Goals & Working Groups
At the Cleveland Rising Summit in October 2019, more than 600 Greater Clevelanders identified the priorities needed to stimulate economic growth in the region. Participants asked one another thought-provoking questions that began “how might we…” and brainstormed solutions within working groups to develop initiatives and objectives to achieve an aspiration by 2030.
Informed by these objectives, the working groups fall into six goal areas:
Digital Access & Literacy
Entrepreneurship, Workforce Development & Equitable Business Growth
Equitable Civic Engagement & Community Empowerment
Health, Wellness & Education
Land Use, Transportation & Sustainability
Population Growth
You can find the most recent updates on working groups below, including community presentations and other supporting materials.
CLE Rising is a community-led initiative. Working groups are comprised of local community members donating their time to research and socialize the aspirations that came out of the CLE Rising Summit. The CLE Rising Co-chairs support them with administration, event planning, fundraising and networking. The COVID-19 pandemic prevented a number of working groups from continuing to meet so some presentations may be delayed.
Digital Access & Literacy
Cle-Fi: Internet for All
Objective: Ensuring free internet access for all Cuyahoga County residents by providing the first-in-the-country public-owned ISP made possible through tri-sector collaboration.
Launch Leader: BJ Harris
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Aspiration Statement
It is a human right that every person has the ability to realize their full potential. Because we live in an information-driven economy and culture, Cuyahoga County ensures free internet access for all through the Cle-Fi network.The Cle-Fi network is a first-in-the-country public-owned ISP made possible through a public, private, and non-profit collaboration. Because of our network, the digital barriers to equitable access to information, including health care, educational attainment, cultural resources, financial stability and work have been eliminated.
T.E.C.H. Up
Objective: Ensuring all members of our community are tech-proficient, empowered and actively applying their capabilities to drive an innovative and progressive economy.
Launch Leaders: Megan Wilson, Michael Hudson Sue Kenney
Aspiration Statement
All members of our community are tech-proficient, empowered and actively applying their capabilities to drive an innovative and progressive economy.Health, Wellness & Education
CLE for Me
Objective: Unlocking strengths and aspirations to empower all youth PK-12 to dream a vision for the future, propelling them toward becoming our community leaders.
Launch Leaders: Adrian Schnall, Shana Anderson & Merissa Evers
Aspiration Statement
CLE for ME is the premier bridge that unlocks strengths and aspirations to empower ALL youth PK-12 to dream a vision for the future. CLE for ME propels them on the journey toward becoming our community leaders.No. 1 Healthiest City in the United States
Objective: Creating a healthy oasis that serves every person in their quest for optimal health and wellness.
Launch Leaders: David Urbanic & Laura Junglas
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Aspiration Statement
Cleveland is the #1 Healthiest City in the United States – a healthy oasis that serves every person in their quest for optimal health and wellness. People in every community have access to healthy food. Communities are thriving, empowered, vibrant, active and fun. We are all in harmony with nature. Residents in every community quickly access care and resources that they desire and need. All new industries and businesses who come into Cleveland support this 100%. Workplaces have healthy employees. Data and information is a trusted source –transparent and shared for common success. Our oasis fosters collaboration, design and innovation across all services and providers. People easily access preventive care through mobile, text, and apps. Others come to Cleveland to ask how we did it; we are a guiding light.The HUB
Objective: The HUB is a one-stop shop in neighborhood schools that provides the basic needs and resources for students needed to thrive academically, physically and emotionally.
Launch Leader: Dahlia Cummings
Aspiration Statement
We will aim to provide resources including but not limited to access to: education, utilities, housing, employment, transportation, daycare, food, healthcare, internet and life skills training.The New Frontier
Objective: Strategically re-purposing Third Frontier funds to increase collaboration among businesses to maximize human capital in schools across Ohio.
Launch Leaders: Greg Deegan & Tyanna Blanchard
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Aspiration Statement
Technology and digitalization accelerates human development and unleashed potential. We believe in a future where Ohio equitably and strategically repurposes the Third Frontier funds to incentivize collaboration among businesses, local government, and non-profit organizations in order to maximize human capital in schools across Ohio. It is no longer the Third Frontier, it’s the New Frontier whose boundaries are limitless.Ready to Thrive
Objective: Creating strong, confident contributing citizens by providing the life skills necessary for prosperity, including emotional intelligence, coping skills, domestic education, occupational discovery & readiness and financial literacy.
Launch Leader: Angie Agnoni
Aspiration Statement
Ready to Thrive is creating strong, confident contributing citizens by providing the life skills necessary for prosperity, including emotional intelligence, coping skills, domestic education, occupational discovery and readiness, as well as financial literacy. Students are self-reliant and able to forge their own destiny.Universal Pre-K for All
Objective: Preparing youth to enter kindergarten by providing universal early care and educational programming for children 0-5 years.
