The City Club of Cleveland Podcast

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  • 4.9 (20)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Podcast of The City Club of Cleveland's Friday Forum and other City Club events.

  1. MAY 12

    Building Brighter Futures: The Future of Public Schools in Cleveland and the Nation

    After months of community feedback sessions, data analysis, and deliberation, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) passed the Building Brighter Futures (BBF) plan in December 2025. The stated goals of the plan are to streamline services and provide more educational opportunities, career pathways, and extracurricular activities, but do so at fewer school sites, essentially reducing looming budgetary liabilities while creating more academic opportunities. Announcements of layoffs and school consolidations, however, have met with resistance among some students, families, and teachers.\r\n\r\nThe situation Cleveland finds itself in is not unique. Across Ohio and the nation, public schools have faced decades of declining student enrollment and persistent legislative changes to funding formulas-including so-called \"school choice\" or \"voucher\" programs. Join us for an in-depth conversation about CMSD\'s Building Brighter Futures, the future of public schools in Cleveland, and how Cleveland\'s experience fits into the changing national landscape of public education.

    1 hr

  2. MAY 8

    Strengthening the Transatlantic Partnership in Turbulent Times

    With global security in question, geopolitics intensifying, and democratic values facing increasing threats, the international order has no doubt faced mounting pressure. At the center of these dynamics is the German Marshall Fund (GMF), a nonpartisan organization that for over five decades has worked to strengthen the transatlantic partnership and prepare it for the challenges of the 21st century. At its core, GMF believes that deep cooperation between the U.S. and Europe is key to navigating today\'s complex political and economic landscape.\r\n\r\nDr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer became President and CEO of GMF in 2024-the first European woman to take over the post. With over twenty years of experience at the intersection of international relations, policy research, and public engagement, she is a leading transatlantic voice on geopolitics, European affairs, U.S.-Europe relations, and corporate diplomacy. Her expertise has shaped how governments, businesses, and international institutions across the Atlantic approach defense, diplomacy, and geoeconomics. Before joining GMF, Dr. de Hoop Scheffer held senior advisory and research positions in the French government, academia, and international organizations.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club as we hear from Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer of the German Marshall Fund, and what it will take to strengthen transatlantic security, advance economic and technological competitiveness, and adapt to an ever-shifting global landscape.

    1 hr

  3. MAY 7

    Remarks from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

    In his first year, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been responsible for some of the most sweeping public health reforms in modern history. \r\n\r\nHHS has lowered drug prices by aligning what the U.S. pays for certain drugs with the lowest prices paid in other developed countries and launching TrumpRx to give patients direct access to those lower prices. Partnering with USDA, HHS released the Dietary Guidelines and flipped the food pyramid with one simple message: eat real food. The FDA has removed several petroleum-based dyes from the American food supply and is closing the GRAS loophole to reduce harmful chemicals in food. With HHS's encouragement, more than 50 medical schools have voluntarily expanded nutrition education from an average of 4 hours to more than 40. HHS has also committed $50 billion over the next five years to drive innovation in rural health. And as part of President Trump's Great American Recovery initiative, HHS is overhauling addiction and mental health care by shifting from a fee-for-service system to an outcomes-based model.\r\n\r\nSecretary Kennedy's leadership is reshaping how Americans eat, live, and take care of their own health, with a stated goal of putting prevention first and shifting the nation from a so called "sick-care" system to a true healthcare system.\r\n\r\nAs part of the City Club\'s commitment to engaging leaders shaping the nation's future, we welcome Secretary Kennedy to discuss HHS priorities and engage directly with the community.

    1 hr

  4. MAY 6

    Happy Dog Takes On Your Summer Reading List

    Summer is almost here in Northeast Ohio, and with that comes an ambitious \"To Be Read\" list with fresh books from your favorite bookstore. Their spines ready to be cracked on the edge of a beach, or a comfy chair on your front porch. Perhaps you\'re an audiobook fan, indulging in the latest volume at 1.5x speed. No matter how you enjoy your literature, our roundtable of book lovers is here to let you know which books are must-reads for Summer 2026. Included in the conversation are the best of Young Adult and Children\'s books that fit the taste of every kid yearning to earn that personal pan pizza. With Bill Kelly, Adult Programming Manager, Cuyahoga County Public Library; Erica Marks, Senior Director of Outreach & Programming, Cleveland Public Library; Rosa Ransom, Store Manager, Mac\'s Backs - Books on Coventry; and Michelle Smith, Programming Director, Literary Cleveland

    1 hr

  5. MAY 1

    2026 Law Day: Defending the Rights of All People Nationwide

    Few organizations serve as fiercer defenders of constitutional rights and the rule of law than the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). At a time when free speech, free assembly, immigration, and voting rights are being tested across multiple fronts, Americans have come to count on the ACLU for its unyielding dedication to principle - even if they don\'t agree on every issue.\r\n\r\nDeborah N. Archer is President of the national ACLU, where she serves as Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee. She brings frontline insight into today\'s web of legal battles, and calls attention to how traditional tools for protecting civil rights are currently being weakened and tested. Deborah is a tenured professor and associate dean at New York University School of Law, and the faculty director of the Community Equity Lab at NYU Law.\r\n\r\nTo mark Law Day 2026, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association\'s Chris Schmitt will sit in conversation with Deborah N. Archer, President of the ACLU, on the urgency of protecting the rule of law and defending the rights of all people nationwide.

    1 hr

  6. APR 30

    The Power of Food, Memory, and the Joy of Being Present

    Perhaps better than anything else, food has the unique power to transport us back in time and evoke memories, a feeling, or a moment of our lives. In Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees, poet and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil explores the way food and drink evoke our associations and remembrances-a subtext or layering, a flavor tinged with joy, shame, exuberance, grief, desire, or nostalgia. It is an illustrated, lyrical memoir told in short essays that reminds us all to slow down and reflect on food\'s universal power to shape who we are, how we connect with others, and the joy of being present.\r\n\r\nBorn to a Filipino mother and Malayali Indian father, Aimee Nezhukumatathil is the author of five books of poetry, Bite by Bite is her second essay collection, which was named a Barnes and Noble Best Book of 2024. Aimee is known for her dynamic and joy-filled teaching. For a decade, she served as the poetry editor for Orion and Sierra magazines. A professor of English and Creative Writing for over twenty-five years, she also serves as a firefly guide for Mississippi State Parks.\r\n\r\nJoin us at the City Club, and in partnership with the 2026 Cuyahoga County NEA Big Read, as author and poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil sits down with Lit Cleveland\'s Matt Weinkam to discuss how food marks our experiences and identities and explore the boundaries between heritage and memory.\r\n\r\n-----\r\n\r\nThis program is part of "BITE INTO BOOKS," the 2026 Cuyahoga County NEA Big Read led by Heights Libraries in collaboration with Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, East Cleveland Public Library, Euclid Public Library, Rocky River Public Library, Shaker Library, Westlake Porter Public Library, and various community partners. Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Dig in at cuyahogareads.org.

    1 hr

  7. APR 29

    Our Collective Voices Are Stronger Together: How Justice-Impacted Individuals Shape Our Communities

    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.

    1 hr

  8. APR 28

    America 250 Ohio: The Greyhound Bus and the Secret History of the Great Migration

    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.

    1 hr
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Podcast of The City Club of Cleveland's Friday Forum and other City Club events.

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