Community Facilities and Services
From The Master Plan - Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation
Community services are services that are performed for the benefit of the public, while community facilitates are the physical manifestations of providing the services. Community services are predominantly provided by public agencies and may be supplemented by private and non-profit organizations. Important community services and facilities include police and fire protection, garbage collection, infrastructure and its regular maintenance, and parks and associated recreation programming.
Every citizen deserves to live in a safe, clean, and well-connected community in which essential public services are delivered effectively. Indeed, the quality and availability of these services and the settings in which they are available are critically important to community health, impacting the quality of life for residents and attractiveness for businesses. Community facilities such as parks, recreation venues, schools, hospitals, libraries, and places of worship are essential to sustaining existing residents and businesses as well as attracting new ones.
Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre enjoy many quality community facilities and services that are provided by the City of Cleveland, the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation and Civic Associations, as well as other quasi-public agencies and organizations. Community outreach during the Master Planning process, however, revealed that residents and businesses felt that some community facilities and services should be improved or expanded to make both neighborhoods more viable and attractive.
Ensuring that community services and facilities are delivered and utilized to their fullest potential hinges on several elements: that Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn centre remain safe neighborhoods both in reality and perception; that excellent city services are provided to all community members; that all segments of the population in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre are served adequately and appropriately; and that there is collaboration between diverse neighborhood entities to improve community services.
Goal 7: Keep Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre safe neighborhoods with low crime rates.
Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre are some of the safer neighborhoods in Cleveland. With the reported incidents of average crime per 100,000 people being 3,674 (violent and property crime) in the City of Cleveland in 2007, both Brooklyn Centre and Old Brooklyn had lower crime rates with Brooklyn Centre at 3,445 and Old Brooklyn greatly below this at 1,790 per 100,000 people . It is important to note however, that total violent and property crime rates increased significantly in Brooklyn Centre yet remained overwhelmingly stable in Old Brooklyn from 1997 to 2007.
Although both neighborhoods enjoy a lower crime rate than many other Cleveland neighborhoods, the disparity of crime rates between the Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods warrants a multi-pronged approach to increasing and maintaining safety. Efforts include direct crime-reduction activities, such as increased police presence, but also activities designed to alter perceptions about neighborhood safety. In all cases, improvement of safety is focused on crime-prevention.
Increase police presence and visibility in the neighborhoods and in public places.
Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre are both serviced by District 2 of the Cleveland Police Department. The District 2 police station is located near the intersection of Fulton Road and W. 41st Street, in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood northwest of Brooklyn Centre.
A responsive and visible police presence at the street level is essential to sustaining a safe neighborhood. Police activities are often considered to be reactive, that their role begins after the crime has begun or has been committed. However, police presence at a community level can prevent crime in both the immediate and long-term future. Not only does a visible police presence deter criminals from imminent acts of crime, but it inspires feelings of confidence and security in residents and visitors needed to create healthy activity on the street. A community-based and community-engaged police presence encourages residents to “take back their streets”.
Lobby for More Police Officers on the Street.
One way to establish a greater police presence in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre is to advocate for more police officers on the streets through an organized, citizen-led lobbying effort. Like many older industrial cities, the City of Cleveland faces many fiscal problems stemming from outmigration and crumbling infrastructure. Tight budgets have led to cutbacks in city services, including law enforcement. In a City where funds are limited and demands are high, an organized and cohesive lobbying effort on behalf of the citizens is essential to communicating this particular need. In short, the squeaky—but organized—wheel gets the grease.
Re-establish Police “Mini-Stations” in each neighborhood.
Prior to 2005, at least one police “mini-station” existed in each Ward in the City of Cleveland. Many communities have had success in reducing crime with such mini-stations. Mini-stations are more community-based, dealing most often with quality of life issues rather that law enforcement. Police mini-stations are more limited in their scope, but by being so, they have more opportunity to connect directly with the community and organize community safety efforts. According to City of Cleveland Division of Community Policing, these mini-stations were very popular and were well used by Cleveland neighborhoods.
