The East Clevelander Magazine Issue #01

“Everything that I do on the bench as far as compassion given back—all those things—are an extension of what I learned in her courtroom.”

-Judge William Dawson

Una Keenon Local History Room dedication at ECPL (Judge Dawson’s full comments on page 31)

Photo by Annette Blackwell

The East Clevelander Magazine is proudly published locally by Foote Printing on E. 55th St. near Grand Ave.

The East Clevelander Magazine provides space for opinion writing and letters to the editor from East Clevelanders. Opinions and information expressed in opinion articles and letters to the editor are solely the author’s and do not represent the opinions and/or beliefs of The East Clevelander Magazine, its affiliates or sponsors. Although The East Clevelander Magazine is supported by grants, donations and advertising, acceptance of advertising or sponsorship by The East Clevelander Magazine, does not constitute, and should not be construed as, having any influence over our magazine editorial content. Magazine content includes articles, reports, editorials, columns, promotions, sponsorships, display advertising (including copy), web and other digital content, social channels, and any other content across all platforms. The East Clevelander Magazine is a curated publication, meaning magazine editorial staff will review, develop, revise and edit all content prior to magazine publishing and distribution. Magazine content can be published only with time permitting and with space available. Neighborhood Media Foundation, which publishes The East Clevelander Magazine, is responsible for the accuracy and factual nature of the information published. Content for The East Clevelander Magazine must be submitted by June 30 for our summer issue, and will be published only after the final acceptance and at the sole discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.

Mayor’s Message

Dear East Clevelanders,

As Mayor of East Cleveland, I would like to congratulate Tyisha Blade, Owner/Editor-in-Chief, on publishing this inaugural issue of The East Clevelander Magazine. We are particularly proud that Tyisha (after graduating Shaw High School, Cleveland State University and working for Ideastream Public Media and WOIO Channel 19) felt a calling to bring her talents back to East Cleveland to launch this beautiful, quarterly magazine by and for us.

As an administration, we have worked for a long time to bring a publication to East Cleveland to get our residents involved, encourage active participation and publish truthful, informative, accurate and fact-based stories about our city. It’s finally here. The City of East Cleveland supports (but does not control) this independent magazine, privately owned and operated by an East Clevelander. The information you find in this magazine will be free of undue influence from outsiders or even from us. We believe in the mission of The East Clevelander, to bring fair, accurate and unvarnished views from you and your fellow community members.

Period. In this magazine you will learn about the heroes among us: citizens rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to make their own community a better place. The kind of storytelling The East Clevelander Magazine brings to our city has been long overdue.

For decades, outsiders have told stories about us without us. We are grateful to finally have this magazine as our own platform for East Cleveland “insiders”—those who live, work, and play in our great city—to tell our stories, ourselves. Readers of The East Clevelander Magazine will regularly be exposed to articles by our neighbors, our spiritual leaders, our teachers, operators of our neighborhood businesses, charities and other advocates for East Cleveland residents, organizers of our community events, our first responders, our council representatives, our government officials and you.

Any East Cleveland community member may submit content for publishing consideration in The East Clevelander Magazine. Thank you for picking up this issue. When you’ve read it from cover to cover, please share this copy with your friends, your family,

your neighbors or anyone who might be interested in learning about the real East Cleveland.

Our city faces many challenges. In this magazine, you will find solutions to overcome these challenges from City Council, from East Cleveland leaders, and from me. But I want you to know I will be reading The East Clevelander Magazine to find out about ideas from you, too.

This magazine is more than just another small business for East Cleveland. Community periodicals build bridges. Community periodicals bring communities—yes, even communities like East Cleveland— together. The East Clevelander Magazine, East Cleveland City Council, the East Cleveland City School District, the East Cleveland Public Library, and the Mayor of East Cleveland believe this is the only word powerful enough to shift the perception of East Cleveland: “Together.”

The next deadline for submissions is June 30…don’t forget to write!

Written by: East Cleveland Mayor Brandon L. King

A Love Letter to East Cleveland

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Dearest East Cleveland,

Our city is beautiful. Full of great people accomplishing goals and achieving all things wonderful. Stemming from poverty, we rise through oppression. We are a city of jewels that shine like stars upon the navy midnight sky.

We have many magnificent individuals emerging from the city, but our media coverage isn’t always the best. So, I decided to create a platform for our people so the world can know our greatness.

Initially, I wasn’t quite sure where to begin, but living through a pandemic and fearing for our people’s lives during protests, I gained a moment of clarity. This moment of complete transparency was preceded by numerous conversations with community leaders such as Ronald Kisner, founder and editor of Cleveland State’s Vindicator Magazine. I couldn’t believe I was able to meet and have a working relationship with the founder of our publication. The moment I met him added to the many steps along this precious journey. Steps that included, for instance, speaking with Councilman Basheer Jones. After our conversation, I had a better understanding of OUR founding fathers as Jones related to meeting a founder as well. Then, as his voice resonates now, he told me that I have what it takes to be a founder and to “just go do it.”

After an unfortunate apartment fire on the 140th block of Lakeshore, the universe brought me back to East Cleveland earlier this year. I relocated to Crystal Tower Apartments and, during my last semester of college, I began to look into community journalism. With the help of Rich Weiss, Executive Director of Neighborhood Media Foundation, I began to explore the different aspects of the topic.

During my studies at Cleveland State University, I began to realize my purpose as a writer. This began with Edward Horowitz, Ph.D. during his lectures for the Foundations of Journalism and Promotional Communication course and in a personal discovery of the Black Studies program led by Thomas Bynam, Ph.D. This was quite the epiphany of experience during my second semester at the university. After graduating, I realized the obligations that I have to the City of East Cleveland. So, I began searching for ways to create a publication for us. Research included attending East Cleveland city council meetings, searching for funding to eventually incorporate a print version of a magazine and networking with colleagues from college, such as Alexia Carcelli and East Clevelanders, such as Chardonnay Graham, Erick Mosley and Courtney Bean Jones to start the process.

Interestingly, as I was unpacking some items from storage for my new apartment, I came across the first publication that I had ever created. I had completely forgotten about it. Titled Book of Possibilities, I created this publication for a project assigned by Mrs. Moore in her African American History class when I was a sophomore at Shaw High School. It contained images and captions of what I figured my life would be like post high school graduation. In Mrs. Moore’s notes she wrote, “Great pictures, creative work!” I received 200 out of 200 points.

Little did I know that media writing and creating publications would be something that I would dedicate much of my life’s work to. Funnily enough, many of my, then, ideals take form in my life now.

When I started writing at Cleveland State, I had no idea how many lives could be touched through the power

of words. I studied very closely the work of a historical journalist and Mississippi native, Ida B. Wells, who wrote about the injustices Blacks faced in the South. I also gained a better perspective of my purpose after reading W.E.B. Dubois’ discussion on The Talented Tenth, where he explains how the top tenth percentile of a people should use their talents to educate the masses. With this knowledge, I began to write and never stopped. Taking on projects with Cleveland Magazine, Destination Cleveland and Cleveland Scene Magazine further nurtured my skills and began my career. Writing has been a guiding light in my life and I can’t imagine where I would be without it.

I have a running joke with some colleagues at Cleveland State about writing everything down in my planner. During my collegiate years, my planner looked as though I was attempting to cram a week’s worth of work into one day, every single day. My joke referred to many events and meetings that I would have to remember. “If I don’t write it down, it’s like it didn’t happen,” I would say. When I actually thought about the context of these words coupled with the history of our ancestors, I felt that as a witness to current events, I must write. Years from now, people will know us. They will know of our time from our perspectives and opinions.

To my young Kings and Queens of the East Cleveland city, we will have scars. We will have battle wounds and we will persevere. We will have pain that resonates through a respected process. To my elders, thank you for paving the way for us to do what we need to do to grow our culture and blossom in society. To the current residents of East Cleveland, I know the living conditions can be rough at times. Hopefully, with the start of this publication, we can hopefully begin to shed light on positive aspects of the city and uplift our people. I give you The East Clevelander Magazine

‘Hope Dealers’ Provide Food, Clothing and Toiletries to Community

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Shirley Fitzparick, 72, is the oldest of 10 siblings and lost her mother at the age of 10. After her mother’s passing, Fitzpatrick resided in girl’s group homes. She and her siblings were separated. Fitzpatrick moved to a group home in East Cleveland in 1966. After she graduated from Shaw High School in 1969, she left the group home and moved into her first apartment in the city. She said being in a group home sparked the start of her ministry work. “God prepares you and then at His chosen time, everything that you’ve learned is useful,” she said. Fitzpatrick said that she has worked across several industries including, but not limited to, supervisor

at Ohio Bell, home care, alternative schools, travel and real estate. She said she appreciates every experience she has encountered and is having the best time of her life.

