Carl B. Stokes: A 50-Year Legacy in Policy

Fifty years ago, Cleveland marked one of its most notable historical developments-the elections 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 Stoke’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