The Central 50

 

Join the men and women who Promise to stand up for Central's children. We're working to be 50 strong. 

The Central Neighborhood of Cleveland has always produced leaders and extraordinary citizens. Jessie Owens, Langston Hughes, Dorothy Dandridge, Carl and Louis Stokes, current Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Extraordinary citizens aren't always famous. Instead, many are working quietly to make a difference in their community. Eleven Central Neighborhood residents recently stepped forward to become leaders and emissaries for the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood and more importantly for the children in Central. 

The purpose of Promise Neighborhood resident leadership development is to further empower residents and stakeholders to lead, build, sustain and monitor the planning and implementation of the Cleveland Central Promise Neighborhood through a process of relationship building, connection and advocacy. 

First 11, and now 19 more graduated from their training program at the Neighborhood Leadership Institute, which "develops grassroots leadership to contribute to rebuilding the bonds of community and improving the quality of life for neighborhood residents throughout the Greater Cleveland area." The next group of Promise Leaders are being trained right now.
 

Read the stories of the first of the Central 50:

A life-long resident of Central and a mother of three children (including a set of twins), Kyra Alexander recognizes the assets in Central Promise Neighborhood including the talent and loyalty of its residents. In addition to her work as a resident leader with Promise, she is CEO of a community youth group, Your Child and Mine, and serves as a mentor in, Distinguished Men of Excellence, a program for at-risk youth. She states “I used to be one of the people that I am now trying to help.” Kyra is proud “of realizing her own worth” as she is currently taking classes to obtain her degree in criminology and sociology at Cleveland State University.

Jerome “Romeo” Baker co-founded Men of Central (M.O.C.) in 2006. The organization was formed because of the lack of participation of adult male involvement with the youth of the community. The mission of the organization is to provide mentoring to youth ages 8 to 14 years of age in Ward 5 in the Central Neighborhood of Cleveland. With their numerous partners, M.O.C. focuses on assisting youth with after school tutoring, social development, gang prevention, recreational participation (basketball, boxing, football, swimming, baseball) and the arts. Through hard work, patience, diligence, and preservation they proudly celebrate their new division “Women of Central” with a focus of women mentoring young girls.

A Central area resident since 2004, Antoinette Monique Edrington says she enjoys living in Central because, “it is the center of Cleveland and everything is going on in and around it.” This rising leader and mother of four children (including a set of 20 year-old twin college students) is ready to help families cope with the stresses of everyday life and bring hope to the neighborhood. Antoinette is eager to help bring “old-fashion” family values to the Central Promise Neighborhood. She is the Local Advisory Council (LAC) president for CMHA Cedar Estates and she is dedicated to restoring her neighborhood to greatness. 
 
Annie Glover is a self-defined social worker who is planning to attend Cuyahoga Community College this fall to add the degree to her years of grassroots experience. “I love helping people solve problems,” proclaims Annie a resident of Central for 15 years. She is the president of the Local Advisory Council (LAC) for CMHA Outhwaite Estates. As a mother of three adult daughters and nine grandchildren, she also works with the Families and Students Together (FAST) program at Friendly Inn Settlement House and serves on the Care Alliance Board at Carl and Louis Stokes Academy. As she watches the opportunities for improved education for youth and adults grow in the Central Promise Neighborhood, she is eager to help youth and seniors set life goals and become healthy active citizens.
 
Dawn Glasco, has lived in the Central area since 2004 with her son, a recent graduate of  East  Technical High School. She has served as a long-term substitute teacher for Cleveland Metropolitan School District since 1999 and current serves as a Prevention Educator with Cleveland Treatment Center/Project Safe. She is currently working on obtaining her chemical dependency license in 2012. She is excited to listen other people and share her unbiased advice to improve some of the attitudes and outlooks of other residents the Central Promise Neighborhood.
 

