WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2019
Levin News, produced by the Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, is designed to share information on programs and activities, grants, publications, and other news of interest about Levin College faculty, staff, students, and alumni.
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FACULTY, STAFF, AND STUDENT NEWS
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>>Levin Receives CSU President's Award for Excellence in Diversity
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 The Levin College and its Diversity Council's hard work and continued commitment to "create a high profile culture of diversity and inclusion throughout the College at all levels, and become a model and resource to the community" has led to Levin receiving the CSU President's Award for Excellence in Diversity at CSU's 6 th Annual Diversity Council Recognition and Awards Luncheon this April 2019. Awardees are selected based on four components: innovation-new, relevant, and penetrating initiatives that promote positive change; impact-the extent to which the College celebrates differences and works to actively identify and eliminate barriers; sustainability-providing opportunity to institutionalize and sustain equitable practices that identify and eliminate barriers; and alignment with the University's diversity goals.
The Levin College is fully dedicated to Public Service, Leadership, and Change. Embedded in this is a commitment to embrace and reflect both the students and the community that we serve, and to work together to create sustainable change on campus, in the neighborhood, in the region, and globally. |
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>>Levin Executive in Residence Recognized in Crain's "Eight Over 80"
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 Steven A. Minter, Executive in Residence at the Levin College, has been honored with Crain's Eight over 80 award. This award recognizes individuals 80 or older that have remained active in business, activism, philanthropy, and civic affairs.
Minter has worked in public policy for nearly 60 years, much of that time devoted to the betterment of life in Cleveland. For as long as he can remember, he wanted to help bring people together and work on important issues.
"It's always been my very strong belief that you've got to connect ideas and people," he said, adding, in considerable understatement, "And that is something I've been pretty good at."
"This city has seen ups and downs," Minter said, "but I think in some respects we are in the best position we've been in, with one exception: We still have too great an extent of poverty." He has vowed to continue to bring his experiences to bear on that most pressing problem.
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>>Levin Students Awarded at the Northeast Section of the Ohio Water Environment Association's 2019 Student Design Competition
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Congratulations to Levin students Ashley Kirk, Corey Czinger, Joseph Gyorky, and Tena Petrovic who received an honorable mention at the Northeast Section of the Ohio Water Environment Association's 2019 Student Design Competition. This year's competition concluded on April 26, when seven teams presented their innovative ideas to a panel of judges from the Ohio Water Environment Association. The team will present again at the State of Ohio's Student Design Competition in September 2019 at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference. Levin College Dean Roland V. Anglin and Dr. Sanda Kaufman, Professor and Director of the Environmental Studies and Urban Studies graduate programs at Levin, were also recognized for encouraging Levin students to participate in the competition.
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>>Levin Student Receives 19th Annual John McLendon Award
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Levin student MacJilton Lewis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Mariemont), of CSU's men's swimming team, received the 19th annual John McLendon Award, which is given to the student-athlete who best represents the ideals and personal philosophy of McLendon, a former CSU men's basketball coach who is enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. During his career, Lewis scored at the Horizon League Championship in the 1650m freestyle, the 200m backstroke, and the 400m individual medley.
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>>Office of Civic Engagement Recognizes CSU Students at America Reads and Viking Corps End of Year Celebration
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On April10, CSU's Office of Civic Engagement (OCE) hosted their 2018-2019 America Reads and Viking Corps End of Year Celebration in honor of the 98 tutors and student workers involved in the programs. These CSU students worked at 23 different sites in and around Cleveland with OCE community partners: Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, and Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School. OCE's partner site coordinators were asked to nominate CSU students that did an outstanding job working with youth at their organizations.
- Viking Corps Nominees: Morgan Clark, Kasey Linberg, Sydney Myles, and Arielle Palevsky
- America Reads Nominees: Lidaou Athanase Ali, Megan Baranuk, Taylor Catri-Eakes, and Elizabeth Smith
- Viking Corps Student of the Year: Sydney Myles
- America Reads Tutor of the Year: Taylor Catri-Eakes
The Office of Civic Engagement thanks all of the students and community partners for their hard work and dedication this year.
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>>Levin's Mentoring Program Ends the Year with Over 90 Participants
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As the academic year comes to a close, Levin's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management would like to thank all of the mentors and students who participated in this year's Mentoring Program, volunteering their time to develop the next generation of change agents.
