The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

Episoder

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  From Empty Lots to Endless Possibilities: The Evolution of the Cuyahoga Land Bank 25.09.2026 1t

  Created in 2009 as a response to the foreclosure crisis that struck Northeast Ohio, the Cuyahoga Land Bank transforms vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties into community assets that strengthen neighborhoods and expand economic opportunity. It has become a leading model for neighborhood revitalization, and since its founding, the Land Bank has demolished more than 10,000 abandoned and blighted properties. Beyond demolition, the Land Bank\'s strategic partnerships with public, private, and nonprofit organizations have helped usher in more than $3.6 billion in economic impact through neighborhood revitalization initiatives.\r\n\r\nRicardo Le?n was appointed President and CEO in 2024 after the unexpected passing of longtime CEO Gus Frangos. In this next era of the Land Bank, Le?n\'s deep experience as a steadfast champion in community and economic development brings a new opportunity to address challenges and opportunities in housing affordability, redevelopment, and more.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as Ricardo Le?n walks us through the Land Bank\'s past, present, and future, and sits down in conversation with Joyce Pan Huang, Chief Impact Officer of the Cleveland Foundation to discuss the challenges faced in housing, and the promise of neighborhood revitalization in Cuyahoga County.
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  Perspectives, Policies, and the Growing Momentum for Democratic Socialists 24.09.2026 1t

  Since the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialists of America have emerged as a defining force in Democratic Party politics. Mayor Mamdani\'s endorsement of three successful DSA candidates in the New York congressional primaries garnered national attention, and other DSA candidates have won a slew of primaries and electoral contests across the country, including a seat on Cleveland City Council.\r\n\r\nAs the New York Times reported the DSA has seen tremendous growth, from just under 7,000 members at the advent of the Bernie Sanders presidential bid in 2015 to more than 120,000 today. Defining itself in opposition to capitalism, the DSA calls for democracy \"powered by everyday people\" and advocates for Medicare for All, a 32-hour work week, a living wage, the abolition of ICE, and the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people, along with many other progressive and democratic reforms.\r\n\r\nAshik Siddique is the DSA\'s National Co-Chair, a role he was elected to in 2023. He has worked as a research policy analyst on military spending, the federal budget, and veterans affairs. In the City Club\'s tradition of bringing to the forum the leaders shaping the future of the nation and our national conversation on politics and public policy, we invite you to hear directly from Ashik Siddique about what the DSA actually is... and isn\'t.
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  The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders 18.09.2026 1t

  In 2019, Sarah Aziza nearly lost her life after being hospitalized for an eating disorder. Along the process of recovery, Aziza begins to uncover her Palestinian roots. Daughter and granddaughter of Gazan refugees, The Hollow Half tells the story of three generations of Palestinian displacement and survival.\r\n\r\nWinner of the 2026 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Memoir, Aziza pens an innovative reckoning that weaves Arabic translation, hauntings, reporting, and geographies together in a stunning blend that asks-what does it mean to belong to a legacy of defiant survival?\r\n\r\nAnisfield-Wolf juror and historian Charles King writes, "Throughout The Hollow Half, Aziza weaves personal narrative with history and laces both with the revelatory beauty of the Arabic language. Words bear their own secrets, of lost lives and shadow ideas, of home, horrors, and healing."\r\n\r\nSarah Aziza is a Palestinian American writer, translator, and artist with roots in 'Ibdis and Deir al-Balah, Gaza. The recipient of a Fulbright fellowship and numerous grants from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, she has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, South Africa, the West Bank, and the United States. Her award-winning journalism, poetry, essays, and experimental nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The Baffler, Harper's Magazine, Mizna, Lux, The Washington Post, The Intercept, The Rumpus, NPR, The Margins, and The Nation, among other publications.
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  America 250 Ohio: Preparing the Next Generation for Competition on a Global Stage 11.09.2026 1t

