ARTS

COMMUNITY CULTURE NIGHT: This free, public evening from Art House Inc. (3119 Denison Ave.) invites the community to hear from local creatives in various disciplines and learn about their work. This month, the speaker is photographer Anastasia Pantsios, known for her music photography, which was displayed at BAYarts this Spring. She’ll also share her project Looking for Opportunity, which explores the impact of the Opportunity Corridor on the surrounding neighborhoods. Thursday, August 21 at 7 pm at Art House Inc. (3119 Denison Ave.)

“FIVE THINGS WE WISH ARTISTS KNEW”: Join a panel of experienced art conservators as they share the top five things they wish every artist knew. From choosing stable materials and proper techniques, to packing, storing, and documenting artwork, this webinar offers practical advice that can help artists ensure the long-term preservation of their work. Join us online on Wednesday, August 13 at 10:30 am. Visit ica-artconservation.org to register.

THE OHIO VETERANS ART EXHIBITION is seeking submissions for 2025. Ohio’s active duty and veteran artists are invited to showcase their artistic talents for this wide-ranging and public event, which will be viewable in the first-floor lobby of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, in Columbus, from October 21 to December 6. You must be currently living in Ohio and either a current U.S. military member or a veteran in order to qualify. The submission deadline is

Monday, September 1 at 5 pm. For full submission guidelines, and to submit your artwork, visit ohioveteransartexhibition2025.artcall.org, or contact Ali Yogmour at Ali.Yogmour@dvs.ohio.gov or 614-752-8941.

SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: The Cleveland Shakespeare Festival will hold its final performance of the season when they put on Macbeth at Tremont’s Lincoln Park on Sunday, August 3 at 7 pm. All performances are free and open to the public, but donations are welcome. For more information, visit clevelandshakespeare.org.

WEST AFRICAN DRUM CIRCLE: Join the excitement as Olu Manns engages the audience in a traditional West African drum circle. Every age and experience level are welcome to participate. Bring an instrument if you have one. Friday, August 22 from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at Lower Edgewater.

COMMUNITY

BLOOD DRIVE: Give the gift of life by donating blood at the Lorain branch of the Cleveland Public Library (8216 Lorain Ave.) Friday, August 22 from 10 am to 3 pm. To sign up, go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter the code “LORAIN BRANCH” or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

FIX-IT CLE: Have a broken item or piece of clothing that needs repair? Come to one of our free workshops where coaches help you fix it, while also teaching you skills that you can use to make future repairs yourself. This month, join us on Saturday, August 23 from noon to 3 pm at the Lorain library (8216 Lorain Ave). Please note that this is a drop-in event. You can drop in at any time during the allotted hours and stay as long as you’d like. For more info, visit bit.ly/FixitCLE.

NEIGHBOR UP ACTION GRANT: Do you and your neighbors have a project that would make a positive difference in your neighborhood? Neighbor Up Action Grants of up to $5,000 can help make them a reality, and the next application deadline is Monday, August 11 at 11:59 pm. To get started, you and at least two other people (who aren’t related) share an idea for a project or program that would make a positive difference for people in your Cleveland or East Cleveland neighborhood. Proposals accepted for this round must focus on one of the following areas: arts and culture, neighboring, or seniors/intergenerational. For a full list of requirements and a breakdown of the grant application process, visit neighborupcle.org/how-to-apply.

NIGHT OUT AGAINST CRIME: Cleveland will participate in National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, August 5 from 4 pm to 8 pm. Events will be held at various locations throughout the city, including Steelyard Commons (3447 Steelyard Dr.) and Halloran Park (3550 W. 117th St.). These events aim to foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the community, and will feature free food, live music and entertainment, and opportunities to sit inside a fire truck, ambulance, and police cruiser.

RESEARCH STUDY ON HOMELESSNESS DATA: Researchers at Case Western Reserve University are seeking community members to share their knowledge and experience about homeless services in Cuyahoga County. To participate, you must be between 18 and 29 years old and have sought homeless services in the past 4 years – but not within the past month. You will be compensated $70 for your contribution. If interested, contact us at DataChat@case.edu.

Unity Spiritual Center Westlake Centennial Celebration!

UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER WESTLAKE invites the community to join us in celebrating its 100th anniversary on Saturday, August 23,  at 23855 Detroit Rd., Westlake. The day-long celebration promises inspiration, connection, and joy for all generations. Event highlights include an open house, memory circle, community picnic, youth activities, music and dance lessons by the decade, ice cream social, and a centennial celebration. Visit our meditation garden and outdoor labyrinth.For more information and a complete schedule of activities, visit: unityspiritualcenter.com/centennial.

