Mt. Pleasant Sails/Every Citizen Up

(From Neighborhood Leader, Summer 2005 issue)

Project Leader: Mark McClain (NLC Class 21)

Project Description
The six-week summer program introduces young people from Cleveland and East Cleveland to many forms of boating, including canoeing, kayaking, and sailing. The participants range in age from 11 to 14. They are guided by a team of volunteers including college students, church members, teachers, and other professionals.

In addition to boating expertise, participants also learn math, reading, and team-building skills. Every youngster who participates in the program must past the rigorous Ohio Boating Education Course. Those who pass the test get a card that is the equivalent of a driver’s license for boating.

McClain reports that the program gives young people much more than practical skills: "It really establishes their confidence and their self-esteem."

How the Grant(s) Helped
The $5,000 grant paid for boating equipment; notebooks and educational materials; and buses to transport the participants. New Sardis Primitive Baptist Church served as the fiscal agent for the grant. The program will receive a second $5,000 grant this summer.

Advice to NLC Grads
"As grassroots leaders, we need to be responsible for developing creative ways to serve the public. If we don’t think of ways to do this, it won’t get done. I came across Neighborhood Connections and the Neighborhood Leadership Institute, and they really assisted me in showing that you can take an idea—a small idea—and make it into something very meaningful for the community."