The Way Forward Leader Lunch Break is a series of virtual (via Zoom) discussions and workshops on topics to help you move forward in our new and uncertain world.
Cleveland Metroparks’ Re-Connecting Cleveland
Brian Zimmerman (LC2 2014, LC2 2012, LC 2011), CEO, Cleveland Metroparks
Brian gave a brief overview of all of the recent projects the Metroparks have completed (Whiskey Island Connector, Red Line Greenway, the Noshery, Towpath Stage 4, Brighton Park, Wendy Park Bride, The Lindsey Family Play Space, Eagle Zip Adventure, and the Lake Erie Water Trail), highlighted some of the happenings and opportunities for visitors across they park system – including their redesigned app, and shared plans for the future. He also noted the recent Innovation in Social Equity national award the Metroparks received and that they are once again a Finalist for the National Gold Medal Award for Parks & Recreation.
Watch now >
Recorded August 4, 2021
Transforming communities through visual art
Stamy Paul (LC 2020), Founder & President, Graffiti HeArt
Stamy shared Graffiti HeArt’s origin story, their work and growth over the past seven years in elevating the work of local artists and opening doors through scholarship opportunities for aspiring young artists. She shared some of the projects they’ve helped bring to life, as well as details about the upcoming WRDSMTH tour during which he will create 15 new murals across Cleveland.
Watch now >
Recorded July 28, 2021
Cleveland’s waterways: access, economics, and investments
Will Friedman (LC 2012), President & CEO, Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
The Port Authority is responsible for maintaining the port’s waterways and facilities, encouraging importers and exporters to use its facilities, and driving economic development through financial and real estate investments. Learn how they are working to advance their mission and increasing port usage and lake access.
Watch now >
Recorded July 21, 2021
Housing choice voucher program: how it will improve life outcomes
Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
Dorivette Nolan, Director of Policy, Planning, and Housing Mobility
Aleksandra Tyler, Mobility and Landlord Outreach Coordinator
Carla Haren (ALI 2021, CLI 2019, CBB 2016), Executive Administrative Officer/Board Liaison
The ZIP code in which a child lives is highly predictive of their long-term outcomes in life across all facets of life (financial, mental and physical health, education, etc.). CMHA was one of nine public housing authorities across the nation that participated in HUD’s Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Mobility Demonstration giving families the opportunity to move to low-poverty neighborhoods (aka opportunity areas). Dorivette, Aleksandra, and Carla shared how the HCV program works, the trends and research that led to its creation, its goals and the target populations. They discussed how it removes many of the barriers many face in moving to opportunity areas.
Watch now >
Recorded July 14, 2021
Race and historic housing inequality in Cleveland
Dr. Todd M. Michney
Assistant Professor, School of History and Sociology, Georgia Institute of Technology
Redlining, a form of discriminatory denial of service based on race (largely focused on Black populations), has had devastating impacts across our country. Dr. Michney, author of Surrogate Suburbs: Black Upward Mobility and Neighborhood Change in Cleveland, 1900-1980 discussed the history of redlining, its cascading effects over the years, and the resulting inequities in our communities today.
Watch now >
Recorded July 7, 2021
A history of the role of race in the construction of U.S. immigration policy
Dr. John Grabowski
Kreiger-Mueller Joint Professor in History, Case Western Reserve University
Senior Vice President for Research and Publications, Western Reserve Historical Society
Dr. Grabowski discussed immigration policies and laws, and constitutional rights of immigrants from the inception of the United States through today. He discussed how they are shaped by individual beliefs and biases across time and how that shaped our country as we know it now.
Watch now >
Recorded June 30, 2021
Black Americans in Cleveland, Ohio: 200+ Years of History
Dr. Regennia N. Williams
Distinguished Scholar of African American History and Culture, Western Reserve Historical Society
Founder & Executive Director, The RASHAD Center, Inc.
Dr. Williams discussed the work of key individuals, institutions, and organizations from the city’s founding in 1796 through 2021.
Watch now >
Recorded June 23, 2021
COVID-19 Vaccine: Addressing the Disparities
Keisha Krumm, Executive Director/Lead Organizer, Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC)
Vaccinations for Black populations in Cleveland are far behind those for white populations. According to an article by The Land highlighting GCC’s work to increase the percentage of Black individuals receiving the vaccine, roughly 45% of white residents had received a first shot by April 19. In that same time frame, less than half of that percentage (21%) of Black residents had received their first dose. Keisha shared how GCC is turning the tide on those numbers by breaking down misconceptions and barriers to access, while leveraging the Black community’s strong ties to, and trust in, their faith communities.
Watch now >
Recorded June 16, 2021
Higher education: the road traveled + the road ahead
Harlan Sands, President, Cleveland State University
Harlan talked about the early days of the pandemic at CSU and how they viewed it as an opportunity to grow. He also discussed the new partnerships, co-ops and guaranteed internship programs CSU is committed to as a means to attract and retain young talent in Cleveland.
Watch now >
Recorded June 9, 2021
Pride in the CLE: Why it matters for everyone
Phyllis “Seven” Harris (LC2 2020, LC 2019), Executive Director, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
Seven shared the origins of Pride Month, how it has evolved, and how it is a movement as much as a celebration. She shared the plans for the 2021 Pride in CLE, why it is equals parts visibility, resistance, advocacy, and celebration, and their hope to broaden the event’s message and reach through a partnership with WKYC.
