Nonprofit Thursdays | East Cleveland Library, Women of Color Foundation, ESOP

Library offers East Cleveland Historical Walking Tour this Saturday

In the late 1800s, East Cleveland took root as a small trading post alongside a wagon trail that led from Buffalo, New York, to Cleveland, Ohio. This wagon trail, then known as the Lakeshore Trail forged by American Indians long gone, later became Euclid Avenue. It was the showplace of America during its tenure as Millionaires Row.

The East Cleveland Public Library, in collaboration with Leah Santosusso, is presenting a Historical Walking Tour in support of her new book, East Cleveland: Images of America.

This FREE event will include a light lunch and brief historical discussion before the outdoor walking tour begins. The discussion and walking tour will feature several memorable locations highlighted in the book.

Meet at the library at noon this Saturday, Nov. 2 for the tour. Call 216.541.4128 for more information.

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Women of Color Foundation offer daylong institute next week

Event at Cleveland State to see three area women honored

The Women of Color Foundation will present its 8th Annual Leadership Development and Training Institute and Awards Luncheon next Thursday, November 7 at Cleveland State University.

The event is being co-hosted by Cleveland State University (CSU), and will take place on Thursday, November 7, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., in CSU’s Student Center at 2121 Euclid Avenue, in the 3^rd Floor Ballroom.

Marsha Mockabee

Ellen Burts-Cooper, PhD

The Institute will include an Annual Awards Luncheon, where the Women of Color Foundation recognizes three outstanding women of color.  The recipient of 2013 Professional Woman of the Year (ISIS Award) is Marsha Mockabee, President/CEO, Urban League of Greater Cleveland; and the recipient of the 2013 Young Professional Woman of the Year (STAR Award) is Dr. Ellen Burts-Cooper, Senior Managing Partner, Improve Consulting and Training Group.

 The 2013 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Courage Award, given in honor of the late Cleveland area Congresswoman, will be presented to Charmaine Brown, director of diversity and inclusion at Forest City.  This award is presented

Charmaine Brown

annually by Barbara Tubbs Walker, the sister of the late Congresswoman.   Sarah Buduson, News Reporter at WEWS-TV NewsChannel 5, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies of the Luncheon.

The Institute also includes three workshops. A two-hour morning workshop, The Estelle Shorter Holmes Lecture: “Rising to the Top:  My  Struggles, Challenges and Successes” will feature a prominent local woman who has risen to the top of her profession and is passionate about helping other women in their career journey to the top.  This annual lecture is part of the 2^nd Annual American Greetings Speaking of Women: A Dialogue Series for Women in Leadership.  This will be one of the highlights of the day, said Alexandria Johnson Boone, chairwoman and founder of the WOCF.

Two afternoon workshops following the awards luncheon will include prominent women from northeast Ohio, who will share their experience, insights and expertise with Institute participants. “Women in the Workplace; Our Rights and Responsibilities!” will be moderated by Diane E. Citrino, Esq., Partner, Thacker-Martinsek, LPA and “Emerging Women Leaders in Politics: It is Our Time!” will be moderated by Dr. Mittie Davis Jones, Chairperson, Department of Urban Studies, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs at CSU.

The Symposium will culminate with WOCF’s traditional COLORS Networking Reception.

Several scholarships are available for college students and women who cannot afford to pay for the event.  Scholarship applications are available on-line. Registrations are $75 per person, and include the Awards Luncheon, the Networking Reception and all workshops and materials.

For more information on Women of Color Foundation events, including registration, scholarships and/or sponsorship opportunities, please call 216-391-4300, ext. 311 or visit the website at: www.womenofcolorfoundation.com

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Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People, a non-profit HUD-approved housing counseling agency, is moving its main office over the weekend. The main office will be closed on Nov. 1, reopening on Monday, Nov. 4 at 7000 Euclid Avenue, Suite 203, Cleveland, OH 44103.

ESOP’s phone number will remain 216.361.0718.

Nonprofit Thursday II A Plan for Cleveland Neighborhoods • Jazzy Stevie Wonder • Flying Angels and more

There goes the neighborhood

Joel Ratner, President and CEO
Neighborhood Progress Inc.

A key but little understood player in Cleveland’s neighborhood development ecosphere is Neighborhood Progress Inc. Founded in 1988, its declared mission is “to foster communities of choice and opportunity throughout Cleveland.” Its status as a funding intermediary for CDCs gives it an outsized importance in determining the look, feel, and shape of community revitalization in our core city.

