Connect Cleveland Initiative
Oberlin College is committed to community engagement and allowing our students to experience the benefits of the Greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio area.
Connect Cleveland links Oberlin students with opportunities and partnerships in the Greater Cleveland area.
Connect Cleveland Fall 2021
Connect Cleveland is a presidential initiative organized by the Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, & Research, that brings all new Obies to Cleveland during New Student Orientation to learn about Cleveland and greater Northeast Ohio; meet Oberlin alumni; and identify possibilities for future service, internships, and careers.
This year’s program took place on Friday, October 1, 2021. Nine hundred students spent the morning in their PAL/ConPAL cohorts learning about Cleveland through meetings and service projects guided by 50 different organizations and community partners throughout the city. In the afternoon, everyone came together for lunch in University Circle, outdoor activities, and to explore local museums. ObieSafe protocols were practiced to ensure the health and safety of our students, staff, and community partners.
We are so grateful to all of our Connect Cleveland partner organizations for being such gracious hosts and welcoming the incoming freshman class to the fabulous city of Cleveland and all it has to offer!
Connect Cleveland 2021 Site Visits
Advocates for Ohio's Future & Center for Community Solutions
Art House Inc.
BOP STOP
Case Western Weatherhead School
The City Club of Cleveland
Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cleveland History Center
Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Cleveland Print Room
Cleveland Public Library
Cleveland Public Theatre
Cleveland Restoration Society
Cleveland School of Science and Medicine
EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant
Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research
The George Gund Foundation
Great Lakes Science Center
ICA Art Conservation
Inter-Religious Task Force on Central America
Intergenerational Schools -- Lakeshore
Intergenerational Schools -- Near West
Karamu House
Lake Erie Ink
LAND Studio
LGBT Community Center SAGE Program
Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
MedWish International
Midtown Cleveland
Morgan Paper Conservatory
The Music Settlement
Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA)
Ohio City Bike Co-op
Plexus LGBT + Allied Chamber of Commerce
PNC Fairfax Connection
Policy Matters Ohio
Praxis Fiber Arts
The Refugee Response
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rust Belt Riders
Shoes and Clothes for Kids
Somatic Center
SPACES Gallery
ThirdSpace Action Lab
Upcycle Parts Shop
Vel's Purple Oasis
Waterloo Arts
West Park Kamm’s Neighborhood Development
Curriculum
The Cleveland Immersion Program (CIP) is a for-credit course that helps connect students with opportunities and resources in Greater Cleveland. Contact Greggor Mattson, associate professor of sociology, or Gina Perez, professor of Comparative American studies for more information about the program.
Transportation
For students looking for transportation to Cleveland for independent purposes, we offer several options. Refer to the Oberlin Transportation website for options including public transportation, Enterprise CarShare, and chartered excursions.
Professional Experiences and Development
As Cleveland is a thriving metropolitan area, students may look to find professional experiences to further their vocational aspirations. The college’s Career Development Center has plenty of options for students looking for these opportunities.
Programs and Activities
Destination Cleveland
Oberlin College is partnering with Destination Cleveland to provide tastes of Cleveland in Oberlin while advertising the varied experiences of the area to our community. For more information, please refer to the Destination Cleveland website .
Neighborhood Crawls
Want to visit a neighborhood of Cleveland and explore at your own leisure? This is the program for you! Future "Neighborhood Crawl" events are being planned. If you have a suggestion for a neighborhood, please send email to deanstu@oberlin.edu with suggestions.