Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) is a 50 year-old non-profit providing innovative social enterprise job-training, civic engagement strategies and safety net services for the city of Cleveland and across northeastern Ohio. LMM embraces the missional purpose that people who are oppressed, forgotten, and hurting be empowered, valued, and healed by staff and volunteers’ unwavering commitment to addressing chronic needs, enabling people to self-sufficiency, and advocating for system change. LMM creates innovative programs that serve people who are homeless, youth who are at-risk, older adults who are vulnerable, people impacted by the criminal justice system, and individuals with behavioral needs. These grassroots efforts make up their Housing & Shelter, Workforce Development, and Health & Wellness Services.
In the last year, LMM served nearly 7,000 people and engaged approximately 3,500 volunteers. Guardianship Services provide legal guardians to serve as caring advocates, and surrogate decision-makers for adults who cannot care for themselves and who have often encountered abuse or exploitation. Many of you may have already heard of LMM’s Men’s Shelter at 2100 Lakeside that is the largest shelter in the state of Ohio, serving up to 365 men per night. Chopping for Change is a workforce development program that empowers women in the criminal justice system by providing them with significant work experience and training designed to facilitate their re-entry experience and decrease recidivism. LMM’s Next Step is a program with two resident locations for young adults within the child welfare system. These innovative services are only a brief sampling of how LMM works to meet the needs of Cuyahoga County.
I have had the pleasure of working in the Office of Advocacy by assisting staff in conducting legislative research, participating in webinars led by partner organizations, and supporting civic engagement efforts related to voter registration and the 2020 Census completion. I also worked with the Office of Development & Communications to create and write content for LMM blogs, social media campaigns, and the website. In addition, I had the opportunity to research and gather information on corporate foundations and public entities that propose potential funding opportunities.
Learn more about Breaking New Ground, LMM’s 3.5-million-dollar affordable housing initiative, that will go towards purchasing and renovating up to 20 homes in the St. Clair-Superior neighborhood at https://www.lutheranmetro.org/home-page/breaking-new-ground/
For more information on Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry and to find ways to get involved, please visit https://www.lutheranmetro.org/