Cleveland, OH by Jessica Guggenbuehl

2021 - Cleveland National Baseball team changes mascot from Indians to Guardians

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:28:45 UTC

In 2021, after years of criticism, the Cleveland Indians baseball team is changing its name & mascot to the Cleveland Guardians. The Cleveland baseball team has used the racial stereotype of Chief Wahoo since 1915, explaining away concerns of Native American misrepresentation with a "homage" to Louis Sockalexis, the first Native American to play pro baseball; which is a myth.

Issue 24 - Cleveland Police Citizen Oversight

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:31:07 UTC

As a result of the decree issued by the DOJ in 2017, Issue 24, a charter amendment to Cleveland's city charter allowing for citizen oversight of police misconduct hearings, was passed and was put in place in November 2021.

A Pattern of Excessive Violence

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:32:53 UTC

In 2012, a police chase of two unarmed Cleveland citizens ended in tragedy when the police fired 137 shots into the vehicle, killing both individuals. Cleveland Police Officer Michael Brelo was the only officer charged with criminal charges. He was later acquitted of all criminal charges.

In 2014, Cleveland Police shot and killed a 12-year old boy carrying a fake gun. A Grand Jury found the death was justified and the officer's "response was a reasonable one". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Tamir_Rice)

(Link requires a Netflix Subscription to view)

Cleveland Police Reform

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:34:09 UTC

After several fatal police-involved shootings around 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found that the Cleveland Police department violated the Constitution through "a pattern or practice of using excessive force". The city of Cleveland was issued a Consent Decree, an agreement that the police would make changes to their practices.

Decree Summary: https://case.edu/schubertcenter/sites/case.edu.schubertcenter/files/2020-04/Consent-Decree-Summary-Edited.pdf

House Bill 294

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:35:14 UTC

GOP Lawmakers in Ohio introduce the Voter Suppression bill aimed at restricting Mail-in Ballots and alternative voting in Ohio. The bill will most directly impact the BIPOC population, making it harder for individuals in poverty to vote.

Cleveland Declares Racism a Public Health Crisis

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:36:02 UTC

In 2020, following Milwaukee, Wisconsin's lead, Cleveland, and several other cities in Ohio declared Racism a Public Health Crisis. It was deemed that racism had infected American Society so much that it was having a detrimental effect on the health and wellness of the BIPOC population.

Cleveland Ohio Population Breakdown

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:36:58 UTC

Data Source: cleveland ohio population 2022 - Search (bing.com)

Case Western Reserve University

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:37:55 UTC

Size of School: 12,069 Students

Diversity or Antiracist Policy?
The University has a Diversity Education Program for all students as well as Diversity Awareness Training. Both are focused on Students, Faculty, and Staff. (https://case.edu/diversity/programs/diversity-360)

Diversity of Students?
The Universities Mission Statement includes the following goal: "Promotion of an inclusive culture of global citizenship."

The University publishes a "Diversity Snapshot" for every semester. https://case.edu/ir/cwru-facts/diversity

Cleveland Racial Demographic

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:39:13 UTC

Cleveland, Ohio remains in the top 10 most racially segregated cities in the U.S. 70% of the residents in Cleveland are Caucasian (represented in blue), and 20% of the population is black (represented in green). 10% of the population represents Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans (<0.1%).

Additional Resource: https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-city-rankings/most-segregated-cities-in-america

Source: Race, Diversity, and Ethnicity in Cleveland, OH | BestNeighborhood.org

Boys & Girls Club of Northeastern Ohio

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:41:12 UTC

In 2019, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Western Reserve, Lorain & Erie Country merged into the Boy & Girls Club of Northeastern Ohio. The merger was performed to boost membership and ensure the financial standing of Individual Clubs. The Boys & Girls Club in Cleveland has supported the community for over 70 years.

A Love Letter to an Antiracist Cleveland - Dr. Mark Joseph

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:42:15 UTC

Dr. Mark Joseph is an antiracist and activist advocating for entering into conversations about race with love and dignity. "His research focus is mixed-income development as a strategy for promoting urban equity and inclusion." Dr. Mark Joseph is an associate professor of Community Development at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH.
Site: (https://case.edu/socialwork/about/directory-faculty-and-staff/mark-l-joseph)

In this speech (link below), he eloquently breaks down how easy it is to take action as an antiracist. He challenges his listeners to lean into the discomfort of talking about race and make a point to break up homogeny in social settings.

Antiracist Organization: YWCA of Greater Cleveland

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:43:04 UTC

Their Mission: The elimination of racism wherever it exists, and by any means necessary.

In 2016, The YWCA of Greater Cleveland performed an internal evaluation of its organization and realized they were not practicing what it preached. The organization dedicated itself to change and embodying the message they are promoting; "Eliminating Racism, Empowering Women". They overcame persistence and resistance from their members and management team to create diversity and inclusion in their organization.

In 2020, YWCA of Greater Cleveland led the mission to declare Racism a Public Health Crisis in Cleveland. That was just the beginning. That declaration kicked off their 5-year Strategic Plan to defeat racism at any cost.

Serial Podcast - Season 3, Episode 3

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:44:00 UTC

Season 3 of Serial Podcast follows different cases at the Cleveland Justice Center. Each week, a new case is discussed. This podcast covers several of the issues already discussed in other posts. This podcast allows you to hear from the perspective of the oppressed. Specifically, the narrator speaks about the 137 shots case.

137 Shots -21 minutes, 30 seconds to 22 minutes, 55 seconds

Serial Podcast Website: https://serialpodcast.org/

Lake Erie Native American Council

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:45:09 UTC

The council "nonprofit organization that aims to preserve, maintain, and promote Native American culture in Northeast Ohio"

LENAC was established in 1990 with the mission to promote traditional values in the Native American youth of Cuyahoga County.

The posts on their Facebook page (link below) show how the Native American population of Cleveland is contributing and proudly keeping in touch with their heritage. The LENAC was involved in the recent name change of Cleveland's Professional Baseball team.

Cleveland's History with Racism

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:46:34 UTC

Cleveland is an epicenter of some both Racist and Anti-Racist events in U.S. History. Visit the timeline to see some of the details of Cleveland's History with Racism.

Cleveland is Located on the Land of the Erie Indigenous People

jessigugg — 2022-04-28 01:47:28 UTC