From Collinwood to the World

Collinwood resident and entrepreneur Darvio Morrow with comedian George Lopez.

From an office on the east side of Cleveland, long-time Collinwood resident and 25-year-old Darvio E. Morrow connects with the rest of the world on a daily basis.

Darvio is the Founder and CEO of FCB Musera, a digital multimedia company that owns several online radio stations and record labels. The stations broadcast to anyone around the world with an internet connection and have a wide range of listeners from Cleveland to Brazil. "I was thrilled to see our numbers going up in Latin countries," said Darvio. "That's where the future is."

Musera Radio, the company's main product, has tens of thousands of monthly listeners and its group of record labels have a digital distribution deal with a company recently acquired by Sony Music Entertainment. But one of the things that Mr. Morrow is most proud of is the neighborhood that he started his company in almost ten years ago, Collinwood.

Darvio was born and raised on the south side of Collinwood and has a particular affinity for the northeast Cleveland neighborhood. "I try to explain to people what it's like growing up in Collinwood, but its hard to put it into words. It's a unique place," Darvio said. "Collinwood used to be an independent city years ago, and I think we still have that independent attitude. We kinda do our own thing over here. I'm proud to be from Collinwood."

Darvio heavily credits his education for leading him down the path of being an entrepreneur in the Entertainment industry. That too can be attributed to Collinwood, as Darvio had his educational start at St. John Nottingham Lutheran School on the neighborhood's north side. "I was there from K to 8th. I love that place. St. John gave me so much. I will forever be in debt to them," said Darvio. "Some of my closest friends I met at St. John. That was the first place outside of my home that I heard that I could be whatever I wanted to be."

Darvio still lives in Collinwood, although he is moving soon and does not spend as much time in the neighborhood as he would like. He still keeps up with current events in the neighborhood, is a fan of tough-as-nails North Collinwood Councilman Michael Polensek, and even cheers on the struggling Collinwood Railroaders football team. Periodically, Darvio also volunteers his time at the Collinwood Recreation Center, teaching teenagers the basics of radio broadcasting in the program "The Forum."

Regardless of where the future takes Darvio and his company, it is clear that the neighborhood of Collinwood was his launching pad. "Sometimes I don't think those of us from Collinwood appreciate our neighborhood like we should. This place and the people in it gave me the confidence to go and make my own way. We're a strong, independent bunch. That's who we are. I think we need more Collinwoods."

Musera Radio can be found at www.museraradio.com

Darece Daniels has lived in the Collinwood area for 29 years, his son attended St. John Nottingham Lutheran School and Villa Angela St. Joseph. He is a mentor to some students who attend Collinwood area schools and he will be running an after school program out of the Collinwood Library beginning in February.