The OHCDC/Tri-C Access Center
LOCATION
The OHCDC/Tri-C Access Center is located in the lower level of the Otis Moss, Jr. Community Health Center of University Hospital at:
8819 Quincy Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Through a partnership with Cuyahoga Community College (TRI-C), Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) and the Olivet Housing and Community Development Corporation (OHCDC), the Access Center is designed to increase access to education and job skills training opportunities for residents of the immediate and neighboring communities. The primary goal is to support individuals and families on their path to success by providing affordable, community based educational and workforce programming. The OHCDC’s role is to provide wrap-around services to ensure the success of all participants.
Background & Vision
The vision for the OHCDC/TRI-C Access Center had its origins in discussions between Olivet/Tri-C Access Center President Dr. Alex Johnson, and Olivet Institutional Baptist Church Pastor, Dr. Jawanza Colvin (Executive Chair OHCDC). It is well known that residents and families in this area face significant barriers to viable education and employment opportunities. Census data indicated that 45% of the residents in the five contiguous zip codes of this neighborhood had incomes below the poverty level and 22% were unemployed, compared with 5.2% unemployment county-wide during this same period. Seventy-two percent of the residents were black, and the median family income was only $17,867.
This area is an example of what was acknowledged in The Tale of Two Tomorrows report by the Fund for Our Economic Future (http://www.the2tomorrows.org/), and has been implicit for decades, that the economic systems (among others) in our region and in Cleveland are racially exclusive. This is holding back our region's ability to be competitive and for all people to benefit from economic and social gains in our community and region. Cuyahoga Community College is committed to ending systemic racial exclusion and working with other institutions and partners to achieve this goal. Embedded in the mission of OHCDC/TRI-C Access Center is a commitment to promote individual development and improve the overall quality of life in a multicultural community.
Dr. Johnson and Pastor Colvin convened leadership from both institutions, including with the CEO of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Jeff Patterson and members of his team, to discuss the Access Center. The vision for the Access Center is that it reaches people where they live and is a collaboration between OHCDC/TRI-C Access Center and community partners to connect people to education, job training and resources that lead to sustainable, family supporting careers.
The objectives of the Access Center include:
Creating pathways to enhance access to educational and job training opportunities.
Developing viable educational and workforce programming for community members.
Providing space for education and job training opportunities in the community.
Expanding OHCDC/TRI-C Access Center's presence in the community to increase access for residents leading to enrollment and completion of in-demand credentials and degrees.
Cultivating an environment where residents feel empowered for success.
