Find your people. Offline.

We're a local nonprofit helping high schoolers build friendships, find their passions, and boost their social health through community events and connection fairs.

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1 in 3
teens report not having a single close friend to lean on.
3+ hrs
of daily screen time is linked to higher rates of anxiety.
15
The health impact of chronic loneliness equals smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Event Recap

The Find Your Thing Fair is in the books.

On October 10, teens from across Cleveland walked into the library, met local youth organizations face to face, and found their thing.

"Having a place for teens to gather to see what they can be a part of is fabulous and we need more events like this!"
Exhibitor
"This event was well thought out and I found the volunteers very attentive and helpful!"
Exhibitor
"I really enjoyed the bead incentive, so I would love to see similar ideas each year!"
Exhibitor
"There was a great setup of really getting people to interact with the various organizations. The physical layout and system of beads made engagement with all the groups easy and encouraged."
Volunteer
"Everything flowed really well, from the setup, to the actual event, and even those in-between moments too! Everything felt enjoyable and engaging overall."
Volunteer
Teens
40+
from across Cleveland
Organizations
15+
local youth groups at the tables
Where
October 10
Cleveland Public Library

Thank you to Kutoa Foundation for presenting the fair, the Cleveland Mayor's Office Thriving Youth Series, Cleveland Public Library for hosting, every organization that tabled, every volunteer who ran the day, and Zoe Dent for photography.

See upcoming events
Upcoming Events

What's happening next.

Teen friendly events around Cleveland. We add new ones all the time, so check back or join the email list.

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Org Directory

Every org, all in one place.

A growing, alphabetical list of Cleveland youth organizations. Click a color to filter by tag.

Eliana Fieldman, founder of Youth Connect CLE
About Us

A teen-led nonprofit, built on real research.

Youth Connect CLE was founded and is led by Eliana Fieldman, a Cleveland-area high schooler who spent two years researching adolescent isolation. That research became The Practice of Belonging, and it shapes everything we build, from the Find Your Thing Fair to every program on our roadmap.

Our mission is simple. Get Cleveland teens together in person, around things they actually care about. No algorithms, no filters. Just real people finding their thing.

Want to go deeper? Read our connection toolkit or the Surgeon General's report on the loneliness epidemic.

What's Next

Beyond the fair.

The Find Your Thing Fair is just the start. Here's what we're building next, all teen-led and teen-founded.

In Development

Club Seed Fund

Micro-grants ($50–$150) to help teens launch their own clubs and neighborhood connection projects, from a pickup basketball game to a board game night. We supply the funding and a Connection Resource Kit, they handle local execution. We're seeking a foundation sponsor to get this off the ground.

In Development

Peer Facilitator Corps

A core group of teen ambassadors trained as connection facilitators for other Cleveland nonprofits. When partner organizations host events, our facilitators deploy icebreakers, prompt games, and human bingo cards, building our network's presence while supporting community partners.

In Development

Teen Storytelling & Podcast Series

A monthly spotlight series, published via Substack, Spotify, or short-form video, translating our research into accessible stories, featuring local youth leaders, artists, and organizers sharing their connection journeys, mental health tips, and local impact stories.

We're also building a Youth Advisory Board and are in the process of filing for official 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Work With Us

Want to help out?

Whether you're an organization looking to set up a booth, a parent or teen wanting to volunteer, or a local business ready to sponsor, we'd love to chat.

Host a Booth

Are you a club or organization that wants more teen members? Let's get you a spot at our next fair.

Volunteer

Teens and adults both welcome. Reach out below and we'll get you set up with a shift.

Get in Touch

Drop us a line and our team will get back to you.