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

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE

Our forum on the subject will place at the end of August – details coming soon!

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.
• This event will likely take place at the end of June 2024 (details TBD).

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 Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org.

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).

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.
• This event will likely take place at the end of June 2024 (details TBD).

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 Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org.

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.

Contact Bob at citybobbrown@gmail.com.

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 bbailey@futureheights.org.

On April 10, the FutureHeights Board of Directors announced that Kristine Pagsuyoin is no longer the executive director of FutureHeights nor the publisher of the Heights Observer, effective immediately.

She held the positions for just over one year. The Board wishes her well in her future endeavors.

The Board of Directors and staff will work hand in hand to restructure leadership and to continue existing programming in support of the communities of Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

FutureHeights would like to thank the community for its continued support, both financial and through dedicated volunteerism. The Board is committed to ensuring that FutureHeights is an organization that represents the best of the Heights community.

Heights Observer link.

Our first topic for our 2024 round of the Crowdsourced Conversation forum series is “Living Less Car-Centric in the Heights.”  The survey on this topic was conducted electronically from March 1 through March 31, 2024.

Our forum on the topic will be held on Tuesday, April 30 from 7pm-8:30pm at Made Cleveland (1807 Coventry Road).  There will be brief opening remarks offered by Charlie Mossbrook (former member of the City of Cleveland Heights Transportation & Environmental Sustainability Committee) and James Liou (RTA) before we turn the discussion over to you, our event participants for the rest of the evening.  Advanced registration is strongly recommended.

More event details/RSVP here.

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.
• This survey was live March 1-March 31, 2024.

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.
• This event will take place during the last week in April 2024

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 Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org.

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.

Call for Applicants!

APPLY TO JOIN THE FUTUREHEIGHTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Are you filled with ideas and energy for improving your community? Can you give time and talent to make the Heights an even better place to live?

FutureHeights seeks candidates for its board of directors to fill seats as current members’ terms expire. New board members will serve a three-year term. Applicants should be members of Cleveland Heights or University Heights communities. Applicants should have a vested interest in the organization and the communities it serves and have the time and talent to donate to the success of the organization and its programming. Applications are due by March 1, 2024, and can be found at the link below.

About FutureHeights

FutureHeights is a nonprofit community development corporation whose mission is to facilitate an equitable, prosperous, and vibrant future for Cleveland Heights and University Heights. We work toward this mission through a variety of program areas, including:

· We Care About Housing  Our FutureHomes program (est. 2019) has overseen the purchase, rehab, and sale of over 20 houses in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods with the aim of promoting fair housing practices and increased owner-occupancy rates. We are currently rehabbing our 21st and 22nd homes. The 20 homes completed have resulted in a net gain of almost $3.5 million in home values.

· We Care About Community-Building and Strengths-Based Leadership   We run the Neighborhood Leadership Workshop, the twice-annual Neighborhood Mini-Grants Program (both est. 2015), and the Crowdsourced Conversations Forum Series (est. 2022), all of which serve to empower residents to engage with and improve this community.

· We Care About Economic Development   We organize and staff events that promote Heights businesses such as the Heights Music Hop and Best of the Heights, and assist the City with community engagement on city development projects.

· We Care About Community Voice   We publish and distribute the Heights Observer (est. 2008), a free community newspaper for both Cleveland Heights and University Heights, now celebrating 15 years of service to the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. The Heights Observer represents citizen journalism: a place where all stakeholders can share news and opinions about their community.

Board Service Overview

The board is made up of members of the Cleveland Heights and University Heights communities. Board members come from all walks of life, represent all neighborhoods, and bring their various skills, talents, and interests with them to assist the organization.

Board members participate actively by guiding the organization and its programming, providing staff and event support, friend-raising and fundraising, serving on committees, and more. Serving a large and diverse area, the organization’s board and new members should reflect and represent the diversity of that service area. Consideration will be given to ensure that the experiences, backgrounds, neighborhoods, or skills of new members add to the diversity of the organization at-large.

Board service is a great way to meet new neighbors, to support projects in your own backyard, and to give time and talent back to the communities we love calling home.

Help us elevate the Heights!

Applications are due by March 1, 2024, and interviews will be conducted shortly thereafter.

2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPLICATION

All in all in 2023, the Neighborhood Mini-Grant program had its biggest year ever, awarding 21 projects a total of $15,392. On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, we held an evening of story-sharing and celebration where the 2023 award recipients talked about their incredible community-building efforts and initiatives in Cleveland Heights and University Heights. ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD MINI-GRANT PROGRAM: The FutureHeights Neighborhood Mini-Grant award (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 95 projects for a total of $65,930 awarded.

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Any questions about the celebration OR the mini-grant program, please connect with Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org.

Click here for more program info.

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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS AND PARTNERS, THE CEDARS LEGACY FUND FOR PROVIDING ONGOING SUPPORT FOR THE MINI-GRANTS PROGRAM.

There’s no time like the present to bring your dream neighborhood project to life.  The FutureHeights Neighborhood Mini-Grant can offer up to $1,000 in funding for community-building efforts being made by citizen-led projects in Cleveland Heights and University Heights.

Deadline to apply for Spring 2024 is Friday, March 15th.

LINK TO APPLICATION HERE

Learn more about the program here.

Any questions, connect with Sarah – swolf@futureheights.org.