Things To-Do and Tasks to Complete…
The Steering Committee played a vital role in assisting the Capstone working groups by encouraging them to stay on task and acting as a liaison for group-to-group and group-to-professor interactions.
This committee had a number of tasks:
The first assignment was to identify the values, mission, and vision statements for the project. Using surveys and in-person interactions, the group worked with the rest of the class to develop statements that resonated with everyone.
After collecting the final work from all of groups the class, the Steering Committee was put in charge of creating a project website. Here, stakeholders, government entities, and future CSU students would easily be able to find our work. This website contains information about the final project, the site itself, and information about the students who contributed to this project.
Creating timelines was another crucial part of the project. These timelines allowed students to stay on track with work and have an overview of the requirements of the course. This committee also established the goals of the project. This was important so stakeholders could be informed about what our intentions were with the project overall.
Meet the Steering Committee
Jacob Bean is a Master of Urban Planning Student graduating in May of 2026. He is currently employed as an Urban Planner with Envision and has previous experience with the Cuyahoga County Department of Development and Campus District, Inc. As a part of the Steering Committee, Jacob was tasked with facilitating deliverable information between groups, interpreting transdisciplinary topics, supporting the Real Estate Development and Budgeting and Finance Team, and crafting marketing and branding materials.
Javonté Bray is an MPA student who is currently a Real Estate and Community Outreach Manager at Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity, overseeing Tax Abatement, Land & Real Estate Acquisition, Community Engagement & Neighborhood Revitalization, and Government Affairs. Javonté has a strong passion for his work and wants to continue his career with Habitat for Humanity, advocating for affordable homeownership. In his free time, he loves traveling internationally and teaching swim lessons to the youth.
Savannah Cater is a Master of Public Administration candidate and Steering Committee member for the Haydite Quarry project, contributing expertise in project management and strategic communications. She serves as Director of Marketing and Communications at Starting Point, where she leads efforts to connect families and providers to critical child care resources. With a decade of experience in Greater Cleveland’s nonprofit sector, she specializes in branding, outreach, and audience engagement to expand access and build trust.
Courtney Jones is a Master of Public Administration candidate at Cleveland State University, concentrating in Public Management. She currently works in local government and is passionate about community engagement and nonprofit development. After graduation, she plans to launch and lead a nonprofit focused on strengthening Cleveland communities. In this project, she focused on governance structure, team coordination, and ensuring alignment with overall goals. A fun fact about Courtney is that she thrives under pressure and consistently delivers high-quality work, even on tight timelines.
Desaray Shores is a Master of Public Administration candidate at CSU, specializing in Nonprofit Management. She currently works for a regional health and human services organization, where she supports programs that strengthen families and communities. As a member of the Steering Committee, she helped lead a multi‑disciplinary group focused on the site. In this role, she ensured that research, community perspectives, and technical insights were integrated into cohesive and responsible project recommendations. Desaray lives in Lorain with her husband, is the mother of three grown sons, and enjoys exploring outdoor spaces with her two Australian Shepherds.
Hailey Zelinsky is a Master of Urban Planning student in her final semester at CSU. As a part of the Steering Committee, she focused on website creation and assisting the Physical Planning Committee. Hailey has an interest in transportation planning and hopes to get a job in a related field after graduation. She is an avid traveler and has been to 22 countries, many of which she has done solo traveling.