Community Development

CPH works with community members and community organizations to make our cities stronger by empowering neighborhoods through collective action.

We believe that community members are experts in their lives and communities. Community Development at CPH uses the arts as a bridge to connect families with social and academic resources through in-school and community-based programs.

All our programs are tailored to create awareness about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through community engagement practices. We strive to create safe, positive, trauma-informed, and anti-racist programs that are also culturally relevant and creative.

We focus on connecting and creating genuine relationships with stakeholders to build trust and learn the challenges and obstacles in our city, while celebrating the diversity of our neighborhoods through arts and culture.

Our Programs

Through partnerships with school districts across the United States, CPH has found creative ways to provide social and educational services to families in need. Our goal is to find ways to overcome obstacles to student’s success and remove as many barriers as possible, so children can focus on being kids.

Community Markets: Through our partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, CPH hosts a community market once a month where community members can get free resources and fresh produce at the following schools:

• Almira Academy: Second Tuesday of each month
• Buhner Dual Language Academy: TBD
• Halle Elementary: Fourth Wednesday of each month
• Kenneth W. Clement Boys’ Leadership Academy: First Thursday of each month
• Walton Elementary: Last Wednesday of each month

Community Festivals: CPH celebrates the traditions of Cleveland neighborhoods using the arts to provide social, health, wellness, educational, and behavioral resources in partnership with other organizations tailored to each community.

Take-Care Fairs: Through a carnival experience, CPH visits schools, community centers, and organizations to create awareness and mitigate Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) through age-appropriate activities and educational resources for children and their caregivers.

Theatre Performances: We host community conversations with key stakeholders to develop new scripts with, by, and for the neighborhoods we serve. These new plays address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) by inviting multigenerational conversations and providing resources for all ages to equip community members to overcome challenges.