ACTIVISM

MARCH FOR ACCESS: Join Clevelanders for Public Transit (CPT) and the Northeast Ohio Coalition of Disability Organizations as we march for accessible and inclusive public transit on Saturday, September 20 at 11 am at Public Square.This will honor and build on the Cleveland Bus Protests of 1985 that lead to RTA buses becoming wheelchair accessible. After the march, join CPT for our monthly riders meeting at noon at the downtown library (Louis Stokes Wing, 2nd floor, room B) as we powermap GCRTA decision makers and break out into smaller groups to work on projects.

THE MOORE LOVE PROJECT, an initiative of the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH), meets the first and third Friday of each month to prepare food, visit with individuals experiencing homelessness in the area, build relationships and community, reflect on our experience, and educate each other.Volunteers will join NEOCH-trained staff members to visit people who are sleeping outside in the community and provide them with compassionate human interaction, humanitarian aid, and a simple meal.We meet from 4 pm or 5:30 pm to 9 pm at St Paul’s Community Church in Ohio City (at the corner of W. 45th and Franklin). Our next two meetings will be Friday, September 5 and Friday, September 19. Visit neoch.org/moore-love-project to learn more or to sign up to volunteer.

ARTS

ART GARDEN FESTIVAL: Join Metro West Community Development Corporation for this vibrant celebration of art, culture, and neighborhood pride on Storer Ave! We’re transforming the lots at Storer & W. 50th into a colorful pop-up festival with live mural painting, music and performances, local food vendors, hands-on art activities, community presentations, and family fun for all ages. Metro West will be onsite gathering community input to help shape the future of the neighborhood. Saturday, September 6 from noon to 5 pm. Questions? Contact Luis Rivas at lrivas@metrowestcle.org.

MUSIC AT MAIN: Les Délices returns to the Cleveland Public Library to delight, inspire, and educate by playing music on period instruments through innovative programming and world class performances. On the first floor of the downtown library (325 Superior Ave.) on Saturday, September 13, 2 pm – 3 pm.

STREET STUDIO at St. Paul’s Church will be Saturday, September 13 from 1 pm to 3 pm at St. Paul’s Community Church, 4427 Franklin Ave. All are welcome to share music, poetry, spoken word or to listen in support. Piano, drums, guitar, and microphones provided as well as coffee and snacks. For more information contact Ian Heisey at heisey2140@sbcglobal.net or Trennell Garrison at sapphire1497@yahoo.com.

TREMONT ARTS AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL celebrates its 26th season on Saturday, September 20 and Sunday, September 21 (from noon to 5 pm on both days) inside Lincoln Park, 1200 Starkweather Ave. This festival celebrates the cultural and artistic diversity of Tremont and the greater Cleveland area, featuring fine art, sculpture, original jewelry, children’s activities and programs, food booths, musicians and performers. Questions? Contact Festival Manager Scott Rosenstein at 216-575-0920, ext. 106 or at scottrosenstein@tremontwest.org.

COMMUNITY

COLLECTIVE THOUGHTS: A news discussion group that meets on the second and fourth Sunday of every month from 9 am to 10 am at Harbor and Bridge at 4321 Bridge Ave. The next two meetings will be on Sunday, September 14 and Sunday, September 28. The meetings are a chance to read, reflect, and respond to difficult and divisive issues. We often talk about local issues (housing, policing, politics, gentrification, etc.), and sometimes talk about more broad ones. Email Matt at mattw@harborandbridge.com for a copy of the article we’ll be discussing at the next meeting.

CRIME STOPPERS of Cuyahoga County offers rewards of up to $5,000 for tips about crimes that lead to an arrest. Tipsters remain anonymous. Call in a tip at 216-252-7463, or send a web tip to 25crime.com.

TREMONT FARMERS MARKET happens every Tuesday from May until October, 4 pm-7 pm at Lincoln Park, in the heart of the Tremont neighborhood. Get fresh produce, fresh baked goods, honey, jams, hand-crafted foods, and art from local farmers, producers, and artists! This month’s markets will be on September 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30.

WARD 14 DUMPSTER DAYS: In an effort to keep our neighborhoods clean, Dumpsters will be placed in Ward 14 neighborhoods for residents to discard trash from their yards, garages, and streets on select days. (Dumpsters are for residents only. No commercial debris, please!) This month, the Dumpsters will be available in Clark-Fulton (at W. 30th & Meyer Ave.) on September 6 and in Brooklyn Center (at 4322 Denison Ave), from 8 am-2 pm on both days.

