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May 1, 2020 Dear Ingenuity Friends and Family,
First and foremost, we hope you and your loved ones are in good health. We know how important community is, and during this spring’s unprecedented events, there is nothing we have missed so much as gathering with you - our best friends, most steadfast supporters, and the creative lights that make Cleveland home. Even though we have not been able to meet in person, we wanted to update you on our activities. IngenuityLabs remains open to support 2 dozen tenants who continue to work safely while practicing social distancing - many of them with their attention newly focused on sewing stylish facecoverings or making online educational content. Our annual Bal has been postponed and will likely to help us ring in the New Year, and we are carefully evaluating options for IngenuityFest, which until further notice will be held on its usual weekend, September 25-27. Importantly, amid the tumult of current events, Ingenuity Cleveland’s vision for a creative and entrepreneurship hub in the St. Clair-Superior Neighborhood remains our lodestar. Now more than ever, we are prepared to serve as a site of healing, growth and economic recovery. Like all nonprofits across the nation, Ingenuity Cleveland is confronted with overcoming challenges as a result of the current public health crisis, but more importantly, we are focused on supporting the entrepreneurs, educators, creatives, and public initiatives that can help our immediate neighborhood and all of Cleveland recover swiftly and become stronger than ever. Our “2020 Visioning” has been focused on building greater ties to St. Clair Superior and across Cleveland’s creative landscape. As we adapt this work to address the effects of COVID-19, launch new digital platforms for connectivity, and prepare our space to safely reopen in the future, Ingenuity would love to partner with you to be a Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Help galvanize restoration and change in St. Clair Superior and beyond! During this unusual time, Ingenuity has turned inward to plan and build capacity for a clear mandate: to prepare for regeneration. Rooted in Cleveland’s industrial past, and poised to soar into the future, Ingenuity’s home at the Hamilton Collaborative has served as a site of exploration and excitement for thousands of children and artists, hundreds of inventors and Ingeneers - a network that remains vibrant and active even while physically distant. We are excited to be working with partners new and old to explore the ways we can still come together safely. We are thrilled to announce that our Ignite! Neighborhood Initiative will launch digitally to promote ongoing conversation and connectivity - including equity in digital access - which are especially critical at this time. As soon as we can safely gather, this program will offer monthly events, tapping into the networks that support our immediate neighborhood and engender transformation. And we are especially looking forward to gathering again in an IngenuityLabs that will be even better prepared to meet community social, creative and economic needs. The next few months will see BIG changes at our building, including physical improvements to not only support health and safety when our doors reopen, but serve our community long into the future.
Get Involved now; Stay for a while! Consider joining us through a special offer to be a Light at the End of the Tunnel for our immediate neighborhood and Cleveland’s entire creative landscape. So many artists, entrepreneurs and small businesses need the services that Ingenuity provides, and your vote of confidence today helps ensure we are ready to support recovery for many months to come. Joining as a Light at the End of the Tunnel confers all the benefits of our regular Agents of Ingenuity membership, all the way through 2021. Any time we’re able to physically gather - you’ll be on the list! Plus, special offers, digital programming, recognition, and above all the knowledge that your support now will have a BRIGHT impact on the future. With gratitude and excitement,
Emily Appelbaum, Artistic Director
Alyssa Perna, Managing Director
Hannah Maier-Lann, Marketing & Development Manager
To learn more, please reach out to Managing Director Alyssa Perna by calling 216-589-9444 or by emailing alyssa@ingenuitycleveland.org. PS: Did you know? As a result of recent CARES Act legislation, you may have increased ability to claim tax deductions for 2020. Please consult with your finance professional. Ingenuity is a 501c3, and your support is tax deductible to the full extent of the law.