The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

The coronavirus pandemic is bringing the global economy to a virtual standstill. In the three months since the virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, international travel has evaporated, global supply chains are disrupted, and borders have closed. Here in America, many are \"sheltering in place\" and businesses are closed for the foreseeable future in an attempt to \"flatten the curve.\" By some estimations, more than three million Americans could be unemployed before the pandemic is over. What's the near-term and long-term economic impact? What policies and other efforts will help our community and our country survive?

Sandusky, Ohio is experiencing a renaissance by celebrating its diversity, supporting entrepreneurs, redeveloping and preserving its historic architecture, and building on its reputation as a hub for tourism, transitioning into a diversified "Destination Economy." This success is the result of forged public/private partnerships and the Bicentennial Vision plan, a five-year strategic vision. This success is the result of forged public/private partnerships that have leveraged of over $300 million of public and private investment -- including over $100 million in Downtown Sandusky -- and the Bicentennial Vision Plan, a five-year strategic vision forged through community participation and collaboration with important civic institutions. Sandusky City Manager Eric Wobser speaks at the City Club and shares lessons from Sandusky and its surrounding region, highlighting the important role small cities play in Ohio.

Since his election to the U.S. Senate in 2006, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown has sat on the Senate floor at a mahogany desk with a unique history. In his newest book, Desk 88, he tells the story of eight of the Senators who inhabited the desk before him, all of which -- despite their flaws and frequent setbacks -- made a decisive contribution to the creation of a more just America. The eight men -- from Hugo Black to Robert F. Kennedy to Al Gore, Sr. to George McGovern, among others -- offer a range of stories. Taken together, Senator Brown argues, these eight portraits tell a story about the triumphs and failures of the Progressive idea over the past century. Join us as Senator Brown, in conversation with Connie Schultz, shares the stories of Desk 88 and why he continues to believe in the enduring power of the Progressive idea.

As president of Cuyahoga Community College, Dr. Alex Johnson focuses on strengthening the college's 50-year mission of providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable educational opportunities and services. As of July, he is also serving as Chair of the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Board of Directors. His recent book, Change the Lapel Pin: Personalizing Leadership to Transform Organizations and Communities, based on more than 25 years of experience as a college president, provides insights on how leaders at all levels can improve their chances for success. Dr. Johnson talks with City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop about Tri-C\'s efforts in connecting people to education and job training opportunities

Billy Bean is the only openly gay current or former Major League Baseball player alive today. He walked away from a major league career in 1995 and came out publicly in 1999. He now serves as the MLB's first Ambassador for Inclusion. Join us at the City Club as we end MLB All-Star Week in Cleveland with a conversation with Billy Bean on the MLB's commitment to fostering a culture of acceptance.

Dominique Morisseau is an award-winning playwright whose works portray the lives of individuals and communities grappling with economic and social changes, both current and historical. One of the most widely produced writers in the United States and a 2018 MacArthur Fellow, Morisseau is a powerful storyteller whose examination of character and circumstance is a call for audiences to consider the actions and responsibilities of society more broadly. Through the lens of her topical and timely works of art, Morisseau sits down with Daniel Gray-Kontar to discuss the importance and impact of art as a tool for social change.

In January, Cleveland was selected by Say Yes to Education, a national nonprofit organization that works to make college affordable, as the next site for its community efforts. As the first CMSD graduates apply for Say Yes scholarships, what should we know about the rollout of this initiative, including the wraparound services? How is Say Yes Cleveland serving as a complement to The Cleveland Plan? And will this truly be a game-changer for Cleveland's youth and the region's future economic development?

Dee Haslam and husband Jimmy are rising leaders in professional sports serving as co-owners of both the Cleveland Browns and the Columbus Crew. Haslam is one of eight women with primary ownership of an NFL team and is the first woman to be on Major League Soccer\'s Board of Governors. She's actively involved in both franchises and their respective philanthropic and community efforts. Haslam talks with City Club CEO Dan Moulthrop about her journey in the worlds of business and professional sports.

Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator for Colorado, announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States on May 2, 2019. He\'s served in the U.S. Senate since 2009, after being appointed to fill a seat vacated by Kenneth Salazar.

What if we could use wealth to heal rather than cause further harm? This is the core argument in philanthropy expert and author Edgar Villanueva's new book, "Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance." Villanueva uses his own personal experiences as a Native American grant maker and foundation executive