The Foundation selected the Central Neighborhood because of the commitment of St. Vincent Charity Hospital in providing health care and outreach in this community for more than 140 years. On this smaller geographic scale – Central is home to about 12,000 adults and children – we hope to cultivate a collaborative effort, and pilot some innovative strategies, to address gaps in health and education.

 

In 2006, the Foundation began an extensive process to discover the health and education priorities of the neighborhood from the perspective of those who know it best – the residents and providers who live, work and play in Central. Guided by a special committee of the Board, the Foundation first commissioned research by Cleveland State University and the Center for Community Solutions to better understand the demographic, health and educational intricacies of the neighborhood. Through informal discussions in 2007, the committee learned of the priorities of key stakeholders with a commitment to this neighborhood.

 

The Foundation’s early research and community engagement made it increasingly clear that the ability to make lasting and meaningful change in the Central Neighborhood rests with its residents. Having met informally with key stakeholders and provider organizations, the Foundation designed a process to create dialog with residents of Central and to continue the discussions with provider organizations in a more formalized way. Beginning in the summer of 2008, this process, called Conversation: Central, put the Foundation face-to-face with residents and providers in Central to learn of their understanding of the most pressing health and education needs in their neighborhood.

 

In 2008, the Foundation sought community input from stakeholders in the Central Neighborhood on where to center its attention and support for reducing health and education disparities.  The initial round of funding aimed at reducing health and educational disparities in Cleveland’s Central Neighborhood was made in July 2008.

 

Conversation:Central Full Report

Conversation:Central Brochure 

 

Located within Ward 5, Central has been home to Hungarian, Italian and Jewish immigrants, as well as African Americans who moved from the South to take advantage of the city’s employment opportunities.

 

The boundaries of Central Neighborhood lie between East 22nd Street to the West; Woodland to Grand avenues to the East; Euclid Avenue to the North; and East 70th Street to Woodland Cemetery to the South.

 

Overcrowding and slum-like conditions led city leaders to demolish tenement housing and erect new public housing in Central, the first in the nation. Today the neighborhood contains more than 4,000 public housing units.

 

Today, more than 90% of the community is African American. Forty percent of the population is under the age of 17 – 62% is under the age of 29. About 10% of Central residents are 65 or older.