2015ONPA Pictures of the Year

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Poet Honey Bell Bey understands the power of words better than most. Writing helps her navigate the brutality of her racially divided neighborhood. She also uses words to change the lives of young African American men in her community. Together, they learn the poetry of Langston Hughes and ee cummings, Countee Cullien and Robert Frost. These at risk youth commit to 20 hours a week of study, community service and brotherhood. They perform poetry across the region, and were invited to perform for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. When a visiting French dignitary saw these Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word perform on Martin Luther King, Jr Day, he invited them to come to Paris to perform for France's MLK days in June. An exciting offer, but many of the men can't even afford lunch. When a story about them ran in the newspaper, people responded, donating more than $50,000 to make their dream a reality.

Honey Bell Bell Honey Bell Bey and Amir Wilson listen as James Banks rehearses "Thinking," an inspirational poem by Walter D. Wintle.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Honey Bell-Bey and the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word do some last minute rehearsing in their neighborhood before performing at a church. The gentlemen respect Bell Bey and give her undivided attention.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Antoine Morris rehearses his piece of "Living in the Fire" as the rest of the poetic line of the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word stand respectfully and wait to play their part. The poem was written by the DGSW founding director Honey Bell-Bey. The final verse tells the story of a 12 year old boy, shot and killed at a community center. The poem was written 19 years before Tamir Rice was killed.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Each year, the Distinguished Gentlemen spend a week away from the city. They go to 'boot camp' at Camp Palmer in western Ohio, where they tighten their repertoire, talk about the problems in their lives, and develop a deeper connection with one another. It promotes team building, and also gets them out of the city.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Everette Mitchell III, left, and the rest of the Distinguished Gentlemen say grace before lunch at Camp Palmer.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Honey Bell Bey and the gents clasp hands to pray in the early morning fog at boot camp. The prayers were Protestant, Catholic, Muslim and Jewish. Bell Bey makes sure everyone understands and respects each other's religious beliefs.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Amir Wilson rehearses with his Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word brothers in the basement of their offices on East 79th Street. Three days later, he was beaten and robbed of his cell phone.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Fourteen year old Jaziah Shipp showed courage in volunteering to be the first one up to the rope course platform, but he is eager to be joined by his DGSW brother, Marcus Litman, heading up the ladder. The exercise is designed to build not only teamwork, but self-reliance. Bell Bey knows it will help build the confidence and courage they will need for their trip to perform in Paris.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Bell Bey is more frightened for the boys up on the ropes course than they are for themselves. The single woman is childless, but is like a mother to more than a dozen Distinguished Gentlemen.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

In spite of the rain, Amir Wilson is all smiles and makes like a bird after jumping off the ladder at Camp Palmer.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marcus Litman is proud of making it through the rope course even though the rain made it much more challenging.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Antoine Morris and the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marlon Harper's mom holds his new baby brother up so he can see his big brother perform with The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

With a free concert at the Cleveland Museum of Art, The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word said thank you to the Cleveland community for raising enough money for their trip to France.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Cordero Meggs has his eyes tested at the Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland. The 13 year-old has above average vision, and was told, "you won't be needing glasses anytime soon." The clinic has a new pediatrician, Myati Mahajan, who started at the clinic on March 1. She has signed on to be the "Pediatrician to the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word." The men all got physicals to ensure good health during their trip to France.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

These young poets regularly win the hearts of their audiences, routinely bringing them to tears. Everette Mitchell, III, center, second mic with the Distinguished Gentlemen, performs at the Cleveland Museum of Art, backed up by his DGSW brothers.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Amir Wilson gets a big kiss from his mom after his performance with The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word at the Cleveland Museum to thank the community for their generosity. The young men will be leaving for France in less than a month. It will be the first time many of them have left their families.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins and the congregation of South Euclid United Church of Christ pray for the Distinguished Gentleman so that their trip to France might be safe and meaningful. The women of the church made each gent a toiletries bag for the trip.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Honey Bell-Bey, founder and director of the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word, prays for safe and successful travels to France. The group was invited to South Euclid Church of Christ for blessings and prayers before their trip.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Everette Mitchell III tries on a shirt and tie for France, then takes it off so that Honey Bell-Bey can mark his initials on the collar. All the gents' clothes have been marked, making mass packing easier.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Amir Wilsonwas robbed of his cell phone, and he and fellow Gentleman, Josiah Shipp, were beaten for it. Amir's right eye had been swelled shut. He worries about how he will look while performing.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Mujahid Hamzah's mom watches from the front steps as the rocket car stops to pick up Everette Mitchell at his home on Superior Avenue. The rocket car picked up every gent at home and transported the group to their bon voyage party. Parents of the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word gathered at the community garden on East 79th Street to wrap their sons in love before they depart for France.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Romel Moore, front, and Honey Bell Bey dance with some of the gents' family members at the bon voyage party.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marlon Harper puts his arm around his mom as they lift their faces in prayer at the bon voyage party.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