Ward 15’s mini-station was housed in Estabrook Recreation Center and Ward 16’s was housed in Don’s Brooklyn Chevrolet on Pearl Road. The officers who worked in the Wards 15 and 16 mini-stations acted as liaisons between the community and the District 2 police stations, taking active roles in the communities. Unfortunately, all mini-stations in the City of Cleveland were eliminated in 2005 due to city-wide budget cuts.
The re-establishment of a mini-station in each Ward would greatly enhance the efforts of the District 2 Police Station as well as the neighborhoods’ efforts in community policing. City budget shortfalls that forced the closing of the two mini-stations have unfortunately not been recouped in the past few years. However, foundations and other non-profit organizations have contributed to such developments and community policing efforts where municipalities have been unable. Oftentimes, these funds seek to join community policing efforts with other community health and outreach goals.
The Milton S. Eisenhower Foundation has been establishing Youth Safe Haven/Police Mini-stations (YSH/PM) in America’s urban neighborhoods since 2005. The YSH/PM model combines an after-school safe haven with a neighborhood-based police mini-station. It is established in or near a school building, and staffed with trained volunteers to help with mentoring and tutoring but also with local police. Police officers assigned to the YSH/PM split half their time mentoring youth and the other half on community policing . Many safety issues within Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre have to deal with quality of life issues, such as intimidation by groups and disruptive behavior by youths. Establishing police mini-stations in key locations throughout the area would help in addressing quality of life issues that impact the overall safety and perception of safety in the neighborhoods. Furthermore, the Cleveland Planning Commission recommends establishing a mini-station in each neighborhood business district in order to build relationships with residents and business owners.
Mini-station locations could include:
- James Ford Rhodes High School, located on the corner of Fulton and Biddulph Roads
- Vacant office space in Downtown Old Brooklyn
- Vacant office space on Pearl Road in Brooklyn Centre
- A portion of the RTA Bus Garage on the Pearl-State triangle
Increase the profile and permanency of the neighborhoods’ existing Auxiliary Police Bases through increased training and funding.
Auxiliary police programs provide residents the opportunity to take an active role in keeping themselves and their neighborhood safe. Auxiliaries act as the eyes and ears for the Police Stations, supplying information about community happenings and alerting the police if matters cannot be resolved within the community. Auxiliary volunteers act as a back-up to the police, patrolling the community in cars, filling out tow reports and forms so that police officers can concentrate on more pressing matters. There are two auxiliary police bases in the area now: the Old Brooklyn Auxiliary is currently operating out of Corpus Christi Church on 4850 Pearl Road, and another in the Brooklyn Centre neighborhood on 1700 Denison Avenue.
Because auxiliary police bases operate on volunteer support, with donated time, space and materials, they are highly dependent on the goodwill of the community. The Old Brooklyn Auxiliary is very active because of the high level of volunteer coordination and community commitment of the residents, but they have irregular hours and have no permanent home. The auxiliary on Denison is a very small outfit, with only two women acting as staff.
Unlike other cities, Cleveland does not provide continuous training to its auxiliary volunteers or basic office materials and services. To increase the presence, permanency and sustainability of these auxiliary police bases, permanent office space should be secured with basic functions such as phones with voicemail, regular hours, and more comprehensive training for the volunteers. Continuous training with the regular police force would furthermore be beneficial to the auxiliary volunteers, according to the coordinator of the Old Brooklyn Auxiliary Police Base.
Continue to encourage active participation in neighborhood crime watch and prevention programs.
Effective and efficient communication between citizens and the police is vital to any successful safety effort. Not only are residents and business owners able to more efficiently direct police towards problem areas, but police are available to educate citizens of Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre about effective crime prevention activities in which they can participate. Jane Jacobs, one of the founders of modern urban planning, observed the benefits of traditional neighborhoods with a mix of businesses and residential uses: Business owners and patrons were able to keep an eye on the residences during business hours, and residents were able to keep an eye on stores and businesses during evenings and weekends. The various roles that a traditional neighborhood played - as a place of commerce, businesses, entertainment and residences - created continual “eyes on the street” as a natural byproduct of its structure. Parts of Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre have this traditional neighborhood structure that fosters an empowered, safe community of engaged citizens. Programs and activities offered through the OBCDC and the Cleveland Department of Police have provided an even greater opportunity for citizen participation in community safety. These programs should be maintained and amplified.
Establish a crime blotter network.
