Jan Thrope, of Inner Visions of Cleveland, to schedule a meeting! Share your thoughts and get a free lunch at Bridgeport Café, 7201 Kinsman Road. Call 216-965-4721.

HOUSeHOLd ItemS FOR SALe

Including bedroom dressers, couch, end tables, business chairs, filing cabinet and more!

Contact Mr. Melvin Wilson Sr. at melvin.d.wilson@hotmail.com or 216-269-4504

JOIN US for a FREE opportunity to learn more about Building Assets for Fathers and Families (BAFF). This innovative program combines the strengths of financial education organizations, county child support offices and fatherhood-related organizations to address the

financial needs of low-income parents with child support orders. BAFF encourages noncustodial parents to enroll in and complete a series of financial education sessions. The goal is to strengthen their ability to pay child support, provide for their children and take an active role in fatherhood.

BAFF Ohio − in partnership with the Ohio CDC Association and its affiliates, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and the Ohio Fatherhood Commission − will be hosting a series of FREE regional trainings at various locations throughout the state. These events are designed to help participants connect with other organizations to start BAFF programs in their communities.If your organization is interested in this innovative and collaborative approach, we encourage you to join us at one of the sessions listed below.

2013 Session Dates and Cities

Tuesday, March 26 Akron

Tuesday, April 9 Cincinnati

Thursday, April 11 Columbus

Monday, April 29 Athens

Wednesday, May 1 Cleveland

Monday, May 6 Dayton

Tuesday, May 21 Toledo/Port Clinton

Thursday, May 30 Ashtabula

Agenda

9 – 9:30 a.m. Arrival and Sign In

9:30 – 10 a.m. Welcome – Opening Session

10 – 11:30 a.m. Cross-training workshops (attendees will choose one)

Ohio’s Child Support Program OR Assets and the Role of Financial Education for Non-custodial Parents

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch provided

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Discussion and small group activities

2:30 – 3 p.m. Wrap Up

There is no cost for this event, and lunch will be provided on-site!

FREE Training Workshops for Financial Education, Child Support and Fatherhood Practitioners

To learn more and register, visit http://ohiobaff.eventbrite.com/ or call (614) 457-4338. Everyone who plans to attend must register for an event. Please register as soon as possible to ensure an accurate lunch count.

7201 Kinsman Road, Suite 103BCleveland, Ohio 44104

(216) 341-1455bbcdevelopment.org

FRESH FOOD & NUTRITION EDUCATIONare cropping up in the Kinsman neighborhood

7201 Kinsman Road, Suite 103A | Cleveland, Ohio 44104(216) 266-0140 | bridgeportcafe.com

Open Mon - Fri: 7:00am-6:00pm and Sat: 10:00am-6:00pm

NOW OPEN!A healthy, fresh restaurant for Cleveland’s East Side Neighborhoods, located in the heart of Kinsman

Breakfast Lunch Coffee Tea Smoothies Sandwiches Soups Salads Fresh Produce Dairy Wi-Fi

New state-of-the-art kitchen & multi-purpose community space

Centrally located in the Kinsman neighborhood

Hands-on cooking classes, nutrition education courses, and much more

Rent CornUcopia Place today for your meeting/private event

To learn more and register, visit http://ohiobaff.eventbrite.com/ or call (614) 457-4338. Everyone who plansto attend must register for an event. Please register as soon as possible to ensure an accurate lunch count.

Session Dates and CitiesTuesday, April 9 CincinnatiThursday, April 11 ColumbusMonday, April 29 AthensWednesday, May 1 Cleveland

Agenda9 – 9:30 a.m.Arrival and Sign In

9:30 – 10 a.m.Welcome – opening Session

10 – 11:30 a.m.Cross-training workshops (attendees will choose one)

ohio’s Child Support Program oR Assets and the Role of Financial Education for Noncustodial Parents

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Lunch provided

12:30 – 2:30 p.m.Discussion and small group activities

2:30 – 3 p.m.Wrap Up