PRESS RELEASE

One million UAW active members and retirees will decide the future of the beleaguered United Auto Workers Union (UAW). Reeling from a massive corruption scandal and forced by the U.S. government to hold a vote on how future leaders of the troubled union will be elected, the union is facing one of the greatest challenges in its 86-year history.

The referendum vote will determine whether the top leadership of the UAW, known as the International Executive Board (IEB), will continue to be elected by delegates at a convention or whether the union’s active members and retirees will decide who occupies the top positions in the UAW. The court appointed Monitor is supervising the votee and ballots will be mailed on October 19, 2021. All ballots must be returned by 10am November 29, 2021 in order to be included in the final tally.

This action marks the most significant reform effort in the U.S. labor movement since the 1989 transformation of the Teamsters union. Both sides of the issue are gearing up their supporters in an effort to push their side over the finish line. The Direct Voting System, also known as One Member, One Vote, is favored by Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD). A dozen UAW officials have been convicted of federal crimes associated with these corrupt activities; some are currently serving prison sentences. 

In the coming weeks, UAWD will monitor developments of the Referendum, issue a series of press releases and provide interviews with UAW members in an effort to keep the media informed of events. 

About Unite All Workers for Democracy (UAWD) — UAWD is a political caucus in the UAW calling for structural changes in the union, including the election of International officers by direct vote of the union membership. If you would like more information, please contact Nathan Pensler at 301-651-3577 or nathanpensler@gmail.com.

CONTENT SUBMITTED

August A. (“Augie”) Napoli, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Cleveland, announced today the appointment of Kenneth L. (“Ken”) Surratt as vice president of Community Investment and Chief Investment Officer, effective Oct. 18, 2021.

“Ken is an incredibly accomplished, forward-thinking and highly-respected strategist, and the right leader at the right time to carry forward United Way of Greater Cleveland’s important Community Investment vision and work,” Napoli said. “By partnering closely with his team of dedicated and talented CI professionals, Ken will continue to advance the progress we have already made to confront poverty at its core through short- and long-term solutions designed to upend its generational grasp on so many within our community. Ken’s more than 25 years of experience working across government, nonprofit and for-profit organizations to create and execute strategies, programs, and partnerships has proven invaluable in driving meaningful, lasting results across the organizations and communities he has served, and I’m confident he will have an equally impressive impact here at United Way.”

In his new role, Surratt will oversee all the organization’s Economic Mobility, Housing Stability and Health Pathways programs under the Community Hub for Basic Needs and the Impact Institute, United Way’s 211, and special projects, allocations, and grants management. The Community Hub for Basic Needs addresses the here-and-now needs of Greater Clevelanders, including food and shelter. The Impact Institute focuses on the root causes that drive and keep families and individuals in poverty, such as racism and child abuse, creating solutions for tomorrow.

In response to his appointment, Surratt said, “This is an incredible opportunity, and I’m deeply honored to accept this important role and work with such an accomplished and devoted team during one of the most challenging and exciting times United Way and our city have faced. My team and I look forward to advancing the critical work United Way began more than a century ago to provide aid to those living in the deepest poverty across Greater Cleveland and help relieve the stranglehold poverty places on their lives and livelihoods.” 

Before joining United Way, Surratt served as the outreach manager in the Community Development department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, where he managed the development and execution of the department’s regional outreach and engagement strategy across the Bank’s four-state district. He also held a leadership role in a Federal Reserve systemwide effort to include racial equity in community development work and support of economic inclusion efforts. 

Prior to the Cleveland Fed, Surratt worked in a variety of leadership roles, including:

• Cuyahoga County’s deputy director of Housing and Community Development, where he led the effort to create the county’s first housing plan, which resulted in a $30 million program focused on creating and maintaining affordable housing. In this role, he also served on the Board of the County Land Bank and the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission.
• CFO of Breakthrough Schools, a high-performing network of charter schools in Cleveland.
• Assistant director of Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO), which supports school and program evaluations.

Surratt was named a 2021 class fellow for Leadership Ohio, one of the state’s most prestigious and longest running statewide leadership programs.

