Third Annual Holiday Party for Kids

These photos are from the annual holiday party for kids from Cleveland's Fairfax and Central neighborhoods, organized by the dedicated Tanya Holmes. The festivities included food, hot chocolate, candy, games, dancing, presents, and a visit from Santa. My partner and I volunteered to photograph the event and really enjoyed being with the kids and their families.

 

 

 

The children competed in a dance contest.

 

When Santa arrived, a sea of excited children surged toward him, looking for hugs. For little kids, Santa is the ultimate rock star. What a sight!

The children were invited to pick out new hats and gloves.

 The Rolls Royce club's Jazzy J led the children in song.

The kids, singing "Jingle Bells" and other carols.

Ms. Tanya Holmes (left), the tireless organizer who put together this lovely event.

Some of the girls, showing off the presents they got.

Right to Lifers

Right to Life protesters praying, as they regularly do, in front of the Preterm Clinic on Shaker Boulevard in Cleveland on a cloudy Tuesday, October 28, 2014. They're reciting prayers about the "murders" taking place inside the clinic, ending with The Lord's Prayer. I note that they target minorities in their anti-abortion posters and leaflets, a cynical nod to this largely African-American neighborhood.

Hands Up, Don't Shoot

 Young man reciting a poem he wrote about being incarcerated.

 This drummer was joined by other musicians, their music adding strong punctuation to the chants and speeches.

 
Rally in downtown Cleveland Tuesday, October 22 organized by two groups, Puncture the Silence and the Stop Mass Incarceration Network. Picketers marched on a cloudy day from the women's prison to Public Square, where they rallied in protest of police brutality and killings, mass incarceration, attacks on immigrants and other social justice issues. Posters with photographs of people killed by police were displayed throughout the quadrant.

Leave Public Square Alone

This is Satinder P.S. Puri, a retired engineer who is protesting a planned $30-million makeover of Cleveland's Public Square.

Puri, who previously went on a hunger strike to protest the demolition of the historic John Marshall High School on Cleveland's west side, says the rerouting of traffic will cause significant delays, blocking of intersections, long lines, increased travel time for 18 bus routes and more than $1 million additional transit system operating costs. (John Marshall was demolished despite his efforts. A new John Marshall school is being erected in its place.)

 

The plan to close Ontario Street and narrow Superior Avenue to create more "green space" will also fundamentally change the "public" character of Public Square.

It's a lonely fight. Most people walk by apathetically. But he is committed. Fight on, Mr. Puri!

 

 (Photos: Top, Pamela Zoslov; Above, Mark Satola)

This I Must Do

School's Out

 Summer vacation in Cleveland, Ohio.

Adventures in Film

#1, #3 and #6, Shaker Square Farmers Market. #2 and #4, Lorain Avenue. Above, mural detail from Bethesda Missionary Church, East 131st St.

Canon Rebel film camera, expired Portra color film.

Shaker Arts and Music Festival 2014