After several years of being apart, Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) will gather together in person!
Thursday May 25, 2023
7 PM
Imani United Church of Christ

832 E 222nd Street
Euclid, Ohio 44123

We are excited about coming together again as a whole organization! In order to re-acquaint ourselves, or make new acquaintances, the assembly will include one-on-one gatherings along with house meetings, where groups of leaders will sit together for a guided discussion. Once again our EngageGCC tri-chairs, Marcia Levine, Susan Reis and Willie Brown, whose congregation is hosting the assembly, will lead the meeting.

All are welcome to participate and you can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJKts_OIwNLLF-Uu6HP91DuC9KomgKapEoYanIUI0AMz1zdw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Last month, leaders of the GCC Juvenile Bindover Team had an unprecedented meeting with all six of Cuyahoga County’s juvenile judges to establish a relationship and to express GCC’s deep concerns about the bindover of youth to adult court. As a result of the meeting, the judges have invited GCC leaders to sit in on their courts and individual meetings with the judges will be scheduled to continue this extremely important dialogue.

In recognition of GCC leader Donna Weinberger‘s efforts, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board has chosen Donna and GCC to receive a Helping Hands Award for their work as longtime advocates for reforming criminal justice systems and policies to include diversion efforts and education related to mental health and substance use disorders in Cuyahoga County. Congratulations to Donna and the team!

Last month, nine GCC staff and leaders joined eight other organizations in Washington, DC to form a New Organizing Alliance and discuss how the group can work together to create change. At the meeting an interim structure was outlined, leading eventually to the formation of a member-based collective that will leverage the expertise of each organization. The new organizing alliance will have two national trainings, one this coming fall in Washington, DC and one next spring in Cleveland.