Born and raised in Cleveland, he received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from The University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

In addition to Surratt’s appointment, Napoli also announced the following promotions and an additional new hire within the Community Investment team, with all reporting to Surratt:

• Danielle Crawford, director of Evaluation and Learning, oversees United Way’s Center for Excellence in Social Services, which provides educational programming and promotes best practices to area nonprofits, and the organization’s Request for Ideas biennial grant-making process and selection of funded agency partners. which focuses on three community strategies: Economic Mobility, Housing Stability, and Health Pathways. Crawford joined United Way in 2019 as a program manager.
• Jennifer Kons, director of Health Initiatives, is responsible for oversight of investment strategies and programs designed to help address health inequities to ensure a better quality of life for Greater Clevelanders, including Accountable Health Communities (a partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) and Collaborative Investments + Health (also known as CAPGI or Collaborative Approach to Public Goods Investments). Kons joined United Way in 2017 as a program manager.
• Renée Timberlake, director of Economic Mobility, is responsible for oversight of education and job-training investment strategies and programs, including Cleveland Scholar House (in partnership with CHN Housing Partners), Family Spaces and Workforce Connect. Timberlake joined United Way this month. 
• Julie Wisneski, director of Housing Stability, is responsible for oversight of housing investment strategies and stability programs including Right to Counsel and Free Eviction Help (in partnership with The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland) and the Siemer Institute Family Stability Initiative. Wisneski joined United Way in 2020 as a program manager.

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About United Way of Greater Cleveland

Founded in 1913, United Way of Greater Cleveland is a local, independent nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting poverty across the Greater Cleveland area. The largest private-sector investor of health and human services, United Way invests in efforts that address poverty using a two-pronged approach. The first prong focuses on the daily issues affecting those living in poverty, the Community Hub for Basic Needs. The second drives research and innovation through the Impact Institute, a think tank with an action plan, focused on identifying long-term solutions to break the cycle of poverty. For more information, visit unitedwaycleveland.org and twitter.com/UnitedWayCLE. 

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Social connection is one of the fundamental factors effecting health and wellbeing. Time and time again, studies reveal how a lack of social interaction and loneliness can increase health risks for society, and  more significantly, affect older adults.  

 According to the Center for Disease Control, social isolation is a major health risk for older adults,  leading to mental and physical conditions. More than one-third of adults aged 45 and older feel lonely,  and nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are considered socially isolated. There was an  increase obviously during the stay-in-place order and to follow pandemic protocol.  

Greater Cleveland Volunteers realizes the issue will continue long after the pandemic protocol and  created Chat Pals, a telephone or video-based (Facetime or Zoom) program designed to be a support  system, which hopes to provide emotional support and companionship to people in our community.  

“Participants will receive a call from a trained, background-checked volunteer on a weekly basis. The  goal is to match volunteers with a participant based on like-minded interests and experiences, so that a  friendship can be formed remotely.” Explains Joy Banish, executive director of Greater Cleveland  Volunteers. 

The program will be available for participants aged 55+

If you want to learn more about being matched with  a volunteer caller, or know someone who may benefit from this program, contact Kirsten Riley (216) 391- 9500 x 2124 or kriley@greaterclevelandvolunteers.org. 

Classroom teachers

• Full-time positions available, Monday through Friday.

• Part-time, pre-school teacher position available, Monday through Friday, mornings.

• Part-time, afternoon teacher, Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m.

Requirements

• Minimum of 18 years of age 

• Finger Printing is required (BCl & FBI) 

• Two Year degree in ECE or related field, Career Pathway Level 111 or current CDA a plus 

We offer

• Paid Vacation 

• Competitive Wages 

• Paid Holidays 

• Childcare discount 

• Paid workshops associated with the position 

• Profit Sharing 

• Signing bonus 90 days after hire 

To Apply

Fax resume to 216-671-0572 or email N8urwav@aol.com. 

The link to enter is here. www.bpdc.org/video-contest/ 

Find details below.