Watch now >
Recorded June 2, 2021
The pandemic and population shifts
Stephan Whitaker, Policy Economist, Federal Reserve Bank
Stephen shared recent data regarding the population inflow and outflow of urban neighborhoods, both nationally and in Cleveland, over the past few years and highlighted specific trends occurring during the pandemic. He shared his views on what he foresees for Cleveland in the coming years and how Cleveland can capture a larger share of the increased permanent remote workforce.
Watch now >
Recorded May 26, 2021
A voice for indigenous populations
Cynthia Connolly, Development Director, Policy Matters Ohio
Cynthia shared two of the biggest issues facing indigenous peoples – accurate representation and invisibility – largely stemming from a lack of education. She talked about the issues inherent in and resulting from the Indian Relocation Act, including cultural genocide, racism, and the wealth gap, and discussed some of the ways they are working to offset those issues. She also shared some of the recent efforts centered around the census and the pandemic and COVID vaccination.
Watch now >
Recorded May 19, 2021
Innovation in lakefront development
Ali Lukacsy-Love (CBB 2017), Director of Planning & Development, City of Euclid
Ali shared The City of Euclid’s innovative approach to lakefront development that tackles public access and erosion issues for private property owners at the same time. Their unique public-private partnership is helping address high water and erosion issues for land owners while creating accessible and usable lakefront amenities for other residents.
Watch now >
Recorded May 12, 2021
Broadway Rising: transforming Slavic Village
Earl Pike (LC 2009), Executive Director, University Settlement Inc.
Scott Villani (CLI 2011), Chief Strategy Officer, The NRP Group LLC
Kanika Williams, Slavic Village resident
Earl and Scott discussed the Broadway Rising project and their considerations for the community as they were designing it. They shared how the partnership between University Settlement and The NRP Group came to be, and why The NRP Group is invested in the project. Kanika talked about the challenges Slavic Village residents face, how University Settlement is helping them, and how the Broadway Rising project will boost the community. The also shared tips on collaboration based on what’s worked well throughout this project and their long-term visions for the Slavic Village neighborhood.
Watch now >
Recorded May 5, 2021
2021 Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards
Karen Long (LC 2020), Manager, Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, Cleveland Foundation
Karen shared the history of the Awards and gave a brief synopsis of each book in the Class of 2021. She shared the criteria, and the nomination and selection process, as well as some of the trends they’ve seen over the years.
Watch now >
Recorded April 28, 2021
Women in public office
Phyllis Cleveland (LC 2011), Councilwoman, Ward 5, City of Cleveland
Jasmin Santana, Councilwoman, Ward 14, City of Cleveland
Jenny Spencer (CBB 2011), Councilwoman, Ward 15, City of Cleveland
Phyllis, Jasmin, and Jenny shared their personal experiences as members of the Cleveland City Council, their goals, and their vision for the City. They discussed some of the challenges and surprises, and shared tips for anyone interested in pursuing public office.
Watch now >
Recorded April 21, 2021
“Not Going Quietly”: A conversation with the filmmakers
Nicholas Bruckman, Director
Amanda Roddy, Producer
Moderated by Patrick Shepherd (LC 2020, CBB 2003), Associate Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Nicholas and Amanda shared how the film came to be, the experience of filming, and how the deep integration they had into Ady’s life and family led to an extremely strong storytelling experience. They also shared how they hope the film will encourage and inspire others to learn more about health care reform and to be engaged and taking action for all causes that matter to them.
Watch now >
Recorded April 15, 2021
Behavioral Health: An integrated approach
Dr. Michael Biscaro, Chief of Behavioral Health, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
Dr. Biscaro shared statistics on the increased need for mental and behavioral services during the pandemic and the integrated model they have established at St. Vincent Charity Medical Center to focus on the whole patient. He shared how this integrated model is yielding more successful outcomes and decreasing costs.
Watch now >
Recorded April 14, 2021
Harvest for Hunger: Fighting Food Insecurity
Bill Lacey, President & CEO, GE Lighting, a Savant Company
Sean Richardson (LC 2011), President, Greater Cleveland Region, Huntington
Bill and Sean discussed food insecurity, corporate responsibility, employee community engagement, leadership, and the importance of the Harvest for Hunger campaign for our community. They also shared the various (and easy) ways to get involved and contribute to the campaign.
Watch now >
Recorded April 7, 2021
Adverse Childhood Experiences in Economic Development
Michael Jeans (LC 2016), President, Growth Opportunity Partners
Michael provided a brief overview of Growth Opportunity Partners and discussed Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) – what they are and their downstream effects in adults, including how they impact those affected in the business arena. He shared Growth Opportunity Partners’ belief that improved health plus increased economic access will improve outcomes across the community and how they have connected with local health organizations to explore this area and are working to incorporate their findings into their work.
Watch now >
Recorded March 31, 2021
Re-Entry Court: The clients and our community
Judge Nancy Margaret Russo (ALI 2020, LC 2000), Judge, Cuyahoga County Court of Common Please
Judge Russo shared how the Re-Entry Court came to be and who they take into the program. She discussed how the program helps change the trajectory of those in the program, as well as the perceptions of the community of formerly incarcerated individuals – including the 92% success rate and the cost savings the program has on the local criminal justice system.
Watch now >
Recorded March 22, 2021
Resilience in Difficult Times
Allison Hite, Founder, Never Ever Give Up Cleveland
Allison discussed what Never Ever Give Up Cleveland has been up to since she won the Authentic Cleveland Experiences category at Accelerate 2019 which allowed her to launch the project including, public art installations, a podcast series, and a book. She shared Stories of Struggle and Letters of Hope, as well as ways we can all move forward together.
