JULY-AUG 2022 by Phenomenal Woman Magazine

AUG 2022 R.HABEEBAHGRIMES CEO POSITIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM Chief Of External Relations & Development, Cleveland Public Library Dr. SHENISE JOHNSON THOMAS WOMAN WWOMAN Wphenomenal M A G A Z I N E ™ WOMAN WWOMAN Wphenomenal M A G A Z I N E ™

phenomenal M A G A Z I N E WOMAN W ™ Beletu (Belé) Wondwossen Founder / Publisher Shelley M. Shockley Managing Editor Writers Shelley M. Shockley Marsha Walker Eastwood Brittany Garrett Rhonda Crowder Creative BeléJasonWondwossenGarrett Cover Story: Shelley Shockley Photo: Jason Garrett Contributing Writers Rhonda Crowder Michelle Phillips Fay Marianna Marron Letitia Nall Stephanie Phelps Kimberly Smith-Woodford Advertising Sales ads@phenomenalwoman.me216.702.0845 Phenomenal Woman Magazine A subsidiary of Atlantic Creative Productions 5247 Wilson Mills Road #141 Cleveland, OH 44143 ©2022 Phenomenal Woman Magazine. All rights reserved ISSN 2330-2534 (Print) ISSN 2330-2550 (Online) Materialmaynotbereproducedinwholeorinpart in any form of this publication without prior permission from the publisher. Produced and printedinOHIO,USA 2022 CERTIFIED2022 CERTIFIED phenomenal M A G A Z I N E WOMAN W ™ 2 ▒ JULY - AUGUST 2022 www.phenomenalwoman.me 216.702.0845 TOADVERTISE, PLEASE CALL EMAIL:ADS@PHENOMENALWOMAN.ME h Their aHig c oRehest InspiringWomenTPotential!

Dr. Johnson Thomas is the focus of our cover story and works to ensure that the library's mission to be the center of learning for a diverse and inclusive community is realized in all facets of the organization. With a team of three, she works with the internal and external community to realize this mission. Take a few minutes to read about a Cleveland native working as a change agent in one of the city'soldest institutions. Finally, as our population ages, conversations about healthcare - particularly Medicare and Medicaid takes center stage. As always, columnist Marsha Walker Eastwood, BsEd, MSHSVC wants you to know all of the do's and don'ts when it comes to choosing the right plan. Her ultimate goal is to save you time and money, so if you are 62 or older take time out to read her column.

Grimes has a personal connection to the challenges of children with severe mental health challenges and has made this her life's work. The work she and others do in this area, is vitally important because often our society does not focus on the root causes of problems young people have opting instead to sweep them all into a single

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The focus of this edition is Diversity, Equity and Inclusion or DEI, a phrase that has been bandied about a lot over the last two years in an effort to create dialogue and hopefully bring people together. The conversation is usually centered on the work environment and representation in advertising campaigns, but I would like to look a little deeper and ask you about your personal relationships. How many friends and associates do you have of a different race? How about a different sex (not your spouse or significant other)? Have a health challenge? The reason I'm inquiring about your inner circle is that I believe that in order to change our thoughts and beliefs about those who are different, we have to have some understanding of who they are. So, I'll use myself as an example - I don't have any close friends of a different race. I have a number of associates, primarily people that I went to high school with that are white. In this age of social media, I have reconnected with them, but not IRL (in real life). Viewing their comments on posts that have to do with race, women's rights, and other “hard” topics, it appears our views align, and that's a good thing. What this means is that I could have a conversation with them and seek to learn more about their lives and how they differ from mine. With the eradication of Roe vs. Wade, I had conversations with many of the male friends I have to try and understand the varying opinions on this issue. I have also talked to these individuals about the gender gap in careers, and the disparities in the wage gap I recall growing up and hearing that America was the melting pot of the world. We welcomed people from all over the world, yet as I look at the country we have today, it begs the question, Why? If you are going to mistreat, seek to alter their thoughts and beliefs why open the doors? That answer is simple - to use these individuals as your subservient, to employ to perform the tasks you don't want to do, and most importantly so that you can feel superior and better than them. As a society, we could begin to understand that we are all more alike than different, we could live in safer, friendlier environments and work together for the good of our communities. My challenge is for you to take an assessment of your world and see if you could make some changes to improve your community. I know that I can, and I'm going to work on being a better neighbor, coworker and member of society. In this issue we introduce you to Habeebah Grimes, Chief Executive Officer of Positive Education Program, (PEP). A non-profit agency committed to children, PEP provides services – both direct and consultative in nature – for children with severe mental health and behavioral challenges, their families and the professionals who support them. PEP is committed to understanding and overcoming the significant trauma and chronic stress experienced bymany of the children we serve.

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Simplifyingcategory complex problems associated with mental health has led to many problems in our country and is something some segments of the community are just beginning to accept instead of mislabeling people. Please check out the profile on Grimes. The Cleveland Public Library (CPL) is one of the nation's leading library systems, and has been a beacon in this community for more than 150 years. In that time, the system has made strides to be inclusive with the services it provides and continues to expand its reach and vision of what DEI means. Today, Dr Shenise Johnson Thomas leads the library's External Relations & Development and the newly formed Cleveland Public Library Foundation.