YOUTH BASKETBALL AT UCC: Calling all future basketball stars! The Cleveland Liberation Center is hosting a youth basketball league Mondays in July and August from noon to 2 pm at Denison United Church of Christ (9900 Denison Ave). Come play and learn the fundamentals of basketball in a fun and safe environment. For ages 6 to 12.

EDUCATION

BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION: Esperanza, Inc. is hosting its annual Back-to-School Celebration on Saturday, August 9 from 9 am to noon at Max Hayes High School (2211 W. 65th St). The event will provide free backpacks and school supplies to local students, along with resources and excitement for the upcoming school year. Please note: one backpack per child present with a parent or guardian.

FINANCIAL LITERACY COURSE: The Cleveland Liberation Center (9801 Denison Ave.) will offer a free five-day financial literacy course for adults and folks 14 and up to learn about money and budgeting under capitalism, Monday, August 18 thru Friday, August 22 from 6 pm to 8pm. Learn about credit cards and debt, budgeting, job applications, and much more. Friday is kid’s day (ages 8 and up).

HOWLEY ASPIRE PATHWAYS: Calling all high school juniors who ASPIRE to a career in healthcare: this program is for you! This 12-week enrichment initiative, sponsored by The Howley Foundation in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic, is designed for high school juniors (with a 2.5 grade point average or above) interested in pursuing careers in Respiratory Therapy, Surgical Technology or Sterile Processing. Applications are now being accepted with a deadline of October 12. A monetary stipend will be awarded upon successful completion of the program. To apply, visit https://tinyurl.com/HowleyASPIRE.

KIDS NATURE LUNCH AND LEARN: Join Cleveland Metroparks this summer to explore, learn, and play games while visiting our mobile nature center every Friday from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm at Lower Edgewater, near the Edgewater Beach House, until August 8. Free lunches are provided for youth ages 18 and under by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank (while supplies last). Books for youth are provided by the Kids’ Book Bank. Each week’s session will have a different theme, including “Bats” on August 1 and “Spiders” on August 8.

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT: There’s still time to enroll your student in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District or a partner charter school. Need help enrolling? Just stop by one of our locations: the Welcome Center (1111 Superior Ave E) or our Multilingual Welcome Center at Natividad Pagan at 3145 W. 46th St (especially helpful for families who speak languages other than English).  No appointment needed! Just bring the following documents: Child’s birth certificate, parent/guardian ID, shot records, custody documents (if applicable), a recent report card or transcript, proof of residency (lease, utility bill, pay stub, etc.), and any IEP, ETR, or 504 Plan (if applicable). Questions? Call us at 216-838-3675. Important reminder: If your child is entering 9th grade, they must be enrolled in a CMSD high school by August 18 to be eligible for the Say Yes Cleveland scholarship.

SUMMER TUTORING: Keep your child on track this summer with free tutoring from licensed teachers at the library! Tutoring hours are available every Wednesday from 10 am to 1 pm at the Carnegie West branch of the Cleveland Public Library (1900 Fulton Rd.) until August 27. Whether your scholar needs extra help to catch up or wants to stay sharp and avoid the summer slide, these amazing educators are here to support their learning in a welcoming, small group environment.

ELECTION

WARD 7 CANDIDATE FORUM: Meet the candidates for City Council, Austin Davis, Mohammad Faraj and Mike Rogalski. Candidates will speak and answer questions. AUG. 28, 2025, 6pm-8pm,Pilgrim Church, 2592 W. 14th St. For more information: 216-631-0557

PRIMARY ELECTION: The Cleveland City Council and mayoral primary will take place on Tuesday, September 9. Early voting starts August 12. Please note that, while the full transition to Cleveland’s new ward maps won’t officially take place until January 2026, your polling location may have already changed. To check, please visit clevelandcitycouncil.org/find-my-future-ward-starting-2026 or look for a notice of a change in polling location from the Cuyahoga Board of Elections in the mail.

EVENTS

CLEVELAND SAND FESTIVAL: Join us Saturday, August 2 from 8 am to  4 pm at Edgewater Beach for this annual sand festival, featuring a volleyball tournament and an elaborate sand castle construction competition. Sponsored by the American Institute of Architects, this free event aims to promote public awareness of the role architects play while raising funds for the ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) Mentor Program, which provides scholarships to high school and college students pursuing careers in these industries. Visit aiacleveland.com/sandfest for more information.

