The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

This upcoming year will undoubtedly bring substantial change to Cleveland\'s political landscape. A population decline in Cleveland spurred a redraw of ward maps, which were approved by Cleveland City Council in February, but not without controversy. Now there\'s a new 15-ward playing field, and two open seats following the announcement from long-time Council members Jenny Spencer and Kerry McCormack that they will not run for reelection. New candidates are already jumping into the race.\r\n\r\nMeanwhile, in the Mayor\'s office, the Bibb administration is working to ensure a second term come this November\'s election. What opportunities and challenges can Clevelanders expect from the City\'s new political landscape? Join us at the Happy Dog in Gordon Square for a reporter\'s roundtable, providing insight and analysis on Cleveland\'s new political ground.

Imagine a Northeast Ohio where all people have quality jobs and careers with thriving employers. This is the vision of Greater Cleveland Works, the workforce development board of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Workforce development boards are a crucial part of the workforce system-liaisons between federal and local governments that distribute public dollars to support job seekers and employers.\r\n\r\nYet, their work is opaque and misunderstood at best. They are more than job matchmakers-they are engines of opportunity and innovation, ensuring businesses have the skilled workers they need and communities have pathways to prosperity.\r\n\r\nWith new leadership, a new nonprofit structure, a new strategy, and a new brand, Greater Cleveland Works is reinventing its role - and wants you to better understand its work and the possibilities for collaboration.\r\n\r\nJoin Greater Cleveland Works CEO Michelle Rose as we dive into the critical role of this organization, the potential impact of federal funding instability, and why now-more than ever-we must advocate for the resources that build careers, strengthen industries, and future-proof our economy.

For over a century, the Cleveland Foundation and Kresge Foundation have worked to improve the lives of residents and champion equity in Cleveland, Detroit and beyond. Building on their legacies, both organizations are innovating for the future and reshaping the field of place-based philanthropy. The Cleveland Foundation has embarked on a new chapter with its historic move to MidTown/Hough and is focused on growing our region, investing in vibrant neighborhoods and connecting people to prosperity. The Kresge Foundation has expanded its long-standing efforts to increase opportunity across American cities, with a deep focus on its hometown of Detroit.\r\n\r\nThis is a bold new era as legacy institutions like the Cleveland and Kresge foundations are thinking about the next 100 years of place-based philanthropy - including how they leverage their purpose and power to advance critical work that will lead to transformational change and more equitable communities.\r\n\r\nCleveland Foundation President and CEO Lillian Kuri and Kresge Foundation President and CEO Rip Rapson will be joined by moderator Mark Joseph, PhD, the Leona Bevis/Marguerite Haynam Professor in Community Development at the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University.\r\n\r\nRapson will also discuss his recently published book "Drawn to Challenge: Stories of Leadership in the Public Interest (with doodles)." These stories show his unique approach to tackling the challenges of cities and the society at large.

As the national business and economic landscape rapidly shifts, Citizens CEO Bruce Van Saun will spend March crisscrossing the country to meet with dozens of public and private sector leaders to guide and listen. Many Americans are on edge, or may not be well-prepared for change. How can Cleveland businesses and communities lead with confidence amidst uncertainty, and emerge stronger and more resilient?\r\n\r\nNew data and findings from local business owners and Citizens' operations right here in Cleveland have shed light on the state of business in the region. This includes workforce development challenges and opportunities, prospects for near-term growth, and embracing technological transformation - from A.I. to cloud computing. Now, it\'s time to unpack what it means to invest in the future, and Cleveland\'s business economy.\r\n\r\nBruce Van Saun joined Citizens in October 2013 after serving as Group Finance Director at the Royal Bank of Scotland and as an executive director on the RBS Board from 2009 to 2013. Join us at the City Club as Bruce discusses the vital role of the American banking system in driving economic growth; and shares insights on how Cleveland businesses and communities can thrive in tumultuous times.

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