Caitlin Coyne ’21

Downtown Cleveland Alliance, Cleveland, OH

I worked at Downtown Cleveland Alliance for nine weeks during the summer of 2018 as an intern for both the business development department and Flats Forward neighborhood organization. The first task of the internship was to study the creation of Downtown Cleveland Alliance and other neighborhood organizations, as well as the economic status of Cleveland and the greater Cuyahoga-Akron-Canton region.

Pictured with a board member of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, looking over the second quarter market reports and discussing economic status of Cleveland.
Pictured with a board member of Downtown Cleveland Alliance, looking over the second quarter market reports and discussing economic status of Cleveland.

Downtown Cleveland Alliance is a not-for-profit organization based in Cleveland, Ohio, that services Cleveland and surrounding neighborhoods in various ways, including providing resources for residential, business, entertainment, and development ventures. The goal and mission of Downtown Cleveland Alliance is to create a dynamic downtown Cleveland and “to make Downtown Cleveland the most compelling place to live, work, and play.” Downtown Cleveland Alliance partners with the city’s stakeholders to improve the city through implementing new economic, ecological programs and social events.

Several neighborhood organizations work in partnership with Downtown Cleveland Alliance. The purpose of the neighborhood organizations is to attract more business, safety, and largely increasing the number of residents. Developing residential life is particularly important to Downtown Cleveland Alliance because of its goal to have 20,000 residents in Cleveland proper by 2020. Flats Forward is the neighborhood organization that represents the Flats, a sector of Cleveland that surrounds the Cuyahoga River and its opening into Lake Erie. The Flats was once the industrial powerhouse of Cleveland because of its location on the Cuyahoga River and access to salt mines, among other natural resources. The Flats experienced hardships during the 1970s and 1980s as Cleveland struggled with organized crime—at one point being the bomb capital of the world—and national economic struggles. Since then, the Flats neighborhood has been trying to recuperate and attain a new version of economic and social vitality. Flats Forward developed in response to preexisting, failed neighborhood organizations that were fraught with scandal.

My roles both with Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Flats Forward were distinctive and exciting. Flats Forward was incorporated in 2012 and is still in the early stages of its development as an organization. I spent much of my summer learning the history and current economic status of the Flats with my advisor, Melinda Gigante. Melinda brought me to several meetings, including meetings with new business owners, existing stakeholders, and board meetings so that I could learn about each step of the revitalization of Cleveland’s riverfront. After I had developed an understanding of the Flats, Melinda charged me with creating a website to serve as a database and resource for Flats residents and visitors alike. I spent the majority of my internship with Flats Forward researching development projects in the Flats and updating all of the information surrounding the Flats for the website. Upon completion the website, I felt comfortable writing extensively about the Flats and started writing grants for Flats Forward. The majority of the grants were written to fund wayfinding in the Flats as a part of a greater place-making strategy. Wayfinding improves a commuter’s experience by increasing legibility, defining boundaries and creating a distinctive style with signage throughout a neighborhood. Much of my time writing grants was spent studying wayfinding on both a micro and macro levels in order to convey the importance of wayfinding in the Flats neighborhood.

I began my internship with Downtown Cleveland Alliance in the business development department conducting market research for the transportation industry in Cleveland. After my initial research, Downtown Cleveland Alliance assigned me to research carsharing and its application in similar sized Midwestern cities. I learned a great deal about the carsharing industry, including all of the current American companies, specific federal and state regulations, pricing, and American participation and interest. However, the most important lesson I learned from the carsharing research was the importance of carsharing and other attempts to attract and retain millennial and Gen Z populations: the paradigm for American cities and city living has shifted. The young professional no longer chases businesses; businesses look to attract young professionals, most often through stationing offices in exciting, mobile, and unique cities. Understanding this specific lesson helped me to better understand why organizations like Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Flats Forward are vital to a prosperous city.

Looking over the Cuyahoga River, the center of the Flats, to survey new and potential development projects.
Looking over the Cuyahoga River, the center of the Flats, to survey new and potential development projects.

I was able to fully appreciate the efforts of each employee I met this summer after understanding the history of both Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Flats Forward. Each member of the team exercised an immense knowledge of Cleveland, including its history, residents, businesses, and direction, among many other factors. I enjoyed my internship largely because of my incredible coworkers and how each one of them worked tirelessly to achieve the ambitious goals of Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Flats Forward. My colleagues have motivated me to focus on work for which I have a passion and to select companies where I believe strongly in the mission statements. The internship also offered me valuable direction as I continue to select my majors for the upcoming spring. I realized how important the application of macroeconomics in political science is as I conducted market research and worked at answering complex problems about the transportation industry in mid-sized Midwestern cities, convincing me to pursue some political economy and economic courses later in my Williams career. My experience at Flats Forward demonstrated that my study of social psychology is useful for solving conflict within diverse groups of people. The growing population of Spanish speaking Cleveland residents also solidified my belief in perfecting my Spanish skills at Williams.

After working for a Cleveland-centered not-for-profit, I discovered how I would contribute to my city in the future. Cleveland is my home and my joy; I am so excited that I have learned how my city operates, how development occurs most efficiently, and how members of the private sector play a large role in the city’s progress. My family has been involved in Cleveland’s purposeful evolution for generations; I look forward to providing my support to the expansion of the city, too, so that not just Clevelanders believe that Cleveland is the world’s friendliest, most family-oriented and magical city. Thus, I would like to convey my deep gratitude to both the Class of 1951 for the Public Sector Internship and to the ’68 Center for Career Exploration for the continued support and encouragement. Learning at Downtown Cleveland Alliance and Flats Forward was an incredible blessing for which I will always be much appreciative. Thank you very much for the spectacular opportunity that you have afforded me.