Cleveland, OH
The American Dream can be found in a downtown Cleveland naturalization ceremony
The city’s diversity and uniquely welcoming atmosphere make it a beacon of inspiration for the international community
On March 21, a cold spring day in downtown Cleveland, you could still feel the warmth in the hearts beating at the Cuyahoga County Administrative Headquarters. There, 30 individuals from other countries will become American citizens.
For most, this journey took them many years, many miles, or both. Take Eggar Raul for example. He applied just a year ago, but his journey from Mexico started thousands of miles away and his journey to American citizenship took 20 years. At the naturalization ceremony, he had his wife and three children, ranging in age from 3 to 12 years old. celebrating with him.
Just across the aisle sat Carlos Alessandra Cruz Garcia and his beautiful wife, Linda. Carlos has lived in this country 28 years and decided the time was finally right to become an American Citizen.
When asked what it meant to him to finally have this honor, he replied, “Freedom! It means no more worries, I can finally put my shoulders down. I can vote!”
Carlos met Linda almost 30 years ago online – she was from New York and he was from Guatemala. Linda came from Guatemala as a child and was naturalized immediately. Little did she know she would fall in love and win a scholarship that would take her to college at Case Western Reserve University. The scholarship and her efforts led her to become a social worker and she now works as a trauma therapist. She has been with Carlos for 23 years and sits next to him with immense pride on his day of naturalization. They are living the American dream, they said. But that dream did not come easy and they admit to hardship along the way.
Linda recalls picking Carlos up from multiple restaurants where he worked as a cook. In the past few years, however, he has put down his apron in favor of going into the information technologies field.
First to speak at the ceremony was a representative from Global Cleveland, a nonprofit organization formed in 2011 to advance unity, solidarity, and collective community-building among international newcomers. Their offices are based in downtown Cleveland. According to marketing director Gwendolyn Kochur, “Our job is to ensure that our international community is well cared for. So, we connect international people with opportunities, economic, social, cultural, and make Northeast Ohio a better place for them to call home.”
Global Cleveland witnessed the naturalization of about 2,600 people in 2023. Cleveland is one of the best places in the country for naturalization, in terms of quick processing time, Kochur said, which makes Cleveland a prime location for growth. Members from Global Cleveland attend every naturalization ceremony, which happens about every two weeks. They provide the new citizens with a packet of resources, letters from the Cleveland Mayor and the Cuyahoga County Executive, and oodles of different information for them so that they can be welcomed properly.
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne welcomed the group and spoke about his own father, who was also an immigrant.
“We are a county of 120 different ethnic communities, with origins from places all throughout the world,” Ronayne said. “120 different communities strong, put together as one in Cuyahoga County. We are, in this country, a nation of immigrants. We are, in this county, a county of immigrants. Immigrants continue to help make our economy thrive – 20 percent of our newcomer entrepreneurs are immigrants.”
Ronayne also let the soon-to-be American citizens know that a new welcome center is now open for immigrants and refugees with limited English proficiency. The Welcome Center is in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood on Memphis and Fulton Road. A physical place where those new to Ohio, and new to this country, can take the first steps critical to building a future in the United States.
“If they have a leg up on education, on a job opportunity, on a house, we want to be here as a resource to those who might choose Cuyahoga County for their home in the future,” Ronayne said.
The county also partners with outside service agencies, such as Global Cleveland and ReSource Cleveland, to connect residents to resources including housing, job support, educational services, legal support and language services.
Before it was time for the naturalization ceremony, the audience were greeted by Cuyahoga County Council President Parnell Jones.
“We have a saying in the United States, that we are a melting pot. And when you’re a melting pot, I mean, we all come in and we all melt and it’s all the same, and we’re all one unified group,” Jones said. “That’s not really how it played out. That’s not what you see. And that’s not really what happens. I think it’s more like a pot of vegetables, stew, we all bring our own uniqueness to that stew, it doesn’t get lost, doesn’t have to be lost. You are bringing something to this country. Expect that you bring yourself and you will add value to this community. As you live your life worth playing, enjoying this country … all that it has to offer is here for you.”
