The Center for Community Solutions (CCS) has a new President & CEO - Emily Campbell - who took over the helm at CCS in December 2023. Under her leadership, and in this next chapter for the organization, the work on solutions to health, and social and economic issues remains full steam ahead. Prior to her current role, Emily served as the Chief Operating Officer at CCS, worked for a U.S. Congressman, and consulted with numerous nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies to provide data and public policy decision support.\r\n\r\nRecently, CCS announced five things coming from the organization in 2024 that continues to grow their already hard-hitting nonpartisan research, policy analysis, communications, and advocacy. They teased at more coveted Neighborhood and Ward Fact Sheets; tighter partnerships around the gender and racial wealth gap; and a deeper dive into the well-being of girls and teens--to name a few. So what is new in this next era of CCS? And what should we know about Cleveland and Cuyahoga County\'s current state?

On this date thirteen years ago, the first building was opened on the Rid-All farm site--based in the Lower Kinsman neighborhood in the former Forgotten Triangle. Since then, Rid-All has grown from 1.3 acres to 18 acres, with a thriving campus that includes six hoop houses, two greenhouses, EPA licensed compost facility, a tree nursery, a tilapia fish farm, and more. Rid-All Farm has become a community anchor and beacon of what is possible in the face of food injustice and the fight toward food sovereignty.\r\n\r\nNow, we have a new film that tells this story produced by Seattle\'s Thriving Communities--a national organization that uses film to catalyze community action. Regenerating Communities chronicles the founding and expansion of our very own Rid-All farm, and the special friends and family who came together to defy the odds and create a national model for urban agriculture.

What happens when you accept oppression, division or hate? Everyone suffers, says the Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu. Now 25 years after her father, Archbishop Desmond Tutu spoke at The City Club of Cleveland, Rev. Tutu will join us to discuss her efforts in the fight for the rights of women, especially those of color, and others marginalized.\r\n\r\nThe challenges of growing up Black and female in apartheid South Africa have been the foundation of Rev. Tutu\'s life as an activist for human rights. After years spent as a development consultant, educator, and race and gender activist, Rev. Tutu accepted her call to ordained ministry. She currently resides in Atlanta where she is a priest associate at All Saints' Episcopal.\r\n\r\nAs well as speaking and preaching, the Rev. Tutu has established Nozizwe Consulting. Its mission is to bring different groups together to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity. As part of this work, she has led Truth and Reconciliation Workshops for groups dealing with different types of conflict. She is the recipient of four honorary doctorates from universities and colleges in the U.S. and Nigeria.\r\nJoin us at the City Club as Enlightened Solutions Co-Founder ChiChi Nkemere talks with Rev. Tutu on the work it takes to build gender coalitions across racial lines.

Though headlines are dominated by the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel, those are just two items on a lengthy United States foreign policy agenda. China\'s interest in Taiwan threatens democracy and U.S. investments there; nascent democracies across Africa need support; economic and political crises in South American nations are creating migration challenges at the U.S. southern border; and trading partners around the world require U.S. attention, and any action on the global climate will require significant leadership from the U.S., as well. Beyond all of that, non-state actors threaten to destabilize the global economy through criminal activity. As President Biden ramps up his re-election campaign, he is faced with an unending list of foreign policy challenges. Though these will likely receive less attention in the campaign than domestic concerns, their importance can\'t be overstated.\r\n\r\nAaron David Miller is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. Between 1978 and 2003, Miller served at the State Department as a historian, analyst, negotiator, and advisor to Republican and Democratic secretaries of state, where he helped formulate U.S. policy on the Middle East and the Arab-Israel peace process, most recently as the senior advisor for Arab-Israeli negotiations. Miller is the author of five books and is a global affairs analyst for CNN.

Dennis Shirley believes a perfect storm is upon us and educators are in the middle of it--that identity issues often incite and divide us, but they are actually our way out of the storm. Shirley is a scholar of educational change who helps schools around the world to improve teaching and learning. His research focuses on the frequency of conflict between the ideals of educators and the realities of power and politics.\r\n\r\nIn his third book, co-authored with Andy Hargreaves, The Age of Identity: Who Do Our Kids Think They Are... and How Do We Help Them Belong? is a compelling call to action for educators and families alike.