  At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Jesse Owens, one of Cleveland\'s most iconic symbols of athletic excellence, brought home four gold medals. His dominance made him a household name far beyond Cleveland, and his success stood as a powerful rebuke to the racist ideals at the time. His story is also one of opportunity. In the face of fierce segregation and racism, dedicated teachers and coaches at East Tech High School recognized and supported his natural potential and determination.\r\n\r\nAthletic programs today, in combination with educational excellence, have proven to be beneficial for young people to develop discipline, confidence, teamwork, and other life skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Is the next Jesse Owen here today? And how can we ensure that our youth have access to the education, coaching, and resources required to prepare them for the level of competition required of them on a global stage?
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  The 2026 State of the County with County Executive Chris Ronayne 10.09.2026 1t

  Join Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne for the 2026 State of the County address at the Mimi Ohio Theatre in Playhouse Square. The Executive will deliver remarks, as well as sit down in conversation with Randell McShephard, VP of Public Affairs & Chief Talent Officer at RPM, to share key accomplishments, reflect on the progress made together, and outline his vision and priorities for the upcoming year.
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  Israel at a Crossroads: Charting the Path Within and Beyond 04.09.2026 1t

  Since October 7, Israeli society has undergone a profound transformation. The attacks, the ensuing wars, and the intense international scrutiny have reshaped how Israelis-Jews and Arabs alike-understand their identities, their relationships with one another, and their visions for the country\'s future.\r\n\r\nWhat does it mean to be Israeli today? How has the events of the last three years changed the relationship between Jewish and Arab citizens? And how have regional conflicts and global reactions to Israel influenced Israel's internal and external dynamics?\r\n\r\nFor Americans, these questions are more than matters of foreign policy. As debates over Israel have become increasingly central to American politics, campuses, and Jewish communal life, understanding the realities and complexities inside Israeli society has never been more important. Join us for a timely conversation exploring how Israel is changing-and why those changes matter far beyond its borders.
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  Rx Kids: A New Maternal and Infant Health Model is Coming to Cleveland 28.08.2026 1t

  Pregnancy and infancy are critical periods in children's development and are also the most economically vulnerable times for families. Rx Kids is a public health initiative addressing this dilemma for families in Michigan with a bold approach: It gives moms $1,500 during pregnancy and $500/month for their baby\'s first six months-no strings attached. Announced in early July, Cleveland has been selected as the first expansion site outside of Michigan.\r\n\r\nFounded by Dr. Mona Hanna and Luke Shaefer, Ph.D., Rx Kids is the nation's first-ever community-wide prenatal and infant cash prescription program. Launched in 2024 and serving more than 15,000 families, the public health intervention is built upon the principle of trusting mothers. It focuses on improving birth outcomes, increasing food and housing stability, and providing every child a healthy start in life. Now, a new study has found that neonatal mortality-the death of an infant within the first 28 days of life-fell by nearly 50% in Flint following the launch of Rx Kids.\r\n\r\nDr. Mona Hanna is the Director of Rx Kids and Associate Dean for Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. In 2026, Dr. Hanna was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in Health for her work leading Rx Kids. She was also named one of Time magazine\'s 100 Most Influential People in the World and recognized as one of USA Today\'s Women of the Century for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts.
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  Honoring the Legacy, Revitalizing Together: The Future of Shaker Square 27.08.2026 1t

  Cleveland\'s Shaker Square is not just a place, it\'s a living piece of history. For nearly 100 years, Shaker Square has served as a community anchor and cultural destination. In 2029, it will officially celebrate its 100th birthday, providing a timeline to both honor Shaker Square\'s history and steward it for the future.\r\n\r\nBuilding on insights from a 2019 planning study, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress and Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc. acquired Shaker Square and raised over $5 million for capital repairs, completed a market analysis, and embarked on an extensive community engagement process. The resulting 2025 Vision Plan offers solutions to retail vacancies, housing, safety, public spaces, pedestrian access, and more. What can we learn from the plan? And what will it take to make sure Shaker Square remains an inviting, inspiring, and timeless space for all residents to enjoy?
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  The Port of Cleveland: Driving Economic Growth and Opportunity Across Northeast Ohio 21.08.2026 1t

