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…

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.\…

Last month, billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced she was gifting $640 million to 361 small nonprofits out of 6,000 that responded to an open call for applications. It was another round of jaw-dropping and transformative gifts that Scott pledged to dole out \"until the safe is empty\" following her divorce from Amazon billionaire Jef…

Richey Piiparinen is a son of Cleveland and one of the city\'s leading researchers on urban poverty and community development. His work has appeared in the Huffington Post, NPR\'s Morning Edition, CBS Evening News, and more. His first book, Rust Belt Chic: A Cleveland Anthology assembled an authentic snapshot of a post-industrial Cleveland. Over th…

2024 Law Day with Former US Attorney Barbara McQuade\r\nIn democracies, the people rule. For nearly 250 years, Americans have expressed their political views and wishes by speaking their minds and voting in elections. Yet, the information we consume, and a well-informed public is crucial to the health of our democracy. These days, it seems like vot…

According to the Eight Point Plan for Housing Justice in Cuyahoga County, those with criminal records are ten times more likely to experience homelessness, and those who are homeless are more likely to be arrested--beginning a vicious cycle for those with a record. These individuals face collateral sanctions (both state laws and administrative rule…

Jeremy Johnson is President and CEO of Assembly for the Arts, the umbrella organization that advocates for, and unites, Greater Cleveland's complex creative sector. A mix of diverse nonprofits, individual artists, and creative businesses comprise the region's arts and culture industry. In the coming months, the Assembly will endeavor to motivate Cu…

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.Af 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…