CLEVELAND — Highlighting Northeast Ohio came through Carol Malone’s community work.
“Neighborhood connections. We are the largest small grant organization in the United States,” said Malone.
She sat on the grant-making committee, so people shared their business proposals with her. Malone figured, if she found the ideas interesting, others would, too.
“After doing that for 3 years, I was like: this is a show,” said Malone.
That’s what started her podcast, Neighbor Up Spotlight.
“I’ve done 26 episodes, we are on Sound Cloud. Everybody has a story to tell. I’m not a journalist, I’m a conversationalist; I love a good conversation. It always sends me in a direction that I’m learning stuff,” said Malone.
Conversation and guests were built in through proposals she’d already read.
“There are a lot of people in the city, east and west, who I thought deserved to have a spotlight shown on them, and it really does restore your faith,” said Malone.
Twenty six episodes later, Malone is still introducing people to the community.
“We like to say we’re a handmade, homemade podcast from scratch! We’re just long enough to inform you, not too long to bore you,” said Malone.
“If they give me the greenlight, I’m going to keep talking to folks,” said Malone.
This story is part of A Better Land, an ongoing series that investigates Northeast Ohio's deep-seated systemic problems. Additionally, it puts a spotlight on the community heroes fighting for positive change in Cleveland and throughout the region. If you have an idea for A Better Land story, tell us here.
