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About OneCity
Newsroom: News Stories
Published in Street Vibes
CityLink offers opportunities for people who want real life change
Just like any other city in the U.S., Cincinnati has its own poverty
issue. Cincinnati is ranked 16th, ahead of Los Angeles and New York, for
percentage of residents living in poverty. One-fifth of Cincinnati residents
live in poverty. One-third of Cincinnati’s children live in poverty; simple
statements describing a complex problem.
Enter CityLink Center, a proposal developed to fight poverty in Cincinnati.
CityLlink is made up of 18 local churches and social service organizations,
including City Cure, City Gospel Mission and Jobs Plus. CityLink was
developed through comprehensive research on poverty and the best way to
fight it.
“CityLink will connect people to concrete, life-changing programs and a
support network,” says Mark Stecher, Director of CityLink. “It is a place
for people to learn how to get a different and better life.”
CityLink is modeled off of PATHMALL, a multiple agency complex located in
Los Angeles. However, PATHMALL exclusively focuses on the homeless, while
CityLink focuses on those in poverty and offers a relationship/mentoring
model to break the cycle of poverty.
“We conducted research and found that there are many people who are hoping
that a better life is just around the corner, and hundreds of organizations,
donors and volunteers are scattered across the city,” says Roger Howell,
Director of City Cure. “This center provides a place where these people can
come together to help each other.”
The vision is to create a place for people who want to work towards real
life change.
“You have to want real life change,” says Keenan Robbison, who went through
multiple agencies to get on his feet. “CityLink is necessary for this
change.”
CityLink brings together experienced service providers to offer employment
and education, health/wellness, life skills and recreation services under
one roof. CityLink also provides the infrastructure to mobilize volunteers
and connect individuals to meaningful ways to utilize their skills.
Volunteers can teach classes, greet clients, help with ongoing research to
develop best practices or be a mentor.
“I grew up in the West End, and my family had to travel to every social
service in the city just to meet our basic needs,” says Aaron Jones, who is
now a successful mortgage/life insurance broker in Cincinnati. “CityLink
will make it easier for families to get help. It will be an asset to the
community and force people to acknowledge the West End.”
CityLink clients will have mentors who will offer one-on-one support.
CityLink estimates that each day 150 to 200 volunteers and staff will be
serving 200 to 300 clients. Over the course of a year, the center expects to
positively impact the lives of 2,000 volunteers and 5,000 clients.
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Planned Services |
Current Partners |
Desired Visiting (not relocating) Partners |
Referred Partners |
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Employment & Education |
Jobs Plus |
Life skill/Job Training GED/ABLE
College Assistance
Literacy Training
Computer Classes
Financial Advisory Services
Legal Aid
Budgeting
Tax Preparation
ATM |
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Health & Wellness |
Crossroad Health Center |
Oral Care, Cleaning Certified Counselors
Pre/Post Abortion
Drug/Alcohol Groups |
Urgent Care HIV/AIDS Testing |
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Recreation |
The Lord’s Gym |
Sponsored Recreation Art/Music Classes
Book Clubs
Movies,etc. |
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Housing – Life Basics |
City Gospel and City Cure |
Hair Salon/Barbershop Clothing |
Emergency Shelter Food Relief
Clothing Relief |
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Relationships & Community |
Volunteers |
Parenting Classes Family Counseling |
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*Services that will be offered to the poor at CityLink.
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