Diversity + Inclusion

Experience the world: What to expect at One World Day 2022
This weekend, the Cleveland Cultural Gardens will host the 76th Annual One World Day to celebrate and honor Cleveland’s diverse cultural and ethnic makeup that represnts more than 30 countries around the world.
Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens: A landscape of diversity, looking toward the future
As the Cleveland Cultural Gardens continues to expand, plans are in various stages to install 10 new gardens. John Grabowski and Lauren Pacini look to the future in this fourth and final installment of this four-part series. 
Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens: A landscape of diversity, the later years
The 1965 Hart-Celler Act widened patterns of U.S. immigration beyond Europe. With that pattern came the origins of more than a dozen Cultural Gardens that represent Asia and Eastern Europe. Lauren Pacini chronicles this period of Cleveland Cultural Gardens history in this third installment of this four-part series. 
Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens: A landscape of diversity, the middle years
Only five Cultural Gardens were created in the last part of the 20th Century, compared to the 14 created between 1930 and 1940. Lauren Pacini chronicles this period of Cleveland Cultural Gardens history in this second installment of this four-part series. 
Cleveland’s Cultural Gardens: A landscape of diversity, the early years
In 1916, The Cleveland Cultural Gardens was established in Rockefeller Park in University Circle when the Shakespeare Garden was dedicated. Lauren Pacini chronicles the history of the Botanical Gardens in this four-part series. 
A man with a mission: Rev. Stephen Blonder Adams has big plans for the Old Stone Church
The Rev. Stephen C. Blonder Adams has a history with the Old Stone Church. Now, as the new head pastor, he wants to make sure everyone knows the church is open and welcoming to all, and is the heart of the Cleveland community.
Tour the world with music, dance with Cultural Gardens Federation’s World on Stage series
The Cleveland Cultural Gardens Federation is giving Cleveland the sounds of the world this summer with its free World on Stage series, running through Sept. 11 at the Centennial Peace Plaza and amphitheater in University Circle. 
Two Ohio House bills threaten Cleveland’s only LGBTQ+ public school
Ohio’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and a second bill that restricts access to LGBTQ+ healthcare are looming in the state legislature. 
 
#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. 
Cleveland Heights City Council enacts LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion laws
The City of Cleveland Heights last week unanimously passed three ordinances that ensure equity and inclusion among LGBTQ+ residents, employees, and companies the city contracts with. 
Ohio's first LGBTQ-friendly apartments feel inclusive to some, like any other building to others
There aren't rainbow flags flying or posters touting gay-friendly events at A Place for Us—Ohio's first LGBTQ-friendly senior housing community. After six years, some say say the building is not fulfilling its promise to be a space that proactively supports older LGBTQ people, while other residents think the space is just fine the way it is.
Cleveland Heights celebrates Pride Month, Juneteenth by affirming that All Are, indeed, Welcome here
The City of Cleveland Heights' tag line is #AllAreWelcomeHere, and this month city officials showed they mean it when they raised the Progress Pride Flag and introduced new legislation prohibiting LGBTQ+ discrimination, as well as also raised the African-American flag to celebrate Juneteenth this past weekend.
Carl B. Stokes historic marker unveiled as second stop on the Cleveland Civil Rights Trail
The second Cleveland Civil Rights Trail marker, honoring the late Mayor Carl B. Stokes, was unveiled on Thursday, June 9 outside Cleveland City Hall.
Block party: Coventry Road to close for Juneteenth celebration
Officials are shutting down Coventry Road to auto traffic this Sunday to make way for a huge family-friendly Juneteenth celebration with live music, arts, food, and shopping.
Marching on: Newest Civil Rights Trail marker honors Carl B. Stokes, Cleveland’s first Black mayor
Cleveland Restoration Society on June 8 will place at City Hall the second historical marker on the Cleveland Civil Rights Trail, honoring late Cleveland Mayor Carl B. Stokes.
Station Hope: Celebrating Cleveland's social justice and equity heritage
Station Hope, the the free community event that celebrates Cleveland’s social justice heritage and explores today’s struggles for equity, occurs this weekend at St. John's Episcopal Church—Cleveland’s first Underground Railroad site.
Rolling on the River: New 150-foot mural at The Foundry depicts rowing, teamwork, diversity
The Foundry Community Rowing and Sailing Center has been growing steadily ever since in opened on the banks of the Cuyahoga. The newest addition is a 150-foot mural that can be seen from afar and embraces the teamwork and diversity The Foundry promotes.
Help connect the dots between race and health for a chance to win a Visa gift card
FreshWater staff, community leaders, and Cleveland residents will gather on Zoom next week to discuss racism as a public health crisis and what we need to do to overcome the inequities in our city. Have a story to share? Come join us. 
Making an impact: Group marks first investment in growing local businesses in low-income areas
The Arctaris Cuyahoga Impact Program—a partnership among county leaders, the Cleveland Foundation and Boston-based Arctaris Impact Investors—has raised $10 million to grow businesses in low-to-moderate income communities. Last week the group made its first investment.
Great authors: Literary Cleveland launches year-long writing residency program
Literary Cleveland is introducing a new, free, Breakthrough Writing Residency program to support emerging writers in Greater Cleveland as they develop book-length writing projects.