PolicyBridge – Building Bridges To Better Policy

PolicyBridge - Building Bridges:

PolicyBridge - Building Bridges:
From THOUGHT to DISCOURSE

PolicyBridge - Building Bridges:
From PERCEPTION to DATA

PolicyBridge - Building Bridges:
From IDEA to PLAN

PolicyBridge - Building Bridges:
From ACTION to PROGRESS

In The Spotlight

Photo Credit – Greater Cleveland Partnership

Leaders Unite Behind Urban Agenda to Alleviate Income, Poverty and Wealth Disparities in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County

On Jan. 31 at the Greater Cleveland Partnership offices, 1240 Huron Road East, a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting forth their commitment to working collaboratively toward Three economic mobility goals and a series of interim benchmarks. Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb; County Executive Chris Ronayne; Lillian Kuri, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Foundation, and GCP President and CEO Baiju Shah offered brief remarks during the signing ceremony. Leaders or representatives of Cleveland Council, Cuyahoga County Council, the George Gund Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland State University and Case Western Reserve University demonstrated their support for the Urban Agenda project by taking part in the signing event.

An Urban Agenda for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County

This Urban Agenda is a bold collective pursuit for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. Beginning in Fall 2019, PolicyBridge has been convening talks and organizing meetings of leaders and representatives from local government, philanthropic, business, advocacy and social support organizations. Building on a 2021 report from PolicyBridge advocating for “Resetting the Table” in Cleveland, these meetings have sought to bring together local stakeholders and challenge them to think differently and act collaboratively to address deep-rooted systemic problems that have too long held back the local community and its people. The COVID-19 pandemic initially slowed progress, but ultimately enabled this effort to ride the tide of an unprecedented wave of new institutional leadership. Now is the time for an Urban Agenda envisioning a brighter future for Cleveland and Cuyahoga County through collective action.

DOWNLOAD – URBAN AGENDA Annual Report 2025 review

MISSION
PolicyBridge is a research and advocacy think and action tank that prompts and sustains high quality discourse about public policy issues affecting African-Americans and other underserved communities which enlightens fellow community members and catalyzes action.

OPED – PUBLISHED JULY 28, 2023

Policy Bridge The State of Black Cleveland and America

The state of Black America and Black Cleveland is troubled: Gregory L. Brown and Marsha Mockabee

By Guest Columnist, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND — Two recently released reports benchmark and illustrate the effects of systemic inequities, racial hatred, and discriminatory policies and practices experienced by people of color in America, particularly African Americans.

The first is the National Urban League’s “State of Black America,” which is an analysis of the explosive growth of domestic extremism and systemic inequities in the areas of economics, employment, health, housing, criminal justice, and civic participation. The report details how domestic extremists in America are now advocating for the elimination of our civil liberties, infiltrating our military ranks, law enforcement and political systems.

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LATEST REPORT – RELEASED MAY 2023

The State of Black Cleveland

The state of the Black community in Cleveland has been affected by many issues over recent years. Topics ranging from the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the digital divide, systemic disinvestment in communities of color and much more have all contributed to troubling outcomes that have stymied progress and perpetuated poverty, unemployment and trauma. For the sake of this report, the following five areas are being highlighted for further review and analysis: Health Disparities, Education, Economic Opportunity, Neighborhoods and Housing and Community Violence. Challenges associated with these five areas have resulted in the current State of Black Cleveland being defined as “Troubled” or “Marginalized”.

Read the Complete Report

Report

Urban Agenda – Nov 2021

PolicyBridge, in partnership with Ohio Rep. Stephanie Howse, invited dozens of government officials, philanthropic leaders, representatives of service organizations, and community advocates to a working session with the goal of developing a framework for an urban agenda. The agenda was meant to be specific to Cleveland but applicable to other cities facing distress and disinvestment.

The 40 participants offering a diverse range of viewpoints found consensus around six overarching areas for coordinated action: economic opportunity and mobility, neighborhoods… Read the Complete Report

Report

Access Denied – July 2021

Access to the internet no longer can be thought of as a luxury or novelty; fast, reliable and affordable internet has become a necessity for engaging in everyday activities of modern life. Addressing the “digital divide,” the bland, alliterative euphemism for inequities that keep mostly poor rural and urban communities disconnected from the social and economic benefits of technological advancements, gained both urgency and advocates over the past year, with governments, nonprofit organizations, foundations, and businesses jumping in to provide funding and support for expanding access to broadband internet. The federal government has committed billions through pandemic relief measures, and an infrastructure deal could bring billions more. The state of Ohio has allocated millions, including $250 million to … Read the Complete Report

Video

Missing in Action: The Future of Black Leadership in Cleveland

The City Club of Cleveland

McShepard shares his vision for a new leadership model that elevates promising community, business, political, and civic leaders capable of re-engaging the black community and protecting it from future attempts to suppress its voice and influence.

Highlighted Report – DOWNLOAD Complete Report

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Improving Policy and Encouraging Opportunity

SEPT 19 2022

Crisis brings out the best in Americans. World War II remains the most vivid example of civilian and military mobilization under threat. The Covid-19 pandemic is a recent example of mobilization to produce…. Read More

America is in Crisis and Racism is the Culprit!

BY GREG BROWN

From a practical perspective racism is expensive…. Read Complete Paper

After Months of Protests for Racial Equality: Where Are We Now?

BY TAYLOR BRUCK CLEVELAND

“You’ve heard people say, ‘I can’t breathe’ wasn’t just about someone with a knee on their neck. Many feel that there’s that’s a metaphor for many facets of life…” Randell McShepard said.

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