Experienced public servant Dale Miller endorses new vision for Cleveland 

PRESS RELEASE

County Councilman Dale Miller has been in local public office for over 40 years, he served first on Cleveland City Council, then as a State Representative and State Senator and now as Cuyahoga County Councilman for District 2.

“I’m endorsing Justin Bibb because I know that he is active and involved in the community, not somebody that has come out of nowhere,” Miller said. 

“He has a broad base of experience connected to all three major sectors that keep our city running — government, business and the nonprofit sector. Justin Bibb exemplifies the kind of sensible, reasonable, cross-sector leadership this city and region needs to move forward. It’s time for a new vision for Cleveland and the region,” Miller added.

“I’m grateful to receive the endorsement of county Councilman Dale Miller, he understands what makes Northeast Ohio tick. As mayor, I’m looking forward to collaborating with county leadership to better serve our communities,” Bibb said. 

“Councilman Miller has put his faith in me because I have been on the frontlines as a community organizer and actively engaged in boardrooms as a civic leader and business person for the past decade. This might be the first time I’m running for office, but I’m not new to government or Cleveland politics,” Bibb added. 

Justin Bibb was raised on the southeast side of the city by his mom, a social worker, and his dad, who served as both a police officer and firefighter. President Obama gave him his start in politics as a Senate intern. Bibb later joined Cuyahoga County as the youngest member of the executive’s cabinet and served as special assistant on economic development and education policy. He later earned law and business degrees at Case Western Reserve University and served as vice president at Cleveland’s KeyBank. He currently advises mayors and city leaders across the country on how to use data and technology in projects to improve cities. As mayor, he’ll invest in all neighborhoods, reform policing, address violent crime and ensure high-quality education for our children.

* Today — Go on-line and order your vote-by-mail ballot.https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/vote-by-mail.aspx

* Oct. 4 — Deadline to register to vote at the Rockport Library ORhttps://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/voter-registration.aspx

* Oct. 5 — Early in-person voting begins at 2925 Euclid Ave.https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/11022021eip.aspx

* Oct. 5 — Board of Elections begins to mail vote-by-mail ballots.ASAP, send in your vote-by-mail ballots. Check your ballots at:https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/track-my-ballot.aspx

* Nov. 2 — General Election from 6:30 am-7:30 pm at these sites. https://boe.cuyahogacounty.gov/en-US/pollinglocations.aspx

STAY INFORMED ABOUT YOUR CHOICES

Mayoral candidates Justin Bibb and Kevin Kelley

Web — www.bibbforcle.com, Facebook — bibbforcleve

Web — www.kevinforcle.com, Facebook — kevinforcle.com

Ward 17 candidates Mary K. O’Malley and Charles Slife

Web — https://OmalleyForWard17.com, FB — MKOforWard17

Web — www.slifeforcle.com, Facebook — SlifeForCLE

Questions? 216-443-VOTE, electioninfo@cuyahogacounty.gov

PRESS RELEASE

Yesterday, Sept. 23, former Mayor Jane Campbell endorsed nonprofit and business executive Justin Bibb for Mayor at a meet and greet with West Park residents. 

“I was our city’s 56th mayor. I know what it takes to lead our city, and Justin has the bold vision and energy to lead real change,” Campbell said.  

“I know firsthand what it’s like to be doubted as a worthy opponent. In one of the debates in 2001 I was asked whether I was tough enough to be mayor – a question never posed to my male opponents. In 2002, I became the first woman Mayor of the City of Cleveland, defying the odds and injecting a new brand of leadership to the city,” she said. “Like Justin will do, I pulled together a leadership team. His vitality and understanding of how the private and non-profit sectors work give him the ability to bring people together and recruit talent to our city to bring real and lasting change.”

“Justin Bibb brings hope for Cleveland’s future. He will push the limits and break the status quo mentality that delays and denies progress. He’ll bring best practice programs and fresh ideas to a city government stuck in the past,” Campbell added. 

“Mayor Campbell was a trailblazer for the city and I’m honored to have her endorsement and support,” Bibb said. 

“She led the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and stabilized the budget in the face of an economic recession. Mayor Campbell confronted crisis after crisis with compassion and competence, and it’s those leadership qualities I will bring to the job,” Bibb added.

