YOUR INSTITUTE NEWS & UPDATES
DECEMBER 2020
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Hello NLI Family,
Well, in the next two weeks we will close out a year unlike any other we have experienced in our lifetime. Who would have expected at the end of last year that we would face the many challenges that confronted us in 2020. COVID-19, terminology that most of us have never considered, has totally altered the way that we work, play, and live in the community. For many of us, we have seen the effects of the virus in the lives of our loved ones, some of which we have lost. For those among you who have experienced this, my deepest condolences go to you.
We have also experienced the pain of watching the wrongful deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and many others; a list that is unfortunately too long to put in this letter. These and other inequities captured on camera, caused many of us to be reminded about the depths of racism and how far we still have to go.
Though all of these things are somber and were painful for us to experience, one simple fact is true. WE MADE IT! Not only did we make it, we made it in the only we could together! We figured out new ways to support each other: Teaching parents and grandparents how to use Zoom, conducting clothing and food drives. We found a way to infuse hope in difficult times.
It’s with this knowledge that I have to take the time to thank Neighborhood Leadership Institute staff for their love of community and creativity in providing much needed information and services this year. This year, staff found ways to reach hundreds of residents through social media with important information about Civics and the power of voting, as well as maintaining mental and physical health. We started a Community Book Club, to teach residents about systemic disparities. In our collaborative work with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health in supporting Infant Vitality, we reached over 1,200 mothers with information to help their babies stay healthy. Through our True2U partnership with The Cleveland Foundation, Greater Cleveland Partnership and Cleveland Metropolitan School District, we have prepared over 170 mentors to work virtually with 2,500 students. We worked with community partners to find alternate sites for all of our Schools As Neighborhood Resources locations and finally, we graduated over 90% of our Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland Class via Zoom. Once again, thank you to all staff, Gigi Elder who helped lead the Book Club, and all partners who helped make this year happen.
None of this could be done without a community that cared enough to stay engaged and care for one another in difficult times. This year is proof that if done together, we can face any challenge that confronts us. Let’s face next year, and every year after, with this confidence.
Yours in Community,
Kevin
Kevin McDaniel, Executive Director
Neighborhood Leadership Institute
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TRUE2U KICKS OFF THIS SCHOOL YEAR'S ACTIVITIES
While this school year began just like the last one ended - with students learning from home - the True2U mentoring program continues to be an asset for the city's 8th graders. The 2020/2021 True2U program kicked off on December 4th with the help of rapper Dee-1. The online event helped launch what looks to be another successful year for student mentoring.
As our program continues to adapt to Covid restrictions, we are proud to report that over 170 volunteer mentors are engaged with the program this year and 2,500 CMSD 8th graders are active as well. Mentors will participate in five mentoring sessions this school year while meeting virtually with 8th grade classes. We deeply appreciate all those who ensured this program will continue to serve our students.
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NEIGHBORHOOD NAVIGATION SERVICES FLOURISHING
Neighborhood Navigation services can be very important for the health and well-being of expectant mothers and their unborn child. NLI's Healthy Communities team coordinates these services. With increased challenges for families and expecting Moms due to Covid-19 pandemic, extra efforts are being made to ensure our community members stay connected to the services they need most.
For the last program year, which ended in September, the goal was to provide direct navigation services to 106 expectant Moms each month. From April - September, when Covid restrictions were in place, our Neighborhood Navigators provided direct service to an average of 138 expectant Moms per month. Congrats to our team for exceeding their goals!
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NLI CONVENES ITS FIFTH COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
The need and desire of community members to discuss issues of race and injustice did not go away once Covid concerns set in. NLI understands this and quickly mobilized to create its Community Book Club. Earlier this month, we kicked off the fifth convening of this club, with The Color of Mind: Why the Origins of the Achievement Gap Matter for Justice by Derrick Darby and John L. Rury being the subject of our discussions.
Our Community Book Club now averages 31 members per book. While some guests participate with more than one group, we are pleased to welcome new members each time we begin a new book. Stay engaged with us. We'll announce our next book early next year and we'd love to have you join us!
