News
Joe Black has been appointed to succeed Michael White after nearly two decades leading the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation’s Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) and Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP). Michael will continue as Senior Advisor to the Foundation.
Steve Hoffman, Chair of the Mandel Foundation board of trustees, said the Foundation is deeply grateful to Michael for his leadership and dedication. “He was a trusted advisor to Mort Mandel, and he has cultivated a leadership community of more than 400 graduates who are now contributing at every level of influence across Cleveland. His impact on these programs and the city is lasting.
Looking to the future, Joe is uniquely positioned to build on that foundation through his deep understanding of Cleveland’s neighborhoods and his resident-centered approach to leadership. As both a graduate and a coach of NLDP, Joe understands what these programs mean to the community, and he is well prepared to guide their next chapter.”
Jehuda Reinharz, President and CEO, said, “The Mandel brothers believed that the success of any organization rises and falls on the quality of its leadership. Mort was known for his commitment to identifying ‘A players,’ a term he used to describe individuals with the vision, integrity, and discipline to lead high-performing teams and execute big ideas. And Joe encompasses those values. His passion for Cleveland’s neighborhoods, civic and philanthropic leadership, and his ability to bring people together make him exceptionally well-suited to this role.”
Joe currently serves as Senior Program Officer for Community and Economic Development at the Cleveland Foundation and previously held the role of Central Promise Neighborhood Community Investment Manager at Sisters of Charity Foundation. He is a graduate of NLDP Cohort 8 and Cleveland Bridge Builders, and he serves as Vice Chair for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and the Health Comp Foundation Board of Directors.
Reflecting on the Foundation’s legacy, Joe said, “The Mandel brothers understood something that too often goes overlooked — leadership is one of the most powerful investments you can make in a community. They did not just believe it, they committed real resources to it, intentionally investing in people to strengthen the stewardship of our city. I stand as both a recipient and a beneficiary of that vision, and my journey reflects what is possible when leadership is cultivated with purpose and intention. Because of that, I carry a responsibility not only to honor that legacy, but to expand it.”
“I’m overjoyed that Joe has been selected for this role,” shared Michael White, founding director of NLDP and CDCLP. “The fact that he is both a graduate and trusted coach of NLDP makes him an ideal choice to lead these programs, and it represents a major commitment to the future of neighborhood leadership development in Cleveland.”
The transition is planned for mid-summer. NLDP and CDCLP are preparing to celebrate the programs’ 18th and 5th Cohort graduations, respectively.