Launch Leader: Rich Robins
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Aspiration Statement
The light in our childrens' eyes has never gone since the day they were born upon this earth. Our Greater Cleveland community has accomplished a universal early care and educational program for children ages 0-5 years though whole-heartedly working together through the public, private and non-profit sectors. This bold and transformational plan is fully preparing youth to enter kindergarten and beyond, instilling vital lifelong values for the sustainability of the Greater Cleveland workforce and long-term residency.Land Use, Transportation & Sustainability
Free Public Transit
Objective: Advocating for accessible and convenient public transportation that – like other services, such as public libraries or education – is free for all.
Launch Leaders: Terry Ross, Erin Miyoshi, Gina Winstanley & Marina Marquez
Aspiration Statement
Cleveland is an international leader for free, accessible and efficient public transportation that drives:- Economic growth
- Job creation
- Healthier residents
- Safer, connected communities
- Decreased pollution
- Decreased traffic
- Increased accessibility for all to our public resources
- Increased agency for youth
- Visible commitment to equity
Green CLE Rising – Community Solar Neighborhoods and Jobs
Objective: Enhancing the quality of life in the region’s most under-resourced neighborhoods by dramatically reducing energy costs, creating better-than-living-wage jobs in an exponentially growing manufacturing sector and advancing vigorous policy solutions to the world’s most urgent environmental crises.
Launch Leaders: Jim Budinger
Aspiration Statement
The Green CLERising Collaborative has made Northeast Ohio a national model in the green economy. It propels economic innovation, clean energy and neighborhood equity through the creation and implementation of bold renewable energy solutions, including the installation of solar panels. Having reduced the region's carbon footprint and inspired the region to think braver and greener, the Green CLE Rising Collaborative enhances quality of life in the region's most under-resourced neighborhoods by dramatically reducing energy costs, creating better-than-living-wage jobs in an exponentially growing manufacturing sector and advancing vigorous policy solutions to the world's most urgent environmental crises.The Greenest City on the Bluest Lake
Objective: Harnessing the most innovative green energy solutions and methods to achieve environmental equity.
Launch Leader: William Koons
Aspiration Statement
Cleveland is the greenest city on the bluest lake. Our green spaces inspire our imaginations, and we thrive through our connection to and pride for nature. We are world-class leaders and citizens who leverage collaborative tri-sector opportunities. We have a global reputation for harnessing the most innovative green energy solutions and methods to achieve environmental equity. We value the importance of developing and maintaining our forest city. We celebrate the power of our crystal clear water and clean beaches. As the greenest city on the bluest lake we have endowed future generations of Clevelanders with a flourishing environmental legacy.Point A to Point CLE
Objective: Providing a transportation system that is multi-modal and accessible, aligning economic opportunities and affordable housing, maximizing existing infrastructure and prioritizing equity, connectivity and wealth building in communities historically excluded.
Launch Leaders: Doug DeRose & Olivia Ortega
Aspiration Statement
We are a transportation system that is multi-modal and accessible throughout Northeast Ohio. This network of mobility aligns economic opportunities and affordable housing, maximizes existing infrastructure, and prioritizes equity, connectivity and wealth building in communities historically excluded. Today, every person has the power to get from Point A to Point CLE.New Take on the Lake
Objective: Transforming Burke Lakefront Airport into a vibrant waterfront district accessible to all; uniting people of all social, economic and racial backgrounds through opportunities to play, live, work and discover.
Launch Leaders: Katie Onders, Brian Gibbons, Taneika Hill & Lute Harmon
Aspiration Statement
The New Take on the Lake has transformed Burke Lakefront Airport into a vibrant waterfront district accessible to all. This repurposing of public land has become a global model for inclusive community-led planning that resulted in the creation of public access and bikeways, market rate and affordable housing, corporate offices, water-based recreation and a year-round event center all built in an environmentally sustainable way that heals the lakefront.It is now a place that unites people of all social, economic, racial, backgrounds through opportunities to play, live, work and discover.
The 450 acres of land that once supported 35,000 annual flights is now a magnet for all people of CLE attracting 5 million visits per year from all over the region and the world. It has become a catalyst for lakefront access and development throughout the region.
Unified Regional Planning Process
Objective: Utilizing a regional, unified commonwealth planning structure and process to achieve tri-sector collaboration to advance progress by addressing human, ecological and economic needs.
Launch Leaders: Onix Garcia & Tony Coyne
Aspiration Statement
Northeast Ohio used to be a region of more than 59 interdependent municipalities. Yet it was divided, resulting in confusion, the loss of billions of dollars and the waste of extraordinary resources - all leading to dramatic social inequality.Now in 2030 we use a regional, unified commonwealth planning structure and process to achieve tri-sector collaboration of the public, nonprofit and market sectors to advance progress by addressing human, ecological and economic needs. Our region thrives! It is prosperous, attractive and cohesive.