As always, I hope I have given you something to think about in this space and that you are pleased with the features we have provided. Drop us a note if you feel compelled to engage, an engaged community is a more powerful than one operating solo. Until next time, be blessed,

FromtheEditor: Shelley M. Shockley

Habeebah Grimes serves as CEO of Positive Education Program (PEP), one of the largest NGOs in Ohio whose core mission rests on 'supporting young people to overcome and thrive.' In this capacity, Grimes leads more than 450 professional staff in supporting the healing, well-being, and achievement of young people who have experienced significant adversity and mental health or developmental challenges. PEP has touched the lives of countless children and their familiesfor more than half a century Walker Eastwood Tri-C VP Dr. JANICE MARSHALL JumpStart Union-Miles

Learning Center HABEEBAH GRIMES PAGE 24 PAGE 16

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FEATURES

As Dr. Shenise Johnson Thomas, chief of external relations & development of the Cleveland Public Library (CPL) and president of the Cleveland Public Library Foundation, explained, public libraries are one of the most democratic institutions in the country. Still, she noted that historically, "Not all libraries were like that. Access to knowledge was not available to all." This sentiment changed, she said, when people who believe that everyone should benefit from knowledge began to invest in libraries. Shelley M. Shockley Dr. SHENISE JOHNSON THOMAS

TO STUDY COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRENDS WITH AACC Verizon and

open

HOW TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FROM YOUR MEDICARE DOLLARS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE PAGE 10 COVERARE YOU OPEN TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION? DELICIOUS RECIPES Marsha

Along with the increase in out-of-pocket expense, there is the cost of the Part B premiums which are predicated on a variety of factors including the cost-of-living adjustment

HOW TO GET THE BIGGEST BANG FROM YOUR MEDICARE DOLLARS

By: Marsha Walker Eastwood, BsEd, MSHSVC PWM Contributing Writer

Chances are, if you are 62 years of age or older, you have been inundated by calls regarding Medicare enrollment. The incessant pitching usually begins around mid-June and is kicked into high thgear around Labor Day continuing until December 7 Each caller will identify themselves, read the disclaimer about the call being recorded, and then ask if you have the “little red, white and blue card.” If you have not hung up yet, the next question will be if you have Part B. But it was not always like this. This type of direct marketing campaign blitz which began in 2003, represented yet another change in Medicare.

“We believe that if you put in place the mechanisms that allow for personal choice as far as Medicare is concerned, as well as the programs in Medicaid, that we can actually get to a better result and do what most Americans are learning how to do, which is to do more with less.” ~ Eric Cantor

Very few Medicare beneficiaries understand the ins and outs of how the system works, what a hard-fought battle it was to get the legislation passed, and how we got from the beginning - Point and Part A to where we are with Parts C and D. It all began during the 1912 presidential campaign and presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt made no secret of the fact that what this country was sorely lacking was a national healthcare program. This idea fell on mostly deaf congressional ears. Then the need for a national healthcare plan was raised during the presidency of Harry Truman, who submitted many proposals, none of which made it through congress. The inaction by congress did not go unnoticed by the electorate, and it was not until the presidency of John F. Kennedy that the idea was revisited with a much more serious intonation. The program gained traction when Kennedy appointed a task force that decided there was a need for a national healthcare plan for seniors sixty-five and older because working Americans were left without coverage when retiring. The effort failed again until 1964 when Kennedy's successor, former President Lyndon Johnson, presented the plan to congress to create the program which was signed into law by Johnson in 1965. He and his wife became the first two official Medicare beneficiaries. Part A provided hospital coverage and Part B provided medical coverage. Over the five decades since it was created, significant changes have occurred These changes included expanded coverage options and allowed more people to enroll, dispelling the belief that only the elderly benefitted from the program. In 1972 former President Ronald Reagan expanded coverage to allow people receiving social security disability insurance payments to sign up for Part B 24 months after receiving their first payment.

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Now getting back to those annoying calls and why we get them. Writing for The National Institute of Health, Thomas G. McGuire, Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School states, “The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, formally Part C of Medicare, originated with the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA), which authorized Medicare to contract with risk-based private health plans, or those plans that accept full responsibility (i.e., risk) for the costs of their enrollees' care in exchange for a prospective, monthly, per-enrollee payment. This program has been called a variety of names over the past three decades (e.g., Medicare Advantage, Medicare+ Choice). In this article, we refer to the program by both its current names, Part C and Medicare Advantage (MA). TEFRA was passed in 1982, and the rules to implement risk-based contracting were completed in 1985. Those beneficiaries who choose to enroll in an MA plan continue to pay, directly to Medicare, their required Part B premium for physicians' services and, if they elect it, their Part D premium for drug coverage. In return, they receive health insurance for all services through (and may pay supplemental premiums to) their MA plan. For these beneficiaries, enrollment in an MA plan replaces not only traditional Medicare but also a Medicare supplemental insurance policy (i.e., Medigap). The MA plans themselves receive, directly from the Medicare program, a predetermined, monthly, risk adjusted payment to cover each beneficiary'scare. As Medicare continued to evolve into what it is today, there have been significant milestone changes, two of which had a direct financial impact on beneficiaries. In addition to the introduction of Part D in 2003, companies selling Medicare Advantage plans were allowed to telephonically enroll beneficiaries if they had Part A and Part B coverage. While the beneficiary had to continue paying the Part B premiums, other cost-saving measures such as MOOP or the money out-of-pocket expense is now capped at $7,550 which is an increase from $6,700 and does not cover prescription drug coverage.

People diagnosed with end-stage renal disease were granted immediate coverage as were those diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the first month they receive Social Security Disability Insurance payments or a railroad disability annuity check. However, these were not among the most significantchanges.