Justin Bibb was raised on the southeast side of the city by his mom, a social worker, and his dad, who served as both a police officer and firefighter. President Obama gave him his start in politics as a Senate Intern. Bibb later joined Cuyahoga County as the youngest member of the executive’s cabinet and served as Special Assistant on economic development and education policy. He later earned law and business degrees at Case Western Reserve University and served as vice president at Cleveland’s KeyBank. He currently advises mayors and city leaders across the country on how to use data and technology in projects to improve cities. As Mayor, he’ll invest in all neighborhoods, reform policing, address violent crime and ensure high-quality education for our children. 

CONTENT SUBMITTED

Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, which represents essential workers, including janitors, maintenance, and food service workers, announced its endorsement of Justin Bibb for Mayor of Cleveland. Bibb has been an outspoken advocate on workers’ issues and has launched an inclusive economic recovery campaign to increase the minimum wage to $15. 

“Service workers and janitors are not only essential but are also the backbone of our city and country. They have played an especially important role during this pandemic by keeping our public spaces safe and clean. Our frontline service workers deserve a mayor who will fight to earn them a living wage,” Justin Bibb said. 

“Thousands of Clevelanders are working two jobs to care for their families. Despite their efforts, they struggle to make ends meet. That’s not right. The mayor has a moral obligation to prioritize essential workers in our economic recovery and to deliver real change,” said Bibb.  

“City Hall can be a better partner with labor organizations. We see Justin as bridging this gap. He’s a strong and determined ally who will bring labor organizations to the table while focusing on one common goal – putting workers first and getting them back to work,” said Yanela Sims, SEIU Local 1 Ohio State Director​/Vice President.  

Justin Bibb will fight together with SEIU Local 1 to ensure working families emerge stronger throughout the pandemic. He will continue to tackle structural inequities and ensure that city government raises the voices of frontline workers to achieve economic justice and opportunity for all.  

PRESS RELEASE — On  Aug. 13, 2021, Dan and Dona Brady and Brian Mooney, Ward 11 Councilman, announced their endorsement of Kevin J. Kelley for Mayor of Cleveland. All three leaders cited Kevin Kelley’s experience, ability to get things done and his vision for the future of Cleveland as some of the reasons they have endorsed him to be Cleveland’s next mayor.

“As public servants for many years, Dan, Dona and Brian know what it takes to fight for the best interests of the people,” said Kevin Kelley, regarding the Bradys’ and Mooney’s endorsements. “They know what it takes to lead, especially in challenging times, and I appreciate their willingness to vouch for me, my character, my work ethic, and my ability to get things done on behalf of the people of Cleveland.

In discussing his support for Kevin Kelley, Dan Brady focused on the importance of this election and electing the right person for the job. “It’s time for those of us who live in Cleveland to get serious about the mayor’s election,” said Dan Brady, former Cuyahoga County Council President, State Senator, State Representative, and Cleveland City Council Member. “There is not a question that we have the most talented and experienced candidate in Kevin. He’s ready to do this job.”

As Cleveland City Council President for the last seven years, Kevin Kelley has worked side-by-side with his colleagues to help bring investment to neighborhoods across the city, improve city services for all Cleveland residents and tackle challenging issues like infant mortality and racism as a public health crisis.

Dona Brady, who also represented Ward 11 on Cleveland City Council, called out Kevin Kelley’s willingness to work with his colleagues on behalf of the people of Cleveland. “I worked with Kevin for 15 years on Council. I was able to get things done in my ward because Kevin would help me fight for it,” said Dona Brady. “Kevin’s experience at City Hall makes him the clear choice. He is not walking in and having to learn on the job.”

In his role as Finance Committee Chair, Kelley is responsible for ensuring City Council passes a balanced budget, which requires deep knowledge of how all city departments operate. This knowledge and experience gained over the past 16 years as a member of council have helped shape Kelley’s vision for the future and a blueprint for achieving that vision.