The Mentoring Program, which is a collaboration between the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management and the Ohio Center for the Advancement of Women in Public Service, pairs junior and senior undergraduate and graduate students with community professionals in leadership positions within the public or nonprofit sectors. Mentors provide guidance and career advice as students examine career choices during the academic year. Students and mentors exchange interests and plan career goals and objectives.
The program, founded by Senator Grace L. Drake, has operated since 2001. The 2018-2019 cohort consists of over 90 mentors and mentees.
Some of this year's mentors included:
- Director for Immigration and Visa Security in the National Security Council
- President & CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance
- President & CEO of the United Way of Greater Cleveland
- Director of the Cleveland Peacemaker's Alliance
- State Representative (Ohio's 16th District)
- COO at the City Mission
- Chief, Northeast District Office for the EPA
- Field Office Director for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- Director of Water Reclamation at the City of Solon
In addition to individual monthly mentor/mentee meetings, the Center organized professional development events for individuals involved in the mentoring program, such as a panel discussion, "speed" networking events, a community service project at The City Mission, and more.
A few testimonials from Mentoring Program participants are below.
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"This program provided me with hands on experiences at the Ohio State House with Representative Dave Greenspan. Also, being able to work with Director Julie Stufft from the Department of State and the National Security Council, propelled my research for my fellowship into a new level this year. This has been amazing!"
~Cameron Caputi, Urban Studies/Public Management Major
Cameron's mentors are Rep. David Greenspan (Ohio House of Representatives – District 16) and Julie Stufft (the director for Immigration & Visa Security, National Security Council)
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"Though life gives few guarantees, mentoring promises great returns. My mentors have seen me at my best and encouraged me to pursue the highest attainment with weaknesses in mind. This program has catapulted my professional development and made me the best person that I can ever be. No aspiring student should graduate without mentoring experience of this kind."
~Philip Lee, JD/MPA graduate (2018)
Philip's mentors include Dave Nash (Partner at McMahon & DeGulis LLP), Rocco Debitetto (Partner at Hahn Loeser LLP), and Andrew Kovach (International Visitors Program Associate at Cleveland Council on World Affairs)
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"The Mentoring Program was a great experience for me! I feel like I've built a good relationship with my mentor that will last well beyond the end of this year's program. I value the effort that Alexandra and Rob put into matching mentors with peers - they do a great job! Overall, the Mentoring Program is a great opportunity to meet professionals in your area of interest and get a feel for what working in that field is like. It's an invaluable experience for any student."
~Molly Crawford, Urban Studies/Regional Planning Major
Molly's mentor is Pamela Ashby, the field director (Cleveland office) for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
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>>Levin Launches New Podcast Series
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Levin Podcast Episode 1
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The Levin College has released a podcast as part of a new ongoing series. Episode 1 features Erykah Betterson, Levin Environmental Studies and Urban Studies/Regional Planning student, Kristen Blazek, Coordinator of Student Recruitment, and Dr. Roland V. Anglin, Levin College Dean and Professor.
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 Dr. Minkyu Yeom, a recent graduate of Levin's doctoral program and an instructor at the Levin College, has published a new Focus on Facts report, Measuring the Seeds of Neighborhood Gentrification. Dr. Yeom applied innovative research methods, using a new data source from the US government that has not previously been used to examine the issue of neighborhood gentrification.
Dr. Yeom's report notes that cities experience constant change, and that many of these changes need to be managed carefully because they can have serious consequences for city residents. For many decades suburban sprawl and white flight caused falling property values, lower rents, lower tax receipts, lower quality public services, and sharp declines in the quality of life in many city neighborhoods. Despite these obstacles, many long-time city residents (often minorities, low-income families, and new immigrants) have worked hard to maintain a sense of community. In recent years, many younger, white, well-educated, and higher-income residents have begun moving back into older city neighborhoods. The influx of new residents is revitalizing many older neighborhoods, and this can improve the quality of life for all.
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>>Levin Student Weighs the Merits of Neighborhood Branding on Ideastream
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On May 1, Hannah Lebovits, PhD student at the Levin College, was featured on an Ideastream Sound of Ideas segment that examines Northeast Ohio community branding initiatives. Lebovits also recently published her views in a related article in Cleveland Scene.
