By Bob Ferguson The Karamu House Theatre is unquestionably the oldest African-American performing arts theater in operation today in the United States. Karamu was established and opened its doors in 1915 as The Neighborhood Playhouse Settlement, located at 2239 E. 38th Street. The word (Ka-ra-mu) in Swahili means “a place of joyful gathering,” where families […]
Posted inWealth
How I Lived On A $14k Salary
Listen to this articleBy Anthony Ying Living on $14k was a challenge I chose to embrace during my gap year because I knew that if I could survive the year on my stipend, without any government support (i.e. food stamps), I would be able to thrive with any salary that I earned in the future. […]
Posted inEmployment
Entry-level Recruiter-Seasonal
Entry-level Recruiter Removing The Stigma (RTS) is looking for a hardworking, motivated, and results-oriented individual to add to our team as a Recruiter. The primary purpose of a Recruiter is to guide candidate placement for RTS. This part-time, seasonal position requires strong attention to detail, sound decision-making, and strong interpersonal skills. This is an exciting […]
Posted inGLENVILLE
Fourth Historic Marker Unveiled
By Shaniyah Hubbard On Nov. 2nd, the Cleveland Civil Rights Trail unveiled its newest historic marker located on E. 105th Street in front of the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church. Other markers established along the Trail are located at Cory United Methodist Church (1117 El 105th St), Cleveland’s City Hall (601 Lakeside Ave) in honor of its […]
Posted inFaith
The End Times – Let the Bible Speak
By Pastor Larry Frazier Saying that we are in the End Times is not making a prediction nor is it trying to be a “peddler of doom.” Rather, by looking at what the Bible says and observing the conditions around us, we appear to be in the End Times. Jesus Christ refers to them as […]
Posted inNeighborhood Hero
Tahirah S. Mujahid: Encouraging Honest Life Changes
Listen to this articleBy Sheila Ferguson This tribute is for one of Hough’s own, Mrs. Tahirah Mujahid, a coworker and colleague for over 20 years at both the Cleveland Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Programs (UMADAOP) and the Catholic Charities Corporation. Throughout her life, Tahirah served as a social worker and foot soldier […]
Posted inEditorial
Navigating Stress: Strategies for a Calmer You
An Editorial by Donna Watson Stress might feel like a constant companion, but remember you’re not alone in this journey. There are effective ways to overcome it and create a smoother path in life. Cracking the Stress Code Imagine being fully immersed in the present moment, whether reading a book, lost in your thoughts, or […]
Posted inEditorial, Faith
Two-Four-Six-Eight! Who Do We Appreciate?
An Editorial by Pastor Larry Frazier We observe holidays in our country for numerous reasons: to remember significant historical events, to annually observe days of reverence, to recognize loved ones in our lives, to have some days just for fun, and to honor people and their service. Pastor’s Appreciation Month (October) falls in that last […]
Posted inPolitics, Law/Legislation
Here Come The Judges!
By Margaret Adams On Nov. 7th, Clevelanders will be voting on judges to fill six terms-of-office starting on Jan. 1, 2024. The judges will be elected to serve on the court for six years. In the past, there hasn’t been much attention paid to the candidates running for judge, however, since the Trump administration, the […]
Posted inFaith
The Book of Ruth: Life’s Changing Situations
Listen to this articleBy Pastor Larry Frazier In the Old Testament, Ruth lived a life of trials, tragedy, testing, and eventually triumph. Though she lived centuries before current-day gospel singer, Larnelle Harris, the words from one of his songs aptly apply to her situation. Speaking of God, Harris sang, “You had a reason for those […]
Posted inHOUGH
Above-Ground Oil Tank in Hough Residential Area? (Update)
By Staff Writer Update: The City of Cleveland Zoning Commission unanimously vote to not approve the the 12,0000 gallon above ground fuel tank variance for the George Family Enterprise, LLC. Notable opposition to the appeal was MidTown Cleveland, The Cleveland Foundation and several resident near and around the facilities. Residents sent in emails and showed […]
Posted inNeighborhood Hero
Gurnese Smedley Turns 100 Years Old
By Guest Writer Ms. Gurnese Smedley was born to Ed and Hattie Delonely on Aug. 16, 1923, in Sheffield, Alabama. She is a God-fearing woman who accepted Christ at an early age. Gurnese is involved in New Bethel Baptist Church and was Sunday School Secretary for three years. She met and married James Johnson and […]
Posted inHealth
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
By Devon Jones The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ located below the bladder. This walnut-sized gland nourishes and transports semen throughout the male reproductive system. According to the Urology Care Foundation, there are four stages of prostate cancer: early stages (I and II), where the tumor has not spread beyond the prostate; locally […]
Posted inWealth
Thank You Cleveland Foundation!
