Christopher Alvarado, a graduate of the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education, has been nominated by Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne (MUPDD ‘96) to lead the Department of Regional Collaboration. In this pivotal role, Alvarado will spearhead initiatives aimed at fostering collaborative efforts and driving growth across the county.

With an impressive background in public administration and a deep-rooted commitment to community engagement, Alvarado brings a wealth of experience to his new role. After earning a Master of Urban Planning, Design, and Development (MUPDD) from Levin College in 1999, Alvarado quickly emerged as a dynamic force in the public sector serving as an associate senior planner for the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.

Most recently, Alvarado has served as the Executive Director of Slavic Village Development Corporation (SVD), where he oversaw the community development corporation’s housing development and renovation, commercial development, community organizing, and stabilization services. During his nine-year tenure, SVD rehabilitated over 200 single-family homes and decreased the proportion of vacant homes in the neighborhood by 300%. The Community Steward program was launched to train neighborhood residents to be community leaders, with a focus on racial equity and trauma-informed care.

According to County Executive Ronayne, “Chris has an extensive background leading community, regional, and sustainability planning efforts, and knows how to empower residents to be stewards in their communities. I know that he will have invaluable insight into how regional collaboration can help improve our efficiency, processes, and overall public and economic development.”

The Department of Regional Collaboration is responsible for facilitating cross-jurisdictional efforts, bridging local governments, agencies, and stakeholders to address shared challenges and leverage collective strengths. Alvarado's proven ability to bridge gaps and find innovative solutions makes him ideally suited to lead these vital initiatives, according to articles by Cleveland.com and Crain’s Cleveland Business.

Read more: https://www.slavicvillage.org/news/christopher-alvarado-press-release/