From Outhwaite to Advocate – Public Housing & the Stokes Legacy (video) May 2017

The link is here

Cleveland is home to some of the first public housing projects in the nation. Outhwaite Homes, Cedar Apartments and Lakeview Terrace–all built in the late 1930s–were the first public housing projects to receive funding from the federal government’s newly-created Public Works Administration. This public housing was conceived as a way to help struggling, but upwardly mobile families out of slums and tenements. More than simply shelter, these “estates” included green space, murals and playgrounds designed to produce positive American values and strong children.

Brothers Carl and Louis Stokes moved into Outhwaite Homes Estates with their mother in 1938. Carl became the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city when he was elected mayor of Cleveland in 1967. Louis was the first black congressman elected in the state of Ohio, and served 15 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Both Carl and Louis credited moving to Outhwaite as a key to their eventual success. Both advocated for public housing and worked to improve its effectiveness throughout their political careers.

As part of our ongoing Living History series, which looks to Cleveland’s past to inform its future, ideastream hosted a community conversation on the history of the Outhwaite Homes and public housing in Cleveland, on the Stokes brothers’ public housing advocacy, and a look at where public housing stands today.

Presented in partnership with Cuyahoga Community College’s project “Stokes: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future,” a yearlong, community-wide commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Carl Stokes’ election as mayor of Cleveland, and a celebration of Carl and Louis Stokes’ lasting contributions to Cleveland and the nation.

Housing in Northeast Ohio aggregation

1 Housing Crisis in Northeast Ohio – Where are We in 2015? Video from Forum October 7, 2015
2 Property tax rates for 2015 up for most in Greater Cleveland/Akron (database) Plain Dealer/NEOMG
3 Home prices up for most of Cuyahoga County in 2014; city-by-city details (database) Plain Dealer/NEOMG
4 Jim Rokakis Speaks at the City Club About Housing in Cleveland (City Club Video 8.15.14)
5 How Best to Save a Neighborhood? The case for Demolition: Jim Rokakis (Plain Dealer 7/7/13)
6 How Best to Save a Neighborhood? The case for Rehabilitation: Jeffrey Johnson (Plain Dealer 7/7/13)
7 History of Public Housing in Cleveland by Dr. Thomas Campbell

Housing Crisis in Northeast Ohio – Where are We in 2015? Video from Forum October 7, 2015

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Housing Crisis in Northeast Ohio – Where are We in 2015?

Wednesday, October 7, 2015 7-8:30 p.m.
CWRU Siegal Facility in Beachwood, OH

Panelists:
• Thomas Bier, Senior Fellow, Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, Cleveland State University
• James Rokakis, Former Cuyahoga County Treasurer, Cleveland Councilman, Director Thriving Communities Institute

Moderator: Brent Larkin, The Plain Dealer

Northeast Ohio was one of the hardest hit housing markets in the U.S. in recent years. The market has begun to recover, but housing values and real estate taxes remain two of the most important economic issues facing local residents today. This forum will discuss current home prices, new construction, demolitions and foreclosures.

Cosponsored by City Club of Cleveland, Cleveland Jewish News Foundation, CWRU Siegal Lifelong Learning, League of Women Voters-Greater Cleveland

Here are two news stories from the forum

Cleveland Jewish News

Plain Dealer/NEOMG

Interview with Jim Rokakis Former Cleveland City Councilman (1977-1996) & Cuyahoga County Treasurer (1997-2009) -video

jim-rokakis-on-cspan-rev

Jim Rokakis served on the Cleveland City Council from 1977-1996, and was Cuyahoga County Treasurer from 1997-2009. During his time at City Council he was chairman of the Finance Committee. He was interviewed for Teaching Cleveland Digital on October 24, 2013. Cameras by Jerry Mann and Meagan Lawton, Edited by Meagan Lawton, Interviewed by Brent Larkin. © 2013 Jerry Mann and Teaching Cleveland Digital.

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