Author Archives: Olivera Perkins

Economics Reporter (she/her)
Economics is often thought of as a lofty topic, but it shouldn’t be. My goal is to offer a street-level view of economics. My focus is on how the economy affects the lives of Greater Clevelanders. My areas of coverage include jobs, housing, entrepreneurship, unions, wealth inequality and pocketbook issues such as inflation.

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Stephanie Stedmire-Walls was able to get the porch of her East Cleveland home repaired with a grant from the Black and Latinx Community Investment Fund. The Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research program, run by the Home Repair Resource Center, has given up to $10,000 home improvement loans to homeowners in parts of Cleveland and the inner East Side suburbs. An analysis of government data by Austin Cummings of the Fair Housing Center found that nearly 92% of all home improvement loan dollars in Cuyahoga County have gone to residents in overwhelmingly white areas. Stedmire-Walls stands on her porch wearing a red and black Shaw High School jack, dark pants and red shoes.

News

Banks have systematically denied repair loans to Black homeowners in Greater Cleveland. Here is what advocates are trying to do about it

by Olivera Perkins December 19, 2024February 20, 2025

The view of a mobile home through a chainlink fence at the Euclid Beach Mobile Home park, from which all residents have been relocated.

News

What it took to find new homes for more than 100 Euclid Beach Mobile Home park residents

by Olivera Perkins December 2, 2024December 3, 2024

Houses on a street.

Inside Cleveland City Council’s $1 million plan that could help renters organize against out-of-town landlords

by Olivera Perkins November 12, 2024November 22, 2024

Voters decided on Issue 55, the 10-year cigarette tax, which will fund arts and culture programs. Cuyahoga County has had an arts and culture tax since 2006. Among the programs that have received funding in the past are those connected with Playhouse Square. This photo shows Playhouse Square during the Christmas holiday season.

Arts and Culture

Arts and culture funding extended as voters back Issue 55

by Olivera Perkins November 5, 2024February 4, 2025

Leonard Church is a barber at the Diamond Cut barbershop in Cleveland. He hasn't voted since 2012. He intends to vote this year at the urging of Asu Mook Robinson, the shop's owner. Robinson is active in Voices for a Better Future PAC, which is focused on getting more Black men to vote in November. The political group also hopes to organized them to advocate for the African American community on a longterm basis. Church stands in front of his barber's chair at the shop. Another barber cuts a client's hair in the background.

Can Black men make a difference in the November election?

by Olivera Perkins October 28, 2024October 28, 2024

The exterior of Huntington Bank's Buckeye Road branch. The bank will reopen this Monday. Last year, bank officials announced that the branch would close for good. the residents started to organize and saved the bank. The photo shows the green and white Huntington sign. It also shows the Buckeye and E. 117th Street street signs.

Community to celebrate next week’s Huntington Bank Buckeye branch reopening with resource fair Saturday

by Olivera Perkins October 25, 2024October 25, 2024

Some Cleveland Rape Crisis Center employees outside the organization's West 25th office after they voted April 4 in favor of joining the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) District 1199. The union will represent about 45 employees. After voting in the union, SEIU 1199 gave them T-shirts. The front reads: "I am the missing piece to fixing a broken system." The back reads: "You can't fix a broken system without the workers' voice."

News

Ohio workers stepping up efforts to unionize in recent years

by Olivera Perkins October 24, 2024October 23, 2024

Faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Music have voted to join the the American Federation of Musicians, Local 4. Photo of a violin and bow on top of sheet music.

Business, Education, News

Cleveland Institute of Music faculty vote in favor of unionizing

by Olivera Perkins September 27, 2024October 18, 2024

A building made of glass with a sign in front reading lutheran metropolitan ministry.

News

How one program is bridging a gap between landlords and people with Section 8 vouchers

by Olivera Perkins September 25, 2024October 18, 2024

A Black woman sits on a brick front porch with two children. They are all smiling.

Business, Government, News

Why being homeless is a growing concern for more working-class Clevelanders

by Olivera Perkins September 24, 2024October 18, 2024