Fairfax Renaissance 2014 Annual : simplebooklet.com

- 1 -Sometimes people think they’ve caught us. They’ll come up after the annual meeting and say “you had this project in last year’s report.” That’s how it’s always been. Projects take time. Dreams take time to become reality. We talked about intergenerational housing for years. But more than talk, we worked at making it a reality. And suddenly, it is.Our latest Master Plan completes a journey that began in 1995 with our first Master Plan. That plan was created just as Denise VanLeer joined FRDC as Community Development Coordinator. Fairfax had just been named an Empowerment Zone. People were engaged. And the Master Plan began a process that laid out our dreams for Fairfax into four phases. That plan has come full circle–Phase IV is what we’re working on today. We held to the plan. We kept our promises.Over the past 20 years there have been many times when people told us we couldn’t do something. That it was unrealistic to make the sorts of plans we made. We listen, and then we move forward, regardless of the circumstances or the economic environment we find ourselves in. And the result is all around us.As we complete our work on promises made...as we begin new projects and dream new dreams...we will hold tight to our history, our neighborhood spirit, our sense of place. And people throughout the region will soon begin to recognize us for who we are.Fairfax is Cleveland’s renaissance neighborhood.Stephen BaucherPresident, Board of DirectorsDenise VanLeerExecutive Director- DEAR FRIENDS -

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Like so many of our dreams, the Fairfax initiative to create intergenerational housing took a lot of time and effort to bring about. And suddenly...it was open for residents.The entire Fairfax community celebrated the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Griot Village on May 2, 2014. Griot is a West African word for a historian and storyteller. Griot Village is the first in Ohio and only the sixth in the nation to offer affordable and specialized housing for intergenerational households, which consists of people 55 and older who have legal custody of minor children.As the 40 new families began moving in they were greeted with sheet sets and gift baskets from the employees of Westfield Insurance.- WELCOME TO GRIOT VILLAGE -The dream of Intergenerational Housing becomes a reality.- 2 -

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An Award-Winning ProjectFairfax Intergenerational Housing, a.k.a. Griot Village, was nationally recognized by Novogradac & Company as the 2014 Low Income Housing Tax Credit Project That Best Exemplifies Major Community Impact as part of the Developments of Distinction Awards. The award is given annually and can be viewed in the Journal of Tax Credits. Griot Village was also named the Project of the Year by the Ohio CDC Association and was one of three finalists in the Enterprise Foundation’s Community Innovation Award.Planting New SeedsAlmost immediately the new residents of Griot Village began planning how to make their village a place the whole community would enjoy. Three natural leaders, Cleo Stepeney, Joanie Nelson and Mike Harper (pictured below) applied for a Neighborhood Connections grant and followed up by attending interviews to receive funds for a landscaped green space as part of the village. The grant was awarded in 2014 and with the help of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women), FRDC, Charter One, residents and Antioch Baptist Church, the land was cleared and made ready. In spring (2015) a design charette, led by Cleveland Botanical Gardens, will be held.What Is A Griot?A griot is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet or musician. The griot knows everything that is going on. The griot is a repository of oral tradition and is often seen as a societal leader. All of which makes Griot Village an appropriate name for intergenerational housing, where great grandparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and parents are able to pass on their wisdom and experience to their great grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and children.- 3 -

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As we got to know our new neighbors at Griot Village, we had the chance to meet Marvin Owens, a young man with a passion for learning. Owens loved physics and science, he was involved in high school sports including basketball and track, and served on student council. But all that potential could have reached a dead end for lack of funding to go to college.FRDC (and a number of others) stepped in and helped Marvin with the application process and funding to go to Kent State University, where he ismaintaining a solid B average.“I’m interested in new directions and opportunities,” Marvin told us. “It was important to stick with pursuing college because just having a high school diploma wouldn’t get me where I wanted to go. I’m majoring in zoology with the goal of ultimately becoming a vet or nurse.”FRDC is proud to have been able to help one of our young residents achieve his goals. Marvin is a natural leader. It would not be at all surprising to see Marvin assuming the role of a mentor to other youth in the Fairfax neighborhood.- RESIDENT PROFILE -Marvin Owens“I’m interested in new directions and opportunities. It was important to stick with pursuing college because just having a high school diploma wouldn’t get me where I wanted to go.”- 5 -