  The sound of cargo ship horns ringing through the night is a familiar sound for any Clevelander. It\'s also the sound of roughly 13 million tons of cargo moving through the Cleveland Harbor every year. Managing the North Coast traffic is The Port of Cleveland, one of the largest ports on the Great Lakes and the only local government agency whose sole mission is to spur job creation and economic vitality in Cuyahoga County. The Port generates over 23,000 jobs and $7.07 billion in annual economic activity.\r\n\r\nJoining the Port as President & CEO is Jeff Epstein, who brings over two decades of experience at the intersection of economic development, public-private partnerships, and transformative urban investment. Before joining the Port, Jeff served as Chief of Integrated Development for the City of Cleveland, where he advanced equitable community and economic development across the city. He also spent time as the Executive Director of MidTown Cleveland, a nonprofit economic and community development organization.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as we hear from Jeff Epstein on how The Port of Cleveland is driving economic growth, global connectivity, and sustainability for Northeast Ohio and beyond.
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  The Power of Music Education for Our Youth and Communities 14.08.2026 1t

  The future of Cleveland\'s thriving music and arts scene begins with our youth. For decades, studies have shown that high quality music instruction leads to a variety of benefits for young people: greater confidence, self expression, collaboration, leadership, and creativity-to name a few. Our communities benefit, too. Yet, the high costs of instruments and supplies make it challenging for many talented young people to explore their creative potential. And decades of nationwide disinvestment in K-12 music education only adds to the challenge.\r\n\r\nYet, here in Cleveland, we are home to several leading arts and cultural institutions that have truly changed the narrative and raised the bar for musical education for our city\'s young people. The Music Settlement and The Rainey Institute were both founded over 100 years ago to provide arts and culture education to Cleveland\'s immigrant and wage earning population. They have since grown into neighborhood anchors, together serving thousands of youth. Founded in 1995, the Contemporary Youth Orchestra allows students to study and perform new and contemporary music-introducing students to opportunities in the creative arts industries. Together, their work continues to increase access to music education, empower the next generation of artists, and strengthen Cleveland\'s cultural economy.
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  Liberated Mind: Clarity, Identity, and the Conditions That Shape Us 07.08.2026 1t

  In a moment where more people than ever are feeling the weight of "the system," or even losing faith in individual self-determination, how do we reclaim agency within this system?\r\n\r\nIn Liberated Mind: A Guide to Black Clarity, author Dr. Timothy D. Goler examines how inequality becomes embedded not only in institutions but also in perceptions and the internalization of stereotypes. \"For generations,\" Goler notes, \"Black people have been taught to cope, adapt, survive. We learned to shrink in rooms that weren\'t built for us. To silence ourselves before speaking. To call exhaustion \'strength\' and suppression \'discipline.\' We mistake the weight we carry for who we are. But what if that weight was never ours to begin with?\"\r\n\r\nDr. Timothy D. Goler is a nationally recognized social psychologist and educator whose work examines how people come to understand themselves under pressure. His scholarship bridges medical sociology, social psychology, and culturally grounded approaches to community life, with a particular focus on how structural racism, intergenerational strain, and life course stressors shape the mental and emotional realities of Black people. Dr. Goler is also the founder and former CEO of the HBCU Preparatory Schools Network in Cleveland; and a co-founder of PolicyBridge, a public policy think tank connecting academic insight with applied practice.
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  Dignity of Work: Building Opportunity in a Changing Economy 31.07.2026 1t

  As Towards Employment celebrates its 50th anniversary, join the City Club and kick off the first annual Dignity of Work forum-a community conversation exploring the future of work, economic mobility, and the partnerships that create pathways to rewarding careers.\r\n\r\nAs Cleveland continues to adapt to changing labor markets and emerging industries, this conversation will offer timely insights into how workforce innovation can expand opportunity, strengthen businesses, and build a more inclusive regional economy.\r\n\r\nIn a moderated conversation, Jill Rizika will speak with Earl Buford, President of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) and one of the nation\'s leading voices on workforce development, adult learning, and talent strategy. Together, they will explore how communities, businesses, educators, and workforce organizations can work together to ensure that every individual has access to meaningful work and opportunities for economic advancement.\r\n\r\nThis moment also serves as an opportunity to honor the legacy of Towards Employment\'s three transformational leaders-founder Soad Mansour, former Executive Director Walter Ginn, and retiring President & CEO Jill Rizika-whose collective leadership over the past five decades has helped thousands of Greater Cleveland residents overcome barriers to employment and build family-sustaining careers, while providing talent to our local businesses.
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  What is a Cultural Plan? Lessons from Four Cities 30.07.2026 1t

