Author: Zulma Zabala (Zulma Zabala)

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Mount Pleasant Champions: Shirley Bell and Mark McClain

November is here, our year 2023 nearly in its completion, and a time of reflection for many of us as we prepare reports to close out the year. One of the highlights of my role with Community Solutions is the opportunity to interact with leaders in our communities. Many of these leaders commit to serving...

Becoming a mom: the risks we face
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Becoming a mom: the risks we face

The amazing team of the Center for Community Solutions has brilliantly provided advocacy, as well as written and oral testimony on numerous occasions on the matter of Maternal and Infant Health. What could I possibly write that would add any more value? Part of my role is to share how the work we do at...

Eight Cleveland Community Champions to know in Black History Month
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Eight Cleveland Community Champions to know in Black History Month

Placing an in-depth focus on community is one of my favorite tasks. Meeting people and learning about their efforts to make our collective lives better honestly feeds hope. In recognition of Black History Month, I invite you to meet some amazing Community Champions. There were no algorithms, in-depth searches, or analyses for this list. Our...

A Journey for Racial Equity to reach OUR North Star!
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A Journey for Racial Equity to reach OUR North Star!

In 2020, this country had to face itself in the image of a man of authority with his knee on a man’s neck who begged for release in order to breathe and live. The ultimate death of George Floyd became the visual that disrupted the notion that this country was past its racial disparities. Some of...

Two more champions creating possibilities for youth in Buckeye –Woodhill
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Two more champions creating possibilities for youth in Buckeye –Woodhill

Last week I introduced some startling stats for youth and children in the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood and two champions caring and serving the neighborhood. Today I introduce two more champions for youth. My Brother My Sister Global/MBMS  My Brother My Sister Global is approaching its 15-year anniversary. Originally founded in Akron-Copley MBMS, it has a mission...

A village of diverse opportunities for youth in Buckeye-Woodhill 
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A village of diverse opportunities for youth in Buckeye-Woodhill 

The Buckeye Woodhill neighborhood has one of the largest concentrations of children under the age of 18 in Cleveland, according to my partners here at Community Solutions. Over 1 in 4 residents are children about 2 in 3 of those children are living in poverty. The rate of births to teen mothers is about three times...

Yes, people DO want to work: workforce development in Buckeye-Woodhill
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Yes, people DO want to work: workforce development in Buckeye-Woodhill

Ohio’s unemployment rate is at 3.9%, higher than the national average of 3.5%. Not too bad…right? In July, Ohio added approximately 6,900 jobs to the private sector, which sounds like a decent number. Preparing the second of this series, I wondered how those numbers play out for my friends, neighbors and partners of the Buckeye-Woodhill...

Housing Burden vs. Home Bliss: a chance for stability in Buckeye-Woodhill
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Housing Burden vs. Home Bliss: a chance for stability in Buckeye-Woodhill

Phenomenal ideas have come from our continued community “Charlas” with my neighbors and friends of the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood. I am excited to be in partnership with you to figure out how we are going to make sure information about policies that affect living will get into your hands. For starters, did you know about the...

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