Darcel A. Arrington, faith –based Organization Leader
After a 35 year teaching career, Darcel retired from the Shaker Heights school district. She is a life-long member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church where her father continued the tradition of her great grandmother who started the family legacy, attending the church in the 1920’s. Darcel is an active member of St. Andrew’s serving as the first female in the history of the church to serve as the Senior Warden, head of the church’s governing body. She is also a member of the alter guild, she assists with the community meal ministry, she coordinates the outreach ministry to George Washington Carver K-8 School and Promise Academy High School. She also works with the church’s community garden and supports their work with the City Mission. Darcel is one of six children.
 
 
De’Etta (Resee) Brown is a life-long Central resident. Since 1980 she has worked to engage and uplift youth and adults in her community. A graduate of John Adams High School, she attended International Correspondence School for Interior Design in Scranton, PA in 1984. She has taken course work at Tri-C in business administration. Currently, she teaches healthy cooking class at the East Tech Schools as Neighborhood Resources (SNR) site. In 2005, after the tragic death of Brandon Davis, she started the Northeast Central Area Akidz Club to provide youth with positive educational and recreational activities year-round in safe environments. She has served as the Cleveland Police Athletic League (PAL) volunteer program coordinator since 2005. In role as Arbor Park Tenant Council President, she coordinated the annual family Christmas party and toy give-a-way at Arbor Park. De’Etta also started the Girls Garden Initiative Program that teaches girls ages (9-14) how to garden and earn money selling the vegetables they grow. Most recently, she serves as a member of the Promise Neighborhood Connections grant making committee. She is a long-time member of Tridestone Baptist Church. De’Etta is the proud mom of two daughters and four grandchildren.
 
LaSandra Johnson, a Central resident for 15 years, has a passion for inspiring and supporting youth. She has served as a Student Parent Organization (SPO) member at Carl and Louis Stokes and seeks out opportunities to support other parents. Outreach is something LaSandra does naturally as she provides hats, gloves, book bags to youth, and in the summer months, she gives away fun and delicious treats. A graduate of Cleveland Christian Academy, she is a Certified Nail Technician and a trained State Tested Nurse Assistant. LaSandra mentors young people in the community and is planning to bring the first kids salon to northeast Ohio. This social entrepreneur aims to teach style and beauty lessons, but also plans to help youth with personal hygiene, self-esteem and personal image. My Comfort Zone is project that LaSandra is currently raising funds to support. This program asks young people to write an essay that describes how a bedroom make-over would enable them to relieve stress, study better, and be more creative. In return, the winners will receive everything needed to make their personal space a comfort zone. LaSandra is the proud mom of three beautiful daughters: Antoina, Nikia, and Foxii.

LaShunda Lee, is a Central resident who is passionate about supporting, motivating, mentoring and engaging youth. During the school-day, she can be found at Marion Sterling K-8 School assisting teachers and staff. Ms. Lee, as she is affectionately called by the youth, can often be found offering advice to and nurturing students in school and in the community. As the founder of The Solomon Movement, she spends countless hours after school, tutoring youth and helping them to prepare for meaningful performances as a drill team, in talent showcases, and spoken word performances. LaShunda is the epitome of a “caring adult” with a natural gift for building relationships with youth and helping them to reach their full potential.

Fred Seals is what he calls, a “replanted” resident of Central. He attended Sterling Elementary when Marion Sterling was two separate schools, Marion Elementary and Sterling Elementary. He currently serves as the Vice President/Secretary of the Local Advisory Council (LAC) for the Cedar Estates High Rise. He is also a member of the Progressive Action Council (PAC) for CMHA. Fred is a contributing writer and photographer for Campus District Newspaper. He was recently appointed to the CMHA Police Athletic League (PAL) management team for the Cedar Estates. Fred is a retired US Airforce member and Vietnam Veteran. He is the proud father of one son and four grandchildren.