EDUCATION

HOMEWORK HELP: All K-12 students can receive free help with their homework at select branches of the Cleveland Public Library, including the Fulton Branch (3545 Fulton Rd., 216-623-6969), the South Branch (3096 Scranton Rd., 216-623-7060), and the West Park Branch (3805 W 157 St, 216-623-7102). The help is available 4pm-6pm, Mondays thru Thursdays. Tutoring is generally scheduled in 1-hour sessions. Contact your nearest branch for availability.

0 TO 3: READ TO ME! Literacy begins at birth and every parent can learn and use simple, researched-based techniques to build language and literacy skills right from the start. Check out the Cleveland Public Library’s new collection of programs designed especially for children from birth to age 3 (36 months) and their parents or other adult family members. To find the next 0 to 3 event in your area, visit your local library or go to Cpl.org/readtome. Questions? Call 216-623-7114. This program is made possible with a grant from the Bruening Foundation.

ELECTION

PRIMARY ELECTION: The Cleveland City Council and mayoral primary will take place on Tuesday, September 9. 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. Polls will be open from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm. Please bring a valid photo ID.

EMPLOYMENT

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.

WORKFORCE 360°: Do you need your GED or High School Diploma? Are you 18 to 24 years old? Are you a resident of Cuyahoga County and eligible to work in the United States? If so, OhioGuidestone offers a program for you. The program includes: paid training; GED assistance; help creating a resume and preparing for interviews; financial literacy training; leadership training; transportation assistance; help finding a job; help with healthcare, child care, housing, food assistance, and legal needs; help with additional education; Occupational Training in customer service, hospitality, culinary, and health care; support for one year following program completion.  Orientations held every Tuesday at 10 am For more information or to sign up, call 440-260-6813 or email Nicole.Buongiorno@OhioGuidestone.org or visit Workforce 360° Center (3235 Prospect Ave.)

EVENTS

ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARDS: Mark your calendars for a distinguished weekend of literature and camaraderie in celebration of the 90th Anniversary of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. This two-day festival-style celebration will feature intimate conversations between past AWBA winners, jury and author book signings, and in-community author events showcasing the AWBA Class of 2025. The Awards Ceremony will be on Friday, September 19 at 6:30 pm at Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western Reserve University (1855 Ansel Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106). The 90th Anniversary Celebration will be Saturday, September 20, 10 am – 6 pm. AWBA author panels, book signings and in-community events at the Cleveland Public Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Branch and various venues across Ohio City. Visit anisfield-wolf.org/ to register or learn more.

CELEBRANDO: In honor of Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month, the Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center (2800 Archwood Ave.) will host Celebrando, a vibrant event filled with music, dance, and traditional cuisine, as well as educational and artistic presentations, Saturday, September 13, from 4 pm to 7 pm. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, sponsoring, performing, vending, or hosting a resource table, we want to hear from you. Get involved and make this celebration unforgettable! Contact us today at 216-894-5664 or email info@juliadeburgos.org.

CITY OF PEACE CELEBRATION: On Sunday, September 21, UN International Day of Peace, Cleveland will announce that it has been officially named the 401st member of the International Cities of Peace (ICP), (internationalcitiesofpeace.org) a global network dedicated to promoting peace, safety, and quality of life in communities around the world. This designation was made possible through the efforts of the Heartfulness Meditation Center of Cleveland. This celebratory program will feature speakers from the health and civic sectors, artist Brian Jones and a singing bowl concert, Sunday, September 21 at The Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression (2937 West 25th St).

CLEVELAND NATIONAL AIR SHOW: The Air Show is Cleveland’s Labor Day Weekend tradition with three days of aerial thrills featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, military jet demonstrations, gravity defying aerobatics, parachuting and more, from Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 1. While it is a ticketed event, much of the show’s aerial performances are visible from around the Cleveland area.

MAX HAYES CAR SHOW: Come check out a wide selection of classic cars and mingle with other classic car enthusiasts at this year’s edition of the Max Hayes Classic Car Show, in the parking lot of Max Hayes High School (2211 W. 65th St.) on Saturday, September 20, 10 am – 2 pm.

ST. ROCCO’S LABOR DAY FESTIVAL will take place from Friday, August 29 to Monday, September 1 at 3205 Fulton Rd. Rides, with games, food, and the procession on Sunday, August 31 and the greasy pole contest on Monday, September 1 at 2 pm. For more information, contact us at 216-961-8331 or mbuhaley@saintroccocleveland.com.

