Education

Press Conference in recognition of Ohio Lead Awareness Week

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 07/14/2008 - 10:50.
07/21/2008 - 11:00
07/21/2008 - 12:00
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The Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC) will be holding a Press Conference in recognition of Ohio Lead Awareness Week, which will take place the week of July 20th – 26th, 2008.  Scheduled speakers will address the significant progress made in reducing the number of children affected by lead paint hazards, as well as the importance of continued vigilance and prevention in light of new evidence linking childhood lead exposure to crime, low school-performance, as well as numerous lifelong health problems.  Scheduled speakers, representing a City, County, and State unified effort to eliminate the dangers of childhood lead poisoning are:

 

  • Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones, Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners
  • Mayor Frank Jackson, City of Cleveland
  • Mayor Eric Brewer, City of East Cleveland
  • State Representative Mike Foley, District 14
  • Stuart Greenburg, Executive Director, Environmental Health Watch
  • Nakiaa Robinson, Program Manager, Office of Early Childhood, Invest in Children

 

Location

The Justice Center (North face of building)
1200 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH
United States

A Star is Born: Community Transformation at the Nexus of Social and Environmental Justice

Submitted by Sudhir Kade on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 18:44.

 

Back in January of 2007 I first proposed the application of innovative, sustainably powered aquaponics in tandem with organic farming to uplift underprivileged communities and resolve urban blight.  East Cleveland, where we have worked for years now, to facilitate positive change, remains a tremendous opportunity for Urban aquaponics integration, especially given the extraordinary connections falling into place recently toward the Star Neighborhood Vision.  A two-year quest to secure financially viable and socially redeeming use for the old Hough Bakeries building has finally manifested, through trial and tribulation, with the likely emergence of multiple schools at the Star Village, as it is now called, on Lakeview in East Cleveland.  REALNEO and Star Neighborhood Development founder Norm Roulet deserves kudos for perservering through political turbulence and facilitating the key connections to make this work.  

Ingenuity Cool

Submitted by lmcshane on Fri, 07/11/2008 - 13:47.


Graphics speak louder than words, but, of course, the kids know that!!!

I GRO Cuba to Grow NEO?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 07/10/2008 - 22:36.
07/15/2008 - 18:00
07/15/2008 - 19:00
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I thought perhaps I could stump City Fresh's Maurice Small with the question "what county in the world is the leader in urban farming?", but he didn't hesitate responding Cuba. And the July 8, 2008 I GRO EC roundtable concluded we need to plan a best practices mission to Havana. Next Tuesday, July 15, 6-7 PM, come to the Independent Green Republic Of Star Village, at the Star/Hough Bakeries Complex, to help plan our mission to Cuba and discuss other plans for transforming our region through urban farming.

Location

Star Complex (Former Hough Bakeries)
1519 Lakeview Road
Cleveland, OH
United States

Let Them Eat Fresh, Local, Organic Raspberries and Blackberries They Picked In Their Neighborhood For Free

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Tue, 07/08/2008 - 11:08.
07/08/2008 - 18:00
07/08/2008 - 19:00
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When our neighbor Dr. Pat Blochowiak told us to stop by her garden and pick some raspberries, blackberries and snow peas, I didn't realize the depths of her bounty... or how great blackberries may be. As my kids picked through nature, they chomped down probably $50 worth of the best food in town, when you may find food so good. As I looked at the bowls of berries collected in short time, I felt blessed by my community and nature. Over a fresh berries and whipped organic cream desert, our family celebrated Summer and life in the best way. All that is the certain promise of East Cleveland, with community farming. Help plan that reality with Maurice Small and others as we meet again, today, for what has become an every-other-Tuesday City Fresh I GRO EC brainstorming session, in East Cleveland. This week, we'll meet at the Hough/Star Bakeries complex, and also visit Brown's Market, which we plan to convert into a pilot City Fresh Market.

Location

Star Complex (Former Hough Bakeries)
1519 Lakeview Road
Cleveland, OH
United States

Congratulations to Shaw's 'Best Band In The World'

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Fri, 07/04/2008 - 09:06.

When people wonder what is the value of a local daily newspaper, I must point to the story of Shaw High School Band, which was invited to China to perform but could not afford to do that. The Plain Dealer article "Bang a Drum, Proudly", by Connie Schulz, raised enough attention and funding to get them there, from where they just returned in triumph (nicely covered in the PD here, today)... a $500,000 whirlwind phenomenon all occurring in less than 6 months!

Question of the Day: How Is Your Victory Garden?

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 07/03/2008 - 10:40.

