Interfaith Community Service Initiative

Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C) Interfaith Community Service Initiative was created to raise awareness of educational and workforce development opportunities among members of faith-based communities.

President Obama emphasized interfaith cooperation and community service as an important way to build understanding between different communities and contribute to the common good. The White House invited all institutions of higher learning to join this powerful movement.

Many local faith leaders have expressed a desire to improve the quality of life in our region, and this is one way that a successful partnership can accomplish that goal. Individuals who receive information about education and jobs in a familiar setting are more likely to finish high school, a GED, college or a workforce program.

Through the Office of Youth, Adult and Community Connections (formerly College Pathway Programs), Tri-C works to promote academic opportunities, workforce development, and innovative and culturally relevant experiences necessary for success and completion of high school and college.

“When faith-based organizations join with institutions such as Tri-C to support equal opportunities for higher learning experiences, we fulfill the moral mandate to ‘do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God’ (Micah 6:8)."

Rev. Christine A. Smith
Senior Pastor, Covenant Baptist Church
Executive Director, Covenant Outreach through Advocacy and Agency Networking

About the Program

The Office of Youth, Adult and Community Connections (Connections) provides leadership throughout Cuyahoga County to engage more youth and adults to gain increased awareness and access to academic programs, workforce development and innovative but culturally relevant experiences necessary for success and completion of high school and college. 

Since 2012, a formal partnership was formed to engage faith partners throughout the county to gain significant information about the College Connections Programs, Workforce Community and Economic Development (WCED), Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and opportunities for interfaith service throughout Cuyahoga County.  We recognize the importance of expanding our reach, and we continue to leverage faculty, staff and student engagement with faith leaders’ relationships within their organizations. We believe this will serve to strengthen connections with our College.

Goals & Outcomes

The goal of the program is to provide training and information to faith-based institutions so they can assist parishioners and community members in achieving their academic, educational and workforce related aspirations.

Similar programs in other colleges have recognized that individuals who receive critical information about education and jobs in a familiar location from someone they know are more likely to enroll, focus to finish high school, GED, college or workforce programs. Numerous faith leaders have expressed a desire to improve the quality of life in our county and this is one way that a successful partnership can accomplish that goal.

The desired outcome of these partnerships will be to strengthen connections between the College and the faith community. 

How to become a formal partner of Tri-C

We ask that your faith-based organization complete the online form (below).

Please identify one or more Volunteer Education Coordinator(s) within your organization to work with Tri-C and receive periodic updates about credit and non-credit programs, special events and activities, and training opportunities that may be of interest to your members.

Areas of interest to your members may include:

• Navigating the www.tri-c.edu website
• Exploring and enrolling in workforce development training
• Enrolling in the Adult Diploma Program
• Filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Completing the admissions and registration processes
• The Community Membership Program
• Accessing College Connections Programs information

For more information, please call Andrew Cox at 216-987-0496, or email him at Andrew.Cox@tri-c.edu.

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