  Across the country, communities are increasingly turning to cultural planning to support and grow their creative economies. Whether a city is actively drafting its first vision or beginning to activate it, the process requires constant adaptation, collaboration, and shared learning.\r\n\r\nThis forum explores the practical tradeoffs, constraints, and successes of shaping local culture at every stage of development. Featured arts leaders will share insights from peer communities on how these ongoing planning efforts play out amid civic and economic realities-offering an open space to learn from peer communities, ask questions, and deepen shared understanding about what cultural planning can look like in practice, while reflecting on Cleveland\'s evolving cultural landscape.
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  We The People: How Things Really Get Done at the Ohio Statehouse 29.07.2026 1t

  Democracy works best when citizens are more informed and better understand the institutions that govern them. And advocacy work and movement building become more effective - and successful - when citizens are empowered to become active participants in shaping their communities, and their future.\r\n\r\nYet, the halls of the Ohio Statehouse can seem like an overly complex, insiders network-hard to break through. So, what really happens in the Ohio Statehouse? And what does lobbying and advocacy work actually look like, in action?\r\n\r\nAs we mark the nation\'s 250th birthday, the City Club\'s 2026 Outdoor Summer Series WE THE PEOPLE will dive into topics centering our communities, organizations, and the very people who help our democracy thrive.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club for a discussion with those who know the secrets of the Statehouse, learn how to enact change from within, and find out how things really get done at the Ohio Statehouse.
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  Protecting Children Through Innovation, Collaboration, and Advocacy 24.07.2026 1t

  Nationally, 1 in 7 children is abused before their 18th birthday, and there are over 19,000 reports of child abuse and neglect annually in Cuyahoga County alone. To help address these issues, Canopy Child Advocacy Center (CAC) opened its doors in Cuyahoga County in 2018. It was the last urban county in the country to establish a CAC, a national model for helping children and families affected by abuse and neglect.\r\n\r\nBefore the CAC, and in communities without a CAC, an abused child would have to tell their story an average of nine times to receive the services and support necessary to begin the healing process. And some abused and neglected children do not receive services at all. The innovative CAC model reduces potential trauma for children and families impacted by child abuse by having clients come to one child-friendly, trauma-informed location when they receive services and resources to begin the healing process. Today, Canopy CAC serves nearly 5,000 children and families affected by abuse and neglect, and behind every one of those numbers is a child who was believed, supported, and given a chance to heal.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as we hear directly from Jennifer Johnson, Executive Director of Canopy Child Advocacy Center, on how they are advancing child safety, addressing abuse, and supporting healing of the region\'s youngest victims.
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  Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in the Age of AI 23.07.2026 1t

  There was a time when the premise of nanny robots and artificial intelligence raising our children was merely the subject of Steven Spielberg\'s futuristic sci-fi films. The future, it seems, is now.\r\n\r\nAs AI enters nurseries, playrooms, and classrooms, parents are being sold a "smart" childhood at every turn. With mainstream use of artificial intelligence, the power of parent talk and human interaction in childhood development has become even clearer. In her latest book, Human Raised, author Dana Suskind, MD, reveals the possibilities and perils of using AI and related technologies for child-rearing. What do parents and caregivers need to know to assess individual technologies and foster the skills needed to thrive growing up in an AI-driven future?\r\n\r\nDr. Suskind has authored over 45 scientific publications and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Fellow for the Council on Early Childhood. She is also the founder and Co-Director of the TMW Center for Early Learning + Public Health, Founding Director of the Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program, and Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Her previous books include the New York Times bestsellers Parent Nation and Thirty Million Words.
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  We The People, One Cleveland: The People and Stories That Connect Us 22.07.2026 1t

