Neighborhood Centers Association
“Cultural Fusion: Culinary Extravaganza”

Bob Hermann, Allison Wallace and Dick Pogue

Neighborhood Centers Association welcomed 150 guests to “Cultural Fusion: Culinary Extravaganza,” a modernization of its previously well-attended Ethnic Extravaganza events.
The association’s focus on education for lifelong success was highlighted, allowing party goers at Gordon Green to experience some of the P4SS (Partners 4 Student Success) and IConnect offerings for adults age 55-plus. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Music (STEAM) are core to both programs, and Neighborhood Centers Association (NCA) staff and AmeriCorps members were on hand to guide some interactive, fun, learning opportunities. There was a robot dog for guests to play with, virtual reality to encounter, and a Cricut Corner to make bookmarks. The guests enjoyed a range of small plates catered by Spice and PearlFlower. Co-chairs for the fundraiser were David Gunning, II, Debbie Smythe Hermann, Beth Petrequin and Lisa Bottoms.
The NCA has worked over the years to create a culture of learners of all ages and has strengthened the fabric of Cleveland’s neighborhoods. As of July, 2024, the NCA was awarded funding by Ohio’s Department of Education and Workforce Development to provide adult literacy programming. Founded in 1948, the Neighborhood Centers Association was the first organization in the United States to serve as a coordinating entity for settlement houses and neighborhood centers. The NCA partners with a wide range of community-based organizations and institutions to provide vital services to children, families and older adults, meeting their needs where they are. “Cultural Fusion: Culinary Extravaganza” raised $65,000 to support those programs. STORY BY CYNTHIA SCHUSTER EAKIN/PHOTOGRAPHS BY ERIC EAKIN