Mayor's Corner: LakewoodAlive Adds Value To Our Community
I recently highlighted some of our community’s wonderful summer events, along with the important role LakewoodAlive plays in hosting them. But the breadth of work LakewoodAlive performs as Lakewood’s local community development nonprofit goes beyond these events. LakewoodAlive has been performing many other key support roles in our city for over two decades. Their mission also includes business support & promotion and housing outreach & services to go along with their more well-known and engaging events.
Some of the most impactful work being done by LakewoodAlive is in housing services, where they partner with many City departments (everything from Building & Housing and Planning & Development to Human Services and Lakewood Fire Department (LFD) among others). LakewoodAlive also leverages partnerships with Lakewood-based and regional nonprofits and fundraising support from private sector donors to add resources to this work. A major focus is assisting Lakewood seniors and other income-limited residents stay safe in and maintain their homes. LakewoodAlive has built an excellent partnership with LFD’s Neighborhood Paramedic Program, often leading follow up to the paramedic visit to address fall hazards, install free smoke detectors, or even provide beds for seniors (though a generous Rotary Club of Lakewood and Rocky River grant). Other work in housing includes managing paint grants, a tool borrowing program, bed bug assistance, and volunteer yard clean ups and snow shoveling, just to name some.
In support of Lakewood’s thriving small-business community, LakewoodAlive wears many hats and works annually with dozens of businesses across our city. They provide technical support and act as fiscal agent for Lakewood’s four local business associations and lead a monthly citywide business meeting. They manage a webpage for available commercial space in Lakewood for those interested in bringing their business to Lakewood. LakewoodAlive helps guide businesses seeking grants and support from City of Lakewood programs, including the City Sign Grant and the City Storefront Renovation Program. LakewoodAlive also engages in beautification support work on commercial corridors – staff mulch City Center Park and various street trees along Detroit and Madison (with help from volunteers), coordinate the Flower Blossoms Program, and support for public art installations in Lakewood. Taken together, all of these efforts bring clear value to Lakewood’s small business ecosystem.
Finally, the most visible and well-known aspect of LakewoodAlive remain the fun and inviting annual events they plan, fundraise for, and oversee. I mentioned some of the big summer events in my last column – the Front Porch Concert Series, Birdtown Picnic, and Summer Meltdown – but LakewoodAlive events happen year-round. So, whether it is the Spooky Pooch Parade and Lakewood Chocolate Walk in October or Light Up Lakewood every December, LakewoodAlive is always finding a way to bring our city together, create community, and improve our overall quality of life through signature events.
The City of Lakewood is happy to partner with LakewoodAlive on their efforts, and we appreciate the hard work and passion that Executive Director Ian Andrews and his staff always bring to their mission. I encourage everyone to visit the LakewoodAlive website and learn more about the value they bring to our Lakewood community: https://www.lakewoodalive.org/.