Community Conversations
United Way’s Community Conversations bring people together for open dialogue on the issues shaping Northeast Ohio. Each forum explores a range of topics with a focus on fair, practical policy solutions.
As a convener, United Way of Greater Cleveland is committed to elevating community voices and addressing challenges in both urban and rural areas, with the goal of building equal opportunity and shared prosperity.
This virtual series is free and open to all.
2025 Sessions
2025 Sessions
Our discussion focused on the impact that benefits cliffs can have on families, employers, and communities as a barrier to economic mobility.
Thank you to moderator Josh Boose of Ideastream Public Media and panelists John Rees from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Mindy Kowalski from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, and Jack Schron Jr. from Jergens Inc. for a lively and informative conversation.
Here are some additional resources that focus on the issue:
Our discussion focused on how tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit are tools that can help working families gain greater financial stability.
Thank you to moderator Stephanie Czekalinski of Ideastream Public Media and panelists Aidan Davis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Marci Blue from Enterprise Community Partners, and Danielle Sydnor of the Rise Together Innovation Institute, for a lively and informative conversation.
Here are some additional resources that focus on the issue:
2024 Sessions
2024 Sessions
Our discussion on Imagining a New Path to Prosperity in Cleveland: Universal Basic Employment focused on an innovative pilot program that seeks to create sustainable wage jobs by investing in people, neighborhoods, and businesses.
Thank you to moderator Abbey Marshall from Ideastream Public Media, Devin Cotten, CEO of Universal Basic Employment, Emily Campbell, President and CEO of The Center for Community Solutions, and Cleveland Councilwoman Stephanie Howse-Jones for a lively and informative conversation.
In addition to Universal Basic Employment, the conversation touched on the current situation in Cleveland, the second poorest large city in America, and Cuyahoga County, where more than 200,000 of our community members live below the poverty level.
Here are some additional resources that focus on the issue, courtesy of The Center for Community Solutions:
- 5 Things about poverty in Cleveland
- Poverty Speaks: Making Tough Choices 2023
- Cleveland is again the second poorest city, but there is some good news on race and gender
- How can we lift an Invisible Child out of poverty?
To learn more about Universal Basic Employment, visit their website.
Our discussion focused on the current state of affordable housing in Northeast Ohio, along with some available programs that help address housing affordability, and programmatic and policy recommendations to increase affordable housing options.
Thank you to moderator Abigal Bottar from Ideastream Public Media, and panelists Ayonna Blue Donald from Enterprise Community Partners, Dawn Farrell from the Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Sara Parks Jackson from Cuyahoga County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and Aaron Pechota from The NRP Group, for a lively and informative conversation.
Our discussion focused on the current state of affordable housing in Northeast Ohio, along with some available programs that help address housing affordability, and programmatic and policy recommendations to increase affordable housing options.
Thank you to moderator Abigal Bottar from Ideastream Public Media, and panelists Ayonna Blue Donald from Enterprise Community Partners, Dawn Farrell from the Geauga Metropolitan Housing Authority, Sara Parks Jackson from Cuyahoga County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, and Aaron Pechota from The NRP Group, for a lively and informative conversation.
Our discussion focused on the current and emerging needs of older adults in our communities, programs designed to assist older adults and tips on navigating the service system, and policy recommendations to address the growing population of older adults living in poverty. Thank you to moderator Drew Maziasz of Ideastream Public Media and panelists Orion Bell from Benjamin Rose, Mark Dorony from United Way Services of Geauga County, and Fatima Perkins from Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging for a lively and informative conversation.
