ARTS

CREATIVE AGING CERAMICS WORKSHOP: Teaching artist Mark Yasenchak will lead a free 10-week Creative Aging Ceramics workshop series Tuesdays from 10 am to 11:30 am starting April 8 at the Eastman Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (11602 Lorain Ave). Activities will include handbuilding, tile-making, storytelling through clay, and mastering the art of glazing. We warmly invite participants to attend every session as the lessons are interconnected and progressively build on one another. Registration is required and exclusively for older adults. The workshop will culminate in an art exhibit featuring participants’ work. For questions, contact Danielle at 216-623-2921. Register at https://tinyurl.com/CPLceramics.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY OPEN STUDIO: Arthouse Inc. (3119 Denison Ave.) offers a free, family-friendly workshop on the third Saturday of each month from 1 pm-3 pm. This month’s Friends and Family Open Studio will be on Saturday, April 19. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Visit arthouseinc.org to sign up or call 216-398-8556 for more information.

NOSFERATU LIVE: Celebrate the film that laid the foundations for the entire vampire horror genre with a screening of the groundbreaking 1922 cinema masterpiece Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.  LIVE musical accompaniment for the silent film will be provided by Kaboom Collective, with artistic director Liza Grossman. Learn about the film’s production, the controversy with Brahm Stoker’s Dracula, and the film’s continuing influence on contemporary filmmakers. Saturday, April 19 from 1:30 pm to 4 pm at the main downtown library (525 Superior Ave.), in the auditorium.

POETRY READING: In honor of National Poetry Month, this April Ohio Center for the Book is hosting a poetry reading featuring Ohio poets, including the current Ohio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour, at the main branch of the Cleveland Public Library (325 Superior Ave) on Saturday, April 12. Starting at 4 pm, contributors to Light Enters the Grove (Kent State University Press, 2024), a poetry anthology that explores Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the “rich relationship between artists and the natural world,” will read poems and be in conversation with the Ohio Center for the Book. The first 30 attendees at the poetry reading event will receive a free copy of the anthology, and poets will be available for signing afterwards.

ST. PAUL’S STREET STUDIO, 1-2:30  p.m. on Saturday, April 19 at St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin.  Join in to share music, poetry/spoken word in a peaceful atmosphere of respect. You are welcome to add your voice or simply listen and provide support. Piano, mics, drums, and acoustic guitars provided along with an encouraging circle to listen. For more information, contact Ian Heisey at heisey2140@sbcglobal.net or at 216-973-1486.

CELEBRATIONS

CELEBRATE EID AL-FITR at the Cleveland Public Library, at the new Martin Luther King Jr. Campus (10601 Euclid Ave) on Saturday, April 5 from noon to 3 pm. The event will feature food, entertainment, activities and more! Register at https://cpl.libcal.com/event/13139762.

EDUCATION

FREE SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOP: Ready to take your small business to the next level? Join us for our six-part series “Path to Prosperity: Mastering Small Business Success” Tuesdays from 10 am to 11:30 am at the downtown library (525 Superior Ave). Each session focuses on a key aspect of running and growing a business, including crafting a business plan, securing funding, and grant writing essentials. The first workshop, “Crafting Your Business Plan”, will be on Tuesday, April 8. Registration is required. Register now at https://tinyurl.com/ptpcle.

PHYSICS FUN FRIDAYS: It’s time to have fun with physics! Explore and enjoy hands-on science with the Cleveland State University Society of Physics Students and students from Hathaway Brown School. Our next session will be Friday, April 11 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm at the Lorain Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (8216 Lorain Ave).

SEEDS OF LITERACY offers free adult basic education and GED classes and one-on-one tutoring. Services are available at both their westside (3104 W 25 St, third floor) and eastside locations (13815 Kinsman Ave). Call 216-661-7950 or visit seedsofliteracy.org to enroll.