 

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.
- Dr. Martin Luther King 

Raised in the Central neighborhood, Delores Gray returned to live in Central two years ago. She is eager to help neighbors rebuild the trust and family-like atmosphere that existed when she grew up there. She believes that the new housing and expansion of the educational resources in Central set the stage for success. “My goal is to connect the community together in unity.” Delores is on her way to achieving this through her work as the Local Advisory Council (LAC) president at the CMHA Cedar High Rise and as the Zone G Precinct Representative in Ward 5. In addition to serving as a Central Promise resident leader, she has served on the East Tech Alumni Association for more than 30 years. As the mother of an adult son, Delores is passionate about bringing resources, opportunities, and a sense of protection and caring to the families of the CMHA Cedar Estates.  

A resident of Central for more than 50 years, Lillie Hunter is dedicated to creating solution-driven change in the Central Promise Neighborhood. A mother of two adult children, Lillie has advocated for East Technical High School as a parent, member of the Alumni Association, in 2002 as a member of the Small Schools Initiative Design Team and as co-creator of the Student Parent Resource room in the school. She is the site coordinator for the East Tech Schools as Neighborhood Resources (SNR) program. Lillie continues to mentor youth in a program she created called Youth Economic Social Service (YESS). An avid gardener, Lillie raises plants and flowers that she sells each summer to provide funds for East Tech seniors who can’t afford to pay their senior dues. She is proud of being a Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland Alumna and of the growth taking place in Ward Five. 

Carol Malone is “working to reinvent herself professionally and socially” as a community ambassador to many organizations, including Positively Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and the American Heart Association. Carol is proud of her well-rounded daughter, Samara Malone, an honor student at East Technical High School and her rich personal, historical and family attachment to the Central neighborhood. As a Central Promise resident leader, she believes “people need a vision of a community beyond what is currently” and enjoys creating opportunities to share information and resources to neighborhood residents.
Born in the Central neighborhood, Malfert Shaw has returned to live in the Central area for the past six years. He believes the prime location of the Promise Neighborhood in Central and its access to everything is key. He is active with the local LAC and PAC board and an active member at Philemon Baptist Church. In addition to serving as a Central Promise resident leader, he enjoying working with children and meeting parents through his work with the summer lunch program that he's been involved with for the last three years. A father of 11 adult children, Malfert is passionate about improving the educational system and the socialization skills of youth. 
 
A Central area resident since 2004, Quiana Singleton enjoys living in Central because it is historic and she enjoys the activities like the Harper library for her two children. As she works with the Promise Neighborhood Initiative, she anticipates the neighborhood will have more activities for teenagers including participating in her community garden club on Outhewaite. Quiana attends Word Church at East Technical high School and enjoys participating in Friendly Inn activities on a regular basis.

Greta Stakely-Humphrey is an East Tech graduate of 1973’. She served two years on the High Stepper Squad and was awarded the Martha Holden Jennings Scholarship Award. In 1977 Greta received a Bachelors of Liberal Arts Degree from Bowling Green State University where she focused on three areas of study (Education, Psychology and Sociology). Beginning her career with the Ohio Department of Children Services (Certified Facilitator), she served nine years as a facilitator of a residential facility (Jones Home). In 1986, Greta moved on to the Cleveland’s Board of Education where she held various positions servicing students and parents (Department of Transportation, Office of Attendance/CMSD Representative-Juvenile Court and Youth Employment Services). She is currently serving the District with the Office of Student Hearings & Appeals, CMSD District Hearing Officer where she ensures due process rights of students and conduct hearings with students who violate the student code of conduct. In addition, she is a founding member of the BGSU Cuyahoga Black Alumni Chapter and founding member and Vice President of the East Tech Class of ‘73 Scholarship/Reunion Committee. Greta is happily married to an East Tech Alumnus, Joseph Humphrey ET ‘66, and they have five wonderful children and three grandchildren.