Fitzpatrick works diligently with the Empowerment Church located at the intersection of Euclid and Allendale avenues and said the main focus of her ministry is to serve the East Cleveland community. She said Pastor Anthony Mattox Jr. showed her his passion for the city and they continue to work together to unify and empower East Cleveland. Pastor Mattox said their goals include bringing everything that happens in the church out into the

community. “Anyone in this community, we consider ourselves connected to,” he said. “We call ourselves ‘Hope Dealers’ and we can’t deal hope from the inside of the building. You have to be where the people are on the block.” Pastor Mattox said they also work to connect the city with the resources it needs. “We do it in a way that is compassionate, transparent and welcoming to everyone.”

The church does a variety of outreach work in the city. For instance, every Sunday before service, Fitzpatrick and her team provide meals to the community. Fitzpatrick said she cooks and delivers to several seniors, sick and shut-ins before service begins.

Pastor Anthony Mattox Jr. & Shirley Fitzpatrick at Empowerment Church.

Cooking starts on Saturday. On Sunday, she and her team go to the church at noon to begin meal distribution at 12:30. An organization that consistently works with the church to feed the community is the apartment complex Mildred L. Brewer which is located at the intersection of Euclid and Belmore avenues. Teddy Demmons delivers meals from the church to the apartments getting meals to residents in need. “Some guests are happy to receive these meals, they might not have anyone to cook for them,” Demmons said as he loaded his van. “It is a blessing for them to have a nice Sunday meal.” Melinda Fitzpatrick (not related to Shirley) is the leader and director of the clothing ministry at Empowerment Church. She also assists with volunteering and groundskeeping. “[The work] is a stewardship for me and it is very rewarding,” she said. “I also want to show the glory of God through me to help others.”

Residents can receive donations of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) items as well.

Fitzpatrick replenishes PPE supplies that she hangs on a tree outside the church.

She and her team have also started The Empowerment Church for East Cleveland (E.C. for E.C.) Storage House with generous help from MedWish International, a nonprofit organization that “saves lives and the environment by repurposing surplus medical supplies and equipment to provide humanitarian aid to people in need.”

Other items at the storage house include detergent, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant. Fitzpatrick also said she wants to resume providing breakfast at the church to the community every other Saturday.

She also partners with businesses throughout the city of East Cleveland to better serve the community. For instance, every third Sunday, Papa John’s provides pizzas to Empowerment Church; Fitzpatrick provides a salad.

“Papa Johns (located in the shopping center on Euclid and Superior Ave.) is our corporate partner, [they have] been such a blessing,” she said. “They also help other organizations throughout the community.” She said she would like to see more corporate partners give back to the city.

Fitzpatrick said she continues to do the work that she does because there are great people in the city that are overlooked. “There are people who seem to be lost in the mix…they need consistency,” she said. “They need to know that, at least on Sunday, someone can serve them a meal or allow them to shop.”

She said that she has a heart for the people. “That’s one of my gifts,” she added. “Encouragement, caring [and] service.” Fitzpatrick recently started a Facebook page titled “We the Proud Citizens of E.C.” The page is a platform to showcase the businesses, dynamics and positive work being done in the city. “Individuals can let people know that we are here. We are going through some things but we are proud to be in East Cleveland.” She wants citizens to reach out to their neighbors. She also wants to see more businesses supporting the community. “There is such a spirit [in East Cleveland] and I want to recapture that.”

Chardonnay Graham donates boots to Empowerment Church.

Donated items offered to community members.

Donté’s Gift Express Recognized by NBA for 10 Years of Service

“We are faced with real life challenges such as systemic racism and disinvestment… we want to continue to be there for ourselves and our neighbors.”

Written by: Tyisha Blade

A group of East Clevelanders continue to selflessly give back to their community and, this year, they were recognized in a major way. Acknowledging 10 years of ‘unwrapping the joy of family’, Donté’s Gift Express (DGE) was welcomed by the Cleveland Charge for an on-court award acceptance during the February 2023 Black Heritage Month Celebration at Wolstein Center in downtown Cleveland. Donté Gibbs, Dominique Tucker, India Moore-Harper and Seretha Etheridge stood center court accepting an autographed basketball from the Cleveland Charge as friends, family and fans cheered them on.

Gibbs, founder of DGE, said the idea began as a conversation between he and his current barber Marcus Hunter. Gibbs and Hunter discussed celebra-

tory ideas involving Christmas. Gibbs later spoke with his grandmother and members of his team to officially create DGE. The event originated in 2013 at the East Cleveland Neighborhood Center. Currently the team works out of the East Cleveland Salvation Army for gift wrapping and distribution. DGE started with distributing 100 gifts to East Cleveland families. Since then, the community event raised more than $100,000 and delivered gifts to more than 6000 families in and around East Cleveland.

The most most recent gift express was so phenomenal that the event lasted over a period of three days. The organization started at the East Cleveland Salvation Army for gift wrapping for day one. The event transitioned to utilizing Tower City Center located in Downtown

Cleveland as a venue for day two. Gibbs is also Vice President of Community Partnership for the Con servancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. In this role, Gibbs said he was able to partner with Bedrock, a “full-service real estate firm specializing in innova tive city-building strategies.” Bedrock also owns Tower City Center and part nered with the Cuyahoga Valley Natio nal Park (CVNP) and the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park to reimagine the indoor space at the center. Through this partnership, Skylight Park was created to highlight natural beauty and greenery inside Tower City Center. Gibbs said Bedrock learned about the gift express and reached out to support the event. Soon, collaboration ideas of hos ting the event at Tower City Center began.

Courtesy Photo: Cleveland Charge

Donté’s Gift ExpressTeam Members honored at Cleveland Charge Event

“I hit up the team: India, Seretha and Dom,” he said. “If Tower City gave us the keys to the building what would we do,” he asked his ambitious team members. “How can we take this historical asset and create new memories for more families throughout Cleveland and East

The team brainstormed the 10th anniversary event and created a family funday welcoming over 19,000 residents to Tower City Center for DGE 2022. “It was really a magical day for families,” Gibbs recalled. “It was a good day for people to rediscover Tower City and have Donté’s Gift Express be a backdrop for the Christmas memory of 2022. It was quite an achievement.” Gibbs said the team does plan to partner with Tower City Center for future events.

The entrepreneur also said the 10th year anniversary budget was the largest of all previous years combined. Organizers partnered with Leah D. Hudnall, founder of Legacy Perspective, a business that “assists families, community leaders and organizations in building the legacies they desire and deserve.” Hudnall served as project manager, aiding to secure sponsors for the event and co-create the family funday.

Together, they also created sponsorship packages. Initially, Gibbs and his team reached out to Cleveland Cavaliers personnel to involve the basketball organization as sponsors and volunteering for DGE. However, after missing the submission deadline for the Cavaliers Community Foundation grant cycle, Gibbs sought out other ways to involve the NBA company. “We stayed in contact,” Gibbs said. “We definitely wanted to begin to build a relationship. We wanted to continue to let them learn

Gibbs said he later shared a recap video of DGE 2022 with Cleveland Cavaliers personnel. After sharing the video, he said he got an email welcoming him, his team and close friends and family to the NBA organization’s Black Heritage Month Celebration with the Cleveland Charge, the G League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He and his team were ecstatic in accepting the invitation and also thrilled to have their

families accompany them. “Gift Express is all about unwrapping the joy of family,” Gibbs said. “When we talk about our own families, we talk about how we are not just dragging them along with us, but how we are honoring them as well. This is just as much theirs as it is ours.”

Gibbs also shared with The East Clevelander Magazine that he was nervous about walking onto the court and accepting the award at the Black Heritage event. “It was realizing that [DGE] is something bigger than us,” he said. “It’s had an impact throughout our region… and we are able to shine a light on our city that is much needed. We don’t take that for granted.” He said they were also proud to be from East Cleveland and walk out on the court embracing an amazing moment. “As [we heard the announcer] say everything that we’ve done, it was like ‘wow, we actually did that. This is us,’” he added.

For all their work and support, co-organizers of DGE received a $5000 check from Gibbs during day one of DGE 2022. “I know I have all these ideas and the team rocked with me through it all,” Gibbs explained. “They’ve been there for 10 years and we’ve been friends even longer. I really wanted to honor them in a way to show that I truly, truly, truly appreciate them. I wanted to honor them in a way that I knew would change their Christmas.” Day three of DGE 2022 included gift distribution to East Cleveland families.

He thanks The East Cleveland Salvation Army for acting as the DGE’s headquarters. He also shows great appreciation to The East Cleveland Police Department for escorting the team through the city during distribution. “It shows a different side of how we interact with our law enforcement,” he said. He also thanked several other partners and sponsors for helping to see his vision through.