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Neighborhood Leadership Institute develops grassroots leaders who help rebuild the bonds of community and improve the quality of life for neighborhood residents throughout Greater Cleveland.
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NLI FEATURE:
SNR SITES WELCOME CLEVELAND FAMILIES
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COMMUNITY FEATURE:
UNITED WAY 2-1-1
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NLI STAFF/ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT |
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MARIE JONES
Marie A. Jones is a native Clevelander. Her parents, Aubrey and Tommie Clarke, came to Cleveland from Mississippi as part of the Great Migration in anticipation of justice and gaining economic stability. She is the fifth of six children who grew up in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland. Marie has served as a volunteer in missions with the United Methodist Commission On Relief to Zaire (now the New Democratic Republic of the Congo) after the Rwandan massacre. She has traveled to Nicaragua Central America and Senegal West Africa as part of her graduate course work.
Marie began working in the neighborhoods of Cleveland to address maternal & infant health in early 1990. She has worked with Healthy Family Healthy Start (now Moms First), and Moms & Babies First Ohio’s Black Infant Vitality Program. In 2016, Marie was the heart and soul behind the local documentary One Life which takes a multifaceted look at the issue of infant mortality. Marie has served on the Eliminating Structural Racism as a Social Determinant of Health subcommittee of Health Improvement Project-Cuyahoga, participated in the City Match Collective Impact Learning Collaborative and is currently active with the local Ohio Equity Institute team that continues to work toward equitable birth outcomes for every family. A Licensed Social Worker, Marie is a graduate of Glenville High School, holds a BA in Psychology from Cleveland State University, and a Master of Divinity Degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. She currently serves as NLI’s Director of Community Health Initiatives. Marie and her husband Craig have two children, Keasia and Raymond, and reside in Collinwood.
She is a proud Class 22 graduate of Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland. An NLC principal that informs and drives Marie’s work is the power that everyday citizens have to create change. She believes this principle is summed up in the Margret Mead quote, “Never doubt that a group of thoughtful concerned citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
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$400,000 GRANT SECURED TO IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FOR PREGNANT FAMILIES
As part of the health justice work for the Ohio Equity Institute (OEI), NLI is providing Neighborhood Navigation services for pregnant residents in Cuyahoga County. Navigation is the direct service strategy for OEI and includes an assessment and referrals to services that assist the pregnant resident and her family in connecting with needed commodities and services culminating in the connection to ongoing home visits. Over 1,200 residents have received navigation services, and from the assessment it was discovered that 40% of the residents experienced a barrier to getting to their medical appointments.
An in-depth analysis led to the discovery that in three local zip codes only 30% of the residents had reliable personal transportation. Armed with this information, the Social Determinant of Health Taskforce approached the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for a collaborative venture to address the transportation need. In August of 2020, Cuyahoga County was awarded a $400,000.00 grant to improve transportation to pregnant families in these three zip codes. The grant funds will pay for the improvement of some bus stops in these zip codes as well. The grant funded transportation will be made available to everyday citizens through the existing home visiting programs which includes Neighborhood Navigation. If you are interested in receiving more information, please contact Marie A. Jones at marie@neighborhoodleadership.org.
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NLC CLASS 37 IS RECRUITING!
Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland is currently recruiting for Class 37. This cohort's start is being postponed until March 18th. Recruitment, however, continues for this flagship leadership development program. Applications are available on our website and will be accepted now through January 8th.
Join this leadership network with over 1,200 alumni and sharpen the leadership skills that will help you make our community stronger. You can access information and the NLC application HERE.
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We are working hard to increase the number of program participants, alumni, and community partners that are connecting with us electronically. Please contact any NLI staff member with new contact information and be sure to access NLI online using the social media links in the section below. |
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Happy Holidays from The Institute! |
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NLI is a leading community education organization in Cleveland, Ohio. |
We impact the city through our work in:
- Neighborhood Leadership
- True2U Mentoring
- Community Health
- Youth Engagement
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