Lee-Harvard Block Party

Shaker Heights holds a special place in my heart, not just because my passion for teaching was ignited more than twenty years ago as a student teacher at Lomond Elementary School. My connection to this community is not just professional but deeply personal as well. I grew up in Lee-Harvard, a neighboring area separated from Shaker Heights by concrete barricades nearly fifty years ago, along Avalon at Invermere and E.177 on the Cleveland-Shaker border.

As a child, when I visited family and friends in Shaker Heights, I couldn't comprehend why we had to travel all the way down to Lomond Blvd. to reach Scottsdale until I learned about the history behind these divisions. In the late 1950s, Shaker Heights embarked on a rebranding effort after three black teenagers tragically murdered a white businessman just a mile west of the Shaker Heights city limits. This incident led to businesses and community members advocating for a name change due to financial losses and the embarrassment felt by residents regarding their proximity to the crime.

Nearly twenty years later, in the 1970s, Shaker Heights politicians deliberated strategies to divert traffic away from its inner-city neighbors. This concern wasn't limited to white residents but extended to upper-middle-class Black residents, some of whom were former Lee-Harvard residents. They feared that unrestricted connections would decrease property values and increase vulnerability to crime. Consequently, in 1976, the city installed six permanent barricades. Over 47 years, legal battles between Cleveland and Shaker Heights ensued over these barricades. In 1987, the case reached the Ohio Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Shaker Heights, affirming the suburb's constitutional right to install traffic diverters. Today, only two barricades remain, and the demand for their removal has diminished over time.

Recently, I had the privilege of listening to Laura Meckler, a native of Shaker Heights and a Washington Post journalist, discuss her book, "Dream Town: Shaker Heights and the Quest for Racial Equity." During her book discussion at Loganberry Books, she delved into the insights she gained from interviews with residents and shared her personal stories. She echoed the sentiments I've heard from many white residents over the years—that they appreciate growing up in an integrated community. Despite the concrete barriers separating Lee-Harvard and Shaker Heights, these communities share common histories. Many of the children I played St. Henry's softball with were from Shaker Heights.

My visit to the National Archives Museum and National Museum of African American History and Culture confirmed the significance of why place matters. Notable figures like actress Halle Berry and artist Toyce Anderson hailed from this community. This year, the City of Cleveland and the Harvard Community Service Center are launching the Lee-Harvard Master Plan to revitalize a middle neighborhood that has suffered from disinvestment for nearly half a century. Simultaneously, the City of Shaker Heights is developing a Lee Road redevelopment plan. Despite the continued existence of concrete barriers, residents from both communities frequent the same shopping centers. Once Cleveland's Ward One and Shaker Heights finalize their plans, they will be able to collaborate to create initiatives that will mutually benefit both communities.

Next week, my company, CHARP EDucation Consulting, along with community members and the support of the Harvard Community Service Center, will host our inaugural Lee-Harvard Block Party. This event aims to honor our elders, preserve our history, and gather the visions of lifelong residents and supporters for this community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors for making this free event possible: 1)The Buckeye Law Group, 2) NOPEC, 3) ADAMHS, 4) Cleveland Guardians, 5) Cleveland Public Power, 6) The Cuyahoga Land Bank, 7) The Cleveland Restoration, and 8) Cleveland Public Library. If you're interested in volunteering, sponsoring, or providing in-kind support for this event, please don't hesitate to contact us at?[email protected] .