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Cleveland Lead Advocates for Safe Housing (CLASH) is an all volunteer, largely self funded coalition of 10 community based organizations, working to make Cleveland Lead Safe. CLASH is fighting for the full and timely implementation of the Cleveland Lead Safe Certificate ordinance and expanding child lead testing for Clevelanders who are at risk of lead poisoning.
CLASH Board of Directors
Awareness for Action | Andre White is a long time community activist and political advisor on Cleveland's Southeast Side.
Black Child Development Institute-Ohio provides child care center training and advocates for child care safety. Gloria Blevins represents BCDI Ohio; Tonya Craig is her alternate.
Black Lives Matter, Cuyahoga County | Jeff Mixon is a community activist, political operative, and former public school educator and public housing tenant liaison. Albert Porter Jr. serves as alternate.
Black on Black Crime | Dr. Chantal Dothey is a retired pediatrician and social activist who represents BBCI. Chantal is a presenter at Town Hall meetings and a liaison to grassroots groups in the African American community,
Cleveland Lead Safe Network (CLSN) | Spencer Wells is a co-founder (with Yvonka Hall) of the CLSN. Spencer is former director Cleveland Tenants Organization and former Tenant Outreach Director for the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio. Spencer is Treasurer of the CLASH Board and manages the organization's communications. Molly Garfield is the CLSN alternate director and serves as Secretary for the Board.
Cleveland Democratic Socialists of America | Tanmay Shah serves as organizational representative for DSA. Steven McGrew is alternate Director.
Cuyahoga County Progressive Caucus (CCPC) | CCPC is currently unrepresented on the CLASH Board.
Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition | Yvonka M. Hall founded NEOBHC and co-founded of the Cleveland Lead Safe Network. She is a nationally recognized expert in minority health issues.
Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) | Josiah Quarles is Advocacy Director at NEOCH. Renee Williams serves as alternate.
Single Payer Action Network-Ohio (SPAN Brian Houlehan serves as organization representative to the CLASH Board.
CLASH has four "at large" community members on the Board of Directors
Jeff Johnson is a Judge in Cleveland Municipal Court. When he was a Cleveland City Councilperson. Judge Johnson introduced the first Lead Safe Housing ordinance at Cleveland City Council.
Darrick Wade has been a crusader against lead poisoning since the death of his son as a result of lead poisoning in public housing. Darrick is an ordained minister and makes frequent speaking appearances locally and nationally. Erin Brockovich has said “Every single time one of these environmental disasters happens, its always a pissed off mom that rises up.... Every. Single. Time.” In Darrick's case it was a pissed-off Dad.
Erika Jarvis-Jones is a community leader in the Collinwood area and a survivor of childhood lead poisoning. Erika works as a community engagement coordinator for a neighborhood development project in the Buckeye neighborhood.
Lila Parker is a foster mom, journalist and public relations professional who plays a key role in CLASH's public awareness programs.
Accomplishments of CLSN and CLASH
Barely three months old, in 2017, Cleveland Lead Safe Network (CLSN) helped organize citizen groups across the state to defeat an effort to preempt local jurisdictions from enacting legislation around lead safe housing.
Later in 2017, worked with Councilman Jeff Johnson to introduce Cleveland’s first ever Lead Safe Housing Ordinance and worked for a year to mobilize support for the ordinance.
In 2022, CLASH briefed candidates for Cleveland mayor and city council on the need for Lead Safety and began a study of barriers to Child Lead Testing.
In 2023, CLASH formed a working relationship with the US EPA to expand outreach and messaging to the Greater Cleveland community. Held the first Lead Safe Resource Fair.
During 2024: CLASH helped to:
Enact of the “Residents First” legislation to increase the capacity of Building and Housing.
Mayor’s Executive Order requiring Lead Risk Assessments as a standard of practice for a Lead Safe Certificate.
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority forced to address findings of the HUD Inspector General.