The Good,the Bad,the Ugly, of Cleveland Now!

The Good,the Bad,the Ugly, of Cleveland Now!

Imagine a time period when race was a problem. Imagine neighborhoods a huge mess. Imagine many poor people not knowing what to do. Imagine not being educated. You can stop imagining. This happened right after the Civil Rights movement in Cleveland. Many people did not know this due to the great idea of the mayor of Cleveland at the time, mayor Carl Stokes. Stokes came up with a program called Cleveland Now. THis program would raise money and donate that money to different organizations to clean up Cleveland. This program was to improve Cleveland’s neighborhoods,education,transportation,jobs,and most important goal was helping the poor. Overall, Carl Stokes and the Cleveland Now foundation did many great things to the city of Cleveland that many people should learn.

One thing the Cleveland Now project did with the money they fundraised was give $15,000 to the NAACP to hire black officers. In a letter from Wiles to the Greater Cleveland Growth, he writes “Attached is a letter from Mayor Stokes requesting $15,000 for N.A.A.C.P. to assist them is coratricling a recruiting program in the black community for qualified petroleum.” Also, Wiles writes in the letter, “This original request was reduced to the figure $24,000.00” This helps explain how much this program is helping other people. After the civil rights movement many black people didn't have a job and wasn't use to working with white people. To break that barrier the NAACP would start to train these young black people to become officers. This was a major thing because it is showing others that black and white people are equal and they both can help and arrest criminals and citizens in the city. Also, in the text it clearly states that this is for the N.A.A.C.P. Wiles writes in the letter “Therefore, will you please prepare a check payable for N.A.A.C.P.” Overall, because of the Cleveland Now fundraiser the NAACP got to break the barrier between whites and black in city hall.

Wiles,Daniel. “Greater Cleveland Growth Association-Bio Union Commerence Building-Cleveland, 44115-0233310”. September 19,1960. 4501,45,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April 28,2017.

Not only did the Cleveland NOW give jobs to black people. They gave money to the Whiting Business College. They donated $2,000 to the college to pay for six students to attend the business college. Whiting writes in a letter to Mr. Wiles “In reply to your letter of March 6, the grant of $2,000 through Cleveland Now to Whiting Business College was used for part payment of for six students to attend the school.” This was very appreciated by many people because of the Cleveland Now fundraiser they are getting students to go to school. This is great because now the kids can get a degree which means jobs. This was huge because in this time period many people were struggling and couldn't afford schooling so they would go to other things. Now that this generation is going to school it can set a goal for the future generations. In the letter from Whiting to Mr. Wiles, he writes,“Create Jobs, to support scholarships for secretaries at the Whiting Business College.” This shows that there goal was to create jobs and offer more scholarships. Also, these kids were chosen and not just any random people. Whiting also wrote in the letter “these scholarships ,based on need and skill,” These scholarships were for people who really needed it and who showed effort in what they want to do. Overall, because of the Cleveland Now foundation they helped many students go to school and get a degree.

Whiting. Robert.“Whiting Business College”. March 12,1970. 4501,45,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April 28,2017.

After the Cleveland Now program helped people get jobs it became a problem for some. Many managers weren't use to the poor working for them and they would always fights. In the text it clearly shows that these workers were not high class. Stokes writes in a letter to Dan “Problems of hiring and keeping disadvantaged inner-city workers will be tackled with this grant.” This shows that the Cleveland Now program is trying to get people jobs, but many people didnt know how to work together.So, the Cleveland Now gave WVIZ-TV station $20,000 to run a sequence of shows that shows managers how to work with the poor workers that are now working in their companies. Stokes also wrote in his letter to Dan is,“I authorize a grant of $20,000 each in Cleveland: NOW! Funds for one year to WVIZ-TV.” This is great because these shows would show the managers what not to do to the workers and how not to be mad, because if there yelling at the workers the workers would quit and were back to where we started. In the letter from Stokes to Dan, he writes, “They will be shown to foremen and supervisors to help reduce high turnover and dropout sessions.” This is showing the readers who these shows will be shown to. To get a better understanding. Overall, this great idea from the Cleveland Now, got workers to say working and taught managers how to handle their workers.

