The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

In a world driven by fast-fashion, mass production, and shifts in retail shopping habits, the fashion industry has faced its fair share of challenges lately-particularly for entrepreneurs and small businesses.\r\n\r\nYet, Valerie May?n has remained committed to sustainability and the art of hand-crafted garments that fit everybody and every body. Valerie is the Latinx female powerhouse behind Yellowcake Shop Fashion, where her unapologetic approach to representation and empowerment through fashion has earned her multiple accolades, including Crain\'s Cleveland Woman of Note, Notable Latino Leaders, and the Cleveland Arts Prize, among others.\r\n\r\nValerie grew from humble beginnings as a student at the Cleveland Institute of Arts and an Etsy shop owner before gaining international recognition through Project Runway (Season 8 and All-Stars Season 5). She ultimately scaled Yellowcake from zero to six figures, without external support. Her entrepreneurial journey is filled with real-world lessons on creativity, integrity, and a lived experience on how Northeast Ohio can better support entrepreneurs.

Congressman Greg Landsman represents the 1st District of Ohio, which includes the city of Cincinnati, Warren County, and borders the state of Kentucky. He is widely known for his work in child and family advocacy, and bipartisan legislative efforts that support veterans, housing affordability, and public safety.\r\n\r\nBefore joining the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023, Greg served on the Cincinnati City Council for five years where he led investments in public safety and core services. He also served as the Director of Faith-based and Community Initiatives under former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. He currently serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, including the Subcommittee on Health, Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, and the Subcommittee on Environment.

Union organizing in Cleveland has been gaining ground, and it\'s not just taking on large corporations. Driven by workers seeking fair wages, safer working conditions, and a voice at the table, local unionization has repeatedly made headlines here in Cleveland. One thing is clear: This isn\'t your grandparents\' labor movement. Multiple sectors, including small businesses and nonprofits, are joining a growing effort to unionize as they face a rising cost of living, inflation, and a challenging political climate. What new strategies are needed to support workers, build solidarity, and create a more equitable workplace?\r\n\r\nPanelists: Tim Francisco, Director, The Center for Working Class Studies; Professor of English, Youngstown State University; Grace Heffernan, Executive Director, Northeast Ohio Worker Center; and Brian Pearson, Executive Secretary, North Shore AFL-CIO. Moderated by City Club Director of Programming Cynthia Connolly.

Celebrate the National Day of Giving with purpose and perspective.\r\n\r\nEvery day, Americans contribute more than $1 billion to charitable causes - a powerful reflection of generosity in action. Here in Northeast Ohio, local households give nearly $5 billion annually, fueling the missions that strengthen our communities.\r\n\r\nYet, the philanthropic landscape is constantly shifting - shaped by tax reform, community needs, political climate, and evolving donor expectations. On Giving Tuesday, join us for a free, energizing workshop exploring how intentional strategy and authentic connection can enhance donor satisfaction and amplify nonprofit impact.\r\n\r\nLed by Megan Bush Granson, founder & CEO of Inbloom Consulting, and Dan Mansoor, founder & President of GoodWorks Group, and this engaging session will offer fresh insights, actionable ideas, and renewed energy for the work you do every day.\r\n\r\nBeyond ideas and inspiration, this is a chance to connect with peers, recharge your perspective, and rediscover the joy of fundraising.

Quantum computing may sound like something out of a sci-fi TV show. But the future is here, and it\'s right in our own backyard. In 2023, Cleveland Clinic and IBM deployed the first quantum computer dedicated to healthcare research. It was part of a 10-year partnership to accelerate research in healthcare and life sciences. Unlike supercomputers, quantum computing uses \"qubits\" that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics, making it possible to explore certain complex problems and calculations - calculations impractical or impossible for supercomputers. For context, in what would take a supercomputer years to execute, a quantum computer can complete in hours, if not minutes.\r\n\r\nThis is a complete game-changer when it comes to research bottlenecks, identifying new scientific discoveries. And it\'s not just Cleveland Clinic tapping into this innovative technology. Have we entered a new race to the top in tech? And what does it mean to have one of the first quantum computers powering advanced biomedical research right here in Northeast Ohio?