Now that my family has land that we may use for a while, we are growing our own food... and enough for many other families, it seems. One $1.07 packet of radish seeds planted in May is already many pounds of crisp, bright, beautiful, healthy fresh veggies... and eating my first fresh radish of my life taught me radishes are actually delicious. Same for Kale, and all the varieties of lettuce covering our farmland... really fresh pesto is to die for... can't wait for the carrots and shallots!

NEO Excellence Roundtable: Urban Farming with Maurice Small

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Mon, 06/23/2008 - 07:35.
06/24/2008 - 18:00
06/24/2008 - 19:00
Etc/GMT-4

Maurice Small and friends in East Cleveland

Two weeks ago, City Fresh's Maurice Small met with friends in East Cleveland to discuss City Fresh, urban farming, and how we may convert a typical urban convenient store, Brown's Market, into a pilot City Fresh local foods market. During our discussions, Maurice mentioned that a dedicated urban farmer may earn more than $30,000 per year from sales of food grown on one typical urban lot (say 1/10th an acre). That being the case, and considering our ever-growing need and realigning demand for locally grown food, and the fact food may be grown locally as cost effectively as elsewhere in the world, it occurred to me that the highest and best use for most of the land now cleared, abandoned, blighted and wasted in our urban neighborhoods is for urban farming. So that is a use we are now planning to be core to redevelopment of the Star Neighborhood. Intrigued? Discuss and plan for this reality with Maurice and friends this Tuesday, from 6-7 PM, at that house on Roxbury, in East Cleveland. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

Location

Star Neighborhood Development
1894 Roxbury Road
East Cleveland

Update on Plain Dealer, Free Times & Scene Happening

Submitted by Roldo on Fri, 06/20/2008 - 11:32.

Here is a good account of the alternative newspaper sale from John Ettorre on Working with Words. It helps fill out the details of the story:

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The Gulf in Golf

Submitted by metroparks muse on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 21:20.

Not only does the PD take on golf, Page 1 - front and center But Scene pitches in (sorry) with a story on the changing face of highschool baseball.

I GRO EC for City Fresh

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Wed, 06/11/2008 - 11:46.

Maurice Small in East Clevelanbd

Maurice Small is the most economically and ecologically sensible planner I know.

Joe Stanley, Sudhir Kade and I have been brainstorming with City Fresh's Maurice Small about "I GRO EC" - Independent Green Republic Of East Cleveland. City Fresh already operates a Fresh Stop at Huron Road Hospital - which Maurice reports is doing great - and is active in community farming in East Cleveland. Recently, we've been discussing City Fresh having an involvement converting Brown's Convenient store into a pilot City Fresh Market, which could offer a paradigm-shifting model for bringing local food, farming and their economies into very needy urban neighborhoods, in very innovative and important ways.

community development lessons from rough rider, James Levin

Submitted by Susan Miller on Fri, 06/06/2008 - 09:07.


James Levin (seated) with the Brew Crew at Carnegie Hall - photo by Sandy Kish

Could we have this much fun in Cleveland???

Submitted by Charles Frost on Mon, 06/02/2008 - 21:18.

Solar Cup 2008......

The Solar Cup Program

Solar Cup is a seven-month program that begins in the fall, in which high school teams totaling about 900 students build and race solar-powered boats at Lake Skinner, in Temecula Valley, learning about conservation of natural resources, electrical and mechanical engineering, problem solving and much more.

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GCLAC 2008 Annual Meeting an illuminating and resounding success

Submitted by Sudhir Kade on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 18:14.

gclac keynote

Having recently attended the Greater Cleveland Lead Advisory Council (GCLAC) Annual Meeting, which focused on Challenges and Affordable Solutions in Lead Poisoning and Urban Redevelopment, I feel re-invigorated by the energy and culture of collaboration driven to rectify a debilitating lead toxicity problem that is particularly profound in underprivileged communities like East Cleveland.  Held in the welcoming confines of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, a full breakfast was served while the various parties collaborating on this critical social justice, health justice, and environmental justice issue were recognized for their considerable efforts.  Following this introductory, Keynote Speaker David E. Jacobs (pictured) of the National Center for Healthy Housing delivered a stirring oratory which sharply illuminated a drastically underfunded and undersupported health concern and epidemic. 

What do you know about "The E. C."?

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Thu, 05/22/2008 - 14:22.

East Cleveland does not have a historical society like Westlake or a popular annual home tour like Ohio City, but it should. So for now, I am founding the online East Cleveland Historical Society on Realneo. Please feel free to join. There is no membership fee. Membership only requires that you share your knowledge and research.

