Reigniting Old Brooklyn CDC
To our partners and neighbors: I am thrilled to be at the helm of Old Brooklyn Community Development Corporation (OBCDC) at such a pivotal moment in our organization’s history. I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and acknowledge the challenges our neighborhood nonprofit has faced over the past year.
I moved to Old Brooklyn nearly ten years ago after relocating from the Akron area. Within a few months, I got involved with the organization as a volunteer. Later in 2017, I joined the OBCDC Board of Directors, serving five years as treasurer and one year as vice president until my term limit was reached. Since then, I’ve remained committed to the organization as a proud donor and active supporter of its mission in our neighborhood.
Almost immediately after the organization’s previous executive director departed in January 2025, the community development industry nationwide faced a potential catastrophic loss of funding. Changes at the federal level painted a bleak picture for neighborhood nonprofits like ours, and executive directors across Cleveland’s community development corporations (CDCs) began preparing for mass layoffs. At the time, I was leading another CDC serving Cleveland’s West Park community, and we too were bracing for a tumultuous path forward. The funding uncertainty continued through mid-May 2025, when the City of Cleveland finally received word on federal allocations.
Even in the best of economic conditions, it isn’t easy to be part of a team without a permanent leader at the wheel. As I think back to the earlier half of 2025, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride in how the team at OBCDC persevered. They came to work day after day, week after week, not knowing if that day would be their last.
The OBCDC Board of Directors faced its own challenges in recruiting a new executive director for an organization that relies heavily on federal funding. Any nonprofit leader in a stable position would have hesitated to take that risk, and those who did apply did so with understandable concern. When the interim executive director transitioned into a new role, it became clear that the organization needed steady leadership to move forward.
That moment underscored how much Old Brooklyn matters to me. Leaving West Park’s neighborhood CDC sooner than I had planned wasn’t an easy decision, but it felt right to return home and help guide an organization I care deeply about through its next chapter.
With such a turbulent year, I know some in the Old Brooklyn community have grown concerned about the CDC. Given everything the staff endured, the OBCDC team accomplished a great deal in 2025, but it’s true some things were missed along the way. I want to apologize to those who may have reached out seeking assistance but found silence instead.
As I write this, I’m three weeks into the position and already inspired by the renewed energy across our team. Morale has grown stronger, and we’re eager to dive back into the work that makes Old Brooklyn great. Thank you for your grace and understanding during this transition. My pledge is simple: honest communication, reliable follow-through, and measurable progress. Hold us to it. We’re ready to serve Old Brooklyn.