Benjamin Colas, founder of Forest City Academy, is pitching his Stronger Together concept at the Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate competition. Stronger Together would offer free parent-child workout classes, held in local parks, and  designed to promote family bonding. As both an educator and parent, Colas envisions scalable classes as a solution for families seeking both physical health and quality time together.

Cleveland Public Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of its Test Flight series with six productions by local playwrights, choreographers, and directors over three weekends. Test Flight offers development of works-in-progress while showcasing diverse voices in CPT, Teatro Público de Cleveland, and Masrah Cleveland Al Arabi.

The Cleveland Leadership Center's Accelerate pitch competition is coming up in February. Meanwhile, FreshWater Cleveland is talking to some of the entrepreneurs about their visions to make Cleveland a better place to live, work, play, and visit in hopes of winning funding. Today, we talk to two CWRU juniors, who are pitching their sustainability app uniSWAP.

Tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., people of all talents and abilities are invited to Waterloo Arts for a Brite Winter workshop to fill in life-sized figures with Day Glo paint  for Cleveland's winter arts and music festival. Brite Winter debuts in its new location in the Waterloo Arts District on February 21.

The Cleveland Leadership Center's 12th annual Accelerate: Citizens Make Change pitch competition takes place on February 26 at the Huntington Convention Center, featuring 35 presenters pitching 26 innovative ideas.

CWRU's Sears think[box] is the nation's largest free public makerspace, offering equipment, materials, and mentorship in a 50,000-square feet space to students, professionals, and the community. Think[box] levels the playing field so anyone can access typically expensive tools and transform their ideas into reality.

The North Union Farmers Market will host its last farmers market of 2025 at Shaker Square and Crocker Park, and its final Holiday Market this Saturday, Dec. 20, at Van Aken District Market Hall, featuring more than 35 local makers, bakers, and artists offering handcrafted gifts and specialty foods.

Steve Presser has opened his beloved Big Fun store as a holiday pop-up for the third consecutive year, this time in the former Record Revolution space. Open through January 11, Big Fun features vintage posters, t-shirts, and memorabilia, while also serving this year as an incubator for four local entrepreneurs.

Danielle McGough, a professional gingerbread house designer who has created holiday structures for major retailers, launched the Jolly Gingerbread Makery Pop-Up Workshop in 78th Street Studios this holiday season. Participants decorate hand-baked gingerbread houses with access to a variety of decorations and optional add-ons like LED lights and edible windows.

Malley's Chocolates this week unveiled a refreshed look to its 1937 Lakewood flagship store. The new look has modern updates while preserving the nostalgic charm that has made it a Cleveland favorite for nearly 90 years. Local artist Lisa Quine contributed an enormous mural, while designers preserved, yet updated, Malley's signature pink and green colors.

Cleveland's 21st annual Día de Muertos Festival, organized by Cleveland Public Theatre and Día de Muertos Ohio, will take place on November 1st in the Gordon Square Arts District. The event, which honors the memory of those who have passed, will feature traditional arts, music, dance, food, and cultural activities, including altar installations and the Skulls and Skeletons Procession.

Rid-All Green Partnership's sixth annual Fresh Fest brought Kinsman residents and people from all over Greater Cleveland to the urban farm. The event featured local vendors, activities, and tours of the farm's facilities. Photographer Bob Perkoski captured the events of the day.

Rooms to Let, the annual art program in Slavic Village, has evolved from transforming vacant homes to revitalizing outdoor spaces. The 2025 exhibition will feature 14 local artists and music groups, creating temporary art enclaves on 12 vacant lots to bring attention to urban renewal and the power of art in transforming neighborhoods.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership's Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) has announced the winners of the eighth season of Cleveland Chain Reaction, a small business pitch competition. Daisy Makes, Be Browed Etcetera, and The Golden Room secured the top three positions.

Season 8 of Cleveland Chain Reaction, the pitch competition led by the Greater Cleveland Partnership's Council of Smaller Enterprises is nearing its finale as 22 semifinalists are competing this week in showcase days. The winners of the cash prizes will be announced at the Aug. 27 finale at the Ariel LaSalle Theater.

EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute hosted a five-course dinner at Grafton Correctional Institution, prepared and served by incarcerated individuals participating in EDWINS owner Brandon Chrostowsski's culinary program. The event showcased the students' culinary skills and the produce grown in the prison's garden, while highlighting EDWINS' mission of providing second chances through culinary education.

Teen entrepreneur Josh Friedlander has turned his passion for cooking and gardening into a successful jam-making business. What started as a pandemic project has grown into a thriving enterprise, with Jam by Josh products now available in multiple stores.

The Greater Cleveland Partnership's Council of Smaller Enterprises has announced 22 semifinalists for the eighth annual Cleveland Chain Reaction small business pitch competition. With a record 141 applications this year, the competition connects entrepreneurs with capital, mentors, and resources. Semifinalists will participate in a bootcamp and pitch their businesses for a chance to win up to $40,000 in prizes.

The Beachland Ballroom, a cornerstone of Cleveland's music scene, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Founded by Cindy Barber and Mark Leddy, the venue has become a cultural hub and Collinwood advocate—hosting performances and promoting neighborhood revitalization.

Cleveland native Melody Chu's debut novel, "Mathey Girls" draws from her personal experiences of loss and friendship to tell a compelling story of grief and self-discovery. Chu's own journey has gone from international lawyer to author, and her novel reflects personal themes of enduring friendships and overcoming adversity.