Happy Dog Takes on the World: Why Rust Belts Matter Around the World
In America and other Western democracies, older industrial communities are in a painful process of economic transition. These geographic regions were once economic powerhouses, but have experienced a decline in manufacturing, and a subsequent decline in local economies, property taxes, education, and other community assets. Research has shown that when election season rolls around, residents […]
Happy Dog Takes on the World: Coups and the Fragility of Democracy
On January 6, 2021, supporters of President Trump violently stormed the Capitol after attending a rally on the National Mall where Trump defended his belief that the election had been “stolen” from him. Five people died. Many saw it as inevitable, a cumulation of four years of President Trump and his administration testing the invisible […]
21st Century Changemakers: Strengthening American Corners Programming in the Face of Global Change
Librarians and American Corners managers from Belarus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine will be in Cleveland to explore best practices in library management and strategies for promoting media literacy and civil society. Throughout their program in Northeast Ohio, visitors will meet with the Cleveland Public Library, Cuyahoga County Public Library, The […]
Transparency and Accountability in Government (Regional Project)
CCWA will be hosting local government officials, civil society leaders, policy analysts, and journalists from Latin America on a project exploring efforts to improve public transparency. The program will outline the role and structure of ethics in government in the United States, similarities and differences in approaches of ethical conduct between government and the private […]
Deputy Governors’ Oversight and Advisory Capacity
In this IVLP program, a group of deputy governors from Afghanistan will explore connections between federal, state and local governments, and the principles of representative democracy. While in Cleveland, the program will focus on the major corruption case that occurred in Cuyahoga County in 2008 that involved County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora and over 50 other […]
Happy Dog Takes on the World: Is Democracy Dying?
According to Freedom House, from 1973 to 2005, the number of democracies worldwide increased dramatically, however, over the past decade, the organization recorded a decline in global freedom. From India to Turkey and Russia, we’ve seen democracy give way to autocracy. The U.S. was not immune to this trend. For more the 200 years, Americans have […]
Community Event: Turkey – What Went Wrong and What’s Next
Dynamics of religion, nationalism, and political repression raise concerns for people around the world. Join John Carroll University for a conversation about “Turkey: What Went Wrong and What’s Next?” to hear more about these contemporary challenges and discuss what each of us can do to help remedy such situations. Sevgi Akarçeşme, MA, Turkish journalist & political […]
Leading and Managing Municipal Government
Six municipal mayors from Libya will be travelling to Northeast Ohio to learn how Cleveland and Cuyahoga County promote strong and accountable local government through cooperation and effective policy making. In addition to a case study highlighting reform efforts after the 2011 Cuyahoga County corruption scandal, visitors will engage local mayors and city administrators to […]
Transparency and Accountability in Government
Ten IVLP participants representing eight Latin American countries will travel to Cleveland to examine governmental transparency challenges and efforts to improve public accountability. Using the Cuyahoga County corruption scandal involving the former county commissioner as a case study, visitors will meet with the county’s Inspector General and NGOs that have empowered citizens to actively engage […]
Rule of Law and Judicial Reform
This International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), composed of six delegates from Egypt, will examine U.S. commitment to the promotion of transparency, ethics, and judicial independence in a democracy. Meetings and site visits will highlight the judiciary’s role in preserving democratic processes such as due process, trial by jury, right to representation and a fair trial, […]
