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Report on Journalistic Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

This report analyzes a selection of articles from FreshWater Cleveland, demonstrating their alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The reviewed content illustrates how local journalism contributes to awareness and progress on global objectives by highlighting community-level initiatives.

Promoting Health, Well-being, and Equity (SDG 3, SDG 5, SDG 10)

Several articles directly address the interconnected goals of ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-being, achieving gender equality, and reducing inequality.

Addressing Systemic Health Inequities

• Katie McMenamin’s article, “Support network: Village of Healing wins $1 million grant to combat health inequities,” focuses on an organization redefining compassionate, culturally rooted care for women of color. This work directly supports:
  1. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By tackling disparities in healthcare access and quality.
  2. SDG 5 (Gender Equality): By empowering a marginalized group of women.
  3. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): By directly confronting racial and gender-based inequities within the healthcare system.

Chronic Health Challenges

• Doug Guth’s 2022 story, “The long-haulers: Long Covid clinics guide patients on the slow path to recovery,” investigates a significant public health issue. This reporting aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by raising awareness of emerging health challenges and the institutional responses required to manage them.

Fostering Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11)

A significant portion of the reviewed work centers on creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable urban environments, with a focus on cultural heritage, green spaces, and community building.

Safeguarding Cultural and Natural Heritage

• The “Cleveland Masterworks” series, including collaborations between Angelina Bair and Tom Matowitz on historic properties like “Moyenage” and “Franchester,” documents significant architectural assets. This aligns with SDG 11.4 (Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage).
• Brittney Hooper’s “Once-living history: Ode to a great Elm Tree” highlights the importance of the urban tree canopy as a form of living, natural heritage within the community, contributing to SDG 11.

Enhancing Access to Green Spaces and Cultural Life

• Reuben Kutash’s photo essay on Día de Muertos celebrates cultural traditions that foster inclusive community engagement, a key component of SDG 11.
• Jess Starr’s piece on the “Picasso and Paper” exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art underscores the role of accessible cultural institutions in vibrant city life, contributing to targets within SDG 11 and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Advancing Life on Land and Environmental Education (SDG 15, SDG 4)

Journalistic focus on natural environments, conservation, and biodiversity promotes environmental stewardship and education.

Conservation and Environmental Awareness

• Rebecca Cahill’s article, “Take a hike: Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Trails Council releases new trail guide,” celebrates a vital terrestrial ecosystem. This work supports:
  1. SDG 15 (Life on Land): By promoting the sustainable use and appreciation of a national park.
  2. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): By encouraging outdoor activity for physical and mental health.
• Grant Segall’s story, “Bridging the nature gap: Empowering urban youth with outdoor experiences,” addresses disparities in access to nature, contributing to SDG 15, SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).

Biodiversity and Animal Welfare

• Jill Sell’s article, “‘Damn Fine Dog’: Genomic sequencing allows researchers to investigate Balto’s pedigree,” connects local history with modern science. It aligns with SDG 15 by discussing genetic biodiversity and supports SDG 4 by highlighting the educational role of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
• Nicky Perhacs’s story, “Superdogs: Area dog shelters hope Superman’s Krypto will spur adoptions,” promotes animal welfare and responsible adoption, contributing to compassionate community values that indirectly support the broader principles of SDG 15.

Championing Equality, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 10, SDG 16)

Profiles of influential community leaders underscore the importance of reducing inequality and building a just society.

Highlighting Pioneers of Social Justice

• Karin Connelly Rice’s profile, “Robert P. Madison, man of many architectural, personal triumphs,” documents the career of the oldest living Black architect in the U.S. and his creation of an intentionally multicultural firm. This narrative is a powerful example of progress toward SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
• The article “Fairfax Renaissance CDC honors three Cleveland icons with Louis Stokes Community Visionary Award” recognizes leaders who worked for community improvement and civil rights. Their efforts directly reflect the aims of SDG 10 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by showcasing lifelong commitments to building a more equitable and just society.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article, through its collection of writers’ favorite stories, touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The key SDGs identified are:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: This is addressed in stories concerning healthcare inequities and recovery from long-term illness.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: This goal is highlighted in stories that focus on combating health disparities for women of color, celebrating civil rights leaders, and recognizing the creation of racially integrated workplaces.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This is a prominent theme, connected to stories about preserving cultural and natural heritage, such as historic buildings, museums, and urban green spaces like national parks and tree canopies.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: This SDG is relevant to stories about the conservation of natural parks, the importance of urban trees, and scientific research into animal genetics and biodiversity.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: This is connected to the recognition of civil rights leaders whose work contributes to building a more inclusive and just society.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the themes in the article, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all. The story “Support network: Village of Healing wins $1 million grant to combat health inequities” directly relates to this by highlighting an organization working to provide “compassionate, culturally rooted care” to women of color, thereby improving access to quality healthcare for a specific demographic.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. This is addressed in the story about architect Robert P. Madison, who created one of the first interracial firms, and the story honoring leaders for their work in Civil Rights, both of which exemplify efforts to reduce racial and social inequalities.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. This target is supported by multiple stories, including those about preserving historic homes like “Moyenage” and “Franchester,” the story on the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (natural heritage), and the features on the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (cultural heritage).
   • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities. The story “Bridging the nature gap: Empowering urban youth with outdoor experiences” and the focus on Cleveland’s tree canopy (“Ode to a great Elm Tree”) connect to this target by emphasizing the importance of green spaces within the urban environment.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The story about Cuyahoga Valley National Park highlights the conservation of a natural habitat. The story on Balto, which discusses genomic sequencing, points to efforts in scientific research that help understand and preserve biodiversity.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data, but it implies several qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For SDG 3 & 10 (Health and Inequality): The existence and funding of organizations specifically designed to address health inequities, such as the “Village of Healing” receiving a “$1 million grant,” serves as an indicator of progress in providing targeted healthcare.
• For SDG 10 (Inequality): The establishment and recognition of multicultural and interracial businesses, like “Robert P. Madison International,” is an indicator of inclusive economic growth. The creation of awards like the “Louis Stokes Community Visionary Award” to honor civil rights leaders is an indicator of a community’s commitment to recognizing and continuing the work towards equality.
• For SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities): The publication of new trail guides for national parks (“Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s Trails Council releases new trail guide”) indicates active management and promotion of natural heritage. Journalistic coverage and public discussion about the preservation or demolition of historic buildings (“Moyenage,” “Franchester”) serve as an indicator of community engagement with cultural heritage protection.
• For SDG 15 (Life on Land): The work of volunteer groups like the “volunteer trails council” to maintain park trails is an indicator of community-led conservation efforts. Scientific research conducted by institutions like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History (“Genomic sequencing allows researchers to investigate Balto’s pedigree”) is an indicator of efforts to understand and preserve biodiversity.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: freshwatercleveland.com