Year in Review: 2021-2022
Images | End of Year Statistics
OCE Davis A & M Tutor Nahid Miage working with Davis A & M Student
OCE Davis A & M Tutors Khalil Thomas and Dylan Calaway assisting Davis A & M Student
OCE with Civic Engagement Partners on National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) 2021
Molly Mantei tutoring a group of students at Cleveland Public Library, East 131st Branch
OCE Director, Anita Ruf-Young and Graduate Assistant, Gabriella Pridemore, Interviewed by Spectrum News 1 Ohio for OCE Activities around NVRD
OCE Director, Anita Ruf-Young, Interviewed by Channel 19 News around 2021 Cleveland Mayoral Race
OCE Director, Anita Ruf-Young, Interviewed by Spectrum News 1 Ohio on National Voter Registration Day (NVRD)
OCE Tutors assisting youth at Cleveland Public Library (CPL), Hough Branch
OCE Tutor, Leehana Vernet-Vinson, tutoring youth at Teen Refugee Response located at John Marshall High School
OCE Tutor, Nina Floyd, tutoring a student at Cleveland Public Library (CPL), Harvard Lee Branch
OCE Tutors, Leehana Vernet-Vinson and Emma Norton, with Teen Refugee Response student at John Marshall High School
2021- 2022 CPL America Reads and Viking Corps End of Year Statistics
- 58 CSU student workers served at the Cleveland Public Library in-person, contributing 4,316.4 hours and interacting with 1,841 K-12th grade students
- 6 CPL America Reads tutors served remotely through the Cleveland Public Library Garden Valley branch throughout the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters contributing 241.2 hours and interacting with 156 K-12th grade students
- 2 CSU student workers served at Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School, contributing 842.4 hours and interacting with 310 high school students remotely and on site
- 1 CSU student worker served at Koinonia Camp and Conference Center, contributing 325.2 hours and interacting with 522 visitors on site
- CSU student workers served at Teen Refugee Response at John Marshall High School during the Spring 2022 semester, contributing 60.1 hours and interacting with 23 refugee students on site
****6 student workers worked simultaneously at Cleveland Public Library and Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School ****
2021- 2022 CPL America Reads and Viking Corps Program Highlights
100% of CPL America Reads and Viking Corps site supervisors reported that Federal Work-Study funded students provided helpful assistance at their work site.
100% of CPL America Reads and Viking Corps site supervisors reported that CPL America Reads and Viking Corps student workers had a positive impact at their work site.
100% of CPL America Reads and Viking Corps site supervisors reported a valuable partnership was established between their work site and the Office of Civic Engagement CPL America Reads and Viking Corps programs.
93.8% of student workers in the CPL America Reads and Viking Corps program felt their work/service experience had a positive impact on their professional development and them personally.
89% of student workers in the CPL America Reads and Viking Corps program felt their participation in the CPL America Reads and Viking Corps program has helped them feel more engaged at Cleveland State University.
92.2% of student workers in the CPL America Reads and Viking Corps program responded that they have positively impacted their work site and/or the community members they served.
2021- 2022 OCE Additional Highlights
74 OCE FWS and Grant funded student employees served 5,544.10 hours in communities around CSU earning $77,883.75, of which, $44,867.95 was FWS.
OCE student employees interacted with 2,696 community members at 18 in person and 1 remote community work sites.
Developed 82 posts on our Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube accounts to engage CSU students and communities surrounding CSU throughout the year.
Continually updated the OCE website to keep students and surrounding communities informed and engaged about the November 2021 Election, the May 2022 Primary Election, Voter Registration and Vote By Mail deadlines, nonpartisan election resources, and other civic engagement opportunities such as Democracy Fellowships, becoming a Poll Worker, and becoming an Election Night Ballot Box Opener.
Created a highly engaging and successful "Meet the Candidates Video Series", for the 2021 Cleveland Mayoral and Ohio's 11th Congressional District Candidate Races. These videos had 4,313 views combined.
Organized a collaborative National Voter Registration Day (NVRD) event on CSU's campus by partnering with 7 local, regional, and national civic partners. Collected 60 Voter Registrations and 13 Vote By Mail applications.
For 2021 - 2022, the OCE engaged with thousands of CSU students and community members around CSU where we collected 285 Voter registrations, collected 216 Vote By Mail applications, and interacted with 374 Unique Voters.
The OCE NVRD event drew media coverage from Cleveland 19 News and Spectrum News 1 Ohio as well as from the CSU University Marketing and Communications department.
Sponsored parking for the 2022 Cleveland Asian Festival where the OCE, in partnership with NOVA, collected 67 Vote By Mail applications and 18 Voter Registrations.
