The Cleveland Leadership Center

10/16/2026

In 2020, Jowan Moss brought an idea called 1,000 Ties to the Accelerate stage and won. The idea was simple: help boys in high-poverty communities build confidence, professionalism, life skills and career readiness, starting with something as simple as tying a tie.

Six years later, 1,000 Ties has grown into a nationally recognized youth development organization. Its work has been featured on MSNBC, The Jennifer Hudson Show, FOX 8 and WKYC. Through TIE Ceremonies, school-based life-skills sessions and community events, 1,000 Ties continues to put that idea into action for young people across Northeast Ohio.

Learn how to get involved at 1000ties.net, including how to support the 1000 Tie Challenge, which invites local businesses to help collect 10,000 ties for young people by December 15.

Ready to see how far your idea could go? Apply to Accelerate by October 31. https://www.cleveleads.org/clc-events/accelerate/apply/

Booking Now [email protected]

10/15/2026

Leadership Cleveland alumni, it's time to make your holiday plans!

Every year, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving brings LC alumni together for an evening of good food, great company, and holiday festivities with the LC community. Rally your classmates, bring a guest, and get ready to raise a glass to the season at the LC Holiday Party.

🔗 Details and registration: https://wl.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?name=E247308&id=674

Open to all Leadership Cleveland alumni and their guests.

10/15/2026

Four CLC alumni were recently honored at the 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland, Inc. annual gala Champions of Change. The awards recognize leaders who, through their work, demonstrate an exceptional commitment to the organization’s mission of serving African Americans in urban Cleveland and East Cleveland neighborhoods.

Congratulations to:
• Dr. Todd Kitchen (LC 2026, CLI 2022), Education Award
• Marsha Mockabee (LC 2013), Economic Empowerment Award
• David Reynolds (LC 2011), Corporate Impact Award
• Dr. Margaret McKenzie (LC 2019), Health & Wellness Award

10/15/2026

What happens when you understand your strengths, connect them to your purpose, and put them to work for your community? The OnBoard Cleveland (OBC) class spent Tuesday’s session day digging into that question at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank’s Community Resource Center.

Valissa Turner Howard welcomed the class, and Katie Gedeon offered an inside view of how the Community Resource Center serves families across our community. CLC’s own Angela O’Donnell then led a Working Genius workshop, helping participants explore how their natural gifts shape the way they lead, work, and navigate everyday challenges.

To close, three OnBoard alumni, Hayley McQuate (OBC 2022), Jack LuPica (OBC 2023), and Alicia Williams (OBC 2026), shared how their CLC experience helped them discover their “why” and step into leadership and civic roles across Cleveland. Their stories reinforced the afternoon’s lesson: leadership starts with understanding what you bring to the table and grows through how you use it to make a difference.

Learn more about OBC and the Class of 2027: https://www.cleveleads.org/key-programs/onboard-cleveland/

10/13/2026

“Do it scared.”

That’s the advice Prentice Howard has for anyone with an idea to make their community better. He and Justin Bernard pitched LanguageBridge, an audio-first app that helps newcomer English learners follow along in class, at Accelerate 2026 and won the grand prize. Since then, they’ve launched a mobile app, expanded from nine languages to sixteen, and brought LanguageBridge to educators statewide at the Ohio TESOL conference.

Accelerate helps turn ideas into action with coaching to sharpen your pitch, connections to move your idea forward, and a chance to win $5,000 to bring it to life.

Have an idea of your own? Do it scared. Apply today: https://www.cleveleads.org/clc-events/accelerate/apply/

Applications close October 31.

Thank you to Accelerate presenting sponsor Citizens for helping to bring great ideas to life!

10/12/2026

The Civic Leadership Institute Fall cohort kicked off on Friday with a look at how Cleveland’s history continues to shape the community today. Greg Deegan, Executive Director of Teaching Cleveland, traced the city’s social history and its lasting influence on our neighborhoods.

With that context, participants drew on their own knowledge of Cleveland’s neighborhoods to compare what makes each community distinct, then considered how to become more active, engaged members of the places they call home.

Learn more about CLI at https://www.cleveleads.org/key-programs/civic-leadership-institute/

Registration for Winter and Spring 2027 cohorts are open now.

10/09/2026

Your idea doesn't need a title, a business plan, or all the answers. It just needs a next step.

If you have an idea to better your block, your neighborhood, or our whole region, now is the time to Accelerate it.

Get details and apply > https://www.cleveleads.org/clc-events/accelerate/apply/

Applications close October 31.

10/08/2026

At Accelerate 2025, Randa Jackson shared her vision for helping kids turn their hobbies and passions into businesses. This Sunday, that vision is on display as young entrepreneurs take the spotlight at the Cleveland Children’s Small Business Fair.

But it’s more than a fair. In the weeks leading up to the event, young entrepreneurs participated in a hands-on workshop where they learned how to turn something they love into a business, from developing a brand and creating a sales pitch to learning how to sell to customers.

Now, they’ll put those skills into action, showcasing and selling their products and services to real customers. Come support Cleveland’s next generation of entrepreneurs and see what they’ve been building.

Learn more: https://www.childrensbusinessfair.org/oh-cleveland

Have a vision of your own for how to improve our community? Applications to pitch at Accelerate 2027 are open through October 31.
https://www.cleveleads.org/clc-events/accelerate/apply/

10/07/2026

Thank you Diana Rosa for helping Cleveland's leaders risk smarter and helping us advance a community of leaders to build a Greater Cleveland!

10/06/2026

What happens when you decide to pursue an idea?

The Accelerate journey gives you the chance to win up to $5,000, build connections with people who can help move your idea forward, and discover opportunities you might not have found otherwise.

As last year’s Accelerate winners put it: “The connections that we have, I think that’s even more valuable than the prize money.”

Their advice? “If you have an idea, then you absolutely need to apply and get in here.”

Have an idea for your community, big or small? Start your Accelerate journey. Applications are only open through October 31 at: https://www.cleveleads.org/clc-events/accelerate/apply/

Thank you, Citizens, for helping to bring great ideas to life!