Junk2Funk 2012 Charity Event to Benefit North Coast Health Ministry

Local Girl Gallery and stArt Neo have joined forces to bring back Junk2Funk, the season’s funkiest event featuring local artists’ and designers’ work created from repurposed materials, to benefit North Coast Health Ministry, the West Side’s free medical clinic for the low-income uninsured.

The event will take place on Friday, April 20, 2012, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Local Girl Gallery, 16106 Detroit Avenue.  The evening will feature unique art, jewelry, sculpture, furniture and more created by northeast Ohio artists and designers.  The evening will be highlighted by a live auction, Chinese raffles, wine, hors d’oeuvres and desserts from local restaurants and caterers, and organic, fair trade coffee from Coffee for a Cause.

“The evening is about the local creative community pulling together to help our neighbors going through some tough times,” says Ruthie Koenigsmark, stArt Neo president.   “It’s a great date night or a fun girls’ night out and the opportunity to come home with some beautiful one-of-a-kind treasures.”

Artists wishing to donate a piece to the benefit are asked to contact Koenigsmark at 216-521-2894 or rkoenigsmark@yahoo.com.  Many items from past events have been inspired by repurposed “found” items or created from recycled materials.  Artist’s pieces should be dropped off at Local Girl Gallery no later than April 16 to be part of the auction.  Arrangements can also be made to have donations picked up at the artist’s convenience. 

Tickets are $15 in advance ($20 day of event, as available) and can be purchased online from North Coast Health Ministry at www.nchealthministry.org/events or by contacting Elizabeth O’Brien at 216-228-7878 ext. 114 or eobrien@nchealthministry.org.    This event has sold out in advance the past two years.

About North Coast Health Ministry

North Coast Health Ministry is a faith-based free clinic serving the low-income uninsured on Greater Cleveland West Side.  In 2001, NCHM provided care to 2,700 patients who had no other route to health care.  With the support of 120 volunteer physicians, nurses and other caregivers, NCHM is able to provide primary health care, specialty referrals, prescription assistance, behavioral health care and social service referrals to the medically underserved.  NCHM strives to be the medical home for its patients providing preventive care and chronic disease management as well as care for acute illnesses and injuries.  Founded in 1986, North Coast Health Ministry is a vital part of the health care safety net on Greater Cleveland’s West Side.  NCHM’s primary location is at 16110 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio.  

 

Committee Reports

Committee Reports of the Lakewood Collaborative

We may need your help…Please contact us!

 

First Vice Chair Update – Kristine Pagsuyoin

Contact: kpagsuyoin@hotmail.com

 

• Deadline for the April E-News will be March 15^th.  Everyone should have turned in their E-News submissions by February 15^th for the March E-News. 
• Remember, to add our email to your contacts.  When we add your contact information to our E-news distribution list you should receive a “Welcome Message”.  When you receive our newsletter please feel free to forward it  to others interested in our organization. 
• In the February E-News you should have been able to access the Membership Directory online.  Please check your information to be sure it is correct. 

Visit http://www.lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=140&t=10693 for the Membership Directory.  If you find an error, or have filled out a form and need to be added to the Directory, email lakewoodfamilycollab@gmail.com. 

• The Lakewood Family Collaborative along with the city of Lakewood’s Community Relations Advisory Committee will be hosting the first “Welcome to Lakewood Event”.   This event will feature Lakewood organizations reaching out to new residents, or residents looking to make deeper community connections. The Lakewood Collab will have a table at this event and can provide residents with information on your group.  Faith-based organizations  will have a table as well a restaurants.  Please see Kristine Pagsuyoin or email her at kapagsuyoin@hotmail.com. If you can help with the table or want to put information out.  The event is April 25^th from 7pm-9pm at Garfield Middle School in Lakewood.
• March “Spotlight” will feature the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center. 
• Today, if you have brought items for the Lakewood Community Services Center, we have a box by the entrance.  Please place your items there and we will deliver them to the center.  Thank You!  Look for more details in the March E-News and your Meeting Reminder if we will be collecting additional items. 

Adoption/Foster Care – Colleen McNamara, Chair

Contact: colleen.mcnamara@lakewoodoh.net or 529-6873

If you would like to become a member of the Adoption/Foster Care Committee, please sign up call Colleen @ 529-6873

 

We are developing a recruitment plan for Lakewood for 2012/2013, and are requesting ‘classic’ members to sign up to renew your commitment, and new members interested should fill in the sign up sheet as well.

 

 

Job Seekers – Kaprice Holloway, Chair  (Welcome Kaprice!)

      Contact: Mobile: 216-534-3046

Kaprice is currently looking for members to help out with this vital program, so please call if you are interested in helping out.

 

Hospitality – Jillian Driscoll, Chair

Contact: jdriscoll1125@yahoo.com

 

Lakewood School Supplies Initiative – Karen Lee, Chair

Contact: Lkwdschoolsupplies@gmail.com or 221.2295

• We are looking for additional volunteers to serve on the committee (we will be looking to write grants, speak before groups etc to ask for donations, and assist with collections over the summer).

 

Membership – Toni Gelsominio, Chair 

Contact: antoinette.gelsomino@lakewoodoh.net

Toni is always reminding us to keep our membership and contact information up to date – ask for a membership form today or go online through our monthly newsletter

 

 

County Corner

 

Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services – Kathleen Sullivan

Contact: 635-3801 or sullik02@odjfs.state.oh.us

 

Cuyahoga County Employment and Family Services – Verlinda Moore

Contact: 939-2483 or mooreev01@odjfs.state.oh.us

 

February 2012 Minutes

                                                           

 Collaborative Meeting Minutes

February 23, 2012 ~ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm

Woman’s Club Pavilion, Lakewood Par

Our Mission:

“The Lakewood Family Collaborative is a group of agencies, organizations and concerned individuals working together to make sure a network of services and supports are available and accessible to children, youth and families.”

