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.

Building Our Future Beyond Foreclosure Series

"Feeding Cleveland" Photo Contest

View Envisioning Cleveland Photo Exhibition

The Cuyahoga County Land Bank
Part of the Building Our Future Beyond Foreclosure Series
Thursday November 19, 2009, 8:30 a.m.-Noon

The new newly incorporated Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) holds great promise for helping cities reutilize distressed properties, rebuild neighborhoods and shore up declining tax bases. As a partner with cities and other units of government, lenders and individual property owners, the Land Bank has the potential to restore housing markets, rebuild communities and change development patterns on a regional scale, targeting future growth and development to core areas.

Join us as we take an in-depth look at the Land Bank and the roles it can play as a partner in rebuilding our communities. Featuring Jim Rokakis, Cuyahoga County Treasurer and Gus Frangos, President, Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation.

Cuyahoga County Government Reform: What does it mean for Health and Social Services?
Thursday December 17, 2009
9:00-11:00 a.m.

Explore the challenges and opportunities facing the health and social services delivery system in the light of Cuyahoga County government reform. On November 3, voters approved the restructuring of Cuyahoga County government, replacing the three elected commissioners with a single elected executive and an 11-member council.

Now it is time for the community to work together to ensure that the coming reform has a true, positive impact on the delivery of health and social services for Cuyahoga County residents.

Portraits of Homelessness Gallery Opening
Friday January 8, 2010, 5:00-7:30 p.m.

Photos and stories by Lydia Bailey of the men at 2100 Lakeside, Ohio’s largest homeless shelter.

Great Lakes Bioneers
Thursday-Saturday November 5-7
Bioneers Cleveland annual conference will return for its third year on November 5-7, 2009! Year after year, the conference brings together those who are finding innovative solutions to restoring people and the planet.

This year’s conference will focus on Northeastern Ohio's Local Food Systems. The conference will examine creating sustainable, healthy food opportunities, and the interconnections between: water, energy, transportation, education, economics, community development, and culture as well as showcase the impact by production, distribution, nutrition, and financial viability of growing, selling and eating local food. For three days Bioneers Cleveland will highlight many of the projects that have made Cleveland second in the nation for its urban food systems by hosting tours, workshops and plenary addresses from the national conference site in California (via DVD) including Michael Pollan, an award-winning journalist and author of Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food.

Civic Design & Inspired Infrastructure: Opportunity Corridor
Friday October 30, 2009, 9:00 a.m.-Noon

Civic Design & Inspired Infrastructure: Opportunity Corridor will examine how engineering requirements and economic development objectives can be combined with the aspirations of community stakeholders in a collaborative planning effort that succeeds on many levels. Panelists will comment on why interdisciplinary partnerships in the early planning stages and high aesthetic standards make a difference.

Reconsidering the American Dream
Part of the Building Our Future Beyond Foreclosure Series
Thursday October 8, 2009, 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Alyssa Katz, author of Our Lot: How Real Estate Came to Own Us and consultant with the Pratt Center for Community Development in New York.

Building our Future Beyond Foreclosure continues with a discussion of what proposed policy, programmatic and regulatory reforms now under consideration in Washington might mean for affordable housing providers, low and moderate income households seeking access to good credit products, and others seeking to keep neighborhoods thriving. Panelists will explore how Community Development Finance Institutions, the Community Reinvestment Act, Individual Development Accounts, and other programmatic and regulatory reforms currently under discussion can be used to channel opportunity into the best possible outcomes for households and neighborhoods.

Feeding Cleveland: Creating a Sustainable Local Food System
Wednesday September 16, 2009
4:00-6:30 p.m.

Featuring C. Clare Hinrich, Associate Professor of rural sociology at Penn State University and editor of the new book, Remaking the North American Food System: Strategies for Sustainability. Dr. Hinrichs is widely viewed as an expert on the intersection between agriculture, food systems and the environment. This forum will focus on the state of Northeast Ohio's food system from production to distribution and consumption. It will explore ways that Northeast Ohio can craft and sustain local food systems to improve social, economic, and environmental outcomes in our communities through the innovative use of land.

Cuyahoga County Government Reform
Thursday September 17, 2009
Registration begins at 5:45 p.m.
Program: 6:30-8:30 p.m.

The push to reform Cuyahoga County government is on and so is the debate over what that restructuring should look like. Competing reform plans are now slated to appear on the November ballot. On September 17th a panel of representatives from each of the reform proposals will present information on each proposal.

Join us to learn more about the proposals being considered.