ARTS

FREE KIDS AND FAMILY ART CLASSES: Join Art House Inc. staff and fellow community members for free art classes at Michael Zone Rec. Center (6301 Lorain Ave.) Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm until March 14. It is part of Art House’s Cultural Exploration Through Art seriesand is an opportunity to create art while learning about other cultures. All ages and walk-ins are welcome.

GORDON SQUARE REVIEW SEEKING SUBMISSIONS:

Literary Cleveland’s online literary journal Gordon Square Review is open for submissions now through March 31. Submissions of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry are welcome, and there is no fee to submit. Accepted contributors are paid, and all writers are considered for editorial mentorships. Visit gordonsquarereview.org/submit to learn more.

KIDS’ COMIC CON: Lake Erie Ink’s 13th edition of its Kids’ Comic Con will be hosted at the Pivot Center (2937 W 25 St.) on Saturday, March 8 from 10 am to 4 pm. Attend workshops, visit the artists’ alley, learn new skills, ignite your imagination, and learn more about what it takes to work in the comics industry. Check out the trading station to trade zines and art with other participants and guest artists. Cosplay is encouraged. Visit https://lakeerieink.org/ to learn more.

LATIN SOCIAL DANCE YOUTH PROGRAM: Become part of the Latin Social Dance family at Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center (2800 Archwood Ave). We’re looking for new students, ages 12-18, to learn traditional dance, salsa, and bachata in our youth performance group, which meets on Thursdays from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Register at juliadeburgos.org/calendar or call 216-894-5664 to learn more.

NEAR WEST THEATRE SUMMER CAMP: Registration for the 2025 Summer Camp at Near West Theatre is now open for children ages 8-13. Summer camp is a great way for students to learn more about musical theatre, gain confidence, and find their voice during one or both of our sessions. Each session culminates in a showcase for family and friends. Limited scholarships are available. For more information, visit nearwesttheatre.org/programs/nwt-summer-camp.

ONE MIC OPEN is a long-running open mic series hosted by Eric Odum. Literary Cleveland is excited to be the home for these free open mics at our office (13002 Larchmere) on the second Friday of each month. This month’s event will be on Friday, March 14. Doors open at 6 pm and readings begin at 7 pm. You can sign up to read when you arrive. We ask that each person only read one poem, story, or essay to begin and that all readings are 5 minutes or less (approx. 500 words). Once everyone who signed up to read has read, there may be time to share a second piece. RSVP at litcleveland.org/events-programs/one-mic-open.

RAÍCES BOOK DISCUSSION: Join the Young Latino Network for athoughtful book discussion on Tuesday, March 26 from 6 pm to 8 pm at ThirdSpace Action Lab (1464 E 105th St #302). We encourage you to read the book ahead of time and reflect on its themes, ideas, and how they resonate with you.This month we will discuss Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America by Paola Ramos. If you have any questions, please contact angela@ylncle.org.

CELEBRATIONS

MUSIC AT MAIN – ANDREW MCMANUS TRIO: In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, join us as the Andrew McManus Trio performs on the third floor of the downtown library (325 Superior Ave. NE), from 2 pm to 3 pm on Saturday, March 1. Andrew is joined by Tessa Thistlethwaite on fiddle and Mark Whalen Jr. on percussion.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE: The 2025 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored by the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland, will be held on Monday, March 17. The parade will kick off at 1:04 pm at the corner of East 18th St. and Superior Ave. and travel down Superior toward Public Square.

COMMUNITY

FREE NARCAN, fentanyl test strips, safe sex supplies, and more are available from the Centers as part of their community harm reduction initiative.To learn more, call 216-721-4010 ext. 6 or visit TheCentersOhio.org.

PROTECT YOUR SNAP EBT BENEFITS by downloading the ConnectEBT app, which allows you to lock and unlock your card with one tap and to change your PIN whenever you need to. Cuyahoga Job and Family Services recommends locking your card when it’s not in use and changing your PIN regularly, for added security. For more information, including what to do if you think your benefits have been stolen, please visit https://bit.ly/SNAPCardTips.