 

Welcome/Introductions – Bruce Chamberlin welcomed everyone.  Collab attendees introduced themselves.

 

Spotlight and Discussion – Mandy Mehlman, Housing Research and Advocacy Center  –

The Housing Center is a not-for-profit fair housing/fair lending agency whose mission is to promote fair housing and diverse communities, and to work to eliminate housing discrimination and assure choice in Northeast Ohio by providing effective research, education and advocacy.

There are Federal and/or state fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination in housing transactions based on: race, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, familial status (presence of children under the age of 18), and military status.  Lakewood has additional local fair housing laws that protect against: gender identity and sexual orientation.

For assistance, contact the Housing Center @ 216-361-9240.  You can also contact the Oho Civil Rights Commission at 1-888-278-7101 or online @ http://www.crc.ohio.gov.

Upcoming Events – 7th Annual Fair Housing Celebration, Thursday, April 12, 5:30-7:30 pm, @ The Ballroom at the CSU Student Center.  The Housing Center Youth Art Exhibition Contest: Submission Deadline is 4 pm, Monday, March 26.

 Table Discussion –

1) How can the Housing Center be supportive of your clients/residents?

2) The Housing Center would like to expand our outreach to immigrant populations, are there strategies other agencies have used in the past or opportunities to partner with organizations currently doing this work?

Responses:

*Make education info available @ libraries, schools, foster care agencies, and churches.

*Get information to schools and other places where immigrant children are going to be.

*Have someone available to answer the phone and work with people who are having housing issues.

*Enlist volunteers who speak different languages.

*Work with young adults who age-out of foster care.

*Partner with Catholic Charities.

*Partner with Asia Inc.

*Partner with leaders of refugee/immigrant communities.

 

Announcements –

 

*Employment and Family Services – Polaris Westshore Career Fair:  Wednesday, March 28, 10 am – 2 pm, @ Polaris Career Center.  More info: http://www.employment.cuyahogacounty.us or 216.987.7010.

 

 

*Berea Children’s Home and Family Services – More info: http://www.bchfs.org

            *New Name coming in March

            *Foster Care Information Night: Tuesday, March 13

            *Pack the Q for Foster Care – Cavaliers vs. Chicago Bulls: Friday, March 2

 

*Cuyahoga Suicide Task Force – recently did a survey targeting faith communities; and will be providing a free training seminar in the future.

 

*Lakewood Kiwanis – All-You-Can-Eat-Spaghetti Dinner at Lakewood Masonic Temple, Saturday, March 3, 4 – 7 pm, $8, ages 5 & under FREE.  http://www.lkwdpl.org/kiwanis/

 

*Lakewood Division of Early Childhood – The Family Room has moved locations to Lakewood United Methodist Church.  Toni Gelsomino’s office has moved to Fedor Manor.  onelakewood.com/HumanServices/EarlyChildhood

 

*The Gathering Place – Roll The Dice at Crocker Cooks Casino Night, Saturday, March 10, @ Urban Active in Crocker Park.  http://www.touchedbycancer.org or 216.595.9546.

 

*Ranger360 – Waiting on budget from Federal Government.  Will be developing a Collab sub-committee.

 

*Applewood Centers – Therapeutic After School Program for children with severe emotional and behavioral difficulties.  http://www.applewoodcenters.org or 216.521.6511

 

*Lakewood United Methodist Church – hosting Speaker Series “Who Is My Neighbor?” March 14, 21, 28.  http://www.lkwdumc.org

 

*Lakewood Community Services Center – Thanks to Collab for the donated items brought to the meeting.  You can donate items anytime at LCSC.  Free Farmers Market the 1st Tuesday of every month, 10 am – 1 pm, in back parking lot, beginning in March.  http://www.lcsclakewood.org

 

*Cleveland Food Bank – Outreach Team has expanded to four employees.  Trying to be accessible and available to assist people in seeing if they are eligible for food stamps and other resources.  Available to attend any event/health fair.  Working on dates to visit private businesses, libraries, and churches.  www.clevelandfoodbank.org

 

*West Side Ecumenical Ministry (WSEM) – Serving pregnant moms, and children ages 0-5.  Early Head Start and Head Start.  Now enrolling children.  County Vouchers accepted.  Offer bi-lingual classrooms and accommodate all special needs.  Foster Families automatically qualify for Head Start.  http://www.wsem.org or 216.961.2997  

 

*Live Well Lakewood – Eat Well Lakewood: March 10, 12:30 – 4 pm, @ Lakewood High School.  http://www.livewelllakewood.org

 

Committee Reports –

 

Adoption/Foster Care – Colleen McNamara, Chair

colleen.mcnamara@lakewoodoh.net or 216.529.6873

1.  Meeting on Monday, March 5, 6:30 pm

2.  Working with H2O and Peter Jones on collecting supplies for young adults who have aged-out of foster care.  Beginning Monday, February 27, collection tubs will be at Lkwd Fire Stations and PNC.

3.  Will be collecting items at the March Collab Meeting.

 

School Supplies Initiative – Karen Lee, Chair

lkwdschoolsupplies@gmail.com or 221.2295

1.  Already talking with schools and working on prep for this summer.

 

Membership – Toni Gelsomino, Chair

antoinette.gelsomino@lakewoodoh.net

1.  Thanks for filling out forms, hopefully everyone is getting emails.

 

 

All were thanked for a great meeting!  Next meeting is Thursday, March 22, 2012 @ 1pm.