It’s not very often that one of us has the privilege of knowing someone who is seeking to take their talents, experience, and passion to public office. That is why I am excited to call myself a friend and supporter of James Levin. Most of us who have expressed excitement about developing the neighborhoods of the City of Cleveland have heard of James and his creative endeavors. A fellow alumnus of the Case School of Law, James used his education to defend the poor and underserved, but soon acted on his passion for the arts by starting the Cleveland Public Theatre, the Gordon Square Cultural Arts District, Ingenuity Festival, and the Bridge Project.
I know him personally through a brief internship with the Ingenuity Festival. Under the guidance of James and his staff, I choked out many of my fears and learned to make diverse connections with artists, scientists, and nonprofit organizations all over the city to capitalize on Northeast Ohio’s strengths in both art and technology.
Last Fall, while busy at his new job as the director of the College of Wooster’s Center for Entrepreneurship, James made time to meet with me for an interview for one of my nonprofit classes. Recalling his journey from law student to innovative champion of the arts and the City of Cleveland, he seemed to have grown wise, but not weathered. As I watched him hop from back-to-back meetings, from a group of professional gentlemen to his former intern, I appreciated his willingness to spend his valuable time with constituencies both powerful and small.
James has the energy, intelligence, and ideas to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the City of Cleveland. District 7 consists of such neighborhoods as University Circle, Little Italy, Tremont, Hough, Glenville, and more – neighborhoods that need to take advantage of their unique histories and populations while fighting through the constant struggles of urban sprawl, unemployment, and poor public image. Levin’s ideas have pumped more than tourism dollars into the city of Cleveland – they have injected hope, excitement, and positivity into countless citizens.
Cuyahoga County’s new leadership is in your hands this September 7th. I encourage you to support James Levin for County Council. I hope this post has given you some faith in his talents and in his commitment to our fine city.
James Levin with the Brew Crew. Some of these gentlemen paid for Levin's legal defense services in labor for the Cleveland Public Theatre.
Image from http://realneo.us/blog/susan-miller/community-development-lessons-from-rough-rider-james-levin
One comment
Comment by Joe on August 25, 2010 at 3:25 am
When James entered the race, I was thrilled. I have hoped that he would run for office ever since I met him in 2006 when Sheila was working at the Ingenuity Festival.
Back then, East 4th–on which Zocalo (where we went for Sheila’s birthday), Lola (Michael Symon’s restaurant), Greenhouse Tavern, Pickwick and Frolic, Corner Alley, and other restaurants are now located–was far, far less developed than it is now. The surrounding area also was and is still a bit underdeveloped; this area includes the former site of the glorious May Company department store, which is now vacant and a literal shell of its former self.
Yet, for a few days in July 2006, James Levin’s festival managed to turn this area into a sensory wonderland filled with innovative artistic and scientific talent. I have lived in Cleveland for 29 years and had some fantastic experiences–cheering on the Indians, Browns, and Cavs as they made playoff runs, enjoying great concerts all over turn, eating tasty food by some of the nation’s best chefs, and participating in many of the other activities in which one can partake in Cleveland. However, I can honestly say that the few days that I spent at the Ingenuity Festival were some of the most memorable days I’ve ever spent at this town. (I’m still bitter than a migraine headache robbed me of one day!) Standing in the middle of East 4th on a cool July night with Mikey G listening to Infinite Number of Sounds play brilliant ambient, experimental music was an amazing experience that I will never forget.
If James Levin’s ingenuity and creativity can make an underdeveloped and somewhat run-down area and transform it into one of the most innovative and exciting events I’ve ever been to in Cleveland, I can only imagine what he’ll be able to do as a governmental leader!
I’ve studied decades of Cleveland history and many of the same people who were pulling the strings during my parents’ youth and my childhood are the same people who are still at the controls of power. While I am appreciative of their service and sacrifice over the years, I believe that the transition to a new governmental structure presents Cuyahoga County with an opportunity to inject new ideas, new blood, new ways of thinking, and a new approach to governance into local politics. James Levin will provide all of the above; this is why I am eager to support him, and I respectfully urge you to do so as well.