Following last May's murder of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer, The Cleveland Foundation, like many other organizations, had a series of tough conversations about systemic racism.
In looking at their own city, foundation members recognized great disparities, and urgent needs. A 2018 study by The Center for Community Solutions had found Black residents in Cleveland more likely to experience higher rates of infant mortality and childhood poverty, more likely to be overrepresented in the criminal justice system, to be disproportionately represented in lower wage occupations, and to have shorter life expectancies – all of which cross socioeconomic boundaries.
Those conversations led to the creation of The Cleveland Black Futures Fund, which has just made its inaugural round of grants to local programs. The goal is to support area nonprofit organizations, which serve Black populations, and are led by Blacks.
Long term, the foundation aims to strengthen the community of Black leaders and Black led organizations in Northeast Ohio by providing resources to help them grow, and to empower leaders working to disrupt systemic racism, and advance our community towards racial equality.
Ahead, we'll talk with two recipients from the inaugural class of grantees.
Stay with us as later in the program we'll discuss how the discipline, or lack thereof from the Cleveland Division of Police clashes with what the Civilian Review board recommended.
And finally, Lisa Ryan, from our Health Unit looks at the public and community benefit of hospitals, and where they're built.
- Courtenay Barton, Program Director for Arts and Culture, and Racial Equity Initiatives, The Cleveland Foundation
- Malcolm Burton, Founder, My Brother My Sister
- McKinley Wiley, Board Member, Peel Dem Layers Back
- Matt Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
- Lisa Ryan, Health Reporter, Ideastream Public Media
