AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS

MERRICK HOUSE FREE YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAM for Cleveland residents, Monday thru Friday from 2:30-5:30 pm. at 1050 Starkweather Avenue in the Tremont neighborhood for students ages 6-17.  Program offers homework assistance, snacks, arts and crafts, field trips, fitness activities and service projects. Some programs offered are Youth Leadership Council, Junior Achievement Curriculum, Ambassador of Compassion Curriculum. Older students (ages 13-17) are encouraged to participate in discussions on issues affecting them today. For more information or to sign up for the Youth Program at Merrick House, which serves the West Side of Cleveland, call Cymone Morgan, youth Program Director, at 216-771-5077, ext. 130

THE OHIO AFTERSCHOOL ENRICHMENT EDUCATIONAL SAVINGS PROGRAM application window for the 2023-2024 school year is now open. For more information visit www.education.ohio.gov/ohioace. The Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) Educational Savings Account program provides funds for a variety of educational and enrichment activities. Ohio children ages 6 to 18 who meet income requirements or reside in a designated school district can receive up to $1,000 to spend on allowable activities. 

RAINEY INSTITUTE AT THE PIVOT CENTER, 2937 W. 25^th, will be offering after school programs for the first time. Tuition assistance is available through the Ohio Afterschool Child Enrichment (ACE) program. For families that have used up their ACE funds, or who do not qualify for ACE, contact the Rainey Institute to inquire about tuition assistance at 216-881-1766.

ARTS

ART HOUSE, 3119 Denison Avenue, will have a free one day workshop on Mexican artistic practices in collaboration with Comité Mexicano de Cleveland and Metro West: Papel Picado on September 23 from 10 a.m. – Noon. Sign up on the Art House website at: www.arthouseinc.org.

78^TH STREET STUDIOS THIRD FRIDAYS, September 15^th at 1300 W. 78^th Street.  Free open house that showcases finished work and gallery exhibits every third Friday of the month from 5-9 p.m.

FREE FALL HARVEST ART CLASSES at Shalom & Tranquility Community Garden on Saturdays September 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, and Oct 14 from 2:30-3.:30 p.m. Sponsored by MyCom, MetroWest, ArtHouse and Shalom & Tranquility Community Garden. For more info visit www.arthousinc.org.

SPACES, 2900 Detroit Avenue, has the work of three artists on display in its galleries through October 20^th: Searching for Mother Tongues by artist Ada Pinkston of Baltimore Maryland will be in the Gund Gallery; The gardens of Adonis are cultivated for the sake of flowers no fruits by Faysal Altunbozar of London in the UK will be on display in the Oracle Gallery; and F is For Freedom by Vivica Sattlerwhite of Cleveland, Ohio will be on display in Toby’s Vault. Gallery hours are Wednesdays thru Saturdays from Noon – 5 p.m.

WALKABOUT TREMONT: Friday, September 8: Art, food, drinks, pop-up vendors, street performers. Visit www.ExperienceTremont.com for more information.

AWARDS

NOMINATE A REGIONAL LEADER who is involved in transportation or infrastructure in the five-county region served by the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) for the Ehnrfelt Award. Nominations are due by September 22, 2023. For more information visit the NOACA website at: www.noaca.org/about/annual-reports-and-events/ehnrfelt-award.

BENEFITS

HAVE YOUR SNAP (FOOD STAMPS/EBT) BENEFITS BEEN STOLEN/SKIMMED? You may qualify for replacement benefits. To request replacement benefits go to:https://bit.ly/437Detr  Ohio SNAP recipients whose benefits were stolen before June 16, 2023 must submit the new JFS Form 07011 by September 14, 2023. This form requires an ink signature.

CITY OF CLEVELAND

VISIT THE CITY OF CLEVELAND WEBSITE at clevelandohio.gov offers information on City of Cleveland services and events around town.

COMMUNITY

UNITED WAY COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: September Panel Discussion: The Social Impact of Utility Debt, Thursday, September 14, Noon – 1p.m. Imagine having to choose between paying your utility bills or buying essential items for your family – a decision thousands of Greater Cleveland families face every month.  Join a panel of experts as they discuss the utility needs of renters and homeowners, ways housing quality impacts utility affordability, utility costs and impact on health, and ways utility assistance programs help address utility affordability. The virtual event is free and open to the public. To register to attend visit: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_N4GfjybBSoWGi3fRpteHlA#/registration

OHIO CITY MONTHLY COMMUNITY MEETING: September 19 at Urban Community School in the Dolors Multipurpose Room. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for food and conversation with neighbors.