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>>"Levin Serves" Program Organizes Second Visit to the City Mission
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Levin's Center for Public and Nonprofit Management, in partnership with CSU's Office of Civic Engagement, organized the second "Levin Serves" project at the City Mission's Laura's Home on April 26. Laura's Home is a women's crisis center that provides safe and secure shelter for women and children. A group of Levin faculty, staff, and students assisted with painting, cleaning, and yard work projects in preparation for the City Mission's graduation ceremony, which was held that same evening.
After completing the projects, the group toured the building and heard from Abby Uveges, an MNAL candidate and the assistant manager of Laura's Home.
Levin Serves is a quarterly outreach activity designed to unite the Levin College for community service initiatives. Additional information about our next "Levin Serves" series will be available this fall.
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>>Leadership Academy Launches Donation Drive to Help Seniors in Need
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The Levin College's Leadership Academy 28 cohort is coordinating a donation drive for their capstone project. Items such as socks, blankets, toiletries, and puzzle books will be donated to senior citizens throughout Cuyahoga County. Drop-off locations include the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management (1717 Euclid Avenue, UR 244) and the ADAMHS Board (2012 W. 25th Street, 6th Floor).
Leadership Academy is a program of the Center for Public and Nonprofit Management and is the premier public sector leadership development program in the region. The program has over 600 graduates representing major governmental and nonprofit organizations throughout northeast Ohio and is designed to encompass topics in leadership as well as personal and organizational development.
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>>Levin Alumni Receive Gold 2019 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation from the American Planning Association
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Last week, Levin MUPD(D) alums Joyce Braverman, Planning Director for the City of Shaker Heights; Ann Klavora, Principal Planner for the City of Shaker Heights; and Jason Russell, Neighborhood General Manager of RMS Investments, accepted the Gold 2019 National Planning Achievement Award for Implementation from the American Planning Association for their work on the City of Shaker Height's Van Aken District. Only twenty achievement awards are given annually throughout the US.
Shaker Heights, Ohio, which is known for its historic residential character, lacked a true downtown after decades of auto-centric and unplanned development put many locally owned shops out of business. Over a fifteen year period, a series of five plans were implemented to redevelop a commercial district into a mixed-use, transit-oriented downtown.
The Van Aken District Transit-Oriented Development added 60,000 square feet of office space, 100,000 square feet of retail space, and 101 housing units, making it the largest construction project in the city's history. A dangerous six-legged intersection was converted into a standard four-way intersection with safer pedestrian crossings, efficient traffic flow, and improved transit station access. With the new development, the city increased revenue from commercial businesses and attracted a new generation of residents to live and work in the area.
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Dr. J. Rosie Tighe, Associate Professor at the Levin College, was a featured panelist for the film, "Decade of Fire" at the recent Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF). The panel addressed the question: "How do we repair the damage of structural racism?"
>> Learn More
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>>Managing the City: Honoring the Career of Professor Sylvester Murray
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On March 25 and 26, the Levin College held a two-day event that honored the career of Sylvester Murray, Professor Emeritus at the Levin College, while examining trends and innovations in public administration and city management. The full program including panelists and participants is available here.
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March 25: Opening Reception
The conference was preceded by a reception in which a panel of Professor Murray's former Levin students and colleagues discussed his impact on the field.
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March 26: Conference
The conference included an opening plenary where Professor Murray reflected on his legacy, followed by three panel discussions: Contemporary Challenges Facing Mayors and City Managers; Innovation from the Ground Up; and Educating Future Public Administrators and City Managers.
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UPCOMING EVENTS SPOTLIGHT
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>>AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience
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In celebration of Cleveland Asian Festival's 10-year anniversary and National Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, the Levin College and its Dean's Diversity Council has partnered with Cleveland Asian Festival and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, Greater Cleveland Chapter to present AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience. This celebration includes activities throughout the month of May, including a Dean's Forum, Brown Bag Film Series, and gallery exhibit.
DEAN'S FORUM | THURSDAY, MAY 16 @ 4 - 6 PM
Ohio is home to over 238,000 Asian-Americans with almost 67,000 living in the Cleveland Metropolitan area and over 39,000 in Cuyahoga County. When the first Chinese immigrants arrived in Cleveland in 1870, Chinatown formed, relocated twice, and eventually evolved to become our present day AsiaTown. After many years as a hidden gem, AsiaTown has unveiled itself more widely in recent years due in part to the popularity of the Cleveland Asian Festival and the growing Asian Pacific American (APA) community. Hear our diverse group of panelists talk about their personal experiences, perspectives on AsiaTown, and the future of the APA community in Cleveland.