PUERTO RICAN PARADE: The 55th annual Puerto Rican Parade of Greater Cleveland will kick off at 11am on Sunday, August 3. Starting at the intersection of Scranton Rd. and Seymour Ave., the parade will proceed southbound on Scranton Rd. and make its way to Valentine Ave. After the parade, stick around on the campus of MetroHealth hospital for a variety of free music and activities, until 10 pm. For a full schedule of times and activities, visit puertoricanparade.org.

TRI-CLE will return on Sunday, August 10 with a triathlon and multisport races at Edgewater Park and along the Shoreway (Route 2). Please expect road detours that day. For more information, visit rockrollrun.com.

HEALTH

THE CARE RESPONSE PILOT has launched in Cleveland zip codes 44102 and 44105. If you, a loved one, or a neighbor are experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988 to have trained healthcare providers, not police, respond to the crisis. Available 7 am-5 pm (24/7 coming soon).

COOKING STUDY FOR LATINAS WITH DIABETES: Latina mothers with diabetes who have daughters ages 12-17 are invited to participate in a research study at MetroHealth. The study is designed to test if a bilingual cooking class that teaches healthy ways to prepare Hispanic and Latino dishes to mother-daughter pairs can help diabetes management and mental health. The study will be conducted by a team led by Dr. Susan De Luca and will consist of five cooking classes, followed by surveys and a focus group, over a 10-week period. The classes will take place at Via Sana (3335 W. 25th St.), and dates and times will be selected based on participant availability. Participants will be compensated. If interested, visit tinyurl.com/study-screening-form. Questions? Contact Maria Figueroa at 216-973-5283 or mfigueroa1@metrohealth.org.

MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS, sponsored by the Cleveland Department of Public Health, will be around town at various spots this 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 Estabrook Rec. Center (4125 Fulton Rd.) on Tuesday, August 12 or visit clevelandhealth.org to find out when we will be in your neighborhood. All clinics run from noon to 3:30 pm. Questions? Call 216-664-2889.

PROJECT RED CORD NIGHT OUT is a unique community street outreach offered by the Renee Jones Empowerment Center that is designed to take services and resource organizations to underserved areas, and is dedicated to raise awareness of human trafficking while providing meals, personal care items, and resources sharing the array of trauma informed programs and services being used to bring hope, empowerment, and restoration to those whose lives have been ravaged by this crime. Project Red Cord will be held at the corner of W. 73rd St. and Lorain Ave., starting at 5 pm, on the following dates: August 22, October 24, November 28, and December 12.

SENIORS

CHAT PALS, a free program from the Greater Cleveland Volunteers, promotes intergenerational friendship and connection by pairing participants (55 and older) with a background-checked volunteer for a weekly phone call or video session (via Facetime or Zoom). Participants and volunteers are matched based on shared interests and experience. Sign up to be a volunteer or participant today! Contact Kirsten Riley at 216-391-9500 (ext 2124) or at kriley@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org.

SUMMER SENIOR WALKS: Explore our city’s beautiful parks and trails, make new friends, connect with helpful community resources, and engage with the Cleveland Department of Aging at our series of senior walks every Wednesday this month, starting at 9 am. Join us on August 6 at Michael Zone Rec. Center (6301 Lorain Ave.; we will meet at the gazebo, and the first 200 walkers will receive a free boxed lunch), on August 13 at Halloran Park (3550 W. 117th St.; after the walk, there will be a free fresh produce distribution and free live music), on August 20 at Clark Field (950 Clark Ave; bring your digital device and get free 1-on-1 tech support from Digital C, and stay after for free produce), and on August 27 at Impett Park (3207 W. 153rd St.; stay after the walk for free produce, a celebration picnic, and pickleball demonstrations). To register, call Nicole at 216-664-6152 or email Aging@clevelandohio.gov. You can also register online at forms.office.com/g/eEeuCYe1TS

UTILITIES

SUMMER COOLING PROGRAM: Step Forward’s Summer Cooling Program offers critical emergency assistance with electric bill payments or with a box fan. The Summer Cooling Program runs from July 1 to September 30, 2025. The program provides a one-time benefit per cooling season to Cuyahoga County residents who are at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (at or below $52,500 for a family of four) and must meet at least one additional eligibility criteria: a household member who is age 60 or older; a household member has a documented medical condition verified by a licensed medical professional who is qualified under Ohio law to write prescriptions; or a household’s electric utility has a disconnect notice, has been shut off, needs transferred or new electric service is being established for the household. To apply for the program, residents must schedule an appointment online at stepforward.itfrontdesk.com or by calling (216) 480-HEAP (4327). Scheduling is automated and available days, evenings, and weekends. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program and what is needed to apply, please visit stepforwardtoday.org/energy-assistance-program .