Featured Person From Cleveland - ChiChi Nkemere, Co-founder of Enlightened Solutions
Courtesy of Enlightened Solutions
Our Featured Person From Cleveland is Chinenye (ChiChi) Nkemere, co-founder of Enlightened Solutions, a Cleveland-based social advocacy think tank supporting marginalized individuals. Enlightened Solutions developed Project Noir, a survey of lived experiences of Black women in northeast Ohio in the areas of healthcare, workplaces, and education. The idea of Project Noir came from an article stating that Cleveland was the worst place in America for Black women. We discussed her upbringing in Pepper Pike, Ohio. She is an Orange High School graduate and has 3 degrees from The Ohio State University in African Studies, African American Studies, and Political Science. She taught with Teach for America in Houston, Texas and later worked as a Police Reform Community Engagement Specialist when she returned to Cleveland. We talked about what led to the founding of Enlightened Solutions, with co-founder Bethany Studenic. ChiChi, a self-proclaimed “Cleveland Evangelist,” also told me what she loves most about Cleveland.
During our interview, ChiChi also explained some of the findings from Project Noir, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education and talked about their Call to Action! While the results of the survey revealed some heartbreaking data and stories, things can and will get better! One bit of great news is that the City of Cleveland has formed a special commission on Black women and girls. I highly encourage you to read Project Noir and to dive into the Living For We season one podcast to learn more. ChiChi and Enlightened Solutions aim to make life better for Black women and girls in Cleveland by providing not only the research, but also the solutions for systemic change, and that’s dope!
www.projectnoircle.org
www.enlightened-solutions.org
