Akron Roundtable Podcast

In earlier periods of our history, when we were settling the land and industrializing, mass immigration had real costs, but they were outweighed by the benefits. It's the opposite today – mass immigration today still has upsides, but the downsides are piling up. It's not that today's immigrants themselves are the problem – they're not all that different from those of the past. But we are different...

Presentation: A first for Greater Akron's Future: Beginning in 2019—for the first time in its history—our communities engaged in a cultural planning process with goals to strengthen our region, advance our cultural diversity, increase our opportunities to create culture, and provide vibrant experiences for all of us. We know that diverse opportunities to experience arts, culture, and the environme...

Program: Attorney General Dave Yost will discuss the importance of partnerships both in law enforcement and survivor advocacy groups, as well as his overall efforts to end human trafficking in Ohio. Ohio ranks fourth in the nation of reported human trafficking cases and ranks among the top 10 states for number of calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Since taking office in January...

The United States is unique in its capacity to integrate immigrants and refugees, both socially and economically, into communities and industries across the country. The U.S. has a reputation for having a welcoming national ethic and for having admitted significant numbers of immigrants of all kinds and creeds, even though its immigration history includes troubling periods of restriction. The U.S....

Presentation: Dominic and Francine will give insight into Akron's arts & culture sector through their lens of using inclusion, connection, and excellence to build new organizations, projects, and performances across Akron and beyond. In addition to prepared talks, Dominic and Francine will perform a new collaboration for Akron Roundtable called "Dear, Funders". Speakers: Dominic Moore-Dunson is an...

Presentation: Gina will share more about the digital divide, why digital inclusion is so important, and the work that she and her colleagues do towards digital equity. Speaker: Gina uses technology and data for social good. She has spent almost twenty years working in under-resourced communities and with under-served populations to close education and housing gaps. She is the Deputy Director of th...

Presentation: President Miller will explore the vast changes in how urban research universities like The University of Akron are confronting past assumptions, reevaluating strategy and mission and thinking about what campus and city mean for the future. His remarks will include a preview of new approaches and new expectations at UA. Speaker: Gary L. Miller was appointed by The University of Akron...

Presentation: Rachel Cargle will share her journey founding a business ecosystem with roots in Akron, drawing on the tradition of other Black-owned bookstores as safe havens and literary and cultural hubs. "We're reading stories, we're understanding how we interact with each other, we're understanding how we relate to the world, we're understanding through different characters how other people liv...

Speaker: The Dolan family's ownership of the Cleveland Indians enters its 22nd season in 2021, while Paul Dolan begins his ninth campaign as the primary control person of the franchise after being formally approved by Major League Baseball on Jan. 10, 2013. Paul continues to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Indians, roles that he accepted prior to the 2011 season. He began as V...

Presentation: Obesity is a major public health issue around the world and a growing concern for our youth. Children with obesity experience poor health outcomes, report a lower quality of life, and face a significant amount of weight bias and stigmatization. This talk will focus on understanding obesity as a chronic disease, identifying contributors to childhood obesity, and reviewing the current...

Presentation: The question of America's identity has rarely been more urgent than now, and no American place has ever been more reliable in its illumination of that identity than Ohio. In the wake of the 2020 presidential election, new questions have arisen about Ohio's status as America's bellwether and its future as a political battleground. Akron author and essayist David Giffels joins WKSU New...

David Greene is host of NPR's Morning Edition, with Steve Inskeep and Renee Montagne. For two years prior to taking on his current role in 2012, Greene was an NPR foreign correspondent based in Moscow covering the region from Ukraine and the Baltics, east to Siberia. Greene's voice became familiar to NPR listeners from his four years covering the White House and he was an integral part of NPR's co...

Presentation: This presentation will briefly describe how and why Lake Erie is different from the other Great Lakes and why it may be the most important lake in the world. Dr. Reutter will discuss where Lake Erie's water comes from, how and why water levels vary from year to year, why it has often produced more fish than the other lakes combined, why it became the poster child for pollution proble...

