the relay cleveland exhibition at cleveland public library
september 2025 — february 2026
The Relay Cleveland exhibition was on display in Brett Memorial Hall at the Cleveland Public Library’s Main Library from September 2025 through February 2026. The exhibition coincided with the library’s 100th anniversary, creating a meaningful partnership grounded in shared civic history and community engagement.
The exhibition welcomed tens of thousands of visitors, as recorded by the hall's foot traffic counter. It served as a destination for current and former Cleveland students, educators, residents, and community leaders across generations. The space encouraged reflection on the legacy and unfinished work of school desegregation in Cleveland while fostering honest dialogue about school quality and educational equity.
the relay Cleveland exhibition Archive
Community Programs and Public Engagement
From October 2025 through February 2026, partners hosted a series of free public programs during the exhibition that brought the history behind the display to life and welcomed community members to participate, learn, and share their perspectives.
The Relay Cleveland Campaign Committee worked closely with the Cleveland Public Library team to present the exhibition as more than a display. From youth-centered events to film screenings, the exhibition became a public gathering place that connected history to present-day conversations about education, community, and opportunity.
Civic Engagement + Segregation by Design
Monday, October 27, 2025
This public conversation examined how policies, practices, and acts of exclusion shaped civic life and educational inequity in Cleveland. The program centered candid dialogue about building a more equitable democracy and education system.
Presented by ThirdSpace Action Lab, the NAACP Cleveland Branch, and Cleveland VOTES.
relay cleveland edujam
Thursday, November 13, 2025
The Relay Cleveland EduJam was a teen rally for students in grades 9 through 12. More than 160 CMSD high school students from five schools participated in a day of music, inspiration, and experiential learning. Panelists included contributing artists and creatives Jason Garrett, Kashmir Thompson, Chris Webb, and Isaac Williams.
Presented by the Cleveland Public Library.
A Death in the City: In the Wake of Segregation
Thursday, December 11, 2025
This program featured a film screening by filmmaker Marquette Williams documenting the 1960s struggle to desegregate Cleveland’s schools, including scenes from the stage play A Death in the City by Faye Sholiton. The screening facilitated small-group dialogue and community engagement.
Presented by Teaching Cleveland and Facing History and Ourselves Ohio.
Say Her Name: Black Women Who Shaped Cleveland Education
Thursday, January 22, 2026
This program honored the contributions of Black women across Cleveland’s educational history, including educators, administrators, activists, organizers, and mothers whose leadership shaped generations of students and families.
Presented by Enlightened Solutions and The Legacy Perspective.
Passing the Baton for Educational Equity
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
This keynote event centered educational equity and collective responsibility across generations. Speakers included Cleveland Public Library Director Felton Thomas, Cleveland Mayor Justin M. Bibb, Habeebah Grimes, Chris Chatmon, and Alicia Robinson.
Our Stride, Our Story
Wednesday, February 26, 2026
This public forum highlighted shared narratives of leadership, service, and community impact in education. Speakers included Dr. Tatiana Wells, Leah D. Hudnall, Derrick Holifield, and Christine Fowler Mack.
The program, presented through a partnership between the Alpha Epsilon Beta Omega, Alpha Omega, and Lambda Phi Omega Chapters of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, emphasized the vital role of civic organizations in sustaining educational progress across generations.
