The Civic Commons Podcast

This week on Civic Commons Radio, “All politics are local, but only some politicians are women,” Dan sits down with three lady pols to discuss their lives as elected officials. Miesha Headen of Richmond Heights describes the cold place in her heart that led her to run for office, Theresa Allen of Blanchard Township tells us of potentially violent township meetings, and Jill Zimon of Pepper Pike wonders why everybody thought she was running for school board and not council. It’s a special “women only” roundtable.

Looking back at our recent budget forum, we ask Jack Storey of Saving Cities why cities are worth saving, and we talk to a Jewish Tea Party member from Beachwood (a rare breed) and a Democratic blogger about the tension between wanting smaller government that is also local and responsive and why people don't like paying taxes, especially when they fund the communities we love.

Dan and Luke sit down with Cory and Courtney Jenkins, both ministers with a mission, serving two different congregations in two different denominations. Although we didn't learn who gets to say the dinner blessings, we did engage in a fascinating conversation about faith, politics and the place of prayer in our lives. A special faith-based show, offered as an affirmation to our spiritual lives as citizens.

A Northeast Ohio county is putting together a $100 million economic development fund, but decision makers aren't sure yet how they'll use that money. We talk with a roundtable of economic development professionals about how that money could be used and then with the county official driving the fund and gathering input, who agreed to use the Commons to get input from the public.

We talk about one of the important local films that just screened at the Cleveland International Film Festival, "Facing Forward" by Laura Paglin. Dan and Luke talk with Jason Russell (of the Civic Commons) and Dr. Terrance Menefee, Principal at Valley View Boys Leadership Academy, about the issues raised in the film - mostly, how do you scale success in urban education?

Curious about just what the Civic Commons is and how it came into being? Listen to this: The Very Reverend Tracy Lind, Dean of Trinity Cathedral, interviews our own Curator of Conversation about just what the Civic Commons is and what the CC team is trying to do. You can hear Dan Moulthrop on the other side of the interview, explaining how cognitive surplus can change the world. This was recorded as part of Trinity's Dean's Forum, which happens between masses every Sunday at Trinity Cathedral on Euclid Avenue in Cleveland. It's included in this podcast with permission from Trinity.

A local educator and union activist responds to the recent comments of national education reformer who recently spoke at the City Club of Cleveland. Michelle Rhee is the former chancellor of the Washngton, DC, public schools and she now runs an organization called Students First. Eileen Sweeney teaches at Woodbury Upper Elementary School in Shaker Heights, OH.

A new crop of citizens picks up the budget discussion now that the Governor has presented his ideas to the people. Dan guides the citizens through an examination of education and local government funds specifically, and a trucker explains why privatizing the turnpike is a misguided idea.

A special citizens' roundtable takes on the State budget deficit and attempts to play Governor for a day (calculating cuts and priorities). Dan and the group decide it's more than one show can handle, and we decide to take a collective breath and pick up the budget the next show.

You've probably never gotten a negative fortune cookie message, so why not feel optimistic about the one you'll get after your next Szechuan delight? A Chinese restaurant manager enlightens Luke about positive thinking and Luke, Dan, a local economist and a panel of citizens reflects on how Ohio's collective bargaining tensions might be resolved with some lessons from the private sector. Those lessons, by the way, involve neither union busting nor strikes.

After Luke visits a kennel to find out canines can teach humans about celebrating differences Dan shares insights from his past to realize that diversity is a given. But how do we affirm and deal with diversity in the real world? A preacher, a constitutionalist and a retired cop join Dan to dissect the deeper deals underneath the surface, and a young African-American woman reflects on being unlike everybody else at the table.

After a psychologist informs Dan and Luke that endorphins rage when we freely give of ourselves, a citizens' round table responds to the idea that tax revenue ought to be shared freely itself. Just when things get overly monetized, a librarian reminds us that books, for sure, are meant to be shared.

Should anybody get a pass when it comes to civic engagement? Not according to the principles behind the Civic Commons. In this program a suburban Mayor makes the case for tax revenue sharing while a commentator questions if it really is more than a nice idea. Host Dan Moulthrop and co-host Jason Russell press the Mayor for specifics and Luke Frazier questions blood-letting citizens about how much they are willing to give.

What does it mean to be civil in a loud political environment? Dan Moulthrop, Luke Frazier, and a citizens' roundtable examine what it means to vigorously engage in important political and social conversations while maintaining open ears and a respectful tone. You'll also hear a "Glad You Asked" segment where one person riffs on civility for a couple of minutes. This show was originally broadcast shortly after the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.

In the debut of Civic Commons radio show, host Dan Moulthrop, producer Luke Frazier and citizen-participants discuss what it means to fight the sometimes shadowy world of public (mis)information and instead let the light shine on all political processes. Two newly-elected Cuyahoga County Council members recount their ill-advised secret meeting discussing council leadership posts, the citizens' round table wonders if absolute transparency is what we really want, and our commentator insists that people get what they deserve, based on what they don't do.