Bridge Pointe Commons 

Lorain County’s Permanent Supportive Housing Building (PSH) will soon open in the city of Elyria. Bridge Pointe Commons is a 62-unit building that will prioritize chronically homeless individuals with disabilities who have significant barriers to housing stability.

New residents transitioning to housing from homelessness do not typically own items like bedding, cleaning supplies, and others necessary to live in and maintain a home. Thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation, Eden can supply Lodging Kits that help support residents in accomplishing daily tasks that enable them to continue to live increasingly independently in the community and achieve their individualized housing goals.

Photo Caption: Lodging Kits include living essentials such as bedding, laundry supplies, dishes, cookware, silverware, kitchen supplies, bath towels, shower curtains, cleaning supplies, and other essential household items.

North Pointe Ballet

North Pointe Ballet (NPB) is an organization making an impact in the community through the art of dance with a mission to make classical ballet accessible to all. The Community Foundation has long been a supporter of NPB’s Sensory-Friendly Initiative, and in 2021 NPB received a grant from the July Community Grant Cycle that allowed the organization to receive a Physically Integrated Dance Teaching Training certification. As a result, NPB can choreograph translations for the young sit-down dancers that join their productions.

In the 2021 performance of The Nutcracker at the Lorain Place Theatre, NPB contracted a guest artist from the Dancing Wheels Dance Company, Craig Sams III, a sit-down dancer, to perform in both acts. The performance showcased both student diversabled performers and professional ones, thus showing the capability of diversabled people to pursue dreams where opportunities usually exist only for typically abled individuals.

SafeZone Training, LGBTQ+ Lorain County

LGBTQ+ Lorain County received a grant from the Community Foundation to help offer SafeZone training, which is an opportunity to learn about LGBTQ+ identities, gender, sexuality, and examine prejudice, assumptions, and privilege. The workshop gives participants a better awareness and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community and how to be an effective ally. It is also a safe place to ask questions and get resources for further education.

Attending a SafeZone training helps create a more profound familiarity and comfort with vocabulary, inclusive practices, and privilege to help individuals identify ways to provide a more safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ loved ones, friends, family members, coworkers, and others we interact with our day to day lives.

Elyria Teen Mentoring Program

The Elyria Teen Mentoring program has been operating through a partnership with the Elyria Schools since its inception, more than 25 years ago. The Elyria Teen Mentoring Program addresses problems faced by many Elyria students including peer pressure, bullying, cyberbullying, discrimination, and other factors that affect a student’s ability to succeed and received a grant from the African American Community Fund.

All students who participate are referred to the program by their respective school. Students are expected to uphold behavioral and academic standards deemed appropriate by the school to remain eligible. Students participate in group discussions and activities that address topics such as bullying, value of education, peer pressure, self-esteem, respect for parents and teen development. Students will learn positive social skills allowing them to interact in appropriate manners with adults, teachers and authoritative figures. They will learn the importance of healthy social interaction and respect for others. Mentors assist students with homework help and tutoring as needed. Long term academic improvements will assist in increasing students’ confidence and facilitate the transition from junior high to high school and beyond. Students will foster an appreciation for education and learning, keeping them engaged and strengthening their potential for future academic success.

Neighbor Up

“…Igniting the power of everyday people to create, together, an extraordinary world right where they live…”

In 2020, the Community Foundation partnered with Neighborhood Connections to bring Neighbor Up, a community network building initiative, to the city of Lorain. Neighbor Up focuses on building stronger relationships between residents and their gifts.

The Community Foundation put out a call for community builders in Lorain to join the creation of the Neighbor Up network in Lorain County. Fifteen residents joined and went through a series of workshops focused on asset-based community development, community trauma and resiliency, racial equity, and network-building tools that focus on nurturing relationships.

In 2021, the Neighbor Up network expanded to Elyria, where a group of 12 residents went through similar workshops.

In Our Backyards

The Community Foundation has also partnered with In Our Backyards (ioby). This non-profit crowd-funding organization focuses on neighbors taking care of each other, encouraging civic participation, and building trust between neighborhoods.

This initiative connects residents and grassroots groups with the opportunity to receive funding for projects and ongoing initiatives without creating a non-profit. The Lorain County Match Fund initially focused on the city of Lorain, then expanded to Elyria, and now includes all of Lorain County.

In 2021, three residents led ioby campaigns to raise funds for their projects.

Learn More About ioby