CDC Leaders Meet with Students at Gries Center

Students in Sara Mierke's Community Development and Urban Renewal class gathered at the Gries Center yesterday to learn from three of the top Community Development Corporation (CDC) leaders in Cleveland: John Anoleifo, Executive Director of Famicos Foundation; Vickie Eaton Johnson, Executive Director of Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation; and Jeff Ramsey, Executive Director of Detroit Shoreway Development Corporation.  The speakers addressed topics relating to their CDC's geographic area of reponsibility; their CDC's history; priority programming, with emphasis on their Strategic Investment Initiative; and the theoretical basis for their organization's approach to social change.  After the presentations, the guests participated in group breakout sessions to discuss the CDC's Strategic Investment Initiative with students, who came away with a much clearer understanding of how these organizations are working to revitalize Cleveland neighborhoods.