What a thrill to learn about my hometown through the experiences and perspectives of four iconic community leaders. My words are mostly their words because their words were exquisite . . . honest, heart-felt, sometimes poignant . . . always just-right. They spoke with the grace and down-home modesty of their city — despite their well earned success, wealth and influence.

Talking to interesting people, learning, writing stories . . . It doesn’t get any better than that for me.

SPECIFICS OF THE PROJECT

The 2018 Cleveland Heritage honorees were Steven Minter, Jerry Sue Thornton, Bob Gries and Toby Cosgrove. I had the opportunity to sit down with each one, at least once. I loaned Ms. Thornton my pearls for her photo session. I was offered books and a very meaningful favor from Mr. Gries. I laughed with all four. While their stories of success and service are very different, they all focus on partnership and achieving the greater good. I’m convinced they — and others like them — are the reason Cleveland is the warm and welcoming, eclectic and electric city it is today.

What an honor it was for me to write the program this year — and to be asked to do it again in 2019!