Lastly, Gibbs thanks family and community. “The way the community has been able to embrace us has been amazing,” Gibbs said. Organizers of DGE say they continue to build families up because that is what keeps communities together.

East Cleveland Public Library Celebrates Tucker Family & Black History Month with Jazz Heritage Orchestra

have created lasting memories for people who lived in and out the city. I had my 30th birthday party [at Tucker’s Casino] some odd years ago. These three places have housed all of [the] rhythm, funk and blues in our city.

It’s a place to play a competitive game of bid whist and smack talk. A place to meet before you go anywhere in the world or stop by before you go home. A place to hold reunions...and prereunions. A place to hold birthday parties and a place to host a repass. (Classmate Paul Wadley). A place for karaoke on a Sunday night. A place to get anything from a walleye fish dinner, corned beef, pork chops to an old-fashioned fried bologna sandwich. Or just a place to go two step on a Sunday afternoon for no good reason at all. But most importantly its been place to “gather.” A place to lick our wounds, share our lives, sprinkled with loss, love, triumphs and tragedies.

The East Cleveland Public Library (ECPL) held an event Feb. 26 celebrating Black History Month and honoring the legacy of the Tucker Family. Organizers invited community members to the Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center for the event which included musical selections from the Jazz Heritage Orchestra. The event began with a speech from Sheila Hunt-Sharpley, East Cleveland Public Library Board Secretary & Personnel Committee Co-Chair, to celebrate the Tucker Family and the life of Truman and Melvin.

Speech given by Sheila Hunt-Sharpley: “I came across a 2020 Scene Magazine article written by East Cleveland’s own Tyisha Blade. The article is about Tucker’s Casino celebrating its 40th year in operation. In the article, she interviewed Truman and spoke about the negative changes that had taken place in the city. He admitted to positive change on the horizon but stated that “I might not be here to witness all the results, but I think it is on a comeback.” No truer words were ever spoken because the city is on the comeback.

She also asked him ‘Why did the family to move to Cleveland in the first place?’ “I relocated because back then, there were more opportunities for Blacks in the northern cities than there were in the southern cities,” Tucker said. So just like that a dye was cast and the brothers born in Mason, TN moved right here to East Cleveland, OH more than 60 years ago with two of the five already living in Ohio prior to his relocation. For the last 50 years, their collective establishments: The Columbo Room, Tuckers Casino and The Room have been the backdrop of our lives. These places

This is Black History Month and today we gather to honor the Tucker Family and celebrate all they have done for the City of East Cleveland, for the East Cleveland business community and for us, its people. Over 60 years ago, five brothers Joe, Chester, Columbus, Truman and Melvin went on a search for a better life for themselves but we, the City of East Cleveland, are better for it. And even as we support them in mourning the recent loss of brothers Melvin and Truman, The Tucker family is still offering a place for us to gather. Thank you all for attending this event and we dedicate it to the Tucker Brothers.” For more events at the East Cleveland Public Library, you can visit eastclevelandpubliclibrary.org.

Sheila Hunt-Sharpley, East Cleveland Public Library Board Secretary & Personnel Committee Co-Chair; Carlos Latimer, Executive Director

The Jazz Heritage Orchestra, pictured here bringing down the house at the ECPL Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center.

Written by: Tyisha Blade & Sheila Hunt-Sharpley

“Today we are here to celebrate the Tucker Family and the impact this one family has on our East

Cleveland Community.

Married Couple Uses E.C. Host Houses to Advocate Against Gun Violence

Written by: Tyisha Blade

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data for gun-related homicides in 2021. An estimated 20,966 homicides occurred in the U.S. in 2021; data tables display more than an 8% increase from 2020’s record-breaking data. African American persons continued to experience the highest firearm homicide rates across every age group.

Coach James Howard and his wife Veronica Howard began advocacy after the tragic shooting death of their 25-year-old son James Jr. which occurred on Dec. 24, 2011. She said the couple decided to become a part of the solution to combat gun violence. Their son’s murder remains unsolved.

The Howards are committed to keeping young men off the streets through the use of Howard Huskies, an organization that helps to “promote, sponsor and advance developmental football competition among young men with a focus on individuals who have experienced distress, poverty and barriers to societal re-entry.” Veronica Howard shared information with The East Clevelander Magazine about their organization which also serves as a college-prep program.

Eligible men ages 18-20 may receive mentorship and housing while attending Cuyahoga Community College and playing for the Howard Huskies football team. The organization began providing housing for the young men in 2021 and, initially, utilized Noble Motel on Euclid Ave. Howard said due to multiple pipes bursting in motel in Jan. 2023, they could no longer house the athletes.

The married couple continued their mission searching for other ways to provide assistance. Partnering with Kevin Salters, the Howards were able to secure and rehab homes on Roxbury Rd., Sixth Ave. and Hazel Rd. as host homes for students. The home on Roxbury Rd. is especially significant to Howard. This is the home that she grew up in; she is now giving back to the community and using her childhood home for the organization.

Students also participate in intense physical training and wraparound services. These services include a financial literacy program provided by Urban Empowerment Outreach and a career development program. Howard said this year, the athletes begin education on sustainable skills that give students the op-

tion to learn in areas such as drywalling while participating in the program. “Our young men are gunned down or jailed everyday,” she said. “They don’t have the proper tools to figure things out. We want to give these young men those basic tools that they can take out into the world and get started.”

She also mentions the need to take the students outside of their natural environments for exposure to alternate ways of living. “Providing a different experience along their journey is what we’ve done so far,” she said. “We are always thinking of ways to keep the boys occupied.” As the young men continue to participate in the program, Howard said her family continues to grow. “ I lost one son, but I have gained thousands,” she said.

After the young men complete the program, they continue to keep in touch with the Howard Huskies organization. Currently, the company is searching for sponsors and donations of items such as computers, desks and chairs to provide for the athletes in host homes.

For more information on eligibility requirements and how you or someone you know can get involved, visit Howard Huskies website.

“I appreciate any time I get to say my son’s name. He will not be silenced as long as I have breath.”

Photo credit: ASAP Photography

East Cleveland Mayoral Town Hall Report

Mayor Brandon L. King invited the community, council members and guest speakers to an in-person town hall meeting addressing several issues concerning the City of East Cleveland. The meeting, held on March 13, welcomed announcements from the mayor and a question and answer session provided to residents of the city.

Eager participants filled the city council chambers as topics such as community and economic development initiatives were discussed. The mayor began the meeting addressing the need to move the city forward by bringing in resources to best improve the city and our service. Guest speakers included Brian Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Metroparks; Doug McCollough, Chief Information Officer of Destination Management Company (DMC Group); and Dennis Roberts, Director of Real Estate Development at the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation (also known as the Land Bank). Each speaker provided a presentation on their mission to aid East Cleveland.

Zimmerman, the first guest speaker, provided updates regarding concepts to assess management opportunities of the East Cleveland portion of the historic Forest Hill Park, one of the east side’s largest greenspaces. Forest Hill Park, which opened to the public in 1942 after a 235-acre donation from John Rockefeller Jr. to East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, is now one of many focal points to revitalize

East Cleveland. Zimmerman said a three-part agreement has been structured with East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and the American Institute of Architects. He also said the Metroparks legal team is working on a form that is acceptable to present to Mayor King and the City of East Cleveland’s administrative staff. Zimmerman said East Cleveland will continue to own its portion of the park but the Metroparks will take over a limited role to ensure the proper management and preservation of our cherished community asset. Zimmerman plans to provide Metroparks police to patrol the area to provide safety for residents. The Metroparks CEO also mentions that workshops will be provided that are designed to assess the comfort levels of residents in group settings and for those who simply want to take a walk through the park. “We look forward to workshops and walkshops,” Zimmerman said. “The residents come first…we also look forward to the opportunities in East Cleveland.”

After Zimmerman’s presentation, Mayor King spoke briefly about a dedication presented to

councilman Nathaniel Martin during a Black Wall Street event held at the East Cleveland Public Library. Councilman Martin received the first City of East Cleveland Black Wall Street Black History Recipient award. “Nate made me understand the significance of doing Black History facts,” King said. Reading from a proclamation, Mayor King said “Let it be resolved that February 11 is hereby declared as Black Wall Street Black History Day in the City of East Cleveland. The mayor thanked Councilman Martin for his service and welcomed a future Juneteenth celebration at city hall.

Next on the mayoral town hall agenda was discussion about fiberoptic internet, commonly called fiber internet or simply “fiber.” Fiber is a high-speed broadband network where data connection is carried by a cable filled with thin glass or plastic fibers. Data travels as beams of light pulsed in a pattern.