EMPLOYMENT

BUILT ENVIRONMENT JOB FAIR: The Built Environment Collaborative, in partnership with Councilmembers Jenny Spencer and Daniel Kelly, will host a job fair on Wednesday, April 9 from 5-7 pm at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church (10205 Lorain Ave). More information is available at builtenvironmentcollab.org.

FREE JOB TRAINING: If you are a SNAP benefit recipient, you are eligible to receive free education and job training. Contact the Workforce Opportunity Resource Center at Cuyahoga Job and Family Services for more information: 216-987-6578.

JOB CORPS offers free, hands-on training, campus living, meals, supplies, and a supportive community to 16- to 24-year-olds looking to jumpstart a career. Visit jobcorps.gov or call 800-733-JOBS (5627) for more information.

OHIO MEANS JOBS offers career coaching, help with applying for jobs, computer skills training, help with creating resumes and more. The job center at 1910 Carnegie Ave. is open Monday thru Friday from 8 am-4:30 pm. Call 216-777-8200 or visit omjcc.us for more information.

THE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM, sponsored by Youth Opportunities Unlimited, helps students in 8th thru 12th grade find a summer job so they can learn and earn some money! Applications due by May 1. Visit www.youcle.org/syep for more information or to apply.

ENVIRONMENT

FOOD SCRAP COMPOSTING: SNAP-eligible households can sign up to participate for free in a composting program provided by Rust Belt Riders and the City of Cleveland. Just collect your household food scraps in our special buckets, then drop them off at select locations around town, and we’ll take care of the rest. Sign up now at accounts.rustbeltriders.com/forms/SNAP-sign-up. Questions? Email us at info@rustbeltriders.com or call 216-800-4651 (ext. 2).

TREMONT TREES GIVEAWAY: Help grow our city’s tree canopy by claiming a free tree to plant at home on Saturday, April 26 from 10 am to 2 pm at Pilgrim Church (2592 W 14th St). Trees are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis to all Cleveland residents. No reservations needed! Questions? Contact Julie Dahlhausen at juliedahlhausen@tremontwest.org or 216-575-0920 (ext. 101).

FOOD

COMMUNITY SHARE-A-MEAL: Please join us for a free meal on Wednesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 16 at St. Ignatius of Antioch Church, 10205 Lorain Ave. All are welcome. Join us in the cafeteria and enter through the rear door. Doors open at 4:30 pm for coffee, appetizers, and catching up with friends. Dinner will be served at 5:30 pm. A mini food pantry is available on occasion. Community meals are held the first and third Wednesdays of each month.

DRIVE-THRU FOOD DISTRIBUTION, hosted by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and the City of Cleveland, will take place at the McCafferty Health Center (4242 Lorain Ave.) on the third Wednesday of each month, from April thru November. This month’s distribution will be on Wednesday, April 16. Before you arrive, please clear the trunk of your vehicle, as we cannot enter anyone’s vehicle to load food. Pre-register at https://freshtrak.com, and bring your registration number with you to show for faster check-in.

TREMONT FARMERS MARKET SEEKS VENDORS: The Tremont Farmers Market is gearing up for another season (Tuesdays from May 20 thru October 14), and we’re looking for food vendors and farmers to come join us. Whether you specialize in fresh produce, homemade goods or delicious treats, this is your chance to share your products with the vibrant Tremont community. Visit https://tab.so/a36a7142 to learn more or to submit an application.

HEALTH

FREE ELECTRIC STOVES: If you or someone in your home has asthma and you cook with a gas stove, you may be eligible for a new electric stove at no cost to you, thanks to a new program from MetroHealth in partnership with the EPA. Cooking on a gas stove is a major source of indoor air pollution and may worsen asthma. For more information, contact Maria Figueroa at 216-778-3343 or mfigueroa1@metrohealth.org.

FREE SMOKE ALARMS are available to Cleveland residents thru Operation Save-A-Life, a program of the American Red Cross and Cleveland Fire Department. The smoke alarms are installed by Cleveland firefighters at no cost to the resident. To apply, call the 24-hour hotline at 216-361-5535. Please note that the application and installation process may take up to 90 days.