Such a network would communicate to citizens what crime prevention programs and police activities are occurring, identify those that are most effective, and how they can participate. Furthermore, a crime blotter network also encourages citizens to report instances of crime and intimidation. In short, a crime blotter network not only encourages communication, but also encourages citizen empowerment.
Encourage the participation in the Cleveland Division of Police Citizen’s Police Academy Classes.
This free seven week informational course is sponsored by the City of Cleveland meets weekly to provide participants insight into the nature of police work.
Increase the circulation of educational materials for Block Watch groups and increase participation in the Cleveland Division of Police’s Neighborhood Watch Program.
The Cleveland Police Force provides residents the opportunity to work with police in establishing community crime prevention programs. There are currently 163 Neighborhood Block Watch groups in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre which organize initiatives to monitor certain crime-risk areas. As in many volunteer-driven groups however, assistance and guidance is needed to sustain and grow an effective effort. The OBCDC staff currently distributes such educational material and information from the Cleveland Police Department, Cleveland Fire and the Council members to its block group captains, who then distribute it to their residents. The creation of an Old Brooklyn Auxiliary Police webpage on the OBCDC website would be an effective and cost-efficient way to circulate educational materials and announcements to the broader community.
Continue to organize/sponsor neighborhood events and activities that provide community interaction. Examples of existing and potential new events include:
- Extend initiatives from the Old Brooklyn Auxiliary Police Base and block clubs to the entire community of Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre. The Old Brooklyn Auxiliary Police Base has been very proactive in building a relationship with the District 2 Police with a number of innovative initiatives. On holidays, they have prepared and delivered meals to officers on duty, while block group captains have volunteered to wash police cars and perform yard maintenance at the District 2 Station. These kinds of activities inspire more meaningful relationships, understanding and respect between citizens and police. More citizens could become engaged by reaching out to after-school clubs, church groups and other special-interest groups in the community.
- Start a Weed and Seed type program. The Weed and Seed Program is a federal community revitalization program funded through the U.S. Department of Justice that “weeds” out or reduces violent and drug-related crime while sowing the “seeds” needed to strengthen community capacity, enhance quality of life, and promote community sustainability.
Cleveland currently has three Weed and Seed programs—the maximum allowed in one City—but Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre can apply the same principles of the program. The Detroit Shoreway neighborhood has used their Weed and Seed funds to hire a coordinator who identifies properties in need of remediation, educates residents about programs available to help them with property maintenance, and organizes safety initiatives such as foot patrols and community policing efforts. Funds also help pay for police overtime.
- Organize nightly walks and regularly scheduled events in parks and open spaces to increase foot traffic and deter crime. Encourage walking and events groups to conduct regular outings in Loew, Calgary, Brookside, and Harmody Parks as well as other places including Riverside, Lutheran and Brooklyn Heights Cemeteries. In Washington, DC, residents near the crime-ridden Meridian Hill Park established a patrol effort where residents signed up for shifts to walk through the park every night. The group evolved to become Friends of Meridian Hill and went on to conduct a comprehensive park clean-up and other events meant to connect nearby residents to the park. Events included art installations, solstice celebrations, and evening concerts. Over a span of just a few years, park attendance increased by 400% and crime in the park declined by 95%.
- Encourage residents to set up “sitting circles” on street corners in the evening to socialize, knit or enjoy other hobbies to create a positive and welcoming presence at the street-level. Both Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre have a large senior population that could be catalyst to set up these sitting circles in decent weather. In a public housing development in Seattle, WA, a group of grandmothers grew frustrated with persistent drug activity around their development. They set up lawn chairs on the corners that the drug dealers frequented, kitting and chatting into the evening. That simple act was enough to drive many of the dealers and other troublemakers out of the area.
- Continue to participate in National Night Out. The National Night Out (NNO) movement is meant to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; generate participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen police-community partnerships; and send a message to criminals that communities are taking their streets back. Since its first year in 1984, the NNO Movement has grown to include 35.4 million people in 11,310 communities from all over North America. Old Brooklyn has been participating in NNO since the early 1990’s. It evolved from simple steps such as encouraging residents to take a stroll in the evening and turn on their porch lights to more involved actions such as organized outings in Loew Park. Several years ago, NNO was endorsed City-wide so that each police district celebrates the night at a particular location. District 2 now celebrates NNO at Steelyard Commons. Other communities that participate hold activities such as block parties, cookouts, parades, concerts and rallies. Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre may want to consider having an “Old Brooklyn/Brooklyn Centre Night Out” and conducting an event in the Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre neighborhoods.
