On November 22, 2014, just after 3:30 in the afternoon, a 12-year-old boy was shot by a police officer outside of the Cudell Recreation Center. Tamir Rice had been playing with a toy gun, an airsoft replica that was missing the telltale orange tip. The officer shot Rice twice less than two seconds after getting out of the police cruiser which had n…

At a time when the world seems fraught with polarization and violence, it\'s important to pause and witness the resiliency and solidarity of communities who are committed to working together to address poverty, injustices, inequality, and many other disparities.\r\n\r\nFounded in 1974, as a response to the predominate mission model at the time, IPM…

In the 2nd youth led forum of the year, we will focus on how racial inequities in education are deeply entrenched in the American school system, affecting not just individual students but the broader landscape of educational achievement and opportunity.\r\n\r\nResearch shows that schools with higher concentrations of students from marginalized raci…

Whatever the outcome, this year's general election will be both historic and consequential. Majorities in both the House and Senate hang on razor thin margins that could reverse this November. And with the race for the White House a statistical toss up, our nation could be welcoming either a glass ceiling shattering Democrat or the return of an exe…

The outcome of the 2024 election may not be decided the evening of Tuesday, November 5th, but regardless of the results, the next President will be faced with some of the most urgent and pressing decisions regarding foreign policy. Both Presidents Biden and Trump have attempted to move foreign policy in different directions, but with lukewarm resul…

Across America, we\'re still in the middle of a great re-making of the news industry. The decline that began several years ago hasn\'t abated, but new models of journalism are beginning to take root, many of them organized as nonprofits. Much of that growth is fueled by a new philanthropic collaborative. According to its website, \"Press Forward is…

New federal legislation (i.e., Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS and Science Act) is currently and will continue to deliver over a trillion dollars in new investments in states and localities. These historic investments have the potential to reshape local and regional economies, while creating good jobs, accelerating the…

The Ohio Supreme Court is the highest court in the state system, consisting of six associate justices and one chief justice. All the seats on the court are elected at large by the voters of Ohio, and starting in 2022, Ohio became one of seven states that elects state supreme court justices based on partisan elections. This November 5th, six candida…

Ohio State stands at the doorway of great opportunity, firmly and uniquely positioned to be a leading national flagship public research university. Leading the way is Walter "Ted" Carter Jr., who was appointed as the 17th president of The Ohio State University by the Board of Trustees on August 22, 2023. He began his tenure at Ohio State on January…

Dr. Ala Stanford knew she wanted to be a doctor by the time she was eight years old. But role models were few and far between in her working-class North Philly neighborhood. Her teachers were dismissive, and the realities of racism, sexism, and poverty threatened to derail her at every turn. Nevertheless, thanks to her faith, family, and the sheer …

From social media advocacy to boots-on-the-ground campaign work, today's youth are more than just future voters-they're shaping the present and future of American democracy. With a record-high 53% of voters under 30 expected to turn out in the 2024 election, Millennials and Gen Z are not only making their voices heard at the ballot box but also inf…

In July 2024, Cindy Hohl was inaugurated as the next President of the American Library Association (ALA). As a member of the Santee Sioux Nation in Nebraska, she is the second Native American woman to serve as ALA President. During her term, she plans to focus on four main pillars of librarianship: intellectual freedom, literacy, learning, and lead…

FutureLAND is an annual multi-day conference celebrating the diversity in tech, arts, and culture in Northeast Ohio. The City Club is proud to partner with FutureLAND again this year for a special LIVE broadcast from the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square!\r\n\r\nThis year, we will hear from Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter, the world's premier\r…

Stories have the power to transform cultures, organizations, and even entire nations. Ever since the advent of language, stories have inspired both emerging and established leaders--connecting us all to our humanity. Today, our world is facing increasing political polarization and an overreliance on digital technology. Add the arrival of artificial…

Kate Anderson Foley is a transformational leader with significant experience leading public school districts and states toward equitable and integrated services for all learners. Her work is grounded in social justice and breaking down the barriers for children who have historically been marginalized. Her latest book Radically Excellent School Impr…

Every year, roughly a thousand young people in the foster-care system in Ohio "age out" and are thrust into a reality where they are more likely to face homelessness, unemployment, and food scarcity. Child welfare agencies are working to fill the gaps, but opportunities remain.\r\n\r\nJoin the City Club as we hear from local leadership on how we ca…

According to a recent report by Harvard University, the first two decades of the 21st century were laser focused on \"increasing voter turnout among the \'low propensity\' voters in their communities, especially people of color and young people.\" These were groups largely "invisible" to the mainstream election industry. So, at the time, grassroots…

