ENCORE CLEVELAND connects people who are in or nearing retirement from their primary careers with volunteer and employment opportunities through local nonprofit organizations. Discover more here. | |
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Encore Cleveland welcomes a new grantee to the family, The Music Settlement, with locations in Ohio City and University Circle. Over 100 years old, The Music Settlement is committed to delivering first-class music instruction in private lessons, ensembles, immersion programs, and performance opportunities. in addition, their "Step Up to Quality" program uses music and the arts in preschool, kindergarten, and summer camps. Their Center for Music Therapy uses specially designed music-based interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional.
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What is The Music Settlement's mission?
To inspire and welcome all to our music and arts community to learn, create, celebrate, and heal.
Who do you serve?
The figures below describe the constituency served in our 2022-2023 season (BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color):
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* Residency sites and partners for our current 2023-2024 season include: Bard High School Early College, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Play House (Say Yes!), Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Dike School for the Arts, Fuchs Mizrachi School, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, Inlet Dance Theatre, Magnificat High School, Mastery School of Hawken, Piano Cleveland, Newton D. Baker School of the Arts, and Ruffing Montessori.
** Partner agencies for our current 2023-2024 season include: Euclid Schools, Front Steps Housing and Services, Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, Hopewell Therapeutic Farm, Salvation Army Harbor Light Co, St. Augustine Manor, and Stella Maris.
How long has your organization been operating?
The Music Settlement has been a community anchor for more than a century. Forged out of the Settlement Movement, our neighborhood music school was created as a way to welcome immigrants to Cleveland and unite them through the common language of music. Incorporated in 1912 with 50 students, The Music Settlement was designed to provide free or inexpensive musical training for the children of wage earners of Cleveland’s newly arriving immigrant population. We have since grown to one of the largest schools of our kind in the United States, serving thousands of students annually and providing robust tuition assistance.
The Music Settlement now operates two main campuses – University Circle (established 1912) and Ohio City (built 2018) – as well as our BOP STOP jazz venue in Ohio City (donated to The Music Settlement in 2013). We proudly work with numerous and diverse community partners to offer offsite residency programs, after-school programs, and services for clients with social, emotional, cognitive, and/or behavioral health disabilities and diagnoses (in partnership with health agencies).
What does the future look like for The Music Settlement?
- Expansion of “Creative Aging” programming (for adults age 55+), especially Settlement Singers, Adult Orchestra, Adult Chamber Orchestra, Adult Flute Ensemble, and Musical Mix & Mingle.
- Expansion of at-cost, low-cost, and no-cost programming, such as open-air performances and “block parties,” community parades and festivals, STEAM Saturdays (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), and other educational workshops.
- New partnerships with neighboring communities such as Wade Park, Glenville, Fairfax, Goodrich Kirkland Park, and Hough.
- New courses centered on job-skilling in digital music making, such as technology in music, beat making, audio recording and production, film scoring, etc., as well as an established pipeline for our students to matriculate to the digital music training programs offered at Cuyahoga Community College.
What role do you see older volunteers playing?
- Helping to facilitate intergenerational programming that dovetails with the work happening in our Center for Early Childhood and Center for Music.
- Spreading the word about the “Creative Aging” programming that we currently offer (and will be expanding, thanks to seed funding from the Cleveland Foundation) – both onsite at The Music Settlement’s campuses and, in the future, at satellite locations such as assisted living facilities and community centers.
- Participating in our “Creative Aging” programming and supporting with ancillary administrative tasks, such as facilitating community touring performances, organizing and distributing sheet music to participants, connecting us to potential satellite sites across our community, etc.
- Supporting other aspects of life at The Music Settlement, such as ushering at our BOP STOP jazz venue, reading to the preschoolers and Kindergarteners in our Center for Early Childhood, attending performances and recitals in our Centers for Music and Music Therapy, etc.