The Cleveland Foundation (TCF) has awarded The Cleveland Observer (TCO) a grant from its Cleveland Black Futures Fund. The Fund supports Cleveland-based nonprofit organizations that are both Black-led and Black-serving. TCO staff and Board members wish to thank the Cleveland Foundation and their partners for this great resource, in furtherance of building a non-profit media/publishing […]
Posted inHistory
Cleveland’s Own: Father of Labor Day
By Dorothy Salem John Patterson Green (April 2, 1845-September 1, 1940) is known as the “Father of Labor Day” due to legislation he proposed in 1890 as an Ohio state legislator to recognize Labor Day as a state holiday. The trailblazer was the second African American to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and […]
Posted inLaw/Legislation
Choosing to Accept or Decline Medical Care
By Sheila Ferguson Approximately half (45% or 133 million) of all Americans suffer from at least one chronic disease, and the number is growing. Chronic diseases—including cancer, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, respiratory diseases, arthritis, obesity, and oral diseases—can lead to hospitalization, long-term disability, reduced quality of life, and death. Chronic conditions are the nation’s […]
Posted inFaith
God’s Trustworthy Messengers
By Pastor Larry Frazier Important responsibilities must be delegated to those that are the most competent. Since humans have a history of falling short, God knew that the good angels could always be trusted to correctly and honestly do His bidding. God entrusted the announcement of His Son’s coming, the physical care of His Son, […]
Posted inCityVoiceCLE Connect, Wealth
Savvy Consumers and Avoiding Scams
By Tonya Sams With so many ways for consumers to spend their money, it is easy to become a victim of scams. Eric Zell, a supervising attorney in the Economic Justice group at The Legal Aid of Society of Cleveland, offers a few tips to keep your money safe. One way to avoid being swindled […]
Posted inNational
Meet the 2023 Solutions Journalism HBCU/Black Press Fellows
The Solutions Journalism Network launches its first-ever HBCU/Black Press Academy & LEDE Fellowship with 14 HBCU educators and members of the Black Press. Exciting outcomes are expected to grow from the seed of an idea. The Solutions Journalism Network is excited to announce the inaugural cohort for the Solutions Journalism HBCU/Black Press Academy & LEDE […]
Posted inHealth, Living
Past to Present: Social Media’s Affect on Teens
Listen to this articleBy Veronica Maciag It’s no secret that various, unexpected side effects have come with the evolution of social media for users—and the scale of social media users makes these particularly difficult to ignore. From the early 2010s to now, the number of social media users has risen from 970 million to over […]
Posted inLiving, Public Safety
Traffic Safety Check
Listen to this articleBy Margaret Adams Many people are concerned about safety on the streets of Cleveland, specifically in relation to traffic and the behavior of drivers. On Mayor Bibb’s website (article dated 2/2/23), it reported 45 traffic deaths in 2022 in the city of Cleveland. This number was down from 74 in 2021. It […]
Posted inMIDTOWN
Celebrate Community at MidTown’s Opening Day!
By MidTown Cleveland MidTown Cleveland, Inc., in partnership with the Cleveland Foundation, announces MidTown Opening Day, a neighborhood festival and block party to take place on Saturday, July 15 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The all-day free event, which centers around Euclid Avenue and E. 66th Street with hubs of activity around the neighborhood, […]
Posted inFaith
Symbols Help Further Understanding
By Pastor Larry Fraizer We are used to seeing symbols every day in our lives. We see symbols and images on money. As we drive, signs are all around us and help us to navigate safely. Even the driver’s license test requires us to recognize certain signs by their shape and or color only. If […]
Posted inWealth
Understanding Stock Symbols: Decoding $VOO and Beyond
Listen to this articleWhen you enter the world of investing, you’ll encounter a variety of symbols that represent different stocks and funds. One such symbol is $VOO. Let’s break it down and explore the broader concepts of stock symbols. Ticker Symbol Basics: A ticker symbol is a concise code used to identify and refer to […]
