The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

In early 2021, and after 18 years of service, David Abbott announced his retirement as president of the George Gund Foundation. He is one of several long-time leaders in the philanthropic, public, and private sectors to announce their departure over the last several years-evidence that the next era of Cleveland leadership has arrived. And Dave is ready to pass the baton.\r\n\r\nAbbott began his ca...

For more than 30 years, David Harris has been leading the American Jewish Committee (AJC), one of the world\'s leading advocates for civil rights for Jews and a strong Jewish voice against discrimination of all kinds. As every era, these last three decades have seen their share of anti-Semitism, which range from individual instances of violence, to mass shootings, and the rise of far right Holocau...

The discovery of the bodies of these missing people, among at least eight others who were found as authorities searched for Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, has highlighted a disturbing question when it comes to those reported missing: was enough done to find them too?\r\n\r\nThe Gabby Petito case created a media frenzy resulting in a deeper look into how missing persons cases in the United States...

In January 2019, Say Yes Cleveland was launched as the fourth community-wide organization based on the Say Yes to Education model of tuition scholarships and support services for Cleveland students. With its 25-year commitment, Say Yes Cleveland was seen as a complete game-changer and ushered in the next era of public-school education where all kids have the opportunity to succeed through post-sec...

The remarkable conversion of HIV/AIDS from an inevitable death sentence to a manageable chronic illness is not only one of the most noteworthy medical achievements of the past forty years, but it is also a significant political and social achievement.\r\n\r\nCeleste Watkins-Hayes, PhD, author of Remaking a Life: How Women Living with HIV/AIDS Confront Inequality, outlines the importance of the act...

Cuyahoga County is poised to build a new justice center--a construction project that is much more than just a new building. It\'s a unique opportunity to either create the conditions for criminal justice reform to truly take hold, or to cement the status quo.\r\n\r\nKaren Chinn was part of the group of national consultants who assisted Cuyahoga County leadership in the first phase of the work. It...

The year 2020 sparked massive change in education as a result of the pandemic, equal parts highlighting innovative ways of teaching kids as well as the ways in which education has fallen short. Prior to this year, the way in which students in the U.S. are educated has remained steady over the past century. However, educators are now taking another look at what can be done to improve.\r\n\r\nAmong...

Novelist Marlon James and Historian Vincent Brown will crack open their ideas in a unique conversation centered on Jamaica. The island is a lynchpin in world history, and a wellspring of world culture. Both men won an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in this vein: James in 2015 for "A Brief History of Seven Killings" and Brown this year for "Tacky's Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War." They are e...

We've all seen the headlines regarding voter turnout in Cleveland. In September 2021, Cleveland's primary election saw voter turnout increase from 2017 numbers, but still ran below a 20% turnout. Voting turnout was also alarmingly low for the latest 2020 Presidential Election. By the time we engage for this forum, Cleveland will have decided on a new mayor for the first time in 16 years-and the tu...

At 17 years old, Jarrett Adams was wrongfully convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 18 years in a maximum security prison. He served 10 years before being exonerated with the help of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Adams would then go on to become a lawyer himself, with the goal of helping those who, like himself, had faced discrimination in the legal system.\r\n\r\nIn August 2016, Jarrett...

More than 150 years ago, Alexis de Tocqueville noted that it is easier for the public to accept a simple lie rather than a complex truth. With the advent of digital and social media and today's diverse, highly polarized society, it feels as though this adage is being used to quickly dismantle American democracy.\r\n\r\nIn her book, \"How to Lose the Information War: Russia, Fake News, and the Futu...

*This program is not affiliated or endorsed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, creators and managers of the Doomsday Clock.\r\n\r\nThe Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock in 1947 as metaphorical gauge alerting humanity to how close it is to global catastrophe. Since 2007, the Bulletin began factoring climate change into discussions about setting the annual time.\r\n...

