Union Miles
Located about five miles east of downtown, the early Union
Miles neighborhood was ripe with orchards
and farms in the early 19th Century before it quickly became Cleveland’s
steelmaking center—attracting Scottish, Irish, and Eastern European immigrants.
The Great Depression and the demise of the steel industry changed the neighborhood
by the mid-20th Century, bringing a new group of people looking for
affordable housing, large lawns and a sense of community. With that change came
small businesses—many still in business today—and one of the highest concentration
of churches in Cleveland. Today, community officials and residents work hard to
connect people, opportunities, and new development to position Union Miles for
a bright future.
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Cuyahoga Arts & Culture funds thousands of free cultural events across Cuyahoga County—with a range of happenings encompassing local photography, handmade crafts, and fun-filled community get-togethers. We take a look at Cleveland Photo Fest, Oh Sew Powerful, and University Circle, Inc.'s funded programs.
Cleveland Masterworks: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, organized by Cleveland's Slovak immigrant community in 1903, constructed two churches in its 90 years as a thriving congregation. Abandoned in 1992, the decayed symbol of better times was demolished last week.
Neighborhood Connections announced this week that it has approved $382,114 in grants to support 121 projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture will co-fund 27 of the resident-led arts and culture projects. Read about what community groups are doing with the funding to improve our neighborhoods.
The Mandel Foundation's Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) has been producing neighborhood leaders since 2006. The younger Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP) successfully empowers CDC leaders to create positive change in the communities they represent. Both programs are now looking for the next cohort of community leaders.
In early April, the City of Cleveland, Enterprise Community Partners, Cuyahoga Land Bank, CHN Housing Partners, Legal Aid Society of Cleveland, and the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless united with Rocket Community Fund to unveil the Make It Home Cleveland program. Aiming to address tax foreclosure and improve Black homeownership rates in East Side neighborhoods, the initiative offers renters the chance to become homeowners through financial support and housing stability services.
Union Miles Development Corporation is adding the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood to its footprint—thanks in part to grants from Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and St. Luke's Foundation. Union Miles CDC executive director Roshawn Samples has big goals for revitalizing Cleveland's southeast side and restoring the pride and investment in the neighborhood where she grew up.
The Salvation Army and the Greater Cleveland Food Bank are partnering for a produce giveaway in the Miles Park neighborhood on Friday.
Working with RTA, artist Kevin "mr. soul" Harp, and the City of Cleveland, the Union Miles Development Corporation installed six bus stop wraps featuring historic figures to enliven the neighborhood.
Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance on Monday to provide $5 million in ARPA funds to Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity. The funds will be used to build and rehabilitate homes in underserved neighborhoods under Habitat's five-year strategic plan.
Too many Clevelanders, especially those living in the city's predominantly Black and underserved neighborhoods, struggle to make ends meet as a result of unemployment and underemployment. Many area organizations are working hard to meet the needs of people. Three Cleveland organizations are taking grassroots, creative approaches to supplying basic resources.
In this second part of our two part series on affordable housing and racism, we look at the efforts the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, nonprofits, and neighborhood CDCs are making to improve affordable housing options and how to ensure safe and affordable housing is not discriminatory.
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