Now you are ready to move on to Step Two. Have all your paperwork and relevant information handy. You will be asked for your Medicare Card Number and your Medicaid Card in case you receive additional help based on your income. Have the name of your primary care doctor written down and the location where you see him as well as the names of any specialists you see. Have a list of all your medications, dosages and how many pills, tablets, and the like you need each month and how often you refill them. You will be asked how much you pay for medications. If you do not have a primary care doctor, you will be asked if you prefer a male or female doctor and one or more names of doctors accepting new patients in your area will be provided to you. If you are satisfied with the selection the enrollmentwill continue. Step Three is the hardest because it requires patience and attention. The average enrollment lasts about 40 to 50 minutes and during that time more than a few disclaimers and other vital information must be read to you for your protection as well as the protection of the insurance carrier. At some point you will need to write down information such as the name of the plan selected and any other identifyingplan information because to complete the enrollmentyou will need to call the agent back. Knowledge, preparedness, and patience can have a significantimpact on your financialbottom line. business to $1Million+. Transition from side-hustler to CEO. Be inspired by and learn from a community of BOSSES. Easily access info about small business grants, funding and business tips information about business funding options. AND be inspired to practice self-care. Black women-owned and socially responsible brands. Meet authentic champions of Black women-owned businesses who want you to succeed.

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for Social Security recipients. In November 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services announced an unprecedented increase driven in part by the statutory requirement to prepare for potential expenses, such as spending trends driven by COVID-19 and uncertain pricing and utilization of Aduhelm, a treatment for Alzheimer's.

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The top four insurance companies that sell the plans including United Healthcare have no less than six options for coverage including HMOs and PPOs. The best way to get the most benefits for your dollar is to disregard information in commercials because it does not necessarily apply to you or is available in your area. Forget about what plans relatives, friends and neighbors may have. Their health circumstances and income eligibility may be quite different than your own. It is also important to remember that most plans with a “giveback” on your Part B premium may have reduced benefits that could save you a lot more in the long run. Think of your enrollment as a trip to the grocery store. Just like supermarkets where some are preferred grocers, so are the top four insurance companies that sell Medicare Advantage plans. They are United Healthcare, Humana, CVS Aetna and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Step One is to make a list of what coverages are most important to you, such as doctor visit copays, specialist copays, prescription costs, vision, dental and hearing benefits. How much is the insurance company willing to allow for each service, such as $5,000 for hearing aids or $2,500 for dental work? Next do a little research on the “sweeteners” such as transportation, access to telemedicine and 24hour nurse line availability, issuance of OTC (over-thecounter) cards that allows a certain monthly or quarterly amount that can be used to buy items such as toothpaste, cold medications, and others which can represent a substantial savings in a year. Some plans offer food cards and fitness memberships for those who qualify.

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Admittedly Medicare beneficiaries cannot control the cost of the Part B premiums, but they do have some control over how much they spend for Medicare Advantage plans.

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The Learning Center will allow Cleveland residents to boost their abilities across one or more of these areas: Verizon and JumpStart open Union-Miles Learning Center, Providing Free Tech Training And Skill Building To Cleveland Residents

STEM Education Education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics Small Business Digital Literacy Foundational digital skills to build core competencies for in-demand jobs Technology to power advancement and access to advising and cohort-based programs

Photos: Mariana Edelman Photography

The Verizon Community Forward Learning Center offers free technology-focused training to Cleveland residents for lifelong STEM learning, industry-specific job development and small business growth. The Union Miles Learning Center is one of two opening in 2022 as part of VerizonCommunityForward, an initiative of Citizen Verizon, Verizon’s responsible business plan for economic, environmental and social advancement. The Clark-Fulton Learning Center in the Cleveland Public Library Fulton Branch will open later this year.

On Friday, July 22, JumpStart and Verizon celebrated the official opening of the Verizon Community Forward UnionMiles Learning Center. Community leaders and residents gathered at the Earle B Turner Recreation Center for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, center tour and technology demonstrations. Mayor Bibb, community residents, and JumpStart and Verizon leadership participated in the event. The center is now open to the public.

DevelopmentProfessional andtechnologyIndustry-specifictrainingconnectionstomeaningfuljobs

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andawarenessbringinghelpto the mental communityhealth

Habeebah Grimes,

Phenomenal Woman recently spoke with Grimes to learn more about her career journey and the work she is doing for our community. A descendant of enslaved Africans who came from the south to Cleveland seeking opportunities, Habeebah's family members have lived in northeast Ohio for more than three generations. Her mom inculcated the importance of education as “a way out of poverty” and moved often to find the best public education for her and her brother. However, the family's meager financial resources coupled with her brother's challenges in school and in the neighborhood took a heavy toll on the family'splans. Always a ‘can do it’ and spirited person, Habeebah never allowed these challenges to deter her from attaining her goals. She was determined to do well in school and college and after attending one year at Temple University, she returned home and completed her bachelor's degree and two graduate degrees at Cleveland State University.

Armed with these degrees and extensive experience, Grimes assists the Positive Education Program (PEP) achieve its objectives. Under her able leadership, PEP provides ‘services – both direct and consultative – for children with severe mental health and behavioral challenges, their families and the professionals who support them.’ PEP strives to understand and overcome the significant trauma and chronic stress experienced by many of the children it serves. Thanks to exemplary and dedicated services, PEP has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in mental health care and special education. Explaining her organization's core programs, Grimes said, “In our Day Treatment Centers, we are charged with providing engaging, trauma-informed academic and social emotional learning experiences for students whose needs exceed the resources of local school districts and charter schools. We also are a Care Management Entity (CME) in the new Ohio Medicaid program, OhioRISE (Resilience through Integrated Systems and Excellence), and through this program we provide intensive and moderate care coordination to youth who have complex mental health and multisystem needs.” She continued, “In addition to these direct care programs, we provide early childhood mental health services as well as training and consultation to schools, daycare providers and other youth-serving agencies to help adults better respond to the needs of the young people in their care.”

