During the Presidential election of 2004, the state of Ohio and the City of Cleveland were center stage as the tough issues were debated and our deepest concerns were brought to the attention of the nation. Among the tough issues discussed were the two that remain critical to the advancement of the City of Cleveland – the economy and education.

In 2004, the Census Bureau reported that Cleveland held the dubious distinction of being ranked #1 among large cities (over 250,000 residents) in terms of its poverty rate. With a poverty rate of 31% in 2003, this cold, hard statistic confirmed what many city residents had already known and what the wider community had suspected, but largely ignored.

As if news of Cleveland’s poverty rate was not enough, the City has also been struggling with the stark economic condition of its school system, which continues to struggle financially. Over 70,000 students belong to the Cleveland Municipal School District, which expects budget shortfalls of $25 million in 2005. With 1,400 CMSD faculty and staff laid off in the past two years, almost 200 more are expected in 2005. Insufficient state and national support, failed school levies, growing economic disparities between urban and suburban districts, and rising education costs make it more difficult to prepare these students to compete in any job market.

With the constraints on the City’s ability to cultivate home-grown talent, world-class skills, and intellectual property, City officials continue to search for ways to create an economically thriving and competitive community. Without a clear solution, the only certainty is that more people have to participate in the effort to bring forth change.

The good news is that in the face of these issues, the City and its residents have become even more resilient…
its public official have become even more resolute…and its Young Leaders are even more empowered
to make positive contributions to the Running of the City.