Youth-Led Forum: Beyond the Spotlight: Voices of Influence Inspiring Change

This is a youth-led forum, powered by student voices.\r\n\r\nFrom center stage to the sports arena, athletes and public figures have long used their platforms to do more than entertain. They have used their voices to lead, challenge, and inspire change. This youth-led forum explores how some of Cleveland's most recognizable names have influenced the city's culture, conversations, and commitment to justice.\r\n\r\nFrom the legacy of Congressman Louis Stokes' fight for fair representation and voting rights to the 1967 Cleveland Summit, when prominent Black athletes took a public stand for their beliefs, Cleveland has a deep history of leadership that connects sports, civic engagement, and advocacy. Today, new generations of athletes, artists, and influencers continue that tradition, using their visibility to push for equity, uplift communities, and redefine what civic leadership looks like.\r\n\r\nPanelists and students will discuss how influence can create real impact, what responsibility comes with a public platform, and how young people can learn from these examples to shape the next chapter of Cleveland's story.