Born in raised in Cleveland, Gwen Graffenreed has lived in the Buckeye-Shaker neighborhood for more than 30 years. Since moving to her home in 1989, she has been involved with several non-profit groups that serve the Buckeye-Shaker community. By day, she is a receptionist in Buckeye office of Burten, Bell, Carr, Development Inc., a non-profit group whose mission is to empower citizens and revitalize blighted and underserved communities.
Graffenreed is a current president of East 122nd Street Block Club, where she previously served as the club’s secretary and vice president. She also is an alumna of the Neighborhood Leadership Cleveland program at Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. Graffenreed is a retired preschool teacher who began her career with Day Nursery Association in Cleveland. She taught preschool throughout greater Cleveland as well in Orange County California.
Since 2009, Graffenreed has written four books: Sentimental Journal Sequel; In Her Mother’s Footsteps; Cleveland: How Sweet It Is; and Looking Out the Window: Buckeye-Shaker.
"Serving on the Neighborhood Advisory Council is a very rewarding experience, especially meeting other community leaders and staff at Case Western Reserve," says Graffenreed. "It’s important to me to be engaged and to embrace the diversity in our communities with families, children and stakeholders."