The Sunday, April 30, free JazzFest concert at the remarkable East Cleveland Public Lbrary was full beyond capacity, with scores of people turned away, as NEO proves there are plenty of people who love to come together in special places like East Cleveland to share in the special experience of arts appreciation - this is a stunning example of community building that must be supported further and expanded... I'm ready for the next beautiful afternoon in East Cleveland, surrounded by great local genius in music... bring more on!

My husband and I were among the lucky ones that got into, yes full house, at EC Libarary for one of the two free jazz concerts.  It was the first time that we made it.  As I understand it, East Cleveland Public Libary has been having several of these concerts, just rather sporadically.  What I was most pleased to hear from Mr. Reese was that this past weekends event was the inaugaral event for a planned series of concerts to be called (I believe) "The Debute Series".  KUDO's - HAT'S OFF - A GREAT ROUND of APPLAUSE!!!  And what makes me even more proud is that we can say we are actual residents of EC, so it makes us real proud that we get some POSITIVE news about out little community.

Thanks

Greg L. Reese, Executive Director East Cleveland Public Library, Robert P. Bergman Prize

With a fresh diploma from Morehouse College in 1975, Greg Reese, a Cleveland native, needed a job. Although he studied history, a friend steered him toward the library. The trial by fire that was his first library job would have sent most people running in the opposite direction.

“I was the first African-American to walk through their doors,” he remembers. “They kept me behind the scenes.”

That was nearly 31 years ago. Along the way Reese received his Master of Library Science degree from Case Western Reserve University, finishing the program in 10 months. He is now Executive Director of the East Cleveland Public Library, for which he has raised nearly $4 million from 40 foundations, corporations, and individuals to create a new wing and a state-of-the-art performance facility.

“My library is the most important institution in my community,” he said. To wit, the library does everything from tax preparation to hosting national jazz acts, from teaching computer skills in its labs to providing a new space for the Black Heritage Collection, a collection of print and non-print materials created by African Americans, including artifacts and literature collected by Icabod Flewellen, founder of Cleveland’s African-American Museum.

“Ever resourceful,” says longtime resident and community activist Mae E. Stewart about Reese. “In place of [a] levy, Greg called upon others outside and within our community to privately fund a capital campaign that would bring us the innovative library expansion that has enhanced our community beyond anything that we could have imagined.”

Designed by architect Richard Fleischman, the library’s addition was named the Debra Ann November Learning Center, after the daughter of benefactor Mort November, who says, “His vision for the library was also a vision for the people of East Cleveland, and his commitment to this project was the reason it succeeded.”

Reese’s passionate interest in jazz—he’s the author of JAZZKEEPERS, A Pictorial Tribute & Memoir—fuels the partnership between the library and the annual Tri-C JazzFest.

“He believes, as do we at the JazzFest,” says Beth Rutkowski, managing director of the JazzFest, “that this community deserves the best that the arts world has to offer.” Look for more national jazz acts in the future in the Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center.

Come down to congratulate Greg on July 7 at Public Square. http://clevelandartsprize.org/announce_2006.htm

Abouth the Robert P. Bergman Prize
This prize will be awarded annually to an exceptional individual who has shown passionate leadership and opened his/her field more broadly, and whose life and activities communicate the joys, excitement, and deep human relevance of the arts. This prize is open to national/international candidates. Recipient must be present for the awards event.
About Robert P. Bergman http://clevelandartsprize.org/speccit_rpb.htm

Only two other's have recieved the Bergman Prize-- Bill Rudman http://clevelandartsprize.org/bergawardee_00.htm and Robin Van Lear http://clevelandartsprize.org/bergawardee_01.htm.
Bergman Prize winners are given a ring designed by Cleveland luminary John Paul Miller http://clevelandartsprize.org/visart_1961.htm who recieved the Cleveland Arts Prize in its inaugural year -- 1961.