Open Doors Academy

Open Doors Academy Creating equity in education through high-quality afterschool, summer, family & travel programs. our vision.

Open Doors Academy provides high-quality afterschool, summer, and family programs for students in grades K–12 and at least one year out of high school. We seek to advance educational equity in the communities we serve. Our programs meet the needs of our scholars by partnering with families and schools and by investing in educators on our team and across the state.

97% of scholars in our programs

graduate high school
96% of families qualify for free lunch
1,300+ scholars positively impacted across northern Ohio
40,000+ students positively impacted across the state through our Center for Out-of-School Advancement

Our Mission
Open Doors Academy works to protect, inspire, nurture, and challenge youth to reach their full potential.

06/03/2026

"This is me - unfinished but real.” - Randy O.

In a video created by our Max S. Hayes High School coordinator Celia Schoenfeld and her scholars, they recently shared powerful “I Am” poems, reflecting on who they are, where they come from, what they carry, and who they are growing into. Through honest writing and spoken word, scholars explored identity, struggle, strength, and self-discovery.

“I am still here.” - Devon T.

We are proud of the courage our scholars showed in using their voices and telling their stories.

At Lima North MS, scholars showed visitors just how much they learned over six weeks in the Wheel Deal program, a partne...
05/29/2026

At Lima North MS, scholars showed visitors just how much they learned over six weeks in the Wheel Deal program, a partnership between Open Doors Academy, The Wheelhouse - A Christian Bicycle Cooperative, and City of Lima, OH - Government focused on bicycle safety, knowledge, and repair.

Tristan, a sixth grader from Lima North, demonstrated how to straighten a wheel using a spoke wrench. “You need to loosen that spoke that’s pointing that way, and then tighten the spoke that’s pointing the opposite way,” he explained.

Nearby, Olivia and Samuela walked visitors through fixing a flat tire, from removing the wheel and locating the puncture to checking the tire strip and making sure the tube was not pinched before putting everything back together.

For program co-founder Larry Cress, one of the most meaningful moments was watching a scholar who could not ride a bike at the start of the program confidently riding just weeks later. “You could see her confidence build each week,” he said.

That confidence was on full display throughout the showcase as scholars repaired bikes, explained their work to visitors, and supported one another along the way. The experience ended outside with hand signals, safety practice, and new bikes scholars will take home for the summer.

For four years, Devon T. and his mom, Teairra Idom, found more than a program at Open Doors Academy. They found a family...
05/27/2026

For four years, Devon T. and his mom, Teairra Idom, found more than a program at Open Doors Academy. They found a family.

When Devon first joined ODA at Max S. Hayes High School, Teairra says he was shy and kept to himself. Over time, she watched him grow into someone more confident, social, and comfortable being exactly who he is.

“The people” were Devon’s favorite part of ODA. For Teairra, it was the sense of community. From family gatherings and holiday celebrations to seeing scholars from different schools come together and connect, ODA became a place where both of them felt supported and cared for.

During a recent family activity, Teairra created an art piece centered around the word “love.” She shared that everyone deserves love, support, and a place where they feel seen and heard. Her artwork reflected the same message she hopes people take away from ODA: community matters, kindness matters, and everybody needs a hug sometimes.

Thank you, Devon and Teairra, for sharing your hearts with us. We are so proud of the growth, joy, and memories you created during your time at ODA.

Our Orchard STEM middle school scholars spent the day aboard the GOODTIME III on a two-hour narrated cruise along the Cu...
05/22/2026

Our Orchard STEM middle school scholars spent the day aboard the GOODTIME III on a two-hour narrated cruise along the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie, learning about Cleveland’s history while taking in views of downtown, the Flats, and the surrounding shoreline.

Scholars experienced the city’s skyline while listening to narration that highlighted key landmarks and lesser-known historical facts about Cleveland.
With access to multiple decks and open space to move around, scholars were able to take in the experience from different perspectives across the boat and enjoy views of the lakefront and river.

Shalaria, program coordinator at Orchard STEM, shared, “They were able to learn about their city and see it in a way they hadn’t before.”

A huge thank you to Goodtime III for hosting our scholars and creating an unforgettable learning experience on the water!

At Euclid’s End-of-Year Showcase, parent Renea Martin was recognized with the PINC Award!The award honors a parent who e...
05/20/2026

At Euclid’s End-of-Year Showcase, parent Renea Martin was recognized with the PINC Award!

The award honors a parent who embodies what it means to Protect, Inspire, Nurture, and Challenge within the community, and Renea’s story reflects each of those qualities in a powerful way.

As the parent of Euclid Middle School scholar Kaniyah C., Renea shared how Open Doors Academy became a source of support, belonging, and community for her family during a difficult season.

“ODA made me feel like family,” Renea shared. “We were so boxed in because we didn’t have anybody. But ODA helped me become more open.”

Through ODA, both Renea and Kaniyah found connection when they needed it most. Today, Renea says conversations about ODA happen daily in their home because of how much the program has meant to their family.

