TeamWorks is back!

TeamWorks is a volunteer program that for 10-12 people that fuses education, team building, reflection, and service into a unique opportunity to better understand issues, organizations and agencies in greater detail over a short period.

The theme for our first TeamWorks of 2009 is The Foreclosure Crisis.  Participants will learn from local community leaders how the foreclosure crisis is affecting Northeast Ohio and make a difference by participating in several foreclosure-related service projects. The Ohio Supreme Court has reported that the number of foreclosed homes in Ohio last year hit an all-time high of 85, 773. Consider also that since 2000, Cuyahoga County, has recorded 80,000 foreclosures. There has been courageous work in Cuyahoga County to bring awareness too, provide support for and respond to this crisis. And now you, via the TeamWorks program can get a deeper dive on this issue via volunteering and education.

Sign up today. You DO NOT have to be an oriented Hands On volunteer to join this TeamWorks team! Minimum age to participate is 16.

Team Members are encouraged to come to all 5 TeamWorks projects and must attend 4 of 5.

Team Schedule:

End of June, 2009
Hands On will email team members will be given background information on the upcoming TeamWorks dates and on the foreclosure crisis.

Thursday, July 9, 2009
6:00 – 8:00 pm - TeamWorks kickoff/Beautifying foreclosed homes in Glenville
Enjoy this opportunity to get an overview on where we have been and where we are going in battling foreclosures. Come help beautify wood boards on foreclosed homes on the street where the Superman comic book was first created. Providing simple art work lessens the eye sores of vacant properties in Cleveland neighborhoods.

Monday, July 13, 2009
6:00 – 8:00 pm - Discussion with Jim Rokakis, Cuyahoga County Treasurer -food will be provided.

Jim Rokakis has been a leader in battling the foreclosure crisis. He has helped write and pass House Bill 294 that streamlines the foreclosure process for abandoned properties.  Jim took the leadership role in creating the County’s “Don’t Borrow Trouble” mortgage foreclosure prevention program, which combats predatory lending and assists homeowners facing foreclosure. Over 4000 homeowners have been saved from foreclosure as a result of this program.  Jim spearheaded the passage of legislation (SB 353) which created a county land bank that will keep properties away from speculators and facilitate economic and neighborhood development.  
Location TBD

Thursday, July 23, 2009
6:00 – 8:00 pm - Neighborhood tour
Learn how Slavic Village, a national symbol of the foreclosure crisis has been impacted and how it is using and how it plans to use vacant spaces and boarded homes to redesign the neighborhood. Dinner will be provided at a local Slavic Village restaurant. Our tour guide will be Slavic Village Councilman, Tony Brancatelli

Sunday, August 2, 2009
11:30– 1:15 pm – Volunteer support
Volunteer at an agency that supports families displaced by foreclosure
Location TBD

1:30 – 3:00 pm Food and Foreclosure TeamWorks recap
Then spend time over food at a local restaurant to recap our foreclosure experience, lessons learned and options to continue your learning/service with regard to the foreclosure crisis in Northeast Ohio.