Why CLI?

Civic Leadership Institute (CLI) is a fundamental introduction to Cleveland’s community landscape and social issues and is a stepping stone to advance your involvement within CLC and the community. It provides exclusive insight into what’s going on in the community, connects you to the people, places, and projects moving Cleveland forward, and provides a strong foundation for your professional and civic advancements. Through CLI, you’ll gain:

  • New, timely insights and knowledge about current topics.
  • A greater understanding of how national/regional circumstances impact business.
  • Opportunities to meet and interact with top civic and business leaders in small group settings.
  • Personal fulfillment from being more engaged in your community.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

Fall and Spring
These programs are a dive deep into five concentrated community topics through focused sessions and connect you directly with the leaders driving change in each area.

Winter
Winter CLI features longer sessions that examine the broader public and nonprofit sectors, along with cross-sector collaborative partnerships, and how they shape our region.

Bundle
Participate in both experiences—Fall and Winter, or Winter and Spring—and develop deep knowledge about specific topics plus a big-picture understanding of how sectors collaborate to move Cleveland and its residents forward. Bundled registration also means better value for your investment. 

PRICING

Single cohort cost
For profit: $600
Nonprofit: $450

  

Bundle rates
For profit bundle rate: $1,100 ($100 discount)
Nonprofit bundle rate: $750 ($150 discount)

Registration is open for all cohorts! 

Fall or Fall/Winter bundle >  |  Winter or Winter/Spring bundle >  |  Spring >

  • Fall 2025 Schedule

    Welcome to CLI & Cleveland Neighborhoods
    Friday, October 10, 2025
    8:00-11:00 a.m. (extended opening session)
    @The Foundry
    Speakers include:

    • Dr. John Grabowski, Case Western Reserve University
    • Jason Powers (CBB 2016), Cleveland Neighborhood Progress

    Economic Development
    Friday, October 17, 2025
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @MAGNET
    Speakers include:

    • Goren Dillard (CLI 2020), Urban League of Greater Cleveland
    • Jacob Duritsky (LC 2024, CBB 2012), Team NEO
    • Tom McGraw (CBB 2022), MAGNET

    Education
    Friday, October 24, 2025
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @TBD

    Health & Human Services
    Friday, October 31, 2025
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @Stella Maris
    Speakers include:

    • Dr. Lisa Ramirez, MetroHealth
    • Dr. David Margolius (CBB 2019), City of Cleveland Department of Public Health
    • Daniel Lettenberger-Klein (LC2 2023, LC 2022), Stella Maris

    Quality of Life
    Friday, November 7, 2025
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @Pivot Center

    Connecting the Dots for Civic Engagement
    Friday, November 14, 2025
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @TBD

    Register for Fall or Fall/Winter bundle >

  • Winter 2026 Schedule

    Welcome to CLI & The Public Landscape
    Tuesday, February 3, 2026
    11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (extended opening session)
    @Cleveland Public Library
    Speakers include:

    • Debbie Berry (LC2 2014, LC 2008), Cuyahoga County
    • Ryan Puente (LC 2023), City of Cleveland

    The Nonprofit Landscape
    Tuesday, February 17, 2026
    Noon-3:30 p.m.
    @Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center
    Speakers include:

    • Annette Iwamoto (CBB 2017), Human Services Chamber of Cuyahoga County
    • Tiffany Scruggs (LC 2025, CBB 2021), Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center

    Private, Public and Nonprofit Partnerships
    Tuesday, March 3, 2026
    Noon-3:30 p.m.
    @Greater Cleveland Partnership

    Register for Winter or Winter/Spring bundle >

  • Spring 2026 Schedule

    Welcome to CLI & Cleveland Neighborhoods
    Friday, April 10, 2026
    8:00-11:00 a.m. (extended opening session)
    @The Foundry
    Speakers include:

    • Dr. John Grabowski, Case Western Reserve University

    Economic Development
    Friday, April 17, 2026
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @MAGNET
    Speakers include:

    • Goren Dillard (CLI 2020), Urban League of Greater Cleveland
    • Jacob Duritsky (LC 2024, CBB 2012), Team NEO
    • Tom McGraw (CBB 2022), MAGNET

    Education
    Friday, April 24, 2026
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @TBD

    Health & Human Services
    Friday, May 1, 2026
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @Stella Maris
    Speakers include:

    • Dr. David Margolius (CBB 2019), City of Cleveland Department of Public Health
    • Daniel Lettenberger-Klein (LC2 2023, LC 2022), Stella Maris

    Quality of Life
    Friday, May 8, 2026
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @Pivot Center

    Connecting the Dots for Civic Engagement
    Friday, May 15, 2026
    8:00-10:00 a.m.
    @Greater Cleveland Partnership

    Register for Spring >

The CLI difference

At the end of each cohort, participants indicate their level of agreement with a series of statements before and after the program. The charts below indicate the percentage of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with these specific statements.

I am able to use information about the community to envision Cleveland’s future.

I am able to think critically about how relationships between civic assets, issues, and stakeholders impact the health of the community.

To learn more about CLC’s evaluation process, visit our Impact page.

To learn more about CLI, email Nicole Canitano or call (440)-476-7423.

Civic Leadership Institute

Get the scoop on what’s happening. Get connected to those making it happen. Get involved. To learn more, email Nicole Canitano below or call (440)-476-7423..

Email Nicole

Additional Resources

In their words

“It’s an introductory course that scratches the surface of the work that is going on behind the scenes to make Cleveland a better place for the people who live here and the people that want to make it their new home. CLI gives a glimpse into this world that could take years of Friday sessions if someone wanted to dig deeper. It helps you to identify a cause that you care about or that is close to you so you can pick a path.”

CLI Participant, 2024