Diversity + Inclusion
Bob PerkoskiGay Games Cleveland Opening Ceremony
If any word accurately describes Cleveland, it's diversity. By the late 19th century, 10 percent of the city's population was Irish. Next came the Germans, followed in successive waves by Italians, Poles, Hungarians, Slovenians and Slovakians. Today, the largest growth has been seen in the Asian and Hispanic communities. Cleveland has a history of welcoming the immigrant. Walk into the West Side Market on a busy morning and you might identify a dozen different tongues -- and we don't mean the kinds that come from tasty animals. Diversity is not only what defines a city; it's what makes a city great.
Engage! Cleveland is hosting its third annual Develop, Engage, and Inspire Conference this Wednesday, Sept. 17. The event will focus on themes of belonging and community engagement, and feature dynamic sessions and speakers from various sectors to attract and retain diverse talent in Greater Cleveland.
The 79th annual One World Day on Sunday, Aug. 24 at the Cleveland Cultural Gardens will celebrate multiculturalism and showcase the diverse nationalities and cultural groups in Northeast Ohio. The event features cultural performances, international cuisine, the opportunity to explore about 40 Cultural Gardens, and Cleveland Historical's self-guided audio tours of the gardens.
CLE-Vignettes are photos that show how people in Northeast Ohio spend their time—what they’re doing for fun and entertainment, or how they are just spending time with friends and family.
Want to submit your CLE-Vignette? Just email your best CLE-Vignette to photographer@freshwatercleveland.com with your photo, your name, the names of anyone pictured in the photo, where you are, and what you are doing.
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The Slovenian National Home hosted its third annual Zabava festival, celebrating Cleveland's Slovenian culture and heritage. The free, family-friendly event featured traditional food, music, and activities, including a showcase of the Kurent costume used in the Cleveland Kurentovanje Festival.
The Kimpton Schofield Hotel is celebrating Pride Month with a special package that includes complimentary cocktails and a donation to The Trevor Project. The hotel holds historical significance as having one of the city's first gay bars in the same location.
Clevelanders showed their true colors on Saturday at the Pride in the CLE 2025 march and celebration, organized by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland. Thousands of people gathered downtown to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community. The event featured a march through the city streets, followed by a festival with food trucks, vendors, and live entertainment.
FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.
FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.
FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.
FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.
The Maltz Museum In April hosted its 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out contest winners at the Cuyahoga Community College. FreshWater is publishing the essays and poems of six selected winners who stand up to hate and discrimination.
FreshWater is sharing six of the winning poems and essays written by local students for The Maltz Museum’s 2025 Stop the Hate Youth Speak Out and Youth Sing Out essay and poetry contest.
The Western Reserve Historical Society's Cleveland History Center is observing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with free admission and special exhibits on Black history, art, and culture. Visitors can explore photography exhibits, learn about Dr. King's involvement in the 1968 Poor People's Campaign, and engage in various activities celebrating Dr. King's legacy.
Local research and advocacy firm Enlightened Solutions recently released a 2024 Project Noir report, which reveals that Black women in Cleveland continue to face the same challenges as 2020 in the workplace, healthcare, and education.
Engage! Cleveland’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference is this Thursday at The Aviator, aiming to unite young professionals and leaders in conversations on racial equity and inclusion. The event will offer actionable strategies to advance DEI in the workplace, featuring expert speakers and panel discussions.
The 78th annual One World Day takes place in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens this Sunday, Aug. 25—offering a family friendly cultural celebration of Cleveland's diversity with music, dancing, and food and drink.
Cleveland Heights City Council and child services agency Bellefaire JCB are leading efforts to improve police interactions with LGBTQ+ youth. The initiative, supported by the LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland and Columbus-based Kaleidoscope Youth Center, focuses on reducing harmful encounters through updated protocols, officer training, and improved youth programs.
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.
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.
Earlier this month, the Saint Luke’s Foundation’s 10-member Resident Advancement Committee (RAC) awarded $40,257 in grants to seven organizations operating in the St. Luke’s footprint. The investments address social determinants of health—including educational attainment, financial stability, healthy eating and active living, safe and affordable housing, social connections—to help strengthen the four neighborhoods.