LAKE ERIE INK

IN 2025, LAKE ERIE INK WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE CREATIVE EXPRESSION OPPORTUNITIES TO 3,876 YOUTH IN GRADES 1-12 ACROSS THE GREATER CLEVELAND COMMUNITY. WE WORKED WITH 44 PROGRAM PARTNERS AT 57 SITES, INCLUDING 47 SCHOOLS. OUR TEACHERS LED WORKSHOPS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY LOCATIONS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CORE PROGRAMMING AT LEI'S MAIN SITE (MOVED FROM COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD TO SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD IN DECEMBER), INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS, EVENING PROGRAMS, AND WEEKEND WORKSHOPS. 60 VOLUNTEERS AND INTERNS SUPPORTED OUR PROGRAMMING THIS YEAR. LEI STAFF AND TEACHERS FACILITATED WORKSHOPS ON EVERYTHING FROM BASIC LITERACY SKILLS AND PERSONAL NARRATIVE TO PLAYWRITING, POETRY AND COMICS. WE HAVE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAMS INVOLVING NARRATIVE TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAMES. LAKE ERIE INK HOSTED TWO VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THIS YEAR, WRITERS' CLUB AND TEEN EDITORS AND PUBLISHED OUR 9TH ANTHOLOGY OF TEEN WRITING. WE HOSTED KIDS' COMIC CON EVENTS AT THE PIVOT CENTER AND MOCA, SERVING 147 YOUTH IN GRADES 2-12 IN THESE EVENTS. LAKE ERIE INK BROUGHT CREATIVE WRITING AND ART ACTIVITIES TO A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY EVENTS, INCLUDING CLEVELAND HEIGHTS' JUNETEENTH AND LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH CELEBRATIONS, AS WELL AS CLEVELAND CITY'S PRIDE. WE PARTNERED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, SHAKER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, CAIN PARK ARTS FESTIVAL, AND THE CLEVELAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FEST. WE PUBLISHED A THIRD CREATIVE COMMUNITY COOKBOOK. THIS YEAR, WE PARTICIPATED IN 24 COMMUNITY AND OUTREACH EVENTS. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THIS YEAR WAS OUR MOVE FROM THE COVENTRY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH HAD BEEN LEI'S HOME SINCE ITS INCEPTION, TO OUR NEW LOCATION ON SOUTH TAYLOR ROAD. THE MOVE NECESSITATED A LOT OF ADJUSTMENT IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE FISCAL YEAR, AS OUR NEW STOREFRONT SPACE HAS LESS ROOM THAN OUR PREVIOUS LOCATION, AND IS CONFIGURED DIFFERENTLY, SO WE HAVE TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT HOW TO USE THE SPACE WITH OUR PARTICIPANTS AND STAFF. ONE STUDENT FROM CLEVELAND HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL SAID THAT LEI PROGRAMS GAVE THEM "IMMENSE CREATIVE FREEDOM," WHILE ANOTHER APPRECIATED BEING "IN CONTROL OF MY WORK." LEI ALSO HAS AN IMPACT ON THE CLASSROOM TEACHERS WE WORK WITH. PARTNERSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, SCHOOLS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS HAVE A WIDER IMPACT AS WELL. A TEACHER AT MARY BETHUNE NOTED THAT, "SEVERAL STUDENTS BECAME ENGAGED WITH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL THROUGH LAKE ERIE INK...IT IS VERY REWARDING TO SEE STUDENTS BRANCH OUT AND BECOME CONNECTED WITH A WIDER WRITING COMMUNITY."