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 |
Bundle rates |
- 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
- Jason Powers (CBB 2016), Cleveland Neighborhood Progress
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
Speakers include:- Kate Schwab (CBB 2016), College Now Greater Cleveland
- Molly Vaughan, Skidmark Garage
- Brian Schaffran, Motogo
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
- Marielee Santiago-Rodriguez (ALI 2025, CBB 2022), MetroHealth Institute for H.O.P.E.
- Christine Robinson, Stella Maris
Quality of Life
Friday, May 8, 2026
8:00-10:00 a.m.
@Pivot Center
Speakers include:- Marcella Brown (CBB 2019), Rainey Institute
- Emily Lee, Metro West Community Development Organization
Connecting the Dots for Civic Engagement
Friday, May 15, 2026
8:00-10:00 a.m.
@WellLink Health Alliance
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 Austin Harris or call (216) 386-1588.