The Cleveland Pulse Mon, 13 Jul 2026 05:18:16 -0400 http://www.NAACPCLEVELAND.org en-US © 2026 The Cleveland Pulse yes 5bc659dc-76bd-55a8-81b5-ffbc399f40a3 The Cleveland Branch NAACP episodic false Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) The Cleveland Branch NAACP https://storage.buzzsprout.com/v7rqvkscckds4jniu4jlanls3t9g?.jpg The Cleveland Pulse http://www.NAACPCLEVELAND.org Cuyahoga County’s Housing Crisis: What Cleveland Needs Now Cuyahoga County’s Housing Crisis: What Cleveland Needs Now Cuyahoga County is facing a housing crisis, and this episode of Cleveland Pulse breaks down what that really means for Cleveland families, renters, homeowners, and neighborhoods. Host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Anthony Scott, Esq., Director of Housing and Community Development for Cuyahoga County, for a grounded conversation about housing access, vacant lots, affordability, code enforcement, and the real barriers keeping people from safe, dignified housing. 

Anthony shares how a lack of resources sits at the center of the crisis, from the shortage of available housing to the difficulty of repairing older homes that families have lived in for generations. He also explains why vacant properties, demolitions, and rising development costs continue to shape Cleveland’s housing landscape. 

The conversation also explores “zombie titles” and heirs property issues, showing how unclear ownership can keep families from accessing assistance or preserving generational assets. Anthony breaks down the county’s role in housing, including HUD funding, CDBG dollars, HOME funds, down payment assistance, and the hard choices local government has to make when there is never enough funding to meet the full need. 

Later in the episode, Anthony discusses the push for a new housing fund and a broader vision for “workforce housing” for residents who earn too much for some programs but still struggle to afford stable housing. He outlines four key priorities: development, down payment assistance, repair and rehab, and emergency rental assistance. 

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone who cares about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Cleveland civic engagement, and the future of Black leadership in Cleveland. If you want real talk about housing policy, neighborhood stability, and what practical solutions could look like in Cuyahoga County, this episode delivers.

]]> Cuyahoga County is facing a housing crisis, and this episode of Cleveland Pulse breaks down what that really means for Cleveland families, renters, homeowners, and neighborhoods. Host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Anthony Scott, Esq., Director of Housing and Community Development for Cuyahoga County, for a grounded conversation about housing access, vacant lots, affordability, code enforcement, and the real barriers keeping people from safe, dignified housing. 

Anthony shares how a lack of resources sits at the center of the crisis, from the shortage of available housing to the difficulty of repairing older homes that families have lived in for generations. He also explains why vacant properties, demolitions, and rising development costs continue to shape Cleveland’s housing landscape. 

The conversation also explores “zombie titles” and heirs property issues, showing how unclear ownership can keep families from accessing assistance or preserving generational assets. Anthony breaks down the county’s role in housing, including HUD funding, CDBG dollars, HOME funds, down payment assistance, and the hard choices local government has to make when there is never enough funding to meet the full need. 

Later in the episode, Anthony discusses the push for a new housing fund and a broader vision for “workforce housing” for residents who earn too much for some programs but still struggle to afford stable housing. He outlines four key priorities: development, down payment assistance, repair and rehab, and emergency rental assistance. 

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone who cares about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Cleveland civic engagement, and the future of Black leadership in Cleveland. If you want real talk about housing policy, neighborhood stability, and what practical solutions could look like in Cuyahoga County, this episode delivers.

]]> The Cleveland Branch NAACP Buzzsprout-19187252 Fri, 22 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400 2866 25 full false Why Black Men Avoid Therapy | Eric King on Mental Health Why Black Men Avoid Therapy | Eric King on Mental Health Mental health is still one of the hardest conversations in our community, especially for Black men. In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with licensed counselor Eric King for a real, honest conversation about depression, stigma, faith, therapy, and what healing can actually look like.

Eric King shares his personal journey into counseling, including how his own experience with depression shaped his work helping men navigate emotional health, identity, and growth. Together, Edwin and Eric unpack why so many men are taught to suppress pain, why therapy still feels taboo, how faith and counseling can coexist, and what signs tell you it may be time to seek help. They also discuss youth mental health, how to find the right therapist, what to expect in counseling, why access to care still falls short, and what a healthier community response could look like. 

This episode is for the doers: the people trying to hold together family, purpose, faith, and responsibility while still making room for their own healing. If you’ve ever said “I’m good” when you weren’t, this conversation is for you.

