Last week, Yahoo Travel ranked Cleveland as one of the word's most visionary cities. This comes as a pleasant surprise for a city who is usually showcased in a negative light when it comes to rankings on misery, crime, and education.
Being back in Cleveland recently, I have been able to feel the sense of excitement and optimism in the possibilities for the future. Businesses, policymakers, and foundations are collaborating in innovative ways to turn the tide to create sustainable economic growth in the region. Just in the past two weeks the city has held groundbreaking ceremonies for over $2 billion dollars worth of development projects, which over time has the opportunity to make Cleveland a true 24-hour city.
Social entrepreneurs from across the city are also rallying together to help renew the civic fabric of Northeast Ohio. Just yesterday I had the opportunity to meet with Jack Storey, Co-Founder of Saving Cities, an organization dedicated to using media as a tool to advance community development across the Rust Belt. Jack shares the passion and intellectual curiosity of so many young professionals in Northeast Ohio who are dedicated to putting Cleveland back on the map. They just need the right voice and the right mechanisms to ensure that their ideas can be translated into action.
Moving forward, Cleveland should be proud of this new ranking. Our city has all the right assets to be a competitive city in the 21st century. For too long we have focused on whats wrong and not whats right. Citizens of Cleveland should hold their heads high and be proud as people from all walks of life are rolling up their sleeves to solve local problems. At the end of the day, this is the only thing that will allow us to realize our true destiny.