Watch now >
Recorded March 19, 2021
One Year Later: How the Pandemic Changed Us All
Eric Gordon (LC 2013), Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Elizabeth McIntyre (LC 2006), Executive Editor, Crain’s Cleveland Business
Dr. Margaret McKenzie (LC 2019, CLC Board), President, South Pointe Hospital, Cleveland Clinic
Kristin Warzocha (LC 2010, CBB 2002, CLC Board), President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
In this candid conversation Eric, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Kristin shared their biggest organizational and personal challenges, their leadership advice, lessons learned, and in hindsight what they would have done differently. They talked about the importance of imparting confidence as a leader, and how critical communication, compassion, and empathy are when leading in difficult and uncertain times.
Watch now >
Recorded March 15, 2021
Southwest Airlines: The Pandemic, 50 Years, and 1 Million Acts of Kindness
Ana Schwager, Community Outreach Lead, Southwest Airlines
Ana shared a bit of Southwest Airlines culture, how they weathered the early days of the pandemic, and how they pivoted to meet the market where it is now and moving forward. She also discussed their 1 Million Acts of Kindness campaign in celebration of their 50th anniversary celebration this year.
Watch now >
Recorded March 10, 2021
Accelerate 2021 Finalists: What’s Next
- Sara Kidner: Read Like Me Watch now>
- Antwoine Washington + Michael Russell, MOCHA Gallery Watch now>
- Abigail Poeske + Rachel Hosler, An Ecosystem of Innovators Watch now>
- Laylah Allen + Ashley Welch, Project Coping Box Watch now>
- Michelle Park, Project DeLight: Dark Night, Stars Bright Watch now>
- Lisa Rose-Rodriguez, Planting Stems of Peace Watch now>
The winners talk about their Accelerate experience, what their next steps are, and what success looks like for their projects. They each also shared words of advice for others with ideas and passion projects.
Watch now >
Recorded March 3, 2021
Why Stemming the Exodus of Women from the Workforce is an Economic & Social Imperative
Denise Reading (LC 2003), CEO, GetWorkerFIT and LDR Worldwide
Denise illustrated the myriad ways in which the pandemic has driven women from the workplace, what this means for organizations and our society, as well as ways to help stem the exodus and reintegrate women back into the workforce.
Watch now >
Recorded February 24, 2021
Accelerate Success Showcase
Karson Baldwin, Accelerate 2019 Winner: Onè Respè
Matt Fieldman (CBB 2012), Accelerate 2015 Winner: Cleveland Codes
Jowan Smith, Accelerate 2020 Winner: 1,000 Ties & Accelerate 2017 Finalist: Getting Our Babies to College 101
Matt, Karson, and Jowan shared how their Accelerate pitches have taken flight and are changing lives, the challenges they’ve faced, and how people can help advance their work.
Watch now >
Recorded February 17, 2021
Women in STEM
Jane Christyson, CEO, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio
Jane shared how the Girl Scouts are focused on building leadership and cultivating a strong interest in STEM for girls. She shared the newest initiatives and what’s next for the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio.
Watch now >
Recorded February 10, 2021
The pandemic and the economy
Guhan Venkatu (LC 2020, CBB 2005), Group Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Guhan shared data and trends that illustrates how the pandemic has affected our economy and how we are recovering.
Watch now >
Recorded February 3, 2021
Creating your winter self-care plan
Kristi Horner, Founder and Executive Director, Courage to Caregivers
Jenny Woodworth, Program Coordinate and Support Group Leader, Courage to Caregivers
Kristi and Jenny shared what self-care is, why it’s important, and tips to practice it over the next few months as we weather the remainder of the Northeast Ohio winter and the pandemic.
Watch now >
Recorded January 29, 2021
Organizational Diversity and Inclusion
Kevin Clayton, Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Engagement, Cleveland Cavaliers
Kevin shared the Cavs definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion and how they are working to advance all three within their organization and across the community. He also shared ways for everyone to support the Cavs work, as well as what people can do to promote equity and inclusion within their own organizations and in the community.
Watch now >
Recorded January 27, 2021
Captovation: Online Presentations by Design
Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management, Boler College of Business, John Carroll University
Maria Soriano Young, Writing Center Director and Coordinator of Teaching for Graduate Assistants, John Carroll University
Scott and Maria shared best practices from their book, Captovation: Online Presentations by Design, for creating engaging, informative online presentations. They touched on everything from backgrounds and technology to slides and voice tone.
Watch now >
Recorded January 26, 2021
Community Innovation
Donté Gibbs (CBB 2019), #Masks4Community & Donté’s Gift Express
Cait Kennedy (ALI 2018), [unBail]
Donté and Cait shared the impact of their respective projects, how they came to be, and lessons they learned along the way. They discussed how they balance these projects as extra commitments in their lives and shared advice for those who may want to launch a civic project.
Watch now >
Recorded January 13, 2021
Cleveland 2021 – what are our priorities?
David Abbott (LC 1989), Executive Director, The George Gund Foundation
David discussed what Cleveland need to do to succeed in 2021 through the lens of the Foundation and focused on threats to our democracy. He touched on how recent national events have an immediate and clear impact on issues locally including, this year’s mayoral election and the new redistricting process in Ohio.
Watch now >
Recorded January 6, 2021
Lessons from 2020 and how we move forward
Baiju Shah
Managing Director, Accelerate Ventures
Senior Fellow for Innovation, Cleveland Foundation
Leader, Cleveland Innovation Project
Baiju talked about the challenges of 2020 and how our region can move recover and thrive through the work of the Cleveland Innovation Project which aims to drive technology and prosperity for all residents of Cleveland. He discussed the three focus areas of the project and the strategies they are employing to drive innovation and collaboration in our community.