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Habeebah Grimes serves as CEO of Positive Education Program (PEP), one of the largest NGOs in Ohio whose core mission rests on ‘supporting young people to overcome and thrive.’ In this capacity, Grimes leads more than 450 professional staff in supporting the healing, well being, and achievement of young people who have experienced significant adversity and mental health or developmental challenges. PEP has touched the lives of countless children and their familiesfor more than half a century

As an experienced psychologist and as someone who continues to make meaningful contributions to the fight against mental health problems, Grimes said, “I am glad that we are talking more about the prevalence of mental health problems in our community and the larger society Acknowledging that there is a problem is an important step. Of course, acknowledgement is not enough, particularly as our nation is facing an intensifying mental health crisis. I believe we must acknowledge and address the systemic and structural problems that create and sustain the conditions of suffering that drive hopelessness, anxiety and despair.”Ontheneed to alleviate the problems and avert the crisis, she suggested, “We need to build capacity to heal and support people living with mental health problems, which requires that we mobilize resources to develop a more robust, diverse mental health workforce and acknowledge and fund supports, such as arts, recreational and cultural institutions, where culturally-responsive healing work is already Accordingunderway.”toGrimes, another component that needs to be addressed is racism. “Racism is a driver of our country's devastatingly poor outcomes across each of our sectors and systems. This is not just a problem for Black and other people of color / people of the global majority living in our nation but for everyone. Our collective potential is greatly diminished by our willingness to let racism endure. We must also look critically at ourselves and our tolerance for poverty, which we know reduces psychological well-being and creates risk in all domains of life for all people, and take meaningfulsteps to eliminateit from our society” She said. to

Continued

Illiteracy in our region, particularly among minority communities, is rated high. While some progress has been made, much more remains to be done. “Literacy is critical to marginalized and oppressed communities as it unlocks the ability to learn across disciplines, acquire information and access resources in our society. My background in school psychology and training in the neurobiology of developmental trauma tells me that learning to read necessitates a set of experiences, including but not exclusive of high-quality reading instruction.” Grimes says. “Adversity and traumatic stress in households and schools impedes the human brain from learning to its full potential and I believe that these kinds of experiences are preventing our communityfrom achieving higher rates of literacy”

When asked what needs to be done to expand access to these groups to create a fair and just society, she said, “We must eliminate oppression and reduce the insidious and explicit forms of stress that marginalized people experience on a daily basis so that there is a deeper sense of safety among adults and kids. Doing so would improve literacy and many other indicators of health and Supportingwell-being.”Northeast

Ohio's most vulnerable children is a noble task. It also takes a strong determination to play a meaningful role in overcoming this daunting task. So how did Grimes become inspired in these works? In a nutshell, her own family's challenges convinced her to dedicate her efforts towards this cause. She expanded, “It is an honor to be of service to young people--and deeply humbling. My own experiences in childhood and adolescence inspired me to work with kids who struggle emotionally, behaviorally and relationally. I see myself, my friends and my siblings in them, especially my brother I see my mother in the caregivers who are doing their best to help their children succeed, even as they try to heal from their own experiences of marginalization and adversity. It is my brother's challenges that I think of most often in this work because he did not get the help that he needed during his school-age years.”

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Additionally she explained that her mom did not get the guidance and support she needed as she parented a child who got into trouble at school, home and in the community. “When I encountered PEP, I realized that there are supports for families like ours and that healing is possible. Sadly, my brother developed schizophrenia as a young adult, and he continued to suffer, as we did alongside him. I am grateful we had a time in adulthood when he was successful with medication and doing very well. He had a recurrence of severe symptoms and lost his life in a confrontation with police in Columbus.” She Grimes'said. career responsibilities have also taught her a few lessons along the way. “I have learned from my personal and professional experiences that systems and institutions must work collaboratively and respectfully with persons served and their families for people with severe mental health or developmental needs to have full, healthy lives. Systems and institutions must eradicate racism and oppression from their processes and practices and work seamlessly together across municipalities for this to be possible. We have much work to do to build a more just, humane and supportive system of care for adults and children.”Mentalhealth related problems continue to drastically affect our society as millions of people are affected by mental illnesses each year. According to a study by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, 1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year and 1 in 6 U.S youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year. The study also revealed that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34. These alarming rates call for concerted intervention by all members of the society

Grimes also has a wonderful village of friends and a network of supports, who are all women and whom she calls a "constellation of care" that helps her be in good care and relationshipwith other women.

Her message to young girls and the community; “My prayer for young girls is that they would live in a society that affords them fullness of human experience such that they would have full agency over their bodies and be free from oppression and violence. I desire for them to have the space to dream, and live their dreams.”

Included as one of the principles of the Positive Education Program is “Communities Are Important.” Accordingly, the Program participates with hospitals, government systems and community members on behalf of families and youth.

While she has put on a lot of hard work, Grimes understands she couldn't have achieved this success level without the constant support of her mom. Deeply indebted to her mom and the positive impact she made on her, she said, “My mom set such a powerful example for me by pursuing her education and career in nursing while she raised my brother and me. She was a warrior for us, and this meant that we had some difficult days in our home and family, but she fought for us in every way imaginable with a tenacity that leaves me in awe. As an elder, she is now an amazing and beautiful matriarchal role model for myself and so many others. She is my North Star for how to love, how to forgive, how to keep hope for humanity. I am blessed to have her in my life.”

When asked about upcoming plans, Habeebah said, “I am focused on maintaining my wellness, that of my family, and that of the people I lead and serve at PEP. I desire to support healing for all young people, and I am determined to be part of creating conditions so that young people of the global majority and other marginalized identities know peace, justice and safety.”

Closing out the interview, Grimes said, “Girls and young women have a great potential to lead and bring forward solutions to our most pernicious problems and I want to see them elevated to positions of leadership and influence in all sectors so that we can experience the immensity of this potential. I commit to continuing to celebrate them and to lifting them up in my leadership, work, advocacy and service.”

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Tri-C VPto Study Community CollegeTrends WithAACC

serve a three-year term spanning July 2022 to June 2025. She is one of about two dozen individualsselected to serve on the commission.

