The Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland (ECGC) was founded in June of 1966 as a grass roots movement serving low-income people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. 

The Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland was started in Cleveland, Ohio by a small group of welfare recipients participating in a walk from Cleveland to Columbus.

The purpose of the walk was to dramatize the conditions of low-income people and to demand that all persons in need of assistance have their basic needs met and their human dignity be upheld in the process. 

In 1972, the agency became a private non-profit agency funded by United Way and since then, has serviced and advocated for thousands of low-income people.

 

Board of Trustees

Mittie Olion-Chandler, PhD, President
Taré Beaver, Vice President
Barbara Anderson, Treasurer
Roger T Jones, Secretary
Vivian Kidd
Joseph Kimber, Jr.
Delisha Little
Charles Miller
Evelyn Rice
Luther Smith
Elaine Sutton
Idris Kabir Syed
Mabel Watley

Staff

Tom A. F. Mendelsohn, Executive Director
Vacant, Data Mgt./Volunteer Coordinator
Betzaida Romero, Bilingual Community Support Specialist
John Harvis-Bey, Community Organizer
Wanda Duncan, Outreach Specialist
Patricia Gilberry, Outreach Specialist
Andrea Alford, Outreach Specialist
Debra Ball Jones, Project BREAD Coordinator,
Felicia Rall, Data Managment Specialist/Computer Instructor
Shirley Harris, Office Clerical Assistant
Kimberley Green, Volunteer
Shelise Singleton, Volunteer