Case Western Reserve University Restores Historic Wade Park Home as Community Engagement Center

CLEVELAND—After sitting vacant for nearly a decade, a century-old home in Cleveland’s Magnolia-Wade Park Historic District has been transformed into Case Western Reserve University’s new Wade Park Community Engagement Center. The university invested $2.3 million into the restoration of the 4,500-square-foot property, which will now serve as a hub for community programs, educational activities, and health services. A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. on October 15 to celebrate the opening of the center, located at 11310 Wade Park Ave.

Funding for the restoration included $200,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act, directed by Cuyahoga County Council Representative Yvonne Conwell, and an additional $250,000 from The George Gund Foundation. The center will house staff members from Case Western Reserve's Office of Local Government and Community Relations and will provide a variety of services aimed at engaging the surrounding neighborhoods.

“One of our three institutional priorities is to enhance our engagement with the surrounding community,” said Case Western Reserve President Eric W. Kaler. “This center enables us to work each day alongside local residents, fostering more robust partnerships and promoting more effective collaborations that will strengthen our shared neighborhood.”

Julian Rogers, associate vice president of Local Government and Community Relations at Case Western Reserve, emphasized the potential for the center to create lasting connections between the university and the local community. “The center is a place where CWRU faculty, staff, and students can come together with residents and community members,” Rogers said. “They can learn from each other while creating opportunities to enhance education, build relationships, and improve outcomes.”

Programming for the Wade Park Community Engagement Center will be shaped in collaboration with the community and guided by the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC), a 20-member body that includes local residents, university representatives, and members of nearby community organizations. Programs and activities planned for the center include:

• NAC meeting space: The center will serve as the new meeting location for the NAC, which advises the university on programs and projects that impact East Cleveland and nearby neighborhoods.

• Telehealth and interview room: Community members without access to reliable internet or necessary equipment will be able to conduct remote job interviews or telehealth appointments.

• Health and wellness screenings: In partnership with the university's schools of medicine, nursing, and dental medicine, the center will host health and wellness clinics, workshops, and activities.

• Youth programs: The university’s Office of Pre-Collegiate Programs will offer tutoring and mentoring for elementary, middle, and high school students in nearby schools, connecting youth with CWRU students and faculty.

• Law clinics: The School of Law will provide free legal services through its Second Chance Re-entry Clinic and Wills Clinic, offering support to formerly incarcerated individuals and creating wills for local residents.

• Small business advising: Through partnerships with local organizations, the center will provide legal and technical assistance to small businesses looking to expand or seeking help with contracts or employee manuals.

• Community gathering space: Neighborhood groups and organizations can reserve conference rooms for meetings, while the outdoor area will be available for community events and celebrations.

The Wade Park Community Engagement Center is a tangible demonstration of Case Western Reserve University’s commitment to fostering strong relationships with the neighborhoods surrounding its campus. By offering resources, programs, and space for collaboration, the university hopes to make a meaningful impact in the lives of local residents while also enriching the educational experience for its students.