- Continue to hold community safety-education and outreach events such as the annual Neighborhood Safety Summit and the Annual Crime Fair organized by the OBCDC. The annual Neighborhood Safety Summit offers workshops to participants with representatives from community crime prevention and treatment centers. It also provides an opportunity for people to turn in firearms, no questions asked. The Annual Crime Fair is a family-oriented affair that allows a positive and friendly introduction to safety officers for children.
Reduce common visual indicators that can create a perception of an unsafe environment.
Many activities that are geared towards increasing safety are really about altering perceptions. Some perceptions about safety or lack thereof have to do with the visual appearance of a neighborhood, which may be different from actual levels of safety. Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre, like many older urban neighborhoods, have developed some physical characteristics that may be perceived by some as an unsafe environment.
Eliminate graffiti and discourage the use of rolling shutters and exterior bars
Eliminate graffiti and discourage the use of rolling shutters and exterior bars on windows and doors on storefronts along major thoroughfares in the neighborhoods. Targeted streets include Pearl, State, and Broadview Roads as well as Denison and Memphis Avenues. Other appropriate forms of security include neighborhood teams that are able to respond to such occurrences as they arise.
Turn shuttered, boarded-up or vacant buildings into opportunities for community art
Turn shuttered, boarded-up or vacant buildings into opportunities for community art by commissioning local artists to work with schools to create murals that reflect the community spirit. Collaborate with any number of organizations including area high schools, the Cleveland Institute of Art, CSU, and Art House to design and implement murals reflective of community heritage, spirit and rebirth. These kinds of community activities not only turn areas of blight into interesting focal points that the community can pride itself on, but also create new partnerships between various sectors of the community and create activity at the street level, thereby augmenting concurrent safety efforts.
Goal 8: Ensure excellent municipal and support services.
High quality, efficient and responsive municipal services such as trash collection, snow removal, and beautification are essential to the proper functioning and vitality of a community. As with many older industrial cities, Cleveland’s resources are often diverted to the most pressing public safety concerns. This means that other services, less immediate but just as important, often suffer. Many neighborhoods facing similar problems have come up with innovative solutions to this problem, such a contracting out with private service companies and regionalizing services to cut down on costs. However, private contracting can be prohibitively expensive for a community, while regionalization is often a slow and contentious process. Several options are available to Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre to ensure that municipal services are delivered with greater speed and efficacy.
Continue to maintain liaisons between neighborhood program organizers and appropriate departments in local government.
In order to make community and neighborhood services the most effective, coordination and communication with appropriate persons and departments at City Hall and Cuyahoga County is essential. Coordination with these entities reduces redundancy, communicates to the local authorities what is needed versus what is unnecessary, and encourages new synergies that may not have been possible when working separately.
Maintain and strengthen the District 2 Police-Community Relations Council. The District 2 Commander has a meeting every month for presidents of block clubs and representatives from the City of Cleveland and Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre. These meetings provide an opportunity for block clubs, police and others involved in safety and law enforcement to share ideas and issues with one another. Encourage all auxiliary police volunteers to attend, and coordinate a rotating schedule of block group captains to attend and then email minutes out to other captains for distribution.
Promote behavior that alleviates the burden on city services, such as responsible property stewardship, and proper disposal of garbage and unwanted appliances.
Some behaviors put undue stress on city services. Many of these stresses are alleviated or avoided when residents, businesses and visitors act as responsible citizens, taking more personal responsibility to keep the neighborhood clean and safe.
Educate citizens
Educate citizens about how actions such as littering, illegal dumping, and property negligence eventually cost residents and business owners in terms of higher municipal taxes (due to increased need for municipal services), decreased quality of life, and decreased property values. Distribute materials that clearly outline how one can help neighborhood services work more effectively, such as disposing of trash and litter appropriately; taking unwanted household items and appliances to designated dumps or waste round-ups; and appropriate property maintenance, including lawn, tree lawn and sidewalk care, as well as shoveling snow from driveways and sidewalks. For example, the Detroit Shoreway Weed and Seed office developed materials and an outreach program that works with property owners about maintenance issues.
