Featured Stories

Welcome aboard: NEO manufacturing companies open doors to diverse talent
Greater Cleveland has made progress in bringing minorities and women into the manufacturing industry, according to MAGNET, and about 2,000 people of color have entered the sector in the past two years. Although the region has seen an 80% jump in women and minorities in manufacturing leadership positions, a greater effort is needed to diversify the manufacturing workforce.
Community effort: Kids have a place to play in St. Clair-Superior neighborhood
A new park on East 60th Street and Prosser Avenue in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood—now home to "Manny" the sea monster—adds community greenspace and gives kids a place to play, thanks to the efforts of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Emmanuel Promise of Hope, Ingenuity Cleveland, and numerous additional community partners and donors.
Cultural Fringe: BorderLight Theatre Festival returns this week
The BorderLight Theatre Festival returns this Wednesday for its fourth in-person four-day event, with theater, comedy, music, and other performances at various indoor and outdoor venues throughout Playhouse Square.
A stroll through the garden: GardenWalk 2024 in photos
The work of hundreds of Cleveland gardeners was on full display throughout the city last weekend during GardenWalk Cleveland. Bob Perkoski took a stroll through many of them and captured some of the beauty of the gardens and Cleveland neighborhoods.
Help on the way: Towards Employment secures $4 million in grants to facilitate workforce equity
Towards Employment recently received more than $4 million in grants from Opportunity@Work and U.S. Department of Labor’s Pathway Home to enhance its mission of economic mobility and workforce equity. The funds will support pre- and post-release employment and education resources for returning citizens, provide skills training, and community connections to ensure smooth transitions from incarceration to meaningful employment.
Building boom: South Euclid expands, diversifies housing stock
Driven by strong demand, the City of South Euclid has five major housing projects in the works. Working with One South Euclid, these projects diversify housing options and show the city's commitment to growth and community enrichment by adding single-family homes, townhomes, custom houses, and infill housing for young professionals, families, and empty nesters alike.
Building the future: Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry turns to 3D to house the homeless
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry is piloting a 3D-printed affordable housing project to create two homes for those at risk of experiencing homelessness. Cleveland City Council provided $500,000 for the project championed by Council member Stephanie D. Howse-Jones.
A century of celebration: Ever-expanding Cleveland Cultural Gardens embraces city’s diversity
Built on 254 acres in Rockefeller Park, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens opened in 1916 with what is today known as the British Cultural Garden. Today, 108 years later, there are 35 gardens that celebrate a world of ethnicities and cultures. As the World on Stage series starts this weekend, and with One World Day in August, contributing editor Grant Segall looks at the history of Cleveland's cultural gem.
CLE icons: H. Leslie Adams becomes seventh member of WRHS African American Art/History Walk
The Western Reserve Historical Society recently unveiled composer and educator Dr. Harrison Leslie Adams, Jr. as the seventh notable figure in its African American Art/History Walk in University Circle. The public art installation celebrates the achievements of Black history-makers and artists in Cleveland through a mural with QR links to The HistoryMakers biographies.
Faith in action: Church deacon harnesses business skills to serve those in need
Lou Primozic, a deacon with the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland, and a background in business, followed his calling and founded I'm In Ministry 12 years ago to serve the area's working poor with a volunteer network of organizations and individuals.
Rediscovering history: Veterans Memorial Bridge open for exploration
The Veterans Memorial Bridge will be open this weekend for Cuyahoga County’s Rediscover the Veterans Memorial Bridge, part of Canalway Partners' Cleveland History Days. Artist Chuck Karnak's installation "Go Dream" will add to the excitement with kinetic sculptures suspended from the bridge's ceiling. Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation will also host its Take A Hike Tours of the bridge throughout the summer.
Raiders of the Lost Art: Artist celebrates the life of late partner, artist David Batz
Cleveland Heights artist Robert Jursinski is about to share the works of his late partner and multi-talented artist David Batz in the exhibit Raiders of the Lost Art. The exhibit celebrates Batz' talents 30 years after his untimely death at 78th Street Studios and Ohio Design Centre.
A clear vision: Arts nonprofit unveils Cleveland’s vibrant Mexican heritage
The newly minted arts and culture nonprofit AlmaVision: Cultura y Más, an arts and cultural center focused on Mexican and other underrepresented communities, will open its Hecho en CLE exhibit this weekend at Ingenuity Cleveland. The exhibit tells the stories of Cleveland's Mexican community through photos.
Visions of Harmony: Reliving Parade the Circle
The sun was shining down on the thousands of attendees on Wade Oval at the Cleveland Museum of Art’s Parade the Circle last Saturday, June 8. Check out these photos taken by CMA photographer David Brichford, with aerial images provided by Aerial Agents.
Against the Odds: Towards Employment alums to share their stories at A Chance to Advance fundraiser
At age 16, Ronnie Cannon was an average kid who made some bad decisions and served nearly 20 years in prison before turning his life around. Upon his release, he found Towards Employment, which helps individuals overcome barriers to employment and a career path to success. Cannon and two others will share their stories of personal and career transformation at Towards Employment's fundraiser A Chance to Advance this Friday, June 14 at the Maltz Performing Arts Center on the Case Western Reserve University campus.
Empire Builders: Local author documents the architectural impact of the Van Sweringen brothers
Architectural photographer and Shaker Heights resident Lauren Pacini this week published “Empire Builders: An Illustrated History of the Rise and Fall of Cleveland's Van Sweringen Brothers,” the story of the eccentric Van Sweringen brothers' successes and failures in developing Shaker Heights as an exclusive residential garden community and their eventual demise during the Great Depression.
Pride in the CLE in photos
People came by the thousands to celebrate Pride in the CLE on Saturday, June 1, hosted by the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland. FreshWater managing photographer caught the events of the day to share with our readers.
Heart of downtown: South Euclid Food Truck Park returns for season two
The South Euclid Truck Park will open in June for its second summer season—serving up an ever-changing lineup of food trucks, live music, and nonprofit support each weekend. The park was a vision of the City of Euclid and One South Euclid CDC to create an in-demand downtown destination.
Digging the rhythm: Free summer concert series returns to Cuyahoga Valley National Park
The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park will soon launch its fourth annual Rhythm on the River—a free summer concert series in Cuyahoga Valley National Park's Howe Meadow, featuring food trucks, vendors, popular local and national musicians, and plenty of natural beauty. The series opens on Sunday, June 9 with Carlos Jones and the P.L.U.S. Band and the Shaw High School Marching Band.
Signs of life: Artists, volunteers prepare for Parade the Circle
The giant white tent has gone up in University Circle—indicating it's almost time for the Cleveland Museum of Art's 32nd annual Parade the Circle! The University Circle Inc. institutions and groups like Hildebrandt Artist Collective, Inlet Dance Theatre, Julia De Burgos Cultural Arts Center, Samba da Cidade, as well as volunteers, vendors, and other groups, are getting ready for a day of Visions of Harmony.