LMM's Department of Advocacy and Department of Development & Communications are excited to have Charlie Stehlik and Emel Terzioglu join LMM this summer from the Center for Service and Social Action (CSSA) at John Carroll University. Through CSSA's sustained partnerships with more than 75 organizations in the Cleveland area, students work to make a difference while reflecting on what it means to commit oneself to a "faith that does justice." CSSA's Summer in the City Internship placed Charlie and Emel with LMM to gain hands-on experience to explore the root causes of social injustices that our organization, staff, and those it serves face daily. 

Charles Stehlik

	Emel Terzioglu

There is no denying that there was   substantial confusion  surrounding the March 2020 primary  election when a last-minute public health emergency declaration postponed in-person voting. In Ohio's General Assembly, HB 680 was introduced by the Ohio House to avoid a similar situation from occurring during the fall general election. Unfortunately, this legislation makes voting harder, not easier for Ohio's citizen s ,  by shortening the time voters can request absentee ballots, and eliminating the ability for the secretary of state to prepay return postage for ballot applications. LMM advocated against this legislation, and will continue to fight efforts that impede our voter protections.

LMM challenges you to take two steps to increase your civic engagement: register to vote and complete your 2020 Census.

Your vote is your voice. The responsibility to demand institutional change falls upon us all. In 2016, only 52.9% of the registered voters in Cuyahoga County, voted in the election. We can and must do better. Visit the Ohio Secretary of State's website to register to vote or update your registration.

Be Counted: For every person who fails to complete the 2020 Census, our community loses $1,800 per person per year in federal funding. Census results help determine how billions of dollars of federal funding flow into states and communities each year, impacting early childhood education, health clinics, housing, and even roads and highways. Visit 2020census.gov to complete the short form.

On Monday, Cleveland Housing Court resumed eviction hearings for the first time since the start of COVID-19. The court has a backlog of 1,000 cases. While the court will not be at full capacity - limiting the number of cases to 125 per day - the decision to reopen court is incredibly concerning. To avoid an avalanche of evictions, LMM is advocating alongside COOHIO at the state level and NLIHC at the federal level for a substantial increase in rental assistance. Rental assistance can provide a tenant or a landlord with the financial resources necessary to keep a tenant in their homes, and help to avoid undue housing instability.