JaNice Marshall, vice president of Access and Community Connections at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C®), has been appointed to the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Commission on Research and Community College Trends and MarshallIssues.will

“I'm eager to bring my insight and leadership to work alongside my colleagues so that we may contribute to the AACC and all its member institutions," Marshall said. "This is a tremendous opportunity to identify emerging trends among community colleges and exchange ideas that can be implementedto benefit student success."

Marshall previously served a three-year term from 2018-2021 on the AACC Commission on College Readiness. She has been a national and regional board member for the North Central Region of the National Council on Black American Affairs, an affiliateof the AACC.

The commission focuses on research that impacts community colleges by identifying current and future trends; providing advice to AACC leaders on key data; and exploring ways to measure, describe and report student and institutionalsuccess.

JaNice Marshall appointed to three-year term on national commission

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Permeates Cleveland Public Library giving philosophy

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Philanthropy is at the core of the libraries in the United States. During the colonial era, private individuals established numerous small libraries, but were only open to borrowers by fee or subscription. The first major public library in the United States opened in Boston in 1854, after the Massachusetts legislature authorized the city to provide municipalsupport for a public library in 1848.

When I think about my journey, there have been challenges but whether it's reading literacy, poverty, food insecurity, or workforce development issues, I have contributed to those areas in meaningful ways throughout my career and will continue to do so. “

Bequests to the Library from lawyer, bibliophile, and longtime Library trustee John G. White (1845-1928) are the foundation of the Library's most important and most valuable research collections. Other major donations to the Library include the SchweinfurthFund for the purchase of material on architecture, made by noted Cleveland architect Charles F. Schweinfurth (1857-1919) and his wife Anna M. Schweinfurth (1870-1928), and the Lockwood Thompson Memorial Fund by longtime Library trustee Lockwood Thompson (1901-1992).

By Shelley Shockley PWM MANAGING EDITOR

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Ensures Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

In 1897, the library began to establish Deposit and Delivery Stations to provide books to the growing workforce with sites at Sherwin-Williams, Standard Oil Candle Works, the Temple, and Alta House. The Library's service to the blind began in 1897, and a Braille circulating collection, established in 1903, also solidified the commitment to the visually impaired.

Dr. SHENISE JOHNSON THOMAS

This sentiment changed, she said, when people who believe that everyone should benefit from knowledge began to invest in libraries. One such philanthropist was Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was born into poverty and self-taught. His allegiance to the free library system came from his youth when he worked in a textile mill. Carnegie could not afford the $2 subscription to his local library He published a letter in The Pittsburg Dispatch after a library administrator denied his request for access.

Continuing to reflect the diversity of its community, at the beginning of the 20th Century, the Library began working with the growing immigrant population by acquiring books in languages spoken by the new residents and hosting citizenshipclasses at night. on next

“

The exact establishment of the free library system has been debated, but legislatures throughout New England authorized towns to levy taxes for the establishment and support of public libraries. This funding structure became a model throughout the United States. Cleveland Public Library was established in 1869 after the Ohio legislature authorized municipal support for public school libraries in 1867. Over the years, the library has grown immensely. Part of that growth is due to the generosity of Carnegie, who supported the construction of 15 branches in the CPL system, of which six remain in use

Continued

The work the CPL completed in the community resonated with the residents who in 1912 passed the first $2 million bond issue to fund the "Main Library Project" on land deeded bythe cityof Cleveland.

Cleveland Public Library receives philanthropic support from numerous trust funds that were established starting thin the early 20 century for the purpose of developing or augmenting specific subject areas within its collections.

Viewingtoday the history of CPL, the commitment to providing library services to all is evident in the growth of library branches. The first branch opened in 1892 on Pearl St., today known as W. 25th, but within the next decade, locations opened in numerous neighborhoods around the city for those without access to the main library downtown. During this time, Central High School and Willard Elementary School became the first to have school libraries and weekly reading clubs for the blind were established. Over time, the library would address the needs of children with the creation of the Director of Children's Work in 1903, as well as establishing the first branch dedicated to children in the country in 1908.

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The rededication and the hiring of Andrew A. Venable, Jr, as the first African American Director inaugurated a renewed era of "The People's University," demonstrating a commitment to all Clevelanders.

During this time, the Library worked to modernize its operations, including computerizing, branch revitalization, and major automation projects, including the card catalog and circulation procedures. In 1988, CPL became the first large urban library to offer dial-up access to its online catalog. The closing decade of the 20th Century saw significant growth and expansion for CPL. In 1991, residents of Cleveland passed a $90 million bond referendum for the renovation and expansion of the Main Library, and in 1995 the Library's first website went live. The new Louis Stokes Wing, named in honor of Ohio's first African American Congressperson, opened in 1997, followed by the rededication of the Main Library complex in 1999. The renovation and expansion greatly increased the Library's space and improved access to its collection.

The onset of World War I delayed the construction of the Main Library Project, but residents passed a second $2 millionbond issue to support it. Throughout the 20th Century, the library continued to grow and work to meet the needs of the community it served. By the time of the Library's centennial in 1969, powerful social forces had transformed civic life, including out migration to the suburbs, civil unrest caused by racial inequality, and growing disparity within the regional economy In 1974, the Library's first-ever city propertytax levy failed; one year later, newly appointed Director Dr. Ervin J. Gaines led a successful levy campaign, and the entire system was reorganizedand revitalized.

Phenomenal Woman recently met with Dr Johnson Thomas in her office to discuss her role with the Library and her career. At the onset, she explained, “it's our mission to be The People's University, the center of learning for a diverse and inclusive community. We try to live that every day” Since its inception 153 years ago, libraries have changed from offering books, periodicals, and reference materials to including CDs, DVDs, ebooks, electronic databases, online courses, music and video streaming, and a vast array of programs to share the extensive knowledge base it houses with its residents.

