Help Wanted - Community Organizer

Community Organizer

Northeast Shores Development Corporation is one of Cleveland’s leading community development corporations. The organization has greatly contributed to the physical, economic and social development of the North Shore Collinwood area of Cleveland.  Northeast Shores is currently seeking a Community Organizer to manage all development project work.

In this role, you will be responsible for canvassing the neighborhood, talking with residents and other stakeholders, identifying potential leaders, and identifying issues which are in the common self-interest of community residents.  The Organizer moves people to action so they can win a visible victory or measurable change in their community.  In addition, the Organizer uses the process of organizing as an opportunity to develop the leadership skills of community residents.  The Organizer is expected to work several block groups or neighborhood-wide issues at any one time. A current neighborhood-wide issue under this role is implementing various community safety initiatives. 

Further, you will be responsible for the organization’s events organizing and community garden initiatives. In particular, the organization is currently implementing several events including, but not limited to, the Alive on East 185^th Parade and the Taste the Neighborhood fundraiser. It is a core responsibility of the Organizer to coordinate these community events. The Organizer is also responsible for coordinating our efforts to submit monthly articles to the neighborhood newsletter.

The successful candidate will have prior experience in non-profit community organizing, mediation, social work, or similar background.  Familiarity with volunteer coordination; project management skills; event planning; record keeping; proficiency with MS Office Suite; excellent verbal and written communication skills; conflict resolution skills; and the ability to use a personal vehicle with valid driver’s license and minimum property/casualty coverage on such vehicle are also critical to your success in this position.  The successful candidate must be available for neighborhood meetings and events that occur on evenings and some weekends. Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in non-profit management, urban studies, public administration or a related field is a plus. Familiarity with the North Shore Collinwood community a plus.

We offer a competitive salary, benefits package, and a supportive and dynamic work environment.  To apply, e-mail or mail your resume and salary requirements by August 21 to:

Brian A. Friedman

Executive Director

Northeast Shores Development Corporation

317 East 156^th Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44110

bfriedman@northeastshores.org

Help Wanted - Office Assistant

Office Assistant

Northeast Shores Development Corporation is one of Cleveland’s leading community development corporations. The organization is mission driven and has greatly contributed to the physical, economic and social development of the North Shores Collinwood area of Cleveland.  Northeast Shores is currently seeking a part-time Office Assistant to help staff and volunteers further our mission of improving this quality neighborhood.

In this role, you will assist the organization and help run various housing and commercial programs for the neighborhood. You will receive, screen, and route telephone calls. You will process and record payments made to accounts receivable and payable for accuracy and timeliness. You will review and provide feedback on draft correspondence and grant applications as well as ensure that all grant applications and correspondence are complete. The Office Assistant will update information regarding membership database and board reports. You will organize, order, and maintain office supplies, materials, publications, and applications.

The successful candidate will have working knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, including CRM.  Familiarity with community development and/or the North Shore Collinwood community will be considered a plus.

The Office Assistant position is a 20-hour per week part-time hourly position. Applicants should apply if they are available to work four-hours per day from 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday.  To apply, e-mail or mail your resume by August 21 to:

  

Brian A. Friedman

Executive Director

Northeast Shores Development Corporation

317 East 156^th Street

Cleveland, Ohio 44110

bfriedman@northeastshores.org

Collinwood Rising - July

In our ongoing monthly series, ArtPlace asked Northeast Shores Executive Director, Brian A. Friedman, what suggestions do we have for the recent crop of grant recipients. Here are excerpts from that conversation:

Update
The creative spirit is becoming more prominent in North Collinwood and we couldn’t be more pleased! Continuous ingenuity within the community and the resulting comraderie that’s forming between residents is bringing about a wonderful change in the neighborhood.  From The Waterloo Arts Fest, art gallery installations, a new community sculpture garden and pocket park, our Walk all over Waterloo series  and prepping for our upcoming Welcome to Cleveland weekend, art is alive and definitely kicking up a fuss!

Recent Wins
1. Arts Collinwood (soon to be Waterloo Arts) hosted another successful Summer Arts Bash on June 29^th.  The Waterloo Arts Fest had a tremendous turnout.   Attendees were engaged throughout the day and participated in fun events while listening to tantalizing music from local bands that hailed from 5 stages.  Attractions included art vendors, street art installations, local food vendors,  giant puppets and stilt walkers, hula hoop dancing, painting workshops, chalk drawing for kids (and the young at heart), pony rides and more.  According to comments from several past attendees, this was the best festival yet. Stay tuned!

2. A local sculptor is working to transform a vacant house into an exciting new center for installation art. The home was secured by Northeast Shores and will feature the faces of the community pasted to an exterior plywood surface. The Xeroxed images of “community members at large” will be captured at neighborhood copy-jam parties at Collinwood events/venues that will encourage participation and feedback regarding the conception of “The Town Hall of Art” a soon-to-be interactive art space.