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- 6 -All of the Fairfax Master Plans have documented the need for neighborhood and pocket parks. And suddenly...parks are popping up all over the Fairfax neighborhood, gardens are sprouting and more are on the way.The Langston Hughes Reading GardenLocated on East 86th Street between Cedar and Quincy Avenues, the Langston Hughes Reading Garden complements the renovation of a home that was once occupied by Langston Hughes, poet and playwright, when he lived in Cleveland and worked at Karamu House. With the support of the Cuyahoga County Land Bank and the City of Cleveland, FRDC acquired vacant land adjacent to the house and demolished a vacant and blighted building to develop this public space. The East 86th Street Club received funding from Neighborhood Connections and, with the help of volunteers from the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland as part of United Way’s Day of Caring, transformed the lot into a peaceful, welcoming green space. The Reading Garden was dedicated in a ceremony on September 6th. It features landscaping, a gravel walkway, seating areas, artwork and a Little Free Library. The space is an area where families can come together, read together and learn about the historical significance of Langston Hughes.- COMMUNITY GARDENS & PARKS -

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- 7 -Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio (YA), working in partnership with Partnership for a Safer Cleveland (PSC), provided programming designed to address social-emotional and decision-making skill building in youth engaged in community service through the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court. This was the second year for the program in the Fairfax neighborhood. Last year, the youth painted a mural at Quincy Gardens. YA Visual Teaching Artist Melinda Placko was the primary instructor and worked with the youth for two hours every Saturday for ten weeks to create the mural. The community service youth created a beautiful mural along the fence line at the Langston Hughes Reading Garden. Youth from the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center also passed out copies of Langston Hughes’ adult and children’s books to all families living on East 86th Street.Funding For Playwright ParkPart of the plan for Innovation Square is a public park for all residents, workers and visitors to enjoy. In 2014, FRDC received funding in the form of a grant for $500,000 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to develop Playwright Park–a centerpiece of Innovation Square close to Karamu House, where Langston Hughes and other African-American playwrights developed their craft.Coming Soon...Utility Box ArtIn 2014, Fairfax entered into a relationship with the Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) for a project to decorate utility boxes along Cedar and Quincy Avenues, as well as other locations in Fairfax. CIA began decorating utility boxes in the University Circle area in 2013. The artwork will be approved and installed in Fairfax in 2015.Same Street. New Name.On September 6th, as part of the dedication ceremony for the Langston Hughes Reading Garden, FRDC announced that East 86th Street would now also be known as Langston Hughes Way.Fence Mural For The Langston Hughes Reading Garden

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- CLEARING. CLEANING. PREPARING. - And suddenly, a lot of people are getting involved!Raindrops Keep FallingRain water can be collected and used for watering gardens and plants, which helps lower water bills and reduces storm water run-off. In 2014, FRDC gave 17 rain barrels to Fairfax residents. Our Rain Barrel program is in partnership with the City of Cleveland’s Office of Sustainability. Now in its 7th year, the program has provided approximately 100 Rain Barrels for Fairfax residents. No wonder our gardens are so green!- 8 -

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Throughout the year residents, volunteers and FRDC staff participated in a variety of neighborhood clean-up projects.Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and Safeguard Properties partnered with the Fairfax community for a clean up event on June 29th. Over 150 volunteers worked together to paint, landscape and make minor exterior repairs to homes located on East 82nd Street, Platt, Townsend and Keys Avenues.Additionally, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity and Cleveland Clinic joined forces to sponsor a volunteer day on July 25th. Over 50 volunteers and community residents assisted with exterior home repair, planting flowers, cleaning up vacant lots and street beautification on East 83rd and 84th Streets between Quincy and Woodland Avenues.On September 19th, as part of Case For Community Day, students from Case Western Reserve University came out and volunteered their time, along with FRDC staff, for various neighborhood projects, including landscaping and clean-up around the Christian Hope Missionary Baptist Church.July 12th was the CREW/Antioch Baptist Church Volunteer day. Twenty-five volunteers from CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women of Cleveland), FRDC, Antioch Baptist Church and community residents assisted with cleaning up the future home of the Griot Village Community Greenspace. Cleveland Neighborhood Progress also helped out by loaning their Clean & Green Trailer for the day, courtesy of Charter One Bank.- 9 -

