A brief history of our Village:
The Cleveland Westside Village began in 2013 when neighbors, retired or approaching retirement, began talking about how we can live, thrive, and contribute to our community as we grow older. The group consisted of people who lived in Cleveland's Ohio City, Detroit-Shoreway, and Cudell-Edgewater neighborhoods, and Lakewood. We studied the issue through reading, small group discussions, talking with people in other communities, and attending national Village to Village network meetings.
We decided to create an all volunteer “Village model” to address the issues facing us. This model promotes and enables mutual support, awareness of our interdependence, and the sense that all people have gifts to share.
Timeline of CWV development
2014 Obtained non-profit status from IRS
2016 Ethnic dining begins
Book group begins
Joined Village to Village network (VtV)
Three members attended national VtV network meeting in Columbus, OH
Received Organizer's and Allies grant
Applied for Neighborhood Connections grant
2017
Received Neighborhood Connections grant
Obtained liability and board insurance
Purchased Helpful Village software for website creation
Began providing services to each other in a limited way
Applied for a second year of funding from Neighborhood Connections
2018
Fully implemented online service matching program
Held 3 educational sessions for community
Completed village brochure
Obtained Neighborhood Connections grant to begin membership campaign in 2019
2019
Held first sponsored membership event at Superelectric pinball parlor
Today we are a 40 member all volunteer organization striving to develop our vision of a mutual aid society dedicated to helping each other live well and joyfully within our community.
If these are ideas you share, join us at one of our events and contribute to our development!
Village brochure can be accessed here.
