PROFILES: "I feel privileged to be a part of this program." Meet the second class of Good Neighbor Ambassadors

Good Neighbor Ambassadors work as liaisons between the Sewer District, various community and business organizations, and the general public.

The focus of this second class of Ambassadors is to address concerns of residents in the Glenville area during Project Clean Lake's Dugway Storage Tunnel construction. [See a full map of Dugway construction through 2019 planned or in progress]

They will also help install seasonal “high tunnel” greenhouses for growing crops and, in partnership with Cleveland Public Library, they will create reading gardens in the community.

Here's a little more about the latest class that started with us this spring.

Andre Wells
Andre grew up in the Glenville area and played Cleveland Muny League football at Glenville High School. He’s enthusiastic about having a larger role in the community. “I’m no longer just a resident,” Wells said.

“I have a role that can positively influence the community.” He also expressed his gratitude for what our program offers. “I can get training, go back to school, and get tuition reimbursement. I want to take full advantage of every opportunity given to me.”

Taylor Miller
As a Glenville resident, Taylor has seen the impact of construction on the neighborhood. Her curiosity about the construction and her interest in wastewater management led her to attend a Dugway Project community meeting. There she learned about the Good Neighbor program, and also saw how many people, like herself, had questions about the project.

“I feel privileged to be a part of this program, helping my community understand what is happening in our neighborhood,” Miller said.

VIDEO: "It's the neighborhood I was born and raised in."

The Good Neighbor Program is all about connections, and Anthony takes them very seriously.

The Good Neighbor Program and its ambassadors serve residents in communities affected by our large construction projects by providing employment opportunities and serving as a liaison between customers and project leaders.

In this brief clip, Good Neighbor Ambassador Supervisor Anthony Body explains the program's goals and why he feels so strongly about their impacts.

RELATED LINKS:

• CAREERS: @neorsd's latest career opportunities
• PROFILES: Taylor Miller explains her role as a Good Neighbor Ambassador

AWARDS: Cleveland Foundation grants will help advance job-development initiative, environmental improvements

The Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District was awarded three grants totaling $135,000 from The Cleveland Foundation to help further programs and green opportunities in the region.

The funds will be used to enhance the Sewer District’s Good Neighbor Ambassador Program and the Doan Brook Stream Restoration Project. The grants are for:

• Neighborhood Revitalization Projects, Good Neighbor Ambassador Program ($40,000)
• Case Study, Good Neighbor Ambassador Program ($20,000)
• Consultants, Doan Brook Stream Restoration Project ($75,000)

Good Neighbor Ambassador Program

Last May, the Sewer District launched the Good Neighbor Ambassador Program, a progressive one-of-a-kind job development initiative designed to provide outreach to customers who are impacted by Project Clean Lake construction. Project Clean Lake is the Sewer District’s $3 billion initiative to reduce combined sewer overflows from 4.5 billion gallons to 500 million gallons. The current construction activity is a series of projects located in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland.

The Ambassador program hires underemployed or unemployed individuals for 30 hours each week with benefits. Staffed by seven ambassadors and a supervisor, the part-time ambassadors are assigned community improvement tasks, such as cutting grass, passing out project notices and talking with residents about Project Clean Lake, while receiving extensive professional development training. This training includes soft skills, safety procedures, conflict resolution, wastewater overview, and an explanation of the Sewer District’s wide-ranging construction activities. The Sewer District assists with job placement within the organization, as well.

PROFILE: Good Neighbors, good work in the Glenville community

The first class of Good Neighbor Ambassadors (l to r): Brandon Hogan, Galen Adams, Anthony Body, Donnell Green, Dareus Hiley, Ciera Campbell, Tyronn Dunn, and Sircharles Williams

The goal of the Good Neighbor Outreach program is to connect the District with the communities it serves, and our Good Neighbor Ambassadors act as liaisons between the District, various community and business organizations, and the general public.

Made up of seven Ambassadors and Supervisor Anthony Body, the Good Neighbor team’s current focus is the Glenville neighborhood for the duration of Dugway Storage Tunnel construction as part of Project Clean Lake.

The Ambassadors keep Glenville residents up-to-date on what is happening in their neighborhood, distributing informational materials, answering questions, and addressing concerns about the District’s construction projects.