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While a lot of excitement in Fairfax is focused on the Opportunity Corridor, there are always a lot of activities going on that just make Fairfax a place where people feel they belong.- FEELS LIKE HOME -Movie NightsMovie Nights at Quincy Park continue to be a popular summer event for Fairfax residents. In 2014, FRDC hosted two Movie Nights (we were rained out in July). Activities included line dancing, free popcorn, kids activities (although we noticed some adults trying to get into the hula hoop contest) and music. Over 100 families joined us as we presented “The LEGO Movie” (June) and “42–The Jackie Robinson Story” (August).Little Free LibraryA Little Free Library is a “take a book, leave a book” gathering place where neighbors can share their favorite literature and stories. In its most basic form, a Little Free Library is a box full of books where anyone may stop by and pick up a book (or two) and bring back another book to share. Little Free Library partnered with FRDC, and with support from PNC and the Cuyahoga County Public Library, the first Little Free Library is on East 86th Street in the Langston Hughes Reading Garden, and was dedicated on September 6th at the same time as the Reading Garden. Since then we have been able to place five additional libraries in the Fairfax neighborhood.• PNC Fairfax Connection - 8220 Carnegie Avenue• Quincy Gardens - on Quincy Avenue between E. 90th and E. 93rd • Griot Village - 8113 Central Avenue• Mary B. Martin Elementary School - 8200 Brookline Avenue• Bolton Elementary School - 9803 Quebec AvenueAnd the kids helped design the Libraries!- 10 -

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Model BlockThe Model Block program is an exterior home repair program that provides low income resident homeowners with exterior repairs and improvements such as minor carpentry work (including porch repair), painting, gutter repair or replacement, roof repair/replacement, power washing and landscaping. FRDC assisted 20 homeowners in the designated Model Block areas for 2014: East 79th Street to East 93rd between Quincy and Woodland Avenues.Lunch BuddiesThe Lunch Buddies are adult volunteers who work with students at Bolton Elementary School. Every Friday throughout the school year, volunteers provide support, friendship, and positive role modeling for students during their lunch hour, playing games, conversing and participating in other recreational and educational activities. In 2014, a total of ten volunteers, including members of Antioch Baptist Church, FRDC staff and students from the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, spent their Friday afternoons mentoring Bolton students.Fit In FairfaxFit in Fairfax is part of the Healthy Community Initiative, a collaborative effort between Cleveland Clinic and community partners to promote health and wellness. Based on our community’s health needs assessment and using combined resources within our community, programs are customized around three core areas: education, nutrition and physical activity. The Fit In Fairfax Launch Event took place on Thursday, September 18th at the Langston Hughes Center. The event included wellness speakers, health screenings, raffles, vendors, children’s activities, a family tent, healthy cooking demos and music by DJ Silk & more!Walking ClubFairfax’s annual walking club, in partnership with the Cleveland YMCA, had a total of eight participants in 2014. The walking club meets every Wednesday and walks various routes throughout the Fairfax neighborhood. The walking club runs (walks, actually) from June to the end of September. Lace up your walking shoes and join us! Health Care NewsWe unveiled and dedicated the Johnnie Ruth Brown mammography suite where women of all communities can receive a free mammogram with a goal of ending late stage breast cancer diagnosis at the Langston Hughes Center.- 11 -

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- ADOPT A FAMILY -We probably need to come up with a new name for our annual holiday program. It began as a way to reach out to a Fairfax family and give them some help during the holidays. And suddenly...it has grown to where we adopted ten families in 2014! This year employees from Westfield Insurance, along with members of Antioch Baptist Church, partnered with FRDC to purchase toys, clothes, games and gift cards for ten deserving families.But that was just part of our holiday giving efforts! FRDC and Councilwoman Mitchell’s Ward 6 office distributed 1,000 $25 gift cards from Dave’s Supermarket to low- to moderate-income households throughout Ward 6.- 12 -

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More Programs And Services • Assistance was provided to over 5,000 persons through the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). • We purchased three single family homes, two vacant lots and sold three homes. • FRDC staff sponsored an event at Karamu House to celebrate Karamu, to welcome participants from Gay Games 9, and to begin to put the Fairfax neighborhood, our amenities and our unique sense of place, on the map as a destination for visitors.• We completed the Lucia Pathway Connector Project, a greenspace with benches and plantings connecting FRDC’s 54 unit apartment building and Quincy Place.- 13 -

