One Year of Euclid Hope Task Force
February marked the one-year anniversary of The Euclid HOPE Violence Reduction Task Force, led by volunteer co-chairs Pam Turos, Emily Holody and Taneika Hill. One year of working to build a safer community through collaboration with residents and city leaders. One year of conversations, planning, and organizing. February also brought a nod of support from Cuyahoga County Council members Cheryl Stephens and Sonny Simon — they have encouraged Euclid City Council to apply for County AARPA funds to assist with our costs as we prepare for the next phase of developing a citywide plan.
March also marks a year since we received our initial proposal, Reducing Violence by Taking Action Locally, to work with Dr. Mark Chupp and his team at Case Western Reserve University to develop that plan. Through this proposal agreement, Euclid will have the support of a facilitator who specializes in working with communities that want to use a strength-based approach to community change. Dr. Chupp’s work over the past 25 years has focused on appreciative inquiry, community building, community development, and inter-group conflict transformation. Euclid City Council is currently reviewing the proposal — it needs to be sponsored again, since it’s a new year and new council members. The Euclid City Schools and Euclid Public Library are committed to collaboratively working with the city on a plan to improve safety.
Beginning in September, we also began hosting twice monthly “Neighbor Night” gatherings, providing a fun way for neighbors to stay up-to-date on local issues, support each other, and address concerns.
Last month, based on input that started at our community meetings, the task force’s mission was updated to “Collaborating to build a safe, sustainable community through resident-led solutions that are human-centered and trauma-informed.” We’ve also agreed — both groups — that meeting notes from the HOPE Task Force and Neighbor Night discussions will be shared regularly. This transparent approach allows city leaders and organizers to understand the community’s concerns and desires better. If you want to join the mailing list, visit hopetaskforce.org to stay informed.
The HOPE Task Force’s governance structure, which outlines how decisions will be made and how task force members will vote, is also currently being updated. The next meeting, open to community members, will be held on Monday, March 11, at 8:00 am, at Euclid Hospital Waltz Auditorium, providing an opportunity to witness the decision-making process.
Upcoming Neighbor Network Nights are scheduled for February 27 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Community Church, March 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Church of the Epiphany, and March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Grace Community Church. Residents are encouraged to visit hopetaskforce.org to join the mailing list and receive updates on this collaborative effort to build a safer Euclid community.