DMC Group’s Doug McCollough, who earned an expert reputation in Smart Mobility, Broadband Expansion, and Blockchain in

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Dennis Roberts of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank

East Cleveland Mayor Brandon L. King

DMC Group’s Doug McCollough

Brian Zimmerman, Cleveland Metroparks

Photos by The East Clevelander Magazine

government as CIO of the City of Dublin, OH spoke about bridging the digital divide. “The city is exploring options for making broadband internet service more available, accessible and affordable for East Cleveland residents,” McCollough said. “Many residents have access to the internet, but speeds may be lower than in other communities….quality of service may be less. Community members [possibly are not] informed about how to get, use and benefit from high-speed internet service.”

McCollough presented ideas to East Cleveland residents in hopes that the value of broadband access could be promoted. He thoroughly explained the speed of bandwidth and the analysis of internet usage. McCollough also notes that fiber technology is substantially useful for issues concerning access to health care, transportation, customer service, education and attending government meetings. “Internet service is not spread equally or evenly to every Ohio community. We all know that,” he said. “Some communities have enjoyed this resource for decades while others have not. There’s a growing agreement among Ohio communities, in particular, that cities must play a role in their broadband destiny.” He said that cities can influence a provider’s choice to provide service in an area by changing the economics in that service area. Furthermore, companies choose where they provide service based on the service competition in the city. (If there is no competition, we get limitations on our service).

Dennis Roberts of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank provided a presentation regarding the revitalization of East Cleveland and the revised landscape of the city. The City of East Cleveland and the Land Bank are facilitating a strategic redevelopment plan to breathe new life into the city’s core. The development area is approximately 33 acres and stretches from Lakeview Rd. to Farmington Rd., but it is designed to advance the residential and commercial development of East Cleveland, overall. Roberts said the project is intended to create a neighborhood that is unique and inclusive. He also said the new developments will attract businesses that create jobs and amenities for the people who live in the city. “The project will showcase the potential for this community. This area is the ideal area

for development,” Roberts added. He mentioned the need to increase the economic value of the city and enhance services provided in the city. The strategic redevelopment plan is designed to be completed in phases, and Roberts said the project is currently in phase one. Phase one

includes renovating the Mickey’s Building (located on Euclid), issuing a request for proposal (RFP), organizing infrastructure plans, building new homes and attracting developers. He said multiple focus groups were conducted to study the needs and goals for potential residents and developers. Roberts also thanked Kamala Lewis, Land Bank’s Senior Housing Development Project Manager, on her participation with the project mission. Lewis also attended the town hall meeting. Meetings and events regarding the status of the project will be held on later dates.

Mayor King also addressed the several indictments of East Cleveland Police Department officers. During a later meeting, King announced a partnership with the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP). The partnership is intended to help the police department with staffing and safety issues. King said OSHP will

only be responsible for traffic stops in high-traffic areas. The partnership will be reevaluated after a 45-day period. Another safety initiative underway is the ShotSpotter program. The gunshot detection technology operates through sensors placed around the city that can give real-time alerts to police and help pinpoint locations where shots are fired. During the town hall meeting, community members remained engaged and took the opportunity to address their concerns to the mayor and each of his guest speakers. If you have questions or concerns, you can check out eastcleveland.org for the next mayoral town hall.

Our community members were encouraged to ask questions to each town hall presenter.

East Cleveland community members were well represented at the special March 13 town hall event.

Teacher, Entrepreneur, Author and Role Model Studies for Doctoral Degree While Educating At-Risk Students

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Dominique Kizer recently decided to embark on a new journey furthering her career in education. The East Cleveland native enrolled in coursework at the University of Dayton to complete her doctorate’s degree. While furthering her goals at the University, she also teaches youth as a Linkage Coordinator at Shaw High School in her hometown. She said wants to continue to give back and she remains diligent about her work.

In her role at Shaw, she advocates for at-risk youth helping them with struggles, intervening on issues that are barriers toward succeeding. She said that she maintains a healthy relationship with students and parents.

“My biggest thing is exposing the students to life outside of East Cleveland and when I get to see students doing a complete 180, it is very satisfying.”

Dominique Kizer

“I have great bonds and connections, the students come to me for a lot,” she said. “My relationships with parents are important. They might not call the school, they will call me directly. When you build those bonds they feel comfortable coming to you. I really enjoy what I do.”

When she began working at the high school, she immediately wanted to do more which led to her enrollment at the University of Dayton. “Going back to school provides me with opportunities to have more ‘say so’ in the decision making process and policies,” she said.

When Kizer began her collegiate studies at Ohio State University, she wanted to pursue a career as a lawyer.

Shaw’s Career and Technical program provided structure as she attended the Criminal Justice program there. At Ohio State, she studied Criminology and graduated in 2013. She later attended Case Western Reserve School of Law and obtained a master’s degree in Financial Integrity in 2018 which was an accelerated program that focused on anti-money laundering and fraud. Although this wasn’t the path that she had originally planned, she graduated from law school, an accomplishment she’s always wanted to achieve.

Kizer relocated to New Orleans in June 2020. With aid from the Black Educator Excellence Cohort (BEEC) and with the help of her friends and family, she took on a 16-hour drive to the Crescent City to begin her career as a sixth grade English teacher for urban students in Orleans Parish. She completed an accelerated teacher certification program and, on July 13, 2020, Kizer began her work at Langston Hughes

Academy with the goal of closing inequity and achievement gaps in the classroom. When she began her work in New Orleans, she realized this career path was something that she loved to do. “I love learning and growing with the kids,” she said.

The impact of Hurricane Ida and tragedy in 2021 forced Kizer to return back to Ohio. She remained determined and dedicated to education and began working for the East Cleveland City School District. She humbly attributes herself as a motivational tool in everyday life. “I have things that I need to do for myself and if I don’t do it, it won’t get done,” she said. “I also know that there are people who depend on me to get things done such as my family and the kids that I teach. That gets me out of bed in the morning.” As an author, Kizer’s written two children’s books. Her first: “Kinky Hair, Don’t Care.” “It’s for little brown girls who have trouble

embracing their hair and skin,” she said. She authored another book titled “In School, the Kids are Really CRUEL” where she focuses on the impacts of bullying in school systems. Kizer is currently in her second semester at the University of Dayton. She said that when she is done with her course work there, she will have unlimited opportunities to work in education. Advice she gives to youth is to ‘go out and get it.’ “Nobody’s going to give it to you,” she said. “I had help, but I had to do it myself. I had to push myself and have that hunger and determination.” Going the extra mile and being a self-starter are two factors that she expresses as important factors for youth.

Breadwinners Academy Bridges Wealth Gap Through Financial Literacy

“Financial literacy wasn’t taught to us in school and that was the norm growing up.”

Banking is a major feature of our Be Your Own Boss entrepreneurship program. At the beginning of April, Shaw HS students visited Erie Bank to learn about consumer and business banking. The students also opened their very first bank account.

Written by: Tyisha Blade & Jason Lockett Sr.

April is Financial Literacy Month and the team at Breadwinners Academy are making sure communities

have the right financial tools to make smart money decisions. Breadwinners Academy is a non-profit organization

that focuses on low to middle income communities. The academy teaches financial literacy in high schools, colleges

Courtesy photo: Breadwinners Academy

and community centers across Northeast Ohio, Columbus and the University of Pittsburgh. The organization provides education on subjects such as saving, budgeting, home & auto purchasing, credit, investing, insurance, taxes, banking, and entrepreneurship. Executive Director, Jason Lockett Sr. said their mission is to bridge the wealth gap through financial literacy.

Lockett said the misformation of financial literacy is a vicious cycle that continues to spread in our communities. The lack of knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next and most families learn the basics of managing their finances through experience. “Financial literacy wasn’t taught to us in school and that was the norm growing up,” Lockett said. “We either learned from experience or from our parents.”

The Breadwinners Academy website affirms that life is considered the best teacher. The organization is on the mission to prepare every student to ace the financial exams in life. “My team and I want to get out there and do our part to make the communities a better place,” Lockett added. “We also want to make [financial literacy] fun and teach it in a way that we understand.”

Breadwinners Academy uses initiatives such as the ‘We Outside Tour’ to introduce the academy’s curriculum to the community. Once per quarter, the academy utilizes workshops to partner with other non-profit organizations, events and community centers to provide awareness about financial literacy. “We use networking events, schools, pop-up shops and open houses,” Lockett said. “We are going to attend and provide valuable financial information. That’s our mantra, The ‘We Outside Tour.’”

