Annually, Cleveland Sews hosts a blanket drive or a Sew-A-Thon as a way to give back to the local community. The Cleveland Sews model is based on our belief and practice wisdom that sustainability, skill building, artisanal & creative work, altruism, intergenerational connection, and local production of consumer goods lead directly to mutually beneficial impacts on our communities.

Cleveland Sews is leading the way for alternative design strategies. It's a process called Social manufacturing. It's a democratic approach on the idea of crowdsourcing, but expanding into to the area of manufacturing. Social manufacturing is a collaborative community effort, a DIT (Do It Together) philosophy where phases of socialized production are open to everyone. Through Cleveland Sews, we create a network and gathering places for community members to revitalize the lost art of sewing, creating products that impact our local community. Our collaborative model invites partners to share the table, connecting existing structures with new opportunities for capacity, growth, connection, and re- imagination.

The Cleveland Sews program is driven by the five principles of trauma-informed care. We continually co-create an environment that prioritizes: safety; transparency & trustworthiness; choice; collaboration & mutuality; and empowerment. Cleveland Sews builds an empathetic community around and through relationships with participants. Given the prolonged pandemic context, we anticipate that trauma-informed practice and support continues to be essential as we help address the impact of stress, fear, social isolation, and other significant consequences. By creating a safe space for relational health, participants engage with one another authentically, learn a new skill, and are empowered through employment in a collaborative environment.