Watch now >
Recorded December 16, 2020
College students in the CLE: What to do for Winter Break
David Gilbert (LC 2001), President & CEO, Destination Cleveland
David talked about the “soul of Cleveland” and what makes it special, as well as ideas to explore the community and get involved.
Watch now >
Recorded December 9, 2020
Our planet, our responsibility
Lisa Gavales (LC 2017)
Lisa shared actionable ways every person can help offset climate change and places to look for more information.
We were unable to record this session but you can check out some of Lisa’s recommendations >.
Hosted December 6, 2020
The 2020 Holiday season COVID style
Dr. Jim Merlino (LC 2012), Chief Clinical Transformation Officer, Cleveland Clinic
Dr. Merlino shared the current COVID stats, misconceptions, the biggest issues the hospital is facing as the number rise, and how the treatment of the disease has improved over the past nine months. He also discussed the forthcoming vaccines (safety, distribution, and timing), as well as what we can all do to slow the spread until the they are widely distributed.
Watch now >
Recorded November 18, 2020
2030 – The coming changes and how to prepare
Mauro F. Guillén, Zandman Professor of International Management, The Wharton School
Dr. Guillén discussed the impact of the pandemic on the social and economic landscape, including how it is accelerating trends in population ageing, inequality, technology adaptation, and emerging markets. He also shared coming changes across businesses, organizations, and individuals as employees and consumers.
Watch now >
Recorded November 17, 2020
The 2020 Election: What now?
Dr. David Cohen, Interim Director of the Bliss Institute at University of Akron, Professor of Political Science
Dr. Cohen discussed the different phases of a presidential election in the U.S., the current status, and what’s next. He also discussed the current state of the elections for Congress as the balance of power in both the House and Senate are hanging on the final vote counts in several states. He also discussed the inaccuracies of the polling leading up to the election and the possibilities of the electors not following their state’s popular vote and what that could mean.
Watch now >
Recorded November 11, 2020
Politics, elections, and the media
George Rodrigue (LC2 2017, LC 2016), Editor at Large, Advance Local
George talked about the role he believes local media should play in an election and shared stories from his time as a journalist covering political races. He talked about the political divide in our country and how the media is largely responsible, how money plays a role, and how to protect yourself from fake and biased news.
Watch now >
Recorded November 4, 2020
Supporting employees working from home
Kelly Keefe (LC 2020, CLI 2012), President, ERC
Kelly discussed the results of a recent survey of top performers across NEO, what they want and need in this new environment. She shared tips for leaders and organizations to help meet those needs, as well as ways to help employees battle the loneliness of remote work.
Watch now >
Recorded October 28, 2020
Embracing diversity across generations and race
Justin Bibb (CC 2007, LookUp 2004), Chief Strategy Officer, Urbanova & Founder, Cleveland Can’t Wait
Justin discussed a wide-range of topics all focused on what it will take for our city and our region to truly make progress and become all that it can be.
Watch now >
Recorded October 21, 2020
The ongoing effects of the pandemic on the arts
Jill Paulsen (LC 2017), Executive Director, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture
Jill discussed the impact of the pandemic on the local arts and culture sector, from grass roots initiatives to the largest cultural institutions. She shared some of the downstream effects including job losses and the consequences on our regional economy, as well as how some organizations have taken the opportunity to innovate.
Watch now >
Recorded October 14, 2020
Freshly Rooted: A wholistic, community-centered approach to health
Alysha Ellis (OBC 2019), Co-Founder, Freshly Rooted
Alysha shared how Freshly Rooted is addressing community healthy through education, community engagement, and strategic partnerships. She also discussed how they’ve had to pivot and adapt because of the pandemic and what’s on the horizon.
Watch now >
Recorded October 7, 2020
Surviving COVID through evolution at EDWINS
Brandon Chrostowski, Founder & CEO, EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
Brandon shared the story of how the immediate pivot they made at EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute when the pandemic hit allowed them to not only survive but to thrive. He shared how innovation needs to be ingrained in the culture for this to be possible, what they did and continue to do to keep workers and customers safe, and how it all comes down to remembering your core and who you are working for. He also announced his plan to open a second restaurant in November
Watch now >
Recorded September 30, 2020
Voting in 2020: Advocacy, engagement, and equity
Erika Anthony (CBB 2014, CLI 2010), Co-Founder, Cleveland VOTES
Erika talked about the options and changes for voting this November, voter registration and engagement advocacy efforts, making a voter plan, and how the pandemic is affecting the voting process.
Watch now >
Recorded September 24, 2020
Verizon: A Corporate Response to Today
Jessica Cohen, State Government Affairs, Verizon Communications
Jessica shared the work Verizon has done in response to the pandemic, including their heavy involvement in education and remote learning, and their work in the racial justice arena.
Watch now >
Recorded September 16, 2020
Coronavirus and Sports in Cleveland
David Gilbert (LC 2001), President & CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
David shared the focus and impact of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, how the pandemic has affected their work and Cleveland by extension, how they are moving forward, and their plan for the NFL Draft.
Watch now >
Recorded September 9, 2020
8 Mindsets for Successful Fundraising Today
Jessica Leary Allen, nonprofit consultant
Jessica shared eight mindsets every successful fundraiser should consider while raising money in uncertain times and gave real-life examples of organizations that have shifted their thinking to create innovative revenue strategies and stronger connections with their clients, donors, and community.
Watch now >
Recorded September 2, 2020
Building Community in Turbulent Times
Rabbi Allison Vann (LC 2019), Suburban Temple-Kol Ami
Rabbi Vann talked about how she and her staff are staying connected with the congregation members and the values that are binding them together, as well as some of the social just work they are doing in the areas of racial justice, voting, and the impact of the pandemic.
