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Leading with Purpose—How Intrinsic Motivation Built Cleveland Kurentovanje

Nicole Kusold-Matheou, Executive Committee Member, Cleveland Kurentovanje

Caitlin Peterson, Executive Committee Member, Cleveland Kurentovanje

Caitlin provided an overview of the Cleveland Kurentovanje’s history and mission, emphasizing its volunteer-driven nature and the significance of the Kurent figure in symbolizing seasonal change. The annual festival will take place this year on February 14, with a variety of events planned, including a 5K run, a parade, and cultural demonstrations aimed at promoting Slovenian traditions and fostering community spirit.

Nicole addressed the challenges faced by the festival’s organizing committee, such as volunteer burnout and the complexities of managing a growing event without financial incentives. She highlighted the importance of intrinsic motivation, which encompasses autonomy, mastery, and purpose, in driving volunteer engagement and organizational success. By establishing clear roles and encouraging autonomy within subcommittees, the festival has cultivated a supportive environment that promotes personal growth among volunteers. Caitlin and Nicole underscored the festival’s role in enhancing Cleveland’s cultural diversity and community cohesion.

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Recorded 02/04/2026

Leading the League: The Cavs’ Sustainability Playbook

Danielle Doza , VP – Sustainability & Environmental Services, Rock Entertainment Group

Danielle outlined Rock Entertainment Group’s goal to integrate sustainability into their business over the next decade, focusing on four key areas. She highlighted partnerships including a retail collaboration for domestically sourced apparel and Davey Tree’s Trees for Threes program, which plants trees for every three-point shot made during games.

She discussed efforts to improve recycling and composting at events through standardized signage and compostable materials, noting collaborative work with teams like the Guardians. Danielle pointed to the upcoming Green Sports Alliance summit as a showcase opportunity and emphasized that leadership buy-in and community engagement are essential to building a sustainable culture across the sports industry.

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Recorded 01/28/2026

ThirdSpace Action Lab: Equity in Motion

Mordecai Cargill, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer, ThirdSpace Action Lab

Mordecai provided an overview of ThirdSpace Action Lab’s mission and community impact and the concepts of racial equity and inclusion as a core principle of the organization. He touched on the three “buckets” of their work: community collaboration, applied racial equity insights, and space activation.
Mordecai discussed the significance of the Third Space Read’s Room as a vital community resource. He touched on the Chocolate City project, aimed at revitalizing Black cultural heritage in Cleveland, and noted the ongoing challenges in achieving racial equity despite waning public enthusiasm. He also mentioned the success of the Racial Equity Institute’s workshops, which have engaged over 20,000 participants since 2016. He talked about the ThirdSpace Reading Room dedicated to Black and indigenous literature, and encouraged attendees to engage with history and literature to tackle contemporary societal issues.
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Recorded 01/21/2026

Step Forward Steps Up to Meet Cleveland’s Needs

Dr. Jacklyn Chisholm, President & CEO, Step Forward

Dr. Chisholm discussed the organization’s mission to assist low-income families through various programs, including the Home Energy Assistance Program and Head Start. She highlighted funding challenges which have been affected by government shutdowns. She also addressed a critical shortage of teaching staff, with 52 vacancies due to retirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, and introduced the “People as Teachers” program to incentivize new hires.

Emphasizing the educational focus of the Head Start program, Dr. Chisholm clarified its distinction from daycare, detailing its curriculum and the importance of parent training. She also discussed who and what has shaped her leadership.

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Recorded 01/14/2026

Cleveland 311: Reimagining Resident Response

Kate Warren, Director of 311, City of Cleveland

Kate provided an overview of Cleveland 311, emphasizing its role as a vital resource for residents seeking assistance with city services. She discussed the services 311 offers and how the system enhances service delivery and fosters transparency between the government and the community.

Kate highlighted the service’s accessibility and shared that 311 handled nearly 150,000 calls in 2025, with improvements in call quality and resident follow-up initiatives. She discussed the evolution of the service since 2009, recent efforts that boosted community engagement, and her priorities in enhancing operational efficiency and communication among city divisions.

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Recorded 01/07/2026

Equity in Action: The Bank On CLE Story

Arin Miller-Tait, Bureau Chief, Community Programs, City of Cleveland Department of Community Development

Arin provided an overview of the Bank On CLE program, which aims to enhance financial empowerment in Cleveland by addressing the significant number of unbanked and underbanked households, particularly within communities of color. She explained why banking access matters for Cleveland and outlined the program’s dual-level approach, guiding principles, and areas of impact.

She also described strategies to integrate banking access into existing community programs and discussed how enterprise community partners connect organizations with financial institutions to promote economic mobility. Arin shared early successes, spoke about the complexities of measuring impact in social services, and announced the City’s upcoming financial empowerment blueprint, which will align with the county’s new financial empowerment center.

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Recorded 12/17/2025