Stokes’ Dilemma: A Special Preview Event
May 12 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
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About the Film
As the first Black mayor of a major U.S. city, Carl B. Stokes inherited a Cleveland fractured by racial inequality, police violence, and Black nationalist unrest. Stokes’ Dilemma goes beyond his historic election and examines the political and moral balancing act Stokes faced as mayor. The film’s defining moment is the 1968 Glenville Shootout, a violent clash that put Stokes at the center of an impossible choice, and tested whether one man could hold a city together at its breaking point.
About the Event
Join Stokes’ Dilemma Director/Producer and Leadership Cleveland Class of 2009 alum Joy Roller for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the story behind the film, the journey to bring it to life, and why Carl Stokes’ legacy matters now more than ever. A panel discussion exploring the film’s themes and Stokes’ enduring legacy will round out the evening.
For CLC alumni, this gathering is a chance to reconnect and rally around fellow alum Joy Roller, whose work shines a compelling light on Cleveland’s past and present. The event is open to all, and we welcome anyone who is invested in the story of this city and where it’s headed.
Your participation helps bring this groundbreaking story to the screen and ensures his impact endures for generations to come. Net proceeds benefit the production of Stokes’ Dilemma.
Event Details
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Auditorium
5:30 – 7:30 p.m. (5:30 Reception | 6:00 p.m. Program | 7:00 p.m. Reception)
$10 CLC / CMBA Members
$20 General admission
Refreshments will be served, cash bar available.
Panelists include:
- Dr. Ronnie Dunn, Associate Professor, Cleveland State University
- Richard Peery (LC 1999), Former Plain Dealer reporter
- Jeff Wolk, Executive Producer, Stokes’ Dilemma
