Randell McShepard told a sold-out City Club audience Aug. 16 that the perceived shortage of black leaders is due to a lack of opportunities to be heard. “Minorities shouldn't have to be in protest mode to get the opportunity to speak publicly,” he says.

Changes are in store for the annual One World Day on Aug. 25 in the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, including a new Children's Village, enhanced transportation options and new activities, as well as three new gardens.

Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood has long been known as a bastion of the arts, anchored by Karamu House. Now the community is tapping into its rich cultural tradition to create new projects that will interest young people in getting involved in revitalization efforts.

Angela Flowers' in-school consulting business took off when she connected with JumpStart Inc., a Cleveland-based venture development group that focuses on women- and minority-owned companies.

Meet the local heroes working to restore a sense of safety in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

Dane Vannatter, 60, describes his relationship with Cleveland as like a hug. “From day one, it's been an embracing city,” says the Indiana native, who found his way to Cleveland three years ago. And the hug is not just figurative.

When Spanish-American Committee executive director Ramonita Vargas submitted 25 nursing candidates to a major medical institution for hiring consideration, she felt positive about their prospects—but was dismayed when all 25 were turned away “because their English wasn’t perfect.”

The Fairfax neighborhood is home to some of Cleveland's most awe-inspiring architecture and sacred landmarks—including the city's oldest African-American church. Even as the Fairfax landscape changes dramatically, these historic churches stand strong as centers of community. See their beauty through our managing photographer Bob Perkoski's lens, and learn a bit about their history!

Third Space co-founder Evelyn Burnett says the point of the workshops is simple: to build awareness around racial equity and inequity. More than 3,000 people from 700 organizations have attended the trainings, which are now offered monthly.

Projected to be a $5 million to $7 million business in 2019, with sales growth expected to be as much as 500 percent, Cleveland Kraut is considered to be one of the fastest growing businesses in the fermented food industry.

Here's the good news: this year's installment of the Asian Lantern Festival has 40+ all-new displays—from a 100-foot-long shark tunnel to a larger-than-life dragon. Here's the even better news: the festival has been extended through Sunday, August 11, so there's still plenty of time to get lit. 

Each year, Cuyahoga County receives approximately 50,000 calls through the Child Abuse Hotline at the Division of Child and Family Services, according to the county website. These calls report acts of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect to children throughout Northeast Ohio. Nationally, abuse affects three million children annually, and causes the death of about four children every day.

FreshWater managing photographer Bob Perkoski was on hand to enjoy the festival and capture some of the fun. In this slideshow, he offers a visual tour.

For the last two decades, Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood has been master planning for a renaissance—and now its golden age is in sight. With an ideal location on the $331 million Opportunity Corridor and an array of developments and initiatives coming to fruition, the area is preparing to round the bend on a four-pronged Strategic Investment Plan that began in 2008.

From a dynamic duo bringing back Glenville to a Sudanese designer working on a welcome center for Irishtown Bend, these artists are changing the city's creative landscape.

Hispanic social clubs are deeply rooted in La Villa Hispana's past. A new generation of young leaders is ensuring their future.