PRIMARY ELECTION: The next primary election is May 6, 2025. The deadline to register to vote for that election is April 7. For more information, visit https://www.vote411.org/, which is sponsored by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters.

ST PAUL’S THRIFT STORE, at St. Paul’s Community Church (4427 Franklin Boulevard) offers low-cost, gently used clothes, kitchen and household items, books, toys, games, furniture, and electronics. Most items are $1 or less. Clothes are sorted before displayed, and only clean/working items are available. The store is open Wednesdays from 1 pm to 3pm , or join us for a $1 bag sale the first Saturday of each month  from 10 am to noon. (The store is located behind the church. Use the driveway across from the Community Garden on West 45th St.) Questions? Call 216-651-6250 or email office@stpaulscommunityucc.org.

EDUCATION

BOOKSMART is a free digital library available in multiple languages for children ages 3 to 12, featuring short reading activities with each book. The Literacy Cooperative has partnered with BookSmart to make this resource available to local residents. To sign up, visit https://booksmart.world/tlco, create an account, and enter the code “TLCO”.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN: Cleveland-area women aged 25 and up who are currently enrolled in a four-year or graduate degree program are encouraged to apply for a scholarship from College Club West for the 2025-’26 school year, at collegeclubwest.org/scholarships. The deadline to apply is March 14. The Scholarship Committee will interview applicants in May and will select recipients on the basis of maturity, academic record, promise, goals, and financial need.

HEALTH

THE GYM AT LUTHERAN HOSPITAL: Cleveland Clinic’s new community gym at Lutheran Hospital (1730 W 25th St.) is free and available to community members 18 years old and older. Participants will receive access to exercise equipment with smart-gym technology, a personalized exercise program, automated progress tracking, physician guidance, and individualized coaching. For more info or to join the program, call 216-425-7282.

HEALTHY HAPPY HOUR YOGA: Come learn Gentle Chair and Mat Yoga at this FREE community neighborhood class where accessible movement can promote peace and relaxation, regardless of age, physical ability, or experience level. This is a safe space for your practice of yoga and meditation. Friday, March 14 and Friday, March 28 from 5:30 pm-6:30 pm at CentroVilla 25 (3140 West 25th St). A limited number of yoga mats are available to borrow, but please bring your own mat if you are able.

QUESTIONS ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER? Join us Thursday, March 27 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm in the Glick Meditation Room (1st floor) at MetroHealth Main Campus (2500 MetroHealth Dr.) to explore useful topics related to prostate cancer, discuss tips and tools on how to navigate your diagnosis and ask questions of a prostate cancer survivor. Partner/spouse or adult loved one welcome to join! Parking for attendees will be validated, and snacks will be provided. Additional meetings will be on Thursday, May 22 and Thursday, July 24. Visit touchedbycancer.org  to register. Questions? Contact Karen Hatfield at hatfield@touchedbycancer.org  or 216-455-1517.

HOUSING

NEOCH HOUSING CLINICS: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless offers weekly housing clinics, which offer walk-in services for unhoused folks who are unsheltered and in need of street outreach support such as: linkage to services or assistance with housing options. Eligible housing applicants can begin filling out applications on the same day and may also get assistance (including vouchers) in obtaining primary documents like ID’s, drivers licenses, birth certificates, and social security cards. The clinics are held Tuesdays at 9 am at Cosgrove Center (1736 Superior Ave.) and Thursdays at 11 am at St. Paul’s Community Church (4427 Franklin Blvd.) Please note: For the Cosgrove Center location on Tuesdays, it is advised to arrive early due to high volume. Also note that our normally scheduled clinics on Wednesdays at St. Malachi Center will be temporarily paused.

SURVEY FOR LANDLORDS: The Fair Housing Center is conducting a survey of Cuyahoga County housing providers to better understand their considerations and decision-making with respect to criminal records screening. Participants can choose to enter into a drawing for 1 of 5 gift certificates to Giant Eagle. The survey is voluntary, all information collected is anonymous, and it will take 10 minutes to complete. The data from these surveys will be compiled for a public report and used to inform efforts to develop resources to support housing providers and tenants. Visit surveymonkey.com/r/CGGVMSY.

