The Club enjoyed a virtual meeting with Justin Bibb on September 10. Justin grew up in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Cleveland’s East Side. He earned a degree in urban studies from American University in Washington, completed a course from the London School of Economics with emphasis on social policy and economics and then worked for Gallup in Washington in the Global Cities Group before returning to live in downtown Cleveland in 2014, where he earned both a JD and MBA from Case Western Reserve University. Justin is now Chief Strategy Officer of Urbanova, a leader in the “smart cities” movement, sits on the Board of the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, and helps run a nonprofit he founded, Cleveland Can’t Wait. As a Cleveland activist, he was well positioned to report on developments and aspirations in Cleveland.

Justin noted Cleveland problems: half of its children living in poverty, exceptionally high degree of racial segregation, and the worst city in the country to be an African American woman. He said that he believed the city has to face and overcome these systemic obstacles before it can truly restore itself economically. He noted that the city and region is poised for significant power shifts: a mayor’s race next year; a county executive race in 2022; a replacement for Joe Roman at Greater Cleveland Partnership; and other private and public CEO changes.

Justin was a witness to the May 30 disturbances downtown. He was dismayed by the property destruction but heartened by the peaceful congregation of people of all colors and creeds marching together for reform, and noted that people came together in solidarity the next day to help clean up the damage. He observed that unlike some other cities, Cleveland has since remained calm.

To some questions, Justin replied that:

he would like to see Burke Lakefront Airport converted for pleasant public lakeside use.
investment funds need to go to more than the five neighborhoods that recently have tended to receive them.
the city needs to increase political awareness and participation – turnout in the last mayoral election was 20%.
to build better communities “we are going to have to have honest conversation and work intentionally with small acts of service and love that together will lead to policy change.”
the RTA has new leadership (India L. Birdsong, the organization’s first black female CEO) and its meetings are being live-streamed for viewing by the public.
owing to the fact that the majority of Ohio’s GDP is produced in cities, he hopes the state legislature can shape a more effective urban agenda.

Justin’s employer, Urbanova, works to rejuvenate cities using technology, infrastructure and education. He is the founder of Cleveland Can’t Wait, which promotes civic technology and entrepreneurship in Cleveland. Justin suggests you learn about it and sign up for its newsletter at www.clevelandcantwait.org.