Service Learning in Community Development: Partnering with East Cleveland. Briefly Stated. Number 10-01

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4

Community Development; Urban Schools; Service Learning; Community Organizations; Public Education; Access to Education; Educational Quality; Vocational Education; Economically Disadvantaged; Urban Areas; Surveys; Neighborhoods; Labor Force Development; Housing; Safety; Aging (Individuals); College Students

Residents of East Cleveland are fighting to improve the quality of public education and access to vocational opportunities. "White flight" (Frey, 1979, p. 425), economic disinvestment, and ineffective political leadership have led to the disadvantages faced by East Cleveland (Kathi & Cooper, 2005). Nearly 1,200 vacant structures blight their 3.1 square mile landscape. Case Western Reserve University recognizes the potential roles that they can serve in aiding neighboring East Cleveland into becoming a desirable place to call home. MSSA students joined residents and firefighters to survey every vacant property in the City. Students utilized their experiences with conducting the survey, and through additional fieldwork, recommended strategies for the impact of vacant housing on topics like workforce development, education, safe streets and neighborhoods, and the senior population. This research, aided in part by the Center on Urban Poverty and Community Development at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University will serve as the basis for a partnership for the revitalization of East Cleveland with contributions from students, the university, residents, community organizations, and the City of East Cleveland. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

As Provided

4

2012

ED530303