Read the article in Neo-Trans here: Rebuild Cleveland, FutureHeights unite to add housing – NEOtrans

Read the article in Cleveland.com here: https://www.cleveland.com/realestate-news/2025/02/modular-housing-firm-hopes-to-address-cleveland-heights-in-fill-housing-need.html

FutureHeights welcomes Lee Chilcote as its new Housing Program Manager and Executive Director. A Cleveland Heights native, Chilcote brings a depth and diversity of experience to FutureHeights at an exciting point in time for the organization.

As housing program manager, Chilcote will be responsible for the execution of FutureHeights’ new Housing Rehabilitation Program, which will support neighborhood stabilization through strategic acquisition and rehabilitation of distressed residential properties. Following rehabilitation, the homes will be available for lease/purchase by income-qualified residents. Chilcote’s experience in home rehabilitation and historic preservation will ensure homes are rehabilitated to the highest quality while also on-budget and on-time.

In his capacity as executive director of FutureHeights, Chilcote will bring leadership and expertise from a diverse career that includes leadership positions with The Land, Literary Cleveland, and Freshwater Cleveland, and comprises other community development work.

Additionally, Chilcote is a licensed realtor and has managed several real estate projects from pre-development to completion.

“I am thrilled to be ‘coming home’ and joining FutureHeights as housing program manager and executive director. I look forward to working with staff and the board to continue the growth and development of this vibrant community organization,” stated Chilcote.

Read more in the Observer here.

WHAT is this program: The FutureHeights Neighborhood Mini-Grants program awards (up to $1,000) is for citizen-led projects that benefit Cleveland Heights and University Heights neighborhoods. The intention of the Neighborhood Mini-Grants program is to offer support to Cleveland Heights and University Heights groups who wish to build community by working together to start or sustain a neighborhood project or initiative. Since 2015, we are proud to have provided mini-grant funding to 102 projects for a total of $71,780 awarded. Check out past projects and learn more in the 2024 – Neighborhood Mini-Grants Projects Report.

WHO should apply: Cleveland Heights or University Heights residents, neighborhood associations, or organizations who need a little start-up cash to get their project up and running. Please note: The FutureHeights Neighborhood Mini-Grant is a reimbursement-based grant.  Groups/projects can receive funding once per year (ex: if you receive funding in the Fall round, you would be eligible to apply again the next Fall round).

WHEN is it happening: We offer two rounds of the Neighborhood Mini-Grants every year: once in the spring and once in the fall.

WHY should you consider applying: FutureHeights’ vision is to have vibrant neighborhoods that have increased resilience through grassroots participation in civic life. Through the utilization of a program like Neighborhood Mini-Grants, Cleveland Heights and University Heights neighborhoods become stronger as neighbors get to know each other, making them better equipped to address challenges in the physical and social environment.  This empowering program  activates the assets of everyday people, nonprofit organizations, and public resources and departments and establishes a legacy of pride and commitment to the place where the participants live, work, and play.

HOW TO APPLY: Click here to access the Spring 2025 application. We use a Google Form application.  If your group is unable to fill out an electronic version of the application, please reach out to [email protected] for assistance.

DUE DATES: Applications are due March 15th (for the spring round) or September 15th (for the fall round) by 11:59pm.

FutureHeights begins the new year with the news that Sarah Wolf, its long-standing community-building programs manager, has decided to pursue other interests and transition to new opportunities at the end of January.

Wolf has been a dedicated member of the FutureHeights staff, and her work in furthering the Heights community’s interests stands as testament to the importance of grassroots organizing and citizen engagement. She excels at both.

Wolf has left an indelible mark on the nonprofit organization. The torch she lit has sparked conversations among crowds throughout two cities, bringing them together as one community.

It is with sincere gratitude and great honor that FutureHeights carries the torch into this new year, and beyond.

Thank you, Sarah.

Read on the Heights Observer website.

For the first time ever, the City of University Heights is hosting its very own Crowdsourced Conversations!  The topic: Sustainability.  Crowdsourced Conversations is a community-building program that provides a safe and welcoming space for Heights residents to come together and brainstorm ways to become more engaged in the community.

The survey was live from October 1-October 31st.  The forum took place on Tuesday, November 19 from 7pm-8:30pm in the Large Music Room, (M109) at Wiley Middle School. Opening remarks were made by Mayor Michael Brennan along with Deanna Bremer Fisher before we turned it over to our small group discussions.

This event was free to attend.

How Crowdsourced Conversations flows:

Step One: The Survey!

