New Strategy Team members elected, GCC Neighborhood Captains program launches, and more

A robust crowd attended GCC’s annual meeting and the Engage GCC meeting on Thursday, August 22 at Olivet Institutional Baptist Church. More than 100 people from 30 of GCC’s member congregations gathered to fill up the pews. A lively discussion was held about the State of GCC, the organization’s budget, the proposed new Strategy Team members, GCC’s Neighborhood Captains program, and more.

The meeting kicked off with a presentation on the “State of GCC” by Senior Organizer Khalilah Billy Worley, who highlighted the many different areas GCC is involved in. The updates included:

• On July 23rd-24th, GCC leaders held a retreat focused on the future of GCC and where we’re headed at the Western Reserve Historical Society;

• GCC’s Battle for Democracy program is heating up, and the group is actively recruiting Neighborhood Captains to help engage low-propensity voters;

• As a result of GCC’s work to reduce youth bindovers (youth being tried and sent to prison as adults), the Ohio Public Defenders Commission is in investigation mode with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court;

• GCC’s Pretrial Justice team held a meeting with Judge John Russo as part of its ongoing efforts to ensure fewer people in Cuyahoga County are held on bail and they have access to support services;

• GCC’s Healthy Blocks initiative, part of the Color of Health program, has knocked on more than 150 doors in the Lee-Harvard neighborhood, engaging more than 70 voters in conversations about health equity;

• Youth involved in GCC’s Youth Organizing Program knocked on more than 300 doors in July, engaging voters in developing voting plans;

• GCC is part of a group applying for a $20M Community Change grant through the EPA, and its PowerUp initiative is doing a group purchase for gas this fall.

GCC raised $43K for Undue Medical Debt

GCC leader and newly elected Strategy Team member Susan Reis highlighted how in 2024 the organization had raised $43,000 for Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit that helps free people from medical debt by buying it for pennies on the dollar. More than $6 million in medical debt was forgiven as a result of our efforts.

Reis told a powerful story about meeting someone whose son’s medical debt had been forgiven. This individual was stunned that someone he didn’t even know could have helped him. “We lift up people’s voices who are unheard or who don’t have the power,” Reis testified of the power of GCC’s work.

Budget overview and new Strategy Team members

GCC treasurer Michael Penzner gave an overview of GCC’s budget, showing that the majority of the organization’s budget comes from grants, while smaller but significant portions come from annual member dues, individual contributions, and other categories. GCC’s annual budget is just over $1 million, Penzner said.

Also at the GCC annual meeting, Susan Reis from Mishkan Or and Fairmount Presbyterian Church Senior Pastor Ryan Wallace were elected to new terms on the Strategy Team. Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Pastor Jawanza Colvin and Kol HaLev Rabbi Steve Segar were reelected for additional three-year terms.

Engage GCC highlights Neighborhood Captain program, calls for volunteers

During the second half of the meeting, after some much-needed relationship building time, Vikki Jackson, GCC’s Neighborhood Captain Coordinator, told the crowd about the importance of GCC’s neighborhood captains program. These individuals work to engage low-propensity voters in Cleveland and inner-ring suburbs. More than 40 people have signed up so far to become neighborhood captains, but more are needed.

“This is a crucial moment, a special moment,” commented Jackson. “Trust me — I’m not in the Battle for Democracy by myself. My fellow 42 neighborhood captains fight by my side. They are diligent. They are brave. They continue to canvass neighborhoods throughout the city, engaging voters, reminding them they’re one vote from making a difference, even changing history.”

Neighborhood captain and youth organizer DeMario Steele discussed why he’s knocked on over 250 doors and had more than 100 interactions in the Lee-Harvard community. “Lots of people want to do something about their neighborhood, the situation in their neighborhood, their community — we just need to find them,” he said. “They’re out there, and when you’re canvassing, you meet a lot of people.”

Neighborhood captain Patrice Ashley gave another testimonial about the power of this work. “We’re finding out through our canvassing we’re able to educate people on concerns they have and direct them to agencies that can help,” she said. “But we have to be out there educating people and helping to make a change.”

At the end of the meeting, all of the neighborhood captains came up to the stage, put on orange armbands, and declared together, “I take this oath as a neighborhood captain, to support and uphold all required duties, to contact and engage all my target voters, to not discriminate on race, gender, zip code, or economic status, to fight continuously for our democracy, to end voter suppression and eradicate voter depression, I am ready to work hard, I am ready to fight, and I am ready to win!”

More neighborhood captains are needed to make the program a success. Neighborhood captain trainings start next week! To learn more, contact Vikki Jackson at vikki@gcc-ohio.org or 216-527-1112 or simply click on the link below.