ECHO In Action
Our History
Foundations of Faith and Community
Black churches took root in East Cleveland, shaping a resilient and hopeful community identity.
Education and Empowerment
College Hill School opens as Bradley County's first Black school. A.J. Tomlinson's home becomes the first Church of God headquarters.
Promises Broken
In 1966, desegregation closed the school. By the 1970s, a failed highway project displaced families and erased homes, schools, and businesses.
Economic Decline and Displacement
Outside investors raise rents and neglect upkeep, deepening poverty and eroding community pride.
ECHO Responds
ECHO steps in with a host of resources, becoming a trusted lifeline that inspires, empowers, and transforms.
ECHO In Our Community
Steven's Story of Hope
When we first met Steven, he was homeless, battling addiction, and asking for help on the street. Two ECHO volunteers welcomed him in. Though he arrived toothless and disheveled, he carried a remarkable gift - a voice as soulful as James Brown. Soon he was singing with our worship group, attending Loaves and Fishes, and showing up to gatherings.
As Steven became a regular, he began using the support around him. He moved into a shelter, broke free from addiction, accepted a donated bicycle for transportation, and found work as a handyman. Eventually, he saved enough to buy a truck. One Sunday he walked into church in a suit jacket, standing tall and proud. But nothing compared to the day a local dentist gave him new teeth. His smile said it all: dignity restored, joy renewed.
Steven's journey is one example of what happens when compassion fuels change. Through the care of ECHO volunteers and the generosity of people like you, lives are being transformed every day.