FreshFaces

As Cleveland’s first Latina councilwoman, Jasmin Santana is passionate about blazing trails for local women, and as the co-founder of Freshly Rooted, Alysha Ellis knows a thing or two about nourishing them toward a healthier lifestyle. Now they’ve teamed up to combine their superpowers to create and lead S.E.E.D.S., a transformational nine-month program geared at helping Cleveland women — and ultimately, their communities — thrive. In this episode, we’ll hear from these passionate local changemakers about the ethos behind S.E.E.D.S and how they're helping it bloom.

For Doan Winkel, entrepreneurship isn’t a career path, it’s a way of being. He’s sharing that mindset with students at John Carroll University as the director of the Edward Muldoon Center for Entrepreneurship. In this episode, Doan discusses the school's work with the Cleveland Neighborhoods Project in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood, why he's made empowering women a core part of the curriculum, and his vision for shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs.

As the Vice President of Housing and Shelter for Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Michael Sering is making big strides to help the homeless in Cleveland. He helps operate 2100 Lakeside, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year as Ohio’s largest homeless shelter. In this episode, Sering talks about all of innovative ways LMM is working hard to create affordable housing in Cleveland and the innovations coming down the pike. (Spoiler alert: moon dirt is involved.)

Archie Green is a songwriter and musician who is orchestrating a more beautiful future for those struggling with their mental health via his nonprofit, Peel Dem Layers Back. He’s also passionate about working with youth, having teamed up with Lexington-Bell Community Center in 2019 to mount My Violin Weighs a Ton — an immersive educational experience pairing classical and hip-hop music that culminated in a first-of-its-kind performance at Cleveland's iconic Severance Hall.  Learn more about Archie and his story of rising above adversity to become a mental health advocate and artist with impact.,

Cait Kennedy is the executive director of [unBail], a social impact startup that she likens to "Google Maps for court cases" to help defendants better navigate the criminal justice system. She’s also deeply passionate about democracy and is currently working on a doctoral dissertation about voting trends in mayoral elections in Cleveland and other legacy cities. In this episode, we learn more about Cait and the various ways she’s empowering Clevelanders to find their civic voice.

Join us for Season Two of the FreshFaces podcast, spotlighting the 2020 Fresh Innovators honored by Cleveland Leadership Center and FreshWater Cleveland! This limited-run series will feature local changemakers Alyshia Ellis and Councilwoman Jasmin Santana of S.E.E.D.S; Archie Green of Peel Dem Layers Back; Cait Kennedy of [unBail]; Michael R. Sering of Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry; and Doan Winkel, Ph.D. of John Carroll University.