Jan. 23: Community Development Committee Meeting, Cuyahoga County Council
Covered by Documenter Tina Scott (notes)
Will Cleveland get a Jesse Owens museum?
The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) has big plans to restore Olympic Gold Medalist Jesse Owens’ childhood home, which received Cleveland landmark status in 2024. CRS is set to get $20,000 from Cuyahoga County to see if the plans are possible.
The goal is to use the money to explore transforming the home into a museum or other community asset, according to Margaret Lann from CRS. Ideally, the museum would also receive a historical marker, which is separate from the landmark process.
The funding comes from Cuyahoga County Council’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. It would not be used for construction costs. Instead, the plan is to use the money to determine the feasibility of the project, Lann said. That includes looking into transferring ownership of the home from the current homeowner — whom Lann said supports the initiative — to nonprofit ownership.
Council’s Community Development Committee approved the legislation on Jan. 23. The full council is set to vote on the proposal at its Feb. 11 meeting.
Preserving Cleveland’s Black history
The committee also approved a resolution granting $20,000 to the Western Reserve Historical Society for its new African American History gallery at the Cleveland History Center. The money is expected to help with strategic planning, according to Regennia Williams, who presented on behalf of the historical society.
Williams, in addition to service as a member of the Cleveland Landmarks Commission, is also a scholar of African American History and Culture for the historical society. The plan is supported by Cleveland City Council and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, she told the committee.
The money is expected to help bolster the historical society’s “By the Book” reading and discussion series, according to Williams. For example, the series is set to include Louis Stokes’ biography – “The Gentleman from Ohio” – about his experience as the first Black man from Ohio to serve in the U.S. Congress.
Full council is also set to vote on this legislation on Feb. 11.
Support for Black journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is set to host its 2025 annual convention in Cleveland. The local chapter – Greater Cleveland Association for Black Journalists – is on track for a funding boost to help with the event, which is scheduled from Aug. 6 to 10.
Greater Cleveland Association for Black Journalists’ mission is to provide support and opportunities to journalists to tell stories that reflect the past and the present with perspective, Rhonda Crowder, president for the local chapter, told the committee. The Cleveland group has 100-plus members.
Although the initial ask was for $15,000, Council Member Pernel Jones Jr. decided to throw in an additional $5,000 of District 8 ARPA dollars. The legislation — authorizing $20,000 — is also up for final approval on Feb. 11.
Watch the full meeting on Cuyahoga County’s YouTube.
Read the notes from Documenter Tina Scott
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