That work continues today with Dr. Johnson Thomas leading the team effort to ensure that this institution is wholly diverse and inclusive from its collections, personnel, and programming.

ChangeAgent During her second term with United Way, Dr. Johnson Thomas said, “There was an existing notion that fundraising was the driver of the work, but it wasn't, donors wanted to know the impact of the work. Impact & relevancy drives fundraising.” To change the trajectory, she said, United Way leadership at the time shared this philosophy that donors will give more if they got their hands dirty and more involved in the organization. Her responsibility now at United Way was to enhance the Volunteer Engagement Center, which included affinity groups like the Women's Leadership Council and the Young Professionals group. She said, “My job was to be more inclusive with the work, by bringing together the people and the organizations doing the work with the people who had the capacity to financially support the work (i.e. workplace Whencampaigns).”serving as the Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus manager of community relations, a taxpayer funded organization, she was responsible for engaging the community in a way that demonstrated the College's value to the region. She explained, “I had to make sure that people understood the value of the tax dollars. I also worked to build partnerships that mitigated barriers to student success.”

While working at the Red Cross, a position in Youth Program Implementation opened up, and she applied and received the job. She said, “That was introduction to the non profit sector, doing programmatic and community engagement work.” In this new position, she was responsible for bringing the Red Cross health and safety programs into the schools. Coming from the school district, she had contacts and relationships, and now she had to sell the programs to the schools. A return to Cleveland led her to the Summit Red Cross, but her commute was too long, so she began looking for other positions. The United Way of Greater Cleveland would introduce her to fundraising. With her non-profit experience with the Red Cross, she decided to apply for a temporary job opening. A Cleveland girl, she was familiar with some of the programs funded by United Way, Karamu, the home of her drama classes, and the City of Cleveland Fairfax Recreation Center, where she received free lunch. As she recalled, “When the opportunity came for me to serve the community in a deeper way, I applied. It was new, but I like challenges.”

The job was supposed to be for nine months, but she was hired on full-time after campaign season. When she came on board, she said, “What was awe-inspiring for me was discovering more of Cleveland. I was born in the city, but I didn't know the whole city. I was sent to the west side for campaigns. I had the American Greetings Corporation, and I had The Oatey Company These places, by Atlanta standards, are your area; a twenty minute commute is short in Atlanta.” She continued, “I got to see how community partnerships can help address inequities in our community. The corporate people had the capital and the United Way knew the community's needs. The needs aligned with the money allowed us to make the connection and positively impact the community”

To clarify, she explained that most of the money that Cleveland Public Library gets from property tax and state revenue goes to traditional library services. Anything above and beyond traditional library services such as the Library's programmatic work comes from private funding. Dr Johnson Thomas and her department raise dollars to complement tax dollars—bringing in additional resources so that the Library can fulfillits mission. She said, ...

In her current role as Chief of External Relations and Development for CPL, she said, “Cleveland Public Library operates from a diversity, equity, and inclusive perspective. Our population we serve is also diverse and I'm responsible for identifying resources for Library efforts not covered by traditional library service dollars.”

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A Cleveland native, Dr. Johnson Thomas comes to this position in a somewhat circuitous fashion, yet her career path seems fitting and has prepared her for this position. She grew up in the era of the TV Guide, a weekly publication outlining the listing of shows and the stations they aired on.

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Dr. Johnson Thomas knew she was a good communicator but did not understand the duties of an anchor or reporter She explained, “I learned that it wasn't all talk. As a journalist, you have to write your story, edit it, and pitch your idea. I soon discovered that wasn't for me.”

These guides also included stories and contact information for the local broadcast stations. This guide was a handy tool for Dr Johnson Thomas, who recalled, “As a young girl, I read the TV Guide and called the stations and pitched show ideas to them.” She said she knew she wanted to do something in the arts early, particularlyin front of a camera. Confident in what she wanted to do with her life, she attended the Euclid school system and went to the University of Akron to major in journalism. Arriving on campus and delving into her chosen specialty was not what she expected, recalling, “I had a rude awakening.”

Early in her tenure, Dr. Johnson Thomas was perplexed that workplace campaigns were designating their dollars directly to other nonprofits despite having the information from United Way about the areas in which the needs of the community was the greatest. She gained clarity when she realized people typically give to organizations that have positively impacted their or their families' lives unless they have volunteered for an organization. Volunteering provides an opportunity for people to feel and see the work of an organization thereby increasing the likelihood of a financialcontribution.

TheLibrary'sstrategicplanisasfollows: Ÿ Close the Gaps: Address the inequalities facing the Cityof Cleveland

Dr. Johnson Thomas said, “My team and I are responsible for securing additional financial resources advance these priorities. The department started from nothing. I knew we needed more people of influence and diversity on the board. We did that and now we're leveraging their expertise, networks, and passion for the Library to bring additional Library resources to bear.”

“Without the additional resources, it makes it difficult to realize our mission. How does that tie into DEI? If you don't have that funding to realize your mission, you don't have the mission to be the center of learning for a diverse and inclusive community.” Her department and her work were a new concept for the Library. Before the department's launch in 2018, she said, “the organization did not have a culture of philanthropy. Today we are getting there.”

§ B.A. Journalism/Mass Communication The University of Akron

§ Serves as Cleveland Public Library Foundation President

§ Serves as Member, Board of Directors Towards Employment § Serves as Member, Board of Directors Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival Foundation

§ Served as Director of Community Engagement United Way of Greater Cleveland § Served as Interim Vice President of Brand Strategy & Marketing United Way of Greater Cleveland § Served as Manager, Community Relations Cuyahoga Community College

§ M.A. Nonprofit Management John Carroll University § Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) Higher Education Administration Leadership National American University, Roueche Graduate Center

§ Serves as Member, Board of Directors Olivet Housing & Community Development Corp.