Stokes,Carl. “City of Cleveland”. October 3, 1969. 4501,45,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April 28,2017.

The Cleveland Now fundraiser also donated $13,000 to the Abbey Area Community. To prove this in the letter from Wiles to William, he writes, “The original grant to this project was for $13,000.00 and the first payment of $5,000.00 was made on August 12,1970.” Also, Wiles writes in the letter “At the request of Mr. Robert D. Bauerlein, Assistant Administrator Office of the Mayor, we are attaching check for $5,000.00 payable to the Abbey Area Community.” This community would use this money to clean up the West side of Cleveland. In the letter Wiles also writes to William “In addition the project will be appeared by the West Side Market.” This helped a lot because the market helped get this program's name out there. During this time the neighborhoods of Cleveland would be really bad because it was the ghetto. But because of the Abbey Area Community they used the money to clean up buildings, streets, schools, stores and more. They really made the west side a whole new neighborhood all because the Cleveland Now fundraisers gave them the money to. Overall, the Abbey Area Community didn't waste the money to make Cleveland neighbors great again.

Wiles,Daniel.. “Cleveland:Now!”. November 30, 1970. 4501,44,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April 28, 2017.

                                   

The way Cleveland Now got poor people to work is by first putting them in training programs. These programs were free because of the money Cleveland Now raised. Melsee writes in the document “training payments and allowance to enrollees who are programmatically eligible for training.” Melsee also writes in the document “This ites represents purchase of tools for enrollees who are being placed in skill training, or being placed in jobs after training.” These programs would teach them what to do when they are working. For example they would teach the person how to operate machines that they would use in a factory. This program was great because it got people of the streets and got them knowledge on an occupation that they could use to get a job. There was many people who did this program. In the document Melsee writes “This converts about 600 enrollees per year.” This was important because many people didn't have much money but now that they are going to these programs and getting jobs they can make money and get of their feet. Overall, the Cleveland Now fundraiser did a great job getting poor people a whole new life.

Melsee,Clarence. “Budget For Six By Aim-Jobs of Cleveland Now! Funds”. nd. 4501,45,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April28,2017.

This document shows that the Cleveland Now fundraiser would donate money to programs that need money for transportations. In the letter from Little to Dan, he writes,“I am attaching herio a copy o f a letter from Jack Tankersley requesting an additional $350 for temporary transportation.” Also, Little writes in his letter to Dan is that “As you may recall, we had agreed to provide additional assistance to this program if it were needed.” Many people didn't really have a car or a way to get to places, so Cleveland Now would donate money to these programs to get the people in these helpful programs where they have to be. It may have been hard to get the money for transportation but just what Little writes in the letter “we would appreciate your obtaining the requisite permission for the expenditure of $350.” This was important to Cleveland Now because by getting these people transportation help the city of Cleveland would grow. If the people didn't have a ride the city could have never changed because those helpful people wouldn't be able to help the city without transportation.

Little,John. “City of Cleveland”. October 4, 1968. 4501,45,3. Western Reserve Historical Society. April 28, 2017

In the chapter of the book “Carl B. Stokes And the Rise of Black Political Power”,Moore writes about what Carl B. Stokes did right after election. It talks about how Carl Stokes mentioned the Cleveland Now program, and how it would help Cleveland get on the map again. He also, explained Stokes wanting to help the business in Cleveland out. The writer also explained how journalists would try to find Stokes flaws because he was the first black mayor. Which was very hard for Stokes to live his life.