Create a Citizens Recognition Program.
Responsible citizen behavior could also be promoted through the creation of a recognition program to reward property owners or citizens that help to compliment traditional municipal services. One example would be an annual ceremony where one or more residents are recognized for outstanding service to the community.
Goal 9:Encourage the collaboration of diverse neighborhood organizations.
Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre have a number of diverse corporations, institutions and community organizations and groups that are committed in various ways to serving the broader community and creating a healthy, happy place to live. These entities include MetroHealth Hospital and its Senior Health and Wellness Center, nearly 40 places of worship, 14 public, private and charter schools, two branches of the Cleveland Public Library, and many neighborhood organizations including the Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation, the Brooklyn Centre Community Association, the Southwest Citizens' Area Council, the South Hills Civic Association, 163 Block Clubs, as well as special-focus groups including Art House, the Friends of Big Creek Watershed Group and the Old Brooklyn Historical Society. Each of these organizations and entities are committed to servicing the neighborhoods. Collaboration among them produces many opportunities for synergy, efficacy of services, and reduction of overhead costs.
Continue community health outreach programs through local health facilities including MetroHealth Hospital and Metro-Health Senior Health and Wellness Center.
Trends show that the neighborhoods’ population of elderly, minority persons, and people below the poverty line are growing. These populations exhibit higher health risks than the general population, and generally have less access to health care options. As such, it is expected that an increasing number of people will be in need of healthcare and senior services in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre. Healthcare professionals and institutions are increasingly turning towards preventative health care to minimize costs both for patients and for hospitals. Community healthcare outreach and education is an essential component in preventative healthcare, engendering a healthier, more prosperous population and also allowing healthcare providers to operate more efficiently and effectively. Fortunately, MetroHealth Hospital has several community-outreach health programs, including their award-winning Bringing Education, Advocacy, and Support Together (BREAST) program in which breast cancer education and screening are brought directly to the neighborhoods where there is a high concentration of uninsured and underinsured minority women. Additionally, their Amigas Latinas program trains Hispanic volunteers to bring breast health education, guidance and support to members of the Hispanic community. By increasing healthcare outreach in the community, MetroHealth Hospital and its Senior Health and Wellness Centre would strengthen operations, provide critical preventative healthcare, and ensure a sustainable future in the community. Some possible community services and programs resulting from collaboration include:
Continue and increase distribution of MetroHealth Hospital and MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center materials
Continue and increase distribution of MetroHealth Hospital and MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center materials that promote services offered to the community, particularly to seniors. MetroHealth has developed numerous materials regarding their programs that are made available to the community. Many of these materials are available at the OBCDC office. Work with MetroHealth to conduct bi-annual mailings to all Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre residents that outline the most valuable programs that they provide. Text should be in large print for seniors to easily read and materials could be made available at all community recreation facilities, neighborhood organizations, places of worship and schools. Volunteers from the neighborhood groups and the schools could distribute these materials house-to-house to cut down on mailing costs. Materials should also be uploaded to all community organization websites.
Create a farmers’ market
Create a farmers’ market, held at the same location on a regular basis, such as weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, during the Northeastern Ohio growing season that features fresh, local produce. Partner with area health entities including MetroHealth, Cleveland Board of Health, and Cuyahoga County Board of Health, to provide fresh produce to residents, staff, visitors, patients and seniors. Only 17% of Americans get their recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables every day, leading to increased risk of heart disease, cancer and other health conditions. Providing this access to residents, patrons and patients in Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre would encourage people to make wiser choices regarding food and nutrition. The Kamm’s Corners Farmers’ Market partnered with nearby Fairview Hospital of the Cleveland Clinic Health System to sponsor them and provide healthcare informational materials to patrons of the market.
Create a community taskforce to determine a sustainable source of funding to maintain and expand community programs offered at the MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center.
The Senior Health and Wellness Center is extremely involved in community outreach and education of seniors and their caregivers. The Center relied on grants and donations for its construction, but this funding must be sustained so it can maintain and increase its current level of outreach and program offerings.