The City Club presents the annual State of the Schools address featuring CEO Dr. Warren G. Morgan, where he will speak about his priorities and progress after his first year leading the schools.\r\n\r\nDr. Morgan became CEO of Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Ohio's third-largest school district, in July 2023. As CEO, he is responsible for i…

The most enduring feature of U.S. history is the presence of Native Americans, yet most histories focus on Europeans and their descendants. A 2018 study by Reclaiming Native Truth found that nearly half of Americans believed what they were taught in schools about Native Americans was inaccurate; and 72 percent thought it was necessary to make signi…

As we head into the November election, tax policy is undoubtedly a top issue for many voters. K-12 schools, higher education, local governments, libraries, and more all rely on taxation to raise adequate revenue to provide public services. Tax policy has also been used as a tool to attract jobs, spur economic growth, and promote entrepreneurship. B…

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) is Ohio\'s third-largest public school system, serving more than 36,000 students. It\'s home to state champion athletic and robotic programs; the nation\'s fourth Say Yes to Education district; and several innovative community partnerships in both the public and private sectors. At the same time, it…

If there ever were a time for James Zogby to revisit the City Club, it would be now. The last time we heard from him was in 2011 when he spoke about his latest book Arab Voices: What They Are Saying to Us and Why it Matters, which outlined America\'s problematic relationship with the Arab world, and why that relationship has remained persistently d…

County Executive Chris Ronayne delivers his second State of the County address at the newly renovated Atrium Ballroom at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland. Executive Ronayne reflects on the County\'s achievements, address our challenges, and outline a vision for the future.Av podcast@cityclub.org (Chris Ronayne)

As the legal battles over redistricting in the state drag on, Ohioans will have an opportunity to vote this November on an amendment that aims to put an end to gerrymandering. What does that mean for Ohioans? The citizen-led constitutional amendment put forth by Citizens Not Politicians seeks to replace the current Ohio Redistricting Commission wit…

University Circle is Cleveland's center of arts, culture, wellness, and education with a growing population and world-renowned institutions. It has the potential to help fuel Cleveland's economic future, but such questions remain as "Who has access to this district?" "How well known are we, really?" and "Is The Circle staying relevant in a changing…

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) vigilantly enforces federal civil rights laws in schools and other recipients of Department of Education federal funding throughout the nation-resolving case investigations, publishing policy resources, and providing school and community technical assistance. In a recent report, OCR reported the highest volume of c…

What if all Clevelanders were guaranteed a job? And that job offered a salary suitable enough to provide for their families? As it turns out, the idea of a jobs guarantee gained momentum in the 1940s with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Second Bill of Rights. Now, the City of Cleveland will become the first city in the nation to launch a $21 mill…

Freshwater is one of Earth\'s most precious resources. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), our Earth\'s freshwater habitats-lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and aquifers-house an incredible proportion of the world's biodiversity. More than 10% of all known animals and about 50% of all known fish species call our freshwater habitats home. B…

Taking your first bite of Chef Jeremy Umansky\'s fried chicken or pastrami sandwich is one of those blissful food moments that is guaranteed to live in your head rent-free. His secret ingredients? Koji-culturing, foraged edibles, and sustainable food sourcing that earned him four James Beard Award nominations, including Best New Restaurant, Best Ch…

President Biden\'s decision to withdraw from the 2024 presidential contest has fundamentally changed the race. It\'s not just that there\'s no historical precedent for an incumbent choosing not to run at such a late date, but Kamala Harris\' swift ascendancy as the presumptive Democratic nominee brings its own historical firsts and a tectonic shift…

Who Owns America ? (WHOA) is an ambitious effort by the Center for Geospatial Solutions (CGS) at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy to uncover land ownership patterns with unprecedented accuracy, ease, and nuance. By equipping municipalities, states, and nonprofits with comprehensive, tailored analyses of ownership, WHOA helps purpose-driven orga…

As more of our daily lives move to the digital realm, protecting our sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, and hacking has never been more important. Still, every month, major corporations, school districts, health systems, and even municipalities and public utilities have become targets of these increasingly sophisticated cyber th…

BorderLight is an annual theatre festival showcasing innovative theatre that inspires, builds cross-cultural understanding, and celebrates the diversity of the human experience. A nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Dale Heinen and Jeffrey Pence, the festival will once again open on July 24th and run through July 27th. And this year, they hav…

After a rollercoaster few years defined by a global pandemic, war, supply chain chaos, and a technology arms race, many people are left asking, \"Is Manufacturing Okay?\" The answer to that high-stakes question is worth 50% of Northeast Ohio\'s economy.\r\n\r\nJoin us as Dr. Ethan Karp, President & CEO of MAGNET, provides a state-of-the-union for m…