FREE SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY is available to all children from 0 to 5 years old via the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center’s Project ELLA (Early Language and Literacy for All). The first step is a free speech and language evaluation. Call 216-231-8787 to request an appointment or visit www.chsc.org. For more information on Project ELLA, contact Daja’  Newton at dnewton@chsc.org or call 216-325-7510.

MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS, sponsored by the Cleveland Department of Public Health, will be around town at various spots this spring and summer, providing free screenings and referrals. Services offered include screenings for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests, and free contraception. All services are provided at no cost, and no appointment is needed. Visit us outside Cudell Rec. Center (1910 West Blvd.) on Tuesday, April 1, at Halloran Park (3550 W. 117th St.) on Tuesday, April 22, or at Estabrook (4125 Fulton Rd.) on Tuesday, May 13. All clinics run from noon to 3:30 pm. Questions? Call 216-664-2889 or visit clevelandhealth.org.

PROTECT GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE and stay informed about the anti-trans rules and laws proposed in Ohio right now by visiting https://protectgac.equitashealth.com. 

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SCREENINGS: Adults and teens ages 13 and up can receive a confidential reproductive health screening Tuesday, April 1 at the Cudell Recreation Center (1910 West Blvd.), courtesy of the Cleveland Department of Public Health. Participants will receive $25, on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. Drop-ins welcomed. Questions? Call 216-857-6918 or visit clevelandhealth.org.

RECREATION

CHESS CLUB: Come join us for Saturday afternoon chess each month at the Lorain Branch of the Cleveland Public Library (8216 Lorain Ave) from 3 pm to 5 pm. Play a casual game or focus on improving your game. All ages and ability levels are welcome. Chess sets will be provided. We will meet on April 5 and 19, as well as on May 3, 17, and 31. Questions? Call 216-623-7011.

SENIORS

RENTAL ASSISTANCE: Benjamin Rose offers housing assistance to adults 55+ who earn no more than 80% of the Area Median Income for their household size. Support available includes assistance paying late rent, utilities, and security deposits. Call their intake line to see if you qualify: 216-791-8000.

SALVATION ARMY SENIOR SERVICES: If you are 60 years old and up or are on disability, you may be eligible for a variety of services from the Salvation Army Services Center of West Park (12645 Lorain Ave). Services offered include transportation, adult development exercise and games, hot meals, and home-delivered meals. Call Pam Jones to learn more, at 216-252-3593.

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. The deadline to file your taxes is Tuesday, April 15.

VOLUNTEERING

THE KIDS’ BOOK BANK, a local nonprofit that gives high-quality, gently used children’s books to organizations of all sizes that can distribute them to children and families in need,

has a variety of volunteer opportunities available. Help us sort, process and package books in our warehouse, host a book drive in your community, assist families in choosing free books to take home at various events, and more. Visit www.kidsbookbank.org for more info or contact us at volunteer@kidsbookbank.org or 216-417-1803.

READING TUTORS WANTED: The AARP Foundation Experience Corps is seeking people 50 years old or older who are interested in volunteering as reading tutors to help students become better readers by the end of third grade. Volunteers must possess a high school diploma or GED and be able to pass a criminal background check. They must also be able to volunteer at least four hours a week during the school year and be available at least twice a week during school hours. All are welcome and we strongly encourage volunteers who are people of color, indigenous, immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ+ to apply. Monthly allowances may be available. Visit tinyurl.com/GCV-ExpCorps.

VOLUNTEER AT THE FERIA: The Julia DeBurgos Cultural Arts Center is gearing up for Feria with Abrepaso Flamenco, and we need your help to bring this vibrant celebration to life! Volunteers are needed for setup on Saturday, April 26th in the afternoon and take-down on Sunday, April 27th, at 6 pm, right after the festivities wrap up. This is a great way to get involved, support the arts, and be part of an incredible cultural experience. Sign up at https://juliadeburgos.org/volunteer.