Cleveland Family Cafe
What is the Cleveland Family Cafe?
A series of topics guided by peer-to-peer discussions on shared personal experiences: these events aim to create a safe place for families to share feelings, develop connections, ask questions, gain knowledge, and leave feeling less alone. Family Café events are designed to connect families with families. This family-led forum is dedicated to sharing ideas, knowledge, resources, and best practices to guide our services and provide quality school choices for every child in Cleveland.
These events are FREE and OPEN to the public.
Below is a list of past Cleveland Family Cafe events.
Upcoming Family cafes can be viewed here: EVENTS
Cleveland Family Cafe – Advocating & Navigating Special Education
Whether you are a student, parent, educator, service provider, or community member, come join the online panel discussion on empowering families to learn, understand and navigate Special Education services and programs in Cleveland presented by Cleveland Transformation Alliance.
What is Special Education:
Special education is a broad term used to describe specially designed instruction that meets the unique needs of a student with disabilities interfering with their learning. It focuses on helping students with disabilities learn.
- Learn & Understand Your Rights
- Navigate Programs and Services
- Learn About IEP, ETR, and 504 Plans
- Learn How to Advocate!
Featured Panelists:
- Danielle Gadomski Littleton, Esq. – Legal Aid Society Cleveland
- Habeebah Rasheed Grimes, LSPSY – Chief Executive Officer, PEP
- Denise F. Milner MA, M.Ed. Principal – PEP Greenview
- Christy Rorick – Cleveland Teachers Union (CTU)
- Ebony Spano – Parent Advocate
- Amy Such, Psy.S. School Psychologist – CTU Executive Board Member
- Carol S. Young, Ph.D. Accountability & School Improvement Department Lead Education Division
RECAP VIDEO
Cleveland Family Café at PNC Fairfax Connection
Families joined CTA, PNC Fairfax, and Bright Beginnings on how families can partner with their schools, access services, and programs, and discuss parent styles and methods. Bright Beginnings talked about their Positive Parenting Program, also known as Triple P.
Partnership & Collaboration:
- PNC Fairfax Connection
- Bright Beginnings
Cleveland Family Cafe: Safe Space
This Family Café discussed tips on safety and communication, prevention, and wellness. CTA partnered with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Cleveland Police District Four, and Moore Counseling Services to engage in insightful conversations from home to school and everything else in between. This informal conversation allowed Cleveland families, residents, and partners to talk about their experiences, share stories, and learn from one another. We aim to help continue providing information and building bridges to create collaboration within the community.
When: November 6, 2022
Where: PNC Fairfax Connection
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Partnership & Collaboration:
- PNC Fairfax Connection
- Cleveland Rape Crisis Center Cleveland
- Police Department
- Moore Counseling & Mediation Services
RECAP VIDEO
RECAP VIDEO
View GuideCleveland Family Café at Children’s Museum Cleveland (CMC): Planning for Kindergarten
Prepare | Plan | Play
CTA invited families and partners to discuss the benefits of planning early to Kindergarten. After learning about public school options in Cleveland, parents and caregivers discussed obstacles and success stories on how they prepared or were preparing for Pre-K & Kindergarten. CMC opened early for Family Cafe guests as they enjoyed a free hour of private play before the Museum opened.
When: September 9, 2022
Where: Children’s Museum Cleveland/ Hybrid
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Partnership & Collaboration:
- Children’s Museum Cleveland
- Starting Point
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- GALA
Cleveland Family Cafe at Cleveland Public Library Mt. Pleasant Branch
CTA invited families and partners to share ways they cope with stress and anxiety as families and how it affects positive educational outcomes. A Moore Counseling representative gave examples of best practices, and Vee’s Counslanting shared ways to create a healthy and positive mindset with an activity. Participants left with a notebook to journal from the activity and information from CTA and Moore Counseling Services. Families joined the conversation as they gained and gave knowledge from different perspectives.
When: June 29, 2022
Where: Cleveland Public Library Mt. Pleasant Branch
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Partnership & Collaboration:
- Cleveland Public Library Mt. Pleasant Branch
- Vee’s Consulting
- Moore Counseling
Cleveland Public Library Mt. Pleasant Branch Programs & Services
Cleveland Family Cafe Flyers
Need Help?
Many families need help from time to time. Reach out to and let us know how we can help you.