April 2006
STREETVIBES CityLink offers opportunities for people who want real life “CityLink will change connect people to Just like any other city in the U.S., Cincinnati has its own poverty issue. Cincinnati is ranked 16th, ahead of Los Angeles and New York, for percentage of residents living in poverty. One-fifth of Cincinnati residents live in poverty. One-third of Cincinnati’s children live in poverty; simple statements describing a complex problem. Enter CityLink Center, a new proposal to join the fight against poverty in Cincinnati. CityLink is made up of four experienced service providers, dozens of visiting service providers, and hundreds of volunteers who are working together to provide health and wellness recreation, life skills and employment and education services. The four permanent service providers—City Gospel Mission, Jobs Plus, the Lord’s Gym and Crossroad Health Center— believe that they can have greater impact by working together under one roof and coordinating services, rather than providing services independently in their current Over-theRhine locations.
concrete, lifechanging programs and a support network,” says Mark Stecher, Director of CityLink. “It is a place for people to learn how to get a different and better life.” “In our experience with CityCURE and City Gospel Mission, we found two key things: first there are many people who are hoping that a better life is just around the corner, and second, there are hundreds of organizations, donors and volunteers scattered across the city who want to help, but just don’t know how,” says Roger Howell, President of CityCURE. “This center provides a place where these
News From the Drop Inn Center First Day of Spring?: Unfortunately, we are dealing with what will hopefully be the last blast of winter. One night recently there were 249 people who stayed with us. Let’s hope warmer weather is on the way. New Mats for the Men: A Grant from the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation for new mats for the Men’s Dorm as well as bus tokens for Advocates to use for the next year. Thank you to the Helen Steiner Rice Foundation as well as the staff of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for making this possible. Funk for the Whole Family: Please mark your calendar for Friday, April 28 from 7-10 PM at the Starlite Ballroom. Be there for a Benefit Concert for the Drop Inn Center featuring the Clark Montessori Steel Band. For a mere $15 you can enjoy co-hosts Bootsy Collins and Tracy
Wilson, “Name That Jam” Emcee Tori Turner from MOJO 94.9 and much more! For more information or for tickets visit www.hoxworth.org/ clark (as of now, still under construction) or call 363-7184. Drop Inn Center 5K Run and Walk: This year’s run and walk is themed “A Celebration of Life and Hope” and will be held on Sunday, April 30th at Spring Grove Cemetery. The run starts at 8:30. You can register online by following the link at www.dropinn.org. We will be mailing fliers soon to past participants. If you want to be sure to get a registration form, send an e-mail to amerritt@dropinn.org. Congratulations to Staff Worker Arthur Gerald!: Arthur was the winner of the Entree Competition at Guys, Griddles and Grub— a fundraiser for Community Shares. He prepared
people can be linked together to help each other.” The vision is to create a place for people who want to work towards real life change. “You have to want real life change,” says Keenan Robbison, who went through multiple agencies to get on his feet. “CityLink is necessary for this change.” CityLink brings together experienced service providers to offer employment and education, health/wellness, life skills and recreation services under one roof. CityLink also provides the infrastructure to mobilize volunteers and connect individuals to meaningful ways to utilize their skills. Volunteers can offer discussions, greet clients, help with ongoing research to develop best practices or just be a friend. “I grew up in the West End, and my family had to travel to every social service in the city just to meet our basic needs,” says Aaron Jones, who is now a successful mortgage/life insurance broker in Cincinnati. “CityLink will make it easier for families to get help. It will be an asset to the community and force people to acknowledge the West End.” Not only will CityLink make it easier for people to coordinate true, life-changing services, it will also provide them a strong support network of caring friends that will last for a life time. CityLink desires that all people coming to the center will find a friend who will partner with them and support them in meeting their goals.
pork crown roast, stuffed with his special dressing. Truly one of a kind!
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Greater Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless