Bus Rapid Transit Open House
25Connects is now entering the design and engineering phase with the new MetroHealth Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Continuing with active engagement, it is important to GCRTA that community voices continue to shape the work.
YLN has joined Michael Baker International and City Architecture to ensure that our community is represented and our voices are heard.
We invite you to our Open House on Tuesday, October 7, so you can learn more about the project and share your ideas! Register Here.
Innovative Approaches to Preserving and Expanding Homeownership
Homeownership is becoming harder to achieve everywhere as demand outpaces supply. But housing and neighborhood nonprofits are using a variety of tools—some complex and some simple--to preserve and expand homeownership.
Four leaders from across Ohio will discuss how their efforts are keeping homeowners in homes and expanding access to homeownership to new generations.
This webinar is generously sponsored by JPMorgan Chase. Register Here.
CMSD Community Event
With support from PNC Grow Up Great, The Children's Museum of Cleveland welcomes families from Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) schools for a FREE play session at the Museum. Families who attend the event will also receive a FREE family membership to the Museum, which provides unlimited visits for one year.
The event is free, but registration is required! Please register here.
Families MUST have a child currently enrolled in a CMSD school to attend this event.
Attendance at the event is required to receive the free membership.
Families with active CMC memberships that expire in 2026 or later are not eligible to receive a free membership at the event.
More Than My Art
Join us October 10 from 6-8:00pm for an engaging evening where imagination will meet civic engagement. We will be showcasing creative assets from our Creative Impact Network Program. The event is at 2355 East 89th Street Cleveland, OH 44106.
You can register here.
Actívate Cleveland: Candidate Forum!
Young Latino Network and Avanzamos Unidos invites you to Actívate Cleveland: Candidate Forum!
Get to know the candidates running for the New Wards 5, 7, and 12 starting in 2026! This forum is your opportunity to hear directly from the candidates and engage with them on the issues that matter most to our Comunidad before the General Elections.
¡Conoce a los candidatos que se postulan para los Nuevos distritos 5, 7 y 12 que comenzarán en 2026! Este foro es tu oportunidad para escuchar directamente a los candidatos y relacionarte con ellos sobre los temas que más importan a nuestra Comunidad antes de las Elecciones Generales.
Fell free to bring your Kids: Activities will be On-Site! Register Here.
State of Our Democracy: Reverse Town Hall
Join Cleveland Votes on October 17 for the State of Our Democracy: Reverse Town Hall, where community leaders take the mic, and candidates running for office pause to listen, learn, and engage.
In typical town hall structures, candidates speak to residents; this event invites them to hear directly from the people. This one-of-a-kind experience centers your voice, especially voices too often left out of traditional campaign conversations and you’re invited to be part of it. Register Here.
Accessibility and the Ballot [A Vote Early Day Event]
EEarly voting and accessibility go hand in hand.
On Vote Early Day* (Oct. 28), join Cleveland VOTES for the virtual premiere of their short documentary**, “Accessibility and the Ballot.” The documentary will be followed by discussion with some of the video participants and the Cleveland VOTES team. Attendees will leave with practical solutions and tools for ensuring our polling places work for everyone.
There will be live ASL translation during the event. Please reach out to brianna@clevotes.com if you require additional accommodations. We will do our best to accommodate you.
You can register here. You will receive the Zoom meeting link after you register.
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*Vote Early Day is a nonpartisan movement of media companies, businesses, nonprofits, election administrators, and creatives working to ensure all Americans have the tools to vote early. You can learn more about Vote Early Day here.
**The documentary is in partnership with LEAP Cleveland, Hands That Speak Volumes, Mamas Organizing Voter Economics, and Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center
Indie Ink Author Talk: A. Harris Brown
From the classroom to the mic, Anthony ‘A. Harris’ Brown has built his platform on storytelling, healing, and living unapologetically. 🖤 A proud HBCU grad and author of Inspire Me Moments, he’s bringing his voice and vision to ThirdSpace Reading Room for our next Indie Ink Author Talk. Pull up September 30 at 6:30pm.
FREE COMMUNITY YOGA
Every last Sunday of the month, ThirdSpace hosts their free community yoga. Come with your mats to align your chakras.
Great Lakes African American Writers Conference
The Eighth Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC, pronounced “glossy”) features a nationally renowned author, Diane McKinney-Whetstone (the Langston Hughes Literary Keynote), and Kim Martin-Sadler (the Alice Dunbar Nelson Professional Keynote), a publishing industry expert, to share insights with authors and aspiring writers throughout the region. Accompanied by in-depth panel discussions, opportunities to network with esteemed literary minds, and be equipped with trending literary tactics, this event is a must-attend for all literary creatives and lovers of African American literature.
Join us for our annual day-long conference where Black literary creatives are celebrated and highlighted for their work in Cleveland and beyond. Learn from influential publishing industry professionals to obtain and enhance your writing objectives.
Save the date for Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Cleveland Public Library-MLK Branch! While this event is free and open to the public, Ms. McKinney-Whetsone’s latest novel, Family Spirit, will be available for purchase as a bundled ticket. Do take advantage of the bundled ticket and secure Ms. McKinney-Whetsone’s autograph during her book signing.
Also, on Friday, Sept. 26., GLAAWC, in partnership with the Case Western Reserve University English Department and the Baker-Nord Center, will host the Alice Dunbar-Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award honoring Cleveland’s own beloved and distinguished poet, Julie Patton. Additional details forthcoming.
Writers Center Stage presents: Ian McEwan
Ian McEwan’s literary works have earned him worldwide critical acclaim. His first collection of short stories, First Love, Last Rites, won the Somerset Maugham Award in 1976. McEwan was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction numerous times before winning the award for Amsterdam in 1998. His novel, Atonement, received the WH Smith Literary Award in 2002 and was made into an Oscar-winning film featuring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy. His new book, What We Can Know, will be published on September 18, 2025. Single tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 3rd.
Intergenerational Lunch
Join us at ThirdSpace for a special Intergenerational Lunch panel conversation exploring the power of civic engagement.
Marie Vibbert at the Cuyahoga County Public Library
Local author Marie Vibbert visits to discuss her latest novel, Andrei and the Hellcats.
Hugo- and Nebula-nominated author Marie Vibbert’s short fiction has appeared over 90 times in top magazines like Nature, Analog, and Clarkesworld, and been translated into Czech, Chinese and Vietnamese. Her debut novel, Galactic Hellcats, was long listed by the British Science Fiction Award and her work has been called “everything science fiction should be” by the Oxford Culture Review. She also writes poetry, comics, and computer games. By day she is a computer programmer in Cleveland.
YLN Raíces Book Discussion
Join us for a powerful evening of conversation as we dive into You Sound Like a White Girl by Julissa Arce — a bold and deeply personal book that confronts the myths of assimilation and celebrates cultural pride. 🌎
Together, we’ll reflect on themes of identity, belonging, and what it means to reclaim our roots as Latine immigrants and children of immigrants. Whether you’ve read the entire book or just a few pages, your voice matters and you’re welcome in this space!
Book Launch: Dan Chaon
Join us for the book launch event for Dan Chaon’s One of Us.
Dan Chaon is the author of several books, including Ill Will, a national bestseller that was named one of the 10 best books of the year by Publishers Weekly. Other works include the short story collection Stay Awake, a finalist for the Story Prize; the national bestseller Await Your Reply; and Among the Missing, a finalist for the National Book Award. Chaon’s fiction has appeared in the Best American Short Stories, the Pushcart Prize Anthologies, and the O. Henry Collection. He has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award in Fiction and the Shirley Jackson Award, and he was the recipient of an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature. Chaon lives in Cleveland.
John Scalzi at the Cuyahoga County Public Library
John Scalzi is one of the most popular science fiction authors of his generation. His debut, Old Man’s War, won him the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His New York Times bestsellers include The Last Colony, Fuzzy Nation, Redshirts (which won the Hugo Award for Best Novel), The Last Emperox, The Kaiju Preservation Society, and Starter Villain. Material from his blog, Whatever, has earned him two other Hugo Awards. He lives in Ohio with his wife and daughter.
Jill Lepore at the Cuyahoga County Public Library
Author Jill Lepore will discuss her latest book, We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.
Each ticket ($35 +fees) includes a seat at the author’s talk, a copy of We the People, and a donation to the Cuyahoga County Public Library Foundation.
Jill Lepore is the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at The New Yorker. Her many books include the international bestseller, These Truths: A History of the United States.
Book Bites with Samin Nosrat
Join us for an afternoon with Samin Nosrat.
Samin is a cook, teacher, and author of the James Beard award-winning cookbook, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking. She was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and Chef of the Year by Eater. She is the co-host of the Home Cooking podcast and host of the Netflix original documentary series based on her book Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards 90th Anniversary Celebration
AWBA author panels, book signings and in-community events at the Cleveland Public Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Branch in the morning and various venues across Ohio City in the afternoon.
90th Annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Ceremony
The annual Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards ceremony returns to the Maltz Performing Arts Center for a fourth consecutive year to honor the 2025 winners as they join the esteemed canon of America’s only juried book prize focusing on works that address racism and diversity. A reception, book sale and author signing will follow the ceremony. Tickets are free but registration is required. A livestream option will be available for those who cannot attend in person.
AWBA City Club Friday Forum
Join The City Club in learning from two Anisfield-Wolf Book Award winners, Jonathan D. S. Schroeder and Vincent Brown, as they discuss the importance of amplifying hidden narratives and what uncovering stories of resistance can teach us about today.