A ‘We Outside Tour’ event included the Community House Party. Breadwinners and Erie Bank partnered for the March 2023 event held at Step

Forward’s Head Start located on Euclid Ave. in East Cleveland. Erie Bank is a division of CNB Bank that “provides the personalized customer service of a community bank while offering access to the high-tech products and services typical of a big bank.” Lockett said he discussed creating a credit and home buying event with Erie Bank’s Community Responsibility Officer, Kevin Dixon. After weeks of brainstorming, Lockett decided to have a 90s-themed house party that offered education on the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), the home buying process, the Erie Bank’s Community Home Loan and other topics geared toward informing the community. The partnership applied craftful and creative activities to involve community members. “We want to make it fun. We want to make it exciting and engaging,” he said. Lockett plans on providing house parties twice per year; one event on the east side, the other on the west. He said it is vital for residents to understand owning homes and land.

Lockett also teaches financial literacy at Shaw High School on Mondays and Wednesdays. “We are in 13 schools right now and Shaw’s group is probably my favorite.” He teaches the students five

pillars of personal finance: earn, protect, grow, save and invest. Later in the semester, students play the ‘Get to the Money’ game. Lockett said the game is the final exam of the course. He modeled ‘Get to the Money’ after the popular game show ‘Family Feud.’ The class is split into two teams and, after preparing for the exam with a study guide, the teams compete to test their knowledge. Cash prizes range from $500 to $750. “It makes me cry to see the students retain all this information,” he said. “It’s so crazy and they can apply [what they’ve learned] to the next few stages in life.”

The Be Your Own Boss Program is a semester workshop offering eight interactive sessions. The workshop is designed as a hands-on experience that helps students turn business ideas into plans and execution. Lockett said he created the program because there are many great business ideas, but students don’t usually know what’s required to structure the idea into a business. He helps the students create step-by-step financial and marketing plans to bring their ideas to fruition. Students are also educated on operating agreement creation and others that aid in starting their businesses. After the program is complete, students attain a filing status for their businesses (LLC, S Corp, etc.). Breadwinners Academy aids in a variety of other areas including, but not limited to building websites, creating logos and providing business cards. The academy also welcomes guest speakers from all areas of business to talk to students during class.

Lockett notes that financial literacy is important because the concept reaches every facet of life. “Regardless of your career path or what you plan on doing in life, you have to know how to manage money,” he said. “It contributes to the overall wellness and health of you, your future and your family.”

Courtesy photo: Breadwinners Academy Breadwinners Academy teaches financial literacy in high schools, colleges, and community centers.

My Year Teaching in France

students also study to receive certificates in public worksrelated fields such as electrical, plumbing, construction, carpentry, etc. While there were a few difficulties during the summer and at the beginning of my stay—things like the process for obtaining a French visa and having to deal with all the French bureaucracy—I was fortunate enough to have been guided by the liaisons of the program and to have been helped by the faculty and staff of the school once I arrived.

Written by: Dennis Ficklin Jr.

What’s up E.C.?

My name is Dennis—I’m a newly-college graduated East Clevelander and for the past six months I’ve been living in the south of France as a part of the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) run by the US-French Embassy. Before receiving my B.A. in Spanish and Francophone Studies in May of 2022, I was encouraged by my French and Spanish college advisors at Baldwin Wallace College to apply to TAPIF in the fall of 2021 and was accepted the following spring.

As the name suggests, the program is a type of paid exchange for those interested in foreign languages

or living abroad. Participants are given the option to teach at an école primaire, collège, or lycée, which are the French equivalents of grade school, middle school and high school. I was placed in Beaumont-de-Lomagne, a rural village located in the south of France with a population of about 3,500 or so people. I didn’t think I would enjoy life in the countryside at first, but after a few months I’ve grown to appreciate the slower lifestyle as well as the views of the surrounding rolling hills and the Pyrenees Mountains in the distance. I was placed within the lycée professional Norman Foster—the equivalent of a technical high school—where the

As for the program itself, I mainly worked with the teachers at the schools to improve

their students’ levels of English. Apart from giving lessons where I teach them about Black/American culture and life in the United States, I assisted the teachers by leading games, discussions and activities with the students that get them more at ease when speaking English. We even talked about our favorite sports, video games and anime! All of which are very popular here. Especially One Piece. As this is my first real experience being in the classroom as a teacher instead of a student, the opportunity gave me a better idea about my next steps for the future in terms of which fields or subjects I would see myself going into in the future.

Pont d’Iéna, Paris (Eiffel Tower)

“I’d never imagined myself living alone in the countryside…”

For me, one of the biggest advantages of the program was having plenty of time to travel around France and as well as the rest of Europe. For an assistant de langue (language assistant), the program only required a maximum of 12 hours per week, which allowed me the rest of my day and even an off day. In addition to that, there were also two-week vacations every seven school weeks. There were also global and French holiday breaks. While I did miss out on a few birthdays and Christmas in Cleveland with my family, during the school’s Christmas and spring breaks, I had the opportunity to travel to cities such as Amsterdam, Rome, Lisbon, and Paris. I saw Christmas markets, monuments and famous churches such as Notre Dame. I also tasted the local cuisines such as Spain’s paella (a dish of saffron-flavored rice cooked with meats, seafood and vegetables) and Amsterdam’s stroopwafel (thin, round waffle cookie made from two layers of sweet baked dough held together by caramel filling). I visited museums and saw famous artworks such as The Wedding at Cana and the Mona Lisa— which isn’t that big up close, believe it or not. While there was a lot of walking, I loved each city—it’s been a very surreal and enchanting experience to see these

things in person that I’ve only ever seen online or on TV.

If asked, I would say that my favorite location so far was definitely Rome, Italy. I mean it has everything— the Colosseum, The Vatican, the best pizzas and pastas I’ve ever tasted…it was wonderful! I took tons of pictures. A close second would be Amsterdam, though. The Netherlands was never far up my list of places to go, but I was convinced in the end and I loved it! The city is beautiful, especially with the River Amstel running through it. The food was very tasty, even the hamburgers! All the museums, shows and exhibitions were very

entertaining and informational.

All in all, TAPIF was a great and rewarding experience. I encourage anyone with an interest in languages, French culture or traveling to apply. For more information, visit TAPIF.org.

River Amstel--Amsterdam’s Canals

Rome, Italy—The Colosseum

Strasbourg, France—Galleries Lafayette (Shopping Mall)

Brussels, Belgium—Pentagon

Brussels, Belgium—Quartier Royal

After Three Years on the Donor’s List, Teacher Gets a Kidney

Written by: Tyisha Blade

According to Mayoclinic.org, kidney failure occurs “when your kidneys suddenly become unable to filter waste products from your blood. When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate, and your blood’s chemical makeup may get out of balance.” The health re-

source also states that kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranks kidney failure as the tenth leading cause of death in adults. For one East Cleveland native, her persistence to fight and challenge her diagnosis ultimately saves her life. Her condition

gave her a different perspective and she eventually received life-altering news: a kidney transplant had become available. One of Simone Hurd’s biggest feats was her battle with her health which included severe migraines and kidney failure. In 2016, she was diagnosed with high blood pressure from her doctor at

“No one ever expects to get that news.

When I was told that my kidneys were failing, I was in complete shock.”

University Hospital. She then completed a series of tests including samples where doctors found high levels of protein in her urine. Her physician recommended she seek care from a kidney specialist. She said she followed up with the kidney specialist, but didn’t receive any information about her health status afterward.

“[I was told that] if you hear something, ‘bad news,’” she said. “I didn’t hear from them, I thought everything was good. That’s when I moved to Georgia.”

In 2017, the excruciating migraines continued. She remembers the migraines being relentlessly dreadful; her vision was impacted. During an unbearable migraine, she asked her mother to take her to the hospital. She underwent numerous tests at Dekalb County Hospital (which is currently known as Emery Hospital) located in Georgia. Upon the physician’s return, Hurd was asked if she knew that her kidneys were failing.

“I could remember my mom’s face to this day,” she said. “She was in complete shock.” Due to the high protein levels, Hurd’s kidneys began to fail and she was admitted and remained for over a week.

Upon Hurd’s release from the hospital, she received steroids to help manage her protein levels which caused massive weight gain, all to no avail. She later began peritoneal dialysis treatments in January 2018. For this treatment, a catheter was placed in Hurd’s abdomen to help remove waste products from her blood. “My body couldn’t clean itself because my kidneys aren’t working,” she said. Hurd began treatment from the comfort of her own home. “I chose this option because it wasn’t as harsh on my body [in comparison to other dialysis treatments] and I don’t have to sit at a center all day,” she added. “The process takes seven hours and I usually [did] while I [slept].”

She was able to get on The Kidney Transplant Waitlist in 2019 after more tests and an evaluation process. The initial evaluation is two hours. “There is also an educational class,” she said. “They let you know what to expect if you get ‘the call’ and what to do post-transplant.” They also talked about the medi-

cations she would take and the different physicians and coordinators that she would meet. “Once you get on the list, in order to stay on the list you have to go back and get an evaluation every year. They want to make sure that you are still eligible to receive a kidney.” After testing, Hurd waited for the committee’s determination on whether or not she would receive a kidney.

