Since 2020, Cleveland Documenters have played a part in shaping the way citizens engage with local government. Documenters are residents who are trained and paid to take notes at local government meetings, creating a new form of public record. Meet members of the Cleveland Documenters community in our regular feature: Documenters community profiles.

Angela Rush currently splits her time between Beachwood and her childhood home in Shaker Heights. She spoke to Signal Cleveland about why she became a Documenter and how it has helped her shape a fresh outlook on life.

Good evening, Angela. You shared that you were a little apprehensive to join the Cleveland Documenters. Can you talk about what helped you to move past that?

I’ve been a full-time caregiver for eight years. I was caregiving for both of my parents prior to their passing. I just had so much going on. I was involved with a lot of other community and civic work while my parents were still alive to help me cope.

I found out about the Cleveland Documenters in 2022 through Signal Cleveland. I signed up that same year, but didn’t begin documenting until 2023. Honestly, I was intimidated at first. Once I got to meet other Documenters in person, at different events, that made me feel more comfortable. After that, I took my first assignment and it felt very organic.

Rush and her mother pose for a photo during an Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) event.
Rush enjoying the 2024 Solar Eclipse with her father.

Which meetings have you enjoyed covering?

I enjoy the county meetings, because I am very familiar with that body (Cuyahoga County Council). One meeting that recently stood out to me was the Cleveland Heights City Council meeting. They had many things on the agenda, but one of the items they were discussing was assisting people who had been arrested by ICE with financial aid and legal support. Organizers who advocated for the legislation had gotten the idea from community advocacy organizations in New York, where they already have that type of support in place. There were so many organizers and protestors there in support, the energy was really high. I really enjoyed it.

Is there anything in the meetings that has really stood out to you?

The structures of each organization, from city meetings to county meetings, are so vastly different in how they run meetings. In my opinion, some of them don’t do Robert’s Rules very well, which is very important to me because I am very familiar with those rules.

I also find it interesting how the city allocates funds to the different communities across Cleveland. While the process is open and transparent, to me it seems like the money is always being allocated to the same communities. 

What other civic work are you involved in?

While I was a caregiver, I was doing a lot of contract jobs so that I could have flexibility with my time. Now that I have more free time, I’ve been doing some work with the Cleveland State Alumni Association Board. I do work with voter advocacy groups. I’ve been doing more volunteer work with my church. I just try to get involved when and where I can.

Members of the Cleveland Documenters team at City Hall. Top row: Anastazia Vanisko, Larry Gardner, Andrea Jones, Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr, Regina Samuels, Mary Ellen Huesken, Gennifer Harding-Gosnell. Bottom row: Doug Breehl-Pitorak, Kellie Morris, Laura Redmon, Cleveland City Council Member Rebecca Maurer, Sheena Fain, Jeannine Isom-Barnhill, Jotoya Gray, Angela Rush. Credit: Anastazia Vanisko

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Civic power can start with you! We train and pay Documenters to take notes at local government meetings and share them here. Learn more about becoming a Documenter.

Are there any meetings that you haven’t had the chance to cover yet that you are looking forward to covering in the future?

I’m doing one of the ward meetings soon. I’m excited about that because I haven’t had the chance to do one of those yet. I really enjoy the Documenters special assignments. I did a special assignment during the budget hearings that was very interesting. While I do enjoy covering the meetings, I find the special assignments to be a little more intriguing.

Rush pictured with her Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority sisters.
Rush pictured with her Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) sorority sisters. Credit: Angela Rush

What would be your elevator pitch to someone who was considering becoming a Documenter?

Documenters has become a part of the new me. When I lost my parents, I was trying to figure out who I was without them. Being a Documenter has given me the confidence to write and has given me hope for the future of our community. I feel like as a Generation-Xer, my insight is appreciated and this experience has given me the opportunity to learn and grow.



Community Reporter (he/him)
I work to gain the trust of Cleveland residents through direct community engagement and storytelling. My goal is to amplify and celebrate the residents and stakeholders who contribute to the success of city neighborhoods. I’m hoping to erase the negative stigma that has been cast on some neighborhoods throughout the years.