VETCONNECT – VETERAN STAND DOWN: Military veterans and their families are invited to VetConnect 2025, a one-day event at the Browns stadium on Saturday, September 27 from 9 am to 2 pm, sponsored by the Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission. The event will feature: access to Veteran Service Officers for questions and camaraderie, free meals and refreshments throughout the day, on-site creation of veteran ID cards and dog tags, and access to a variety of veteran-serving organizations. To register, visit cuyahogavets.org/vetconnect. Questions? Call us at 216-698-2600.

FOOD

COMMUNITY SHARE-A-MEAL: Please join us for a free meal on Wednesday, September 3 and Wednesday, September 17 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.

FOOD ASSISTANCE: Apply for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other public benefits over the phone at: 216-738-2067 or text FOOD to 63566 for information regarding SNAP applications, food pantries, free produce and hot meals.

HEALTH

CLEVELAND RAPE CRISIS CENTER offers 24/7 access to free, anonymous support via text, online chat, or phone call. Call or text 216-619-6192 or 440-423-2020. You can also visit our app (no download needed) at app.clevelandrapecrisis.org to learn about preventing sexual violence, developing healthy relationships, supporting a friend who needs help, and more. 

COMMUNITY WELLNESS CLINIC AND HEALTH TALKS: Join staff from Cleveland Clinic’s Lutheran Hospital for this monthly clinic and health talk inside the Community Room at CentroVilla25 (3140 W 25th St), on select Tuesdays from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. The next three dates will be September 16, October 21, and November 18. Topics we will address include:Smart Gym & Exercise Physiology, Sleep Medicine, Reducing Late-Stage Cancer, and Reiki/Meditation. All events are free and open to the public. Contact Janice González at gonzalj5@ccf.org with questions or concerns.

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.

MOMSFIRST: Are you pregnant? Do you live in the city of Cleveland? The MomsFirst program can help you learn how to deal with the stress that comes with being a parent; connect you to resources for housing, education, and healthcare; teach you how to keep your baby safe; and find birth control options that work for you. To enroll, visit momsfirst.org or call 216-664-4194.

NEW VISIONS UNLIMITED provides a telehealth intensive outpatient program, combined with in-office Medication Assisted Treatment, to address the needs of those struggling with opioid addiction during or after pregnancy. We accept all Ohio Medicaid plans, including CareSource, Molina, and Buckeye. For more information, contact us at 216-561-8300 or at info@newvisionsunlimited.org.

PARENTING WITH CARE distributes diapers, wipes, baby supplies and pack ‘n plays to eligible families to support safe sleeping environments and parenting education. Pick up is at the Malachi Center (2416 Superior Viaduct) on Fridays ONLY.  You must have a child under 4 to be eligible, and you must provide your photo ID and the child’s birth certificate at your first appointment. To book an appointment, visit thecaring.org/parenting-with-care-1.

HOUSING

FREE FORECLOSURE HELP: Facing foreclosure? Free legal help from Legal Aid is available for those facing property tax and mortgage foreclosure cases. (The property involved must be the homeowner’s primary residence, and eligibility requirements apply.) Legal Aid provides free civil legal services to residents with low-income in Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Lorain Counties. To apply, visit lasclev.org/apply or call 216-687-1900. Assistance is also available in Spanish at 216-586-3190.

HOUSING COURT’S RESOURCE CLINIC:  Join Judge W. Moná Scott and Councilwoman Jasmin Santana for a free, in-person community clinic focused on housing resources and tenant education on Thursday, September 4 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at OneHope NEO (3202 Fulton Rd). This public event brings together local leaders, city services, and expert guidance to help Cleveland residents navigate housing issues with confidence. For more information, visit clevelandhousingcourt.org or call  216-664-4295.

NEOCH HOUSING CLINICS: The Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless offers weekly housing clinics, which offer walk-in services for unhoused folks 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 on the first and third Tuesdays at 9 am at Cosgrove Center (1736 Superior Ave.) and every Thursday 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.

SENIORS

FREE CLASSES FOR SENIORS: Through Program 60, Ohio residents age 60 and older can register for regularly scheduled credit and noncredit courses at Tri-C on an audit, tuition-free, space-available basis. Must register in person at an Enrollment Center. tri-c.edu/program60, 216-987-6000, enroll@tri-c.edu.

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.