On Saturday, April 13th, the Cleveland Foundation's African American Philanthropy Committee's (AAPC) biennial summit will discuss philanthropy and the Black family; as well as how the ability to access resources essential to one's life and well-being means increased economic stability. This access includes employment, income, financial support, fin…

Join the City Club\'s Youth Forum Council for the LAST youth led forum of the 2023-2024 school year. The forum will focus on how violence in our communities can have an impact on our mental health. During the discussion, strategies will be shared on how to process the feelings that arise when violence occurs in our communities.\r\n\r\nIn collaborat…

Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit, directed by Sam Katz and James McGovern is the story of Detroit's monumental climb out of bankruptcy toward a new era. In this documentary, Detroiters of all backgrounds and viewpoints find common ground in their search for a possible future. The \'grand bargain\' remains to be seen as a model fo…

On Monday, April 8th, the City of Cleveland will be in the path of totality of a total solar eclipse. With this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event comes an unprecedented opportunity to tap into humankind's curiosity about what lies beyond our Earth's limits. The promise of space exploration and discovering the unknown has inspired youth and grown-u…

In the United States, more than 60,000 refugees arrived in 2023, outpacing the prior two years. In January of this year, the greatest number admitted were arriving from nations like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, and Afghanistan--a reflection of increasing global conflict and war.\r\n\r\nResettlement for newcomers and their families i…

Join The City Club of Cleveland for the 2024 State of the City, presented at Playhouse Square on Thursday, March 28th at noon. Mayor Justin M. Bibb will discuss the foundational work and progress made during his second year in office and look to the year ahead.بقلم podcast@cityclub.org (The Hon. Justin M. Bibb)

Straddling adolescence and adulthood is a uniquely challenging time. Not only do young adults face their own future life choices, but they are confronting the many stressors facing our world and trying to make sense of their place in it. However, our job as parents is far from over. With increasing mental health concerns among youth, rising inflati…

The state of Wisconsin has firmly established itself as a battleground state: Four of the six past presidential elections have been decided by fewer than 23,000 votes, and the political stakes have never been higher. Yet, the state\'s politics echo many that we see here in Ohio, right down to a tense dispute over Wisconsin\'s Republican-drawn legis…

Ron Clark has been called "America's Educator," and serves as a teacher and administrator at the Ron Clark Academy, an award-winning and internationally acclaimed middle school in Atlanta, GA. The school serves as a training site for educators, and each year thousands of teachers and administrators from around the world visit the school to be train…

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 …

Award-winning Author and Historian Heather Cox Richardson reminds us that the past doesn\'t repeat itself; it rhymes. To understand today\'s political landscape, you must understand how we got here. In 2019, Richardson began publishing Letters from an American on Substack--which expertly offered forthright historical background in the face of an un…

According to US News, more than 7,500 people were killed in 2022 after being struck by vehicles while walking along or across U.S. roadways. The highest level seen in 41 years and up 77% since 2010. A similar trend is seen among cyclists, which in 2023 saw one of its deadliest years on record for bike fatalities. Larger vehicles, reckless driving h…

County prosecuting attorneys aren\'t just responsible for prosecuting criminals--they lead an office of attorneys and professionals who decide what crimes get charged, indicted, and prosecuted. Their vision and leadership is a critical piece in how justice is defined for the communities they serve.\r\n\r\nTwo candidates are running in the March 19t…

In the face of dwindling arts funding and shrinking audiences, and while many theaters have been forced to shutter, five small to midsize theatre companies came together in Spring 2023 to share resources, foster collective learning, and champion new visions for the American Theater. Their goal, individually and collectively, is to center historical…

In early April, Cleveland will host the 2024 NCAA Women's Final Four, headlining a much anticipated week of events drawing the nation\'s, and the world\'s attention on our city.\r\n\r\nThe growth of the Women\'s Final Four is actively driving the future of women\'s sports. In addition to top collegiate athletes like Caitlin Clark of Iowa dominating…

Over the last 50 years, Cleveland has lost about half its tree canopy due to development and disease. Experts say our tree coverage should be at least 30 percent; instead we\'re at 18% and falling. This statistic is worse in east side neighborhoods, like Central, which has only 6.5% tree canopy coverage.\r\n\r\nTrees are a critical piece of our com…

Since the beginning days of the COVID-19 pandemic, two of Northeast Ohio's largest health institutions, Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals, found common ground to address our generation\'s biggest public health emergency. We heard about some of the lessons learned and partnerships forged right here at the City Club in August 2021. Now, these…

As the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Steven Dettelbach is charged with overseeing the federal agency charged with protecting the public by enforcing laws and regulations related to firearms, explosives, arson, and alcohol and tobacco trafficking. He was appointed to the role by President Biden in July 20…

In the dynamic landscape of urban development, the intersectionality of economic inequality and climate change emerges as a critical focal point for envisioning sustainable urban futures. As we convene for this City Club Youth Forum, we embark on a journey to explore innovative strategies that acknowledge the imperatives of economic justice with th…

Over the last few years, Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has emerged as one of the most important members of the U.S. Senate. In a closely divided Senate, the self-described "centrist, moderate, conservative Democrat" has often found himself casting a crucial swing vote on high profile legislative priorities.\r\n\r\nWorking with Americans Together, a ne…

Ohioans love their libraries. A recent study found Ohio ranks first nationally in library visits per capita -- and that the state has the highest public library usage rate in the U.S. as measured by the percentage of residents who have a library card. Historically, Ohio trails only New York in the number of Five-Star libraries, a yearly distinction…