Current Ward 11 Council Member Brian Mooney pointed to Kelley’s plans for the future, including efforts to improve public safety and reduce crime, as a key reason he is endorsing Kelley for Mayor of Cleveland. “I’m supporting Kevin because of his vision for strong neighborhood policing,” said Mooney. “Kevin’s plan to implement Neighborhood Safety Centers will help address our residents’ concerns and help build trust in our community. We believe in Cleveland, and we believe in Kevin.”

Dan and Dona Brady and Brian Mooney join Kevin Kelley’s growing list of supporters:

• Mayor Frank G. Jackson
• Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley
• Cuyahoga County Council Member Yvonne Conwell
• Cleveland City Council Member Kevin Conwell
• The Association of Cleveland Firefighters IAFF Local 93
• Plumbers Union Local 55
• Pipefitters Local Union 120
• Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council and their affiliated unions:
  • Boilermakers Local 744
  • Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 5
  • Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 16
  • Carpenters Local 373
  • Carpenters Local 435
  • Cement Masons Local 404
  • Electrical Workers Local 38
  • Electrical Workers Local 673
  • Elevator Constructors Local 17
  • Glaziers Local 181
  • Heat & Frost Insulators Local 3
  • Iron Workers Local 17
  • Laborers Local 245
  • Laborers Local 310
  • Millwright Pile Driver Local 1090
  • Plasterers Local 526 (formerly Plasterers Local 31)
  • Roofers & Waterproofers Local 44
  • Sheet Metal Workers Local 33
  • Sign, Display & Allied Trades Local 639
  • Teamsters Local 407
  • Teamsters Local 436
  • Tile Layers Local 36

For more information about Kevin J. Kelley’s Cleveland Jobs Now plan and position on supporting working families, ending the digital divide, educating and training residents for careers that pay well enough to support their families and ensuring every neighborhood is healthy, strong and safe, visit kevinforCLE.com and follow @kevinkelleyCLE on Twitter.

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Justin Bibb receives statewide endorsement expanding grassroots coalition 

The Ohio Young Democrats today announced their endorsement of 34-year-old Justin Bibb for Mayor of Cleveland.

“We’re proud to endorse and fully support Justin Bibb as Cleveland’s next Mayor. Justin Bibb brings new energy, leadership, and experience to spark real change in Cleveland, Northeast Ohio and across the state,” said Ohio Young Democrats’ President Chris Anderson.

“As a young Democrat, I’m focused on building a new grassroots coalition in Cleveland centered on putting people and neighborhoods first. Since the campaign’s launch in January, we have recruited nearly 1,500 volunteers and 100 students from across the region to join Students For Bibb, a youth-led coalition born right here in Cleveland to bring real change,” said Justin Bibb.

“I’m proud to receive the endorsement of the Ohio Young Democrats. Young people have powered our campaign, mobilized new voters and ignited an uprising of civic activism in local politics,” said Bibb.

“I want to be a mayor that excites the next generation of young people to stay in Cleveland and build a life here and getting involved in this election is the best way to shape the future we all deserve,” he added. 

COURTESY CMSD NEWS BUREAU

86^th class of winners to be featured in documentary-style production

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The Cleveland Foundation today announced the schedule for the sixth annual Cleveland Book Week. This year’s showcase – expanded beyond its usual timeframe – will celebrate present and past Anisfield-Wolf Book Award (AWBA) winners over the distinguished 86-year history of the award. The week’s far-ranging programs will all have virtual options and nearly all are free to the community.

Anchoring the events is “The 86th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards,” a crisp, beautiful documentary hosted by AWBA Chair Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. It debuts at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 14, on WVIZ/PBS and throughout Ohio’s public television network. The book awards remain the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores human diversity. The 2021 honorees are:

Vincent Brown, “Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of An Atlantic Slave War,” co-winner, Nonfiction
Victoria Chang, “Obit,” Poetry
Samuel R. Delany, Lifetime Achievement
James McBride, “Deacon King Kong,” Fiction
Natasha Trethewey, “Memorial Drive,” co-winner, Nonfiction

“We are thrilled to renew our partnership with Ideastream Public Media to give lovers of the written word this fresh and timely documentary,” said Karen R. Long, who manages the awards for the Cleveland Foundation. “It gives viewers entree into the insights of five unparalleled writers, who, in this era of global racial awakening, can spark our humanity and help reforge our civic purpose.”