Why listen:

  •  Eric King explains why many Black men “soldier through” depression instead of naming it 
  •  The episode tackles the tension between faith and therapy without dismissing either one 
  •  You’ll hear practical guidance on finding a therapist, setting expectations, and recognizing when it’s time to get help 
  •  The conversation also looks at youth mental health, access gaps, and the kind of community care we need more of 

#ClevelandPulse #MentalHealth #BlackMenMentalHealth #ClevelandCommunityAdvocacy #CivilRightsPodcast #ClevelandCivicEngagement #BlackLeadershipCleveland #EconomicEquityOhio #PowerInThePulse

]]> Mental health is still one of the hardest conversations in our community, especially for Black men. In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with licensed counselor Eric King for a real, honest conversation about depression, stigma, faith, therapy, and what healing can actually look like.

Eric King shares his personal journey into counseling, including how his own experience with depression shaped his work helping men navigate emotional health, identity, and growth. Together, Edwin and Eric unpack why so many men are taught to suppress pain, why therapy still feels taboo, how faith and counseling can coexist, and what signs tell you it may be time to seek help. They also discuss youth mental health, how to find the right therapist, what to expect in counseling, why access to care still falls short, and what a healthier community response could look like. 

This episode is for the doers: the people trying to hold together family, purpose, faith, and responsibility while still making room for their own healing. If you’ve ever said “I’m good” when you weren’t, this conversation is for you.

Why listen:

  •  Eric King explains why many Black men “soldier through” depression instead of naming it 
  •  The episode tackles the tension between faith and therapy without dismissing either one 
  •  You’ll hear practical guidance on finding a therapist, setting expectations, and recognizing when it’s time to get help 
  •  The conversation also looks at youth mental health, access gaps, and the kind of community care we need more of 

#ClevelandPulse #MentalHealth #BlackMenMentalHealth #ClevelandCommunityAdvocacy #CivilRightsPodcast #ClevelandCivicEngagement #BlackLeadershipCleveland #EconomicEquityOhio #PowerInThePulse

]]> The Cleveland Branch NAACP Buzzsprout-19165564 Fri, 15 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400 2252 24 full false How Cleveland Is Preventing Violence with Myesha Watkins How Cleveland Is Preventing Violence with Myesha Watkins What does real violence prevention look like in Cleveland right now?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Myesha Watkins, Administrator of the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and former executive director of Cleveland Peacemakers, for a grounded conversation about gun violence, public safety, and what it takes to build safer communities across Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Myesha shares how her lived experience, social work background, and years in community violence intervention shaped her approach to this work. Together, she and Edwin dig into the realities behind gun violence in Cleveland, including how conflict, trauma, underinvestment, and access to firearms all intersect. They also talk about why violence prevention must be treated as a public health issue, why safe gun storage matters, and why families need to start age-appropriate conversations with children as early as possible.

The episode also highlights local solutions already happening in our region, from family gun safety education classes through the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and Cuyahoga County Board of Health to community organizations doing on-the-ground intervention work. Myesha makes the case that Cleveland doesn’t need more talk without coordination. It needs partnerships, trusted messengers, practical resources, and real investment in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence.

This conversation is for Clevelanders who care about community advocacy, public safety, youth opportunity, and building a city where families can live without fear. If you’re interested in Cleveland civic engagement, Black leadership in Cleveland, and practical strategies for safer neighborhoods, this episode belongs in your queue.


]]> What does real violence prevention look like in Cleveland right now?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Myesha Watkins, Administrator of the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and former executive director of Cleveland Peacemakers, for a grounded conversation about gun violence, public safety, and what it takes to build safer communities across Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.

Myesha shares how her lived experience, social work background, and years in community violence intervention shaped her approach to this work. Together, she and Edwin dig into the realities behind gun violence in Cleveland, including how conflict, trauma, underinvestment, and access to firearms all intersect. They also talk about why violence prevention must be treated as a public health issue, why safe gun storage matters, and why families need to start age-appropriate conversations with children as early as possible.

The episode also highlights local solutions already happening in our region, from family gun safety education classes through the Cuyahoga County Office of Violence Prevention and Cuyahoga County Board of Health to community organizations doing on-the-ground intervention work. Myesha makes the case that Cleveland doesn’t need more talk without coordination. It needs partnerships, trusted messengers, practical resources, and real investment in the neighborhoods most impacted by violence.

This conversation is for Clevelanders who care about community advocacy, public safety, youth opportunity, and building a city where families can live without fear. If you’re interested in Cleveland civic engagement, Black leadership in Cleveland, and practical strategies for safer neighborhoods, this episode belongs in your queue.


]]> The Cleveland Branch NAACP Buzzsprout-19143763 Fri, 08 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400 1904 23 full false When the system gets it wrong: 27 Years Gone When the system gets it wrong: 27 Years Gone What happens when the system gets it wrong — and a man still finds a way to rebuild, love, and thrive?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson, an exoneree who spent 27 years, 6 months, and 20 days incarcerated for crimes he says he did not commit. What follows is a powerful conversation about wrongful conviction, faith, survival, exoneration, and what it means to come home and build a meaningful life after the unimaginable.

Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson shares how his case moved forward through the Ohio Innocence Project, how withheld records and witness issues helped unravel the conviction, and why he chose to stay the course until he was fully exonerated. But this episode is about more than the injustice. It is also about restoration. Charles talks about marriage, family, entrepreneurship, writing his book, and building a future rooted in peace instead of bitterness.

You’ll also hear about his new chapter as a business owner with Sweet Rice Classic Custards in Euclid, his advice for the next generation, and why keeping good people around you matters. This is a Cleveland story about endurance, accountability, community, and the human cost of a system that too often asks questions too late.

If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, civil rights, justice reform, second chances, reentry, and Black leadership in Cleveland, this is a conversation worth hearing. It is honest, human, and rooted in the belief that people are bigger than the labels placed on them.

]]> What happens when the system gets it wrong — and a man still finds a way to rebuild, love, and thrive?

In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson, an exoneree who spent 27 years, 6 months, and 20 days incarcerated for crimes he says he did not commit. What follows is a powerful conversation about wrongful conviction, faith, survival, exoneration, and what it means to come home and build a meaningful life after the unimaginable.

Charles “Sweet Man” Jackson shares how his case moved forward through the Ohio Innocence Project, how withheld records and witness issues helped unravel the conviction, and why he chose to stay the course until he was fully exonerated. But this episode is about more than the injustice. It is also about restoration. Charles talks about marriage, family, entrepreneurship, writing his book, and building a future rooted in peace instead of bitterness.

You’ll also hear about his new chapter as a business owner with Sweet Rice Classic Custards in Euclid, his advice for the next generation, and why keeping good people around you matters. This is a Cleveland story about endurance, accountability, community, and the human cost of a system that too often asks questions too late.

If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, civil rights, justice reform, second chances, reentry, and Black leadership in Cleveland, this is a conversation worth hearing. It is honest, human, and rooted in the belief that people are bigger than the labels placed on them.

]]> The Cleveland Branch NAACP Buzzsprout-19038942 Fri, 01 May 2026 02:00:00 -0400 1718 22 full false How Dr. Luciana Gilmore Is Building a School to Change Cleveland How Dr. Luciana Gilmore Is Building a School to Change Cleveland What does it take to build a school from the ground up in Cleveland? In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dr. Luciana Gilmore. She is an educator, entrepreneur, community advocate, and founder of Ford Girls Leadership Academy. Edwin and Dr GIlmore sit for a powerful conversation about purpose, faith, and creating equitable opportunities for Black girls in Cleveland.

Dr. Luciana Gilmore shares her journey from more than 25 years in education to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, completing her doctorate, and turning a long-held vision into a real school set to open in August 2026. She also reflects on the inspiration behind Brown Boy Joy, the importance of positive self-image, and why Cleveland needs greater access to high-quality, affordable educational spaces for girls.

This episode explores what it means to lead with conviction, build something bigger than yourself, and create pathways for the next generation. If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Black leadership in Cleveland, civil rights, education access, and civic engagement, this conversation delivers both inspiration and a real call to action.

You’ll hear:

Dr. Gilmore’s roots in CMSD and her path into education
The leap from principal to entrepreneur
How Brown Boy Joy grew into a national story
Why Ford Girls Leadership Academy matters for Cleveland families
The vision for mentoring, family partnership, and student leadership
How the community can support through mentorship, donations, and advocacy

This is a conversation for the doers—people who believe Cleveland’s future gets stronger when we invest in young Black leaders now.

]]> What does it take to build a school from the ground up in Cleveland? In this episode of Cleveland Pulse, host Edwin Hubbard Jr. sits down with Dr. Luciana Gilmore. She is an educator, entrepreneur, community advocate, and founder of Ford Girls Leadership Academy. Edwin and Dr GIlmore sit for a powerful conversation about purpose, faith, and creating equitable opportunities for Black girls in Cleveland.

Dr. Luciana Gilmore shares her journey from more than 25 years in education to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, completing her doctorate, and turning a long-held vision into a real school set to open in August 2026. She also reflects on the inspiration behind Brown Boy Joy, the importance of positive self-image, and why Cleveland needs greater access to high-quality, affordable educational spaces for girls.

This episode explores what it means to lead with conviction, build something bigger than yourself, and create pathways for the next generation. If you care about Cleveland community advocacy, economic equity in Ohio, Black leadership in Cleveland, civil rights, education access, and civic engagement, this conversation delivers both inspiration and a real call to action.

You’ll hear:

Dr. Gilmore’s roots in CMSD and her path into education
The leap from principal to entrepreneur
How Brown Boy Joy grew into a national story
Why Ford Girls Leadership Academy matters for Cleveland families
The vision for mentoring, family partnership, and student leadership
How the community can support through mentorship, donations, and advocacy

This is a conversation for the doers—people who believe Cleveland’s future gets stronger when we invest in young Black leaders now.

]]> The Cleveland Branch NAACP Buzzsprout-19038813 Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0400 1291 1 21 full false