The Cleveland branch of the NAACP, which has been highly critical of MetroHealth System’s decision to fire CEO Airica Steed, has asked to meet with the hospital’s board of trustees.

“The Cleveland NAACP and members of the broader community have a number of questions concerning the implications of Dr. Steed’s termination on the provision of health services to African-American patients in Cleveland,” local NAACP President Kayla Griffin Green wrote in a recent letter to the board.

The letter offered a softer tone than the NAACP’s first statement on the matter, which accused the board of a “public corporate lynching.” That statement sparked tension in the Black community because five of the nine board members are people of color.

The latest NAACP letter describes Steed’s firing as “troubling” and praised Steed for her focus on trying to bring racial equity to healthcare.

There’s no word yet on a meeting between the NAACP and members of the board of trustees.

Also involved in this conversation is former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, who’s long been a leading political voice in Northeast Ohio and a leader in the Black community. Before Steed was fired, the MetroHealth board hired Fudge on contract as its outside legal counsel, which includes work on matters related to Steed’s employment. After leaving President Biden’s cabinet in March, Fudge  joined the Taft Stettinius & Hollister law firm, where she is a partner in its Cleveland office. 

Cleveland State University highs and lows for the week

This week, Cleveland State University wrestled with the challenges and experienced the rewards of operating a critical educational institution.

On Monday, Signal Cleveland broke the news that the university was laying off 14 staff members amid its ongoing financial struggles. 

By Friday, though, the energy of the downtown campus shifted as students returned for the fall semester.

President Laura Bloomberg was there for it all. Higher Education Reporter Amy Morona caught up with her as she mingled with students and families moving into the Euclid Commons dorm. 

Bloomberg said the university will miss those colleagues departing via buyouts or layoffs. But, for those remaining, she said the focus must now turn to “welcoming our students and launching a great year.” 

“Yes, we’re rightsizing,” she said about the recent layoffs and the planned staff and faculty buyouts. “That is the work that we have to do. We are resolute. I think I’m more resolute than sad or discouraged in any way.” 

When asked if students might be keeping tabs on the financial decisions, she said she suspects they’re focused on other parts of their education, such as getting along with a new roommate or figuring out how to tackle a new biology course. 

“And that’s adulting,” she said. “That’s what they should be focused on, so that’s what I want to be focused on.” 

Cleveland Schools to offer more career help

While the Cleveland school district’s new cell phone policy has gotten a lot of attention, there’s another change this year worth noting. Every Cleveland high school student now will have career advising in 11th and 12th grade, thanks to a partnership between the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Youth Opportunities Unlimited (Y.O.U.), a local organization that connects students from lower-income families to summer career-building opportunities.

At a meeting Tuesday, the Cleveland school board decided to spend $300,000 to fund the partnership, which is an expansion of CMSD’s Planning and Career Exploration (PACE) program. Y.O.U. has been a part of PACE since it launched in 2021, but the organization will take on a larger role now. 

During advising sessions, staff from Y.O.U. and College Now will help students plan for their next steps after high school. College Now will support students looking toward college while Y.O.U. will connect students with credential trainings, apprenticeships and jobs. Y.O.U. will also lead workshops and classes on career readiness in high schools throughout the district. 

“I could see in 10 years Cleveland is out of the top 10 in poverty, our workforce is humming,” said Craig Dorn, the CEO of Y.O.U. “[PACE] is the most notable potential game-changer I’ve seen in my 35 years in the business.”

Signal Statewide Bureau Chief/Editor-At-Large
I assist a team of storytellers as they pursue original enterprise and investigative stories that capture untold narratives about people and policies. I use my decades of experience in print, digital and broadcast media to help Signal staff build skills to present stories in useful and interesting ways.

Higher Education Reporter
I look at who is getting to and through Ohio's colleges, along with what challenges and supports they encounter along the way. How that happens -- and how universities wield their power during that process -- impacts all Ohio residents as well as our collective future. I am a first-generation college graduate reporting for Signal in partnership with the national nonprofit news organization Open Campus.

K-12 Education and Youth Reporter (he/him)
As a local visual journalist, I see my purpose in building relationships as much as reporting news. I’ve made my most impactful work only after pouring myself into my community.