Plain Press

  • City of Cleveland launches Financial Empowerment Blueprint to advance economic stability and wealth-building for residents 

       (Plain Press May 2026) On April 2nd, the City of Cleveland announced the launch of its Financial Empowerment Blueprint, a comprehensive, data-driven plan to help residents achieve greater financial stability, reduce housing cost burdens, and build long-term economic security.     A statement from the City of Cleveland says, “Developed through extensive community engagement and cross-sector…

    plainpress

  • Study says Ohio employees lose $35.1 billion to mental health and substance use issues over 5 years

    (Plain Press May 2026) A nationwide survey highlights widespread confusion around federal protections, fueling fear, silence, and lost income. Revealing a striking gap in awareness around U.S. workers’ legal rights to take protected medical leave for mental health or substance use treatment – a gap that may be driving millions of Americans to suffer in…

    plainpress

  • Groundbreaking ceremony kicks off construction of second phase of African American Cultural Gardens (photos)

    PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Thursday, April 9, 2026; Groundbreaking ceremony for second phase of the African American Cultural Gardens, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive: Association of African American Cultural Gardens Executive Director Obie Shelton plays “Lift Up Your Voice” on his violin. PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Thursday, April 9, 2026; Groundbreaking ceremony for second phase…

    plainpress

  • Downtown Cleveland hosts No Kings Day rally and march (photos)

    PHOTO BY DEBBIE SADLON Saturday, March 28, 2026; No Kings Day rally at Willard Park, E. 9th Street and Lakeside Avenue: John and Deanne Lentz of Cleveland Heights say their primary reason for being at the rally is “the threat to our democracy.” PHOTO BY DEBBIE SADLON Saturday, March 28, 2026; No Kings Day rally…

    plainpress

  • Cudell Fine Arts offers “Adult Clay Class” and more (photos)

    PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG Friday, April 17,2026; Adult Clay Class, Cudell Fine Arts, 10013 Detroit Avenue: Hattie Schenk shapes a ceramic vase artwork from red clay. PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG Friday, April 17,2026; Adult Clay Class, Cudell Fine Arts, 10013 Detroit Avenue: Shellby Kerec etches detail onto her ceramic piece. PHOTO BY GREG ROSENBERG Friday,…

    plainpress

  • May 2026 community board

    ARTS CUYAHOGA ARTS AND CULTURE GRANTS: Interested in 2027 Project Support funding from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture (CAC)? Join us for an informative workshop to learn more about CAC, our Project Support grant, and the upcoming application process and requirements – either virtually, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, 3 pm-4 pm, or in person at…

    plainpress

  • Cleveland’s $600 million youth problem

    by Tessa Jackson, Faubourg Advisors    (Plain Press May 2026) A pediatric therapist posted something on social media this week that’s been sitting with me. Teens, he argued, don’t need another program, pipeline, or productivity metric. They need a third space—somewhere to simply exist, unoptimized and unbothered.    He’s right. And after twenty years in…

    plainpress

  • Disappointed by City Club sponsored event at the Happy Dog

    To the editor: Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Plain Press,    (Plain Press May 2026) Peace be with you.    I thank brother BRUCE CHECEFSKY and the Plain Press for the article “Happy Dog hosts City Club forum on recent ICE escalations” which I read in the March 2026 edition.    I expected a…

    plainpress

  • Students, parents and teachers protest school layoffs

       (Plain Press May 2026) Protests over the layoff of 300 Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) teachers and staff began Tuesday afternoon at Campus International School and continued that evening at the Board of Education meeting.    Polly Karr, a parent and community activist, wrote about the Campus International protest and protests at the Board…

    plainpress

  • News from Old Brooklyn includes new beginnings and sad departures

    by Lynette Filips    (Plain Press May 2026) Another month of “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” — but no demolition— has passed in the heart of downtown Old Brooklyn and to report about it, I am using the method I used last month — subtitles. They make all these different historical topics easier to…

    plainpress