Last fall, a walk taken around the Fairfax neighborhood signified the possibilities for powerful change. Almost a year later, a unique bike ride continues that forward momentum.
Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood has long been known as a bastion of the arts, anchored by Karamu House. Now the community is tapping into its rich cultural tradition to create new projects that will interest young people in getting involved in revitalization efforts.
Fairfax’s roots run deep. As the neighborhood undergoes a renaissance, projects like Griot Village and Innovation Square serve not only to attract new residents but to convince the next generation to make Fairfax a permanent home.
FreshWater is "on the ground" this summer in Fairfax, and we want you to ride with us. As part of our On the Ground community reporting series, we'll be hosting a bike tour of neighborhood highlights, followed by a panel discussion.
Bob Perkoski and Bryan WilliamsThursday, August 01, 2019
The Fairfax neighborhood is home to some of Cleveland's most awe-inspiring architecture and sacred landmarks—including the city's oldest African-American church. Even as the Fairfax landscape changes dramatically, these historic churches stand strong as centers of community. See their beauty through our managing photographer Bob Perkoski's lens, and learn a bit about their history!
All daddy-daughter dances have that “aww” factor, but the Him & Me Dance is truly awe-inspiring. With its seventh go-round scheduled for this Sunday, August 4, the annual event is planned by suicide prevention nonprofit Alive on Purpose to strengthen the bond between dads and daughters—and bring much-needed awareness to the fact that 63 percent of all suicides come from fatherless homes.
When 76-year-old Fairfax resident Walter Stanley attends a community meeting with a packed room, he sits close to the presenters so he doesn’t miss a thing. And at a recent Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) meeting this spring, there was plenty to take in as residents and stakeholders provided input on the Cleveland Board of Education’s budgetary decisions concerning the fate of Fairfax’s Bolton Elementary School.
Not every high school junior can knowledgeably drop terms like “reiki” and “acupressure” into conversation, but thanks to her summer internship, Ashley Hayden can talk Eastern healing modalities with the best of them.
For the last two decades, Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood has been master planning for a renaissance—and now its golden age is in sight. With an ideal location on the $331 million Opportunity Corridor and an array of developments and initiatives coming to fruition, the area is preparing to round the bend on a four-pronged Strategic Investment Plan that began in 2008.
Replacingurban vacant lots with green spaces provides countless benefits for local neighborhoods, but one of the most rewarding parts of the city's gardening program is seeing beginning gardeners transform into leaders.
Bob Perkoski and Jen Jones DonatelliThursday, July 11, 2019
Cleveland is a photographer's wonderland—just ask FreshWater's own Bob Perkoski. The same goes for Instagram aficionados, who can be seen snapping their way through the Land on the regular. With so many photo opps to choose from, we thought we'd do the legwork of compiling a list of the city's 12 most Instagram-worthy places with the help of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture.
Not surprisingly, Cleveland’s geological landscape 200 years ago was quite different than today’s modern, industrialized city. In 1820, spring-fed streams ran freely throughout the region, running through neighborhoods like Cleveland Heights, Kinsman, Scranton Flats, and Ohio City. Last Saturday, April 6, these now-hidden waterways took the spotlight during a sold-out tour: Exploring Cleveland's Hidden Waterways.
Cleveland's east side is steadily emerging from the 2010 housing crisis—with the number of vacant and distressed structures decreasing significantly while home prices are on the rise.
So go the findings of a 2018 report by the Western Reserve Land Conservancy that examined 13 Cleveland neighborhoods (including Fairfax, Slavic Village, and Shaker Square).
Anyone who set foot in the Beachland Ballroom last Saturday might have thought the rumors of print media's demise have been greatly exaggerated. At the sold-out Concert for Truth, more than 450 people gathered to show their support for local journalism and those who bring us the news every day. The event featured 11 local musicians who volunteered their time and talents to raise about $5,000 for the 24 Plain Dealer employees who are being laid off after March.
With 20 cities in the running, Cleveland’s chances of becoming the next Say Yes to Education chapter—and only the fourth in the country to receive the distinction—were just a paltry five percent. Yet according to Say Yes founder George Weiss, it was no contest.