The Way Forward Leader Lunch Breaks take place every Wednesday at noon. Visit our calendar to see upcoming sessions.
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A master plan for Cleveland’s parks & recreation
James DeRosa, Director of Mayor’s Office of Capital Projects, City of Cleveland
James shared the three overall goals of the master plan of improving the parks experience, creating programming that’s reflective of what the community wants and needs, and increase quality of the park space. He discussed the overview of the master plan roadmap and its three components of the community needs assessment, the long range plan, and the strategic plan, as well as who’s involved and the timeline. He also shared an overview of the community engagement process and early findings.
Recorded 10/11/2023
Transforming lives at Thistle Farms
Becca Stevens, Founder, Thistle Farms
Becca shared how Thistle Farms provides women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction the time and space for transformative, sustainable healing.
Recorded 10/04/2023
103 years old with room to grow
Craig Hassall, President & CEO, Playhouse Square
Craig shared his first impressions of Cleveland, what drew him to move across the world to Northeast Ohio, and his reflections on his time here so far. He discussed the happenings at Playhouse Square so far in his seven-month tenure, and the challenges and opportunities he sees for the organization, the area, and the city. He also shared a teaser about what’s on the horizon for Playhouse Square.
Recorded 09/27/2023
Providence for families and children in crisis
Natalie Leek, President & CEO, Providence House
Natalie gave an overview of who Providence House (PH) is. She discussed the impact of child abuse and neglect on the community and the how their preventative services help offset those costs. She discussed the services PH provides, who they serve, and why clients reach out to them, as well as some of their outcomes. She talked about the East Campus, the current iteration and the future vision, and their work and impact nationally.
Recorded 09/20/2023
A unique approach to eliminating health disparities
Da’na Langford, CEO & Medical Director, The Village of Healing Center
Da’na shared the mission, vision, and overview of the Village of Healing, including what drover her to create the center. She described their programming, current services, and outcomes, and shared what’s on the horizon for the center.
Recorded 09/13/2023
Transforming schools toward educational equity
Meghann Marnecheck, Executive Director, Cleveland Transformation Alliance
Meghann provided background on The Cleveland Plan and the Cleveland Transformation Alliance (CTA), including CTA’s original four goals. She shared an overview of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and how CTA fits into the landscape. She discussed the recent refresh of their goals, as well as how to show support for schools and educators, and ways to get involved.
Recorded 09/06/2023