“We have a saying in the United States, that we are a melting pot. And when you’re a melting pot, I mean, we all come in and we all melt and it’s all the same, and we’re all one unified group,” Jones said. “That’s not really how it played out. That’s not what you see. And that’s not really what happens. I think it’s more like a pot of vegetables, stew, we all bring our own uniqueness to that stew, it doesn’t get lost, doesn’t have to be lost. You are bringing something to this country. Expect that you bring yourself and you will add value to this community. As you live your life worth playing, enjoying this country … all that it has to offer is here for you.”
Finally, the time had come. All 30 immigrants getting naturalized were asked to stand and raise their right hand as the oath was spoken. Those standing represented 20 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Bhutan, Burma, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, India, Jordan, Lebanon, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, the Philippines and Ukraine.
Judge Jonathan de Greenberg, a US Magistrate Judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, swore in participants. Huge applause thundered across the room and hugs were given all around. Each new American citizen was then escorted up to shake hands and take pictures with officials. With hard work and perseverance, they have just begun to live their American dream.
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Crowds gathered along the Lake Erie shoreline Saturday morning to welcome the USS Cleveland as it arrived in its namesake city.
The Freedom Class littoral ship will be historically commissioned in Cleveland on May 16 during its weeklong stay, after which it will officially join active service in the U.S. Navy.
The arrival of the ship is a milestone for Ohio and the nation, marking the first time in the 250-year history of the United States that a U.S. Navy warship will be commissioned in the State of Ohio.
“There have been 81 ships in the history of the U.S. Navy that have been named after cities in Ohio or the state of Ohio itself, but out of all 81, this is the first that will be commissioned in its namesake city, so this is an incredibly historic moment and it’s fitting that it’s happening for the 250th anniversary of the Navy and our nation,” USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation Director Nick Lippert said.
Ahead of the commissioning ceremony next weekend, the public is invited to tour the ship starting Sunday, May 10, at the North Coast Yard. The USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation is hosting a “Community Day” Sunday that will include live entertainment, family-friendly activities, food, drinks and more.
“This special event will connect the crew with the community of Northeast Ohio for a day of excitement and celebration as residents will have the opportunity to meet the Sailors, learn more about the ship and our Foundation, and kickoff Commissioning Week in true Cleveland fashion,” the USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation website reads.
Tours will be available through Thursday, May 14.
Click HERE For more information about the tours and the weeklong celebration.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – For the second day, Northeast Ohio school districts are receiving bomb threats.
On Friday morning, two schools in the Elyria City School District, the high school and Ely Elementary, received bomb threats.
Both schools are evacuating students, and emergency responders are on the way, according to a social media post.
All other district schools are in a lockout status as a precaution.
The district asks that family members not come to the schools or call school offices at this time so emergency communication lines remain available.
Elyria Police said that the department is working with the district to ensure the safety and security of students and school personnel following the threats.
“We are aware that neighboring school districts experienced similar swatting-related incidents yesterday, and our investigative personnel are working diligently with our law enforcement partners to identify the source of these threats,” police said.
Five Northeast Ohio school districts received bomb threats on Thursday, including:
- Alliance City School District
- Amherst Exempted Village Schools
- Cleveland Metropolitan School District
- Lorain City School District
- Shaker Heights School District
Below are the details from each district and the protocols in place to protect students and staff.
ALLIANCE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Alliance Police Department confirmed there was an ’anonymous’ robo-voice style call that came into the high school saying there were ’20 pipe bombs’ outside of the school” before 12:30 p.m.
Officers rushed to the high school and Rockhill Elementary School campuses “due to an alarm in which we were not getting a response from the school,” according to APD.
APD shared that the schools evacuated the students temporarily as officers conducted a sweep of the area.
“Nothing was found, thankfully,” APD Lt. Christopher McCord stated. “The school staff, and especially the students, did a great job of staying calm and making everyone’s jobs easier, smoother, and safer.”
“We will be looking into the source of the threats to hold those responsible accountable, if possible,” McCord added.
