Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindale Hinton
Hi Lindale, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Would it be considered cliché to say that my journey began with a boy? Well, I’ll bypass the tale of following my husband for now and instead, let’s delve into the genesis. I was raised in the company of three brothers, under the guidance of my remarkable “step” father and my indefatigable mother. When my father was laid off from Ford Motors, we leaned solely on my mother’s income, garnered through her work as a custodian for the Cleveland Heights/University Heights Board of Education. There were occasions when we did not have gifts for Christmas, yet our spirits remained buoyant. Often, we would create our own decorations and exchange modest yet heartfelt gifts, like handkerchiefs, amongst ourselves.
Despite our modest means, my mother consistently reminded us that there were others less fortunate, instilling in us a steadfast commitment to treating all with respect and kindness. This ethos has been an enduring cornerstone of my life. Enduring the trials of being the only daughter, I eschewed indulgence and assumed the mantle of household responsibilities, including cooking and cleaning, as my mother worked late into the night. I often, joking with my brothers, referred to myself as Cinderella, mindful of the chores awaiting me when I made it home before the street lights came on. It was during these formative years that my aspirations crystallized – a deep-seated desire to aid the elderly and nurture the youth.
I firmly believe that the elderly, who have paved the path for our future, merit our unwavering care and reverence. Similarly, I recognize the imperative of guiding the next generation toward leadership and self-fulfillment. Thus, from a young age, I harbored the determination that I would assume a role in uplifting others, buoyed by the invaluable lessons imparted by my parents and fortified by the adversities I encountered. I resolved then that I would not succumb to the statistical narrative of my upbringing but rather chart a course that would enable me to extend a helping hand to those in need.
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?
In my formative years, the pursuit of higher education wasn’t a prominent fixture in my future; completing high school was the primary objective. Lacking guidance on navigating the intricacies of college, my focus gravitated towards employment rather than further academic endeavors. At the tender age of 18, I found myself ensnared in a tumultuous relationship with an individual who proved to be profoundly wrong for me—perhaps even the epitome of wrongness, if such a term exists (humorously noted).
Enduring both verbal and physical abuse, and having been forced to abort my first child, I recognized unequivocally that this was not the life destined for me. Consequently, at the age of 19, I made the pivotal decision to relocate to Atlanta. Fond recollections linger of my late aunt Linda, who warmly welcomed me upon my arrival, fetching me from the bus station with unwavering support.
My time in Atlanta, while characterized by vibrant social scenes, also afforded me my initial exposure to collegiate life. Residing with a roommate enrolled at Clark University, I seized the opportunity to immerse myself in the academic milieu, occasionally attending classes alongside her—gratitude extends to the accommodating professors who facilitated this.
Yet, despite the allure of city life, a sense of incompleteness pervaded me. It became evident that my true path had yet to reveal itself. Faced with the distance from my familial roots, I made the conscious decision to return to Cleveland at the age of 21, reuniting with my parents. Little did I anticipate the profound impact this homecoming would have on my journey.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
By day I am City of Cleveland’s Land Bank Interim Manager. By night, I am the family beautician, chef, and a full-time mother and wife, and I am in the process of attaining my degree in cosmetology. My day job consists of me managing the vacant lots within the City of Cleveland Land Bank division. This requires me to work with the residents as well as developers interested in reutilizing land here in the great city of Cleveland. I also work with other city officials and leaders to ensure maintenance and proper reduce illegal use of vacant lots. Let my colleagues tell it, I do way more than I give myself credit for. I have been told that my specialty is motivating others. I attribute that to my upbringing, with all of the struggles in life, in order to keep a smile on my face, I have to look at the glass being half full (leaving room for hope and faith). Speaking of struggles, I am most proud of my 13 year-old daughter (she turns 14 May 6). Most people consider her to be my miracle child, due to the fact that I tried having her for 14 years, 11 failed pregnancies. She was one of three during my pregnancy, but the only child that went to term. This young lady has challenged me in ways that my mother or high school teachers should have. She told me when she start kindergarten, that I should start school, so I did. Now with my Masters in Public/City Management from Cleveland State University, I am able to utilize my skills both adopted from experience and learned via my degree to help my community, I love my city! And I think what sets me apart is that I don’t do it for the pay, I don’t do it for recognition, I do it to truly help the City of Cleveland, to help the various communities within the city, to build a bridge of communication and transparency with the residents and city bureaucrats. Go Browns!!
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Absolutely, if anything Covid-19 has shown me the importance of sustainability. We need to educate people on ways to preserve agriculture and how to properly maintain gardens within our community. During the pandemic, there were too many families that relied on assistance from schools, or other programs that went without food, Had these families or communities been better educated on the proper gardening techniques, they could have possible maintained successful and sustainable gardens. This is something I take serious in my job, overseeing the community garden program. In this program we offer local residents and businesses to license our lots for community gardens. To qualify we partner them with the Ohio State Summer Sprout program, where they learn how to properly manage gardens. Once they become certified gardeners, we provide them a license to manage vacant lots where the soil has been tested and deemed ok to garden on, some lot may require raised beds as opposed to in-ground gardening (depends on the soil testing and remediation results).