The Cleveland Foundation and Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards are presenting Cleveland Book Week in partnership with the Cleveland International Film Festival (CIFF), Cleveland Public Library, the Cleveland State University Poetry Center, The City Club of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County Public Library, the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference and Ursuline College.

For more information on Cleveland Book Week (#CBW2021) and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards (#AWBA2021), visit anisfield-wolf.org.

Events scheduled for Cleveland Book Week 2021 include (visit the website for the latest updates):

Tuesday, Sept. 14

Ideastream Public Media PBS documentary: “The 86th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards”
9 p.m. on WVIZ/PBS, concurrent with website streaming and other PBS broadcasts
The Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards recognize books that have made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity. It remains the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and equity. For more than 80 years, the distinguished books earning Anisfield-Wolf prizes have opened and challenged our minds.
For more information: https://www.ideastream.org/

Monday, Sept. 27

A conversation with Mira Jacob
7 p.m., Cuyahoga County Public Library (virtual conversation)
Presented as part of the “Beyond the Book Jacket” series, Jacob is the author of “Good Talk: A Memoir in Conversations” and the critically acclaimed novel “The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing.”
For more information: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_J0qMJJOSSDCrhxWWkBz5nQ?fbclid=IwAR0glCTZJR8nchN71_rOxAB4bsZdQFqcBF8NIuxsEAzONFJ5TB_72C07Okg

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock” (virtual viewing)
A group of indigenous women risk their lives to stop the Dakota Access oil pipeline construction that desecrated their ancient burial and prayer sites and threatens their land, water, and very existence.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/end-of-the-line-the-women-of-standing-rock-online-film-screening-registration-169904072655

Tuesday, Sept. 28

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “Down a Dark Stairwell” (virtual viewing)
A Chinese American cop shoots and kills an innocent Black man; suddenly two marginalized communities must navigate an uneven criminal justice system together.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/down-a-dark-stairwell-online-film-screening-tickets-170082911567

Wednesday, Sept. 29

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “Voodoo Macbeth” (virtual viewing)
In 1936 Harlem, the first all-Black cast production of “Macbeth” struggles to make it to opening night amid the downward spiral of their young and untested director – Orson Welles. Feature film.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/voodoo-macbeth-online-film-screening-tickets-170086959675

Ayana Gray presented by the Cleveland Public Library
6:30 p.m., Cleveland Metroparks Zoo (39000 Wildlife Way, Cleveland, OH 44109; virtual option also available)
Gray, the author of highly acclaimed Young Adult novel “Beasts of Prey,” discusses her work in the breathtaking Rainforest at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. “Beasts of Prey” is the much-anticipated series opener revealing the fate which binds two Black teenagers as they strike a dangerous alliance to hunt down the ancient creature menacing their home—and discover much more than they bargained for.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ayana-gray-presented-by-the-cleveland-public-library-tickets-168148399389

Richard Powers: The William N. Skirball Writers Center Stage Series
7:30 p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center (1855 Ansel Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, virtual option also available)
The Writers Center Stage Series is presented by the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation and Case Western Reserve University. Richard Powers, the prolific writer and award-winning author of 12 novels, is known for his exploration of modern science and technology. Power’s “The Overstory” won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. His new novel is “Bewildered.” For more information: https://case.edu/maltzcenter/WCS1

Thursday, Sept. 30

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “The 86th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards” (virtual viewing)
The 86th Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards is a crisp, beautiful documentary hosted by AWBA Chair Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. It features the recipients of the only national juried prize for literature that confronts racism and explores human diversity. Sample the insights, and exquisite writing, of the five 2021 winners, delivered in their own voices.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-86th-annual-anisfield-wolf-book-awards-online-film-screening-tickets-170094034837