This coming Wednesday, NPI president and chief executive officer Joel Ratner will speak at the City Club. The centerpiece of his talk is very likely to be a public rollout of his organization’s new vision of community development, as set forth in its recently completed strategic plan.

Tickets for the noon luncheon program are $25 [$15 for members.] For reservations, call the City Club at 621.0082 or 888.223.6786. For more information, visit here.

Stevie Wonder in Cleveland next week? Not exactly 

The man genius himself won’t be here, but his music will be featured prominently in a jazz concert at one of the city’s hottest venues when The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra plays next Thursday at the Museum of Contemporary Art in University Circle. We don’t have all the details but if you want tickets [$26], go here.

Black Angels

We wrote here last week about the acclaimed off-Broadway production Black Angels Over Tuskegee coming to University School next week to support efforts to turn the mothballed Aviation High School into the chartered Benjamin O. Davis Aerospace and Maritime Academy.

Now comes word that there is a 10AM matinee performance as well. The early show is for lucky students only. Councilman Jeff Johnson, Forest City Enterprises and Lubrizol Corporation are sponsoring 400 Cleveland school students: 100 each from Glenville and East Tech high schools, and 100 each from E-Prep and Intergenerational schools, part of the Breakthrough group of charter schools. One hundred or so students from University School will comprise the remainder of the matinee audience.

Yellow Butterfly Winery

Spokesman Dave Centa said that ticket sales for the evening performance are moving well, and he harbors hope for a sellout. The impressive list of sponsors includes for Cleveland mayor Mike White’s Yellow Butterfly Winery, which is providing the wine for the benefit reception.

Harry Boomer of WOIO/WUAB-19/43 television will emcee the benefit program that includes a silent auction and other attractions. Rev. R. A. Vernon of The Word Church in Warrensville Heights will also deliver some remarks.

To purchase tickets or to get further information about Davis Aerospace Academy, visit www.clevelandaerospaceacademy.org or call 216.579-9487.

Women of Color Foundation       

Carmen Ortiz-McGhee
ACIS executive vice president

The Women of Color Foundation has snagged the corporate headquarters of American Greetings for its 2^nd Annual Speaking of Women program on March 14.

This year’s speaker for the dialogue series for women in leadership is Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, executive vice president of sales for Aon Cornerstone Innovative Solutions. ACIS is a division of Aon PLC, a global provider of risk management, insurance and reinsurance brokerage as well as a provider of staffing solutions and outsourcing.

McGhee’s topic for the Women’s History Month program is “Managing Your Career Journey: Making the Right Choices at the Right Time.” The event is free but registration is required, which you may do by calling 216.391.4300 x 307.

Cleveland Radio this Weekend

“It’s About Justice” is a weekly local radio show hosted by Meryl Johnson, an educator, union official and community activist. Appearing on tomorrow’s show to discuss the consequences on public education in Ohio should Gov. Kasich’s budget pass will be Piet van Lier of PolicyMatters Ohio. He is likely to have some insights on the state takeover of Cleveland schools announced earlier this week.

Other segments on the show will have Wynne Antonio speaking on the women’s movement [can you lean in on the radio?] and peace activist Nina McClellan will discuss the military budget and military waste [can we speak of one and not the other?]

“It’s About Justice” airs on WRUW-FM/91.1 Saturday afternoons from 1:30-2:30PM. Hear it online at wruw.org/guide/.

Similar topics will be the focus of this week’s Zack Reed Radio Show, airing Sunday nights from 8-10PM on WTAM/1100 AM. Reed, Ward 2 Cleveland councilman, will discuss the budget crisis in Washington DC and the state takeover of Cleveland schools. The call in portion is likely to be lively.

Cleveland Foundation Scholarships applications for adults, teens due April 5

The application period has begun for the many opportunities for scholarship support through the Cleveland Foundation. Deadline for many of the most broadly available scholarships is April 5, 2013. 

Scholarships are available for adults returning to school as well as for graduating high school seniors. Applicants have multiple opportunities to be selected.  Visit www.clevelandfoundation.org\scholarships to learn more.

“Our scholarships are made possible by donors who believe in education, and who want to help worthy individuals who aspire to advance academically,” said Marvelous Baker, the Foundation’s Scholarship officer, in an email announcing this year’s program.