Browse Interviews

Minerva Primes was born on a farm in small town in Georgia. She was reared in the church. At an early age, Primes developed a nuanced understanding of racial discrimination and segregation. She was well-educated and became an advocate for education. She discusses her experience working as a teacher, including working with white colleagues, her teaching method, and how black and white students interacted.

In this 2006 interview, 87 year old Melvin Rose, son of Martin Rose, the founder of Rose Iron Works, discusses the company that his father founded in Cleveland in 1910 and that still exists in Cleveland. The Rose Iron Works company made many of the best decorative iron products for commercial and residential buildings in the City of Cleveland in the twentieth century, including the clock on the downtown Williamson Building, decorative screens at Severance Hall, and the decorative iron gates at…

In this 2006 interview, Bennie Jean Johnson, a life-long resident of Cleveland, recounts many of her living experiences as an African-American in Cleveland. She talks about her early childhood homes in E.55th and E.79th Street neighborhoods during the 1950 and 1960 decades. She describes her experiences during the Hough Riots. She talks about Leo's Casino and other well-known Cleveland east side institutions. She also talks about her experiences in moving to the west side of Cleveland--first…

In this 2005 interview, William Merriman, a deacon at St. Patrick's Church on Bridge Avenue on the near west side of Cleveland, discusses his involvement with the Ohio City community since beginning to do volunteer work at St. Patrick's in 1969. Mr. Merriman exhibits a wealth of knowledge about the development of Ohio City as an independent city and later as an important neighborhood of Cleveland. He speaks at length about the importance of diversity to Ohio City and how he, through his Church…

Paul Martin describes growing up in Lakewood and changes in both Lakewood and Cleveland since the 1940s, his experiences during World War II, working for the Illuminating Company, and his feelings about the mayoral administration of Dennis Kucinich.

A longtime resident of the near west side of Cleveland, Stella Gloch discusses her youth and employment in Cleveland. A longtime department store employee, Gloch observed many of the changes that Cleveland underwent from the 1960s. Gloch details memories of her neighborhood while criticizing the rapid changes taking place in Cleveland.

Three members of Recon, a subdivision of the politically active urban performance group The Shogun Assassins, discuss their involvement at the Ingenuity Festival. The members discuss their backgrounds and philosophy in depth, explaining how Cleveland's economic and social structure influences their progressive social agenda and performance. Discussions of race, class, and economic oppression detail the performers opinion of Cleveland as fertile ground for the broader struggle in America against…

Paul Biber sheds expertise and light on the business and entertainment industry in Cleveland. Barber details the challenges to Cleveland's entertainment districts and the effects of short-sightedness after the 1960s. Finally, Biber discusses plans to improve the city's future.

Todd Michney, born and raised in the eastern suburbs of Cleveland, reflects on his experiences as a youth and his familiarization with Cleveland culture in the 1980s. Michney describes how de-industrialization and economic deterioration impacted the youth culture movement of which he was a part during the 1980s. Cleveland's environment is described as an inspiration for hardcore punk, guerrilla art, and teenage rebellion.

CSU professor Beth Cagan describes the significant changes that have occurred in Cleveland since she and her husband moved from New York City in the 1970s. Her honest descriptions and criticisms of the city shed light on the values that she believes need to be endorsed in order to foster city improvement.

Three students in the Building Bridges Program, Jerome, Chris, and Antonio, discuss their involvement as artists in a job training program on the west side. These students elaborate on their involvement in an artistic mural for the Ingenuity Festival and how art has affected their lives and education. They elaborate on being educated artistically in Cleveland and their feelings toward art education in general.

Steve Cagan, a native New Yorker, details a life of art and activism in Cleveland since the 1970s. Cagan's description of Cleveland as a center of social and political activism sheds light on the political and social culture of Cleveland in the wake of economic transformation. The correlation between art and politics is discussed at length.

Robin Yates, a professional real estate developer, describes his professional history and experiences with neighborhood projects in the city of Cleveland. Yates also explains his bed and breakfast operation that takes tourists on tours of the city of Cleveland. Significant to Yates is not only the perception of Cleveland, but the means to increase residency and future residential developments in the city.

An art specialist and dealer, John Kunikis discusses his booth at the 2006 Ingenuity Festival. Describing his experiences with art and culture in an urban environment and their influence on his work, Kunikis discusses the state of art and culture in the City of Cleveland.

Marilyn Anthony, a lifetime citizen of the west side of Cleveland discusses Cleveland's past and future. Marilyn recalls her experiences in Cleveland and describes her present role as a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Group. Finally, she addresses current projects in Cleveland and the priorities of the city.

Sudmir Ragupathy discusses the place of technology at the Ingenuity Festival and its role in shaping Cleveland's economic future. Recognizing Cleveland's poor environmental reputation, Ragupathy speaks about his organizations and vision of a Cleveland regional environmental economy.