New website celebrates cultures, attracts immigrants

The hottest website in town, www.clevelandpeople.com, spreads the word about more than 100 different ethnic groups in the Cleveland area. What makes the Heights so interesting and fun to live in is the diversity of the region's ethnic groups, along with their customs, music and food.

Want to learn more about your own ethinic heritage, gain exposure to new cultures or see what’s happening in the various communities? That’s one of the goals of the site.

Cleveland Heights residents Dan and Debbie Hanson, founders of ClevelandPeople.Com, believe that they can help grow Cleveland’s population, economy and culture by attracting more immigrants, retaining talented students and workers, and celebrating the richness of the existing 100-plus ethnic groups in Greater Cleveland.

The brother and sister team point out that Cleveland profits little from international immigration. The city's foreign-born population grew by a mere 400 people in the 1990s, signaling that while modest numbers of immigrants continued to arrive in Cleveland (9,300 in the 1990s), an equivalent number of earlier arrivals left the city.

Of the thousands of visitors to www.clevelandpeople.com since its launch last year, about 25 percent are from outside the United States and often have specific questions about living and working in Cleveland.

ClevelandPeople.Com uses a group of "ambassadors" to help with the specific communities. A question from a Polish student, for example, would be answered with the help of the Polish ambassador and others in that community.

Cleveland.People.Com helps bring students and business people to Cleveland by giving them a connection. Once here, they are more likely to stay if they feel welcome and know that their culture and traditions are valued.

The website features the people, customs, events, religions, music and heritage of our diverse population. By promoting and celebrating this diversity, the site creators expect to make Cleveland a more inviting and friendly place for immigrants.

The website identifies and promotes the region's existing cultural diversity and also exposes people to other cultures, making Cleveland a richer city. While searching for details on the local Armenian festival, for example, a visitor may notice a photo or video about an Indian event or Japanese drumming concert.

To see what's going on today, with global flavor, right here in Cleveland, visit www.clevelandpeople.com.

Anita Kazarian is a marketing professional, founder of Noah’s Landing, LLC and a long-time resident of University Heights. Reach her at anitakazarian@gmail.com.