About Us
Our History
The Metanoia Project is a 501 c3 whose origin dates back to 2007 after the Cleveland Police Department's 2nd District called together a number of community activists and homeless advocates to discuss an ever-growing concern: why were there so many individuals living outside during the life-threatening winter months despite the availability of shelters in the area?
This subset of the homeless population was then identified as those who did not fit into the traditional shelter system. This was due to a number of circumstances that could include trauma, mental illness, substance use, not wanting to be separated from their partners or belongings, and general distrust of traditional services/service providers. From this realization that shelters are not one size fits all, The Metanoia Project (Greek translation "change of mind", a "reversal in thinking") was born as a solution.
By removing barriers and responding with compassion and innovation, The Metanoia Project is able to provide overnight respite and care to these men and women who would otherwise be staying in tents, doorways, alleyways, abandoned buildings, and other precarious environments during Cleveland's treacherous winter months.
Beginning in 2011 The Metanoia Project operated a 100-plus bed shelter, open from mid-November through mid-April, that operated out of St Malachi Parish. During our 2020/2021 season we made some changes to our model and began operating multiple hospitality centers that focused on a successful small-group model that we will continue into future seasons.
The overnight hospitality center opens its doors Monday through Sunday, from 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following morning. In addition to overnight shelter, The Metanoia Project provides its guests with meals, showers, clothing, and access to on-site physical and mental health care.
The Metanoia Project aims to develop mutually-beneficial, authentic relationships with its guests. The trust that grows in this process allows for our guests to be supported and accommodated by staff on an individual level. These relationships also act as a conduit, linking those who are severely under-served in the un-sheltered community to a myriad of services including rehabilitation programs, physical/mental health care, housing resources, and employment opportunities.
The Metanoia Project sees each of our guests have an importance to our community. We believe they deserve to have understanding and a chance to transform despite their vulnerability.
Meet Our Team
Staff
Heidi Goblirsch, Executive Director
Heidi was drawn to the non-profit world six years ago because she believes that her purpose in life is to positively impact the people and community around her using her strengths.
Recently, Heidi served as the Executive Director of the West Shore Family YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Cleveland located in Westlake, Ohio, from 2017 - 2019. Under her leadership she introduced a new staffing structure, oversaw a shift in staff culture to one that was more member and need driven, strengthened relationships with other community leaders, as well as saw a growth in fund development for the branch's financial aid program.
Before that Heidi worked as the Executive Director at Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Marshfield, Wisconsin where she transformed a once struggling mentoring program into a financially and operationally stable non-profit. She began her non-profit journey at the UMOM New Day Center, the largest family homeless shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. She began working in development, but moved to case management under the SSVF grant to get a better understanding of the population the shelter was serving. Heidi was drawn to her new position at The Metanoia Project because of the opportunity it presented her to get back to where she started her career, working with vulnerable individuals, with the added experiences and lessons she had gained from her other positions. The new position will also give her the opportunity to really meet people where they are and help them get to where they need, or want to be.
To contact Heidi, you can reach out to her by phone or email.
Phone: (216) 338-0181.
Email: Heidi@projectmetanoia.org
Morgan Smith, Fund Development and Communications Director
Morgan is a Northeast Ohio native and excited to be back in Cleveland and getting involved in the community. She graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. After graduating, she spent time working and living abroad with her favorite place being Turin, Italy. Most recently, she worked in a domestic violence shelter in Youngstown, Ohio.
Morgan began working at Metanoia this winter as our Volunteer Coordinator where she worked to bring showers to our overnight guests, art therapy, and breakfasts. As our Fund Development and Communications Director Morgan will still head our volunteer programs while working to ensure that everyone has the most up-to-date information about Metanoia possible!
To contact Morgan you can reach her by phone or email.
Phone- 216-469-0905.
Email: funddevelopment@projectmetanoia.org
Mariah Powers, Operations Facilitator
Mariah discovered her passion for working with vulnerable individuals during her time in the Social Work program at Akron University. Prior to working at the Metanoia Project, she primarily worked with individuals struggling with alcohol and substance abuse issues.
Last year, the Metanoia Project offered her a position working directly with guests staying at the shelter. There, she discovered how passionate she was about working with these individuals. Listening to each person’s story and developing connections with the people in our community has given Mariah the most fulfillment to date.
She is looking forward to her new role this year at Metanoia where she will be able to connect our guests directly to the resources that they need while also working with an incredible staff. She is excited to be working with such an incredible organization and cannot wait to continue learning more as this season begins.
To contact Mariah, you can reach out to her by phone or email.
Phone: (216) 372-7217.
Email: operations@projectmetanoia.org
Board of Directors
Katie Weber, Board President
Katie is currently an associate attorney with Mansour Gavin LPA. She focuses her practice in Real Estate and Municipal Law. She has been the board of the Metanoia project since 2018. Katie's passion for working with real estate stems from the effect property rights and regulation have on individuals and communities as a whole. Working with the Metanoia Project has allowed Katie to use this passion to serve our neighbors that are the most in need and understand the many factors that cause homelessness. In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland where she has resided since 2016.
James Clark
Jim is president of the Clark Security Group, LLC, a Cleveland based consultancy specializing in security analysis and expert witness testimony in security negligence and premises liability matters. Jim has been a Metanoia volunteer since 2011 as a program facilitator and joined the board in 2020. Over the years, Jim has served in several related roles working with ex-offenders as a member of the corporate advisory boards of Community Re-Entry and Partners-in-Placement. He also serves as a board member of the recently created Security Liability Institute, a research institute that studies criminology theories, and other security related publications on the effectiveness of various crime prevention methods.
Brian FitzGerald
Brian FitzGerald is a management-side labor & employment attorney at Littler Mendelson, P.C. where he specializes in defending employers before federal, state, and local administrative agencies as well as in federal and state courts concerning issues such as hiring and firing decisions, enforcement of non-disclosure and non-compete agreements, workplace safety, and traditional labor matters. In addition to his involvement with the Metanoia Project, Brian is active with several other non-profits including serving on the board of the Cornell Club of Northeast Ohio and the Alumni Service Committee of Saint Ignatius High School. He is also a 2019 graduate of LeadDIVERSITY, a 10 month program in Northeast Ohio that engages with regional leaders in the corporate, non-profit, and civic arenas to approach diversity and leadership issues from a no-fault interactive foundation with the goal of affecting positive social change. Brian has been involved with Metanoia since 2018.