Cleveland is often seen as a land of opportunity—until it isn't. Winston Willis, a determined entrepreneur, seized the American dream, only to have it ripped away by the city's powerful elites. In the 1960s and 1970s, Willis became a successful businessman owning several establishments around the East 105th and Euclid area, transforming it into a vibrant hub despite facing significant racial and economic barriers. But for a Black man like Willis, prosperity was often met with fierce resistance from those who wanted to reclaim it - the city’s political and business leaders, who saw his success as a challenge to their power. 

Join Case Western Reserve University Social Justice Institute and School of Law Social Justice Law Center Director Ayesha Bell Hardaway, JD, as she speaks with Aundra Willis Carrasco, author of Winston Willis: A Memoir, to discuss her brother's legacy, the controversies surrounding his businesses, the local racism he faced, and the ongoing struggle for power within the Black community.

This event is co-sponsored by the CWRU Social Justice Institute and the Presidents' Council Business Chamber.