Watch now >
Recorded August 26, 2020
Becoming an Anti-Racist: Your Journey
Erica Merritt (CBB 2008), Founder & Principal Consultant, Equius Group LLC
Erica discussed the status of racism today, what people are getting wrong and right about it, and actionable ways to be a better anti-racist and ally.
Watch now >
Recorded August 25, 2020
Living with COVID & Reopening Safely
Dr. Joan Zoltanski (LC 2020), Chief Experience Officer, University Hospitals Health System
Dr. Zoltanski talked about what the doctors at University Hospitals are recommending in terms of safety protocols for schools and businesses through their University Hospitals Healthy Restart Playbooks.
Watch now >
Recorded August 19, 2020
Neighbor Up: It takes a village
Tom O’Brien (LC2 2012, LC 2011), Program Director, Neighborhood Connections
Gwendolyn Garth, Artist and Activist
Tom and Gwendolyn talked about the work of Neighbor Up and how they are building and strengthening a network of committed community members to create positive community impact and highlighted some of the projects they are involved with.
Watch now >
Recorded August 18, 2020
College Now: supporting college students in the new reality
Dr. Michele Scott Taylor (LC2 2020, LC 2017), Chief Program Officer, College Now Greater Cleveland
Michele talked about how College Now shifted as the pandemic hit, what they are currently doing to help support students and families, and their plans for the future as schools reopen.
Watch now >
Recorded August 12, 2020
Please note: Connectivity was intermittent, please excuse the video quality.
The Cavs and the coronavirus
Len Komoroski (LC 2005), Chief Executive Officer, Cavaliers Holdings, LLC
Len shared how the NBA is conducting the playoffs in the time of COVID, what they anticipate for the upcoming season, and how they are readying Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse for the upcoming season and election. He also touched on some of the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the Cavs organizations.
Watch now >
Recorded August 11, 2020
Content Marketing in a Coronavirus World
Jacquie Chakirelis, Director of Digital Strategy, Quest Digital
Jacquie talked about how the pandemic has affected marketing efforts and created a content marketing explosion. She shared tools, tips, and examples of how to leverage content in our new world.
Watch now >
Recorded August 5, 2020
The future of Downtown
Joe Marinucci (LC 2003), President & CEO, Downtown Cleveland Alliance
Joe talked about the current state of downtown, the projects currently underway, and how he expects the pandemic and racial justice efforts to affect the face of downtown.
Watch now >
Recorded August 4, 2020
CMHA: The police and the community
Andrés González (LC 2013), Chief of Police, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority
Chief González talked about the work of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) Police Department, how they are building relationships with the communities and how that has changed during the pandemic.
Watch now >
Recorded July 30, 2020
Jump-starting CLE’s economy
Cathy Belk (LC 2012, CLC Board), President, JumpStart Inc.
Cathy shared how JumpStart Inc. support local entrepreneurs, what has changed since the pandemic hit, and how they are focusing on ensuring equitable access to resources.
Watch now >
Recorded July 29, 2020
The other pandemic
Jack Binder (LC 2019, CLI 2012), Executive Director & CEO, LifeAct
Dr. John Hertzer, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Division Chair, University Hospitals
Jennifer Reed, Clinical Program Manager for Highland Springs Changes
Jack, Dr. Hertzer, and Jennifer talked about the tragic increase in suicide rates over the past 10 years and how COVID is amplifying mental health issues in children and teens. They shared how they are working to reach those struggling with mental health issues during the pandemic and in these times of social distancing.
Watch now >
Recorded July 28, 2020
The Cleveland Orchestra in the time of COVID
André Gremillet (LC 2018), President & CEO, The Cleveland Orchestra
André spoke about how the pandemic has impacted the Cleveland Orchestra, how they are innovated to not just retain but expand their audience, how they are taking care of their musicians in these challenges times, and their outlook for the future.
Watch now >
Recorded July 27, 2020
How to engage in civil civic discourse
Dan Moulthrop (LC 2014), Chief Executive Officer, The City Club of Cleveland
Dan shared strategies for engaging in civil civic discourse and how to have more productive conversations around difficult topics.
Watch now >
Recorded July 23, 2020
CMSD: The pandemic’s effects past, present, and future
Eric Gordon (LC 2013), Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Eric shared how the Cleveland Metropolitan School District worked to ensure all children received an education during the shut down, their focus on racial justice within the schools, how they’ve worked with families and children over the summer, and what they are doing to prepare for the upcoming school year.
Watch now >
Recorded July 22, 2020
COVID-19 and Cleveland’s Cultural Institutions
Kirsten Ellenbogen (LC 2014), President & CEO, Great Lakes Science Center
Greg Harris (LC 2010), President & CEO, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum
Kirsten and Greg talked about how they prepared their institutions for the shut-down, how the local cultural organizations worked together, how they innovated to continue to serve the community, and what they see for the near-term future.
Watch now >
Recorded July 21, 2020
The U.S. Coast Guard in CLE
Rear Admiral Donna Cottrell, Commander, Ninth District, U.S. Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Cottrell shared what the Coast Guard does on the Great Lakes, some of the challenges they are facing right now.
Watch now >
Recorded July 20, 2020
The Pandemic and the Arts
Kevin Moore (LC 2009), Managing Director, Cleveland Play House
Kevin talked about how the pandemic has affected the organization and the considerations and scenarios for reopening.
