FutureHeights announces 2025 Best of the Heights winners

Twenty years ago, FutureHeights established its annual Best of the Heights Awards program to recognize the many unique businesses in Cleveland Heights and University Heights, and to celebrate their contributions to the local economy. The 2025 selection process began with a round of nominations, followed by voting for the top vote-getters in each category. More than 1,000 total ballots were cast, demonstrating how enthusiastically Heights residents support their local businesses.

The winners and runners-up in the 2025 Best of the Heights Awards are:

Forest City Community Land Trust hosts a block party on Desota Avenue in Cleveland Heights

April 17th, 2025

CONTACT: Lee Chilcote, lchilcote@futureheights.org 

FutureHeights recently awarded grants to seven grassroots projects in Cleveland Heights and University Heights as part of its popular mini-grant program, which aims to assist groups of neighbors in volunteer-led projects that improve their communities. 

The recipients are as follows. 

Boulevard PTA was awarded $1,000 for its Lunch Bunch program, which provides enrichment opportunities during the school lunch hour. The program offers students meaningful opportunities for connection, mentorship, and social-emotional learning. 

Canterbury Elementary School PTA was awarded $740 to host its third annual Canterbury Flea, an outdoor community-wide flea market. The group plans to create more opportunities for youth entrepreneurship by engaging more kids in selling their own handmade wares. 

Dobama Theatre was awarded $1,000 to support its Drag Story Hour events in June and December 2025. At this family-friendly event, Cleveland drag queen Veranda L’Ni and friends will read children’s stories that champion inclusivity and acceptance, celebrating our unique differences, to an audience of young children (ages 3-8) and their parents and guardians. All kids get a free book. 

Forest City Community Land Trust was awarded $1,000 to construct a community garden on Desota Avenue. In addition to soil and fencing for the garden, the funds will be used to help pay for a block party to celebrate the group’s accomplishments while also building community among neighbors. 

Lake Erie Ink was awarded $1,000 for Creative Neighborhood Days, a project which consists of four community workshops featuring a guest artist, a project, and a shared meal. Community members will be invited to engage in this program at LEI’s new storefront space on Taylor Road. 

Noble Neighbors was awarded $500 for its Native Gardens project to turn two gardens at Noble and Monticello Roads into native gardens. The funds will be used to purchase plants and install them at the new location. 

The Cedar Fairmount SID was awarded $1,000 to support hiring local artists at the Cedar Fairmount Summer Festival, which takes place on Sunday, August 10th from 12-4 pm. 

Congratulations to all the mini-grantees! For more information on FutureHeights, visit www.futureheights.org.

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 info@futureheights.org 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.