Saturday and Sunday, April 29 & 30, 2006, the Tri-C JazzFest took the spectacular stage at the East Cleveland Public Library, custom built for jazz by world-class library leader Greg Reese, for two major FREE concerts that drew full house crowds to a community few know and so most don't appreciate. After this weekend, many more people understand East Cleveland is the coolest city in NEO.
No doubt the music was first class - I'll save review of that to the experts. My observations are on the transformational impact of one man - Greg Reese, who was individually responsible for leading the charge to make this East Cleveland library facility one of the best music venues in the region and one of rht best libraries in the country - I am awed by the impact of one world-class facility and leader on a community.
The story of the renovation of the East Cleveland public library's main branch, at 14101 Euclid Avenue in East Cleveland, Ohio, is well documented in Ohio Libraries Magazine on-line [1]... highlights...
The East Cleveland Public Library has set an example for public libraries that must turn to private donors and foundation grants to protect the quality of library services.
Reese relied on his relationships within the community to coordinate a campaign that prospective donors could not overlook. Highly respected architect Richard Fleischman agreed to design preliminary expansion plans with payment dependent on funding.
Cleveland Foundation became the first organization to agree to support the project by donating $1 million for the project. Other donors signed on to support the project after the Cleveland Foundation's initial donation, including the George Gund Foundation, which donated $250,000 and an additional $46,000 for a consultant to assist Reese with securing additional funding. Morton November donated $250,000 in memory of his daughter, the namesake for the Debra Ann November Wing of the East Cleveland Public Library.
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| LibraryJazzFest1500.jpg [2] | 141.58 KB |
| LibraryFrontPan3000.jpg [3] | 274.84 KB |
| AfricanArtPan900.jpg [4] | 67.03 KB |
| DebraAnnCorner3000.jpg [5] | 232.45 KB |
| LibraryWindowPan3000.jpg [6] | 217.81 KB |
