FutureHeights

FutureHeights is looking for community builidng programs interns for summer and fall 2025. For details, visit https://lnkd.in/gtNias-g

FutureHeights welcomes Lee Chilcote as Housing Program Manager and Executive Director. A Cleveland Heights native, Lee brings a depth and diversity of experience to FutureHeights at an exciting point in time for the organization.? As Housing Program Manager, Lee will be responsible for the execution of FutureHeights’ new Housing Rehabilitation Program, which will support neighborhood stabilization through strategic acquisition and rehabilitation of distressed residential properties. Following rehabilitation, the homes will be available for lease/purchase by income-qualified residents. Lee’s experience in home rehabilitation and historic preservation will ensure homes are rehabilitated to the highest quality while also on-budget and on-time.? In his capacity as Executive Director of FutureHeights, Lee will bring leadership and expertise from a diverse career that includes leadership positions with The Land, Literary Cleveland, and Freshwater Cleveland as well as other community development work. Additionally, Lee is a licensed realtor and has managed several real estate projects from pre-development to completion.? “I am thrilled to be ‘coming home’ and joining FutureHeights as housing program manager and executive director. I look forward to working with staff and the board to continue the growth and development of this vibrant community organization,” stated Lee. Most recently, Lee served as Communications and Development Director for Greater Cleveland Congregations, an organization that unites people across lines of race, class, religion, and background toward the promotion of public, private, and civic sector actions that strengthen and improve the quality of life in Cuyahoga County neighborhoods.? Lee graduated from Cleveland State University, earning a MA English with a Nonfiction Writing Concentration as well as a MPA with an Economic Development Concentration from the Levin College of Urban Affairs. “We are excited to welcome Lee to FutureHeights.” said Matt Gierke and Darren Cross, Co-Chairs of FutureHeights’ Board of Trustees.?“His deep expertise in community development and passion for Cleveland Heights makes him uniquely qualified to lead our housing program and the broader organization into its next chapter.”

New years is a time that sparks new ideas, right? Maybe you've got a great idea to support a project, program, or initiative in your neighborhood. Maybe you need a little funding to bring your idea to life. Applications are NOW OPEN for the Spring 2025 Neighborhood Mini-Grant! Receive up to $1,000 to support the community-building you are working on right on the street where you live. Wondering what makes a strong application? Here’s the four main criteria: 1. Your project should demonstrate a community-building effort with your neighbors. 2. Your project must take place in Cleveland Heights or University Heights. 3. You need at least three unrelated project leaders. 4. The ideal neighborhood mini-grant project empowers, uplifts, connects, enhances community unity, & strengthens neighborhoods. If you say yes to all four of these points, you should apply! Learn more/access the Spring 2025 application here: https://lnkd.in/enyz4vsX

?An Update on the Crowdsourced Conversations 2025 topic voting!? As of this moment, just over 200 ballots have been cast to determine which topics we will use as our focus in the 2025 round of Crowdsourced Conversations -- and we wanted to let you know which of the nominated topics have received the most votes. As it stands right now, the Top 4 are (in order of popular vote) 1. Severance Town Center (again) 2. Road Safety: Drivers, Pedestrians, Cyclists in the Heights 3. Shop Local/Show Off Local: Turning the Heights Into a Destination 4. Affordable Housing in the Heights Right on the heels of these topics are: Supporting and Developing Heights Small Businesses & Business Districts; Increasing a Sense of Safety in the Heights; Utilizing Greenspace as Community Connectors in the Heights; Building a Stronger Heights Through City and Resident Collaboration; Building Stronger Neighborhoods; Youth Engagement & Empowerment in the Heights; and Cycling Around Town: Making the Heights More Bike-Friendly THERE IS ONE WEEK LEFT TO VOTE! Voting closes at the end of the day on January 15, so there is still time for you to make sure the topics that interest you the most make it into the top! Cast your ballot if you haven't already and share the link with your friends and neighbors, too. You are welcome to vote for as many topics as you’d like — but we recommend focusing on the Top 3 or 4 that you want to see in next year’s series. VOTE HERE: https://lnkd.in/ej8MSU3Y

What's a Monday morning without some emails?? We discovered that there was an issue with our email server over the weekend so we apologize to anyone who was trying to connect but couldn't reach us. The issue has been resolved and our email is working once more. Hooray!

A gift to FutureHeights is a gift to the Heights community! https://lnkd.in/eiki5gua

OH WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN! In 2024 we... * graduated 18 Heights residents from our Neighborhood Leadership Program * explored four community-selected topics that engaged +2000 Heights residents through our Crowdsourced Conversations forum series * expanded Heights Music Hop beyond Cedar Lee and Noble to include Cedar Fairmount and Quintana's in Cedar Taylor (Coventry's date ended up getting rained out) * honored 76 small businesses or organizations through a community-wide vote to determine the Best of the Heights * awarded 7 resident-led projects $5,850 in our Fall Round of Neighborhood Mini-Grants * distributed the Heights Observer print edition to over 200 local businesses and organizations every month and sent the Weekly Observer Enews to +5700 inboxes every Tuesday * recognized John Emerman and Tatyana Rehn of Stone Oven Bakery as our persons of the year at our Annual Benefit ....and more! THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered, participated, or otherwise supported FutureHeights over the past year (and beyond!). If you are interested in learning more about us, visit futureheights.org or email us at [email protected]. CHECK OUT OUR HIGHLIGHT VIDEO HERE: https://lnkd.in/eNtEH6_W To make a gift, visit https://lnkd.in/eiki5gua

WE ARE HIRING a Housing Program Manager! Read the full description and learn how to apply here: https://lnkd.in/eGusdQwp Deadline to apply is December 20.

?Applications open to join the FutureHeights Board? At FutureHeights.... ?WE CARE about community voice ?WE CARE about community-building ?WE CARE about housing ?WE CARE about supporting local business ?WE CARE about our volunteers If you care about those things, too, fill out an application to join the Board: https://lnkd.in/eRD2a8bj Deadline to apply is December 1st. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e9mu3uB2

We are thrilled about the strong response to the Crowdsourced Conversations survey on Severance Town Center — THANK YOU to the +700 of you who took the time to share your thoughts. As we dive into putting the survey data report together, we would like to invite you to attend the forum on the same topic, which will take place on Tuesday, November 12 from 7pm-8:30pm at Heights High School. Please RSVP here if you’re planning on joining us at the forum: https://lnkd.in/emkR44Q2