Telling our own stories through community journalism

Cleveland Public Library executive director Felton Thomas with a group of East Clark Elementary students at the unveiling of that school's revamped Little Free Library. (Photo from CPL)

For the past couple years, I've been involved in a community journalism program at The Land, and for the past six months or so, I've been teaching it and helping manage it. Why are we doing this? The main reason is to try to increase the community's capacity to tell their own stories. For years, Cleveland has been defined by the stories that professional journalists tell about us, whether good or bad, indifferent or kind, skillfully reported or parachute journalism. There are many great journalists and news outfits in town. But there's no denying there's fewer of them. And there's no denying Cleveland could use a boost in civic engagement. 

Enter The Land's community journalism program. Through training and paying residents to write about their own neighborhoods, and issues and communities across the city, we're trying to build the civic muscle for telling our own stories. It's been a hard process, but it's been rewarding. So far, we've graduated more than 75 people from our community journalism program, most of whom have gone on to write and publish stories with The Land. The program is free and we pay all community journalists $300 for their first story, then we invite them to join our network of community journalism grads and continue to write for us and get paid (rates start at $200). We also host events, Zoom sessions, networking nights and the like to keep connected. None of this would be possible without the dedicated mentors and staff who help power the program. 

Last week, I tagged along with a community journalist from Old Brooklyn, Anna Maria Hamm, to cover an event at East Clark School in South Collinwood being held by Cleveland Public Library, which is revamping 20 of the city's little free libraries. The power of the community journalism program was evident. Anna confidently interviewed folks at the event (once we figured out how the recorder on her phone worked, of course!) and she got great material. Thanks to her own smarts and dedication, as well as the 6-week training program and mentoring, she wrote a powerful story about this community project. Here's the result: Little free libraries: Where community comes together to increase childhood literacy – The Land (thelandcle.org). 

My role with The Land, which I helped start three years ago, has changed in the past year, as I've chosen to focus exclusively on editing, teaching, and writing. (I also continue to teach with Literary Cleveland, and will next year, too.) I believe in what we're doing and think we're starting to make a difference. Find out more about our community journalism program here, and consider joining the next cohort (or inviting someone you know to apply): ​Community Journalism Program – The Land (thelandcle.org). Also, it's fundraising season, so we urge you to also become a member: Support The Land (thelandcle.org). 

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