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THE FAIRFAX - RENAISSANCE IS REAL -Greater Circle LivingThe Greater Circle Living program continues to generate interest in our community and new residents in our neighborhood. Usage of the program has increased 192% since its re-launch in 2012, and 165 employees have received funding since the program’s re-launch. The housing incentive program encourages employees of Greater University Circle institutions to live near where they work. Prospective residents can receive incentives for home purchase, exterior repair or rental assistance. In 2014, the Greater Circle Living program attracted 20 people to purchase homes in the area, four used the program to make exterior home improvements and 39 took advantage of incentives to sign one-year leases.“I live 2.9 miles from work. I like to say I roll out of bed and into work. I’ve ridden my bike to work, and I can easily walk as well.”- 14 -Here’s just one example: the Cedar Avenue reconstruction project was finished in 2014. And suddenly, there are a lot more opportunities for growth and retail development along one of our major traffic arteries.Economic DevelopmentHardly a day goes by without FRDC receiving a call from companies and individuals who are interested in opportunities for new development on Cedar Road and along the Opportunity Corridor. For several years we’ve been working with city departments to acquire land and assemble packages in the New Economy Neighborhood, Innovation Square and Cedar Avenue. And suddenly...it’s time to bring those opportunities home.Cedar Avenue is open again and ready for business. And it has the opportunity to become an important retail and commercial corridor for Fairfax–a place where people from the neighborhood will meet and shop.FRDC can help connect businesses with resources that help the business succeed. For example, in 2014 Ben, Jr. of Ben’s Auto Body and Mel Pye, CEO of Fairfax Place, each participated in the Next Step Program–which provides a detailed three-year plan on how to grow their business.Rose of Sharon This barber/beauty salon, owned and operated by Sharon Beasley Monroe since 2011, received the Uptown Business Association’s Showcase In The Circle Business Award For Best Startup.We were proud to welcome CNT Construction, a company of home construction and remodeling professionals, to their new location on Carnegie, in the former Ullman Electric building.

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Opportunity Corridor (OC)Over the course of 2014, the planning piece for this multi-community transportation project continued. And suddenly...the funding arrived and the construction was scheduled to begin.Of course, FRDC has been preparing for this moment for years. Acquiring land and housing, working with the city, writing grant proposals, bringing together residents concerned about the project and making sure their voices are heard are all part of community outreach and education.What’s more, because of the Opportunity Corridor, the State of Ohio is awarding FRDC a contract to assist with workforce development efforts for OC residents.The Fairfax neighborhood will be “first at bat” when the first phase of construction begins. Fairfax Neighborhood Technology Center provided training and technical assistance to 1,100 students in 2014. Classes included Workforce Readiness, Genealogy, PowerPoint, Excel and Word. The Center was also used to help people enroll in the Affordable Care Act. In partnership with Legal Aid, FRDC provided training on guardianships and trusts, and helped students create notarized Living Wills.- 15 -

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We have always believed in people’s desire to improve their skills to make them better equipped for work opportunities. For a while, it seemed like we were a single voice in the effort. Then, United Way stepped in to help fund our project. We partnered with Cleveland Clinic and, over a two and a half year period developed a comprehensive work readiness program that focused on a dozen entry-level jobs at the Clinic. The program officially kicked off in July. In 2014, some 200 people had entered the program, including a lot of 18-24 year olds, but also a number of people over 50.Cleveland Clinic has assigned a dedicated human resources professional to follow the entrants through the process, and assist in finding extra help where needed. The process includes resume preparation, dress-for-success, business etiquette (including positively presenting yourself on social media), mock interviews and financial literacy.The program is targeted at Fairfax and the Greater University Circle area, but is open to anyone in Cleveland. And while completing the process doesn’t guarantee a job at Cleveland Clinic, the skills learned give the graduates the confidence to apply for virtually any job and interview well.The program has also given us the opportunity to partner with Ohio Means Jobs on future workforce development initiatives. Just another example of how we keep moving forward, showing that we can get it done, and suddenly having more people joining in our journey.- 16 -- PREPARING PEOPLE -For Tomorrow’s Opportunities

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FRDC is pleased to name Antioch Baptist Church our 2014 Partner of the Year. For many years the members of Antioch Baptist Church have quietly looked for ways to get involved in the restoration of the Fairfax neighborhood, then gone about and quietly lent a hand. We think it’s time they got a “shout-out” for all their good works.For example, just in 2014 alone, members of the Church volunteered with the After-School Homework Help Assistance program at Griot Village. They partnered with the Griot Village residents in getting land ready for their green space project and were involved in several other clean-up projects. They are partners in the Lunch Buddies program at Bolton School. They also adopted two families as part of our Adopt-A-Family Holiday program.They continually put their faith in action, and we are fortunate to have them as partners in our community.- OUR PARTNER OF THE YEAR -Antioch Baptist Church- 17 -

