The Civic Commons Podcast

It’s all around you 24/7, but it might be one of those things you sort of overlook. Art. Along Euclid Avenue, in building lobbies, fronting plazas, on your computer screen and, of course, in museums, galleries, theaters and on your refrigerator (kids or not). But do museums really matter in this digital age, and should public money go to the arts? Join Dan, Noelle and guests as they talk art. First local artist Nicole Megee tells us why art matters, then David Franklin of the Cleveland Museum of Art takes Luke for a stroll through the galleries and finally Jeff Rusnak, one of the guys behind Cuyahoga County’s art tax, shares the rationale for NEO citizens being on the hook for the arts. 

Back in January we started our radio show at about the same time the new Cuyahoga County government was formed, and we did our first show on transparency (figures, right?) Now it’s going on 9 months later and it’s time to take this baby government to the doctor for a check-up. Join Dan, Noelle and Luke as they listen to some voices from the recent Transparency Summit that focused on Cuyahoga County. Then two Tea-Party style conservatives (on one round table!) share their views of how the new government is doing. Ultimately the conversation goes future-rama with technologist Jeff Schuler and his analysis of next-stage open data strategies.

The Civic Commons made it clear from the get-go: to join our community and participate in the conversations you couldn’t be an anonymous poster. No “lawmiss25,” or “followthemoney,” or even “tribefan.” You know, stuff we see on most message boards. We insisted that you introduce yourself, and tell us a little bit about you. Well, this has proven to be a lively and transparent conversation in the Commons (http://www.theciviccommons.com/conversations/whats-the-cost-of-complete-transparency). So much so that we decided to build a podcast around it.   Join Dan, Luke and Noelle for a look at transparency and anonymity. We talk to a couple of grizzled newspaper editors from Youngstown about what they think of postings on www.vindy.com Then Commoners Nancy Reeves and Dan Stefancik share their thoughts about participation in our on-line community. Finally we hear from Megan O’Bryan, President and CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center about the anonymity issues in her world.     

With Civic Commons' "Sprawl Fest" scheduled for later this week, we decided to repeat the radio show on the topic. Angie Schmitt recently started a conversation on Civic Commons she titled "It's the Sprawl, Stupid." It's become kind of a big deal around our office. It's grown so big it almost broke part of our system. Anyway, because so many of you are talking about it, Angie came on to the radio show to debate two exurban economic development enthusiasts. It was both cordial and heated, especially when Angie told Tim Smith of Brunswick and Ralph Waszak of Richfield that she thought we should do away with all economic development offices. Funny thing was, Tim agreed with her. Production assistance from Vince Adamus, Metro Development Agents.

Originally broadcast May 28, this is Civic Commons Radio's first remote podcast. Dan, Luke and engineer Mark Krieger set up right smack in the middle of the Global Cleveland Summit, where all kinds of Northeast Ohio residents and civic leaders gathered to talk about making Cleveland a more international city. We heard from Global Cleveland Board Chair Baiju Shah, Huntington Bank President Dan Walsh (they put up a lot of money for the effort), Robert Smith of the Plain Dealer (he writes about global affairs) and a round table of smart civilians who shared their insights about this effort to bring more of the world right here to the shores of Lake Erie.

The business sea is so large, and my company is so small and young, whatsoever can I do?! In this episode Dan and Luke examine entrepreneurs from several compass points. First, we hear from the folks at Shaker Launch House, a business incubator hatching high-tech start-ups. Then we turn to a California transplant advising tech companies in Northeast Ohio to measure themselves by how often they fail. We'll also hear from a maker of hoop structures that are both low-tech and high tech, and include a lot of banging and sawing along with computing. Ahoy entrepreneurs, set sail on Civic Commons Radio!  