• The purpose of our survey is to reach as many Heights stakeholders as possible in order to generate meaningful action-oriented small group discussion questions for our event on the topic.

Step Two:  The Data!

• Once the survey closes, we will generate a report to share the results.  This report will be housed on the FutureHeights website and will be shared with community partners, elected officials, and more.
• We will also use the survey results to generate small group discussion questions for our Crowdsourced Conversations event on the topic.

Step Three: The Conversation!

• All Heights residents/stakeholders are encouraged to participate in our Crowdsourced Conversations forum.
• While there will be brief opening remarks by guest speakers, this forum series emphasizes the small group discussions that are action-oriented and strengths-based.

Step Four: The Follow-up! 

• After our forum night, all event participants will have the opportunity to stay connected to the other members of their small group discussion and will receive electronic copies of the survey report and any other resources utilized during the event.
• All event participants will also be able to help us co-create a Resource Page on the forum topic that will live on the FutureHeights website.

This forum series will be an opportunity to connect with other Heights residents about topics that impact us in a variety of overlapping ways. We hope you can join us for all four conversations! Any questions, connect with [email protected].

THANK YOU!

This topic was selected by the City of University Heights Citizens Advisory Committee on Sustainability.

This forum is being planned in partnership with FutureHeights and the City of University Heights as well as the UH residents. Thank you for the joy, wisdom, and enthusiasm you bring to the table!

MORE FORUM DETAILS HERE.

Our fourth and final topic for our 2024 round of the Crowdsourced Conversation forum series is “Severance Town Center.”  The survey was live September 15-October 15.  The forum on this topic took place on Tuesday, November 12 from 7pm-8:30pm at Heights High School.

Crowdsourced Conversations is a community-building program that provides a safe and welcoming space for Heights residents to come together and brainstorm ways to become more engaged in the community.

The 2024 forum series is being planned in partnership with FutureHeights Community & Civic Engagement Committee, Height Libraries, Home Repair Resource Center, Cleveland Heights Green Team, Heights Bicycle Coalition City of Cleveland Heights Racial Justice Task Force, representatives of Cleveland Heights City Council, and more.  Thank you for the joy, wisdom, and enthusiasm you bring to the table!

Our third topic for our 2024 round of the Crowdsourced Conversation forum series is “Our Public Parks.”  The survey was LIVE July 1-July 31.

Our forum on the subject took place on Thursday, August 29 from 7pm-8:30pm at Forest Hill Park Picnic Pavilions 2A& 2B.

Visit the Resource Page for this forum here.

THANK YOU!

The 2024 forum series is being planned in partnership with FutureHeights Community & Civic Engagement Committee, Height Libraries, Home Repair Resource Center, Cleveland Heights Green Team, Heights Bicycle Coalition City of Cleveland Heights Racial Justice Task Force, representatives of Cleveland Heights City Council, and more.  Thank you for the joy, wisdom, and enthusiasm you bring to the table!

MORE FORUM DETAILS HERE.

Our second topic for our 2024 round of the Crowdsourced Conversation forum series was “Turning the Noble Neighborhood & Business District Into a Destination.”  Our forum on the subject took place on Wednesday, June 26 from 7pm-8:30pm at the Noble Library branch (2800 Noble Road).

THANK YOU!

The 2024 forum series is being planned in partnership with FutureHeights Community & Civic Engagement Committee, Height Libraries, Home Repair Resource Center, Cleveland Heights Green Team, Heights Bicycle Coalition City of Cleveland Heights Racial Justice Task Force, representatives of Cleveland Heights City Council, and more.  Thank you for the joy, wisdom, and enthusiasm you bring to the table!

MORE FORUM DETAILS HERE.

Robert (Bob) Brown, former Director of the city of Cleveland’s Planning Department with over 38 years of experience in city planning, also has been active in FutureHeights for many years, having served on the Planning and Development Committee, the Housing Committee, and as a previous Board chairperson. Bob also served as an interim Executive Director for the MidTown CDC in Cleveland, and we are thankful that Bob has volunteered his expertise during this important time of transition.

The FutureHeights board of directors on May 2 named Brenda Bailey as Interim Manager to oversee day to day operations during the organization’s restructuring. Bailey currently administers the VIP Alliance, an intentional volunteer program that enlists more than 2000 Heights community members. Under her management, FutureHeights’ volunteer engagement grew more than 25% during the first quarter of 2024. Bailey has been a resident of Cleveland Heights since 2020, residing in University Heights for five years prior to that, giving her insight into both communities. She may be reached at [email protected].