Cleveland

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The Cleveland Division honors Mr. Blaine Griffin, executive director of the City of Cleveland Community Relations Board, where he leads cross-cultural relationships, corrects actions that violate civil rights, guides communications between law enforcement and the community, and implements violence prevention and intervention strategies for at risk youth and young adults.

Beyond his work for the City of Cleveland, Mr. Griffin is involved with many service organizations, each with the focus of taking care of the surrounding community. He has managed advocacy programs at a senior and family center; helped teens transition from childhood to adulthood; and led re-entry efforts and initiatives to transition serious violent offenders from correctional facilities into the community and provide them with support services. Additionally, he serves on the board of A Partnership for a Safer Cleveland and has been instrumental in cultivating relationships among 117 ethnic groups in the greater Cleveland area.