Category: Immigration and Ethnicity

GLOBAL CLEVELAND, a non-profit economic development agency, was launched by young civic and business leaders in 2011 to try and boost Cleveland’s population and economy by attracting new residents from around the world.

GREEKS form one of Cleveland's smaller but most cohesive nationality groups, preserving their culture through their central institution, the Greek Orthodox church. The first Greek to settle in Cleveland reportedly was Panagiotis Koutalianos, a fabled "strong man," who is said to have come ca. 1880s. Out of 370,007 Greeks emigrating to the U.S.

HAGIWARA, ABE (1919? - 1971?) was the leading founder and first president of Cleveland's Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). 

HALTNORTH'S GARDENS, located at the northeast corner of Woodland and Willson (now E. 55th St.) avenues, was a popular German beer garden where Clevelanders could enjoy a picnic or an evening of beer and entertainment (see GERMANS).

HAYASHI, MASUMI (3 September1945- 17August 2006) was a Japanese-American photographer known for her panoramic collages capturing typically abandoned or isolated landscapes.

The HEBREW FREE LOAN ASSN. was established in 1904 to provide interest-free loans to needy Jewish immigrants, following the Biblical injunction that Jews not charge interest to the needy. Cleveland merchants Chas.

The HEIGHTS BENEVOLENT AND SOCIAL UNION (HBSU), the oldest Jewish benevolent society in Cleveland, was organized in 1881 by 24 Hungarian Jews as the Hungarian Benevolent & Social Union, to aid members in illness or death, assist nonmembers in "unfortunate circumstances," and cultivate social relations among its members. Membership was over 100 by 1885; 763 in 1916; about 500 in the 1980s.

The HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER, established on 1 July 1923 as the Heights Orthodox Congregation, was the first Jewish congregation in Cleveland's eastern SUBURBS. It initially met in the home of Jacob Makoff on Euclid Hts. Blvd. in CLEVELAND HTS.

The HIBERNIAN GUARDS, a Cleveland-based independent military company of Irish-American volunteers, made its first public appearance during the July 4th parade in 1848, under the direction of Capt. P. A. McBarron. It was extremely active in the 1850s under Capt. William Kinney, establishing an armory on Oregon St. (Rockwell Ave.) and holding annual parades, dinners, and balls.

HIJOS DE BORINQUEN SPANISH AMERICAN-CENTER is a multi-service social agency which was formed to serve the needs of the east side Hispanic community. Hijos de Borinquen (which translates as "sons of Borinquen") was established in Dec. 1979. Its incorporators and first Board of Trustees were Avis Sanchez, Lora and Tomas Santiago, and Fr. Timothy Troke.

HISPANIC COMMUNITY. By the 1990s Spanish-speaking individuals constituted the fastest-growing portion of America's immigrant population. Though Cleveland's Spanish-speaking community did not grow as rapidly as those in Florida or California, it was, in 1990, the largest linguistically defined segment of the local population; 20,290 individuals in Greater Cleveland spoke Spanish.

HRIDEL, ANNA C. (17 Nov. 1913 - 14 Sept. 1996) had a long career in broadcasting ethnic music on Cleveland RADIO. Born in Cleveland to Anna (Hejma) and Frank Jamek, she graduated from South High School and attended Cleveland College for three years.

HUNGARIANS. Cleveland was at one time referred to as “the American Debrecen” following the popularly held belief that it was the city with the second largest population of Hungarians, outside of Hungary, after Budapest.

HYLAND, JOHN “PACKY” (January 18, 1942 - May 27, 2009) was a businessman and cofounder of Hyland Software, Inc. He was born to parents John P. and Catherine (Conway) Hyland on Cleveland’s East Side.

IAFELICE, JAMES (3 Jan. 1913-8 Mar. 1998), head of District 54 of the International Association of Machinists, was one of Cleveland's most influential labor leaders. He was born in Cleveland to Concillia "Mary" (Bonavia) and Dominic Iafelice. He grew up in the Murray Hill neighborhood and dropped out of high school to help support his family during the Depression.

IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION. The growth of major industrial centers such as Cleveland was made possible in large part by the migration of peoples of a variety of origins to provide the labor or entrepreneurial skills demanded by the changing economy.