New Leaders
Young Professionals As Civic Leaders

For more than 90 years, The City Club of Cleveland has been an important gathering place for individuals of all ages interested in a wide range of civic and community issues. To continue this longstanding tradition, The City Club formed an affiliate of younger members, the New Leaders. The New Leaders initiative creates a significant opportunity for emerging leaders to develop dialogues with established leaders as part of the city's ongoing business and civic growth. The New Leaders develop and implement alternative programming ideas geared specifically toward a newer generation of leaders and at the same time encourage participation in The City Club's more traditional events such as the Friday Forums.

The purpose of the New Leaders is to:

• support the free exchange of ideas among young professionals
• encourage a stronger presence of younger members in this important civic institution
• promote alternative programming in support of The City Club's mission
• position young professionals as civic leaders
• assist The City Club with membership recruitment to ensure a thriving future for the Club
   

I attended my first New Leaders meeting when I moved to Cleveland three years ago and was hooked at once. Soon I was offering my opinions on programming and even chairing events myself. That's something that New Leaders offers all of its volunteers - the opportunity to present provocative programming, to speak your mind, to hear conflicting opinions, to engage oneself in the community.

When Progressive Insurance's Peter B. Lewis announced he was lifting his ban on giving to Cleveland charitable organizations, he did so at a New Leaders-sponsored Friday Forum. When Representative Bill Seitz, sponsor of Ohio's Defense of Marriage Act, debated the merits of legalizing gay marriage, he did so at New Leaders-sponsored evening forum. News happens at New Leaders forums; as a member, you can make that news.

The New Leaders also offer Dialogues on Leadership, which have featured such illustrious Clevelanders as Mayor Jane Campbell, the Plain Dealer's Doug Clifton, and Reverend Otis Moss, all discussing the challenges of leadership with no more than 20 New Leaders.

What's on your mind? Chances are, it's on somebody else's, too. Come to a programming committee meeting and toss out some ideas. Who knows, it could soon be an event on the New Leaders calendar. We look forward to seeing you and hearing what you have to say.