§ Selected as one of the top leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors to participate in the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2022

Dr. Johnson Thomas says, “The gifts that I have been given, I want to pour into others. The biggest conundrum for me is time. I have a busy schedule, yet I try to speak power and life into any young person I come in contact with, even at the grocery store. My husband often says, do you know them? I say no, but I want to enrich their lives as much as possible because many have done it for me. I will always carry as I climb.” With such a busy life, self-care is essential, and some of the ways she includes this practice in her life is through nature walks, watching a good documentary, visiting art exhibits, and reading. This busy wife and mother insist that women take the time out for themselves, “Because we wear so many hats, we must also put a hat on for ourselves. If that means taking a Friday off for a massage or a great visit to the library to pick up a few items, do it. If that means paying for a Calm app subscription, do it. Do the things that will allow you to sustain yourself and bring you sustenance - this is not an option, but a mandate.” FACTS

§ Proven Leader and Strategist with extensive experience in Fundraising/Philanthropy

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Despite this, Dr. Johnson Thomas and her team have worked to rebuild the Library Foundation board and develop a fundraising strategic plan with DEI at the core. The fundraising strategic plan aligns with the Library's overall strategic plan.

< PHENOMENAL

Ÿ Activate the People's University: Create people-powered, community-driven learning experiences Ÿ Create Campuses: Build and maintain distinctive environments to meet changing service & communityneeds

In summarizing her career, she said, “When I think about my journey, there have been challenges but whether it's reading literacy, poverty, food insecurity, or workforce development issues, I have contributed to those areas in meaningful ways throughout my career and will continue to do so.”

Ÿ Operate with Excellence: Assess and create organizational capacity to meet missionrelated goals.

§ Serves as Chief of External Relations and Development Cleveland Public Library

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Good Summer Read

Womentality is a collection of powerful, personal essays from enterprising women around the world who came to the same realization: work shouldn’t have to be painful and demeaning. Armed with an internet connection and plenty of creativity and ingenuity, they prove that it is possible to redefine the nine-to-five work paradigm and create a flourishing career that is flexible and fulfilling outside the corporate structure.

Womentality is not a book about people who do not work―on the contrary, these women work hard and their stories illustrate how they overcame challenges to achieve their goals―whether they sought freedom to travel, to spend more time with the family, escape demeaning office politics, or simply to control their career.Theessays in Womentality prove that a life of independence is not reserved for elite, American workers. It is possible for anyone. As the women who contributed to Womentality can attest: escaping the nine-to-five life isn’t easy―it takes guts and persistence―but it’s absolutely worthwhile.

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Thirteen Empowering Stories by Everyday Women Who Said Goodbye to the Workplace and Hello to Their Lives.

The thirteen women―from diverse countries such as Uganda, Venezuela, Poland, Palestine, and the Philippines―approach independent work in different ways, but are all motivated by the same impulses―to escape the drudgery of office life, to have control of their time, and to enjoy the freedom of working for themselves. Importantly, many discover that―outside of the office―it is possible to triumph over global pay disparities that favor men.

WOMENTALITY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Erin Wildermuth is an economic philosopher with a master’s degree in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. She seeks to explore how trends and technology can help people move from economic exploitation to economic independence. She first left the nine to five in 2011, negotiating a part-time, remote arrangement with her employer. Within a year she had moved to Thailand and quit her job to work as a freelance underwater photographer and videographer. She lived in Thailand for three years and has since since built a successful career as a freelance writer. Her work has appeared in such diverse publications as the Huffington Post, American Spectator, and Scuba Diver Magazine. She currently lives in Baltimore, MD.

Founders of Village of Healing more about the Village of Healing, contact: Da’na M. Langford, MS, CNM Tenisha Gaines, MBA phone: 216-302-8767 website: www.villageoealingcle.com email: admin@villageoealingcle.com

www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 23 Congratulations ( L) Da’na M. Langford, MS, CNM, Co-Founder/CEO ( R )Tenisha Gaines, MBACo-Founder / COO OUR HOPE, OUR FUTURE, GIVING CIRCLE in partnership with THE UNITED BLACK FUND OF GREATER CLEVELAND would like to congratulate 2022 Grant Winners Da’na Langford and Tenisha Gaines

To learn

NING STRENGTHEOURVILLAGE

About The Village of Healing Center provides culturally-sensive care from the me a woman steps into the clinic and throughout the duraon of her visit. The pracce model is a provider-based clinic with nurse midwives and the state required collaborang physician. This clinic will address part of ongoing eﬀorts to improve quality and access to care for black women in a city that a recent study has found to be the worst metropolitan area for black women in many facets including health. Led by two black women with an experse in women’s health and over 30 years combined experience in healthcare, the Center provides much needed services to the family. The village of Healing Center has developed relaonships with mulple organizaons across Northeast Ohio with the sole purpose of oﬀering members of the Village resources that will empower and strengthen their daily lives. Serving on numerous commiees and within mulple organizaons and systems around the county, the leaders have extensive knowledge of what truly gives the Village a chance at healing and thriving.

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a new generation of parents, we see changing food values and an increased interest to incorporate more plant-based meals into diets,” said Dr Whitney Casares, Gerber's pediatric medical consultant and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “It can be challenging to find plant-based protein options that are appropriate for young eaters, and it can definitely be more work for families. Parents are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about how food choices influence overall health – not just for themselves, but their kids, too.”