Presentation: The global pandemic has taken its toll on our community in countless ways, especially in terms of our mental health. Dr. Brian Harte, President, Cleveland Clinic Akron General will moderate a conversation with Drs. Menefee and Moore, discussing the stressing effects of COVID-19 and what we can do to cope. We are excited to test the Zoom Breakout Room feature with a limited number of...

This episode from Friday, October 31, 2019 is part of our "Most Memorable" collection. Recommended by Akron Roundtable Board President, Karen Talbott: "He spoke not only as an informed author but also as a dedicated father who never gave up in finding help for his son and many, many others in an environment where accessing mental health services is so important but sometimes complicated." A former...

This episode from April 20, 2017 is part of our "Most Memorable" collection. Recommended by Akron Roundtable Board Member, Mark Scheffler: "Isenberg brought a palpable energy to the podium that mirrored the dynamism of the free enterprise system he championed. Isenberg shared inspiring stories about entrepreneurs who had put their livelihood on the line to pursue compelling ideas, and became succe...

Presentation: Around the country, colleges are struggling to find the right way to educate safely and effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic. From shifting between in-person and online classes to dealing with potential coronavirus outbreaks while also struggling to maintain financial stability through it all, students, faculty and staff have lots to navigate. Dr. Para Jones, President of Stark S...

This episode from September 19, 2019 is part of our "Most Memorable" collection. Recommended by both, ART Board President, Karen Talbott: "His presentation was plain-spoken and direct, pointing out many significant things to consider going forward. He gave us much to think about." & ART Board Member, Vivian D. Hairston: "LOVED HIM! I recall him as a great story teller." Tom Ridge is Chairman of Ri...

This episode from Friday, June 16, 2017 is part of our "Fan Favorites" collection. Recommended by Becky Gossett: "Brian Mosteller served as special assistant to President Barack Obama and director of Oval Office Operations from 2008 through the entirety of Obama's two administrations. His talk was informative, entertaining and engaging, with some added insight into the Obama family, along with the...

Presentation: Within weeks America will engage in the election of our 46th president. What has been seen as the beacon of democratic light, namely American democracy, is seen now by some to be flickering and in need of oxygen. Dr. Bailey will take us through history and land us right into a 2020 that even historians of this country could not imagine. What are our options? Where should our energies...

Program: Facing the most challenging election of our generation, voters are stepping up to ensure all registered Ohioans can have their voice heard this fall. From best safety practices and voting options, to outreach initiatives and working with the USPS, Secretary LaRose will discuss the facts of the upcoming election and what his office and election officials have been working on to make Ohio R...

This episode from January 27, 2015 is part of our "Fan Favorites" collection. Recommended by Marnie Sanders: "I would propose the Innovations speaker's video, as both delightful and enlightening; covering everything from innovations in glass, to the "real story" of how the world wide web was developed to the Genius Bar of Apple fame and more! We always try to find new Akron events and places to ce...

This episode from, March 17, 2016 is part of our "Most Memorable" collection. Recommended by past Roundtable Board Member, Elizabeth Bartz: " Do you remember March 2016 when Dorothy (Dot) Ridings spoke as part of our 40 th  Anniversary Speaker Forum? In fact that was her third presentation to ART.  Dorothy first spoke on the Akron Roundtable stage on September 15, 1983 when she was then President...

Presentation Overview: In this conversation, National Geographic Executive Editor for History and Culture Debra Adams Simmons, invites you to reflect on how and why the stories of our past, and the social dialogue unfolding minute-by-minute, can both inform and empower us as people. From her newsroom beginnings to her present role in one of the world's largest media enterprises, Debra will provide...

This episode from,  January 18, 2018 is part of our "Most Memorable" collection. Recommended by Akron Roundtable board member, Beth Boggins: "In my mind, Dr. Warner provided one of the more exceptional addresses in Akron Roundtable's recent history. With infectious charm and wit, Dr. Warner makes a compelling case for the necessity of realistic and responsive workforce preparation for our country...