Partnership for a Safer Cleveland

06/24/2026

⚠️ A new and even more dangerous synthetic opioid is reaching Cleveland.

A recent Signal Cleveland investigation highlights the rise of nitazenes, an emerging class of synthetic opioids that can be even more potent than fentanyl and are increasingly showing up in Ohio’s drug supply. Ohio has recorded the highest number of nitazene-related overdose deaths in the country since 2021, with Cuyahoga County among the hardest hit.

This is a sobering reminder that the overdose crisis continues to evolve and become more complex. These substances are often mixed into other drugs without users knowing, increasing the risk of accidental overdose and making prevention even more urgent.

For Cleveland, this reinforces the importance of education, harm reduction, treatment access, and stronger community partnerships. Whether through Narcan distribution, prevention programs, behavioral health support, or coordinated response efforts, every piece of the puzzle matters.

Awareness saves lives. Conversation saves lives. Action saves lives.

What more can we do as a community to respond to this growing threat?

Ohio has recorded the highest number of nitazene-related overdose deaths in the U.S. since 2021, according to the CDC.

06/23/2026

🏀 TOMORROW! The 3 on 3 Basketball Series is back for its second-to-last stop.

After an incredible turnout of 80 youth at our last event, we’re bringing the energy to Frederick Douglass and inviting young people from all across Cuyahoga County to come hoop, connect, and compete.

📍 Frederick Douglass
📅 Wednesday, June 24
⏰ 2:00 PM

Open to all youth ages 10–18

This is more than basketball. It’s about creating safe spaces, building relationships, and bringing our community together.

Bring your squad or come solo. Just bring your game. 💪🏀

06/23/2026

⚖️ How is the Supreme Court reshaping gun laws across America?

A recent report from The Trace takes a closer look at how the 2022 Bruen decision continues to impact firearm laws nationwide. Since the ruling, courts have reviewed more than 2,000 legal challenges to gun regulations, creating major questions around what public safety laws can and cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny.

From restrictions on who can carry fi****ms to where they can be carried, these decisions are influencing how communities, lawmakers, and public safety leaders approach violence prevention.

For cities like Cleveland and communities across Ohio, understanding these legal shifts matters. Policy, prevention, and enforcement are deeply connected, and staying informed helps all of us better navigate the future of community safety.

As these cases continue to unfold, one thing remains clear: building safer communities requires strong laws, strong partnerships, and strong prevention strategies.

What are your thoughts on how these court decisions may impact public safety moving forward?

The Trace has compiled data on more than 1,600 challenges to gun laws since the landmark Bruen ruling in 2022 reshaped the right to bear arms.

06/22/2026

👀 What does police surveillance technology look like in Cleveland?

From license plate readers and city-owned cameras to ShotSpotter and real-time crime centers, technology continues to play a growing role in public safety across our city.

A recent Signal Cleveland article takes a closer look at the tools being used, the benefits they may offer, and the important questions around transparency, privacy, and effectiveness.

As Cleveland continues to invest in violence prevention and public safety strategies, conversations like this matter. Technology can be a tool, but lasting safety also requires trust, accountability, community partnerships, and prevention-focused solutions.

What role do you think surveillance technology should play in building a safer Cleveland?

Video cameras and license plate readers are just some of the surveillance tools Cleveland police are using across the city.

06/21/2026

Today, we recognize and celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, mentors, and father figures who help shape stronger families and safer communities.

Fatherhood is more than presence. It is leadership, sacrifice, guidance, and love. Every day, fathers across our neighborhoods are helping build the foundation for brighter futures by showing up, setting examples, and creating stability for the next generation.

At the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, we know that safer communities begin at home, and the role of fathers in prevention, healing, and opportunity cannot be overstated.

To all the dads and father figures making a difference, thank you.

Happy Father’s Day from the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland.

06/20/2026

🔍 What if we treated gun violence like the public health crisis it is?