Also,in the chapter it talked about how Stokes had to deal with the police department issues and problems. But soon settled them. Later in the chapter it talked about Stokes accomplishments and how he did so much for the city of Cleveland. Like secured a pay increase to the city’s director of city health. Overall, this chapter was very interesting on getting the background history of mayor Stokes.

Moore, Leonard N. "Carl B. Stokes And the Rise of Black Political Power." Cleveland Now. Urbana and Chicago: U of Illinois Press, 2003. 59-78. Print.

In the article “MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF CARL B. STOKES - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History” it talks about what Carl B. Stokes did for Cleveland. For example, they talked about how Stokes made business increase their minority employment. Which was amazing because it created a lot of jobs. Next it talked about how he help create the famous Cleveland Now program. Which helped raised money to donate to many great causes in Cleveland to help rebuild this city to what it is today.

Then in the article it talked about how Stokes and the police department had problems especially with the Glenville shootout. But how it worked together to meet in the middle. Also, in the chapter it talked about taxes in Cleveland and how it was a big headache for Stokes to deal with. Because of this it talked about how he did not run for a third term and he became a broadcaster in New York. Overall, this article explained the good and the bad about Carl B Stokes.

Case Western Reserve University. MAYORAL ADMINISTRATION OF CARL B. STOKES - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.

19 May 2002. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History. 6 May 2017. http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=MAOCBS

This video "The 60s Remembered"  is part of 6 videos on how Cleveland was in the 1960s. It talked about all the great stuff happening in Cleveland. Then it talks about all the horrible stuff happening in Cleveland. Some examples of the great events happening in Cleveland was the rise of our airport, JFK coming and giving a speech, how Cleveland was one of the largest cities in America, and more. The bad was how our sports teams were falling apart like the Cleveland Indians, bad air pollution, crowded schools, not many teachers, and the list can go on forever. I could now clearly see why the Cleveland Now program had to be created. There was so many bad things happening in Cleveland and the city needed a boost. The Cleveland Now program definitely helped boost Cleveland by getting jobs for people, scholarships for kids, training the poor in work situations, and a lot more. Overall, this video did a great job explaining the good and bad in Cleveland in the 1960s.

"The 60s Remembered" - from WVIZ, Cleveland - part 1!! WVIZ Cleveland, 13 Mar. 2010. Web. 7 May 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkyIana4ro.  

A picture of Carl Stokes. One of the main reason why Cleveland is a great city. He got our city from the bottom to the top. He wasn't going to stop till he got Cleveland great again. Overall, he did an amazing job as mayor of Cleveland.

Stokes, Carl B. Promises of Power: A Political Autobiography. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1973. At http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Carl_B._Stokes

A picture of the NAACP logo. As I mentioned before the NAAcP helped a lot during the 60s and 70s to get more African Americans to become police officers. They really broke the barrier between citizens and the police department.

Santayana, George. Those who are unaware of History are destined to repeat it! 26 June.NAACP Chicago Southside.naacpcss. 6 May 2017. http://naacpcss.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/HistoryNAACP-20th-Annual-Session02.jpg

This is a picture of a Civil Rights movement to get African Americans equal rights like white people. This is important to Cleveland Now because this program was made after the movement to help some black people get jobs. For example African Americans becoming cops. This movement was one of the main reasons Cleveland Now was created.

Mann,Mirele.  DEMANDING RACIAL EQUALITY AT A 1965 PROTEST. 1965. Goodnet. 6 May 2017. At http://www.goodnet.org/articles/10-inspiring-photos-unity-from-civil-rights-movement

A picture of people getting educated. So, they can get a job in the real word. This to happened in the 60s with the Cleveland Now program raising money so that people can learn a trait and go and get a job. It's just like Cleveland Now never left.

Kuntz,John. 'Someone Who Matters'. 21, April 2017. Cleveland. 6 May 2017. At

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/04/college_now_to_highlight_impac.html

These are scenes from the television program for managers to learn how to deal with there employees. This was important for many people to learn how to work with each other. It helped improve job relationships.