Pennies, nickels, and paper piggy banks turned into conversations about future possibilities. This spring, volunteers fr...
05/14/2026

Pennies, nickels, and paper piggy banks turned into conversations about future possibilities.

This spring, volunteers from Third Federal visited Open Doors Academy elementary sites to lead hands-on financial literacy lessons that helped scholars connect saving, decision-making, and entrepreneurship.

What started with identifying coins quickly grew into scholars brainstorming business ideas, calculating savings goals, and imagining what they could build for themselves and their communities.

“I was impressed with the children in the class,” said Amy Garcia, Community Development Service Manager at Third Federal at Third Federal. “They learned to identify pennies, dimes, quarters, nickels, and dollar bills. They rhymed words, the importance of savings, and in the final class, came up with a business concept to earn funds for a toy they would like to purchase.”

Thank you to the team at Third Federal for investing their time, knowledge, and encouragement into our scholars and helping them build skills that will support their futures both inside and outside the classroom.

For Heaven M., leadership starts with showing up for her community.Congratulations to Heaven, a junior at Garrett Morgan...
05/12/2026

For Heaven M., leadership starts with showing up for her community.

Congratulations to Heaven, a junior at Garrett Morgan School of Leadership & Innovation who was selected for the inaugural Cleveland Cavaliers Social Impact Academy, an eight-month program from the Cleveland Cavaliers focused on civic engagement, leadership, and social impact.

Throughout the program, Heaven and fellow scholars explored issues like equity, food insecurity, voting, and community advocacy through hands-on workshops and partner experiences across Northeast Ohio.

“My separate personal project is going to be the documentary that I’m going to do, which is ‘Underestimation, Built the Land,’” Heaven shared. “It’s just me talking about how Cleveland’s been really underestimated and how our community still always bounces back.”

She also reflected on what she is taking forward from the experience: “Treat your home like a home.”

Heaven’s work reflects a deeper truth of the Academy, that young people are not just learning about change, they are leading it.

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Financial literacy is a critical part of how we prepare scholars for what comes next.Through Better Money Habits, Bank o...
05/08/2026

Financial literacy is a critical part of how we prepare scholars for what comes next.

Through Better Money Habits, Bank of America's financial education platform, volunteers brought interactive resources into our high school programs at Garrett Morgan School of Engineering and Innovation, Max S. Hayes High School, and Cleveland Heights High School.

Sessions included step-by-step “how-to” guides and short videos like “How much should be in an emergency fund?” that helped make complex financial topics clear, relevant, and easy to apply.

Scholars engaged in conversations about budgeting, saving, credit, and debit cards and how today’s decisions shape their future opportunities.

For many scholars, the concepts clicked in personal ways. Jayella C., scholar at Heights High School, reflected on savings and growth, sharing, “I liked learning how a savings account has interest rates that add money to your savings account once you deposit money into it.”

Chris G., Heights High School scholar, connected the lessons to long-term goals, noting, “It was interesting hearing about the difference between debit and credit cards and how building credit can help you purchase a house and other things in the future.”

Ashley Wasielewski, Community Relations Manager at Bank of America, emphasized the broader impact of this work: “Starting financial literacy early is one of the best ways to set up the next generation for a life where they’re in control and confident about finances. Programs like Bank of America’s Better Money Habits make these ‘grown-up’ topics approachable, turning what could be a stressful learning curve into a series of smart, simple wins that stick with them for a lifetime.”

Thank you to Bank of America and their Champions who volunteered their time to help our scholars build a strong foundation in financial management and move one step closer to a confident, self-sufficient future.

Interested in learning more about Bank of America's Better Money Habits curriculum? Visit https://bettermoneyhabits.bankofamerica.com/en

At Breakthrough Willard, learning went beyond the classroom and onto the plate for our elementary scholars.During our he...
05/07/2026

At Breakthrough Willard, learning went beyond the classroom and onto the plate for our elementary scholars.

During our healthy plates activity, scholars explored what it means to build a balanced meal, from fruits and vegetables to whole grains and proteins. Then they brought those lessons to life, designing their own “plates” and thoughtfully choosing foods from each group.

From sweet potatoes and celery to bananas and oranges, scholars filled their plates with colorful, creative choices that reflect what they’re learning about healthy living.

Breakthrough Public Schools

During a recent visit to Oatey, Max S. Hayes High School scholars stepped behind the scenes of a working manufacturing f...
05/05/2026

During a recent visit to Oatey, Max S. Hayes High School scholars stepped behind the scenes of a working manufacturing facility, exploring everything from one-of-a-kind molds to the final products used in homes every day. Seeing the full process, from creation to real-world application, helped connect what they’re learning to future career pathways.

Scholars also heard directly from Ruben Santos, Maintenance Supervisor, and Maureen Pansky, Human Resources Manager, who shared insights into Oatey’s apprenticeship program and what it takes to build a future in the trades.

Thank you to the team at Oatey for welcoming our scholars and investing their time and expertise to show them what’s possible!

Address

1427 East 36th Street, Suite 4206A
Cleveland, OH
44114

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+12162291900

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Open Doors Academy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category