For more information about The Music Settlement, visit www.themusicsettlement.org
|  |  | Leadership Geauga is thrilled to announce the upcoming Heritage Program for Retirees from April 10 to May 15, 2024. This program aims to familiarize class members with the distinctive challenges and opportunities inherent to Geauga County. Participants will have the privilege of personal access to community leaders, exclusive behind-the-scenes site tours, and engaging in-depth discussions, all contributing to a profound understanding of the current dynamics of Geauga County. As part of the program, class members will expand their personal contacts, utilizing them to build a network of like-minded leaders. Additionally, participants will engage in projects that contribute to making Geauga County an even better place to live. | |
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Meet Shirley Rush, Program Administrative Assistant for Encore Employment Enterprise (E3). E3 was created to meet the needs of experienced workers aged 50 and better who want to stay in the workforce and contribute to their communities while earning an income. Shirley has a varied background, putting her education in Organizational Leadership to good use.
A Cleveland native, she left the area in the 1980s to live in Atlanta for several years, later moving to Chicago to work in the legal field. She returned to Cleveland in 2011. Shirley loves reading and is passionate about her ministry meetings and her church. She also enjoys spending time with her friends and family.
Shirley met Simone McNitt, Executive Director of E3, a few years ago while working at AARP as an Employment Specialist. They reconnected this summer, and Simone knew Shirley would be an excellent addition to the E3 program.
Shirley’s administrative work in corporate America and the non-profit world is a welcome addition to E3, along with her love of computers.
For more information about E3, visit www.e3encore.org.
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Cleveland Leadership Center Legacy Leaders continue their civic engagement by participating in Advanced Leadership Institute (ALI). Invited Legacy Leaders comprise the third cohort in this multi-generational leadership program inspired by the Legacy of Carl and Lewis Stokes. During recent sessions Legacy Leaders share their experience with participants in the ALI Class of 2024. | |
Have you ever thought about or considered Sky Diving? Listen to retired Army Veteran Legacy Leader Michelle Robinson talk about her first sky dive on “For Your Encore” the latest episode of the Legacy Leader Podcast Series. Available on your favorite podcast platform.
If you are interested in recording a podcast, have someone you would like or want us to interview, contact Claudia Owens at cowens@cleveleads.org.
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Tax Preparer -- Help ensure that tax services remain free and accessible to the over 12,000 low-income and elderly taxpayers each year by providing free tax preparation assistance throughout Cuyahoga County. Free training now and put your skills to good work January-April.
Learning Partner -- Become a Learning Partner in the Lakeshore, Near West and Shaker Neighborhoods. Volunteers are asked to exchange ideas and build Intergenerational friendships by working with Students (K-8th grade) individually or in small groups to support reading or math learning. Weekdays 1–3-hour shifts.
Pen Pal Volunteer -- Help spread joy this holiday season by sending cards, crafts, and handwritten letters to a community with developmental disabilities or mentally ill individuals. This is a virtual opportunity with a flexible schedule. Letter drop-off in Garfield Heights.
Pantry Volunteer -- Brooklyn Centre, Ohio City and Detroit Shoreway areas are looking for a few neighbors to help at the local pantry. Volunteers are needed on weekdays, to help greet and register clients, pack, and distribute food.
Discovery Ambassador -- Become a Discovery Ambassador and be one of the first volunteers at this new exhibit opening in 2024. The role of the Ambassador is to enhance and improve a visitor’s experience by engaging and educating visitors, introducing fun and new activities available and so much more. Volunteers needed in University Circle weekdays, evenings, and weekends.
Ready to volunteer? Or learn more about these or additional volunteer opportunities in Cuyahoga County? Contact Nakeva at nwilliams@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org or 216-391-9500 x 2116 to learn more or register.
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Greater Cleveland Volunteers is conducting a survey to help recruit additional volunteers for Encore Cleveland and other opportunities. Please consider taking this brief survey and help us make an even greater impact in the community. Thank you!
Visit https://bit.ly/gcvsurvey23-24 to take the survey.
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