Watch now >
Recorded July 16, 2020
Covering community issues
Elizabeth McIntyre (LC 2006), Publisher & Editor, Crain’s Cleveland Business
Elizabeth talked about Crain’s Cleveland Business’ approach to covering tough, emotionally-charged topics and how they are working to better reflect the community.
Watch now >
Recorded July 15, 2020
Empowering urban youth
Jowan Smith, Accelerate 2020 Winner and 2017 Finalist
Chief Executive Officer, 1,000 Ties + Post-Secondary Education Consultant and Motivational Speaker
Jowan discussed how Getting Our Babies to College and 1,000 Ties came to life, how she’s helping empower urban youth by teaching etiquette and communication skills, mentoring, and college and career preparation. She also talked about her upcoming book and her plans for the future.
Watch now >
Recorded July 14, 2020
Providence House: Pivoting in a Pandemic
Natalie Leek (LC 2010), President and CEO, Providence House
Natalie discussed how Providence house pivoted from an onsite program to an entirely remote services to serve over 300 families since March. She also shared their plan to re-open their west side residential site and their planned expansion on the east side, and the challenges they’ve faced with both of those endeavors.
Watch now >
Recorded July 13, 2020
NAACP: Addressing systemic racism locally
Danielle Sydnor (ALI 2018, CBB 2014), Founder, We Win Strategies Group and President, NAACP Cleveland Branch
Danielle talked about the work of the NAACP locally, particularly how they are engaged in voter registration and Census efforts, what the community needs to do to support anti-racism efforts and the challenges in this work.
Watch now >
Recorded July 9, 2020
Census 2020: critical to CLE’s future
Juan Galeano, Project Consultant: 2020 Census, The Cleveland Foundation
Juan shared a number of initiatives that have already taken place to increase the Census response, what’s still to come, and how people can pitch in and help increase the response from underrepresented populations.
Watch now >
Recorded July 8, 2020
The Cleveland Police Foundation: Affecting systemic change
Grant Dinner (LC 2019), Chief Operating Officer, Weinberg Wealth Management, LLC and Board of Directors President, The Cleveland Police Foundation
Angela Thi Bennett (ALI 2018, CLI 2017), Consultant, Director of Development and Programming, The Cleveland Police Foundation
Grant and Angela discussed how the Cleveland Police Foundation is fostering stronger relationships between the community and police officers through a number of programs, including the Public Safety Career Pipeline Program.
Watch now >
Recorded July 7, 2020
Creating a community-wide conversation on race
Eddie Harrell (LC 2015), Regional Vice President, Radio One
Kevin Griffin (LC 2019), Senior Vice President, The Adcom Group
Eddie and Kevin talked about the collaboration that created the Justice for All radio presentation got started, how they designed the program, and what the next steps are for our community and its leaders.
Watch now >
Recorded July 6, 2020
The Consent Decree: A Monitor’s perspective
Timothy Tramble (LC 2010), President and CEO, Saint Luke’s Foundation of Cleveland
Tim provides background on the Consent Decree, the process of implementation, and the role of the monitors.
Watch now >
Recorded June 30, 2020
Criminal Justice Reform
Rebecca Ruppert McMahon (LC 2018, CBB 2008), Chief Executive Officer, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association (CMBA)
Ian N. Friedman, Esq., Founding Partner, Friedman & Nemecek, L.L.C., Immediate Past CMBA Board President
Becky and Ian shared how CMBA is advancing racial equity and inclusion within the legal space in Cleveland.
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Recorded June 29, 2020
Evictions and the right to representation in the time of COVID
Hazel Remesch, Supervising Attorney, The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Hazel discussed her work in establishing the right to representation in housing court and how the pandemic is affecting housing for our community and those facing eviction.
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Recorded June 25, 2020
Adapting in times of crisis to serve the homeless and vulnerable populations in Cleveland
Maria A. Foschia (CLI 2010), MBA, LSW, Acting CEO & Chief Operating Officer, Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
Maria discussed Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry’s work with the homeless and vulnerable populations and how they’ve pivoted to continue serving those individuals during the pandemic.
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Recorded June 24, 2020
The rise of crowdfunding during COVID-19
Dawn Arrington (CBB 2020), Cleveland Action Strategist, ioby
Dawn shared how grass-roots programs and nonprofits are leveraging the ioby platform to bring under-funded initiatives and projects to life during the pandemic as traditional sources of funding are no longer available.
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Recorded June 23, 2020
DACA: A regional perspective
Joe Cimperman (LC 2003), President, Global Cleveland
Joe shared why the Supreme Court’s DACA decision is important for our region, the roll international newcomers play in our community, and what Global Cleveland is doing to support them during the pandemic.
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Recorded June 22, 2020
Racism as a public health crisis
Blaine Griffin (LC2 2015, LC 2014), Councilman, Ward 6, City of Cleveland
Kerry McCormack (LC 2018, LookUp 2005), Councilman, Ward 3, City of Cleveland
Councilmen Griffin and McCormack shared how the City’s declaration of racism as a public health crisis came about, what the next steps are, and how people can get involved in anti-racist work.
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Recorded June 18, 2020
Addressing food insecurities during crisis through the Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Kristin Warzocha (LC 2010, CBB 2002, CLC Board), President and CEO, Greater Cleveland Food Bank
Kristin shared the challenges and adaptations the Food Bank had to make as the pandemic exponentially expanded the community’s need for food. She shared how creativity and flexibility were key in being able to respond quickly to the need, how those changes will impact their operations going forward, and what they are planning for the future.
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Recorded June 16, 2020
Senior living in the midst of COVID-19
Kendra Urdzik (LC 2020), President & CEO, Judson Services, Inc.
