Today we’d like to introduce you to John Litten.
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My social service journey began as a summer camp counselor in 1996 when I was 17. I would ultimately become the full-time director of the camp in 2005 at age 26. With plenty of mistakes, I was blessed to be able to learn many leadership lessons early in my career. I would eventually write a book about those lessons in the camp setting and also get a master’s degree in nonprofit management and public administration from CSU in 2011. In 2012 I left the camp world to run the St. Vincent de Paul Society in greater Cleveland, which seeks to help thousands through food and emergency assistance. We grew it into a very impactful, volunteer-based organization. In 2017 I left SVDP to become Executive Director of the West Side Catholic Center. We are helping 7-8000 per year with food, clothing, shelter, advocacy, and a path to self-sufficiency. Over the past five years, we’ve overseen a major renovation, the opening of a social enterprise restaurant (Ohio City Pizzeria) that hires our clients, and overcome a pandemic in which we’re never stopped serving our clients, and have grown to be more impactful in our services.
I am also City Council President in Lakewood, Ohio, and have been on Council since 2016. It’s a great way to give back to my local community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think the major challenges have always been communication-related. A breakdown in communication, avoiding a difficult conversation, or not providing a high level of customer service has led to breakdowns and struggles. I’ve found that being intentional about responding to people, even if you cannot change their problem, can really be helpful in minimizing or even avoiding problems. Also, in leadership, 5% of people cause 95% of your problems so embracing that fact is paramount.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about West Side Catholic Center (WSCC) and Ohio City Pizzeria (OCP)?
In addition to the aforementioned growth and all we’ve overcome over the past five years, our center is best at being a professional friend to those it serves, especially those who might lack support systems and/or family. To quote a local priest, Fr. Jim O’Donnell, the only way to effect change is “sustained presence over time”. WSCC is that sustained presence. Never is that more apparent than when a previously homeless client, one who has come to us for meals for many years, finally builds up the trust to allow for one of our workforce classes. That class has been the spark toward employment. That spark only happens by being there for people, day in and day out, until they are ready, trusting, healing or more.
Ohio City Pizzeria is a social enterprise of West Side Catholic Center. This unique model has all the looks of a traditional restaurant while hiring WSCC Workforce and Culinary Program graduates. All profits also go back to the center. OCP provides great food for a great cause.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Don’t diminish your standing because of your young age, but also be willing to learn from those who came before. Even a previous situation, person in a role, etc. wasn’t 100% wrong and was probably mostly right or well-intentioned, so be willing to see both. You often don’t know what life is like from a different chair.
Also, people respect a person, not a position. So even if promoted to Director, Mayor, etc. that respect must be earned. They might fear you, but they won’t respect you without your investment in them.
Pricing:
- $18 for a large pepperoni pizza from our social enterprise, Ohio City Pizzeria! Full menu on the website.
- For $5,000 we can provide 2 parents and 2 children to have one-month lodging in our family shelter or over 3,000 to-go meals from our Resource Center.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wsccenter.org and ohiocitypizzeria.org
- Instagram: @wsccenter, @ohiocitypizzeria, and @littenforlakewood
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westsidecatholiccenter and https://www.facebook.com/ohiocitypizzeria
- Twitter: @wsccenter, @ohiocitypizza, and @john_litten
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/wsccenter
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ohio-city-pizzeria-cleveland