The OCE recently established a new community service-learning partnership with the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region. The Red Cross attended their first event on campus with the OCE on June 28, 2022 for the 'See You at CSU Days'. 20 individuals signed up to be contacted for future volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross.
The OCE's webpages on the Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs website views were #1 during the months of August and September 2021 and remained #2 throughout June, July, October, and November 2021 which demonstrates the information is engaging students and surrounding communities.
Hired 4 Democracy Fellows, 2 in Fall and 2 in the Spring, who earned a total of $2,000 to assist the OCE with voter registration and non-partisan election information.
78 CSU students signed up to be a CCBOE Election Night Ballot Box Opener for the November 2021 General Election due to OCE promotion and recruitment efforts.
97 CSU students signed up to be a CCBOE Election Night Ballot Box Opener for the May 2022 Primary Election due to OCE promotion and recruitment efforts.
The OCE's Voter Friendly Campus Designation for CSU continues to be in effect through December 2022. Making CSU 1 of 231 campuses in 37 states and 1 of 15 in the state of Ohio to earn this designation.
2021- 2022 Civic Engagement Partners Feedback
"Northeast Ohio Voter Advocates (NOVA) admires the CSU Office of Civic Engagement for their partnership with civic organizations and commitment to community service, especially concerning voting. In 2021, NOVA registered 187 students and provided Vote by mail applications to 111 students. Overall, 223 students completed either or both forms. CSU's Office of Civic Engagement advances voter education via recruiting poll workers, providing voter-related student internships, and using strategic social media messages on voting and related civic issues. Their presence on campus is a constant reminder to students about their active role in the community as an educated citizen."
- Susan Alcorn, NOVA Volunteer
"Cleveland State University's Office of Civic Engagement has continued to push students in their civic growth and democratic engagement while part of the campus community. Under Anita's leadership, Cleveland State has increased its democratic engagement substantially with students participating as Democracy Fellows and growing their organizing and professional abilities through those experiences. During the 2020 election cycle, OCE directly influenced student engagement, achieving a voter turnout rate of 73.5% which was 7.5 percentage points higher than average. As this team continues to strive for new and innovative opportunities to engage students and community, I look forward to seeing CSU reach even greater accomplishments."
- Alexis Crosby, Ohio State Coordinator, Campus Vote Project
"The relationship between the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections and Office of Civic Engagement Director OCE), Anita Ruf-Young, and her OCE team is invaluable. The OCE team has consistently provided on campus voter registration drives as well as assisting us in securing quality election day workers to assist voters. On election night the Board requires over 150 temporary staff to assist in processing election material. Anita and her team have utilized the CSU social media and website to promote student participation with a behind-the-scenes view of election night processes, as well as supporting and safeguarding our county's voting rights. We look forward to continuing and growing our important relationship with CSU and election-related programs that help bolster our local democratic systems."
- Brent E. Lawler, Manager Candidate & Petition Services, Cuyahoga County Board of Elections
"As the director of The Diversity Institute and the newly reimagined master's degree program in Diversity Leadership and Change Management (DLCMP), I am grateful for our continued collaboration and partnership with the CSU Office of Civic Engagement. During this period of generational change in political and civic leadership across Greater Cleveland, the Office of Civic Engagement has been instrumental in ensuring that CSU students were able to participate in the democratic process. During this past election cycle, one of our DLCMP masters students was very passionate about supporting and providing a forum for one of the 11th Congressional District candidates. I referred the student to Anita, Director of the Office of Civic Engagement, who along with her Graduate Assistant, Gabi, worked with the student and the candidate's campaign in a manner that was nonpartisan and informed, educated, and promoted the CSU campus' involvement in that important 11th Congressional District race."
- Ronnie Dunn, Director of The Diversity Institute at Cleveland State University
"With the future of climate justice and democracy at stake, it is imperative that we involve young people and students in the political process. I am grateful for Anita's leadership and the help of the OCE when it came to engaging CSU students in the OH-11 primary election - by amplifying our events and opportunities on the OCE social media channels, we were able to plug several students into this race. Although the outcome of the election was not what we had hoped for, we still activated, educated, and mobilized countless CSU students who can now participate in elections for decades to come."
- Naomi Villagomez Roochnik, Director of Student Organizing in the Nina Turner Campaign
2021- 2022 Community Partners Feedback
"The Cleveland Public Library's partnership with the Office of Civic Engagement at CSU has been successful in helping CMSD students improve their grades, reading comprehension, and confidence in themselves as learners. In addition, the library has seen an increase in student usage of its resources and services over the past three years. As the library continues to push for student engagement and literacy, this partnership will be even more important in the years to come."
