City Club Cleveland Luncheon | The Soul of Democracy

We decided to take advantage of this generous offer. As a result, we enjoyed a delicious meal and an inspiring forum titled “The Soul of Democracy.” The featured speaker was Mr. Desmond Meade, President and Executive Director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. In 2018, he led a successful campaign to restore voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions.

Mr. Meade’s work earned him recognition as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019. He also authored “Let My People Vote: My Battle to Restore the Civil Rights of Returning Citizens.”

During his presentation, Mr. Meade shared his personal journey from incarceration to becoming an attorney and advocate. He explained that the success of the 2018 campaign came from avoiding partisan politics and appealing to all voters, regardless of party affiliation.

His reasoning was simple: if the returning citizen were your son or daughter, wouldn’t you want them to participate in democracy?

Moreover, Mr. Meade emphasized that inclusivity strengthens democracy. When more people are involved, democracy becomes vibrant—and that benefits everyone.

This message aligns with efforts to grant voting rights to immigrants in municipal elections. Recently, New York City extended voting rights to legal permanent residents.

Although we didn’t ask a formal question during the forum, we spoke with Mr. Meade afterward. He shared his view that anyone living in a community should have a voice in its future.

Why the City Club Cleveland Luncheon Matters

The City Club Cleveland Luncheon highlighted the importance of voting rights and inclusivity. These conversations help shape a stronger, more vibrant democracy.

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