In 2019, Hurd also began testing with brother Johnathon Hurd underwent testing to find out if he was a match for a kidney transplant. “Whenever [someone wants to donate], they have to go through extreme testing,” she said. Unfortunately, Jonathan was not a match. However, he agreed to participate in the Paired Exchange Kidney Donation. According to Kidney Registry, the procedure involves a donor giving their kidney to another recipient in exchange for a compatible kidney for their friend or family member. Hurd, her physicians and her family prepared for the paired exchange process. The excitement later dwindled when Johnathon was abruptly excluded from the transplant process. Hurd said there were protests that forbade people from walking in certain areas. Because Johnathon walked in this area, he was arrested. “He was really hurt about it,” she adds. “He apologized for a week straight. Everything else was a go, but because he was arrested, he could no longer donate.” With the tragic conclusion that she could no longer have her brother as a participant, she remained diligent in keeping her faith and her health. “ I have always kept the mindset that I still want to live my life,” she proclaimed.

“No matter if I am on a machine or not. I am not going to stop it from letting me have fun.” She also remembers moments when she was sick and would ask ‘why me, what did I do?’ She continued her dialysis treatments and began outreach to others in similar situations. She also made sure to keep dancing, an activity that motivated Hurd and others around her. “I just wanted to stay motivated, I wanted to stay in the gym,” Hurd said. “I could never stop dancing, it’s forever.” Hurd continued to teach at Kinderca-

re Learning Center where she currently works with children transitioning them into kindergarteners. “ I love the kids,” Hurd said. “It’s about the interaction and seeing them get excited about learning. I also like coming up with the activities to help them understand.” She also mentions her support team keeping her motivated through the process. “[They] also always remind me that [they] are so proud of me,” she said. “It’s that village that randomly said things [to motivate me], even when they don’t know that I need it.”

Hurd was originally told that it could be 8-12 years before she received a matching donor. In 2022, she received the news that would forever change her life. “I was dismissing my children from class,” she recalls. “I saw a 404 number [calling on my phone] from Piedmont Transplant. They said they were calling to let me know that I was the third person in line for the transplant and that I should stay by my phone. Then I was like, ‘I have to call my mom’!”

When she got home that Monday evening in November, she paced the floor in anticipation. After a few hours she retired to her bed; her phone rang. Tuesday at 12:15 a.m., the transplant center called back. She and her mom rushed to Piedmont Transplant Center. She checked in at the center, changed into her hospital gown and braced herself for surgery. “I was so scared,” she exclaimed. “My mom and I had questions.” As Hurd’s doctors prepped her for the transplant, they told her about her donor. Hurd’s kidney was from a male in his early 30s. His parents wanted to donate to someone in need. The donor had already passed away. She said that’s as much as she was able to find out at that time. “Everything else is confidential,” Hurd said. “They don’t give names and that’s it.”

The surgery was nearly three hours with a two-hour recovery time. After Hurd’s recovery, her mother let her know that her surgery went well. Hurd was ready to walk just a few hours after. Doctors prepped her to get back to normal day-to-day functions where she

was told about her new diet and medications she would take for the rest of her life. Hurd did physical therapy while she remained in the hospital, but later went home hopeful and happy on Saturday morning. “I did have a cane when I left, it helped with balance,” she added. “It took a couple of weeks to recover.” She said she feels the weight of the kidney and it takes it easy as she transitions back to her normalities.

She attributes much of her strength in getting through her process to her family and time growing up in East Cleveland. “My family is strong-minded and things like being in the band helped push me,” she said. “Band gave me a lot of discipline. It helped me stay on a regiment. It helped me stay motivated to work out. I’ve been through band camp. Those were some days!” Hurd returned to work January 2023. She continues to count her blessings and said she is almost back to normal; blood work and kidney functioning are good. She has also started back doing what she loves to do: dance.

Photo Credit: Maestro Stevens/ The Iconic Expressions

Entrepreneur Talks Business, Relocating to a New City and Growing up in East Cleveland

Chardonnay Graham is owner of Touch Cleveland LLC, a marketing and public relations practice. She created Touch Cleveland to focus on community and business development while supporting minority-owned businesses. According to Touch Cleveland’s website, the organization offers a full suite of marketing and public relations services including strategic planning and organizing major events that bring communities closer together.

Graham relocated to Tulsa, OK. in September 2021 while still managing Touch Cleveland’s work here in Ohio. She said, when making the decision to relocate, she was just ready to do something different. “I needed to expand my horizons and experiences,” she said. Graham applied to Tulsa Remote, a program that offers a $10,000 grant and additional benefits to eligible remote workers who move to and work in Tulsa. When she relocated, she said Touch Cleveland had no contracts to work with. “I left for Tulsa with no business on the table,” she said. “I knew I was going to have to work to land some contracts, or make something shake in Tulsa.” The business owner said right after she made the move, the Touch Cleveland team landed five contracts back-to-back.

She and her team passionately continue to offer services to multiple clients including the Cuyahoga Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Coalition, a non-profit organization offering free tax credit services to Cuyahoga County residents who earn up to $60,000 in annual income. Other recent clients have included Achieve Staffing, an organization that “places job-ready Clevelanders with previous involvement in the criminal justice system into competitive temporary, temp-to-hire jobs, and permanent jobs”; and Destination Cleveland, a “private, non-profit convention and visitors bureau that stimulates economic growth by attracting people and connecting them to experiences that illustrate Cleveland’s diversity.”

Graham also recently assisted with managing media relations for NBA All-Star Weekend 2022 in Cleveland. She said she got an email invitation to submit the Request for Proposal (RFP). “I was so excited when I read [the email]...but I later realized we didn’t qualify,” she said. “They

wanted us to have a staff of eight full-time employees, not contractors or interns.” Acknowledging this fact, Graham remained diligent once personnel from the NBA followed up asking her to submit the proposal. She was transparent with the NBA contact letting them know that getting the work done would not be an issue. “I could absolutely bring more people in to help me,” she expressed to the contact. Graham asked that the staffing requirements be lifted in order to hire contractors and submitted her proposal. “We went from a team of three to a team of six, and we got it,” she exclaimed. Touch Cleveland’s responsibilities during NBA All-Star Weekend included pitching to media outlets, organizing NBA activities around the city, managing media on event days and securing interview opportunities with NBA staff.

The thriving firm also produces a video web series “Unspoken” which tackles community and business development issues. Graham said the series focuses on economic and social justice issues that impact community and business. “We talk about some of the underlying barriers that you don’t necessarily see,” she said. “We look for ways to express and vocalize the things that we are concerned about, things that we are passionate about.” “Unspoken” became a marketing activity for Touch Cleveland while giving others in the business space an opportunity to voice topics that don’t always meet the eye.

Graham also shared with The East Clevelander Magazine fond memories growing up in East Cleveland; she re-

members everyone being out on the street knowing each other and kids being able to come out to play from sun up to sun down. “But you know, when the street lights came on, you had to go home!” She reminisces about playing flag football on the fields at the end of the streets and at the basketball courts in the middle. Graham said the neighborhood was very tight-knit and she enjoyed the block parties. “We had these great parties every summer and our street was literally blocked off,” she said. “You could not even try to come up or down [the street].”

The East Cleveland native also admits to feeling hindered growing up in the city. “As a child, you don’t realize how much you’re being hindered until you become an adult,” she added. “You realize the stigmas and the stereotypes that a certain area may come with. You begin to see how the resources are not flowing into that community.” Graham said she’s noticed the lack of funding in education, safety and healthcare. The entrepreneur also said she didn’t realize she was from ‘the hood,’ growing up, however, being from East Cleveland equipped her with street-smart skills that she wouldn’t obtain living anywhere else. “I gained wisdom from seeing things I probably shouldn’t have as a child.”

Graham’s advice to young Black and Brown girls is to first decide what you want, then find someone that can help you do that. “It might seem kind of corny when you are young, but join those clubs. Join Big Brother, Big Sister,” she said. “Join those organizations so that you can meet mentors and people that will advocate for you as early as possible.” Graham said no dream is too big and youth should surround themselves with people who believe in their successes.

When she isn’t wearing one of her many entrepreneurial hats, she said she writes. Poetry is one of her biggest hobbies even though she doesn’t often share. She loves Spoken Word and said that maybe, with more time, she will begin publishing. “I’ve always had a wild imagination, and I like telling my stories,” she added. For more information on Graham or her business you can visit touchcle.com.

