In 2002, residents from Cleveland's downtown neighborhoods embraced a program to improve good health and growth in their lives, neighborhoods and community.
This effort, known as Building Healthy Communities, started when St. Vincent Charity Medical Center and several partners commissioned a community health survey to provide a broad view of the needs of the Central Neighborhood, where the hospital is located.
Since then, Building Healthy Communities staff members have been working in collaboration with residents and service organizations to extend education and practical tools to Central Neighborhood.
Building Healthy Communities and its broad network of neighborhood partners motivate residents to work together with local organizations for positive change, good health and growth in their own lives, their neighborhoods, and the community through numerous programs, efforts and events.
Programming for all ages includes annual health fairs, Great American Smoke Out events, National Nutrition Month events, health-related Red Hat Society programming, youth employment opportunities, nutrition training and exercise classes, E.M.B.R.A.C.E. (Embracing African Cultural Experiences) events, MyCom after-school activities, and the Garden Boyz urban farm project, which has received support from Reimagining Cleveland.
Building Healthy Communities also presents opportunities for local residents to participate in and advocate for programs related to community diversion and delinquency avoidance. And, it includes leadership training and opportunities to help increase the neighborhood's voter registration, voter participation and understanding of government issues.
Today, the program continues as a grassroots collaboration that supports and empowers residents to address quality of life concerns. It has had a positive effect on hundreds of residents in the Central Neighborhood by providing a vision of what can be, as well as a vehicle for achieving the vision. Major sponsors of the Building Healthy Communities program include Arbor Park Village, Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland, Tri-C Metro Campus, Sisters of Charity Health System and St. Vincent Charity Medical Center.
2475 EAST 22ND STREET
CLEVELAND, OH 44115
P: 216.696.5560
Recent Blog Posts
June 2, 2023
Building Health Communities crochet classes have participants hooked
An activity as seemingly simple as creating something from nothing using yarn and a hooked needle can offer many benefits. That something simple is crochet, which has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, relax the mind, relieve depression, offer a sense of community when done in a group and even build a business. For several years, Building Healthy Communities has offered crochet classes at locations around Cleveland’s Central neighborhood. The crochet classes have taught dozens of residents how to crochet, with some even going on to earn an income from their work or crocheted works used as donations to
May 25, 2023
Healthy Learners empowers Spanish-speaking communities with South Carolina’s first Youth Mental Health First Aid course
Healthy Learners achieved a significant milestone by delivering South Carolina’s inaugural Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training for Spanish-speaking communities. This groundbreaking evidence-based program equips participants with the necessary skills to identify signs and symptoms of mental illness and substance use. Healthy Learners is a faith-based nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating health barriers to learning for striving students.
May 10, 2023
Healthy Learners highlights stories of going further for children
A shy, observant and straight A sixth grader in Georgetown County, was struggling to shake her anxiety. Her school nurse turned to Healthy Learners, who helped the student get the help needed to process her anxiety and develop tools to heal and overcome. The latest quarterly newsletter from Healthy Learners highlights her story and more stories about how it is going further for children.
May 2, 2023
Early Childhood Resource Center executive director named to Crain’s 30 Notables in Education Leadership
Crains Cleveland Business has named Scott Hasselman, executive director of the Early Childhood Resource Center, to its Crain’s 30 Notables in Education Leadership list. The Early Childhood Resource Center, which is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System, works to promote the healthy development of young children by strengthening families, improving the quality of early learning experiences, increasing school and community readiness, and informing public policy.