IMMIGRATION

THE CLEVELAND WESTSIDE VILLAGE will present Refugees Resettling in Cleveland on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 1-3 p.m. at the Carnegie West Library. John Bazyk, Professor Emeritus of Occupational Therapy (OT) at Cleveland State University, will speak about his work partnering with the USCRI-Cleveland (U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants) in a program designed and implemented through the OT Department at CSU. Please register at https://clevelandwestside.helpfulvillage.com/events/525-refugees-resettling-in-cleveland

THE HOPE CENTER FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS (15135 Triskett Rd.) offers a variety of resources for recent arrivals to the United States, including ESL and citizenship classes, immigration and legal services, job placement and career services, after-school tutoring, child care, and transportation assistance. Visit buildinghopeinthecity.org for more information.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IF ICE VISITS YOUR HOME: All people living in the United States, including undocumented immigrants, have certain U.S. Constitutional rights. If you are undocumented and immigration (ICE) agents knock on your door, know that you have the following rights: you don’t have to open the door unless they have a valid search warrant signed by a judge, you have the right to remain silent, and you have the right to contact a lawyer immediately.  If you want more info about your rights or to learn if you might be eligible for immigration benefits or relief, speak to a reputable immigration lawyer. Go to the American Immigration Lawyers Association website, ailalawyers.org, to connect with a lawyer in your area.

LEGAL AID DETAINED IMMIGRANT INTAKE LINE: Cleveland’s Legal Aid Society has recently opened a special intake phone number for immigrants who are detained: 216-861-5700. Individuals who have been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel and who need legal advice and representation are encouraged to call this number.

LEGAL ISSUES

LEGAL AID BRIEF ADVICE CLINIC: Have a legal question?  Legal Aid has answers! Visit this Brief Advice Clinic at the Eastman Branch of the Cleveland Public Library(11602 Lorain Ave.) on Saturday, March 8 to chat with an attorney about a problem related to money, housing, family, employment or other issues. This clinic is first come, first served, no appointments needed. (Only questions on civil legal issues, not criminal problems). Please bring all important paperwork with you. Intake hour is from 10 am to 11 am. In the meantime, Legal Aid is open 24/7 online at lasclev.org, or you can call Legal Aid for help during most business hours at 888-817-3777.

ONLINE CRIME REPORTING: The Cleveland Police Department now has an online tool that allows residents to file a police report for some crimes online. This includes property damage, misdemeanor theft, lost property, and bicycle theft. To use this tool, call 833-461-0144. This will prompt you to enter your phone number followed by the pound symbol (#). A text message with a direct link to the website will then be sent to your cell phone, allowing you to submit a report. More serious crimes, such as car accidents and crimes with a named suspect, should be reported via CPD’s non-emergency phone number, 216-621-1234.

LIBRARIES

STREAM MOVIES FOR FREE: Using your Cleveland Public Library card, stream up to 20 movies per month on the Kanopy streaming service. The service’s catalog includes many classic films, international films, and indie darlings. Just go to kanopy.com  to sign up. Select Cleveland Public Library as your library. Type in your library card number. Then type in the last four digits of the library card number when asked for a pin.

TAXES

FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE: With the Cuyahoga EITC Coalition, eligible individuals can prepare and file their taxes absolutely free! There is an EITC tax site at the Gordon Square Arcade (6516 Detroit Avenue) that is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 4 pm-8 pm. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. To learn more or schedule an appointment, visit refundohio.org or call 211.

TRANSPORTATION

FREE BUS PASSES: Pregnant or a new parent? RTA is now offering free weekly bus passes to pregnant mothers and to parents of children under one year old through its Baby on Board program. Call 216-658-1355 for more information and to sign up.

VOLUNTEERING

TRIALS FOR HOPE is seeking volunteers to help on Monday and Tuesday mornings from 10 AM to 1 PM with bagging canned goods at its Ohio City headquarters (4321 Bridge Ave). If interested, please call 216-920-2205 or visit https://trials4hope.org/ to learn more about us.