The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

The 2026 Midterm Election reminds us that every election matters. As the nation prepares for this critical moment in our democracy, it is a moment to learn how justice-impacted individuals in Cleveland and beyond are shaping the fabric of our communities. What are community and faith-based organizations doing today-and what they can do in the future-to center and elevate justice-impacted voices in shaping our communities?\r\n\r\nIn partnership with Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, the conversation will also discuss ways to support efforts that ensure the lived experiences and perspectives of those impacted by the criminal legal system are heard in places of power and influence, helping shape public policy that recognizes the power of second chances.\r\n\r\nJoin us for the City Club\'s Annual Charles R. See Forum on Reentry as a powerhouse panel explores the importance of year-round civic engagement and community involvement for justice-impacted individuals before, during, and after Election Day.

When the Great Migration began in the early 20th century, there were very few fully established intercity bus lines. In 1930, through the consolidation of more than 100 different bus lines, the Greyhound Corporation began offering a different kind of experience for millions of passengers every year, many of whom were leaving the South to establish new lives in northern cities, such as Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago, and cities in the West.\r\n\r\nThe work of historian Robert Edwards focuses on the architecture of the Great Migration--the spaces, built environments, and vehicles essential to the experience of the journey north and west. In recent years, Edwards acquired and is restoring a vintage 1947 Greyhound Bus, destined to become an interactive museum experience.\r\n\r\nAs we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation\'s founding, we welcome Edwards to the City Club to offer his unique and compelling perspective on this integral part of our shared history and the journey that shaped our community.

If medicine is a calling, MetroHealth\'s new President and CEO Christine Alexander-Rager, MD, has been on call for as long as she can remember. Wanting to be a doctor from a young age, Dr. Alexander served as a physician with MetroHealth for nearly three decades. During this time, Dr. Alexander founded MetroHealth's nationally recognized School Health Program, which partners with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and other school systems to bring in-school clinics, mobile units, and other services to students and their families. She also sparked the creation of MetroHealth's medical outreach to the homeless.\r\n\r\nAs of October 2024, she has served as the System\'s President and CEO, and is clear about her top priority. "I think I'd like to be known as the CEO who really focused us on the importance of patients and the importance of our collective community," she says.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as The Center for Community Solutions\' Emily Campbell sits down in conversation with MetroHealth\'s Dr. Christine Alexander-Rager on the progress, challenges, and future vision for The MetroHealth System.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way students learn, study, and complete assignments. From explaining difficult concepts to generating essays in seconds, AI tools are becoming a regular part of many students' academic lives. But what impact is this technology having on motivation, curiosity, and the learning process itself?\r\n\r\nAt this final Youth Forum of the year, students, educators, and community members will explore how AI is reshaping academic expectations and classroom culture. Panelists will discuss both the opportunities and challenges AI presents, while also examining how students can use these tools responsibly without losing the deeper purpose of learning.\r\n\r\nTogether, the conversation will consider whether the goal of education should simply be achieving results or cultivating the curiosity, effort, and critical thinking that meaningful learning requires.

For several years, data centers have been touted as the next frontier of economic development. Household names like Meta, Amazon, and Google are home to some of these centers, and the rising consumer demand for digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence has also contributed to the growth. Ohio is now home to roughly 200 of these facilities. These centers have generated an increased demand for energy resources and a fight over who will pay for the infrastructure and costs. And at the core of the debate are concerns over environmental impacts. What are the facts and common myths behind these data centers? And is Ohio prepared for these new demands on energy and water sources?\r\n\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as we hear from local experts on how we can support responsible economic development, while protecting our natural resources and communities.

Since 1891, if the Pope--whether it be John Paul II, Benedict, Francis, or Leo--has had questions about the stars, he would turn to the leadership of the Vatican Observatory. For the past decade, Brother Guy Consolmagno has been that leader, with a team of scientists operating out of facilities in both Rome and the Arizona desert.\r\n\r\nThe science conducted in those places is exactly what you\'d expect from any serious astronomically oriented outfit--it\'s just all done by Jesuits with an eye toward not just the heavens, but the greater glory of God.\r\n\r\nBrother Guy, as he is known, came to Rome\'s Castel Gandolfo in 1993 as a staff scientist, so to speak. Along the way, he had discerned that though he was destined for a vocation, he was not suited to the priesthood. He is the author of among other books, \"Finding God in the Universe,\" and \"Would you Baptize an Extraterrestrial? ...and Other Questions from the Astronomer\'s Inbox at the Vatican Observatory.\"\r\n\r\nBrother Guy retired last September and will join us in conversation with Kirsten Ellenbogen, President and CEO of the Great Lakes Science Center.