Encourage liaisons between area schools and other community entities involved with physical and/or community health
Encourage liaisons between area schools and other community entities involved with physical and/or community health to encourage intergenerational interaction, experiential learning, and community outreach. Such entities could include the MetroHealth Senior Health and Wellness Center and elder care facilities; Friends of Big Creek; Art House; and the libraries. Experiential learning has been proven to improve test scores in elementary and high school students, while engaging area youth in physical and community health engenders healthy habits and lasting community bonds that extend into adulthood. MetroHealth has partnered with Road of Life – Cancer Prevention for Kids to introduce health and nutrition curriculum in several Cleveland classrooms in high-risk neighborhoods. Students learn about nutrition, disease, physical fitness and feeling healthy. This curriculum also involves visits of MetroHealth professionals to inspire interest in health careers.
Establish community-based mentoring and tutoring programs to increase high school attendance, test scores and graduation rates.
The benefits of mentoring include improved academic performance and reductions in violence and substance abuse. One study found that adolescents with mentors were significantly less likely to participate in 4 of the 5 risk behaviors including carrying a weapon, illicit drug use, smoking heavily, and sexual promiscuity.
Combine school facilities with youth Safe Havens and recreational activities in one building
Combine school facilities with youth Safe Havens and recreational activities in one building, when possible, in order to create inter-generational relationships that could lead to mentoring and tutoring, as well as to increase convenience while reducing overhead costs. As mentioned in Section 7.1, the Youth Safe Haven/Police Mini-station (YSH/PM) model combines an after-school safe haven with a neighborhood-based police mini-station. The mini-station is established in or near a school building, and staffed with trained volunteers to help with mentoring and tutoring but also with paid local police who are assigned to work closely with program staff. Police officers assigned to the YSH/PM split half their time mentoring youths and the other half on community policing.
Work with neighborhood religious institutions to develop safe haven and mentoring programs for neighborhood youth.
This has been successfully developed and implemented in Cleveland’s West Side Neighborhoods. West Side Ecumenical Ministries administers and houses a Safe Haven for the Detroit Shoreway neighborhood, where youth ages 10-17 can come between 3:00 to 7:00 PM Monday through Thursday for tutoring, activities, and field trips. Consult the National Mentoring Center website for guidelines and ideas at www.nwrel.org/mentoring/ index.php.
Develop community-building events.
Critical to a community’s health are events that bring neighbors and community members together. Such events increase communication and understanding across borders and also increase the likelihood that residents will “look out” for one another.
Organize interfaith picnics.
Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre have nearly 40 places of worship. Their combined congregations represent a huge number of Old Brooklyn and Brooklyn Centre residents. Interaction among so many individuals is likely to encourage other positive community-based relationships and synergies.
Organize volunteer events for the Cleveland District 2 Police.
As mentioned under 7.2, the broader community could expand upon the service programs implemented by Old Brooklyn Auxiliary Police, such as an annual police-car wash, and holiday meal-delivery. Not only would these activities help build beneficial relationship between the community and the police force, but also among residents.
Work with local businesses, institutions, and environmental organizations to offer educational and internship opportunities for persons of all ages.
It is critical to community health that its residents are not only engaged with centers of employment and revenue in the neighborhood, but they are continually presented with the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and skill. This is an essential component to creating a knowledge-based community that can make informed decisions and feel empowered to guide community development into the future.
Create internship or apprenticeship opportunities
Create internship or apprenticeship opportunities with businesses, institutions and government for the various sectors of the community (high school or college students, the unemployed, the elderly). Developing a trained workforce is critical in growing and retaining a community’s population.
Work with MetroHealth Hospital System to build upon their Road of Life – Cancer Prevention for Kids program.
The program already works to inspire school children to become interested in the health field as a profession for students in grades three through five. Consider extending this program to high school students to contain more rigorous curriculum and internships.
Develop liaisons between local schools and other area stakeholders
Develop liaisons between local schools and other area stakeholders including Ohio Canal Corridor, Friends of Big Creek, Cleveland Metroparks, Art House, City of Cleveland, and neighborhood industries to help educate students about health, biology, ecology, and chemistry through hands-on experiences.
