America 250: From Newcomers to Nation Builders

Join Global Cleveland and America 250-Ohio for a panel discussion and celebration of the stories of newcomers over the last 1/4 millenium!

Join Global Cleveland for America 250: From Newcomers to Nation Builders, a Welcoming Week panel discussion celebrating Cleveland as a city built by generations of newcomers.

Held in partnership with St. Martin de Porres High School and sponsored by America 250-Ohio, this special program will explore different chapters of Cleveland’s history and the communities that have helped build and strengthen our city over time. The conversation will highlight early immigrant roots in Cleveland, the lasting civic and cultural contributions of communities such as Irish, Slovenian, Italian, and Ukrainian Clevelanders, and the experiences of newer communities, including Cleveland’s Congolese community.

As part of the America 250 commemoration, panelists will reflect on how immigrant communities have contributed to Cleveland’s past and present, while also looking ahead to the next 250 years. The discussion will consider how established immigrant communities can support, guide, and learn from newer newcomer populations as Cleveland continues to grow as a welcoming and globally connected city.