- Aaron Mason, Outreach and Programming Services, Cleveland Public Library
"I am thankful for the relationship that Anita and Gabi have worked to build with me and with Davis, Their communication, understanding, and flexibility is so appreciated. They really put time into building relationships with their sites. Having repeat and enthusiastic tutors has really helped to build relationships. With many of the tutors this year, it is like they are part of our staff and yet I also see them as "our students." When communication is strong, we really build a relationship and I care about them just as much as I do for our own students. CSU tutors always step up to the task."
- Lauren Bowen, Model Lead Teacher, Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School
"This program has been amazing for our students at John Marshall. The students have brought a new spark and excitement to the Teen Response program. Having college students and even one who graduated from John Marshall is great for our students who are looking for guidance about college and advice for the trials and tribulations of high school. Working with the Office of Civic Engagement in this partnership has been a highlight of the school year. I'm very excited to begin a partnership for years to come that benefits both CSU students and Teen Response students. Anita and Gabi have been so helpful and informative. They are accessible when I have questions, and are great about keeping in touch about expectations. They are very professional and dedicated, and I really appreciate that. Thank you for all you have done to help the Teen Response program this year!"
- Kim Wheeler, Teen Response Manager, Teen Refugee Response at John Marshall High School
2021 - 2022 CPL America Reads & Viking Corps Student Employee Feedback
"I am incredibly grateful for this experience and opportunity! I love that I am playing a small role and helping and getting to know my Cleveland community! I absolutely love my site and have built great relationships with the librarians. When I received the Letter of Recognition, it made my day and you have no idea how much I appreciated this letter! I cannot wait to continue tutoring again next semester!"
-Reem Abumeri, Cleveland Public Library Glenville Branch
"Anita and Gabi are phenomenal- they are extremely accommodating with schedule/location changes; very prominent about keeping tutors up to date; provide efficient ways to log hours; generous, understanding, kind, and appreciative. I give genuine respect and gratitude for their actions and work ethic. I greatly appreciated the Letter of Recognition and kind words. Thank you Anita and Gabi for an amazing fall and spring semester being a part of this exceptional program.
-Dylan Calaway, Cleveland Public Library Garden Valley REMOTE
"Working for CPL America Reads through the OCE has been even better than I thought it would be. Connecting with the community by meeting staff members, new friends in fellow students, and amazing kids I got to tutor. This job is by far my favorite experience I've had this academic year."
-Julianna O'Donnell, Cleveland Public Library South and Garden Valley Branches
"Working for the CPL America Reads Program has been wonderful. I really appreciate Anita and Gabi's help and their guidance as well as my Letter of Recognition. I felt prepared going to my work site because of how informative they were during the interview and hiring process, and they both helped immensely with any questions I had with paperwork. I also appreciated the emails that were sent out and I always felt that if I needed anything I could reach out. It was helpful to receive the emails. Anita and Gabi always kept us up to date and shared information that made a positive difference at our work sites."
-Kendall Taylor, Cleveland Public Library Harvard Lee Branch
"I really enjoy working for the Viking Corps Program because Anita and Gabi always responded in a timely manner. The Viking Corps Program allowed me to meet people and make connections I wouldn't have been able to without them. hope that I am able to be a part of this program for the next three years I am in college.
-Kandice White, Davis Aerospace and Maritime High School
Comparison of the 2020 - 2021 and 2021 - 2022 Annual Reports
The OCE is proud to have increased our community impact and engagement across several data points between the 2021 - 2022 academic year in the CPL America Reads and Viking Corps program.
OCE Davis A & M Tutors Khalil Thomas and Dylan Calaway assisting Davis A & M Student
Molly Mantei tutoring a group of students at Cleveland Public Library, East 131st Branch
OCE Director, Anita Ruf-Young and Graduate Assistant, Gabriella Pridemore, Interviewed by Spectrum News 1 Ohio for OCE Activities around NVRD
OCE Director, Anita Ruf-Young, Interviewed by Channel 19 News around 2021 Cleveland Mayoral Race
OCE Tutors assisting youth at Cleveland Public Library (CPL), Hough Branch
OCE Tutor, Leehana Vernet-Vinson, tutoring youth at Teen Refugee Response located at John Marshall High School
OCE Tutor, Nina Floyd, tutoring a student at Cleveland Public Library (CPL), Harvard Lee Branch
OCE Tutors, Leehana Vernet-Vinson and Emma Norton, with Teen Refugee Response student at John Marshall High School