Cindy Struk, Vice President, Health Services, CCHO, Judson Services, Inc.
Julie Anderson (LC 2013, CLI 2010), Vice President, Judson Manor
The Judson team talked about their efforts to safeguard the health and safety of their elderly residents and team members during the pandemic.
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Recorded June 15, 2020
Addressing disparities in leadership
Phyllis “Seven” Harris (LC2 2020, LC 2019), Executive Director, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
Phyllis talked about the lack of inclusion of Black folks in leadership and how leadership on boards and in upper level management roles can promote inclusion and address disparities.
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Recorded June 11, 2020
The digital divide in Cleveland
Dorothy Baunach (LC 1992), Chief Executive Officer, DigitalC
Kurt Karukul (LC2 2020, LC 2019, LC2 2017, LC2 2015, LC2 2013, LC 2012), President & Executive Director, Third Federal Foundation
Dorothy spoke about how DigitalC is working to close the digital divide and Kurt shared how and why Third Federal Foundation is funding those initiatives.
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Recorded June 10, 2020
Note: This workshop was recorded by Digital C and lives on the empowerCLE YouTube channel. The workshop begins at 2:38.
Understanding infant mortality in Cleveland and the work of First Year Cleveland
Bernadette Kerrigan (LC 2008), Executive Director, First Year Cleveland
Bernie shared how First Year Cleveland is reducing infant mortality in Cleveland by focusing on the systemic racism inherent in the medical system and candidly shared how she discovered and is working through her own biases.
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Recorded June 9, 2020
Health Happens in Communities: The MetroHealth System’s Institute for H.O.P.E.TM
Susan Fuehrer (ALI 2020, LC 2008), President, Institute for H.O.P.E.TM
James Misak MD (LC 2020), Medical Director, Institute for H.O.P.E.TM
Sue and Dr. Misak discussed the work of the Institute of H.O.P.E.TM, social determinants of health, and how they are those disparities in Cleveland.
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Recorded June 8, 2020
Preparing for the return of students: schools & day care facilities
Tom Gill (CEF 2010, CLI 2009), President, Urban Community School
Michelle Curry (LC2 2020, LC2 2015, LC 2014), Executive Director, Merrick House Neighborhood Center
Michelle and Tom shared how their respective organizations responded to the COVID-19 shut-downs, how they continue to serve their children and families, and what they are doing to prepare for the future.
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Recorded June 3, 2020
Covering Challenging Times
Micki Byrnes (LC 2005, CLC Board), President & General Manager, WKYC Channel 3
Adam Miller (LC 2020), Director of Content, WKYC Channel 3
Russ Mitchell (LC 2014), Anchor & Managing Editor, WKYC Channel 3
Micki, Adam, and Russ talked about the challenges and innovation that resulted from COVID-19 for their news team. They also discussed their approach to covering news during tense and challenging times such as the pandemic and the recent protests and riots.
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Recorded June 2, 2020
Leading from Your Creative Side to Manage Uncertainty and Complexity
Adele DiMarco, Executive Leadership & Team Coach, Culture Consultant, Media Host, Author, Speaker, Founder of Yinovate
Adele shared the importance of creativity in today’s business world and ways to tap into and lead from that side.
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Recorded June 1, 2020
What’s Happening at the State level
Phillip Robinson (LC 2013, CEF 2010, CLI 2009)
Phil shared a behind-the-scenes perspective on the challenges the Ohio government has faced due to COVID-19 and what those things mean for its constituents.
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Recorded May 28, 2020
Moving Around the City: trends, realities, and new possibilities in transit
Jacob VanSickle, Executive Director, Bike Cleveland
Jacob talked about Bike Cleveland’s mission, the changes we’ve seen across various modes of transportation during the pandemic, and possibilities for the future of multi-modal transportation in our region.
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Recorded May 27, 2020
NASA returns to the moon!
Dr. Joel Kearns, Director of Facilities, Test and Manufacturing, NASA Glenn Research Center
NASA has plans to return the next man and first woman to the moon by 2024 and NASA in Cleveland is playing a critical part in this mission. Dr. Kearns talks about the mission and shares key leadership tips for leading out of this world projects!
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Recorded May 21, 2020
What’s new and what’s next for the Cleveland Metroparks
Brian Zimmerman (LC2 2014, LC2 2012, LC 2011), CEO, Cleveland Metroparks
Brian shared what’s happening with the Metroparks, what to expect as we look ahead, and his approach to leadership during this time.
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Recorded May 20, 2020
What’s Happening in Higher Education
Carmen Twillie Ambar, President, Oberlin College
President Ambar shares how Oberlin responded to the pandemic in the early stages, how they’ve adapted for remote learning, what is happening on the national landscape, and what the future might hold for Oberlin and other higher education institutions across the country.
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Recorded May 19, 2020
Ever Evolving CARES Act
Ed Bell (LC 2011), President, Gries Financial Partners
Lauren Rich Fine (LC 2007), Partner, Gries Financial Partners
Ed discusses the intentions and details of the CARES Act and Lauren shares a brief overview of the market over the past two months.
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Recorded May 18, 2020
Empathy in Leadership
Adrianne Fletcher, PhD, Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Fletcher discusses how leaders need to tend to their own well-being first and shared practical ways to extend empathy toward employees during this time of collective crisis.
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Recorded May 14, 2020
Leadership in health care during COVID-19
Dr. Margaret McKenzie (LC 2019, CLC Board), President, Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital & Associate Professor of Surgery, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Dr. McKenzie shared how the Cleveland Clinic prepared for and is handling the pandemic both from an internal leadership perspective, as well as the ways they are leading the charge in caring for patients.
