Jen Jones Donatelli
Jen Jones Donatelli

Stories by: Jen Jones Donatelli

As an enthusiastic CLE-vangelist, Jen Jones Donatelli enjoys diving headfirst into her work with FreshWater Cleveland. Upon moving back to Cleveland after 16 years in Los Angeles, Jen served as FreshWater's managing editor for two years (2017-2019) and continues her work with the publication as a contributing editor and host of the FreshFaces podcast.

When not typing the day away at her laptop, she teaches writing and creativity classes through her small business Creative Groove, as well as Literary Cleveland, Cleveland State University, and more. Jen is a proud graduate of Ohio University's E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
#CLE-ative Groove: Meet Annie Zaleski, author, journalist and music aficionado
Our #CLEative Groove series features Q&A profiles on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with author, journalist, and music aficionado Annie Zaleski.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Teraza Kandah, creator and collector of all things eclectic
Our #CLEative Groove series features Q&A profiles on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with collector and creator Teraza Kandah.
#CLE-ative Groove: Meet Iris Gonzalez and Zoe Brown, dance teachers and co-founders of Island Beats
Our #CLEative Groove series features Q&A profiles on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Iris Gonzalez and Zoe Brown, co-founders of Island Beats. 
#CLEative Groove: Meet Josh Womack, copywriter and newly published author
Our #CLEative Groove series features Q&A profiles on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Josh Womack, senior copywriter at Progressive Insurance and author of the new book: “I’m not a copywriter, but…”
#CLEative Groove: Meet Katie Uher, calligrapher, watercolor artist, and founder of ALittleAfterNine
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Katie Uher, a calligrapher and watercolor artist who founded ALittleAfterNine.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Karly West, creative mind behind the Scholarly Banana book series
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Karly West, Claymation artist extraordinaire and creative mind behind the Scholarly Banana graphic novel series.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Richard Rozewski, Kent State educator and interior designer at Bialosky
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Richard Rozewski, Jr., who teaches interior design at Kent State University while practicing as an Interior Designer at Bialosky.  
FRONT Triennial makes bold strokes to draw in diverse Northeast Ohio artists
By awarding three $25,000 Arts Futures fellowships, FRONT Triennial plans to bring diverse voices to the forefront for its 2022 editions and beyond.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Krista Tomorowitz, creator of Selvage Garments
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Krista Tomorowitz, creator of Selvage Garments.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Gelise Thomas, DEI changemaker and musical mind behind Learn to Play CLE
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Gelise Littlejohn Thomas, DEI changemaker at University Hospitals and the musical mind behind Learn to Play CLE.
Taking root: Cleveland’s reforestation efforts bloom in the city's urban neighborhoods
Not only is Cleveland's tree canopy continuing to decline, but the trees that are in place aren’t equitably distributed. However, an innovative new tree equity model is planting the seed for a better future in the Forest City.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Haley Himiko Morris, artist-entrepreneur and owner of Cool World
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with artist-entrepreneur Haley Himiko Hudson Morris, owner of Cool World in Detroit Shoreway.
Need some creative catharsis? FreshWater editor to launch ninth cohort of Artist's Way class
If there's anything curating the #CLE-ative Groove series has reinforced, it's that Clevelanders are infinitely creative—and they're not afraid to show it! If you're yearning to get into your own creative groove, read on.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Lisa Ligus, founder of Songbirds Music Therapy Services
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Lisa Ligus, founder of Songbirds Music Therapy Services.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Robert Gatewood of Master Collective and Gatewood Home/Share
Our #CLEative Groove series puts the spotlight on our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our next installment with Robert Gatewood, founder of Master Collective and program director for Gatewood Home/Share.
#CLEative Groove: Meet Susan Chapo, founder of Relish Cleveland Tours
Welcome to #CLEative Groove, a new series featuring profile Q&As with our city’s creative makers and shakers! Read on for our first installment with Susan Chapo, founder of Relish Cleveland food tours.
Harness Collective is bringing new vision to the historic Vitrolite building in Ohio City
Harness Cycle has been a cult staple with spinning and fitness enthusiasts in Ohio City since 2013, but founder Anne Hartnett and CEO Andria Loczi have had their wheels turning on an even bigger vision in recent years.
I Live Here (now): How improv comedy paved Michael Busch's way back to CLE
Michael Busch grew up here during the era when Cleveland was more of a punchline, and now that he’s back after living in Los Angeles for 15 years, he’s rediscovering the Land—and bringing the laughs with him.
 
Sneak peek: Cleveland claims its position FRONT and center in the international art world
A lot can happen in four years, and for many of us, 2018—the year that FRONT Triennial made its colorful debut across Cleveland—feels like a lifetime ago. As the triennial event prepares to yet again position The Land at the epicenter of the global art world next summer, FRONT plans to explore much-needed themes of healing and transformation.
Pave your path to publication in FreshWater and go on an Artist's Way journey
Curious about hyperlocal and solutions journalism, or always wanted to do the Artist's Way? Join FreshWater contributing editor Jen Jones Donatelli as she leads two creative cohorts this fall.