The Social Justice Institute hosts meaningful events where students, scholars and community members gather together to tap into our individual and collective minds, hearts, souls and networks of support in order to develop strategies and actions that respect and uplift human dignity and life. We are honored to provide distinctive educational opportunities and we invite you to join us and become partners in our work.
August 23, 2025, 1:00 PM
Martin Luther King Jr. Library
10601 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106
Cleveland's Hidden Past: the Legacy of Winston Willis and his Unfair Fight against the Elite
Cleveland is often seen as a land of opportunity—until it isn't. Winston Willis, a determined entrepreneur, seized the American dream, only to have it ripped away by the city's powerful elites. In the 1960s and 1970s, Willis became a successful businessman owning several establishments around the East 105th and Euclid area, transforming it into a vibrant hub despite facing significant racial and economic barriers. But for a Black man like Willis, prosperity was often met with fierce resistance from those who wanted to reclaim it - the city’s political and business leaders, who saw his success as a challenge to their power.
Join Case Western Reserve University Social Justice Institute and School of Law Social Justice Law Center Director Ayesha Bell Hardaway, JD, as she speaks with Aundra Willis Carrasco, author of Winston Willis: A Memoir, to discuss her brother's legacy, the controversies surrounding his businesses, the local racism he faced, and the ongoing struggle for power within the Black community.
This event is co-sponsored by the Cleveland Public Library, CWRU Social Justice Institute and the Presidents' Council Business Chamber.
To register for this free event, please visit the registration link here. For more information about the Social Justice Institute's Winston Willis and Black Cleveland oral history project, visit our website here.
October 25, 2025, 6:00 pm
Tinkham Veale University Center
11038 Bellflower Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106
For more information, visit our Social Justice in the Arts webpage.
About Our Events
The majority of our events are free of charge and open to the community. We cannot do this important work without you – we hope that you will consider supporting us in these endeavors. Gifts of any size will impact our work and support our signature programs. Donations may be made online or sent to Social Justice Institute, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-7243.
To RSVP or volunteer for any upcoming event, please call 216.368.7568 or email socialjustice@case.edu.