According to C40, a collaboration of 97 great cities of the world, cities occupy only two percent of the world's landmass but consume two-thirds of the world's energy and produce 70% of global CO2 emissions.\r\n\r\nHere in Ohio, many local leaders are seeing clean energy and climate opportunities in their communities and are taking action. They are showing what's possible through comprehensive cli...

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) have been leaders among professional sports leagues in addressing issues of inequality and social justice. Their players have been broadly outspoken on topics ranging from mental health to police brutality to equal pay.\r\n\r\nJoin us as we hear from Oris Stuart, Chief People and Inclusion Officer at the N...

In the final days leading-up to November 2nd general election, The City Club will host one-on-one virtual conversations with the two Cleveland Mayoral candidates.\r\n\r\nKevin J. Kelley was born in Cleveland and received his JD degree from Cleveland State University Marshall College of Law. Kelley was first elected to Cleveland City Council in 2005 representing Ward 13. In 2014, he was elected as...

In the final days leading-up to November 2nd general election, The City Club will host one-on-one virtual conversations with the two Cleveland Mayoral candidates.\r\n\r\nJustin M. Bibb is a Cleveland native who grew up in Mt. Pleasant on the southeast side of the city. He currently serves as the Chief Strategy Officer of Urbanova, a start-up focused on solving the unique challenges faced by midsiz...

After months of campaigning, the results of the September primary elections have narrowed seven candidates down to two. On Tuesday, November 2, 2021 Clevelanders will have a chance to cast their votes for their city\'s next mayor.\r\n\r\nThe City Club of Cleveland, in partnership with Ideastream Public Media, will host the general election debate on Monday, October 11th with Cleveland mayoral cand...

Businesses in sectors like hospitality and retail are experiencing some of the highest labor shortages in decades. While traditional workforce systems help individuals learn new skills for in-demand jobs, experts are saying that skills alone won't address the challenges before us today or equip us for opportunities that lie ahead. They are calling for new solutions that respond to the demands and...

In Cleveland and across the country, decades of deliberately racist policies and planning decisions have caused tremendous environmental harm to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. Disproportionate exposure to air and water pollution, climate change (flooding, high heat days) and lead exposure translate to higher rates of asthma, infant mortality, lead poisoning and other li...

Philanthropy has a bit of a reputation problem, according to some recent City Club speakers. Authors Anand Ghirdardas (Winners Take All) and Edgar Villanueva (Decolonizing Wealth) both pointed out the top-down way in which philanthropic institutions around the country have operated in the past, dictating strategies to solve community problems and burdening grantees with onerous reporting requireme...

The influx of federal funds amid the coronavirus pandemic has reminded us of the power of a robust response to crisis, but funding is just one way government, policymakers, philanthropists and other organizations can influence how communities evolve. Thoughtful policy implemented well in our regions and communities can be the determining factor in successful, equitable community development.\r\n\r...

Join us for the annual tradition of hearing from CMSD CEO Eric S. Gordon, leader of the region\'s largest public school district - a district whose improvement many believe is key to the future success of our city and region.

This summer, Michael Deemer was tapped to serve as the next President and CEO of Downtown Cleveland Alliance after founding President and CEO Joe Marinucci announced his retirement. This was a critical transition during a time when urban centers across the country were facing uphill battles during a challenging year. Top concerns were maintaining residential growth, boosting development, filling o...

Conversations about race, equity, and inclusion are not new to K-12 classrooms. From studying MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech to the analysis of works by poet Maya Angelou, these discussions have been necessary components in lessons on history, literature, and art for decades.\r\n\r\nYet, in response to sudden outrage over Critical Race Theory, the Ohio state legislature has introduced two bills tha...

Karen Sherman has spent her life advocating for women in war-torn and transitional countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kosovo, and the former Soviet Union. Throughout her 30-year career in global development, Sherman has met and interviewed thousands of women.\r\n\r\nHer book, \"Brick by Brick -- Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everyw...