“Today, we come together not just to talk but to forge a pathway forward—a united front where educators, parents, and community leaders collaborate to transform our public education into a beacon of hope and achievement for every student in Cleveland.” –Khadijah Fair.
Cleveland, OH—Cleveland Transformation Alliance’s (CTA) Networking Event, “Unity in Cleveland: Education, Collaboration, Community,” was a day of laughter and important conversations. Hosted at PNC Fairfax Connection, the event brought educators, community leaders, and advocates together to discuss and advance educational equity in Cleveland.
Khadijah Fair, CTA’s Family Engagement Manager, moderated the event, uniting voices from Cleveland’s educational and community spheres: Erika Brown, Teffannie J. Hale, Jason Lockett Sr., Benjamin (Ben) Louis, and Denyelle Rashid.
Teffannie J. Hale, Ben Louis, Erika Brown, Denyelle Rashid, Jason Lockett Sr.
Meghann Marnecheck, Executive Director at CTA, kicked off the event with a warm welcome, and Khadijah set the tone, emphasizing the importance of a collective effort in addressing the needs of Cleveland’s students.
The panel were asked a series of questions aimed at deepening the understanding of community roles in education. These questions included the following but not limited to:
- How do you define ‘UNITY’ in the context of Cleveland’s public education, and how does it shape educational success?
- How can financial literacy programs be effectively integrated from early student education to parental involvement?
- What strategies have proven effective in ensuring that community programs are accessible and beneficial to a diverse range of families?
- What are the most significant educational policies impacting Cleveland schools, and how can parents engage more effectively with these policies?
Each question prompted detailed responses from the panelists, connecting their personal experiences and professional insights into a broader narrative about the potential for community-driven change within Cleveland’s educational landscape. The panelists provided rich and diverse perspectives, each contributing a unique lens on how to support public education in Cleveland:
Ben Louis: “We’re not just discussing the future of education here; we’re actively constructing it through our commitment to responsive and inclusive programming that meets the needs of every family in our community.”
Jason Lockett Sr.: “Financial literacy is personal and has to be relatable… We start teaching it as early as possible to ensure our students can apply it in real-world contexts.”
Teffannie Hale stated, “Policy should be met with intent, interest, and some seasoning. Otherwise, it won’t be effective in influencing real change.” She added, “Policy is how you fight, and that is through the Student Code of Conduct. That book teaches parents what to do in any situation.”
Erika Brown shared, “What would it look like if we just loved on all these children? Unity in educational advocacy isn’t just about policies; it’s about making every student feel supported and valued.” Further reflecting on community engagement, she added, “My work in neighborhood networks is helping people build up their relationships and recognize how powerful those relationships can be and how it can propel anything else that they want to do.”
Denyelle Rashid:
“Unity to me looks like imagery and likeness, making sure that I present myself as a vessel or someone that you can remind yourself of to elevate our collective educational experience.”“Unity in Cleveland” highlighted the challenges faced in public education and celebrated the strides made through collective effort and shared responsibilities. Each panelist presented ideas and strategies for advancing educational equity and quality in public education.
The event highlighted that education thrives on community involvement and that every stakeholder has a role. As attendees left, the consensus was clear: through unity, significant progress is possible, and the path forward is one of continued collaboration and engagement.
“Unity involves intentional collaboration and coalition building. Collaboration is like the link; coalition building is the marriage…” – Teffannie Hale
For further follow-up initiatives from the event or information on CTA’s Ambassador program, please visit the Cleveland Transformation Alliance website.
