Local

📰 Public Safety & Crime Seven Teens Injured in Lee-Harvard Neighborhood Shooting In the early hours of Sunday, June 8, a shooting in Cleveland’s Lee-Harvard neighborhood resulted in injuries to seven teenagers. The incident occurred around 12:15 a.m. near the intersection of Lee Road and Harvard Avenue, following reports of drag racing in the area.… Read more: CityVoice: Cleveland Weekly News Brief – June 13th 2025

Business Feature of the Month By Devon Jones A business is about its business, and it is always something special, no matter the size. However, when it comes to small companies, their achievements can feel even more remarkable. In today’s uncertain economy, providing consistent, high-quality service is not just a milestone—it’s a community privilege. The… Read more: University Heights Nutrition: Juicing Success and Community Health

Highlights from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s 2024 State of the City By Rosie Palfy During his fourth State of the City address, Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb delivered a clear message: “Washington is not coming to save us.” Hosted by The City Club of Cleveland at Cleveland Public Auditorium on April 23, Bibb’s unscripted forum-style conversation… Read more: Washington is Not Coming to Save Us

By Denise Holcomb Removing the Stigma seeks youth-focused organizations, individuals, businesses, and volunteers to support our Youth Life CLE Readiness program. In the summer of 2024, we launched the Youth Life CLE Awareness and Prevention program to promote the removal of stigma around suicide and create a safe environment for youth to connect with peers,… Read more: Removing the Stigma: Collaboration Program for Youth

By Darcella L. Lambert On April 12, NeighborUp funding enabled Removing The Stigma to host the Survivors of Suicide Loss Luncheon: A Day to Remember, at the Stella Walsh Recreation Center, located on Broadway Avenue in Cleveland. The event provided a supportive space for those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide. The… Read more: Healing Together: Survivors of Suicide Loss Share Strength and Support

By Ray’Chel Wilson, CFEI Let’s be real: economic uncertainty isn’t just a buzzword you hear on the news—it’s something you feel in your bones, especially if you’re part of Cleveland’s Black community. The legacy of redlining, the sting of predatory lending, and the constant hustle to make ends meet are all too familiar.  But if… Read more: Building Black Wealth in Cleveland: 3 Community-Driven Strategies

Quelina Jordan-Shaw receives $4,964 from Fund for Teachers to design her own learning experience. Quelina Jordan-Shaw, a high school teacher at Cleveland Metropolitan Remote School, has been selected as a 2025 Fund for Teachers Fellow. She will receive a $4,964 grant to travel to Ghana this summer, where she will study how schools there teach… Read more: Cleveland Teacher Wins National Grant to Study Education in Ghana

By Ron Kisner As evidence of a changing Parma, the city known for its racially torn history including a 27-year-old Cleveland NAACP housing and employment discrimination suit finally settled in 2002, has appointed its first black council member, Monica Wilson.    Clearly aware of her city’s sordid racial history, Wilson, who represents   Ward 1, said… Read more: Parma’s First Black Council Member Sees Changing City

The Cleveland Observer is dedicated to informing residents about legislative activities under review. By reporting on ordinances and resolutions during their initial stages, the Observer enables community members to engage with their Council members, providing feedback or expressing support before final decisions are made.  How Your Tax Dollars Are Being Spent Cleveland City Council introduced… Read more: Cleveland City Council -February/March First Reading Emergency Ordinances

Grammy Award-winning artist Anthony “Krayzie Bone” Henderson and his nonprofit, Spread the Love Foundation (STLF), partnered with students at Euclid High School to share real-world business, marketing, and music experiences that could help students in their future careers. The program kicked off on Thursday, March 7, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Euclid… Read more: Krayzie Bone Partners with Euclid High School Students

By Unity Powell On a gray, rainy day at Cleveland School of the Arts, a choir of teens practiced an upbeat medley of songs accompanied by piano. Dr. David M. Thomas stood, watching his colleague lead the students through the arrangement. While passing through to get to his class, it was obvious that his presence had… Read more: Music, Mentorship, and Legacy: The Journey of Dr. David M. Thomas

By Ron Calhoun The Cleveland Public Library unveiled its long-awaited Martin Luther King Jr. campus on Jan 25th, marking the culmination of a decade of planning and development.The new two-story branch includes 207 apartments located above the library, a first-of-its-kind partnership between the library system and a private developer. This milestone is part of the… Read more: Cleveland Public Library Celebrates Opening of Martin Luther King Jr. Campus

By Unity Powell It’s Saturday morning amidst the cozy, bustling atmosphere of UnBar Cafe, a coffee shop in the Larchmere community on Cleveland’s east side. Adam Banks, PhD is throwing out Black music references, folded into his conversation. Over the hum of espresso machines, blenders, and the door opening you hear topics that range from… Read more: From Campus to Coffee Shop: Education Serves

By Lisa O’Brien Editor’s note: The Cleveland Observer presents an exploration of how Cleveland’s core four arts institutions—the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Cleveland Orchestra, Playhouse Square, and the Rock Hall of Fame —impact and engage with our community. In this on-going series, Lisa O’Brien takes a closer look at how these organizations give back… Read more: Cleveland’s Core Four Arts Institutions Give Back to the Community

By Bob Ferguson The Karamu House Theatre is unquestionably the oldest African-American performing arts theater in operation today in the United States. Karamu was established and opened its doors in 1915 as The Neighborhood Playhouse Settlement, located at 2239 E. 38th Street. The word (Ka-ra-mu) in Swahili means “a place of joyful gathering,” where families… Read more: The Legendary Karamu House Theatre