Community building programs

FutureHeights is proud to provide leadership, civic engagement, and small grant opportunities for our neighbors in the Heights. Our Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program offers the potential for funding of up to $1,000 to kickstart or help sustain a Cleveland Heights or University Heights project. Our Neighborhood Leadership Workshop series is a cohort model program for Cleveland Heights community members that teaches an anti-racist, strengths-based approach to neighborhood-level organizing. Finally, FutureHeights’ Crowdsourced Conversations offer opportunities for residents, business owners, stakeholders, city leaders and more to come together to discuss and take action on community issues. Read on to learn more!

Neighborhood Mini-grants program

The FutureHeights Neighborhood Mini-Grant award (up to $1,000) is for resident-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.

Special thanks to our supporters and partners, the Cedars Legacy Fund for providing ongoing support for the Mini-Grants Program.

LEARN MORE HERE.

Neighborhood Leadership Workshop series

This *FREE* multidisciplinary neighborhood leadership development program for Cleveland Heights and University Heights residents or stakeholders is designed for individuals enthusiastic about positively and productively contributing to the community in which they live, work and play.

Participants not only develop strengths-based leadership skills and gain knowledge and tools to help make their community cohesive, safe and vibrant, they also build lifelong relationships through this cohort-model program.

Our NLWS Alumni Association connects all program graduates and provides continued community-building opportunities, support systems, and connections that participants may enjoy for many years to come!

LEARN MORE HERE.

Crowdsourced Conversations

Crowdsourced Conversations is a hyper-local public forum series created in 2022 in response to Heights residents expressing dissatisfaction with slow “expert” progress regarding community issues. Heights residents have a long history of community activism and engagement. Crowdsourced Conversations was born out of the knowledge that there is power to be harnessed in our neighborhoods. Ultimately, Crowdsourced Conversations empowers and inspires Heights area residents to become more actively and meaningfully involved in their neighborhoods and the community-at-large.

LEARN MORE HERE.

Connect with your neighbors

Build community with your neighbors! We invite you to check our list of neighborhood-based organizations here to see if there is an already-formed group near you. Access our Neighborhood Training Manual for some tips on how to get started, build momentum, and keep those neighborly connections going over time!

We also strongly encourage you to participate in our Crowdsourced Conversations forum series — more information here.

Thank you for your support

FutureHeights was awarded Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to create and sustain our community building program that engages residents in Heights neighborhoods, train leaders, provides a process for identifying neighborhood assets and needs, and brings people together to create community action plans. The result is empowered citizens working with each other, acting on what resources and strengths they already have and connecting to resources necessary to address their needs.