3. Waterloo's first park (Waterloo Sculpture Garden) has been completed. The garden will feature local professional artists, as well as regional artists, while still showcasing the sculpture departments of local universities.  In the same vein, our beautiful pocket park project has received favorable responses from our residents.  The small park features a walking path, radiant flowers, fruit trees, places to sit and play, and murals and sculptures from local artists. With the generous support of ArtPlace, the newly opened park will provide an outdoor space where neighborhood residents can intermingle and enjoy the good weather and natural beauty.

Insight
Northeast Shores remains dedicated to continuing our mission and goal of making our neighborhood one of the strongest artist communities in the country.  By joining forces with community leaders, business merchants, artists and residents; and incorporating artists into the community; and forming relationships with non-artists, political figures and law enforcement, we strive to improve the quality of life for residents while creating an enjoyable atmosphere/experience for visitors alike.

The key to success is acknowledging the value of insight that is contributed by the community as a whole. Building on and marketing assets, drawing upon strengths and continuing to seek out opportunities for funding is crucial to any non-profit organization.  In spite of economic pressures and the challenges of maintaining financial support, it is the responsibility of everyone to work, collectively, to address community issues…..with team work, anything is possible.

Celebrate Euclid Creek Restoration

Please join the Euclid Creek Watershed Program Project Partners as we celebrate the wetland and stream restoration at Wildwood Park!

When: Wednesday, July 10^th from 5:00pm-7:00pm

Where: Cleveland Metroparks Euclid Creek Reservation, Wildwood Park Picnic Pavilion

Euclid Creek Reservation-Wildwood Park is located at E. 174th Street and Lakeshore Blvd, Cleveland, 44110. Meet at the wooden Picnic Pavilion—over the bridge and to the right.

*  Project partners are hosting a public meeting and tour to celebrate the wetland and stream restoration project, the culmination of four years of work. 

*  Several speakers will briefly discuss the wetland and stream restoration project, followed by either a short hike or a ~1 mile walk around the site.  

*  Meet the project partners pivotal in making this project happen.

For more event details, call 216-524-6580x16

Collinwood Rising - May

In our ongoing monthly series, ArtPlace asked Northeast Shores Executive Director, Brian A. Friedman, what suggestions do we have for the recent crop of grant recipients. Here are excerpts from that conversation.

ArtPlace:  Now that you are all coming to the end of your ArtPlace grant periods take a moment to think over the past year. What advice would you give to the new grantees? How would you encourage new grantees to leverage their ArtPlace grants for maximum effect?

Friedman:  Bringing an array of great ideas to life due to ArtPlace funding has been a wonderful experience for us. The ArtPlace grant has been a wonderful opportunity for us to fund a whole lot of items that we never thought would ever be funded. Our projects counted on several partnerships to go well. Many of those partnerships existed prior to the ArtPlace award but were significantly impacted by the award. These partnerships were critical to our successes and we are VERY fortunate that professional bonds grew stronger as a result of the ArtPlace award. If these partnerships had not worked out, the last year could have gone very differently and very badly.

ArtPlace’s investment has helped bring together many different grassroots arts efforts to a common neighborhood revitalization table.  Organizations such as Arts Collinwood (street art mural projects); Cleveland Rocks: Past,Present and Future (music culture); Project Pop-up Galleries (utilizing vacant and underused space) and Saving Cities (community development through media) have been instrumental in making the neighborhood a unique place to visit. While we have always enjoyed a good partnership with these neighborhood leaders, ArtPlace has enabled us to work even more collaboratively in advancing the neighborhood we all love….and to take these efforts to extraordinary heights.

We really enjoy the analogy that ArtPlace prepares our efforts for potential “escape velocity”. As we near the end of the ArtPlace grant period, we are currently reviewing how high we have risen in this time and our absolute amazement in how transformative this award has been not only for the neighborhood but also for the capacity of the organization. Our current reality is significantly different and better than it would have been without ArtPlace. As such, we are envisioning organizational priorities and future projects that are far more considerable.

Other words of advice would be to continuously acknowledge successful projects and commend participants on jobs that are well done. Positive reinforcement is definitely a plus and will encourage grantees to complete projects in a timely manner, which works in your favor.  Encouraging feedback and following up with grantees can provide valuable information and can help you recognize successes and where there’s room for improvements in the future.  Last but not least, schedule PLENTY of time to work on the reporting process.  Maintaining records from the start of the grant period will result in less headaches when it's time to complete the reports.  Best of luck and congratulations to new and future ArtPlace grantees! Be prepared for blast-off!