EDUCATION

MAY DUGAN CENTER COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS offered through May Dugan Center’s Trauma Informed Education Resource Center (ERC) are free and accept anyone ready to learn.  The ERC offers  a full spectrum of learning opportunities for adult students. Students work at their own pace, one-on-one with a classroom instructor or volunteer tutor. For more information, or to enroll in a Community Education Program call 216-631-5800, ext. 120

DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER, 9926-28 Lorain Avenue:  Westown Community Development Corporation (WCDC), Ashbury Senior Computer Community Center (ASC3) and PCs for People announce the establishment of a new digital learning center (run by ASC3 West) and an affordable computer retail store (run by PCs for People) to connect Cleveland residents to computers, internet, and digital skills. ASC3 offers training that includes digital literacy classes from basic to advanced skills in areas including email, internet navigation and online safety, health and financial literacy. Learn more at www.asc3.org. PCs for People helps recycles computers to provide affordable computers and internet connections to area households. For more information contact www.pcsforpeople.org.

EVENTS

ST. ROCCO’S LABOR DAY FESTIVAL will be on Thursday August 31^st to Monday September 4^th. Hours are:  6-10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. 3-10 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday will feature a mass at 10 a.m. followed by a procession through the streets. Sunday festival hours are 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. Monday the festival hours are 1 – 10 p.m. with the return of the popular Greasy Pole contest at 2 p.m.

MAX HAYES CAR SHOW: Saturday, September 9^th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at W. 65^th and Clark Avenue.

FOOD

WEST SIDE COMMUNITY HOUSE’S FREE PRODUCE SCHOOL MARKET at Halle School, 7901 Halle Avenue, Tuesday, September 24^th from 3-5 p.m. Open to the public.

LITERARY PURSUITS

LITERARY CLEVELAND’S INKUBATOR CONFERENCE: Inkubator Writing Conference will officially kick off the 2023 Cleveland Book Week, with online literary panels running Sept. 18-20 and the in-person component at the downtown Cleveland Public Library Sept. 22-23. The organization will hold free writing workshops, panel discussions, craft talks, readings and more to empower writers, advance artistic dialogue, celebrate literary excellence, and amplify local voices. 2023 speakers include 2017 AWBA fiction winner Peter Ho Davies and a keynote reading with Elizabeth Acevedo. Registration: https://inkubator.litcleveland.org/

ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARDS will be held on September 28^th at 6 p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western Reserve University (1855 Ansel Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106) Registration (opens Sept. 7): https://case.edu/maltzcenter/node/1561 Watch the ceremony live via webstream at www.anisfield-wolf.org. The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity. It remains the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and equity. For nearly 90 years, the distinguished books earning Anisfield-Wolf prizes have opened and challenged our minds. 

DIGITAL PUBLIC LIBRARY OF AMERICAN LAUNCHES THE BANNED BOOK CLUB in order to assure access to knowledge for all. If you know someone who lives in a part of the United States of America where they are banning books, let them know about this resource. They can learn more about The Banned Book Club at: TheBAnnedBookClub.info.

METROPARKS ZOO

ON MONDAYS THE ZOO IS FREE (except for the RainForest) for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. To confirm your residency, bring your driver’s license or state I.D. or a current utility bill with your Cuyahoga County or Hinckley Township address along with a photo ID. Free Monday Zoo admission does not apply on Memorial Day, Independence Day (if it falls on a Monday) and Labor Day.

REUNION

SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALL CLASS REUNION join in an evening of reminiscing with your classmates in the school gym after the Saturday, September 9^th 5 p.m. mass.

SENIOR CITIZENS

MAY DUGAN CENTER’S SENIORS ON THE MOVE meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 1p.m. at 3800 Bridge Avenue. If you or someone you know would like to learn more about the program, please contact Senior Health & Wellness Coordinator Vanessa Jackson vjackson@maydugancenter.org or call her at 216-631-5800, ext. 139.

WEST SIDE COMMUNITY HOUSE HEALTHY AGING CENTER, 9300 Lorain Avenue, promotes health aging and links people with resources so they can continue to lead happy, rewarding and fulfilling lives in the community. Open Monday thru Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information contact Healthy Aging Director, Yvette Median at 216-771-7297, ext. 303 (Hablamos Español).

STATE OF OHIO

OHIO HAS 75 STATE PARKS:   Most Ohioans live within an hour of a state park, and Ohio is one of just seven states that charges no entrance fees to its state parks. Whether it’s boating, fishing, or hiking – Ohio’s great outdoors are a great place to explore, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources DETOUR Trails App makes planning your excursions into the heart of adventure even easier. 

VOLUNTEERS

SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL OF THE DIOCESE OF CLEVELAND hasvolunteer opportunities assisting at one of its many hunger centers, helping with data entry and mailings at the Central Office, organizing a food drive and many more uses of your time and talents. To join the volunteer corps, complete an application at www.svdpcle.org/get-involved/volunteers/