Our Constitutional Republic is dependent on an independent and trustworthy Judiciary to maintain an effective balance of power with the Executive and Legislative branches. With pressures and threats to the safety of judges at the state and federal level at an all-time high, retired Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor (R) and former Justice Mike Donnelly (D) have teamed up in a bipartisan effort to speak up for the judicial system and the fundamental importance of the Rule of Law that underpins it. The Justices will also discuss what everyday Americans can do to support the Rule of Law in their communities.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club for a conversation, moderated by Sound of Ideas host Stephanie Haney, that will focus on the efforts of the Justices to organize judges and lawyers from across Ohio to fully live out their oaths to the Constitution and the practice of law during these turbulent times.

Since the start of the second Trump administration, American colleges and universities have been subject to intense political scrutiny by the White House. Both public and private institutions have negotiated settlements at the expense of DEI programs, admissions, and hefty fines and fees. Law firms, media outlets, and even cultural institutions have also been targeted.\r\n\r\nWesleyan University President Michael S. Roth is a widely recognized defender of academic freedom, democracy, and a leading voice in discussions about the future of colleges and universities. His seventh book, Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist\'s Approach to Inclusion, Free Speech, and Political Correctness on College Campuses (2021), addresses some of the most contentious issues in American higher education, including affirmative action, safe spaces, and questions of free speech. More recently, his bylines in The Bulwark and MS NOW, fiercely defended higher education, and called on civil society to remain steadfast in opposition to extortion under the guise of dealmaking. His efforts have awarded him the 2025 PEN/Benenson Courage Award for "his unwavering commitment to defending academic freedom, protecting protest rights, and resisting attempts to silence dissent in higher education."

At a time when debate and public trust can feel divided and heated, educators are turning to curriculum to help strengthen empathy, curiosity, and civic responsibility in young people. According to Facing History and Ourselves, students from Facing History classrooms report feeling a stronger motivation to become active civic participants, more motivated to learn, and more positive impacts in their school community. Their Civic Education Curriculum Collection, in particular, boosts media-literacy skills, builds historical analysis, engages in civil discourse, and develops a foundation for civic participation.\r\n\r\nWhat can schools and educators do to strengthen civil conversation in a diverse democracy? And is it possible to do so in a time where public schools, its educators, and curriculum have come under heightened scrutiny around race, gender, and history?\r\n\r\nDr. Desmond K. Blackburn began serving as President and CEO of Facing History & Ourselves in April 2023. Under his leadership, Desmond is committed to bringing Facing History's resources to more teachers, schools, and districts than ever. Before joining Facing History, Desmond was Deputy Chancellor of School Leadership for the New York City Department of Education, the largest school system in the nation. He also served as CEO of the New Teacher Center, a national nonprofit that works to disrupt the predictability of educational inequities for systemically underserved students by accelerating educator effectiveness.

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation, Cleveland has a pretty loud reason to join the party: We are the birthplace of Rock & Roll. In the 1950s, our city played a pivotal role in launching a new global musical movement that many credit to DJ Alan Freed, who coined the phrase \"rock & roll.\" Since then, countless iconic rock moments shook the region, from the Beatles first concert in 1964 at Municipal Stadium, to David Bowie\'s 1972 Ziggy Stardust U.S. debut. Ohio is also home to some notable names in rock, including The Black Keys, Nine Inch Nails, Filter, Devo, and Dave Grohl-to name a few.\r\n\r\nIn 1995, Cleveland\'s legacy as the rock capital of the world was cemented with the opening of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on the shores of Lake Erie. For decades, the Rock Hall has honored the genre\'s trailblazers, and immersed its visitors in the history of rock music.\r\n\r\nToday, Cuyahoga County\'s live music scene truly punches above its weight, boasting a total economic output of $1.17 billion. At the same time, only 25% of independent music venues were able to turn a profit. This is well below a national average of 36%, but just above Ohio\'s average where just 1 in 5 Ohio independent music venues were profitable. Rising costs for artists, venues, and consumers have stretched budgets across the board. Adding in the rise of Artificial Intelligence, and changing consumer tastes, today\'s music scene is facing its share of challenges, but also opportunities.\r\n\r\nHow can we ensure the heart of rock and roll still beats in Cleveland?