AMHERST EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOLS
The Amherst Exempted Village School confirmed at 10:25 a.m. that Marion L. Steele High School and Walter G. Nord Middle School received a bomb threat.
AEVS said all district facilities were placed on a level 1 lockdown before the two schools were evacuated to a safe location under the supervision of administration and staff, according to district protocol.
The Amherst police and fire departments teamed up with the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office to perform perimeter and building sweeps to determine if the threat was substantiated, said AEVS.
The perimeter sweeps of the two schools were complete by 11:34 a.m., and law enforcement then conducted the interior sweeps of the buildings, AEVS explained.
Amherst Junior High School and Powers Elementary School lifted their lockdowns at that time and resumed normal procedures, according to AEVS.
AEVS also confirmed at that time that all students and staff were accounted for and safe.
The Amherst Police Department completed its sweep of Steele High School and cleared the building of any threat by 11:51 a.m., AEVS updated.
Students were dismissed for the day at that time, according to AEVS.
AEVS instructed student drivers to leave the campus, and students unable to immediately leave were to stay at the school until they could be picked up by a parent, guardian, or approved emergency contact.
The bus routes were running at the scheduled normal dismissal time for students who need a ride home, AEVS added.
APD completed its sweep of Nord School and cleared the building of any threat by 12:32 p.m., AEVS updated.
Nord School students were safely escorted back into the building, according to AEVS, after evacuating to the New Beginning Church as a safe location.
AEVS instructed parents, guardians, and approved emergency contacts who wanted to pick up their student to report to the school’s front entrance, where staff and APD officers would help.
Classes, activities, and normal dismissal procedures resumed as scheduled for students who stayed at the school, AEVS shared, and bus dismissal also proceeded per usual.
“We appreciate the cooperation, patience, and support of our families and community throughout today’s situation,” AEVS stated.
According to AEVS Superintendent Mike Molnar, all evening activities at the school will continue as scheduled, and school will resume on Friday.
Molnar added that AEVS will have an increased police presence at schools on Thursday night and Friday.
CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District confirmed two threats were received on Thursday morning. The threats were against East Tech High School and Buhrer Dual Language Academy.
According to CMSD, Cleveland police and CMSD’s Department of Safety & Security conducted an investigation and found the buildings to be safe.
From the information gathered during the searches, Cleveland police believe both calls were swatting incidents.
Classes at both schools were uninterrupted, and the school day progressed normally.
Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s Communications Officer Jon Benedict added that parents were informed about the incident.
LORAIN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Lorain City School District confirmed the high school has been evacuated due to a bomb threat on Thursday afternoon.
This is the third Northeast Ohio school district to receive a bomb threat on May 7.
The district announced the evacuation of Lorain High School at 12:23 p.m., and dismissed students at 12:40 p.m.
Bus riders were escorted to the buses waiting to take them home, according to LCSD.
LCSD said many elementary and middle school students were at the high school for the dance showcase.
Those elementary and middle school students were brought back to their home schools, said LCSD.
All students and staff are safe and following established protocols, LCSD stated, and these measures are being taken out of an abundance of caution.
The district safety team and law enforcement partners continue to investigate this threat.
“Your students’ and our staff’s safety is our top priority,” LCSD stated.
A 19 News crew is on their way to the scene to learn more.
SHAKER HEIGHTS SCHOOL DISTRICT
Shaker Heights High School received its second threatening phone call this week on Thursday, the district confirmed.
Shaker Heights School District said it immediately teamed up with the Shaker Heights Police Department to investigate the threat and determined its credibility.
SHSD said it was aware of the other Northeast Ohio school districts that received similar threats on Thursday.
“Based on the SHPD’s assessment and established safety protocols, the decision was made to continue normal school operations rather than initiate a shelter-in-place,” SHSD stated.
Additional SHPD officers and a K-9 unit were sent to the school out of an abundance of caution to support the safety and security of the building as the investigation continues, SHSD added.
Orrville City Schools were also placed on a soft lockdown on Thursday.
However, this was not a bomb threat, nor any direct threat to the school.
The soft lockdown was a precautionary measure for an incident that happened not just off school property, but out of the town.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
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