About The Author

Close-up of an elderly woman with short blonde hair, smiling, wearing hoop earrings and a brown cardigan, in front of a stone wall.

Jan Thrope is a “motivational listener”. For years she has walked through Cleveland and East Cleveland listening to residents’ visions for stronger communities. Inspired by those conversations, she wrote the award-winning book “Inner Visions: Grassroots Stories of Truth and Hope” and founded a grassroots initiative that that turns residents’ ideas into action through relationship-building, resource sharing, micro-loans and giving circles. Since 2012, over 1,600 people have participated. Her signature Ride-Along program takes guests to meet neighborhood change-makers focusing on possibilities rather than problems. She also created Reverse Ride-Along, where police cadets ride with residents to replace suspicion with trust.  Approximately 600 cadets and 5,000 community members have participated.