Dear CCWA Members, Friends and Supporters,

I’m delighted to introduce myself as the new CEO of the Cleveland Council on World Affairs. Stepping into this role is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I look forward to working with all of you to build on CCWA’s more than 100-year legacy of educating and engaging Clevelanders on global affairs.

This work has never been more important. Cleveland is a truly international city, but it’s easy to forget that we have an international border, a port that moves 13 million tonnes of cargo every year,[i] and more than 800 foreign-owned companies operating in the region.[ii] Ohio is the 10^th largest exporting state and 14^th largest importing state.[iii] Northeast Ohio hosted more than 8,000 international students[iv] and Cleveland welcomed 369,000 international visitors in 2024.[v]

That’s why decisions made in Washington and other capitals on trade, technology, migration, climate change, and so many other topics are impacting lives and livelihoods right here in Northeast Ohio. And so our mission is to support you - Cleveland’s civic and business leaders, young professionals, families, students, academics, and globally-minded citizens - as you navigate rapidly shifting geopolitics and dramatically evolving U.S. foreign policy. I see CCWA’s role as fundamental in fostering greater understanding of these global issues, building meaningful people-to-people connections across borders, and ensuring the perspectives of Clevelanders are heard, so that together we can make Cleveland more competitive, connected, and resilient.

To that end, fall is always a busy time at CCWA, and this year is no exception. We have a fantastic lineup of guest speakers, starting next week with former NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller talking about the future of European security at our first members-only CCFR dinner of the year. The following week we will host Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Brian Katulis, who will help us unpack U.S. policy in the Middle East at our September Foreign Policy Forum, which is open to the public. I look forward to seeing many of you at these events.

With students back in school, our educational programs ramp up this month, and our teams are heading out to classrooms to help support students’ global literacy, while 58 schools across northeast Ohio are gearing up for Model UN competitions this year, starting at Case Western Reserve University in October. Our next cohort of LEADS program participants began meeting this week, and our new class of YPAC members is already diving into programming ideas for the year. Meanwhile, Cleveland will welcome at least five international exchange programs in September, on topics ranging from energy as an economic driver to addressing the opioid crisis. We will also be testing out some new program ideas here at CCWA, which we can’t wait to share with you in the coming weeks.

Of course, none of this would be possible without this incredible community of Clevelanders engaged in CCWA activities. Whether you’re a longtime CCFR member or a first-time home hospitality host, a Board member or a Pogue Fellow, we are so grateful for your commitment. We’d also love to hear from you what would make your experience even more rewarding. Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey and share your ideas for how CCWA can best serve you: https://fs4.formsite.com/ccwa/hanib9usw7/index.

Finally, I look forward to welcoming many of you at the welcome event this Thursday, September 11, at the Midtown Collaboration Center, a beautiful new venue created by the Cleveland Foundation to provide space for entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and others to come together.

I feel genuinely lucky to have the chance to come back to Cleveland, where I grew up, and continue to work on global issues at this pivotal moment in world history. I look forward to getting to know all of you in the coming weeks and months. I welcome your feedback, ideas, and outreach – please don’t hesitate to be in touch!

Marti Flacks
CEO

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[i] Port of Cleveland: https://www.portofcleveland.com/

[ii] Team NEO: https://northeastohioregion.com/grow-your-business-here/international-business-expansion/

[iii] Ohio Department of Development: https://development.ohio.gov/about-us/research/economy/economy

[iv] Open Doors Ohio Factsheet: https://opendoorsdata.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/OpenDoors_FactSheet_Ohio_2024.pdf

[v] National Travel and Tourism Office: https://www.trade.gov/us-states-cities-visited-overseas-travelers