From underground clubs to sold out arenas, every musician and band who \"made it big\" started small. The success story of one of Akron\'s most successful bands, The Black Keys, is no different. Together with bandmate Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney began recording in basements and touring in a 1994 Plymouth Grand Voyager. Ultimately, the band chose a similar minivan for the cover of their double-platinum album, El Camino, which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard album chart in 2011. It was a humorous nod to their humble beginnings and \"band van\" days.\r\n\r\nWhile the hustle and grind can seem like a rite of passage for rock bands, it doesn\'t necessarily need to be that way. John Panza at the Panza Foundation believes that even small amounts of assistance can have a profound effect on the artistic output and morale of independent artists. Established in 2014, the Panza Foundation aims to support local, independent musicians and bands--allowing those artists the freedom to pursue their craft with the best tools and opportunities possible.

What\'s the case for college these days? For much of the last fifty years, research very clearly suggested that college was the key to unlock the American Dream. A college degree not only ensured a route to a stable career but was also strongly correlated with future financial well-being. Events of recent years, along with the affordability challenges, seem to have stood that conventional wisdom on its head.\r\n\r\nAnd yet, more than 15 million students are enrolled in undergraduate programs at close to 4,000 institutions. And despite the headlines about name-brand private colleges and universities, it\'s important to remember that more than 70% of those students are at public institutions--community colleges and state schools that prioritize affordability alongside educational quality.\r\n\r\nTo make the case for college in these turbulent times, we\'ll hear from the President of one of the more affordable higher education institutions in Northeast Ohio, the chief executive of the regional organization that supports more than 42,000 individuals every year, and the best-selling author of The Black Family's Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation about Education, Parenting, and Race.

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.

Becoming a successful entrepreneur and maintaining success in a startup business has its own unique set of systemic and structural challenges. Many of those challenges start well before the hunt for investors and developers begins. Often, the toughest barriers can be found in simply trying to meet basic needs for themselves, or their families. Access to food, wraparound services, and community health can make a significant difference at the start of any entrepreneurial endeavor. Add to this, access to education, key resources, technology, and quality mentorship can truly make the difference between an idea launched, or shelved. What can we learn about the work being done here in Northeast Ohio that is truly breaking barriers, and building futures in entrepreneurship?\r\n\r\nTiffany Cashon is a Senior Director at Case Western Reserve University\'s think[box] is a seven story makerspace and entrepreneurship ecosystem that is free and open to the public. Opened in 2015, its goal is to bring together resources for venture creation and entrepreneurship under one roof.\r\n\r\nKate Fox Nagel is Chief Executive Officer of MetroHealth Community Health Centers. Launched in 2018, the centers support inclusive and equitable community wellbeing in collaboration with other critical community organizations.\r\n\r\nTiffany Scruggs is the VP of Community Access and Executive Director of Community Resource Center at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Opened in 2022, the Community Resource Center serves as a one-stop shop for a healthy choice food pantry and to connect with over a dozen social service partners all under one roof.\r\n\r\nModerated by Renee Richard\r\nPresident and CEO of Corporate College, Cuyahoga Community College

As the nation readies itself for what could turn into the longest federal government shutdown in history, 42 million people - or about 1 in 8 - are bracing for a pause in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Here in Cuyahoga County, 190,000 residents receive SNAP benefits. Funding for the program will run out starting on November 1st. Regardless of whether the government reopens or Congress passes a SNAP funding bill, changes to SNAP eligibility and work requirements will take effect beginning November 1-impacting immigrants, families with teenage children, and others.\r\n\r\n\r\nFood Banks across the nation are readying to meet increased demand. Yet, SNAP provides about nine times the amount of food aid compared to food banks. Add to this, 1.4 million federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay, stressing household budgets and driving up food insecurity. How are area organizations managing the increased demand? And how can we support the region\'s wrap-around services to become more resilient in the face of external pressures? \r\nSpeakers: Annette Iwamoto\r\nDirector, Cuyahoga Human Services Chamber, Center for Community Solutions\r\nPatrick Kearns\r\nExecutive Director, Re:Source Cleveland\r\nDavid Merriman\r\nDirector, Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services\r\nModerator\r\nGabriel Kramer\r\nReporter/Producer, Ideastream Public Media