Stephanie Tubbs Jones Neighborhood Leadership Award

History of the Award

Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a Judge, a Prosecutor, a legislator and the first African American Congresswoman from the State of Ohio. She lived on Wade Park Avenue in Greater University Circle before it was referred to as such.  Though Representative Jones lived in Glenville, she could see her alma mater, Case Western Reserve University, right across the street in University Circle; she liked to say that she “lived at the intersection of two great neighborhoods.”

When she died an untimely death in 2008, national dignitaries from Hilary Clinton to Barack Obama took time out on the campaign trail to come to Cleveland’s Public Auditorium to pay their respects. In honor of her legacy, UCI commissioned a statue designed by David Demming to sit on a park bench in the PNC Community Plaza at the intersection of East Boulevard and Wade Oval Drive where anyone can just sit with Representative Jones and reflect.

To further her legacy, UCI created the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Neighborhood Leadership Award that same year. Beginning in 2023, winners of the award will be honored at the annual UCI Leadership Awards Ceremony in the fall.

Criteria for Selection

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Neighborhood Leadership Award honors a person, family, or organization that has made significant contributions to University Circle and the Greater University Circle Neighborhoods.

The award recipient will have had a significant impact on life in and around the Circle that increases accessibility, collaboration, and enjoyment.

The contribution should be consistent with UCI’s mission of building a community experience that connects all people with Cleveland’s center of culture, healing and learning.

Examples of activities that would meet the award criteria include, but are not limited to:

• Developing joint programming among several Circle institutions
• Building relationships between institutions and community-based organizations
• Engaging surrounding neighborhoods in University Circle activities

Nomination Process

Nominations must be submitted by June 15 each year and can be made by an individual or organization.

Nominators should complete and submit the nomination form along with a letter of nomination that clearly states the nominee’s achievements and contributions that meet the award criteria.

• Please include details and examples.
• The letter should not exceed three typed pages.
• Relevant attachments are welcome.

A letter will be sent to the nominator confirming the submission has been received. Nominations will be reviewed by the Leadership Awards Committee and be announced by July 31. Nominators will receive notification of the final decision. UCI reserves the right to not present the award any year in which nominations are deemed insufficient.

The nomination letter and form should submitted online in the form below or be mailed to:

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Neighborhood Leadership Award

University Circle Inc.
c/o Philanthropy Department
10831 Magnolia Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106

Past Award Winners

• 2020: University Hospitals for Healthy Restart Playbook (Covid Protocols)
• 2019: Dan Simon, MD, University Hospitals for CPR Training in the Circle
• 2018: Virginia and George Havens for Havens Park at Judson
• 2017: Leon Bibb
• 2016: Commander Pat Stephens, Cleveland Police Department Third District Commander
• 2015: Sara Mierke, Hawken School Gries Center
• 2014: Malinda Matlock, Millennia Housing Management
• 2013: Steve Standley, University Hospitals
• 2011: Benedictine High School
• 2010: Pat Reymann, Director of WRHS
• 2009: Joan Southgate, Restore Cleveland Hope
• 2008: Family of Stephanie Tubbs Jones