What is a Rekindle Action Project?

Rekindle Action Projects are team-based projects taken on during the Fellowship, with the goal of creating short-term working relationships that lead to long-term collaborations. Fellows should plan to spend 8-10 hours outside of the workshops planning and executing their projects with their teams. Don’t worry, we will guide you every step of the way!

Rekindle Fellows determine what specifically they want to do to advance social justice in Cleveland. The goal of these projects is not to “boil the ocean,” but to take small steps - together - that lay the groundwork for future, long-term collaboration. Check out the examples below, plus these:

  • Coordinated a donation drive and volunteering for Anita Gardner’s Concerned Citizen Community Council, a nonprofit serving the Kinsman neighborhood

  • Helped an African dance troupe, Djapo Cultural Arts, expand its reach to engage more children in new neighborhoods

  • Supported and attended a community cleanup in the Buckeye neighborhood hosted by local churches there

  • Created a social media video and campaign for Cleveland VOTES sharing the importance of voting early to engage both communities

  • Helped a social service nonprofit, the NEO Goods Bank, raise its profile and connect with new partners

  • Developed a list of recommendations to implement and local organizations to engage, in order to diversify the mentor corps for a local nonprofit

Action Project Examples

Held a breakfast increasing awareness for the Reverse Ridealong program, which is improving policing in Cleveland

Ran a joint non-traditional seder / Sunday dinner that highlighted the rich cultures and traditions of both communities

Gathered Rekindle families together for a morning of “show and tell,” sharing important items from each child’s culture (and taking books home afterwards!)

Held a teen-focused program, celebrating both African and Jewish cultures

Held a “Women’s Healing Circle,” bringing women together to share challenges and opportunities

Hosted a guided tour of Cleveland that focused on the Black and Jewish history of various neighborhoods

Launched a book club to connect over interesting literature

Volunteered for a local nonprofit sorting, cleaning, and improving their operations

Celebrated our December holidays through a
“Christma-Chanu-Kwanzakah” party!