From Contact Naps to Cleveland Maps: Our Story

Why The CLE Family Collective Exists
I’ve lived in Cleveland (and Northeast Ohio - I’m not a purist, but someone will call me on this) my entire life, watched neighborhoods change, seen businesses come and go, and now I’m raising kids here. Yet I’ve realized how hard it can be to find real family resources.

Finding the best pierogi? Easy. Finding a stroller-friendly playground or a pediatrician taking new patients? Not so much. From conversations with friends to random parents I ran into at a coffee shop who were craving connection, I kept hearing the same need. Cleveland has incredible family resources, but no single spot for real insider intel.

Somewhere between contact naps and Metroparks walks, the idea for The CLE Family Collective took shape - a one-stop spot for every kind of family: moms and dads, grandparents raising grandkids, aunts and uncles on weekend duty, foster and kinship parents, blended and chosen families, and anyone else loving (and occasionally bribing) kids through life. It’s a place built for families by families - sharing practical advice and honest recommendations. From which library story time actually starts at 10:15, to the restaurant that serves kid meals before meltdowns hit, these are the details that make everyday life work.

My decade in nonprofit fundraising also shaped this vision. I’ve seen families who need support and families eager to give it. So we’ll highlight local nonprofits, including how to get help and how to give back in ways that fit your season of life.

At its heart, the Collective exists to make Cleveland more connected, welcoming, and doable for every type of family, no matter how you’re built or what your days look like. This isn’t about perfect Instagram moments. It’s about real connection: the dad who mapped the fastest zoo route for stroller naps, the grandma who knows which bakery sells out first, the working parent who needs evening events.

Whether you’re new to Cleveland or a lifelong local, solo parenting or co-parenting, raising one child or a whole crew - you belong here. Together we’re building a village with plenty of heart, a dash of sarcasm, and zero judgment.

Welcome to the Collective. Let’s discover Cleveland together.