In Honor of Black History Month NORA Friday Night Live presents
Special Speaker & Cleveland’s Own, Yvonne Pointer.
Friday, Feb 25, 2022 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for a story of hope, prayer, fellowship and soul food.
Feb 4, 2022 To Be Announced- Meal
Feb 11, 2022 Prevention Department Presentation- Meal
Feb 18 2022 Prevention Department Presentation- Meal
Feb 25, 2022 – Special Guest Yvonne Pointer of Hope Haven – 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
NORA Soul Food Dinner by Chef Richard Bradley
March 25, 2022 Movie Screening : ABOUT APART
Apart follows three unforgettable mothers incarcerated in Ohio — Tomika, Lydia, and Amanda — as they prepare to return home from prison and work to rebuild their lives after being separated from their children for years. Their stories overlap at Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s Chopping for Change program run by Malika Kidd, who is featured in the film. Apart underscores the importance of gender-responsive reentry solutions, as well as the power of fair-chance hiring practices for women.
Yvonne Pointer
From humble beginnings, motivated by the brutal death of her daughter Gloria in 1984, a humanitarian, philanthropist, author, evangelist and speaker, Dr. Yvonne Pointer has spent her lifetime faithfully serving and helping to improve the lives of others locally, nationally and internationally
A tireless activist, she touches every segment of the community especially the least among us. She’s a frequent visitor to Ohio prisons. She founded the Midnight Basketball program in Cleveland; served as facility and mentor in CMSD’s Girl Power program; is the founder of the longstanding women’s support group Positive Plus, established the Gloria Pointer Scholarship Fund through College Now and awards an annual $2,000 scholarship to students in John Hay High School; supports financially The Gloria Pointer Teen Movement in Ghana West Africa and is currently in the process of building the 4th school in Africa in memory of her daughter, Gloria Pointer
Dr. Pointer believes steadfastly that one person can make a difference and is often found in the belly of the beast as she refers to her work with young people. She is the founder of an all-girls program, Permission to Speak. The program focus is to teach participants the power of their voices through journaling. In 2013, participants self-published a book filled with their words and a book signing was launched as a result in the Fairfax Recreation Center.
As the founder of the Midnight Basketball Program, her primary goal was to schedule life skills workshops for the participants. In doing so, those involved in this crime prevention program were able to experience life beyond their immediate environment, through the lives of the presenters.
She is a frequent facilitator in prisons across the country delivering a message of hope and redemption to those tossed away by society. Her message to them is, as long as there is life there is hope.
In 1985, Dr. Pointer realized that she alone could not improve the lives of youth within the community and she began Positive Plus, a self-help support group for women. The goal and objective of the program was to support and to assist the women in the program to improve upon their lives and in return to reach back and to mentor a young person.
She works tirelessly with families victimized by violence and as a result has help many to see that there is life after death. As a direct result of her involvement many families have become stronger in their case to take back the streets.
. She also developed the annual Celebration of Hope program, a platform that recognizes the work and impact of other community leaders. Past honorees include Susan L. Taylor, Dr. Gwendolyn Golsby Grant and Dr. Farrah, Terrie M. Williams and Elvin Ross.
Sparked through her support of The Gloria Pointer Teen Movement, inspired and founded by Ghanaian Anthony Tay, she raised the funds necessary to open schools in memory of daughter, Gloria, in Ghana, West Africa. Her efforts led to her being crowned Queen Mother of the village Atonkwa.
A faithful member of New Direction Church, under the leadership of Pastors Rufus and Lady Freda Webb, and leading voice on redemption, faith and spiritual guidance, Pointer has ministered to others for years. She earned her Certificate of Ordination from Beracah Faith Ministries International and her degree in Theology, with a focus in Black churches, from Ashland Theological Seminary College. She received an honorary doctorate of Divinatory upon from the Canadian International Chaplaincy Association (CICA) International University & Seminary.
Pointer has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She’s been honored by Queen Latifah, Essence Awards, former Ohio Governor George Voinovich, former U.S. President George W. Bush, The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the National Council of Negro Women. She is the only person in history to receive the FBI Director’s Leadership Award twice.
Pointer has authored books, writes for magazines, and contributed to “Chicken Soup for the African American Soul.” Her own personal story has been highlighted in the media for decades and even featured in a German documentary, “The Second Execution Romell Broom.” Her story is also at the center of a book, “God Whispered in My Ear,” written by renowned journalist Margaret Bernstein.
Steadfast on her mission to inspire others, she broadcasts live from her infamous Hope Haven via Facebook Monday through Friday at 8 p.m. while her segment “Live from the Hope Haven” airs every other Friday at noon on Cleveland’s WKYC. Her ability to continuously keep her story in the press led to the discovery of her daughter’s killer, through DNA evidence, after of a 29 year search. And with a forgiving heart, she visited him in prison. Nationally and internationally, Dr. Yvonne Pointer is a modern day symbol of hope.