Entrepreneurship, Workforce Development & Equitable Business Growth
CapitalCLE
Objective: Quadrupling the amount of investment capital through an integrated, tri-sector funding network that embraces a risk-taking culture, builds wealth, supports entrepreneurs and delivers an attractive ROI to a diverse array of investors.
Launch Leaders: Megan Reich & Laura Englehart
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Aspiration Statement
Quadrupling the amount of investment capital, Cleveland's integrated, tri-sector funding network embraces a risk-taking culture, builds wealth, supports entrepreneurs, and delivers an attractive return-on-investment to a diverse array of investors. Entrepreneurs and investors flock to Cleveland for its connectivity, affordability, and low-cost of doing business. Budding businesses benefit from a connected, supportive, equitable network of resources. Youth are inspiredby the culture and encouraged to start and sustain businesses here. Creative, confident, talented people choose Cleveland to realize their limitless professional and personal potential. And we're just getting started.CLE Coin & Ramen Startup Kit
Objective: Reducing the obstacles and confusion about taking this first step in starting a company.
Launch Leaders: Shana Black & Tom Brooks
Aspiration Statement
A kit customized by neighborhood and business idea reduces the obstacles and confusion about taking the first steps in starting a company. The kit and the coin are immediately activated at the Global Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.Find My Future
Objective: Engaging every high school student in Cuyahoga County with mentorship relationships and internship/shadowing experiences.
Launch Leaders: David Merriman & Tony Williams
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Aspiration Statement
Through a youth-driven alliance, every high school student in Cuyahoga County is engaged in a mentorship relationship and is participating in internship-like or shadowing experience that exposes them to a career opportunity that aligns with their interests.Every employer in Cuyahoga County has the opportunity to participate in mentorship relationships providing internship and/or shadowing experiences and job fairs.
Every high school in Cuyahoga County has the opportunity to involve their students and host job fairs.
This is a youth-oriented alliance between high school students, employers and schools to provide students the opportunity to explore career options.
The Global Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (merged with East Cleveland Global)
Objective: Creating a collaborative, interconnected ecosystem of entrepreneurs from early stage ideation to a full life cycle of mature businesses.
Launch Leaders: Renee Ligon, Elizabeth Cusma, Marcus Glanton & Patrick Ziemnik
Aspiration Statement
The Global Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is a collaborative, interconnected ecosystem of entrepreneurs from early stage ideation to a full life cycle of mature business, leveraging regional resources and talent to accelerate the business growth of our community serving the entrepreneurial needs of all. One such initiative will proliferate use of a sexy startup kit accessible to all, especially those historically marginalized communities.East Cleveland Global
Objective: East Cleveland is now the US mecca for people of color to come to start businesses and innovate. We did this when we brought all the resources for business development, immigrant services, diversified arts, entertainment, and innovative housing into a one-stop neighborhood by Nela Industrial Park.
Aspiration Statement
East Cleveland is now the US mecca for people of color to come to start businesses and innovate. We did this when we brought all the resources for business development, immigrant services, diversified arts, entertainment, and innovative housing into a one-stop neighborhood by Nela Industrial Park.
LoCUL Dreams
Objective: Building an entrepreneurial ecosystem that aligns and leverages the public, private and social sectors.
Launch Leaders: Alex Chapman & Lenora Inez Brown
Aspiration Statement
Cleveland is home to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that aligns and leverages the public, private, and social sectors. Cleveland produces and supports more successful for-profit and social enterprises than any other city in the nation per capital, resulting in lowest poverty rate among big cities.Rewiring Our Hiring
Objective: Demonstrating behaviors that hire, support and retain workers with barriers into jobs while providing them with skills and tools.
Launch Leader: Jean E. Szorady
Aspiration Statement
We are now a region without barriers to employment. To this end, the "Rewiring Our Hiring" initiative is the business community in NEO demonstrating our commitments to behaviors that hire, support, and retain workers with barriers into jobs while providing them with skills and tools to become thriving members of their communities. The business community achieves this through investing in tri-sector partnerships with Rewiring Your Hiring, invests in our homegrown, skilled, and sustainable workforce that matches the needs of today's jobs. We transform business practices that hire, support and retain workers with barriers into jobs while providing them with the skills and tools to become thriving members of their communities.Treasure Tank
Objective: Investors who create, develop and inspire opportunities for all minority business.
