East Cleveland

These interviews were conducted in 2025 as part of the East Cleveland Oral History Project, directed by Dr. Nicholas S. Mays of Baldwin Wallace University in partnership with the Cuyahoga Land Bank. The project documents the lives, experiences, and community work of East Cleveland residents—past and present—whose stories reflect the city’s resilience, civic engagement, and cultural legacy. The interviews highlight intergenerational perspectives on education, migration, community development, faith, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood revitalization. Together, the interviews offer a community-centered narrative that expands public understanding of East Cleveland’s history beyond crisis and decline to include strength, creativity, and enduring pride.

Cleveland Voices

View the East Cleveland collection on Cleveland Voices, the official home of the Cleveland Regional Oral History Collection. Cleveland Voices includes improved support for mobile devices, social media sharing, and printing, as well as interactive transcripts, user guides, and more.