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Inlet Dance Theatre is a modern dance company in Cleveland, founded in 2001 by our guest, Bill Wade, a renowned dancer and choreographer who uses the power of dance to further people and explore human, societal, and environmental issues through movement. Located within the Pivot Center for Art, Dance and Expression on West 25th Street in Cleveland, Inlet's Dance Studio is called The Estuary, reflecting the company's nature-based and sustainability themes.

Inlet's mission aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, which promote health and well-being, quality education, equality, and sustainable cities. Deeply rooted in Cleveland, Inlet is helping nurture and grow the next generation of artists by offering free dance classes in public schools and other community programs. Bill explains that talent is everywhere, but access to developing that talent is not. He started Inlet to expose urban youth to the power of the arts and provide opportunities, mentorship, and creative expression to individuals who might otherwise lack access.

The connection between dance and sustainability may seem unexpected, but the arts are universally relatable and offer a unique opportunity to promote environmental awareness. "Don't put on stage what is. Put on stage what could be," Wade says, capturing how art contributes to sustainability by envisioning possibilities rather than dwelling on problems. In a world facing climate change and social inequities, Inlet Dance Theater reminds us that sustainability isn't just technical solutions – it requires creative spaces where we can collectively imagine and embody more hopeful futures.

Enjoy this episode of Eco Speaks CLE as Bill describes his work, his creative process, some of the pieces in his repertoire, his love of Cleveland and its youth, and upcoming appearances for his company.

Guest:

Bill Wade, Founder and Executive/Artistic Director of Inlet Dance Theatre

Resources:

About Inlet Dance Theatre and Upcoming Performances

Education and Community Programs

Cain Park Annual Performance and Calendar of Events

Aim2Flourish and The Lavender Project

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In this episode, we head to the Rid-All Farm to speak with Keymah Durden, a co-founder of Rid-All Green Partnership. What was once a notorious dumping ground in Cleveland's "Forgotten Triangle", the farm is now one of the largest minority-owned urban farms and a nationally recognized model for urban agriculture, environmental stewardship, and resilience. In this episode, Keymah talks about how Rid-All is growing communities and changing Lives.

Rid-All was originally a pest control company started by farm co-founder Damien Forsche. As he worked in public housing projects, Damien observed some things, including what people were eating - unhealthy, processed food due to a lack of access to fresh food and nutrition education. This sparked a dream of bringing a farm to Cleveland's Kinsman neighborhood that would fill that void. That was in 2010. That dream is now a 26-acre campus in Cleveland's Urban Agriculture Innovation Zone.

The name Rid-All stands for Redeem, Integrity, and Determination for All Mankind. Tragically, Damien passed away in 2018, but his partners continue to expand the Rid-All mission to honor his legacy and train the next generation of farmers. Carrying on the farming traditions of their African ancestors is central to Rid-All's mission. And that is what makes it truly special. They are not just growing food; they are rebuilding community connections, honoring cultural traditions, and creating pathways to health, prosperity, and circularity.

Join us for a meaningful conversation about farming, soil, raising fish, sequestering carbon, celebration, music, learning, health, and the intersection of all these topics. Then go to the farm for Taco Tuesday or Fish Friday in the Rid-All Community Kitchen to experience this special place for yourself.

Guest:

Keymah Durden, Farmer and Co-Founder of Rid-All Green Partnership

Learn More:

Meet the Rid-All Partners

Training programs

Youth programs

Videos

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On Friday, April 11, over 300 high school students from across northeast Ohio gathered for the 2025 NEO Youth Climate Summit, hosted by Laurel School and Global Shapers Cleveland. The event brought students together to discuss and collaborate on solutions for climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice.

The summit was kicked off with a keynote address by a young climate activist, Sage Lenier. Sage was honored by TIME Magazine as a 2023 Next Generation Leader. She started teaching about climate change while still a student at UC Berkeley and has since founded her own non-profit, Sustainable and Just Future.

In this episode, we share her message to the students. Hear what one Gen Z'er has to say to young environmental leaders about meeting the future with excitement and innovative solutions. And hear from Angela Yeager, a teacher whose students in Laurel School's Environmental Justice Semester planned the event. Organizers called it a "beaming light for young people demanding change in the face of the climate crisis." And it was.

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