Drawn Together: Jewish Women and Graphic Novels A Conversation with Terri Libeson, Sara Phoebe Miller, and Samantha Baskind
Step into the world of graphic novels with creators Terri Libenson and Sara Phoebe Miller and art history professor Samantha Baskind. In this lively conversation, they’ll discuss the power of combining images and words, the influence of Jewishness, and connecting with readers through storytelling.
Terri Libenson is the creator of The Pajama Diaries and the best-selling middle-grade graphic novel series Emmie & Friends (book 9, Entirely Emmie, appeared earlier this year).
Sara Phoebe Miller is the author of the young adult graphic novel You Belong Here. After working at DC Comics for more than a decade, she recently became the Editorial Director at BOOM! Studios.
Samantha Baskind is Distinguished Professor of Art History at Cleveland State University. She co-edited the landmark book The Jewish Graphic Novel: Critical Approaches and is the author of six books on Jewish art and artists, including the forthcoming Moses Jacob Ezekiel: Jewish, Confederate, Expatriate Sculptor. She also serves on the board of the Siegel and Shuster Society.
This event is co-sponsored with the Rust Belt Humanities Lab at Ursuline College
Hough Town Hall
Join us for the first in a series of public conversations about a future for Hough that’s deeply rooted in its history. This town hall will bring neighbors together to discuss land use, entrepreneurship, and cultural district concepts from across the nation. Come ready to share your ideas and lend your voice to the vision for Hough’s future. Light refreshments will be provided.
RSVP Here.
Inkubator Writing Conference
Literary Cleveland’s Inkubator Writing Conference is the largest free writing conference in the country. Three days of virtual events Sept. 8-10 with nationally renowned authors lead to a two-day in-person conference Sept. 12-13 featuring 40 events and 80 authors at the Cleveland Public Library. The in-person conference includes writing workshops, craft talks, panel discussions, an open mic, a book fair with regional literary presses and organizations, plus a keynote by bestselling author and Cleveland native Celeste Ng. All free!
2025 Cleveland Book Fest: Listen Up! A Teen Writers Fest
Hosted by Lake Erie Ink, Writers in Residence, CHARP EDucation and Sparrows Fortune
This FREE event is open to all teens, in grades 7th-12th in the Greater Cleveland community, and will include local guest poets, pizza, giveaways of books and other cool stuff. Teens will write in response to prompts and share work in an open mic. If you’re a teen, stop in and do some writing, sharing and listening. If you’re an adult, stop in and listen to what Cleveland teens have to say.
Indie Ink Author Talk: Barbar Howard
Barbara Howard is a mystery, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance author based in Northeast Ohio with a passion for creating stories that delve into complex relationships and hidden truths. Her works often explore themes of love, trust, and the past's influence on the present.
With extensive experience as a Department of Defense/Pentagon Project Manager, KPMG Eastern Region Project Leader, and Corporate Sales Representative for Borders Books & Music, Ms. Howard brings a unique perspective to her writing. Now back in her hometown, she spends her days treasure hunting, spoiling her fur-babies, growing veggies, and plotting whodunits.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Cleveland Book Fest 2025: Rock & Read: Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo
Join us for a rockin’ family event celebrating My Grandma and Grandpa Rock! by legendary duo Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. Enjoy a lively discussion moderated by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s own Dr. Jason Hanley. Presented in partnership with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sourcebooks Publishing and Loganberry Books.
Free copies of the book to the first 300 attendees.
Summer Sunset: Alpha Boat Ride
Celebrate the unofficial end of summer with the Delta Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., (Cleveland Alphas) aboard the Goodtime III on Sunday, August 31, 2025. It’s the perfect night to gather friends and enjoy the last warm breezes of the season as Cleveland’s skyline lights up at dusk.
A live R&B and jazz band on the first floor, DJs spinning today’s hits and old‑school favorites on the second, and a surprise experience awaiting attendees on the third. Get your tickets here.
Latine Challenge: Racial Justice
2-day Latine Challenges Workshop on August 29th and 30th! This transformative and engaging experience is designed to empower individuals with tools and insights to navigate and address the cultural and racial dynamics shaping our communities.
Explore how racism impacts Latine individuals, affecting personal well-being and community development through cultural and historical lenses.
Examine the racialization of Latine identities in the U.S., including how census categories like "Hispanic" and "Race" shape our demographics and experiences.
Celebrate Latine resilience and identity, recognizing culture, history, and community as sources of strength and empowerment.
Foster cross-racial solidarity, addressing the ways racism has divided communities and advancing collective movements for racial equity and social transformation.
This training is made possible by the Cleveland Freedoms Dreams Coalition and the Young Latino Network. Register here.