Friday, Oct. 1

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “Apart” (virtual viewing)
In the Midwest, against the backdrop of the opioid epidemic and rising incarceration rates, three women face the challenges of mothering their children from prison and preparing to reunite with their families and rebuild after years of separation.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/apart-online-film-screening-tickets-170178936781

CIFF Streams + AWBA Shorts Program 1
11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3, Eight different shorts (virtual viewing)
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ciff-streams-awba-shorts-program-1-online-film-screening-tickets-170202944589

CIFF Streams + AWBA Shorts Program 2
11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 3, Eight different shorts (virtual viewing)
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ciff-streams-awba-shorts-program-2-online-film-screening-tickets-170203572467

Saturday, Oct. 2

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “Best Summer Ever” (virtual viewing)
A fresh and exhilarating take on the beloved teen musical genre featuring eight original songs and a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities. Feature film.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/best-summer-ever-online-film-screening-tickets-170201389939
For a version of “Best Summer Ever” that contains an audio description for the visually impaired: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/best-summer-ever-online-film-screening-with-audio-description-tickets-170201779103

Deesha Philyaw Langston Hughes Literary Keynote
11 a.m., Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (virtual conversation)
Philyaw’s debut short story collection, “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies,” won the 2021 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the 2020/2021 Story Prize, and a 2020 LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction; the collection was also a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction. Join the three-day GLAAW conference, where literary creatives from throughout the Great Lakes region will gather virtually to learn from and network with influential publishing industry professionals from hubs including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
For more information: https://www.glaawc.us/glaawc2021-home/

Sunday, Oct. 3

CIFF Streams + AWBA
11 a.m.-11 p.m., “Landfall” (virtual viewing)
After the landfall of Hurricane María in 2017, Puerto Rico grapples with a devastated infrastructure and multi-billion-dollar debt as outside investors descend—not to bail out communities, but to cash in. Set against the backdrop of protests that toppled the US colony’s governor in 2019, “Landfall” shares kaleidoscopic glimpses of collective trauma and resistance.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/landfall-online-film-screening-tickets-170202429047

Friday, Oct. 15

NEOMFA Reading Series: Victoria Chang (2021 AWBA Poetry Winner) & Shane McCrae (2018 AWBA Poetry Winner)
7 p.m., Northeast Ohio Master of Fine Arts Reading Series (virtual conversation)
Join the NEOMFA Reading Series for a reading, conversation, and Q&A featuring a pair of Anisfield-Wolf winning poets. Chang won this year for “Obit,” while McCrae was the 2018 winner for “In the Language of My Captor.” Chang wrote the introduction to the new edition of “Mule,” McCrae’s first poetry collection.
For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/neomfa-reading-series-victoria-chang-and-shane-mccrae-tickets-169999498075

Thursday, Oct. 28

Natasha Trethewey (2021 AWBA Nonfiction Co-Winner) leads a conversation of “Memorial Drive”
Noon, Ursuline College (virtual conversation)
Join the campus-wide read of former U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey’s “Memorial Drive,” praised as an instant classic. The memoir explores her mother’s life and death and the abiding tie between the two women. Trethewey writes of how her mother came to die at the hands of a former husband when the author was 19, as well as the Mississippi context that formed and informed both women.
For more information: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1LCHIAgO3PnQYh7mqIUm6uGPv-4dHKgEXC6Gvjwa6SVw/edit

Tuesday, Nov. 16

War and Empire: The world-wide reverberations of Jamaica’s 18th century slave revolts
Noon, The City Club of Cleveland (virtual conversation)
Novelist Marlon James (2015 AWBA Fiction Winner) and historian Vincent Brown (2021 AWBA Nonfiction Co-Winner) will crack open their ideas in a unique conversation centered on Jamaica. The island is a lynchpin in world history, and a wellspring of world culture. Both men won an Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in this vein: James in 2015 for “A Brief History of Seven Killings” and Brown this year for “Tacky’s Revolt: The Story of an Atlantic Slave War.”
For more information: https://www.cityclub.org/forums/2021/11/16/the-world-wide-reverberations-of-jamaicas-18th-century-slave-revolts