Launch Leaders: India Hobbs & Bishop Eugene Ward
Aspiration Statement
The Treasure Tank is an inclusive community of minority and majority investors who create, develop, and inspire opportunities for all minority businesses. This is done by connecting tri-sector industries along with inclusive continuity and a focus on building and investing in our community and businesses to an optimal restoration and revitalization towards strengthening employment development. We have created an economically sound environment without racial disparities, educational obstacles and bias for involvement. Undeserved groups have access to sound capital resources. We have cultivated partnerships which allow residents to have a voice for the growth and development in the communities in which they live. This makes Cleveland a safe haven which includes a united and cultivated global city which we are all proud to call home.Equitable Civic Engagement & Community Empowerment
Amplify Cleveland
Objective: Lifting up voices to reveal a kaleidoscope of courageous action by telling the stories of community gems and blazing a path to access, equity and triumph.
Launch Leaders: Becky Ruppert McMahon & Kristen Robinson
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Aspiration Statement
Amplify Cleveland lifts up voices to reveal a kaleidoscope of courageous action. By telling the stories of community gems, we blaze a path to access, equity, and triumph.CLE Rising Challenge
Objective: Engaging and empowering our community through shared commitment fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, courage, love and equity in our ecosystem.
Launch Leader: Phyllis Harris
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Aspiration Statement
Our community is engaged and empowered by the inclusive, equitable, vibrant ecosystem strengthened by commitments made at the Cleveland Rising Summit of 2019. This shared commitment, made to the community and each other, fosters a culture of accountability, transparency, courage, love, and equity in our ecosystem, our governance, and our daily lives.Cleveland Fundrising
Objective: Resources are available, organized and accessible for efficient distribution to people and organizations helping Cleveland rise using innovation and collaboration.
Launch Leaders: Arin Miller, Lauren Steiner & Alyssa Giannirakis
Aspiration Statement
Cleveland's human, monetary, physical, and intangible resources are available, organized, and accessible for efficient distribution to people and organizations helping Cleveland rise. Using innovation and collaboration, Cleveland creates opportunities for its citizens, giving them reason to stay and helping them achieve their potential.Community Empowerment Organization: The Real CEO
Objective: Creating a national model for resident-driven collaboration that ensures attractive and sustainable neighborhoods which are thriving and safe places to live, work and learn.
Launch Leaders: Nancy Jones & Chris Urban
Aspiration Statement
Community Empowerment Organization, the real CEO is a national model for resident-driven collaboration that insures attractive and sustainable neighborhoods which are thriving and safe places to live, work, and learn. In our rejuvenated neighborhoods, people are highly engaged to determine a positive lifestyle and future. Citizens, government and businesses feel shared accountability for a strong, prosperous, inclusive community.Aspiration Statement
Ohio Deserves a Raise
Objective: Establishing a state-wide minimum wage of $15/hour indexed to inflation.
Launch Leader: Chris Ericksen & Liz Gauntner
Aspiration Statement
Because we have established a state-wide minimum wage of $15 per hour indexed to inflation, we were able to:- Lift wages of 2 million Ohio workers (37% of the workforce)
- Create $8.7 billion in additional income to inject into the economy
- Combat the growth in the racial wage gap and make pay more equal for men and women
PROOF Project
Objective: Creating a data-driven platform that empowers users to generate radically effective, collaborative solutions to community issues in real-time for all stakeholder.
Launch Leaders: Carolina Schneider, Nasreen Ali, Roseanne Deucher & Gary Gottfried
Aspiration Statement
Cleveland is a nationally recognized model of tri-sectoral collaboration. The PROOF Project is a premier data-driven platform that empowers users to generate radically effective, collaborative solutions to community issues in real-time for all stakeholders.This is Cleveland
Objective: An ongoing commitment to enjoy a community where resources, opportunity and love can thrive resulting in high quality neighborhoods and family life.
Launch Leaders: Jud Kline
Aspiration Statement
This is Cleveland is an ongoing commitment to enjoy a community where resources, opportunity and love can thrive resulting in high quality neighborhoods and family life.This is Cleveland celebrates heritage and continually looks towards our future creating a welcoming space for residents, businesses, and visitors.
This is Cleveland is safe, economically sustainable, clean, and equitable.
The TRUTH Movement (Trust. Racial Unity. Transformation. Healing)
Objective: Create a lasting framework based on truth and grounded in trust that cultivates racial healing and transformation.
Launch Leaders: India Pierce Lee, John Rinehart
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Aspiration Statement
We, the citizens of Greater Cleveland, hold these truths to be self-evident: that trust is essential to building racial unity; that laws and policies are equitable; and that the ladders of power enjoyed by the few, have been turned on their sides into bridges for the many—leading to racial healing and transformation for all.Population Growth
Grow the CLE. Cultivate. Lead. Expand.
Objective: Growing our urban core population to 500,000 by attracting new investment while leveraging local expertise in healthcare, professional services and manufacturing.
Launch Leaders: Josh Maxwell, Joe Cimperman, Elmo Tumbokon, Marianne Crosley & Wayne Mesker