The MetroHealth System aims to redefine healthcare and go beyond medical treatment. Also home to a renowned Level I Adult Trauma Center, it has more than 600 doctors, 1,700 nurses, and nearly 9,000 employees--making it an economic hub in our communities. In November 2022, MetroHealth opened the new Glick Center--an 11-floor hospital on the main cam…

The advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has offered promising uses across many sectors--including workforce development. The modern job hunt is being revolutionized, and the way future employers understand, evaluate, and match workers with their ideal careers is changing.\r\n\r\nData using personality and culture tests has been around for some t…

Barriers to information and hostility in the field may be familiar territory for all journalists. But for those on the education beat, even traditional sources of education news, like school board meetings, have become divisive--generating equal parts controversy and spectacle. Tensions also continue to rise in higher education as colleges and univ…

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 Oper…

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 f…

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…

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 c…

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 b…

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 m…

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. A…

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 …

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…

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; an…

We get it. Listening to our legislative branch debate a budget isn\'t the most exciting thing to do. But the municipal budget process here in Cleveland is an essential part of democratic governance, and directly impacts our communities. The budget determines how public funds are allocated to things like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. In…

Over the past few years, schools have strived to adapt and shift in response to the ever-changing environment and requirements of a 21st-century classroom. Higher education, in particular, has borne a significant share of these challenges. Students and administrators have grappled with the Herculean task of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, mental he…

Food insecurity has skyrocketed in the United States, and hunger has worsened among households in 2022--with one in 8 households struggling with hunger. Rising inflation and spikes in cost of living means more families are left unable to afford basic necessities such as food.\r\n\r\nIt is time to reexamine food deserts, and instead, consider the im…

Appointed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Her Excellency Oksana Markarova began her tenure as Ambassador to the U.S. on April 20, 2021. Less than a year later, Russia invaded Ukraine, escalating the ongoing conflict between the two countries and highlighting the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine. Ambassador Mar…

Described by the Seattle Foundation as the \"next generation of philanthropy,\" Alesha Washington joined as President and CEO in 2022 and leads one of the region's largest community foundations devoted to advocacy, equity, and community organizing.\r\n\r\nIn her new role at the Seattle Foundation, she is building strong philanthropic relationships …

From the best-selling author of Go the F**k to Sleep, famously narrated by actor Samuel L. Jackson, Adam Mansbach is back with his latest novel, The Golem of Brooklyn--which is a hilarious and satirical weaving of Jewish folklore and history into a thoroughly modern tale of faith, retribution and healing.\r\n\r\nIn Ashkenazi Jewish folklore, a gole…

In June 2023, the Supreme Court made a landmark decision to overturn a 50-year precedent, ending the practice of Affirmative Action. This decision brought Affirmative Action to the forefront of public discourse during the summer, and it continues to be a prominent topic as educational institutions reopen. While Affirmative Action is commonly associ…

Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason assumed her role as Ireland's 19th Ambassador to the United States in August 2022. Previously, she spent five years as Ireland\'s Ambassador to the United Nations and served on the Security Council as an elected member. Her experiences in that role made her acutely aware of the importance of sustaining peace and sec…

Join the City Club for the annual State of the Schools address featuring CEO Dr. Warren G. Morgan. This academic year is the first for Dr. Morgan, who became CEO of Ohio's third largest school district in July. As CEO, he is responsible for implementing the strategic vision for the district, which serves more than 36,000 students. He also oversees …

The year is not yet over, but across the country, people have weathered a significant number of climate events: Californians experienced heavy rainfall from, landslides, and even a hurricane. The South grappled with extreme heat and the Midwest and Northeast are contending with dangerous air quality from wildfires in Canada. Now, the gulf and east …

To have a strong region, our cities need a strong urban core. Efforts are underway to support our region\'s economic engine in order to grow jobs, create a vibrant storefront economy, and encourage residential development.\r\n\r\nA recent report released by Downtown Cleveland revealed significant population increases in the area. And in June, Cleve…

It was in 1903 when Cleveland\'s first urban plans called for access to the Lake Erie shoreline. Then in 1946, the city released its first comprehensive lakefront plan. And in 2004, the Waterfront District plan was the first to recommend a pedestrian connection. Several studies have been completed over the decades, and while some aspects of these p…

Public speaking and the spoken word are one of humankind\'s earliest forms of art. It thrived before written languages, and remains rooted in the oral traditions of many cultures today. Speeches often define moments in history--George Washington\'s farewell address, Martin Luther King\'s speech to the March on Washington, for instance. In 1968, Rob…

Since November 2022, when Chat GPT opened the floodgates of public use of AI (Artificial Intelligence), there has been a rapid and profound transformation taking place in the field of education. This technological revolution has ignited numerous discussions about its potential impact on the way students learn. The integration of AI into schools has…

At its core, the German Marshall Fund strives to champion democratic values and the transatlantic alliance by strengthening civil society, forging bold and innovative policy ideas, and developing a new generation of leaders to tackle global challenges. In fact, many of its alumni reside right here in Northeast Ohio and they continue to drive innova…

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, it sent the issue of legalizing abortion back to the states. After the court's decision, Ohio enacted a near-total ban on abortion--which remained legal for a little over two months until a Hamilton County judge placed the law on hold due to a lawsuit from the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. Cur…