The Distinguished Gentlemen ride the escalator up from the Metro at the Trucadero stop on their way to L'Arc de Triomphe. A little tired from the trains and still a bit jet lagged, they still soak in everything there is to see and do. James Banks, right, stretches his neck for a glimpse of what awaits. DGSW chaperone Adrian Hood is taking the stairs at left.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word landed at Charles DeGaul Airport in Paris and as soon as they cleared customs, they were taken to Clichy sous Bois, a Paris suburb that has it's share of poverty and racial unrest. There they met with students from Lycée Alfred Nobel to discuss the similarities and differences of their lives.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word sit in a gallery of French paintings at the Louvre in Paris.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Mujahid Hamzah reaches up to touch the hand of a statue near the Eiffel Tower. Their host kept them moving through the city so quickly that they had to touch things just to prove to themselves they were really in Paris.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Andreja Miloradovic greets Antoine Morris with the hand shake they practiced yesterday at Lysee Alfred Nobel in Clichy-sous-Bois. The French students surprised the gents by meeting them at the Eiffel Tower.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Jaleel Pegues and Honey Bell-Bey break out an impromtpu rap on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower. They started to draw a crowd, and James Banks joined in.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marlon Harper, Trevyon Hilliard and the rest of the Distinguished Gentlemen are presented with medals for scholastic merit while visiting Martin Luther King vocational high school in Lyon. They are the same medals the French students receive when they excel. The headmaster, Antoine Antetomaso, wanted the students to have them as a memento and a reminder to do well.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marcus Litman shoots video of his brothers talking with a mermaid on the streets of Lyon. The woman, who gave her name as Maude Medusine, says she is a sea shepherd mermaid who is passionate about putting an end to shark finning.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Marcus Litman fixes brother Marlon Harper's tie to make sure he looks perfect for their performance. Each year in June, the French celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. The Distinguished Gentlemen were invited to perform for French and US politicians at opening ceremonies at the Hotel de Region in Confluence.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Victor Vitelli, seated, watches Distinguished Gentleman Jaziah Shipp at the opening ceremonies of MLK Days. Vitelli is a public and commercial affairs specialist at the US Consulate in Lyon. Each year in June, the French celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. Politicians from France's Rhone-Alpes region and some members of the US Consul attended the conference.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Opheilie Toure, a student from Martin Luther King vocational high school in Lyon, flirts with Trevyon Hilliard, 18, a recent graduate of Cleveland's Glenville High School. The Gentlemen got a tour of the school, which changed it's name due to a vote by students and their parents in 2000. It was previously named after the area. Toure and Hilliard were together for the rest of the gents' time in Lyon.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Several of the Distinguished Gentlemen, from left, Amir Wilson, Marlon Harper, Marcus Litman and Antoine Morris, help an old couple who drove off the ramp when leaving the open air market in Lyon. The gents lifted the car's front end back onto the ramp when the right front wheel went off. The woman at left was a passenger in the car. Her husband was driving.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Fatima Mahanana, center, and her daughter, Asma, 19, right, are from Algeria. Asma, a member of the Young Ambassadors Alumni, invited the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word to their apartment for lunch. Fatima cooked all morning through early afternoon. Here she tells DGSW director Honey Bell-Bey how honored she is to be able to meet the gents and cook for them.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

On their visit to the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word each received a French and American flag lapel pin.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Finally, their dream is realized: The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word perform at the U.S. Embassy in Paris on their last afternoon in France.

First place, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word" - Lynn Ischay / The Plain Dealer

Honey Bell-Bey is relaxed and relieved after The Distinguished Gentlemen of Spoken Word had a good performance at the U.S. Embassy in Paris. She walks down the street with Marcus Litman, in search of a place for the gents to have dinner on their last day in France. Mujahid Hamzah, right, joins them.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

In America, one in 17 people live with a serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depression, or bipolar disorder. In 1982 Ohio passed the Mental Health Act, which would change how mentally ill patients were treated throughout the state. The legislation would move the treatment of the mentally ill from state institutions to a smaller more community-based system. During the past two decades, Ohio's public mental health system has tried to improve the quality of and access to care. This community-based system often leaves employees overworked which leads to a lack of individualized attention that many of the residence may need. In a secluded part of Carroll County, there is a cluster of group homes where caregivers live and work with residents, who have serious mental illnesses. Many of these people depend upon each other for emotional support because they don’t receive it from their families.
Brenda writes in a birthday card for her 11-year-old son Evan at a group home in Robertsville, Ohio. Brenda tries to see Evan whenever she can but her mother makes it very difficult because she insists that Brenda pay for her travel.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

A heavy fog obscures the view of the property where a few of the group homes are located in Robertsville, Ohio.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Brenda laughs as she attempts to joke with an irritated resident. Mood swings are a common occurrence among residents. They are extremely sensitive. One wrong word or a misinterpreted sigh can ruin a relationship between housemates.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Tom, a resident who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, paces outside of the group home as he smokes a cigarette.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Tom often writes on the walls or desk in his room and struggles to put coherent sentences together.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

A resident approaches nightly medication with apprehension.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Brenda smokes outside on a cold morning. She wakes up most mornings in a muddled state, struggling to get out of bed while arguing with the caregivers who try to keep the residents on a schedule.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Tom sleeps in his chair. Tom is noncompliant with his medication, refusing to take it or even hiding it. As a result, he is often tired during the day.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

A resident sits a bag of cigarettes next to his feet before he smokes. Once a week the residents do their shopping. Many spend what little money they have on cartons of cigarettes.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

A resident smokes a cigarette outside of the group homes activity center in Malvern, Ohio.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Dennis has poor circulation that causes extreme water retention in his legs. He has a concurrent condition that causes him to spend most of his day sleeping, even while eating and smoking.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

“I cried everyday. I would tell myself stop crying. I don’t want to cry anymore because of him. It’s all in the past now but I want my father to burn in hell,” Brenda said, regarding the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

Brenda struggles to swallow some of the large pills she is prescribed.

Award of Excellence, James R. Gordon Ohio Undertanding Award, "Mental Illness" - Coty Giannelli / Kent State University

As the sun comes up in Robertsville, residents begin another repetitive day living from cigarette to cigarette and pill to pill.