Rooted in Connection: How Cleveland Roots Brings Neighbors Together
“You can’t leave without making a pizza!” Doug Fawcett calls out as he makes his rounds, talking to neighbors, friends, and anyone who stops by his Cleveland Roots Pizza Party. You can see it in the way he interacts - the genuine care, the way he remembers people’s names, the checks-in on neighbors, and the way he listens. Doug has a gift of connection that makes everyone around him feel seen.
Cleveland Roots is nonprofit and community-focused urban farm dedicated to growing healthy food and fostering connection. Doug started it eight years ago, after he purchased a small farm in Richfield, not entirely sure where it would lead. Over time, he realized the farm could be a source of nourishment beyond the property itself. Around that same time, he found an opportunity to establish a presence in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood, an area where fresh produce is hard to come by. By bringing the farm’s harvest into a community with limited access to healthy food, Doug found a way to make a real impact.
Two years ago, he connected with Building Hope in the City (BHITC) through a Rally CLE grant. These grants exist to unite and engage Clark-Fulton, Stockyards, and Brooklyn Centre residents around the ideas they have for improving their communities. For Cleveland Roots, it helped fund a neighborhood pizza party. “It makes sense to have a big pizza party for the neighborhood,” Doug says. “It’s a great way to get people to meet each other and then also find out a little bit more about Cleveland Roots, specifically about our market.” Rally CLE also connects city leaders like Doug with local churches like Cuyahoga Valley Church (CVC), whose members have joined in volunteering at events and supporting the organization. “It’s really just a great group of people,” Doug says. ”It seems like a great church and the people are just wonderful.”
Beyond the events, Doug leads a Saturday donation-based market where neighbors can take fresh vegetables from the farm and city gardens. The market is in Clark-Fulton, a neighborhood where good options for fresh, healthy food are scarce. “Sometimes people leave a little bit of a donation, sometimes they don’t,” Doug says. “None of that matters. We’re here for the community” For him, the market is about more than food. It's about connection. Families come with their kids, neighbors swap recipes, and everyone leaves feeling a little more connected. “Everyone seems so focused on their differences and what they can argue about… no!” Doug explains. “Food, and what we’re doing here - it brings people together. You can’t really argue about an eggplant, or a tomato or a pepper.”
The work at Cleveland Roots is about showing up for people, creating spaces where neighbors can meet, share, and feel seen. Doug loves to interact with neighbors in the community, from people passing through the market to families stopping by for pizza at Rally CLE. “I love these people! It’s just people from every walk of life,” Doug says. “I feel a strong connection to them and to this neighborhood. It’s just amazing.”
Through Rally CLE, BHITC is proud to partner with Doug and his team as they work to bring neighbors together. Both Cleveland Roots and BHITC share a common goal: creating spaces where people from all walks of life can connect, build relationships, and access the resources they need to thrive. We’re thankful for all of the neighbors, volunteers, and community partners like CVC who make that vision a reality every day.
Cleveland Roots is completely volunteer-based, and every dollar from the market goes back into programming. Volunteers help at the farm, in the market, or at events. “Even one hour helps,” Doug shares. “We appreciate every minute that somebody has to share with us.” If you’re interested in expanding community agriculture in Clark-Fulton, reach out to Doug at info@clevelandroots.org.
Story postscript: Cleveland Roots is located in what was formerly Berghaus Flowers, which was a family business for more than 100 years in Cleveland with deep roots in the Lutheran community. The Berghaus family was and is a cherished supporter of BHITC. It’s a blessing to see how God uses familiar places to new works!