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If you're looking for ideas to help you feed your child in line with your own plant-based food values, consider these tips from the experts at Gerber: Incorporate plenty of color. Be sure you're feeding your little one a rainbow of color representing a variety of foods, including whole grains, legumes, fruits, veggies, meats and fish. Offering your toddler lots of colorful foods makes it appealing to the eyes, but all those colors also represent diverse nutrients for healthy growth and development. Layer legumes with other ingredients. Give meals an added protein punch by incorporating mild-flavored beans with other, stronger flavors like berries. For example, Gerber Plant-tastic Organic Pouch Banana Berry & Veggie Smash with Oats is made with banana, berries, spinach, purple carrots, chickpeas and oats with 2 grams of plant protein and a full serving of fruits and vegetables. Keep serving favorites. Offering new foods along with familiar favorites can help young children accept the new foods. It can take up to 10 times for baby to accept a new food, according to Casares, so don't give up Eating a variety of familiar foods and new additions throughout the week can also help little ones accept diverse options more readily Plan nutritious snacks. Meals aren't the only time to focus on good nutrition. Smart snacks that are developmentally and nutritionally appropriate play an important role in your toddler's overall diet. Options like Gerber Organic Plant-tastic Lil' Crunchies White Bean Hummus Baked Snacks have a mild flavor that appeal to little taste buds while providing 2 grams of protein in each serving. Remember dessert counts, too. You may not think desserts and nutrition fit together, but you can actually pour some good-for you goodness into special occasions. Think berries, bananas and other naturally sweet ingredients for sorbets and smoothies, and keep in mind there are plenty of dessert-friendly ways to incorporate extra protein, such as nut butters or Greek yogurt.

EXPERT ADVICE

Prep for easy access. Just like adults, kids are likely to nibble on what's easy Keep plant-based options readily available and prepared so they're the first options little ones reach for when they're hungry. Choosing healthy, plant-based options is easy if that's what's available. Find more kid-friendly ideas and advice for plant-based eating at Gerber.com. FOR FAMILIES EXPLORING PLANT-BASED OPTIONS

A growing number of families are interested in plant-based choices for themselves and their children. For parents, that means introducing foods thoughtfully to ensure kids are getting maximum nutrition, including plant-based Tprotein.oday's plant-based eaters span a wide spectrum, from flexitarians, who only occasionally eat meat or fish, to vegans, who avoid consuming animal-based products at all. According to a Food Industry Association report, 81% of households with children include plant-based protein in meals and 40% of parents with children under 18 are incorporating more plant-based foods into their families' “Withdiets.

Watermelon Mask and Toner

PrioritizeSkinProtection

While your face is likely to see a lot of sun, that shouldn't mean neglecting the rest of your body. This gentle body scrub can give you that glow you're looking for with a sweet, fruityscent. Here's how to exfoliate and polish your skin: Combine 1 1/2 cups of white sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and 1/4 cup of watermelon juice. If you'd like, add 1 teaspoon of microplaned watermelon rind zest and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Store the scrub in an airtight container up to 1 week and, when you shower, gently rub a handful of scrub on your skin then rinse thoroughly and pat dry. For more skin care solutions and other health and nutrition information, visit watermelon.org.

To make watermelon toner: In small bowl, combine watermelon juice with witch hazel and water. Apply toner to clean face and let sit 2-3 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Pat Storedry. in refrigerator in airtight container up to 5 days.

Watermelon Toner: 1/3 cup watermelon juice 1 tablespoon witch hazel 1 teaspoon distilled water

StayHydrated As an important aspect of overall health, staying hydrated also helps maintain your skin's water content. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially as temperatures rise and you spend more time outdoors. Another delicious way to avoid dehydration – leading to energy drain, in mild cases – is to eat fruits and vegetables with high water content. One example is watermelon, which is 92% water and can help restore fluids.

Whether you'll be in the sun for a few minutes or a few hours, it's paramount to protect skin by applying sunscreen. On days when the UV index is 3 or higher, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a broad spectrum sunscreen SPF 15 or higher Another option is to wear light, loose clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible while staying comfortable in the heat.

Summer brings sunshine and plenty of exciting opportunities to head outdoors for fun with family and friends. While those joyous moments make the season special, all that sun exposure can wreak havoc on the skin without the proper precautions. Whether you're dining outdoors, going for a swim, sweating out a bike ride or just spending a few moments soaking up some sun, it's important to ensure you're taking care of your body so you can enjoy those rays all season long.

Watermelon Banana Mask: 1 tablespoon watermelon juice 2 tablespoons ripe mashed banana

RefreshYourFace As one of the parts of the body that sees the most sun exposure, your face is perhaps the most important area to care for during the sunnier months. An at-home, all-natural DIY facial offers a brightening, hydrating way to treat yourself. For a true glow-up from the comfort of your own home, try this quick and easy solution: Mix 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt (to help exfoliate and purify) with 1 tablespoon of watermelon juice (for hydration). Apply the mask to your face and neck for 10 minutes then rinse off and pat your skin dry

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KeepYourWholeBodyinMind

For many, summer skin care can be as simple as following a basic routine. However, those with more sensitive skin may require additional attention. Try this calming, cleansing at-home remedy to moisturize and tone sensitive skin.

To make watermelon banana mask: In bowl, mix watermelon juice (for hydration) and mashed banana (to ease inflammation). Apply mask to face and let sit 10-15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Pat dry

4 SkinSummertimeCareTips

Subtle Care for Sensitive Skin

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www.PHENOMENALWOMAN.me ▒ 31 elected officials share your vision of public safety Let’s come together to take action against racism and fight for racial justice for the Black community Visit lovehasnolabels.com/fightforfreedom

At Dominion East Ohio, going the distance for our customers means more than just delivering safe, affordable natural gas. It means being a positive force in the communities we serve. Our EnergyShare® program has raised $6.8 million and helped more than 70,000 people in Ohio alone. These resources, combined with more than 6,300 volunteer hours from our employees, have benefited organizations as diverse as the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition.

FOR OUR

GOING THE COMMUNITIES.DISTANCE