Central Youth Ambassadors' Promises:

“I promise to finish school and start a non-profit.”
-Samira Malone, 12th Grade, East Technical High School

“I promise my family that I will finish high school and graduate college.”
-Alexander Jackson, 9th Grade, Ginn Academy

“I promise to get a Doctorate.”
-Veronica Lacy, 9th Grade, East Tech

“I promise to use every opportunity.”
-Brenda Brown, 11th Grade, Cleveland Central Catholic

“I promise to go as far as I can.”
-DéAngelo Walker, 12th Grade, East Technical High School

“I promise I won’t be a statistic.”
-Juan Miller, 11th Grade, East Technical High School

“I promise to finish high school.”
-Dash’a Allen, 10th Grade, East Technical High School

“I promise to achieve my goals.”
-Shalawn Bowman, 10th Grade, East Technical High School

Louise Buchanan, a faith-based organization leader, is a life-long member of Lane Metropolitan CME Church. She was raised in central and graduated from East Technical High School, where as Cheerleader Captain, she helped her squad win the State Championship in 1972. She is an officer of her Church, serves as on the Stewardess Board, sings in the choir and participates in the Women’s Fellowship ministry. A retired State of Ohio Business consultant, Louise now owns her own business. She is committed to helping the families and children of Central through the outreach work of Lane Metropolitan CME. Louise is married to The Honorable Judge Adeane Buchanan and they have one daughter, Ashley who resides in Charlotte, NC.

Dava Cansler founded Foluké Cultural Arts Center, Inc (F.C.A.C.),a multi-disciplinary non-profit art organization in 2002 in response to a plea from Central community residents seeking affordable arts activities and lessons for their children. Formerly known as Lane Institute for Family Enrichment (LIFE) Cultural Arts Center, Foluké, which means “in God’s care”, started as a faith-based initiative from Lane Metropolitan CME Church at 46th and Cedar. It was designed not only to serve as a catalyst for boosting academic achievements, but to provide activities in an arts environment during out-of-school time when unsupervised children and youth are prone to at-risk behaviors. Foluké provides free/affordable instruction in Dance (Ballet, Modern and African), Theater/Drama, Visual Arts, Media Arts (Photography/Videography), and soon to be added, Design Arts (Sewing/Fashion Design). 
Renee Evans, a resident of Central for last five years is active in the Cedar Estates Senior High-rise. Renee is always found studying, engaging, writing, and inspiring others. She completed her Associates degree at Cuyahoga Community College and wasted no time enrolling in the Education degree program at Cleveland State University, where she is studying to become a special education teacher. A busy student, Renee enjoys the Campus Ministry, Black Student Union, Poetry Club, and Bellydancing. Renee is a part of the Campus District committee and was instrumental in founding the Campus District Newspaper. She has a strong belief in community service and volunteers whenever she can, tutoring, mentoring and building community. Renee has one son, one daughter and two grandchildren.

Royce Johnston, faith –based organization leader, and long-time youth advocate and volunteer who works with the children and families in the Central neighborhood. A member of The Community of St. Peter, she is actively engaged with Marion Sterling K-8 School through the Marion Sterling Partnership. Royce is a retired educator who brings the spirit of community and servant leadership to the Promise Neighborhood.



Larry Jones, II, has lived in the Central neighborhood for the past five years. He is deeply committed to being a good father to his daughter and supporting the Central community. He serves as executive board member on the Burton Bell Carr board and President of the Ward 5 Democratic Club. He is Project Manager for the City of Cleveland, Department of Safety, Office of Information Technology. He has earned his B.A. in Business Administration at the Ohio State University, and a MBA from Cleveland State University.
 
Reverend Dr. Taylor Thompson, faith –based organization leader, is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Educated in the Pittsburgh Public School System, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masters of Divinity degree from the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Dr. Thompson has served as a member of the World Methodist Council Executive Committee, past president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Cincinnati, the boards of Cincinnati, Hamilton County Community Action Agency as treasurer and the Ohio Council of Churches. He is the president of the AME Ministerial Alliance of Greater Cleveland, a member of the Methodist Ministerial Alliance of Cleveland and a member of the United Supreme Council AASR PHA 33d Degree Mason. Dr. Thompson is married to Dr. Barbara J. Hunter Thompson, and is a proud father and grandfather.