A new article from Think Global Health lays out a compelling roadmap for reducing gun violence by focusing on prevention, data, coordination, and policy that addresses root causes, not just reaction. Research from around the world continues to show that violence can decline when communities and leaders commit to a shared strategy.

Here in Cleveland, we know the challenge is not a lack of effort. It’s often a lack of coordination.

With hundreds of organizations working across prevention, intervention, behavioral health, youth engagement, and victim support, the opportunity is clear: connect the dots, strengthen the network, and build a smarter, more unified response.

At the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, that’s exactly what we’re working toward.

💭 What do you think is the biggest gap in Cleveland’s approach to reducing violence right now?

Countries like Australia and Colombia show paths to reducing preventable gun-violence homicides and suicides

06/20/2026

🎉 Congratulations to The Cleveland Leadership Center's Bridge Builders Class of 2026 🎉

The Partnership for a Safer Cleveland is proud to celebrate our Executive Director, Doug Merritt, on graduating from the Cleveland Leadership Center’s Bridge Builders program, alongside an incredible class of leaders committed to making Greater Cleveland stronger.

Over the past 10 months, Doug and his classmates leaned in, built relationships, challenged ideas, and worked together to better understand how we can move our community forward.

We are incredibly proud of Doug for representing the Partnership with passion, dedication, and a deep commitment to safer and stronger neighborhoods.

To the entire Bridge Builders Class of 2026, congratulations. Your willingness to lead, listen, and collaborate gives all of us hope for Cleveland’s future.

The future of our city is brighter because of leaders like you. Keep building. Keep connecting. Keep making a difference.

👏 Join us in congratulating Doug and the entire class below.

06/19/2026

🏀 80 young people showed up yesterday.

80 youth came together to compete, connect, and build community through basketball.

That’s what this is all about.

Cleveland's Community Relations Board’s 3 on 3 Basketball Series continues next week, and we’re inviting youth ages 10–18 from across Cuyahoga County to come out and be part of it.

📍 Next Up: Frederick Douglass
📅 Wednesday, June 24th
⏰ 2:00 PM

Then we finish at:
📍 Estabrook
📅 Wednesday, July 1st
⏰ 2:00 PM

Whether you’re coming to hoop, meet new people, or just be part of something positive, there’s a place for you.

Yesterday showed us what’s possible when we create safe spaces for young people to gather, compete, and have fun.

Bring your game. Bring your friends. Let’s finish strong. 💪🏽🏀

06/19/2026

Cuyahoga County leaders say they want to reduce youth violence. But this week, a proposal to fund additional juvenile probation officers using opioid settlement dollars was voted down. A move many believe could have strengthened intervention, accountability, and support for at-risk youth.

The reality is this: youth violence doesn’t begin at the moment of crisis. It builds over time through trauma, instability, lack of support, and missed opportunities for intervention.

If we are serious about prevention, we have to be serious about investing in the systems that help young people before violence escalates.

At the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, we believe effective public safety requires coordination across prevention, intervention, and accountability. This includes making sure our youth have access to the support systems they need and our professionals have the resources to respond.

The question remains:
If not now, when?
And if not here, where?

What do you think Cleveland and Cuyahoga County should prioritize when it comes to youth violence prevention? 👇

A proposal to hire up to 15 new officers using opioid settlement money fell short as council members clashed over the county's mounting budget deficit.

06/19/2026

Today, we recognize and honor Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States and serves as a powerful reminder of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Juneteenth is more than a moment in history. It is a call to reflect on where we’ve been, where we are, and where we still need to go as a nation and as a community.

At the Partnership for a Safer Cleveland, we believe safer communities are built through equity, opportunity, trust, and collective action. As we work together to strengthen Cleveland, we remain committed to creating spaces where every voice is valued and every person has the opportunity to thrive.

Today, we celebrate freedom. We honor history. And we recommit ourselves to the work ahead.