Fifty years ago, Cleveland marked one of its most notable historical developments—the election of Carl Stokes as the first African-American mayor of a major American city. Shortly after the 1967
election, and in an effort to initiate sweeping changes to improve the lives of Clevelanders, Mayor Stokes created Cleveland: NOW!—his signature proposal to address the challenges of his time.
Sadly, the challenges that motivated him 50 years ago still exist today. Five entities that research and/or advocate for social and economic issues have come together to explore the city’s progress since Stokes’s election in five key categories: housing, health, safety, education, and economic parity. Their findings not only focus on the past but, also indicate future possibilities and direction to carry the legacy of Carl and Louis Stokes into the future.