Written by: Tyisha Blade & Chardonnay Graham

Chardonnay Graham

TRAINING LIKE A CHAMP

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Every year, thousands of people hit the pavement for the Cleveland Marathon. This year, the two-day event is held May 20-21. Participants can run or walk in full, half, 10K or 5K marathons. Some people gear up and choose to run for a cause. For other contestants, the Cleveland Marathon helps them accomplish personal goals and health recommendations. Abdul-Qahhaar said he runs because he has to.

Abdul-Qahhaar, is currently an electrician working for IBEW 38. He started electrical work in 2000 and named his company, JJR Construction, after his three sons Jason, Jason and Rasool. The natural athlete said he has participated in sports activities since he was 8 years old. His athletic career began when he and his family resided in King Kennedy, a public housing project in Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. There was a baseball field behind the building; this piqued his curiosity in sports in 1974. “I walked up to the baseball diamond during a game,” he said. “I thought to myself, ‘I like those uniforms, I want to do that’. So, I did.” He later transitioned to playing football in 1975. He also played tennis, soccer and he was on a swim team. He and his

family relocated to a home on Northfield Ave. in East Cleveland after leaving King Kennedy in 1980. He recalls being proud to be from East Cleveland, and said he added several athletics to his experience level including in boxing and wrestling. He was also involved in music activities participating in Kirk Middle School’s Concert, Orchestra and Stage Band,

where he played the tuba and the string bass. He later joined Shaw High School’s Marching Band where he played several other instruments including the baritone, flugelhorn, and drums. “Music was definitely one of the biggest things in my life back then,” Abdul-Qahhaar said. He was also involved in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Shaw’s Vocational Welding Program.

Abdul-Qahhaar competing in the 2021 Cleveland Triathlon

“Running is like when I set a goal in life. I can’t not do it. I have to see it through.”

Abdul-Qahhaar became impressed with running as a sport in 1978, just before moving to East Cleveland. He was a member of Boy Scouts of America. His troop had an event at Cleveland State University. Abdul-Qahhaar witnessed participants gearing up to run in the Cleveland Marathon outside the University. “Folks were picking up their packets and race numbers,” he recalls. “I was like ‘man, those marathon runners! I want to do that one day. Mind you, I was 12 years old.”

In 2000, he was, again, intrigued by the Cleveland Marathon. However, he didn’t participate because he had not trained. “I didn’t know anything about training for a marathon,” he said. “No one is going to participate in a marathon without having done any training. That’s not gonna happen. Either you are not going to finish or you will hurt yourself along the way.”

He would complete his first Cleveland Marathon in 2013, participating in the 10K. In 2014, he gave himself months before the marathon to start training. It was then that he completed his first full marathon. Afterward, he participated in several other races, such as long course triathlons. He said he’s always telling himself ‘this is my last race.’ “During each race I am always thinking ‘well, this is it, I am not doing this again,’” he laughed. “After each race, I am always looking for the next one.”

Training is intense, taking months of preparation. For the November 2023 IronMan Arizona race, Abdul-Qahhaar began training in December of 2022. He does base training (the introductory or foundational preparation period in the first phase of a training cycle) for a month. “I’ll start with strength training, conditioning, balance and stretching,” he said. The length of his runs usually depend on each phase of training. Beginning phases involve a 3-5 per day mile run at a moderate pace. More extensive training for marathons include 60 miles per week. As he prepares for triathlons, he trains six-days per week, two

hours a day. His home gym helps when he is cycling and he is sure to run on his treadmill afterwards.That gets my legs used to getting off the bike and running [in the triathlon],” he added.

His first indoor-triathlon was in January in 2019 in Hudson, OH where he took first place in his age group. The avid runner completed his first outdoor triathlon at the Cleveland Triathlon. His longest race was 2022 Ironman Ohio 70.3, a 70-mile race consisting of a 1.2mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13mile run. After completing the 2021 Cleveland Triathlon, he qualified to run in the National Triathlon in August 2022. In 2023, he also plans to complete several other marathons including the Cleveland Marathon in May, Ironman Ohio in July, and the Berlin Marathon in September which is located in Germany.

Abdul-Qahhaar is also extremely adventurous. In 2019, after running a marathon in Arizona, he climbed the Piestewa Peak Mountain the next day. Piestewa Peak is 2,610 feet tall and is the second highest point in the Phoenix Mountains. “A lot of people were like, ‘Dude you did that the day after a full [marathon]?’ I was like ‘Yea, why wouldn’t I?’... Later on I found out that’s not normal!” At the age of 6, he found a love for outdoor activities. He climbed his first mountain in 1978 when he was in The Boy Scouts of America. “I am definitely an outdoorsman,” he added. Within the next couple years, the audacious runner plans to climb the Denali Mountain which is the highest mountain peak in North America, standing 20,310 feet above sea level.

He said being from East Cleveland prepared him for life because it helped him develop a ‘never quit, never give up’ mindset. He also recalls the good relationships he’s had with residents of East Cleveland. “Some of my best friends come from East Cleveland,” he said. “One of the biggest things that I learned is to have pride in my community…And the people from East Cleveland have a strong sense of pride. Our com-

munity is our family.”

One of his fondest memories of being from East Cleveland was while he was a member of Shaw’s Band as a freshman under the direction of Robert Thomas. The group was preparing to go to the Ohio State Fair to compete. “We had to be at the school at 3 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “I went to my first house party right before that.” Abdul-Qahhaar attended the house party, left, then headed to Shaw. He recalls the ‘For Lovers Only’ segment playing on 93.1 WZAK before he arrived at the school. He called the radio station and dedicated a song to the band. “I was never into parties, just school and sports,” he added. “My cousin Gladys lived on Charles Rd. and she was also in the band. I picked her up and went to the school to prepare to compete. That day was definitely one of my fondest memories.”

Much of his motivation comes from wanting to set a good example for those around him. Abdul-Qahhaar said his ultimate goal is to be an inspiration. “There is so much negativity in the world,” he said. “When I [go], I want people to know that I had to overcome some things, but my comeback game was strong.”

Syracuse Half Marathon

East Cleveland Neighborhood Center Empowers Youth with Social-Emotional Learning

Written

promotes emotional wellness and decreases non-academic barriers that impact youth.

provides youth with services that include education enrichment, emotional wellness, and community support. ECNC’s main programming efforts center around prevention and social emotional learning (SEL) services being facilitated to schools in the East Cleveland School District as well as at Euclid Middle and Euclid High schools. After school programming is where ECNC continues its mission but in a fun and creative way by adding in art, music, games, and other fun activities. According to the ECNC website, the organization aims to help children grow up to economic opportunity and possess skills to advocate for themselves and those in need.

Nema Saleem-Green is the Program Manager at ECNC. She is also a licensed professional clinical counselor supervisor (LPCC-S) and a board certified register art therapist (ATR-BC) working to support the youth of the East Cleveland and surrounding community. She has been working at ECNC since 2021 and helps to plan, implement, supervise and evaluate assigned ECNC programs and services. She provides advocacy for the organization and its services to the schools and other community partners. Saleem-Green also works to establish effective relationships with community groups through attending

designated community meetings. She works with a small team of individuals who partner with the schools and community agencies to supply scholars (as she identified that the ECNC team refers to their youth as) with personal strengths and skills to improve their quality of life. “We provide lessons around communication, coping skills, and emotional regulation,” she said. Nema mentioned utilizing “evidence-based curricula appropriate for that age group” of the scholars that they serve at the various schools. Saleem-Green and her team enjoy immersing themselves in the schools to meet scholars where they are at in an effort to accomplish goals: learning communication, coping, emotion regulation, and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug refusal skills. “I love going into the schools,” she said. “If I am just sitting behind a desk all day, that’s not going to give me the essence of being able to meet the people I need to.” ECNC’s You Matter Academy Program is a prevention program that provides SEL services to develop emotional wellness and academic enrichment; this is implemented in-school and out-of-school to support the needs of the scholars that ECNC serves. The SEL curricula used by ECNC ranges from Second Step, Girl’s Circle, Growing Into Manhood, and School Connect. The sessions are structured to create healthy attitudes and alter at-risk behaviors by promoting resiliency.

ECNC recently implemented the Positive Actions for Student Success (P.A.S.S.) Program which is a new

program that is an alternative to out-ofschool suspension. The program includes scholars at Kirk Middle School and Shaw High School and addresses disruptive behavior. It also helps the referred scholars enhance their communication, self-management and self-awareness skills. “The scholars come to our program to talk about what happened (reason for referral), get caught up on schoolwork, and engage in social-emotional learning,” Saleem-Green said. The duration of each scholar’s P.A.S.S Program referral depends on the reason for referral and progress, and varies between 3-10 days. Another year-round program is ECNC’s Community Youth Diversion Program that works with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. This voluntary prevention program for young first-time offenders of misdemeanors or status offenses is designed to divert scholars away from further juvenile court involvement. A summer program that ECNC runs is partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools, which was rooted in the American Civil Rights Movement.