Yes, it's just a question of whether we should ask questions by conducting a study. And yes, if a municipal merger between Woodmere, Moreland Hills, Pepper Pike and Orange eventually goes through we're talking about 2013 or beyond for a start date. But, hey, it's not too early to start and unpack such a complex issue with such potentially huge ramifications for the region. Like what other cities should consider merging to cut down on our nearly 60 fiefdoms in Cuyahoga County. Join Dan and Luke as they talk with the Mayors Charles Smith and Bruce Akers about their ideas. Then listen to a citizen's round table featuring Azaadjeet Singh of Woodmere, Enid Rosenberg of Pepper Pike and Eric Meli of Moreland Hills as they provide civilian analysis of the questions and factors involved in considering municipal mergers.

If you've ever testified before some kind of elected body, you may know that sometimes all you get back is a perfunctory thanks for being there. And then nothing. In part two of a two-part special on citizen engagement with public bodies like school boards and city councils, Dan and Luke solicit help from elected officials and a renowned policy guy to try to figure out what's going on in the public comment period of these meetings. Ultimately there are ways to improve engagement with boards and councils, and to make them more like satisfying conversations.

Have you ever been to a school board meeting? Isn’t something about them kind of bizarre…almost like Kabuki Theater? A stylized dance where citizens stand and speak, board members listen (or not), papers get shuffled and then folks are thanked for their input and no real conversation takes place?  In part one of a two-part special on citizen engagement with public bodies like school boards and city councils, Dan and Luke try to understand and de-mystify school board meetings with the help of parents and school board members. It turns out that there are some things that can increase both citizen access and the amount of conversation. We just have to be willing to drop the makeup and masks. 

This week on Civic Commons Radio we widen our perspective—drastically. For our 20th program we decided to seek foreign perspectives on Northeast Ohio, so we sat down with journalists from Jamaica and Serbia. They told us that the reality of America is a bit different than what they thought. Then we talk to a business consultant from Israel whose mission it is to bring businesses from there to here. And finally we hear from Margarita Shulman from the Cleveland Council on World Affairs, who answers the question “Why should journalists care about Cleveland?” 

What do you get when Ministers, Rabbis, Imams and other assorted holy men and women bring thousands of their congregants to the Masonic Temple to talk,laugh and sing? Hint: it's not the setup for a really bad joke. It is the Founding Assembly of the new organization called the Greater Cleveland Congregations. Host Dan Moulthrop and producer Luke Frazier get the heavenly inspired (ouch) story behind the group and their mission to positively impact the social and economic challenges dragging the region down. Among the guests are a Baptist, a Unitarian and the President of the Islamic Center of Greater Cleveland (no, they didn't walk into a bar). The Greater Cleveland Congregations means business when it comes to being a divine force for good in Northeast Ohio.

Haven't we told you how we strive to put diverse voices on the air? Here's a short promo to prove the point (albeit in a small way) This piece was put together by Erica Brenner Productions

In Civic Commons Radio's first remote podcast, Host Dan Moulthrop, Producer Luke Frazier and engineer Mark Krieger set up the show right smack in the middle of the Global Cleveland Summit, where all kinds of Northeast Ohio residents and civic leaders gathered to talk about making the region more international. We talked to Global Cleveland Board Chair Baiju Shah, Huntington Bank President Dan Walsh (they contributed a lot of money to the effort), Plain Dealer reporter Robert Smith (he writes about global affairs) and a smart crew of cilvilians who shared their insights about this bold effort to bring more of the world right here to the shores of Lake Erie.

You know how you know it's Spring? Daffodils bloom and new college grads ride off into the sunset. Then we in Northeast Ohio try and figure out how to convince them to stay. This week on the radio show we talk to a crop of new college grads, Jennifer Coleman of City Prowl, Tiffany Graham of Cleveland Public Art and Jim Cossler of the Youngstown Business Incubator. We'll hear about place-making, job-finding and attitude changing, all in one show. 

Angie Schmitt recently started a conversation on Civic Commons she titled "It's the Sprawl, Stupid." It's become kind of a big deal around our office. It's grown so big it almost broke part of our system. Anyway, because so many of you are talking about it, Angie came on to the radio show to debate two exurban economic development enthusiasts. It was both cordial and heated, especially when Angie told economic development directors Tim Smith of Brunswick and Ralph Waszak of the Village of Richfield that she thought we should do away with all economic development offices. Funny thing was, Tim agreed with her.