Cleveland\'s rich history in the arts has been a testament to the city\'s cultural diversity and resilience. From the industrial boom in the late 19th century to the vibrant resurgence in recent decades, the arts have been a cornerstone of Cleveland\'s identity. As one explores the Cleveland cultural DNA, you will find a diverse community where a multitude of artistic influences converge, creating a unique and dynamic cultural landscape. The amalgamation of different traditions, ethnicities, and perspectives has given rise to a thriving arts community that reflects the spirit of inclusivity and collaboration.\r\n\r\nThe mosaic of cultures in Cleveland is particularly evident in the city\'s artistic expressions that showcase and celebrate diverse communities in Cleveland. The vibrant tapestry of Cleveland\'s cultural identity is intricately woven with threads of creativity, innovation, and a celebration of diversity.\r\n\r\nIn discussion about Cleveland\'s Cultural DNA, it\'s important to consider the profound impact of the arts on the city\'s social and political fabric. The arts serve as a catalyst for dialogue, understanding, and shared experiences, bridging gaps and fostering a sense of community. Our conversation will delve into how the arts have not only shaped Cleveland\'s past but continue to be a driving force in shaping its future.

What would a truly inclusive economy look like? Imagine it--a community where everyone can put their gifts and talents to work and build their dreams. Despite the rhetoric about the American Dream, for many in our community, real, tangible obstacles stand in the way of access to economic opportunity. There are stakes here for the whole community. After all, every entrepreneur who finds success creates jobs and opportunities for others.\r\n\r\nAfter he built CLE Consulting, into a thriving business and tax advisory firm, LaRese Purnell has devoted himself to teaching the tools of entrepreneurship and wealth building throughout Cleveland. As a the Huntington Entrepreneur in Residence at Cuyahoga Community College, Purnell has conducted workshops for hundreds of aspiring small business owners and entrepreneurs. And in his role at CLE Consulting, he and his colleagues have provided guidance to countless business owners on the path to growth.\r\n\r\nAs part of our Building Success series with Huntington Bank, Tri-C President Dr. Michael Baston with talk with LaRese Purnell about pathways to true economic inclusion and opportunity.

Greater Cleveland is home to a vibrant and diverse community development ecosystem, with all entities aiming for equitable revitalization throughout Cleveland\'s neighborhoods. The social determinants of health, economic development, philanthropy, and the private and public sectors have converged in clear trends in community development--both here in Cleveland, as well as nationwide.\r\n\r\nTania Menesse became President & CEO of CNP in 2020. For over 30 years, CNP has been investing in community revitalization efforts in Greater Cleveland. Under her leadership, the organization has been lauded for its best practices in various facets of nonprofit programming. Before this, she served as the Director of Community Development for the City of Cleveland.

For many Americans, water does not get a second thought after pulling their kitchen tap. Yet, more than 30 million Americans lived in areas where water systems violated safety rules at the beginning of last year. Others simply cannot afford to pay. Add to this, headlining stories exposing injustice in water access, like uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation; or lead-tainted tap water in Flint, Michigan.\r\n\r\nManny Teodoro, journalist and author of Profits of Distrust, sheds light on why many people choose expensive, and environmentally destructive bottled water over regulated tap water. He sees a link between the choices people make about drinking water, and deeper lessons about trust in government and civic life. He also shines a light on the importance of strong infrastructure to combat the vicious cycle of distrust that undermines democracy.\r\n\r\nManny Teodoro has served on numerous panels, state governments, UNICEF/World Health Organization, the American Water Works Association, and dozens of local governments sharing his expertise on public policy, water regulation and management, and addressing citizen distrust in government.

Eric Fingerhut is the President and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), which represents 146 independent Federations across the continent and aims to protect and enhance the well-being of Jews worldwide. Some of their core priorities include mental health support to Jewish youth; caring for seniors and those with disabilities; and ending antisemitism. Now, as war erupts in Israel and Gaza, Jewish Federations are responding and working with core partners to support victims of terror, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and more.\r\n\r\nPrior to JFNA, Fingerhut served as the President & CEO of Hillel International and led a distinguished career in public service and higher education. Fingerhut served as Chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents from early 2007 to 2011, leading Ohio's system of public universities and colleges. From 1997 to 2006, Fingerhut served as an Ohio state senator, and from 1993 to 1994, represented Ohio's 19th congressional district in the U.S. Congress.