The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

In this engaging discussion, Kevin Clayton, Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, Erica Merritt of Equius Group, and Mark Swain Fox, CEO of the Diversity Center, dive deep into the current landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. They explore the implications of recent political actions on DEI initiatives, stressing the need for genuine commitment over tokenism. The guests illustrate how imaginative thinking can drive strategic change and reflect on the increasing diversity within society, showcasing hope for a more inclusive future.

For more than two decades, The City Club of Cleveland has hosted the annual High School Debate Championship.\r\n\r\nEvery year, the top two area high school debaters square off in a classic \"Lincoln-Douglas\" style debate at a Friday forum. This allows the debaters to compete-not only for the judges and audience in the room-but also for our radio and television audiences.\r\n\r\nThe finalists will debate the topic Resolved: The development of Artificial General Intelligence is immoral.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of BakerHostetler, we are honored to support this annual tradition in memory of Patrick Jordan--a lawyer, fierce protector of democracy and free speech, and a championship debater himself. You can learn more about the life and legacy of Pat Jordan at the 2022 High School Debate Championship here, or read the transcript here.

The early days of the second Trump administration brought a dizzying number of policy and practice changes to the federal government. Through executive orders, directives, proclamations by social media, emails to federal employees, and statements to the press, President Trump, his administration, and his formal and informal advisers are bringing change to government and U.S. geopolitical standing with a velocity unmatched in U.S. history.\r\n\r\nThere\'s debate, however, about whether all this change is actually making America great (again) or is a destabilization of already beleaguered government institutions and frayed relationships with allies. On Fox News, Hugh Hewitt described the president\'s first week as \"the governing equivalent of batting 1.000 or hitting 10 for 10 from behind the arc in the NBA.\" Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal editorial board took aim at the following week\'s tariff announcements with the headline \"The Dumbest Trade War in History.\"

Marvel\'s 2018 film Black Panther not only broke box office records, it also changed perceptions of Black superheroes and African culture. As the first film to feature a Black superhero, the film\'s director and writers wasted zero time taking up space in an industry that traditionally lacks BIPOC representation. Joining the team was Ruth E. Carter, whose skill in blending African-American history and contemporary culture through fashion, combined with her determination to showcase Black excellence, won an Academy Award in 2019.\r\n\r\n\r\nNow through April 6th, Clevelanders will have the opportunity to be up close to the outfits created by Carter, in conjunction with the Cleveland Orchestra's performance of Ludwig G?ransson's Oscar-winning score from Black Panther on March 28-29. It is a rare opportunity to see what it looks like when communities can tell their own stories through their creativity, and shift narratives for lasting change.

As the nation continues to grapple with rising homelessness and rising housing costs, the need to create and preserve more affordable homes has never been more acute. Yet, innovations are happening at the local level to spur safer, stronger communities. What are the practical solutions for bringing down escalating housing costs? And how can a national movement leverage proven solutions to ending homelessness and our housing crisis?\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club for a wide-ranging discussion with Enterprise Community Partners President and CEO Shaun Donovan and Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) on the housing challenges facing Cleveland, the State of Ohio, and the nation.

What does accountability in healthcare, workplaces, and educational systems look like for Black Women? This is the question that Enlightened Solutions, a nonprofit social enterprise and social advocacy think tank asked in their 2024 follow-up report to Project Noir. The original report, released in 2021, was the first survey of its kind to understand better why Cleveland was ranked last as a livable city for Black Women.\r\n\r\nNow, with an enhanced survey methodology and questions, the 2024 report provides another glimpse into the lived experiences of Black Women in our communities. Has anything changed since 2020?\r\n\r\nKayla S. Griffin Green, Esq., MPA, Ohio State Director, All Voting is Local; Chinenye Nkemere, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy, Enlightened Solutions; Bethany Studenic, LSW, Esq., Co-Founder and Managing Director, Enlightened Solutions\r\n\r\nModerator: Indigo Bishop, Program Officer, Saint Luke\'s Foundation

Cleveland-Cliffs is not just a local household name in Northeast Ohio manufacturing and economic development. It is North America\'s largest flat-rolled steel producer and the largest supplier of automotive-grade steel in the nation. Since 2014, Lourenco Goncalves has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs. Mr. Goncalves successfully led four major company acquisitions beginning with AK Steel in March 2020, followed by the acquisition of ArcelorMittal USA in December 2020, Ferrous Processing and Trading Company in November 2021 and most recently Canadian-based Stelco Holdings Inc. in November 2024.\r\n\r\nIn 2023, Cleveland-Cliffs offered to buy Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel in a merger that would have cement Cleveland-Cliffs as the nation\'s largest steelmaker--bringing more jobs and opportunity to the region. Instead, U.S. Steel rejected the offer in favor of a higher bid from Japanese firm Nippon Steel. President Biden blocked the merger in January, citing national security concerns, specifically the belief that U.S. Steel should remain an American-owned company to support the domestic steel production and strengthen U.S. supply chains. President Trump has also opposed Nippon's acquisition of U.S. Steel.

The fateful year 2020 brought dramatic challenges to American cities. The COVID-19 pandemic and the civil unrest caused by the killing of George Floyd led to a cascade of negative media stories about cities, often politically motivated. It seemed possible that the economic and demographic gains cities had achieved over the last few decades could be lost. In fact, there has been measurable population loss in larger cities caused by changing work/life patterns and changing public perceptions about the costs and benefits of urban living.\r\n\r\nReleased in July 2024, the 38 chapters in The Case for Cities draw on the expertise of contributors from the academic, professional, and civic sectors. They argue that, when faced with these challenges, advocates for cities must make a vigorous case for cities and show how they aren't the cause of America's social, environmental, economic, and public health problems but, are rather, are the places where the solutions to those problems will be found.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as we hear from the book\'s authors and experts in urban planning on what is needed to promote a viable and sustainable urban resurgence.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill (HB) 250, requiring each school district and community school to adopt a cell phone policy by July 1, 2025. While schools have the flexibility to choose a policy that fits their needs, many have taken varying approaches with a broad range of impacts. The new law aims to reduce distractions in schools that lead to negative learning outcomes for students.\r\n\r\nOhio\'s new cell phone policy sparks debate. Proponents argue the policy will enhance learning, while opponents contend it could create safety risks. Meanwhile, schools have tightened restrictions on when and how students can use their phones. Questions remain about whether these rules are genuinely designed to improve the learning environment. This student-led forum provides a valuable opportunity to explore this complex issue.\r\n\r\nAs technology becomes more deeply integrated into everyday life, the questions arise: How should schools balance innovation with attention demands? Should schools ban phones or find ways to incorporate them into teaching more effectively? What is the policy's impact on student health? The conversation is just beginning. Students will have the chance to hear from experts about what the policy entails and, perhaps more importantly, what comes next.

Northeast Ohio businesses, organizations, and communities are already feeling the impacts of the Trump administration\'s executive orders on immigration. On January 20th, the Trump Administration halted refugee resettlement--stranding some refugees within hours of their scheduled travel to the US. And then on Sunday, January 26th, Cilantro Taqueria in Cleveland Heights confirmed that ICE agents took six employees of the restaurant into custody. They\'re reportedly being held in Geauga County with 52 other detainees. This news has shaken both undocumented and documented immigrants in the region. Additionally, Ohio legislators have also moved to block local municipalities from forming sanctuary cities.