Evolutionary Biology

Submitted by lmcshane on Tue, 05/20/2008 - 13:10.
Awhile back, Roldo mentioned that the newspaper still has relevance. Today, this article proves it.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008

A Most Interesting and Thought Provoking Article

Submitted by Charles Frost on Mon, 05/19/2008 - 18:09.

This was sent to me by a very dear friend....  Sorry it is so long, but it is well worth the time...

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What In The World Is Going On?

Parade Camp

Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 05/19/2008 - 09:03.
05/21/2008 - 10:01
06/14/2008 - 10:01
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Join your neighborhood community ARTS center for costume-making, dance & music that will be presented for thousands at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle Celebration! Special guest artist, Trinidad Carnaval artist, Michael Guy James, leads the group, and is joined by artists from around the world and around the corner--including the Passport Project Global Dance & Music Collective.

 

Location

Passport Project
12803 Buckeye Rd. 44120
Cleveland, OH
United States

Fighting Dinosaurs? Lead Poisoning and Urban Redevelopment

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/15/2008 - 14:07.

Cleveland Natural History Museum

If these are average Clevelanders, living in older urban neighborhoods like around University Circle their entire lives, they have been lead poisoned, perhaps severely. Thursday morning, May 22nd, join 100s of NEOs leaders concerned with our community's health, intelligence, safety and economy meeting at the Cleveland Natural History Museum for a free breakfast, keynote discussion and breakout sessions about lead poisoning and urban redevelopment. I guarantee you will leave this brief event with a completely realigned understanding of the core barriers to the success of our urban neighborhoods, leading to better planning for a healthy, effective region in the future.

Any Eco-Friendly Dry Cleaners in Cleveland?

Submitted by Evelyn Kiefer on Wed, 05/14/2008 - 22:42.

Hopefully after this week I will be able to put my sweaters and other wool clothes away until next fall. I have a large pile of items ready to go to the dry cleaner but I know the perchloroethelene most dry cleaners use is bad for the environment and bad for my family. What are the alternatives? I have already reduced the number of dry clean only garments in my wardrobe, but many vintage items require dry cleaning.

What is a "Green Roof"

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/08/2008 - 00:34.

What is a "Green Roof" and what does it look like?

At the house on Roxbury, the green roof is where the raccoons still live.

Promote PEACE and Understanding

Submitted by lmcshane on Mon, 05/05/2008 - 11:18.
05/06/2008 - 14:00
05/06/2008 - 15:30
Etc/GMT-4

Passport Project is thrilled to announce that we have been selected to host a group of Women Leaders from Korea on Tuesday, May 6 th from 2:00 - 3:30pm . This project consists of six visitors (accompanied by two State Department Interpreters) who are invited to the U.S. under the auspices of the State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program (http://exchanges.state.gov/education/ivp/overview.htm) , and will spend three weeks traveling around to different U.S. cities, Cleveland being one of them.

Location

Passport Project
12803 Buckeye Rd. 44120
Cleveland, OH
United States

The China Problem!?

Submitted by Zebra Mussel on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 23:19.

So I am just back from 14 days in Japan.  Interesting to be on the sidelines as 3,000 Japanese police protect the olympic toarch from what I thought would be a calm, reserved crowd.  Dont get me wrong, I was not in Nagano, I was in Shibuya / Tokyo.. but it got a lot of attention.  Pro and anti China student groups and observers literally throwing punches, 70 year old Japanese men going to jail for throwing tomatoes in the face of the police protecting the toarch... etc.  It was akin to what I saw in the USA when the toarch came thru California.

A REALNEO Welcome to the Newest Observer... the Heights Observer

Submitted by Norm Roulet on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 22:11.

April 10, 2008, Heights Observer Volume 1, Number 1 hit the streets with the lead story "Why Citizen Journalism?". Contributing writer Michael Wellman observes "The interaction of two primary themes has largely been responsible for the growth of citizen based journalism: dissatisfaction with the content of traditional media and advancements in technology", and "“A common goal of citizen journalists is to recapture journalism as a truly democratic practice that is thoroughly rooted in -- and thus directly serves -- the real lives and interests of citizens.” (see mcgillreport.org/largemouth.htm)." Wellman also writes of the emergence of "hyper-local" journalism, enabled by Observer Newspapers and preached by Lakewood Observer founder Jim O'Bryan... for good reason.

Carl Stokes Had a Black Minister Problem, too

Submitted by Roldo on Thu, 05/01/2008 - 11:13.

The circumstances certainly were different but in 1967 Carl Stokes also had a black minister problem.

It wasn’t as explosive as presidential candidate Barack Obama’s differences with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. However, it was fraught with the tension of an unwanted attachment during a hotly contested and historic political campaign.

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