BROWN BAG FILM SERIES | MAY 1, 8, 22 @ 12 - 1 PM
May 1, 2019 | 12 – 1 pm
The Chinese Exclusion Act "Who Is American?: Immigration, Exclusion, and the American Dream"
Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Bonda Board Room, UR 254
May 8, 2019 | 12 – 1 pm
Oral History - Documentary of Japanese Americans - Cleveland's Japanese American's experience from internment camp to relocating to the City of Cleveland
Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Bonda Board Room, UR 254
May 22, 2019 | 12 – 1 pm
OCA Image TV AsiaTown highlights video, where to go, and where to eat and shop
Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, Sweet Seminar Room, UR 241
GALLERY EXHIBIT | MAY 1 - 31, 2019 | Thomas F. Campbell, PhD Exhibition Gallery
"Faces of Chinatown" is an extensive photography exhibit capturing the evolution of the historic neighborhood, Cleveland's Chinatown in and around Rockwell Avenue. The exhibit combined the contributions of several award-winning artists, including photographer Steve Cagan, emmy-winning video producers Luanne Bole-Becker and Bob Becker, and graphic artist Katie (Major) Melnick.
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>>Thursday, May 23 @ 4pm | Levin College Forum | Smoke on the Water: Five Decades of Progress Restoring Great Lakes Rivers
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By the late 1960s, every major river that flowed through cities in the Great Lakes basin was ecologically compromised by years of industrial pollution, soil erosion, and invasive species. Many of these rivers "burned" regularly, as oil and industrial chemicals from industry caught fire. The most famous was Cleveland's Cuyahoga River in 1969, which was featured in a front cover photo and article by Time Magazine. Many clean water advocates credit this media coverage as the final inflection point leading to passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. Hundreds of millions of dollars have since been spent to restore these rivers, and the consequences can be seen not only in the core of Great Lakes cities, but in the lakes themselves.
 Keynote speaker Dr. John Hartig, Visiting Scholar at University of Windsor's Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research and the Great Lakes Science-Policy Advisor for the International Association for Great Lakes Research, will be joined by panelists Jennifer Grieser, Jim Kastelic, and Steve Litt, who will speak about restoration efforts over the last 50 years for the Cuyahoga, while sharing their experiences and the work they have accomplished that has contributed to restoration of the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie, and the revitalization of downtown Cleveland.
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UPCOMING LEVIN COLLEGE EVENTS
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>>Receive updates exclusively about upcoming Levin College events by subscribing to LEVIN FORUM NEWS
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>>Stay up-to-date on all Levin College events by visiting our CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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WEDNESDAY 5/8/19: BROWN BAG FILM SERIES | AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience | The Chinese Exclusion Act "Who Is American?: Immigration, Exclusion, and the American Dream" | Bonda Board Room, UR 254 | 12 - 1 p.m. | Open to the public and free to attend. | Learn More and Register.
THURSDAY 5/16/19: DEAN'S FORUM | AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience | Roberta Steinbacher Atrium | 4 - 6 p.m. | Open to the public and free to attend. Light refreshments provided. | Learn More and Register.
TUESDAY 5/21/19: WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SERIES | Women Empowering Women: Speed Networking Event | Roberta Steinbacher Atrium | 8 - 10:30 a.m. | Free to attend, but space is limited. Registration required. | Learn More and Register.
WEDNESDAY 5/22/19: BROWN BAG FILM SERIES | AsiaTown and the Asian American Experience | OCA Image TV AsiaTown highlights video, where to go, and where to eat and shop | Sweet Seminar Room, UR 241 | 12 - 1 p.m. | Open to the public and free to attend. | Learn More and Register.
THURSDAY 5/23/19: LEVIN COLLEGE FORUM | Smoke on the Water: Five Decades of Progress Restoring Great Lakes Rivers | Roberta Steinbacher Atrium | 4 - 6 p.m. | Open to the public and free to attend. Light refreshments provided. | Learn More and Register.
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To submit information for inclusion in Levin News, please forward your content to levincomms@csuohio.edu.
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