  As we mark the nation\'s 250th birthday, the City Club\'s 2026 Outdoor Summer Series WE THE PEOPLE will dive into topics centering our communities, organizations, and the very people who help our democracy thrive. As one of our nation's oldest democratic public spaces, libraries have become deeply integrated into our communities-meeting a wide variety of social and civic needs. Due to its wide breadth of services and role as an anchor in every Cleveland neighborhood, the Cleveland Public Library (CPL) has been dubbed \"The People\'s University.\"\r\n\r\nThis summer, CPL launched One Cleveland: A citywide civic pride campaign that celebrates the people, neighborhoods, stories, and institutions that connect us as Clevelanders. Intended to mark the city\'s 230th birthday, One Cleveland highlights the creativity, resilience, and shared experiences that shape our city. Included as part of the campaign is the Cleveland 230 List, a recognition of 230 individuals (past and present) whose work, leadership, and impact reflect the spirit and strength of our city.
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  How Did We Get Here? Inside Ohio's Property Tax Debate 17.07.2026 1t

  Ohio has the eighth highest property tax rates in the nation, with some homeowners seeing increases of more than 30% in their property valuations in recent years. Reform efforts have proliferated, from caps on tax increases to reductions in approved levies, and a grassroots movement seeks to make Ohio the first state to abolish property taxes altogether. Yet with public schools and local governments relying on property taxes to fund large portions of their budgets, how can the system be overhauled without creating civic chaos? And how did we even get here in the first place?\r\n\r\nIn partnership with Ideastream Public Media and as a kickoff to the Ideastream Explores: Property Taxes series, Sound of Ideas host Stephanie Haney will lead a conversation with area experts on public services, tax policy, and public finance. They will outline how and why the debate around property taxes recently culminated with a push for statewide abolishment, and what we can expect on the road ahead.
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  175 Years of Service: The Ursuline Sisters, The Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, & their Legacy 16.07.2026 1t

  The story of the Ursuline Sisters and the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine in Cleveland begins with the city's first bishop. Just three years into his ministry, the Most Rev. Amadeus Rappe recognized that serving Cleveland's rapidly growing community would require support. He reached out to both orders, who answered the call-five Ursuline Sisters arrived to educate the city's children, and a year later, the first public health nurses began caring for local families.\r\n\r\nFor 175 years, the Ursulines and the Sisters of Charity have served Northeast Ohio through education and healthcare, founding and stewarding institutions that have helped shape Greater Cleveland-Beaumont and Urban Community Schools, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, and Joseph & Mary's Home, among others-and transforming countless lives along the way.\r\n\r\nJoin us for a conversation with leaders from both orders as we explore the enduring legacy of women religious in Greater Cleveland-their extraordinary lives, their service and sacrifice, and their vision for the future of the communities they continue to inspire.
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  We The People: The Power of Women and the American Promise 15.07.2026 1t

  Part of the City Club\'s 2026 Outdoor Summer Series + America 250 Ohio Series\r\nWomen are at the heart of many of America\'s largest movements. We cannot talk about abolition without Harriet Tubman; voting rights without Susan B. Anthony; or civil rights without Rosa Parks. The American promise of liberty and self-determination was strengthened by generations of women who shaped our communities, closed gaps, and redefined what civic engagement looked like.\r\n\r\nToday, women are succeeding and leading in roles in every sector of American life, bringing a unique perspective that continues to fuel innovation and growth. At the same time, work is underway to address persistent challenges like access to paid leave, gender-based violence, and pay and wealth gaps-both here in Cleveland and across the nation.\r\n\r\nAs we mark the nation\'s 250th birthday, the City Club\'s 2026 Outdoor Summer Series WE THE PEOPLE will dive into topics centering our communities, organizations, and the very people who help our democracy thrive.\r\n\r\nJoin us as we hear from leading women in organizations that are dedicated to serving, celebrating, and empowering women in our nation\'s past, present, and future!