Rid-All Green Partnership Receives Citizen Diplomat Award

The international exchange work of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs (CCWA) was celebrated at the Global Ties U.S. 2024 National Meeting in Washington D.C. in March. One of CCWA’s community resources, Rid-All Green Partnership, was a recipient of the Global Ties U.S. 2024 Citizen Diplomat Award.  “This award is not just a win for us, it’s a win for urban agriculture, the city of Cleveland, and farmers around the world,” said Keymah Durden, Co-Founder of Rid-All, when accepting the award.

CCWA nominated Rid-All Green Partnership for their ongoing engagement with U.S. Department of State-sponsored international visitor groups, coordinated by CCWA. As an urban agricultural center and community education hub, Rid-All’s footprint spans over 18 acres and includes 10 different enterprises focused on food access, economic development, community development, and agriculture. CCWA has connected visitor groups with Rid-All on topics ranging from urban agriculture and food access to social entrepreneurship and youth outreach.

In 2023 alone, Rid-All hosted over 60 international visitors through CCWA, including professional delegations and youth exchange programs. When meeting with Rid-All, visitors will tour their urban farm including their hoop houses, aquaponics, and commercial composting sites. Located in Kinsman, one of Cleveland’s oldest neighborhoods, visitors learn how Rid-All was founded on an illegal dumping ground and has helped revitalize and promote economic development in the community. During the visits, international delegations exchange best practices and take lessons learned back to their home communities around the world.

Global Ties U.S. is a national organization that coordinates and provides resources for organizations like CCWA around the country, which are partnering with the U.S. Department of State on its international exchange programs. The annual Global Ties Citizen Diplomat Award honors individuals and institutions for outstanding achievements that advance international understanding and global engagement through international exchanges. Nominees are motivated by an understanding of world issues and committed to the exchange of persons and ideas.

Rid-All is a “top Citizen Diplomat resource” in Cleveland. As described by Andrew Kovach, CCWA Senior Program Officer, “Rid-All co-founders Keymah and Dave have a passion for making global connections and building mutual understanding between cultures.”

For more information about CCWA’s international exchange programs, click here.