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- 18 -Support and RevenueFederal Funding Grants ...............................Foundation & Other Grants ..............................Fundraising Income ............................................Interest Income ...............................................Development Fee Income ..................................Rent Income ...............................................Other Income ..................................................Total Support and Revenue ......................ExpensesPersonnel Costs ........................................General Overhead ...........................................Program Expenses ..........................................Property Expenses ........................................Fundraising/Event Expenses ...............................Other Management & General ............................Total Expenses ......................................Change In Net Assets ..............................Beginning Net Assets: 01/01/2014 ..............Ending Net Assets: 12/31/2014 ................... $ 742,394 1,148,605 8,585 84,037 204,875 2,192,921 44,239 $ 4,425,656 $ 1,060,753 193,192 490,730 1,444,459 137,666 447,768 $ 3,774,568 $ 651,088 $ 11,314,768 $ 11,965,856 - FAIRFAX RENAISSANCE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION -Statement Of Activities For The Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2014

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- 19 -OfficersStephen Baucher, PresidentJ. Stefan Holmes, Vice President and TreasurerDontè Gibbs, SecretaryMembersNicole BoykinGreg BrownAntoine D. BurtsDeborah Holston GoodeJames HumphriesAngela Jeffries-RaglandKimberly KeithPaul D. LewisDavid A. MinahShelton L. MooreDenise R. RobinsonBrian J. SmithWalter StanleyMilan WilderMatthew P. YourkvitchStudent InternLauren McNair, CWRUStaffVickie Johnson, Executive Director (through September 2014)Denise VanLeer, Executive Director (effective November 2014)Alisha Memaran, Research Development CoordinatorAnthony Whitﬁeld, Economic Development Director Brian Drobnick, Project ManagerDebra Wilson, Manager, Real Estate DevelopmentWyonette Cheairs, Greater Circle Living Program AdministratorW. Dean Rutland, Program Manager, Workforce Development Christina Gnibus, Workforce Development AssistantLaurence Trotter, Computer Technology CoordinatorWendy Carlton, H.E.A.P. Intake OfﬁcerIescha Hayes, H.E.A.P. Intake OfﬁcerElise Scott, H.E.A.P. Intake OfﬁcerRuby Raines, Ofﬁce ManagerKenneth Peterson, Facilities ManagerRay Brown, Custodian Johnny Black, CustodianSonia Chandler, CustodianLaMonte McKinney, CustodianDiane Crawford, Night CustodianDamion Harris, Night CustodianMichael Herron, Night Custodian- BOARD AND STAFF -People who have planned and worked and cared for years behind the scenes, all to make “and suddenly” look easy.

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Foundations/GovernmentCase Western Reserve UniversityCity of ClevelandCleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland FoundationCleveland Housing Network Cleveland Neighborhood Progress Emmanuel Baptist Church Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. Key FoundationMcGregor Foundation Neighborhood ConnectionsNeighborhood Progress, Inc. PNC Foundation Third Federal FoundationUnited Way of Greater Cleveland Westﬁeld Insurance Foundation - FAIRFAX IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CLEVELAND - ...because of the work of our residents and businesses, but also because of the many organizations and individuals who believe in the vision, and support our dream with their generous financial and in-kind contributions.CorporationsACN Opportunity LLCCharter One BankCivic Builder LLCCleveland Green Homes III LP CREW ClevelandEaton & Johnson Real Estate Development Fairfax Intergenerational Housing LP First Federal of Lakewood McGregor PaceMoody Environmental & Consulting LLC Morgan LithoSaunders & Sons Painting Co.IndividualsStephen Baucher Sanbonita BestNicole Boykins Greg Brown Antoine Burts Dorothy E. Curtis Wanda Davis Patricia Egan Sharon Fedor August L. Fluker Donte Gibbs Janice GrozaJ. Stefan Holmes Deborah Holston James Humphries Kathryn Jackson Mark JacobKim KeithLaura KleinmanPaul LewisEarsie MackDavid Minah- 20 -

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- FAIRFAX IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CLEVELAND - ...because of the work of our residents and businesses, but also because of the many organizations and individuals who believe in the vision, and support our dream with their generous financial and in-kind contributions.Mamie Mitchell Nichelle Moore Shelton Moore Marcia Nolan Alexander Pesta Ernest Pryor, Jr. Angela Ragland Ruby RainesLajean RayDenise RobinsonEric RushBrian J. SmithWalter Stanley Denise L. VanLeer Gladys Walcott Westﬁeld Insurance EmployeesAnthony R. Whitﬁeld Vanessa L. Whiting Milan WilderDebra Wilson Charlene Winkler Matthew P. Yourkvitch

Fairfax Renaissance 2014 Annual

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