Merrick House To Open New Gym During NBA All-Star Weekend

Press release from Merrick House:

Feb. 18, 2022

On Friday February 18th, 2022 Merrick House will be revealing its newly renovated gym and tech loft in an exciting event for the community. The nearly 100 year old gym has been provided with fresh paint, new backboards and rims, upgrades to the electrical and networking systems, and a new floor with a mural designed by Dakarai Akil and hand painted by Luis Perez Hero Flooring. In partnership with Microsoft and Mobile 1 this has been made possible.

Merrick House is a thriving neighborhood center with the mission of encouraging and educating to empower people in Tremont and its surrounding areas. Founded in 1919, Merrick House became a refuge for Eastern European immigrants on Cleveland's congested West Side who struggled with poverty and horrible working and living conditions. Today, Merrick House continues to serve the community with versatile and personalized programs to keep the neighborhood strong.

The services Merrick House provides offer support to residents from birth through adulthood, infusing the community with resources to improve life in Cleveland. Merrick House is a Step-Up-To-Quality Five Star childcare provider as well as a Universal Pre-Kindergarten site, providing affordable childcare to children as young as 6 weeks old. Merrick House also hosts robust youth development programming for children in grades K-12, and workforce development programming to adult learners. Finally, Merrick House hosts a MomsFirst program, sponsored by the city of Cleveland, to combat the rising infant mortality rates within the community.

“Merrick House is not only a reliable, safe, and engaging place for community members of all ages to explore, but it is also a collaborative partner to other organizations in and around Cleveland,” said Shanelle Moon, new Director of Youth Programs at Merrick House. “As a neighborhood center we are able to allow other organizations and programs to utilize spaces like our gym to offer things like karate, Zumba, and sports camps. In the youth program we will be continuing the programs that our youth members and their families have enjoyed in the past as well as offering a multitude of new programs and experiences to members”.

Harriet Hadley Executive Director stated “Merrick House is so grateful for the generosity of Microsoft, Hoop Bus, Councilman Kerri McCormack, Project Backboard and Mobile 1 for the renovations of the gym and added tech space. Our Member’s ages 6 to 17 years old can come to Merrick House, for after school programming and summer camp, and enjoy high quality STEM activities in a beautiful and functional space conducive to learning and growing. This is a wonderful opportunity that this community will enjoy for years to come”.

“As Microsoft continues its commitment to addressing racial injustices, strengthening our communities is at the core of racial equity” says Darrell Booker, Corporate Affairs Specialist with Microsoft Philanthropies. Community based organizations such as Merrick House are providing essential services to youth and families therefore, we want to ensure they have the tools and resources to have the highest impact of their mission. Our Nonprofit Tech Acceleration for Black and African American Communities program provides them donated software, direct access to engineers and unlimited training. But more importantly implementing a learning management platform at Merrick House with a vast collection of STEAM curriculum that will allow Merrick House to skill and upskill youth and families for years to come.”

Cleveland-based DigitalC, through its affordable high-speed internet service provider EmpowerCLE+, will deliver the broadband connection for Merrick House's tech loft.

“We’re honored to connect Merrick House families to the digital world through access to our high-speed internet service,” said Angela Thi Bennet, Director of Advocacy & Impact at DigitalC. “Our mission is to make our community’s digital future equitable and inclusive, so we’re grateful for Microsoft Philanthropies partnering with us to provide equitable access to digital services, resources and the devices that create opportunities for quality-of-life improvements in health, education and economic opportunity.”

In collaboration with Beyond the Ball, Merrick House will host the Sneaker Lab event on Thursday February 17, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in its Tech Loft. This event will be preceded by virtual sessions focusing on career exploration, a sneaker design challenge, and access to a Sneaker Lab Portal.

For the main event on Friday February 18th, 2022 at 3:30 PM Merrick House will reopen the newly renovated gym with a ribbon cutting ceremony and events to follow in collaboration with Mobil 1, Microsoft, Project Backboard, and Hoop Bus. An NBA Legend and former Cleveland Cavaliers player will be on site as well to welcome back the youth and community members. There will also be a live DJ, a dunk and shooting contest, and other exciting activities.

This press release was produced by Merrick House. The views expressed here are the author's own.