Levin College Forum

About the Forum | Events & Media

Known as the place "where the community gathers to discuss challenges, create opportunities, and celebrate accomplishments," the Forum is a catalyst for thoughtful public debate, innovative thinking, new ideas, and timely action addressing critical issues that impact Northeast Ohio. Since its inception in 1998, the Forum has tackled a broad range of civic issues including the lakefront plan, economic growth and development, affordable housing, immigration, education, the convention center, poverty, race and sustainable development. The work of the forum is based on the premise that an informed and engaged citizenry is a valuable asset for the region's future growth and prosperity. In 2005, the Forum was recognized by Northern Ohio Live as "a springboard for economic and social progress throughout the region" and in 2003 received the national CivicMind award for its Millennium Program, which worked with area high school students to introduce them to careers in public service.

"Feeding Cleveland" Photo Contest

View Envisioning Cleveland Photo Exhibition

Government Reform for Cuyahoga County
Thursday, June 25, 2009, 4-6 p.m.

The current reform plan being considered would replace the three-member board of commissioners with an elected county executive and 11-member council with many county offices being eliminated. Will this plan implement a more effective, efficient, and financially and economically viable county government structure that better serves the people of Cuyahoga County?

A Dialogue on Cap and Trade
Wednesday, June 17, 3:30-5:30 p.m.

The Levin College Forum Program and NorTech’s Advanced Energy Speaker Series, in partnership with Magnet and The Greater Cleveland Partnership present a “Dialogue on Cap and Trade.”

Restoring Prosperity to Cleveland Mini-Summit
Monday, June 8, 10:30 a.m.-4:15 p.m.
As part of the Brookings Institution/Greater Ohio Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative, join Policy Bridge and corporate, civic, political, academic and philanthropic leaders from the Cleveland area to explore alignment of the Cleveland urban revitalization agenda with state reforms.

The Cleveland Mini-Summit will build on the momentum and success of the Brookings/Greater Ohio Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Summit held last fall. The State Summit launched the Restoring Prosperity to Ohio Initiative and unveiled a state reform agenda with the goal of revitalizing the state’s communities and reinvigorating their economic competitiveness.

Bioneers Brown Bag Lunches
Bring your friends, bring your lunch, watch the DVD, and enjoy an informal discussion.

Emerging Black Political Leadership in Cleveland: A forum commemorating the public service career of the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Tuesday, May 26, 4-6 p.m.
Keynote address by Jeff Johnson
To honor the Congresswoman’s memory, we are planning an annual public forum about the future of black political leadership. The forum will focus on how the nature of black political leadership has changed since the time when Carl Stokes was elected the first black mayor of a major American city and that there is a new generation of black politicians, choosing careers in public service in a different way. How was black political leadership nurtured in the past, how is it nurtured presently, and how should it be nurtured going forward? How can we foster and develop political leadership in individuals? And, what are the qualities and experience needed for a successful career in public service?

Building our Future Beyond Foreclosure
Creating a New Story: From Crisis to Opportunity
Featuring Alex Kotlowitz, award winning author, journalist and regular contributor to the New York Times Magazine.
Monday, May 11, 4-6 p.m.

Feeding Cleveland
Thomas F. Campbell, Ph.D. Gallery Exhibition Opening and Reception
Wednesday, May 6, 4-6 p.m.

Explore the role that urban agriculture has played in Feeding Cleveland. Barbara Strauss, Assistant Director for Technical Services, CSU Library “Feeding Cleveland”.

Cho Lecture Series
Technology and Cities: Review and Prospects for the Future
Friday, May 1, 3-5 p.m.

Technology and Cities: Review and Prospects for the Future
Presented by Tschangho John Kim
Endowed Professor of Urban and Regional Systems
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Transforming Cleveland by Building a World Class Waterfront
Thursday, April 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Forum is pleased to partner with the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority, the Urban Land Institute, Cleveland, the City of Cleveland and the Downtown Cleveland Alliance to engage the public in a discussion about the unprecedented opportunity for economic transformation on Cleveland’s lakefront. Speakers will highlight successful waterfront regeneration projects that have transformed other places, share best practices and present possibilities for Cleveland. The forum’s objective is for people to come away with an understanding of the opportunity that Cleveland has before it by redeveloping 100 acres of prime lakefront land currently occupied by the Port.

Become part of the process of shaping how our community can leverage precious assets and mold an exciting new future for the City of Cleveland and surrounding areas.

Lessons from Ruhr Valley
Friday, April 24, 3-5 p.m.

Ralf Ebert will talk about the relationship of artists, culture, creativity and urban development. His talk will focus on the Ruhr, a region that comprises 53 towns and cities and is home to 5.3 million people– all within the “borders” of what was originally known as the Ruhr Coal Settlement Association, created in 1920.

Much like Northeast Ohio, the region has been shaped by the imposing legacy of the industrial age and the unlimited potential of the post-industrial era. In the mid-19th century the Ruhr was one of the most vibrant industrial regions in Europe with an economy based around hundreds of coal mines and steelworks. Following the decline of the coal and steel industry in the 1960s, the Ruhr region transformed itself from a grimy mining area to a modern urban centre based on service industries.

Building our Future Beyond Foreclosure: Setting the Stage, Beating the Odds
Thursday, April 23, 4-6 p.m.

The foreclosure crisis in Cuyahoga County did not happen overnight. Similarly, the strategies for moving our communities and residents Beyond Foreclosure will take time to evolve. Over the coming year, the Levin College Forum will focus on strategies, tactics and projects that are new, creative, environmentally sustainable and invigorating to the marketplace. Challenging times are not new to Cleveland, and on this issue, where no roadmap exists, we have an opportunity to create a new path to our future.