The summer program serves scholars K-12, enhances their motivation to read and makes them feel good about learning. It is a 6-week program that also focuses on self-esteem, cultural identity and connecting families to local resources. “It’s about the love of reading and having culturally connected books,” she said. The program has Integrated Reading Curriculum in the morning that fosters literacy with scholars reading books with multiple racial identities and cultures. In the afternoon, scholars engage in structured extracurricular enrichment activities, such as: sports, recreation, arts, hands-on activities connected to fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and field trips.

ECNC recently completed a Winter Camp where scholars learned about unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, collective economics, purpose, creativity and faith. Scholars engaged in activities that were enriching and that utilized SEL curricula. At the camp’s conclusion, ECNC took the scholars on a field trip to Urban Air Adventure & Trampoline Park in Westlake. “It was a fun opportunity to celebrate doing something positive for

Located inside Prospect Elementary School, you can find The East Cleveland Neighborhood Center (ECNC). ECNC

ECNC

by: Tyisha Blade & Nema Saleem-Green

Nema Saleem-Green, Program Manager at ECNC

the scholars’ participation and efforts,” Salem-Green said. ECNC also provided lunch for scholars who attended the camp.

Saleem-Green said she decided to work with ECNC because she loves to help underserved populations. She worked in community mental health for seven years before working with ECNC. She said the work is challenging, but she loves it when she sees results. She also said she

engages in creating art and leading cardio drumming exercise classes to manage her own self-care on challenging days. In working with ECNC, “it was a great opportunity to grow into a community that has a lot of great qualities,” she said. “The enrichment we get from serving [scholars] is awesome.” She also said that she enjoys the 1-on-1 connection with the scholars and watching them achieve personal

growth. She likes group work as well because she appreciates having scholars work on new experiences, expand their horizons, and watch their minds work together. “I also love giving [scholars] opportunities for self-expression,” she added. She said ECNC is here to connect and be a support to the scholars, the schools and the families that they serve.

Infinity Meec Balances Life as an Entertainer, Student and Mother

though she had two parents, the siblings raised each other and she took much of her guidance from her eldest sister. “By us raising each other, our bond became stronger and we are still solid to this day,” Infinity said. She notes difficulties growing up without her biological father in her life. “Even though I had a father figure in my home, I always knew that there was a part of me that was missing,” she said. “A part that I didn’t understand. There were things that only my biological father could help me with. When he got out [of jail] I was 15, then I understood it.”

She started rapping at an early age and said her talent began as a hobby, and later progressed into a career path. Infinity Meec said her younger sister Ri’an Ficklin made the beats drumming on books using pens as sticks to make sound. “I remember practicing with Ri’an when I was younger,” she said. “With [my older siblings] being in [Shaw High School Marching Band], Ri’an just knew she was going to be a drummer.” She said the early beginnings of her rap career were fun and she loved to freestyle.

The entertainer also mentions how music helped her overcome obstacles such as bullying and skin shaming which can be defined as humiliating or criticizing someone because of bodily features. As a dark-skinned African-American girl, her music was her therapy. “I got into a lot of fights [as a child] and becoming a rapper helped me release some of that energy,” she said. “Everybody wanted to be light skinned, and if you were dark skinned you weren’t considered anything of beauty.” Infinity was triumphant; those experiences give her a heightened confidence when she performs.

Written by: Tyisha Blade

Award winning rapper Jamequa

“Infinity Meec” Blade is a thriving artist who focuses on elevating her career and raising her two children, 7-year-old DeShawn and 3-year-old Storm. Her goals include becoming internationally known as a rapper as well as setting her children up for success.

“As long as my kids are doing good in school, I’m OK with that,” she said. “If I could get them into classes [to learn how to speak] Spanish and French, that’s what I would do

right now.” The entertainer also said when she’s faced with a challenge, she takes the time to hit the ‘reset’ button. “I know I have a lot of goals that I am trying to accomplish and it’s hard,” she exclaimed. “Sometimes I just let life be life around me. Then, I go reset mentally.”

Infinity Meec grew up with four siblings in her two-parent household. The family resided in East Cleveland on Mann Ave. before moving to Orinoco Ave. She said

“Now, when I’m on stage, I don’t see [color], I just see me.” She also mentions the tragic 2009 shooting death of her then significant other Louis “Reck” Walton. He was also a rapper whom Infinity greatly admired at the time. “He was hard [with rapping], I ain’t gone hold you,” she said. She used her talent as a coping mechanism to get help through her grieving process after his untimely death. “[Rapping] became something deeper in me when I started losing friends,” Infinity shared. “I couldn’t mourn at home. I couldn’t play my sad songs. Yes, we were young. I had the type

“My energy from the time that I walk on stage until I walk off, it’s not a build. My energy will always be up.”

Jamequa “Infinity Meec” Blade

of parents who were trying to figure out why I had a boyfriend when I was 16 years old in the first place.” She used writing and rapping as an outlet.

As Infinity Meec currently pursues her rap career, she also balances the busy life of motherhood. She said her two children, DeShawn and Storm love her music although, sometimes they disapprove of the sensitivity of her videos and performances. “Storm saw me twerking one day and she wasn’t on that,” Infinity said. “They do look up to me though, and love that their mother is a rapper.”

Infinity Meec’s children recently made guest appearances in her music video “Molly (Baby Momma)” which dropped in August 2021. She said growing up with multiple siblings helped to instill disciplines in her children that keep them connected. “I see many siblings that fight, envy and even poison each other,” she said. “My kids are going to grow up being

tight and solid just like me and my siblings are.” She also mentions how she wants an appropriate understanding of her children when they are in vulnerable states. “I wish my parents were more understanding of us,” she added. “[Parents] don’t always realize that children really do have emotions.”

The mother and entertainer has another role: student. She recently enrolled in class at Heart to Heart Health Care Center in Cleveland where she studies to become State Tested Nurse Aide (STNA). She said she previously worked as a home health aide and decided to finally get an official license. Infinity concludes her studies in spring 2023 and is looking forward to completing her state board testing soon.

She recently received her third Ohio Entertainment Award Nomination and performed for the platform’s 10th

anniversary award show in November 2022. “It’s a very big deal, and the people who believe in you vote for your nomination,” she said “Realizing where I started from and comparing that to where I am today, I’m like ‘now, we’re rolling.’ I’m getting my credit where it’s due because I’m really out here working.”

Infinity Meec prides herself on her vivacious, stiletto-sporting, p-poppin’ performances. She won Best Live Performer at the 2021 Ohio Entertainment Awards. “My energy from the time that I walk on stage until I walk off, it’s not a build,” she said. “My energy will always be up.” She continues to search for ways to give her fans performances they’ve never experienced. She wants to create memories for her followers every time she performs. “I want them to leave wanting more.”

East Cleveland Historic Snapshot

This painting entitled Breathe Through It is my mental health reminder for being. This work of art is inspired by the quote “don’t worry about calming the storm. Calm yourself, the storm will pass.” It is a spiritually resonating quote implying that even through the difficulties and clusters, peace and tranquility are options.

East Cleveland Public Library Events

Art by: Jason Blade

Judge Dawson on East Cleveland Public Library’s Local History Room dedication to Judge Una Keenon

Photos by Annette Blackwell

“I first met Judge Una Keenon working her court as a public defender. Understand, at that point I didn’t have any experience at all defending anyone.

She trusted me. Not only in that, she taught me how to do that job—she was also a judge as well as helping train me as a public defender and I appreciate that. We had that relationship for many, many years.

When I decided to run for judge, she was the first and main support that I had, [Judge Dawson spoke directly to Judge Keenon] so I really and truly appreciate you for that.

Even more importantly, everything that I do on the bench as far as compassion given back—all those things—are an extension of what I learned in her courtroom. I spent hours as a defense attorney watching her.

Watching how she dealt with the defendants with fairness, restraint, but at the same time with love—it was really an amazing mix to watch all those years.

To love on people while, at the same time, give them jail sentences if they need it [audience laughed with understanding].

She was firm—no doubt about it, but at the same time, she would do it with love.

All of that is what I take to the bench now, so I mean it when I say: [Judge Dawson again addressed Judge Keenon directly] the judge I am today is only because of what you taught me.

Thank you so much. I love you and I appreciate you.”

–Judge William Dawson

Saturday, April 1, we unveiled the new Dr. Una Keenon Retired Judge Local History Room. We want to thank everyone who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony; it was indeed a memorable moment. Please stop by and check out the new space in Dr. Keenon’s honor.

Photos courtesy of East Cleveland Public Library