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Recorded May 13, 2020
Note: We apologize for the audio and video quality as we experienced connection issues throughout the session.
Returning to the Office for Leaders: Helping Employees Manage their sense of Loss and Grief
This session was presented in partnership with ERC.
Dr. Lisa Damour, nationally known psychologist and best-selling author
Jill Koski (LC 2020), President and CEO at Holden Forests & Gardens
Kelly Keefe (LC 2020, CLI 2012), President, ERC
Dr. Damour, Jill, and Kelly talked about how to help employees to grieve the old normal, how to help employees navigate their new normal, and how to deal with real-life problems and concerns.
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Recorded May 12, 2020
COVID-19 in Cleveland – the challenges, triumphs, and grit
Blaine Griffin (LC2 2015, LC 2014), Councilman , Ward 6, City of Cleveland
Councilman Griffin shares how the pandemic is affecting Cleveland, how the city is responding, and areas of specific focus.
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Recorded May 11, 2020
Note: We apologize for the audio and video quality as we experienced connection issues throughout the session.
Self-care and mental wellness to help you thrive: A therapist perspective
Jennifer Borovica, Owner, RebelRising Wellness
Jen shares the ways COVID-19 has increased stress, how this stress impacts the body and nervous system, and how to create a self care plan with strategies.
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Recorded May 7, 2020
Planning what consumer behaviors will be changed both short and long term
Jason Therrien (LC 2017, CLC Board), President, thunder::tech
Jason discusses how consumers are changing their behaviors in response to the pandemic and what the short- and long-term impacts might be.
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Recorded May 6, 2020
Leading beyond the Curve – Leadership strategies for increasing team productivity in the Post-COVID-19 environment
June Ryan (LC2 2018, LC 2017), Rear Admiral (Retired), U.S. Coast Guard & June Ryan Global Solutions
June shares tips for leaders during volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous times (VUCA environments) like the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Recorded May 5, 2020
Customer Outreach Strategies During COVID-19
Dave Loomis (LC 2017), Founder and President, Loomis Marketing
Dave discusses best practices for customer communications during COVID-19, including how to properly balance empathy with marketing and sales.
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Recorded May 4, 2020
Board Matters: Getting the Governance Right Has Never Been More Important
Brian Broadbent (LC 2007), CEO, Business Volunteers Unlimited
Elizabeth Voudouris, President, Business Volunteers Unlimited
Brian and Biz discuss how boards can support their non-profits during the pandemic and beyond.
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Recorded April 30, 2020
How isolation is affecting victims of physical/sexual violence
Sondra Miller (LC2 2017, LC 2016, CLI 2011, CBB 2008), President & CEO, Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
Melissa Graves, Chief Executive Officer, Domestic Violence and Child Advocacy Center
Sondra and Melissa discuss how social distancing and stay at home orders is affecting their constituents and how are they leading in this space.
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Recorded April 29, 2020
The impact of the pandemic on the arts and the future of arts performances
Patrick Shepherd (LC 2020, CBB 2003), Associate Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Holley Fowler Martens and Chann Fowler-Spellman, members of The Matriots and Trustees of The Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation
Patrick, Chann, and Holley discuss the CIFF44 film, Represent, their work with The Matriots, as well as the state and future of arts organizations.
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Recorded April 28, 2020
Women in politics – the challenges and triumphs of three candidates
This session was presented in partnership with The City Club of Cleveland
Patrick Shepherd (LC 2020, CBB 2003), Associate Director, Cleveland International Film Festival
Hillary Bachelder, REPRESENT film director/ shooter/ editor
Hillary joins Patrick for a discussion of her film (CLC’s 2020 CIFF Partner Film), REPRESENT, which premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival.
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Recorded April 27, 2020
Shine Online: The Digital Presenter
Dr. Scott Allen, Boler College of Business, John Carroll University
Online presentations are the new normal and it’s important to shine in this new medium. This workshop includes tips, tricks, and hacks for any online presentation.
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Recorded April 23, 2020
Leading the CMHA community-what are the challenges, needs and opportunities?
Jeff Patterson (LC 2010), CEO & Safety Director, Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA)
Jeff shares the challenges the COVID-19 situation presents for CMHA, the processes they’ve put in place, services they’ve added, and how they need to adapt going forward.
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Recorded April 22, 2020
The Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund
Heather Torok (LC 2020), Vice President for Programs and Strategy, The Saint Luke’s Foundation
Daniel Cohn, Vice President, Strategy, Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation
Heather and Daniel discuss the leadership collaboration that created the Greater Cleveland COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund and the process of granting the funds.
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Recorded April 15, 2020
Pivoting quickly: A new leadership role in a new world
Michele Seyranian (LC2 2017, LC 2016), CEO, The Gathering Place
Michele discusses what it was like to start in her new role just weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic, how the Gathering Place has pivoted to continue offering services to their constituents, and what’s on the horizon for the organization.
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Recorded April 8, 2020
Leading a restaurant and small business in the current environment
Doug Katz (LC 2019), fire | fire catering | chutney b. | Zhug | Provenance at CMA
Doug chats about the process he took when the restaurants were ordered closed, how he has adapted, and what he foresees for the restaurant industry moving forward.
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Recorded April 1, 2020
The importance of empathy when leading in challenging times
Mark Ross (LC 2016), Lake Erie Market Managing Partner, PwC
Mark shares his thoughts on the current and future implications of working from home, leading employees during this time, and bridging the generational divide by sharing expertise and skills with each other.
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Recorded March 25, 2020