T Nadas

Name:   T. Nadas

Website:   www.tnadas.org

What position are you running for:   City Council

Which of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus proposal sessions did you attend?

Presentation to City Council on Sept. 11

Why do you support (or not support) the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus proposal?

I support the proposal because it addresses every element of the issue at hand (what do to with the Coventry school building) and even creates more value for the city and surrounding neighborhood. When I think of that area I 3 things come to mind: 1. The park & green space, 2. the library, and 3. the arts. This proposal will result in more usable green space (yay!). This proposal will include the library as a part of the newly envisioned campus. And, most importantly, this proposal does not only “allow existing tenants to remain”, but instead will drive the school to be reborn into a true center for the arts in our community. It is rare that a solution comes with this level of community support rallied around it. Even if it did not fit my “perfect vision”, which I don’t have, I would still be in favor of this proposal because, frankly, it’s a great plan developed by people who have much more experience and background in this space. When it comes to lead, follow, or get out of the way, I choose getting out of the way and asking what I can do to help.

If you are in favor of the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus proposal, in what ways do you plan to support the project? Please be as specific as possible.

The best thing I can do as a council person is help work through the details and collaborate with fellow council members to help remove any roadblocks to the success of this project. If I am not elected to council I am still happy to offer my time if there is need for additional volunteers to keep this project actively moving forward.

What changes or additions would you like to see made to the proposal?

I would want to ensure that all of the green/park space, existing and additional, is properly advertised and open to all Cleveland Heights residents for them to enjoy. As more details become available around the proposal I may have additional comments, but no changes or additions at this time.

What does the Cleveland Heights slogan “Home of the Arts” mean to you?

The slogan “Home to the Arts” to me is a commitment by the individuals in city hall and the residents in our city to support the arts. That commitment is currently realized in many ways such as individuals/organizations patronizing the arts, private and public spaces being dedicated to the arts (i.e. Cain Park, Dobama, Ensemble, various art galleries), and grant funding going towards arts related education for youths (i.e. Lake Erie Ink).

Beyond this I think about how art is a medium that can be used to help open people’s minds to different ideas and perspectives. Cleveland Heights being a home to the arts is not just about poetry, paintings, sculptures, and music. Cleveland Heights being a home to the arts is about how we as a community are committed to diversity, judgement free collaboration of thoughts and ideas, and inspiring us all to recognize different perspectives to situations and working together to be an open and inclusive society.

Have you or your family ever taken part in any events, classes or programs offered by the organizations located at Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Campus (either on site, or through their partnerships with our School District or Library system, etc.)? Please be as specific as possible.

Yes! I have participated in many Future Heights activities over the years. Additionally I am always sure to read the observer every month! However my first experiences were volunteering as a student at Case Western to help clean up/do maintenance on the park in the early 2000s.

Are there any other thoughts and/or ideas you’d like to share with our audience?

With all of the money in the world, city hall would not be able to purchase this level of community engagement in a project of this scale. The fact that residents are coming to the city asking to develop a partnership to build something together is a unique and precious opportunity and it should not be wasted. I do not have the experience or background in architecture, space making, or city development. What I do have is years of change management experience. Never have I walked into a room with a problem and have a solution and an overwhelming number of individuals and organizations lining up to support that solution. The leaders of our city need to seize this opportunity and ensure that this proposal does not get stuck in any web of bureaucracy or over analysis. Otherwise the impact will not just be the loss of a potential gem in our city, but the disillusionment of some of our most engaged and loyal residents, which will have an immeasurable negative impact to the city.

Additionally I would like to share my thoughts immediately following the September 11th presentation at city hall: http://www.tnadas.org/news/2017/9/11/envision-coventry-peace-campus