This summer, Superman announced they will begin filming in Cleveland from June 17 to July 16, joining a legacy of pictures filmed in our neighborhoods--like The Avengers, Spider Man, and A Christmas Story. For decades, major cities across the United States have jockeyed to attract the major motion picture industry in hopes of spurring jobs and econ…

Eric D. Seals grew up eating just about every southern delicacy you could name: pulled pork, liverwurst sandwiches, fried fish, alongside his father, Donnie Seals Sr. Living in Wheaton, a west suburb of Chicago. He also watched his dad drink and smoke for almost 10 years, until 1995 when he almost died. Over the next fifteen years, Donnie would hav…

Earlier this year, the US Environmental Protection Agency announced a $156 million grant to a Cleveland organization to fund an effort to ensure access to solar power for low-income communities across the Midwest. Although solar power has been available in this country for decades, the upfront cost of even small residential solar arrays has been pr…

In November 2023, Cleveland\'s West Side Market named Rosemary Mudry it\'s first Executive Director of the Market\'s new nonprofit arm, the Cleveland Public Market Corporation.\r\n\r\nHome to more than 60 small, local business owners, and boasting 800,000 visitors annually--the West Side Market serves as a neighborhood anchor and economic hub. Yet,…

The Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance is an independent, neighborhood-based organization dedicated to maintaining peace and keeping young people out of gangs. Through grassroots efforts, the organization utilizes community violence intervention targeting individuals ages 14-24 who face the highest risk of being involved in gun violence. The organizati…

For generations, leadership in Cleveland's Arab-American community have been working to advance equity and peace for Palestinians, and others, in both our city and the region. But the current round of hostilities and headlines coming out of Gaza has put their cause front and center. To date, more than 36,000 Palestinians-more than half of which wer…

Author Jeff Fuhrer knows the narratives used to shape the economy, and he believes those narratives need to change. Fuhrer is an economist, and has been active in economic research for more than three decades--including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston where he served as Director of Research, Executive Vice President, and Senior Policy Advisor. N…

The Supreme Court of Ohio is the state's highest court and the court of last resort, comprised of the Chief Justice and six Justices. The Supreme Court decides Ohio's most difficult, complicated, and contentious legal cases, mostly appeals from 12 district courts of appeals. Since 1803, the Court has provided leadership for Ohio's Judicial Branch, …

At Paid Leave for All, they know families, and the nation, are strongest when we all have time to heal from illness or injury, welcome a new child, or help a loved one recover or ease their passing. Yet today, the United States is one of the only countries in the world that doesn\'t guarantee any form of paid leave for its people. Paid leave impact…

For 80 years, the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) has been the nation's largest guiding light in propelling our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)--which educate and support the largest number of the nation's Black professionals.\r\n\r\nThe City Club is proud to partner with UNCF as it marks this milestone to foster a st…

In his latest book, Derelict Paradise: Homelessness and Urban Development in Cleveland, Ohio, Dan Kerr shows that homelessness has deep roots in the shifting ground of urban labor markets, social policy, downtown development, the criminal justice system, and corporate power. Rather than being attributable to the illnesses and inadequacies of the un…

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than half of suicides are by firearm; and nearly 90 percent of suicide attempts involving firearms are fatal, compared to 5 percent of all other suicide attempts. Suicide ideation to action can be as short as 10 minutes-making access to lethal means a key focus in tack…

Morelle McCane qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games last October after she won the silver medal at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Now, she is the fifth straight boxer and the first female to qualify for the Olympic Games from Cleveland. The last time a Cleveland boxer brought home an Olympic medal was in 1952.\r\n\r\nMorelle started box…

Few musicians tower like Terence Blanchard. The eight-time Grammy winner has been recording for more than four decades, and though his early work recalls the legacy of midcentury greats, for years now, Blanchard has been remaking and reshaping the genre, turning it into a force to give voice to social change. A trumpeter, pianist, composer, Blancha…

As the world's eyes follow the Israel-Hamas war, the recent Iran attack, and the repercussions on American campuses and beyond, the need for rigorous reporting and respected journalism has never been more essential. The Forward is the nation\'s most widely read Jewish news outlet, a fiercely independent and non-ideological source for news, culture,…

When author Richard Rothstein joined the City Club in 2017 for his book The Color of Law, he argued with exacting precision how segregation in America-the incessant kind that continues to dog our major cities and has contributed to so much recent social strife-is the byproduct of explicit government policies at the local, state, and federal level.\…