Clark Metro celebrates successes and perseverance at annual meeting
by Chuck Hoven

(Plain Press, May 2008) On April 21st, the Clark Metro Development Corporation held its second annual meeting since being denied federal Community Development Block Grant funds by the City of Cleveland. About twenty people attended the meeting held at the Lin Omni Center on Fulton Road. Board President Randy Buchko called the past year “a challenging year.”

Buchko said the fact that “we are still here and still serving the community is a testament to the hard work of Maria (Executive Director Maria Davila) and her staff.” Buchko noted that Davila is now working without pay as a volunteer director while seeking additional funding for the organization. Buchko praised her dedication and said he felt the Board of Trustees had made an excellent decision in hiring her.

Executive Director Davila introduced her staff, Administrative Assistant and Community Organizer Dianaly Martinez and Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program intake specialists Karen Crocheron and Lotnario Marchmon. Davila noted that the HEAP program staff fielded over 2000 applications for heating assistance this year. She said Clark Metro participated in the Toys for Tots distribution providing over 250 toys for neighborhood children. She thanked ACORN organizers for their assistance in helping to assure that health code violations and condemned houses in the neighborhood were addressed by the city. She thanked her staff and volunteers for completing an inventory of all vacant and condemned houses in the neighborhood. She also noted that the organization had completed a list of all fire hydrants and vacant lots in the neighborhood. She said Clark Metro helped to assure that the Streets Division plowed allies in the neighborhood this past winter.

Clark Metro held two community meetings including the recent meeting to allow residents to voice concerns about a proposed adult cabaret on Meyer and W. 25th, said Davila. She noted that Clark Metro produced a newsletter and distributed it door to door in the neighborhood. The organization helped neighborhood seniors and persons with disability do fall cleanup of their yards. Davila said the organization held two fundraisers including a Valentine’s Day Ball at the San Lorenzo Club.

Davila said Clark Metro is working to computerize its files and is developing relationships with area businesses and faith-based organizations. Davila says the organization’s office at 2511 Clark Avenue averages about thirty visitors a day. Volunteers have helped with the inventory of housing in the neighborhood and with new programs such as the computer lab for neighborhood children.

Davila said while there are about 200 people on the organization’s membership mailing list, the organization has only 23 paid members. Board President Buchko said the organization current expenses with much of the staff now serving as volunteers are running between $2,500 and $3,000 per month. He said the organization’s revenue largely consists of proceeds from the sale of its parking lot and the contract to do the HEAP program. Buchko said the Clark Metro staff is completely dedicated to the community and is seeking grants to continue funding the organization. He said Clark Metro has applied for Community Development Block Grant funding from the City of Cleveland for the next fiscal year (beginning July 1st 2008).

Clark Metro Board Member Sister Reean Coyne of St. Michael’s Church said Clark Metro’s new computer lab would be named for the late Rocco Olivero. A volunteer in many neighborhood organizations with a special interest in improving the lives of neighborhood children, Olivero was a long time member of Clark Metro Development Corporation and a former member of its Board of Trustees. Cleveland Illuminating Company provided funding for setting up the computer lab.

Members in attendance at the annual meeting voted to fill six positions on the Board of Trustees. Elected to serve on the Board of Trustees were residents Art Bakalar and Ron Drabiak and Business or Institutional representatives Pastor Jose Reyes, Frank Varella, Chris Dunn and Marco Burello.

(see related photos here)

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