The main part of my journey took place in Cleveland — one of the largest industrial hubs in the United States and a city with a deeply complex history.

From Hatchet to Default: A History of Rise and Fall

The site for the city was chosen in 1796 by General Moses Cleaveland. His surname gave the town its name. However, the letter "a" disappeared from Cleaveland in 1831 simply because it didn't fit into the header of a local newspaper's masthead.

After the Civil War, the city gained immense power. Located between New York and Chicago, Cleveland became an industrial titan:

• Standard Oil: In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded his oil empire right here.
• "Sixth City": By 1920, Cleveland was the fifth-largest city in the USA. Immigrants from all over Europe flocked here, creating a unique cultural melting pot.
• Millionaires' Row: Euclid Avenue was famous for its luxury mansions, while Playhouse Square became a center for avant-garde arts.

However, in the 20th century, Cleveland fell on hard times. After World War II, the population began migrating to the suburbs. The city faced severe deindustrialization.

• The Cuyahoga River Fire (1969): The river became so saturated with industrial waste that it literally caught fire. This shock led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Default of 1978: Cleveland became the first major US city since the Great Depression to officially declare municipal bankruptcy.

All-America City: Redemption through Civic Spirit

This is why the conference at the Council of International Programs (CIP) held such deep meaning. Despite the bankruptcies and factory closures, Cleveland has received the All-America City Award five times (1949, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1993). It is often called the "Nobel Prize for Constructive Citizenship." I wrote about this earlier when studying Akron's history.

The city proved that its strength lies not in Rockefeller's factories, but in its people. When industry collapsed, residents did not flee. They began restoring the ecology, developing medicine, and education. The Cleveland Clinic is considered one of the most advanced in the world, and Case Western Reserve University, whose campus hosted our conference and where I stayed, ranks among the top research institutions globally.

My Personal Impressions: Contrasts of Ohio

Walking around the city after the conferences, I saw this duality firsthand. On one side — the monumental architecture of Playhouse Square and luxurious hotels. On the other — the gritty aesthetics of working-class neighborhoods, which reminded me of the sleeping districts back home.

Unlike Buffalo, where you can feel the heavy shadow of decay, Cleveland feels safer today. It has passed through the stages of denial and anger, moved past depression, and is now in a stage of acceptance and constructive rebuilding.

A particularly pleasant surprise was learning that Taylor Swift had recently relocated to Cleveland. She married Travis Kelce, a native of Ohio. It was especially touching that Swift dedicated her song "Cleveland" to the city, giving this Rust Belt giant a new dose of pop-culture relevance.

David Polyakov (Special Correspondent for API TV from Cleveland, Ohio, USA)